The drought is taking its toll on golf courses across the central United States. In Savannah, they officials are raising membership and green fees to cover the additional cost of maintaining the city-owned Duncan Hills Golf Course.

The Board of Aldermen on Monday placed on first reading an ordinance that includes a “drought surcharge” to help cover the cost of irrigation.

The ordinance would add $50 to the cost of single and family memberships, add $25 to the cost of corporate memberships, and add a dollar to the green fees.

Single memberships currently cost $500 per year. Family memberships go for $625 per year for two, plus $50 per additional child. Corporate memberships go for $400 per year. Green fees range from $22 to $25.

Course Manager Mark Christopher says the drought has already taken its toll, and they want to have a plan in place in the event that drought conditions continue. Last year, Christoper says they drained many of the ponds on the course, and had to resort to using city water. They went through 109 thousand gallons of city water per day at a cost of about $500 per day. That was only enough to water the tee boxes and greens, leaving the fairways to turn brown.

Currently, Christopher says water levels at two of the 13 ponds on the course are down more than twenty feet.