Problem A: Small pile of material behind most greens
Location: Smethport, Pa.
Turfgrass area: Putting green collar
Turfgrass variety: Bentgrass/Poa annua mix
Problem B: Brown area on putting green
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta
Turfgrass area: Practice putting green
Turfgrass variety: Bentgrass/Poa annua mix
Scroll down for answers.
Problem A: Small pile of material behind most greens
While performing the final greens mowing on this semi-private, nine-hole course in northern Pennsylvania before shutting down for the season, the superintendent noticed this fine-to-coarse sand-like substance on the back of many of his collars. Neither
he nor his staff could identify it. Later that week, a member stopped the superintendent while he was driving the course to let him know that the widow of a long-time member should be happy now. After a little prodding to learn more, the superintendent
learned that the member had spread some of the golfer’s ashes behind every green as a tribute because he was such an avid golfer and loved the course. Disturbing mystery solved. The superintendent commented, “I had never seen anything
like this in my 46 years of golf course work,” and mentioned he would have appreciated a notification from the member before the ashes were spread.
Photo submitted by James Askey, the superintendent at Smethport (Pa.) Country Club.
Problem B: Brown area on putting green
While this practice green was being verticut with a ride-on triplex mower, one of the hoses blew, causing a massive oil spill. Luckily, the equipment operator discovered the issue immediately, pulled off the green and shut down the machine. Absorbent
floor dry was applied to the collar where the machine was backed up and parked, as most of the oil drained out in this area. Nothing additional was applied to the green. The crew used an adjustable-depth hexagon plugger set at 3 inches for the repair
and used turf plugs from the edge of the practice green, as no nursery turf was available. The repair took about three hours to complete. The remaining plug holes were filled with sand and seeded with bentgrass. The following fall, the course built
a nursery green in case it had any future issues like this.
Photo submitted by Bradley Meyer, a member of the maintenance team at Henderson Lake Golf and Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta. Dave Wobschall, a one-year GCSAA member, is the head superintendent at Henderson Lake.
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.