With July temperatures now in full swing, we are deep into summer transition mode on both golf courses. This is a critical time of year when we focus on bringing our base turf, common Bermudagrass, back to full strength after the winter season.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll see us watering and fertilizing more heavily than usual. These efforts are intentional and necessary as we push our common Bermuda to grow aggressively and fill in any remaining thin areas. A question I often get this time of year is: “Why does the summer transition take so long?” The short answer is that common Bermudagrass simply recovers much slower than the newer hybrid Bermudas you’ll see at many other courses across the Valley.

A perfect example of this contrast can be seen on the Vistas driving range tee. That surface is planted with Tahoma 31, a newer hybrid Bermuda variety. It’s extremely aggressive, recovers quickly, and requires far less water and fertilizer than the common Bermuda we have on our fairways. As I told a member recently, “It’s like comparing a new Cadillac to an old Ford Pinto.” The difference is real and noticeable.

That said, we are working diligently every day to strengthen our turf, improve playing conditions, and get our courses where we all want them to be. While it may take a bit more time and effort with common Bermuda, we are committed to doing everything possible to maximize its performance during the hottest months of the year.

Thank you for your patience and continued support as we work through this important transition.

A time-lapse video confirmed substantial shade coverage throughout the day. Soil samples and profile analysis show the green’s soil is healthy and consistent with other greens on the Lakes course, ruling out soil conditions or maintenance as the root cause.

To manage algae and stress, we’ve enhanced maintenance practices:

• Targeted plant protectants
• Additional fertilization
• Needle tine aerification for quick healing and airflow

CURRENT STATUS
Our findings confirm that:

• Shade limits Bermuda growth
• Restricted air flow promotes algae and prolonged moisture retention

As in past years, temporarily closing the green and applying focused agronomic practices helps restore playability very quickly. We appreciate your understanding as we work to maintain healthy turf and optimal conditions and we hope to have it reopened in a few weeks.

There is significant buzz around Westbrook Golf Club on two very important Club concerns: the Vistas irrigation system and the Vistas well. The board has initiated a process to study both in order to:

We encourage attendance to the February 4, 2026 Member Annual Meeting which will be dedicated to sharing the status of strategies at that time. Meanwhile, we will provide information updates via member emails and our member website. Rumors are difficult to deal with and opinions are plentiful and variable. Education is knowledge and your BoD will impart knowledge and understanding about these very serious projects once they are ready for sharing. 

Our top priority is developing a long-range plan that prepares the Club for the upcoming Vistas irrigation and well replacement. At the same time, we aim to maintain our courses and facilities in top quality while delivering exceptional golf experiences for our members and their guests — all within reasonable budgets and available funds. This will be the focus of our first “information update."

We are currently assessing the existing well's condition and history of repairs. There is uncertainty about when the well might collapse, but it is inevitable. It is over 75 years old.

The BoD met with Marvin Glotfelty, of Clear Creek Associates and Mike Mullin, Empire Pump, to assist in the review and identification of “best and worse” case scenarios about the well. Both Marvin and Mike were key players and experts for the Lakes Well replacement. 

A summary from that meeting follows!

Both Marvin and Mike suggested that the Well be replaced before the irrigation system. It is believed that we can maintain the irrigation system internally with the understanding that by so doing, over time, we will increase irrigation maintenance costs and lose water usage efficiency on the golf course. If the well decides to not play on our timeline, and we do the irrigation first, we have no water to pump through the irrigation system. This might sound familiar with our members who lived through the Lakes Irrigation Project in 2015 and the Lakes Well Replacement in 2021.

There was a discussion about the possibility of rehabbing the well, similar to what we first tried at the at the Lakes before its ultimate replacement. However, it was determined that this approach would not heal the well nor increase the water supply. Essentially, it would be a costly endeavor that wouldn’t address the underlying issue. Rehabbing the well doesn’t make it younger or healthier.

As we all know, there are no guarantees about the well’s lifespan, so we must weigh the risk of an extended delay.

Marvin confirmed that the phased approach was a very solid approach and the three phases and timeline between them are:

Phase 1: Ensuring compliance with local and state regulations governing groundwater extraction and well replacement in Arizona. This involves obtaining necessary permits and approvals from relevant authorities, such as the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). Adhering to these regulations will prevent legal issues and ensure the smooth progression of the project. Permits have an expiration date, but they can be extended.

Phase 2:  Borehole Drilling, site preparation, well installation, development, completion and testing.

Phase 3: Design and placement of pumping equipment. Marvin and Mike emphasized that the time between phases 2 and 3 should not exceed one year. They explained that a well sitting without the pumping of water causes an accumulation of sludge, which necessitates removal before phase 3 commences.

Site Selection: We visited the site and considered three locations for the replacement well: near the current well, across the fairway on the left of the tee boxes, and on the black tee box. The black tee box was recommended due to its equal proximity to neighbors, ease of access for construction and maintenance, and proximity to the electrical box and water source. A replacement well MUST be placed within 600 feet of the existing well in accordance with ADWR requirements.

Submersible well: This option was discussed and the negatives were greater than the positives for the added cost. 

Funding discussions are underway. Keep in mind prices never fall.  One meeting with the experts does not provide all the answers. We are still evaluating the current status of the Vistas well and irrigation system by meeting with our well and irrigation experts. Take a deep breath. Play golf. Enjoy your retirement. And close your ears to rumors. Read the articles we share for greater understanding about both AZ golf course wells and irrigation. We promise to keep you informed. And be sure to mark your calendars for the Member Annual Meeting, February 4^th, 2026.

Respectfully, Your Board of Directors