SunRidge Canyon Golf Course is closing July 1 until Oct. 4 to improve the greens and fairways.

General manager Jeff Lessig posted the summer closure May 16 on the golf course’s website.

The closure also includes the food and beverage operation for significant improvements in the public and kitchen areas.

The practice facility and golf shop will remain open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“By closing the course, we will be able to perform a major aerification of our greens and fairways which has not been done in many years, if ever,” wrote Lessig.

The process involves deep-tine drilling to remove large portions of salt-contaminated soil.

The course uses reclaimed wastewater (effluent water) to irrigate the course. The effluent water has significant sodium (salt) content, which is harmful to turf grass, explained Lessig.

The cost of using potable (drinkable) water is cost prohibitive at about three times the expense of the current reclaimed water.

“Despite significant efforts on our part, more action is needed from us as well as from the Fountain Hills Sanitary District from whom we get our water,” he wrote.

The course management said it is teaming up with the Sanitary District, and other golf courses served by the district, to establish a program urging residents to use potassium instead of sodium-based products in home water softeners.

Reducing the salt would have a dramatic impact on course conditions, according to Lessig.

The summer closure also will permit other projects, such as tee leveling, adding some new tees and continuing a de-vegetation program to open up sight lines and landing areas, to occur without interfering with play.

The plan also allows SunRidge to accomplish seasonal overseeding and reopen 17 days earlier than last year to take advantage of the milder October weather.