A much-anticipated project to improve water storage and capacity at Oakview Golf and Country Club north of Gretna is underway.

Club president, Craig Neufeld, explains at the end of the 2020 season crews were able to patch the pond dam and re-enforce the reservoir north of the driving range. Additionally, he says they just finished digging out and widening part of the creek on hole #2.

"As a result of that, we are able to hold about two million more gallons of water. That's a big plus for us," added Neufeld, noting this added capacity will provide another month or so of watering at the course. "And now that we're going to be able to hold that amount of water too, that should be able to solve water issues for a long time to come."

A lack of normal rainfall over the past few years has forced the club to use a significant amount of water from its reservoir, and in order to conserve the limited supply, watering had been restricted to greens and tee boxes only which has resulted in fairways turning brown. Even when there was sufficient rainfall, Neufeld says the leaky dam would result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. Now, even in a dry year, Neufeld expects these improvements will allow for consistent watering of not only tee boxes and greens all summer but fairways and ruff as well.

Meantime, Neufeld says the Board took advantage of the work happening around hole #2 and moved ahead with some modifications that will give it a different look for the 2021 season.

Crews used some of the excess dirt from digging up the creek to create mounds on the east and west side of the fairway.

"It's not a long hole and it's fairly straight and flat so we figured since we have the dirt anyway let's build some moguls and that way if your off-line on your tee shot you pay a little bit more a penalty."

A $10,000 grant from Enbridge is covering half of the $20,000 bill for this project. Neufeld adds a busy season this past summer has allowed the club to cover the other half of the cost.

The view of the wider creek from the black tee box on hole #2.

Moguls will change the look and play of #2 fairway.