Gold against emerald means water savings for Soboba golf course

Swaths of turf have turned golden brown at the Country Club at Soboba Springs golf course, but broken sprinkler heads aren't to blame.

The color, which became noticeable in December, is intentional, part of a multiyear plan by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, who own the course.

The tribe is trying to conserve water by reducing the irrigated acreage at the course, converting some areas to more water-efficient Bermuda grass and switching from lush turf to native plants in other places.

The look will be reminiscent of the PGA West course in La Quinta, according to Bryan Addis, club general manager. The conversion at the 160-acre course will be gradual.

"I think the process is going to be over the next few years," he said.

The tees and fairways will continue to be seeded with rye grass in the winter for that lush emerald green look but the rough areas will be allowed to go dormant in winter, he explained. When finished, it will look "like you're playing a golf course out in the Coachella Valley," Addis said.

In a previous project about three years ago, about 25 acres of the fairways were converted from a hodgepodge of grasses to Bermuda grass. Bermuda uses less water than other grasses and thrives in hot, dry summers.

Now about 90 acres of rough areas, that are bordering fairways, will be converted this summer by hydro seeding with Bermuda.

"That will take us through the summer to the Soboba Classic," Addis said. The Classic is a PGA Nationwide Tour event, now in its second year, scheduled Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.

The tribe does not have a projected time to plant native plants but tribal leaders have visited some courses in the desert to get ideas, Addis said. About 50 acres eventually will feature native plants.

The course has mature cottonwood and olive trees, man-made waterfalls at bridge crossings and a lake that attracts waterfowl.

Officials studied the course to determine which areas could be converted because they would be out of the playing area. "We definitely didn't want to introduce cactus in an area where guys are going to hit golf balls in," Addis said.

The plant conversion will also mean going from 30 gallon per minute sprinklers to a drip system.

Officials don't yet have an estimate of the cost savings from using less water, fertilizer and chemicals.

"It will be a nice change that will allow us to cut back a ton on our water," Addis said.

He said the Soboba tribe is committed to creating a model of conservation in the forefront of golf.

"I think it's a model not only for the environment, but the economy that we're in," said Jennie Hanks, acting tribal administrator.

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