PULLMAN’s PALOUSE RIDGE Golf Club was controversial before it was even built, and a state Supreme Court decision last week means Washington State University’s signature course likely will stay in the headlines.
Last week, state justices sided with the school in a case that challenged the school’s right to use dwindling stores of groundwater on a new golf course.
In a 6-3 decision that came nearly two years after oral arguments, the justices ended a dispute over Palouse Ridge, an 18-hole course that replaced a nine-hole version when it opened in 2008.
The new course was controversial because even though it has water-conserving features such as drought-resistant grass and sophisticated irrigation controls, it still draws nearly 45 million gallons of water a year — about one-tenth of the university’s total water use.
Palouse Ridge was intended to improve the school’s golf teams, provide a laboratory for students in turf grass courses, and give boosters and alumni a new reason to visit the campus.
Meanwhile, levels of the aquifer that supplies water to the entire region, including the cities of Pullman, and Moscow, Idaho, eight miles away and home to the University of Idaho, have dropped drastically in the past century.
“This is irreplaceable water,” said Rachael Osborn, a lawyer for conservationists who challenged the golf course irrigation.
“Everyone acknowledges the groundwater system in the Pullman area is in terrible shape. And while the court said they understood that, they didn’t rule in a way that will in any way ease that problem.”
The case was brought by Scott Cornelius, a Pullman resident who has seen water levels fall in his own well.
He argued the water rights at issue were given to Washington State University for domestic or stock uses in the 1960s — and that they should have been revoked because the school didn’t use them.
Having attended this school, I take issue with that argument.
The school raises herds of cattle and sheep on university-owned land close to the center of campus — and a long drive away from the course.
He challenged a decision allowing the university to re-label those rights to allow for municipal uses such as a golf course.
State Department of Ecology spokesman Dan Partridge said the agency was pleased the court upheld its actions.
In a written statement, the department characterized the school as having changed the locations of six wells to improve efficiency and reliability in its drinking water system for dorms and apartment buildings on campus.
The statement didn’t mention the golf course, which draws tens of millions of gallons of water a year.
Asked whether irrigating the links in an area serviced by a declining aquifer is wise policy, Partridge said that in this case, “We were convinced that this could be done in a reasonably efficient manner and that it was a legitimate use of those water rights.”
Dan Costello, an assistant vice president at Washington State, said the university “has shown exceptional stewardship in managing our water resources,” and that thanks to conservation measures it pumped 462 million gallons in 2013 — nearly one-quarter less than it pumped 20 years earlier.
The course was under construction during the latter portion of my time as a Cougar undergraduate — a bit to my chagrin at the time as I felt improving the school’s football stadium should have had top priority.
I knew the previous nine-hole course more for sledding down its hilly driving range in snow storms than for sinking putts.
A little more than two years ago I visited the Palouse for a Washington State football game, with the added bonus of a round at Palouse Ridge.
I wrote about the round here at tinyurl.com/PDN-Carman.
Port Townsend events
Port Townsend Golf Club plans a three-person scramble event for Saturday.
Players can pick their own teams for the tourney, which has a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $25 per player, plus $10 green fees for nonmembers.
Head pro and general manager Gabriel Tonan passed along word that the course’s Friday Night Glow Ball Golf events are still going.
These are played in scramble format for groups of four players.
Cost is $10 per entry plus $10 green fees for nonmembers.
The pro shop at the course has glow balls for sale for those who wish to play.
Show up at dusk to form teams.
Dress warmly, as sunny skies are predicted through next week, leading to some chilly temps for night golf adventures.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
