Update Lions Water Problem

From Kevin Gomillion:

I wanted to give you a quick update on Lions and the water issue in hopes you can communicate to your organization, or patrons as you play.  We continue to face challenges with the irrigation lake on hole #13.  The lake liner leaks and the lake has a significant amount of sediment on the bottom, reducing the amount of storage in the lake.  

We are pumping water from Lake Austin into the irrigation lake 24 hours a day and watering every night.  The problem is that we do not have enough water in the lake to irrigate all areas each night.  Staff is working to balance the rotation with the main focus continues to be on greens, tees and landing areas.  The fairways and roughs are getting watered once a week at best.  In this extreme heat, all areas of the course continue to see stress.  

Unfortunately, we cannot repair the lake liner and remove the sediment until temperatures subside.  The lake repair will take a minimum of two weeks and could last a month.  While we repair the lake, we will have even less opportunity to water.  Attempting the repair now would result in loss of the greens and place additional strain on the entire course. 

We hope to make the repairs in November, or December, depending on rain fall and temperatures.  The cost of the repair to the lake liner is high (around $30,000), however the repair is a priority and the repair is not being delayed due to the unknown future of the course, despite what some golfers may think.  In addition, please know the stage 2 water restrictions should not have additional impact on the course.  While we are restricted from using the irrigation system during the hours of 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., we are still able to hand water as water is available.  

Staff is working around the clock to balance the watering schedule and we should see improvements as the temperatures begin to subside.  Obviously rain will certainly help in recovery and will give the stressed pump station a needed break.  I am confident we will see rain again.  It cannot come soon enough.