If you've driven by Washoe Golf Course, you may have noticed a lot more gold grass.
Course representatives had to make strategic watering choices after being forced to cut irrigation water use by more than 42%.
"This has been here since the 1930's," said Jennifer Budge, Park Operations Superintendent, Washoe County. "We want to make sure the course is still available for future generations, but we did try to target our watering areas so the course is still usable and we are protecting our asset."
Back on June 2, the watermaster had to cut off water to Steamboat Ditch. That's the main source of irrigation water that used to supply this course. Since then, course officials had to make drastic watering changes to use the water they do have, most efficiently .
This means they're only watering the fairway, the greens, and the tee boxes.
"We had difficult choices to make this year," said Budge. "We only have so much water available, and we had to prioritize where we use that."
Golfers we talked to said they've noticed the change, but all in all, they still think the course in in great condition.
"I'm sure what they're doing is trying to water the best they can, as much as they can," said Dave Lawn, of Reno. "I thought the course was in good shape. I golf here eight times a year."
"They keep the fairways,and the parts that the guys should be playing on pretty well," said Charles Skeaton. "I think it's in good shape myself."
The county says the dead lawn will most likely not come back to life. That means they'll have to reseed it in the spring, or think of a different, permanent solution if the drought continues.
