by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Over two years after Hurricane Ian, Sanibel’s three golf courses are still recovering from significant disruptions to their typical operations. In 2024, the Island and its golf courses were once again impacted by storm surge during three different storm events: Debby, Helene, and Milton. To allow golf course staff to focus on their recovery, the Golf Course Report Card program has been put on hold for the last two reporting years (October 2022- September 2024). However, Natural Resources staff met with each golf course superintendent to discuss the challenges each course has faced and observe the progress they have made during recovery. The City’s Environmental Biologist, Dana Dettmar, provided a brief overview of each golf course.
The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club
Turf grass renovation is now complete, changing to a higher salt tolerance grass (paspalum) that also has lower fertilizer requirements. Soil tests show elevated salt levels. Irrigation system repairs are now complete. Sodium content in the reuse water remains high. Water clarity remains relatively clear. There were a few small fish kills and one large event following cloudy days, due mainly to saltwater fish likely brought into the lakes due to storm surge.
The Sanctuary Golf Club
Storm surge events in 2024 impacted areas where Bermuda grass was present but paspalum was largely unaffected except in low areas where water sat for an extended period of time. Soil testing is still pending. No observable algae blooms were reported. A small fish kill was observed, attributed to the aeration system, which can stir up bottom sediments. Lake salinity remained relatively low. The aeration system was damaged and is being replaced. Native plants are being replanted in areas of vegetation loss.
Sanibel Island Golf Club
This club uses paspalum turf, but there are a significant number of low-lying areas that held saltwater storm surge for weeks to months following Ian, Debby, Helene, and Milton. The course experienced significant turf losses and continues to struggle to restore them. Following Milton, the course experienced electrical issues, so irrigation has been inconsistent. As a result of the standing water, fairways are only irrigated three days a week, and greens are irrigated five days a week. Salinity in the reuse pond has dropped significantly. No algae blooms or fish kills were reported. However, Helene’s storm surge washed a significant number of fish onto the course that died on land. Significant erosion is occurring along lake banks on the Sanibel Slough in addition to some other areas.
The Natural Resources Department said the scoring system used in the past was not appropriate right now due to the effects of the hurricanes. This report is issued annually.