LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) \u2014 The summer of 2025 is shaping up to be one for the record books \u2014 not just for the heat and rain, but for the toll it\u2019s taken on Louisville\u2019s public golf courses.<\/p>\n
Despite what you might think, a mix of hot temperatures and heavy rainfall hasn\u2019t been kind to the city\u2019s greens. In fact, some of them are in such bad shape, they need to be completely replaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of them just need to be reseeded and start over because they lost them almost completely,\u201d Louisville golfer Daryl Russell said.<\/p>\n
The city estimates it will cost $60,000 to $70,000 to repair each one of the damaged greens after a cold winter followed by a dreadfully hot summer with more rain than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s also an infestation of an annual bluegrass weevil \u2014 a bug that eats grass. So there\u2019s a lot of things that contribute to what you\u2019re seeing today.<\/p>\n
“We have we have consulted with chemical manufacturers. Seed manufacturers, other superintendents here in the Louisville area trying to get their advice on trying to figure out what it is exactly. And there’s not one person that can say, this is the reason here is exactly what’s going on,”\u00a0Jason Canuel, with Louisville Parks and Recreation, said.<\/p>\n
Drone video captured by WDRB News shows what appears to be dead greens \u2014 brown, patchy and barren \u2014 at several city-run golf courses. In some spots, there\u2019s no green grass at all.<\/p>\n
For golfer Joey Sears, that\u2019s unacceptable. He\u2019s become something of an unofficial spokesperson for frustrated local golfers, sharing dozens of photos online and voicing concerns directly to city leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, enough people have messaged me, fed up with it,\u201d Sears said. \u201cI\u2019ve met with the Council. I\u2019ve met with the Parks and Sustainability Committee. I\u2019ve met with all those people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sears said part of the problem is how the courses are managed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pros have contracts, so basically, they\u2019re their own private entity. They handle the pro shop,” he said. “The city of Louisville pays for the maintenance and handles the maintenance. So it\u2019s two separate operations.”<\/p>\n
According to Sears, that separation has led to poor communication and worse results \u2014 like dead greens.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack in the day, maybe lose one green every other summer,\u201d Sears said. \u201cNever in my lifetime have we lost four greens on a golf course. Never in my lifetime have we lost nine greens like we did at Bobby Nichols.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite all this, Canuel says 2025 is actually a banner year for city golf overall.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolf, in whole, on all 10 courses \u2014 this is probably one of the best years we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But repairing the damage won’t be cheap. City officials estimate the total cost of fixing the damaged greens could top $1 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that there\u2019s a problem,\u201d Canuel said. \u201cWe have what we think is going to be a viable solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
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