SOUTHWICK – Western Massachusetts has experienced its fair share of hot weather that is expected during the summer days. It is the constant hot days that can sometimes make the people of New England feel like they are thousands of miles away experiencing a whole other kind of dry heat.
Just last week, communities throughout Western Massachusetts experienced a seven-day heat wave. July 2013 was the last time that a heat wave of seven days struck this area.
There are dry spots scattered near one of the holes at Edgewood Golf Course. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
As the heat has periodically been appearing throughout the summer, it has affected a number of industries that include a high majority of their business being outside.
The golfing industry is one business that has certainly been affected by the heat. Public or private, golf courses in the Southwick community have noticed the extremely warm weather.
“When you get into 90 degree temperatures, there isn’t anything that’s bringing them (golfers) out,” said Southwick Country Club Owner Bill Najam.
As afternoons have been unbearable at times for golfers to be out in the sun for numerous hours, the obvious change is that a big increase in sales have risen in the early mornings as well as in the late afternoons.
With the constant heat that looked like it wasn’t going to let up, golf courses had to ultimately use the best sources that are available to them.
At the Southwick Country Club, Najam discussed that they have been regularly using their own irrigation system and a water-well to generate as much water on the course as they can. Parts of the course have dried up due to the hot weather, like the rough, which can be tough for any irrigation system to get to.
Just a quick jog down the road is The Ranch Golf Course. Having to adjust to the hot weather, they too have had to use their own sources to keep the water flow running on the course.
The heat wave has caused a fairway at Southwick Country Club to dry up. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
The ponds around The Ranch are their primary water source. According to Assistant Golf Pro Shawn Riley, the ponds are roughly anywhere from 10 to 12 in. deep as a result of the drought.
“We’re resorting to pumping all of our ponds to our irrigation ponds,” said Riley.
As the heat wave has caused some dead spots to appear on areas of the fairways at the Ranch, Riley says that they have worked hard on trying to keep their greens and tee boxes in the best shape possible.
“They are a lot of the reason why people come here,” said Riley.
While the rising temperatures have made it more difficult on the course, Riley sees the progress they have made from course maintenance adjustments. As of today, the latest heat wave is over and some rain and cool weather has come to the region. But that won’t last.
“We need one or two more days of rain,” said Riley.
A ride straight down College Hwy and just minutes past the Southwick Police and Fire stations is Edgewood Golf Course. Like Southwick Country Club and The Ranch, there is no hiding the heat wave for Edgewood either.
The Ranch has faced some problems of dry areas near their greens. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Being part of the Pro Shop staff at Edgewood, Mark Kielbasa follows the pattern of seeing the impact the dry weather has had. Mentioning that there are some burnt spots throughout the course, Kielbasa noted that he sees his fairways being exposed the most due to the sun directly beaming down.
Despite that, Kielbasa praises the progress that Edgewood too has made with the greens crew constantly working on several areas of the course.
“The crew has been out there constantly,” said Kielbasa.
As Southwick, Edgewood, and The Ranch have had to experience the unexpected heat wave, the proper adjustments have been made to ensure that golfers will continue to enjoy their experience on those courses.
Although more rain in the next couple of days may be gratefully appreciated for the golf courses, if there happens to be another heat wave, the courses will certainly be prepared to adjust.
