Snow helped golf courses get green

Snow wouldn’t seem like the kind of weather that golfers would like.

But the snow this winter – and the warm temperatures – have helped golf courses in Colorado Springs turn green early.

But they’re prepared if there is another drought like the one that we saw in 2002.

It’s another round for Jeanie Ziegler and her foursome at the Patty Jewett Golf Course in Colorado Springs.

She comes here several times a week – and has been doing so for a decade. But she’s noticed something different this year.

“It’s fabulous, it’s the best it’s ever been,” she said.

Nature has been good to them this winter.

Dal Lockwood said, “(We saw) timely storms with intermittent snow, and when we did get the cold temperatures we had good insulation, good cover.”

The grasses here can take a little cold and snow.

“We grow cool season grasses,” said Lockwood.

And they’ve come back nicely. People who play Patty Jewett say that it’s in as good of shape as it’s ever been this time of the year.

But if there is a dry spell, officials say that they have a way of keeping the putting greens green.

The course is one of many in Colorado to use a different method of watering.

“We water with non-potable water. It’s a combination of effluent and raw water,” said Lockwood.

It doesn’t sound tasty – and it’s not drinkable – but the grass likes it.

If the rains don’t come, then they can take the next step. Whatever they’re doing, Ziegler says that it’s working.

“It’s beautiful and you can’t beat the view,” she said.

If the course gets the water that it needs then golfers will continue to drive here from around the city.

Lockwood says that most of the public courses in the city use non-potable water.