ODESSA, Fla. — Ongoing drought conditions are hurting golf courses all across the Tampa Bay area, including the Eagles Golf Club which is being hit by a one-two punch.

Typically, the winter months are the busiest time of year for golf clubs across Florida’s gulf coast and severe drought conditions have complicated this year’s high season.

Tony Johnson, VP of Regional Operations for Pinnacle Golf Properties, said on a typical night of watering during a drought the Eagles’ dual courses take in over 1.2 million gallons per overnight watering cycle. That can average over 8 million gallons of water per week.

Around the holidays, the Eagles’ irrigation system went down and the club’s owners invested in a $1.5 million full system replacement. Amid those repairs, they lost the pump house.

At one point earlier this year, Johnson says the course was completely without irrigation and had to resort to watering by hand.

“We were really relying on Mother Nature for several weeks,” he said.

But nature didn’t cooperate, and the course was subject to severe drought. Johnson says the course superintendent worked hard to keep the greens alive, but the rough, parts of the fairway, and areas around the trap began crisping in the hot sun. 

Johnson said in response, they are starting to offer discounted rates in order to keep business coming in and their loyal golfers happy.

“We want our golfers to know that we care and we’re working on it,” he said. “It’s a tough hit on the business there’s no doubt about it.” 

The team prioritized the greens and tee boxes in hopes of not getting more significant damage.

Earlier this year, the Southwest Florida Water Management District declared a severe water shortage and limited Tampa Bay residents to only watering their lawn one day per week. While golf courses don’t have to follow the exact same guidelines, they must follow the district’s conservation guidelines.

Johnson says that hasn’t come into play for them yet this drought, because they can’t get enough water out to get anywhere close to their limit.

“Normally I would not like water restrictions,” Johnson said. “But I’d like to be able to follow a water restriction right now.”