Several years ago, Maui County Waiehu Golf Course was restored at great expense from cow pasture status to being one of the nicest courses on the island.

There never seemed to be a problem with irrigation on the course.

Now, irrigation for fairways and green fringes has been shut off to fix what the county says was a leaking irrigation reservoir.

But after three months of pumping, the contractor still has not been able to drain the pond.

It appears that the bottom of the pond might be at the water table or the pond may be located on a natural spring. Instead of water leaking out of the pond it could very well be leaking into it.

The dead turf will not come back to be replaced by weeds. Much of the restoration work that was done on the course will be lost. Or costly restoration will again be necessary.

Will the contractor be held responsible? Why wasn’t a second pump added when it became apparent that one pump was not enough to drain the pond?

I suspect the cost of this project will far exceed any savings in irrigation and it may ultimately lead to the loss of the course if the damage continues.

The course is a wonderful source of affordable recreation for locals and the five-mile walk provides excellent exercise, including for high school athletes who choose to do so.

The county worked so hard to rehabilitate this park. To see it go to waste is a shame.

Ron Schoenherr
Wailuku