Problem A: Strange marks across dew
Location: Marshalltown, Iowa
Turfgrass area: Putting green
Turfgrass variety: Bentgrass
Problem B: Missing turf
Location: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Turfgrass area: Putting green
Turfgrass variety: Creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass
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Problem A: Strange marks across dew
Strange marks across this putting green in the early morning dew were not made after an alien landing craft found Earth and decided that a golf course was the best place to begin inspection of our planet. However, I am still waiting for that photo, so if you have one, please submit it. My contact information is listed below. These strange marks are not really a problem, just a neat photo. They are the trail left after a snapping turtle traveled across this green in the early morning hours from a nearby pond to the creek also located on the course. Snapping turtles don’t typically cause any issues on the course, other than occasionally scaring golfers. Snapping turtles can grow to 30-plus pounds and have an incredibly strong bite force (strong enough to bite off a finger). Many times, in the summer, female snapping turtles leave ponds and travel to nearby creeks for more suitable nesting sites. When the crew members at this course see a turtle making this journey, they leave the turtles alone and let golfers know to stay clear. They see lots of wildlife out on the course, mainly white-tailed deer, which in Iowa can be anywhere from 150-250 pounds. They also see (and hear) coyotes, foxes, rabbits and other various critters.
Photograph submitted by Mark Collison, owner and greens superintendent at Collison Par 3 Golf Course in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Problem B: Missing turf
This missing turf is probably familiar to almost all superintendents since it happens from par-3 municipal courses all the way up to high-end private clubs. It is caused by the recurring disease “Golfer Lackofbrainsporium” and happens when a golfer has a poor putt and decides to take it out on the green. On this course, this type of thing has been happening a lot this year, so the idea of installing game cameras has been tossed out there to identify the perpetrator(s). The superintendent and assistant have not decided on whether to install them yet, but they hope to test it on one green this year. They do experience other types of vandalism on the course as well, including people messing with their detour ropes by cutting them and breaking off the rope stakes. The divot area was repaired using a cup cutter, and the divot fit perfectly in one plug, so the damaged turf was moved to the sod growing area.
Photo submitted by John Nesbitt, assistant superintendent at College Hill Park in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and student at Rutgers University/Cook College. He’s a two-year GCSAA Student member. Chris Kemble is golf course superintendent at College Hill.
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.