As we are about to launch our fourth year of play on the Pusch Ridge Golf Course since its reopening in 2021, let’s focus a bit on its history, especially regarding water usage.
The long-term future of Pusch Ridge Golf will continue to be scrutinized because it is irrigated with potable water. Decisions were made decades ago not to extend pipelines for reclaimed water to the east side of Oro Valley. This means that parks, including Riverfront, James Kriegh, and the OV Aquatic Center, must use potable water. It also means Canyon del Oro High School, the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, the Pusch Ridge Golf Course, and the El Conquistador Resort must also use potable water for outdoor landscaping. Oro Valley Country Club also uses potable water but has its own water reservoir.
Today, the cost to bring reclaimed water to the Pusch Ridge Golf Course is estimated at $12,000,000. The current water rate charged to irrigate the golf course would take nearly 100 years to pay back. For this reason, it is essential for Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf to continuously look at ways to mitigate water use wherever we can.
Pusch Ridge Golf uses around 36 million gallons of potable water for irrigation. While that is a lot of water, it is essential to put this into context.
Oro Valley Water delivers nearly 2.5 billion gallons of potable water annually to 20,000 plus municipal water customers. They estimate that 60% of this water is not reclaimed but used for outdoor irrigation. Pusch Ridge Golf is included in this amount, reflecting around 1.5% of the potable water used outdoors.
In the three years since its reopening, Pusch Ridge Golf has seen over 50,000 rounds of golf played and has operated without any tax subsidies. In fact, it has managed to generate a surplus every year. This financial sustainability not only reassures us about the responsible use of resources but also underscores the golf course's significant contribution to the Oro Valley community. Therefore, we believe that the benefits derived from the golf course justify the water used.
As friends of Pusch Ridge Golf, we are committed to improving water use efficiency. However, to truly ensure a sustainable water supply for our community, we must broaden our perspective. The focus on water use savings should not be limited to our golf course. It needs to encompass the other 98.5% of the potable water used outdoors. This broader perspective will enlighten us about the larger water use context and guide us in our advocacy for responsible water use.
Just a 5% reduction in total outdoor potable water use would be close to 125,000,000 gallons a year, enough to serve at least 1,000 Oro Valley households. We believe this conservation can be achieved via education, simple steps, and effective use of the Oro Valley WaterSmart app (located at https://www.orovalleyaz.gov/Government/Departments/Water-Utility/Services/WaterSmart-Portal)
These efforts will cost next to nothing and certainly nowhere near the $12 million required to extend the reclaimed water system.
This year, Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf commits to encouraging Friends and neighbors to join us in our campaign to reduce outdoor potable water use via wise conservation so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of our unique Pusch Ridge Golf Course. You will be hearing more from us on effort throughout the coming year.
Thanks for being a Friend of Pusch Ridge Golf!
Regards,
Tony D’Angelo
FOPRG President
Hole #7 Bridge Update
Last Spring, the bridge that connects the tee boxes with the green on the #7 hole of Pusch Ridge Golf Course was condemned after serving the course for over 30 years. The Town Council allocated funds to have it replaced before the start of this year’s fall season.
The following update was provided on August 24, 2024, by Paul Keesler, PE, Town of Oro Valley Director/Town Engineer/Floorplan Administrator, Department of Public Works
“The steel bridge components have now been delivered and are at the local fabricator’s facility with the CorTen® handrail components scheduled for delivery on September 26th.
With the main steel bridge components delivered, the contractor will mobilize workers and equipment on site Monday, September 9th. The first order of business is removal of the existing bridge. This work will require several pieces of heavy equipment including a crane. Residents and stakeholders should avoid the area of construction beginning September 9th.
The contractor is currently anticipating setting the bridge steel commencing October 4th with project completion on October 25th. However, with the Friends of Pusch Ridge Tournament scheduled on Thursday October 24th, we will work with the goal of having the bridge functional for that date.’
Save the Date to Celebrate!
We will kick off year four on Thursday, October 24th, with a fun-filled tournament that includes two shotguns—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Our theme honors Rick Messina (the Pusch Ridge groundskeeper we lost this summer): “Cheers—Where Everybody Knows Your Name!”
So, think about how to celebrate this Boston native, and if you have good ideas, please let us know! Rick’s parents will be there to cut the ribbon on the fourth-hole meditation garden and are looking forward to meeting the generous Friends of Pusch Ridge, who have supported them during a very difficult time.
We will celebrate the course's opening with lunch between the two shotguns. Stay tuned for additional details and consider ways you’d like to participate in the tournament, either as a golfer or a volunteer. Send your ideas to Anna Bifano at annabifano73@gmail.com. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Carolyn Weinig at cweinig@icloud.com
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