A Century-Old Staple of the Galveston Community Founded in 1898, Galveston Country Club is the oldest chartered country club in Texas. It originally included 30 members, and was one of Galveston’s most exclusive places. Today the club includes over 1,400 members and offers an array of athletic and social activities. Having undergone a few renovations over the years, the Par 72 golf course now plays over 6,500 yards from the back tees and features a barrage of water hazards and challenges for players of all levels. THE CHALLENGE Galveston Country Club’s golf course is completely surrounded by Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Because of its proximity to so much saltwater, corrosion was a huge problem for the course's maintenance staff. Although the course’s irrigation water supply is fed from a freshwater well, the salt was still creeping in. As a result the course's rotor turrets were hardening and breaking, and riser seals were leaking within weeks of installation. Superintendent Jeff Smelser decided it was time to find a brand that could withstand the conditions. THE SOLUTION Jeff contacted his local Hunter Sales Manager to see if anything could be done to eliminate the extreme costs that come with replacing heads so often. Hunter's golf rotors are tested against similar extreme circumstances, and the Hunter sales staff knew exactly what to do. Within weeks Jeff was retrofitting an exhausted irrigation system with new state-of-the-art Hunter golf rotors that were built well enough to withstand the salt water’s mineral assault. THE RESULT Replacing the existing heads with Hunter golf rotors greatly reduced maintenance time and its associated costs. It also improved course playability and visual appeal. Hunter is proud to play a crucial role in ensuring Galveston Country Club’s gulf-side golf course stays green and healthy for many more decades to come.