Flooding a bittersweet arrival for golf courses

But after turning off U.S. Highway 281 at about 6 in the morning, the Michigan native learned what San Antonio natives know all too well: When flooding comes, there are certain areas that must be avoided.

Like Olmos Basin, for instance.

“It took a half hour to get to that exit and down to the golf course,” said Roschek, president and CEO of the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio.

Even for drought-parched courses that desperately needed the precipitation, the weekend storms created problems that are still being dealt with today. From Olmos, under water in spots even Tuesday, to the Club at Sonterra and La Cantera, the quick-hit deluge required quick reactions.

“Frankly, when you're up to your knees in water, you've got plenty of water,” Roschek said, chuckling.

With more rain in the forecast for this week, facility operators have spent recent days clearing debris off greens and out of bunkers, trying to eliminate any leftover silt on sensitive putting surfaces and fairways, restoring sand in hazards, reopening obstructed cart paths and inspecting acreage for potential fungus or other impact on grasses.

“You keep an eye open,” said Jeff Kadlec, superintendent of the two courses at La Cantera. “When you have holes underwater, there's sediment buildup and things of that nature.”

Added Brad Fryrear, the city's superintendent of courses: “It leaches some of the fertility out of the greens.”

Whereas the elevated Palmer and Resort courses at La Cantera needed nothing more than some re-seeding after the rain washed away recent overseeding, sites such as Sonterra — where flooding cut off access to the newly remodeled South Course — and most of the city-owned layouts saw costly interruptions.