COST SAVINGS: City of Sierra Vista says golf course projects will save money, water

For Sierra Vista residents, the city’s golf center is about to become a major test of whether recreation, conservation and long term cost control can coexist in a desert community. The city is undertaking a broad set of improvements at the Sierra Vista Golf Center, including solar covered parking, electric vehicle charging stations, upgraded irrigation equipment, deeper well work and the replacement of irrigated turf with landscaping that does not require regular watering. City officials say the project is expected to save about 35 million gallons of water each year while reducing operating costs over time.

The work is part of Phase Three of the city’s Schneider Electric project, a partnership focused on improving the golf center’s energy and water efficiency. Sierra Vista Parks, Recreation and Library Services Director Laura Wilson described the effort as a response to the reputation golf courses have for consuming large amounts of water. The city’s approach is to reduce demand while keeping the facility available as a recreational asset. At the golf center, visitors will also gain access to electric vehicle charging stations, allowing them to charge while they play or use other amenities.

One of the largest changes will affect 17.5 acres of land now covered by irrigated turf. That ground is planned for conversion to xeriscaping and a custom seed blend designed to restore native vegetation, provide habitat for wildlife and reduce future water needs. The project is not simply a matter of removing grass and replacing it with decorative rock. The planned landscape is intended to create a more natural setting while lowering the amount of water and maintenance required by the course. City officials say the changes should ultimately improve the facility’s appearance as well as its efficiency.

Water system improvements will extend beyond the turf conversion. The city plans to upgrade irrigation heads, modernize irrigation and water management systems, and make improvements involving ponds and other water infrastructure. One of the golf center’s wells is also being dug deeper. According to the project timeline presented during a regional community breakfast, solar covered parking and the reduction of turf are already underway. Pond, water infrastructure and irrigation work is expected to begin in September, with completion scheduled for 2027.

The construction will temporarily change how golfers experience the course. Because the landscaping conversion is planned in stages, individual holes will need to close while work takes place. Existing plants must first receive treatment before they are removed. Wilson cautioned that the early stages will not necessarily look attractive, since treated grass will die and leave areas that resemble scars across the course. That temporary disruption is expected to precede the final landscaping and restoration work. The city has budgeted for the improvements, although officials have emphasized that the long term savings are a central reason for making the investment.

At a Good Morning Sierra Vista breakfast held at the Cochise College Sierra Vista campus, Vice Mayor Carolyn Flowers provided additional financial details about the project. She said the improvements are projected to save more than $6 million over their life cycle, alongside the annual water savings. The figures place the golf center project within a broader conversation about how municipal facilities can continue serving residents while using less water and energy. For Sierra Vista, reducing demand at a city owned golf facility could also help demonstrate how desert communities can approach public recreation more responsibly.

The golf center work was one part of a wider update on municipal affairs delivered by leaders from Sierra Vista, Huachuca City and Benson at the breakfast, organized by the Sky Islands Regional Partnership. Flowers also discussed Sierra Vista’s new fire chief, Deputy Chief Bradley Dever, and City Manager Chuck Potucek’s receipt of the International City/County Management Association’s Award for Career Excellence. The award is presented to one person worldwide each year. She also addressed the city’s final fiscal year 2026 to 27 budget, which the City Council adopted at $140.7 million. The council was scheduled to vote Aug. 13 on the primary property tax levy, with a recommended rate intended to keep residents from paying more in city property taxes unless their property values rose.

The conservation work also fits into a regional pattern of communities looking for ways to stretch public resources. Huachuca City officials described grant funded road, sidewalk, landfill and public works projects, including a roughly $5 million Greater Arizona Development Authority loan for equipment. Benson officials highlighted road paving, tourism and large public events, including a July Fourth celebration that drew about 14,000 people. Those updates offered different examples of local governments trying to maintain services and attract visitors while managing infrastructure costs. Sierra Vista’s golf center project applies that same concern to water, electricity and landscaping.

For golfers and nearby residents, the most visible changes will come gradually as holes close, turf is treated and new vegetation takes hold. The city expects the finished facility to use less water, require more efficient irrigation and generate lower costs through solar power and reduced landscape demand. Wilson said the project represents an investment in Sierra Vista’s future and in responsible stewardship of community resources. If the timeline holds, residents will see the course move through a disruptive transition before the planned 2027 completion, with the promised payoff coming in the form of conservation, new amenities and a more sustainable city facility.