Dry weather and heat affecting golf courses

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The heat is taking a swing at the golf industry.

"You have a window there between about noon and four, four-thirty that it's pretty much taking the golfers clear out of the picture," Edwood Glen Country Club owner Jerry Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the number of players is down but costs are up. Reynolds said they use their ponds to irrigate the greens and fairways and, with the drought, it's not cheap.

"We have to run the pumps to irrigate the greens every night and sometimes that's about 300,000 to 400,000 gallons," Reynolds said.

Reynolds said they've had a few cases over the weekend where golfers have suffered from heat-related medical problems. Golfer Larry Logsdon said despite the heat, he still golfed Saturday and Sunday, but said he knew what he was getting into.

"It's just like anything, you've got to prepare. That's the whole idea, just prepare yourself. Once you prepare, you're fine," Logsdon said.

Reynolds said his staff is working hard to make sure everyone can still enjoy golfing despite the extreme temperatures.

"We promote drinking water, Powerade, ice, using towels, and anything that can help them stay cool," Reynolds said.