Problem A: Irregular, dark green lines
Location: Spicewood, Texas
Turfgrass area: Putting green
Turfgrass variety: Tif3D bermudagrass
Problem B: Dark area shaped like a flag
Location: Pinetop, Ariz.
Turfgrass area: Putting green
Turfgrass variety: Bentgrass/Poa annua mix
Scroll down for answers.
Problem A: Irregular, dark green lines
These irregular dark green lines on a green were caused by strong winter winds and cold temperatures. This newly constructed course is located in central Texas just outside Austin. In the winter, when cold weather threatens, the crew covers the greens with two different covers. White woven translucent polyethylene material covers are used more often to establish and protect the new grass in cooler weather. Black plastic covers are also used during below-freezing temps that last 24 hours or longer. When extreme temperatures are expected, crew members first apply the white covers and stake them down with sod staples. They then place the black cover on top and stake everything down with 10-inch nails and washers every 3 feet. This past winter, the course had 60 hours below freezing as well as strong winds, which blew under the tarps, bunching up the white cover and creating a mini-greenhouse effect, which produced the darker green lines on the turf. After a week of being uncovered, the areas all blended back together.
Photo submitted by Ben Lauber, Class A director of agronomy at the Travis Club in Spicewood, Texas, and 20-year GCSAA member.
Problem B: Dark area shaped like a flag
The dark area shaped like the flag is still a bit of a mystery. It occurred on a course that has an elevation above 7,000 feet. If you look closely, you can see a rubber puck the staff uses to keep the cup clean while maintenance is being performed on the green. This is a freshly cut cup, and it had been there for only about one hour before the assistant superintendent showed up to spray the green. When the assistant arrived, he removed the flag and noticed this residual shadow on the putting green’s surface. The general consensus from agronomists on a Facebook group was that shadow effect was caused by the dew burning off everywhere but under where the flag had been laid. This caused the early morning light spectrum to show a mysterious flag that was no longer present. After a few hours passed, the color evened out across the whole green, and the phantom shadow was no longer visible.
Photo submitted by James Chaffin, assistant superintendent at White Mountain Country Club in Pinetop, Ariz., and 11-year GCSAA member. Doug Dykstra, CGCS, a 33-year association member, is director of agronomy there.
Editor’s note: Have a photo of an on-course anomaly? GCM would love to have a look! Email it to Photo Quiz author John Mascaro.
John Mascaro is the president of Turf-Tec International.