TURKEY CREEK GOLF COURSE BATTLES HISTORIC FLOODING

McPHERSON — Turkey Creek Golf Course is working to recover from what Superintendent Jason Buschbom calls the worst flooding he's seen in his 26 years at the facility, with four greens completely submerged and 14 of 18 fairways covered in flood water following this week's massive storm system. The deluge, which dropped between 8 and 11 inches of rain from the north, east, and west, sent torrents of water through the course as Turkey Creek served as the main drainage channel for the surrounding area.

"It is a long process," Buschbom explained about the recovery efforts. "The water needs to recede, which is different every time. That all depends on amount of rain, how fast it came and exactly where did it fall." Once the water recedes, his team faces the arduous task of removing debris, cutting up downed trees and limbs, and carefully removing silt from the grass using drag mats and sprinklers before attempting to mow. "Even with all that, we will destroy our reels when we mow. They will become dull very quickly," he noted.

The superintendent's primary concern is the health of the turf after extended submersion. "When the grass is under water for that long, we can suffocate it," Buschbom said. Areas where water can't flow off face the risk of grass death from suffocation or heat damage as the sun scorches the standing water. The silt deposited on the grass poses an additional threat, requiring careful timing for removal. "We don't want to get on it too early. If we do, we will just mat the grass down and that will also kill it."

Despite the challenges, Buschbom remains optimistic about a relatively quick reopening. "I hope that maybe we can open this weekend. It looks to me like maybe Sunday for the front 9 and maybe Monday for the whole course," he said, noting that the back nine typically drains a day slower due to water converging from three directions. However, he emphasized patience over haste: "I am not going to rush it. If everyone can just be patient we will be able to work through the process and salvage as much of the course as we can."

Buschbom praised his maintenance crew for their extraordinary efforts during the crisis. "The Turf Team has been great. A lot is asked of them in a situation like this. It is not just your normal golf course maintenance," he said, describing how his team has been moving debris, cutting trees, shoveling mud and sand, and working extended hours. "I don't think anyone realizes what kind of labor goes into an event like this. The team has been very game to helping out with anything that I ask of them. Everyone that uses the course needs to thank all of them for their dedication and work ethic."

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