There is work being done out at the Walker Lake Golf Course in hopes that it can get open in some capacity by this July, but its leadership team is hitting roadblocks every step of the way. Since Mineral County took over the course in late 2022, the parks and recreation department has been making a concerted effort to save it. A few weeks ago, the county hired golf course manager Gerald Reeves who has 16 years of experience in irrigation and technology, and even worked at the Walker Lake Golf Course for five years previously.
After the golf course transferred hands, though, the county found damaged timers, a couple of broken water lines (including the watermain), and other problems that seem to pop up daily.
“We’re relying on the expertise of Gerald to help us fix this…he’s the only chance right now- if there is one,” says Mineral County Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Isom.
Isom is hoping that the water pipe issues will be resolved by the end of March, but even then, he is a bit afraid that when they turn on the water irrigation system that the entire thing may collapse.
“Who knows what will happen once the water gets turned on,” Isom states. It’s a mix of the weather, working with an older system, and it possibly sitting for a while of why it is so hard to get it back up and running but fortunately Isom is not one to give up.
“We have to replace all of the timers and whatever else they’re working on out there, but tomorrow we’ll probably have new problems,” he says. “Thank goodness for the people who want this to happen and are volunteering their time to help us work through this. We have an electrician, friends who are plumbers, pipe builders, and lots of volunteers who are helping us.”
Isom established the golf course board that meets once a month to talk through issues and find solutions, and it will probably meet once every two weeks as we get closer to the season.
“If the board stays together like it will then the golf course will reopen because the people involved are motivated to see it through,” Isom says. A few people who belong to the board include residents Rob Mathias, Courtney Isom, and County Commissioner Cassie Hall. With these members dedicated about restoring the course, the parks and rec department is taking it one hole at a time and is grateful for the feedback it receives.
“It’s a lot easier to tackle something as a team. The goal is to go hole by hole to make progress,” Isom explains, saying that he viewed this renovation as a three-year project from the get-go. Not knowing the extent of the damage, Walker Lake could open as a 7-hole course or a 4-hole one by summer, but that could also be wishful thinking.
“We’re dealing with a lot of problems right now but there are a lot of people in town and at the base who want the golf course there. And we have food and alcohol vendors set up and ready to go,” Isom adds.
