Fort Myers golf courses get relief as weekend rain eases drought

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Recent rain is giving Southwest Florida golf courses a needed boost as extreme drought conditions continue across the region.

At Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Fort Myers, staff say the showers are welcomed after months of dry weather that forced courses to work harder to keep fairways and greens in good shape.

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WINK News meteorologist Andrew Shipitofsky said the area around Eagle Ridge, off Daniels Parkway, picked up just more than 1.5 inches of rain over the weekend. More showers are possible in the coming days, even as extreme drought still covers Southwest Florida.

The rain did not keep golfers off the course Sunday.

“We had a little drizzle this morning, so I think it kind of dampened it up,” golfer Michael Smegner said.

Smegner said the course still played well despite the drizzles on Sunday.

“I got my second eagle ever, you know, I'm pretty elated about that one. The greens were in pretty good shape,” he said.

Course staff said keeping the course in great condition year round takes constant work, and even more so during the drought.

“Any bit of the moisture helps,” Eagle Ridge teaching pro Cory Sheldon said.

Sheldon said superintendents across Southwest Florida have had to rely heavily on irrigation systems and on-site ponds to keep courses running through the dry stretch.

“All the credit to these superintendents out there, they all do a terrific job,” Sheldon said. “They work around the clock, just trying to draw the water from their own ponds and the irrigation systems to keep the course up and running.”

This latest round of rain has at least eased some of that burden.

“The superintendent is loving it with getting the extra moisture, so he doesn't have to run all the irrigation from the ponds as much,” Sheldon said. “But definitely, definitely enjoyed Mother Nature's gift.”

Even with the recent showers, drought conditions remain in place across Southwest Florida, meaning courses will continue watching the forecast closely in the days ahead.