Problem A: Uneven surface
Location: Pierre, S.D.
Turfgrass area: Fairway
Turfgrass variety: Bluegrass
Problem B: Object found in ground
Location: Dededo, Guam
Turfgrass area: Golf course construction area
Turfgrass variety: None
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Problem A: Uneven surface
This golf course is located along the Missouri River and has a wildlife buffer between the course and the river. With natural areas come natural varmints. This fairway had been treated for grub control, yet some survived. Apparently, it was too tempting of a snack for a local porcupine, and he dug into the fairway for the tasty treats. Porcupines mostly eat plants and bark but do love the occasional grub. Being unfamiliar with porcupines outside of my zoo experiences, I inquired how large the native ones can get in this part of the country. The photo on the left shows the answer to this question. The director of parks reports that porcupines are fairly numerous in the wildlife buffer area. In addition to occasional digging into areas on the course, the other photo on this page shows some of the tree bark damage that occurs from the animals.
Photograph submitted by Bryan Tipton, CGCS, director of parks and recreation for the City of Pierre Parks Department in Pierre, S.D., and a 29-year association member. Jordan Steiner is a golf course superintendent and an eight-year member of GCSAA.
Problem B: Object found in ground
In the spring of 1991, crews were clearing about 100 acres of native jungle at Guam International Country Club in Dededo, Guam, in preparation for construction to begin on 18 holes of golf. The operator of a D-8 bulldozer who was clearing the fairway for hole No. 11 suddenly stopped his bulldozer, jumped off and ran for help. He had inadvertently unearthed an anti-tank mine and, luckily, knew exactly what it was. The superintendent called the Emergency Ordinance Disposal at Anderson Air Force Base, which removed the live ordinance and took it to an explosive bunker on the base. When the Air Force was pushing it into the disposal bunker for detonation, it unexpectedly exploded, showing exactly how lucky the bulldozer operator was in finding the device. Apparently, most of the golf course site was in the path of the Japanese retreat during WWII.
Photograph submitted by Steve Carlton, retired golf course superintendent, who was at Guam International Country Club from 1989 to 1993.
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.