Problem A: Strange painted marks on turf
Location: Wales
Turfgrass area: All putting greens
Turfgrass variety: Bentgrass
Problem B: Orange pipe exposed
Location: Smethport, Pa.
Turfgrass area: Out-of-bounds area
Turfgrass variety: Bluegrass/fescue mix
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Problem A: Strange painted marks on turf
Upon inspecting the course on a Wednesday morning, the superintendent found these strange painted marks on all 18 greens. The course was going to hold the club championship that weekend, and two of the club members decided they would “help out” by suggesting pin placement locations for the tournament. The course manager was unsure if they thought the previous year’s pin placements were too common, too easy or just plain wrong. No discussions were had with the course manager — the two members just went out and marked the greens as shown here. Needless to say, the superintendent was unimpressed with the marks on the greens.
Photo submitted by Andrew Hatcher, course manager at Coed-y-Mwstwr Golf Club on Bridgend, Wales.
Problem B: Orange pipe exposed
One would assume this exposed orange pipe might be a natural gas line. However, this golf course was constructed back in the 1970s, and someone gave the construction crew quite a bit of this orange pipe that it decided to use as irrigation system lines. According to the superintendent, it is not in the entire system, but there are places where there is “a lot of it.” Also, it is not buried very deep; some areas are only a foot deep, and, in many areas, it is only 3 to 4 inches deep, making fairway aerification a constant source of stress as the pipe does traverse a couple of fairways. In this out-of-bounds area, the orange pipe had become exposed, so the superintendent decided to excavate the area and rebury the line, as it is in a place where a rotary rough mower could damage the line. When the area was excavated, it was discovered that the pipe was exposed after a silver maple’s roots had grown under the line and formed a perfect knob under the pipe, pushing it upward and exposing it. Surprisingly, the tree was located more than 75 feet from this spot.
Photograph submitted by James Askey, superintendent at Smethport (Pa.) Country Club.
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.