South Heart Golf Course Feels Effects of Drought

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - If you’re going golfing this week in western North Dakota, you may notice some of the greens are not all that green.

Courses are recovering from the tough winter and dry conditions this spring.

At Pheasant Country Golf Course in South Heart, golf is in full swing, and so are the ground’s crews, who are trying to spruce things up.

“We’re working against mother nature here and it’s going to take time to fix it,” said Justin Kuylen, the president of Pheasant Country Golf Course’s board.

Kuylen says this winter’s lack of snow left what is supposed to look green, looking brown instead.

Patrons of the course are also taking notice.

“It’s definitely a dry year. That’s for sure, and it shows on all the courses,” said golfer Troy Kuntz.

Kuylen says he’s heard from numerous customers about the course’s appearance. They’re applying new seed varieties and using new techniques to help.

“We ended up doing some overseeding, so we came in here, removed some thatch, and opened up some holes to get some seed into,” said Kuylen.

Even though conditions aren’t ideal, they say a day on the course beats a day anywhere else.

“It can still be a fun challenge coming out and playing against what the course still does have to offer,” said Kuylen.

“Still get out there and play, we need to support the golf courses,” said Kuntz.

The board president says the season started in late March, and the course’s youth activities will be starting next week.

Copyright 2021 KFYR. All rights reserved.