Flash flooding closes Groveport golf course, strands patrons; more rain forecast Sunday
Golf course director Tom Walker said early spring flooding typically closes the course for a day or two. But he worries that additional rain and the cresting of the Little Walnut Creek could worsen the problem.
One vehicle ended up in a sand pit used to filter and contain contaminants. "I'm not sure how it got there," Walker said, speculating that flood waters lifted it from where it was parked. Water had risen halfway up the windshield.
At least three other cars were left overnight into July 27, stranded and unable to start due to high rushing water.
"They tried to vacate last night, but water rose above the tailpipes," he said, preventing ignition.
A golf course message announcing the facility's closure due to flooding may continue into next week, depending on additional rainfall. Rain gauges at the course neared four inches, said Walker.
As of 9 a.m. July 27, the National Weather Service lifted its flood warning for central Ohio. However, there is still a flood advisory for Fairfield County due to reported high water and road closures, meteorologist Toms Franks told The Dispatch.
The July 27 forecast replays recent patterns: afternoon showers and thunderstorms likely, with rain showers likely after 4 p.m. The high will be around 90 degrees, with light breezes. The chance of rain is 80% with less than a tenth of an inch, except during thunderstorms.
The rainfall total at John Glenn International Airport was 0.91 inches over 24 hours ending Sunday morning.
But Groveport and pockets of Fairfield County had significantly more rain," said Franks, affirming that Groveport's multiple inches fell within an hour. "There can be a fairly fine line between nothing and significant rainfall," Franks said, with Groveport in the path of fronts that dropped storm after storm.
Franks said the NWS works to be proactive with warnings, following incidents of flash flooding nationwide and a warming climate.
"We'd rather have too much warning than not enough. Because the atmosphere is warmer, from the ground up it is able to hold more water vapor and there have been larger rainfall totals," Franks said.
Walker now worries that additional rain could pool on the fairways and with high heat kill the turf grass, which last happened in 2017. "We lost all the fairways on the back nine," he said.
Golfers played 36,000 rounds last year. A typical weekend day brings in up to 250 golfers. And the city-subsidized course doesn't want to closed too long.
"We'll tackle it however we have to," Walker said.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Links at Groveport golf course closes due to flash flooding
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