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Photo quiz |
Answers:
PHOTO A: The irrigation heads began plugging during the warm summer months with this mysterious growth. The golf course ended up losing some turf due to plugged irrigation heads during the 100-degree summer temperatures. It took approximately two months to find the proper diagnosis. It turned out to be freshwater bryozoans (plumatella). This material is actually a tiny invertebrate animal that gets carried into the irrigation system and then attaches itself to the inside of the pipes. Once attached, they grow until the irrigation heads eventually become clogged, causing the maintenance crew to clean out between 30 and 40 sprinklers daily. Through USGA agronomists and Frank Wong, Ph.D., of the University of California-Riverside, course officials were able to correctly identify the problem and control the plumatella by cleaning out and disinfecting the entire irrigation system. Currently, the problem is being managed by careful monitoring of potential bryozoan buildup and the use of preventive water treatments. Photo submitted by Michael Bailey, regional superintendent for ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance at Warner Springs (Calif.) Ranch GC, and a 17-year GCSAA member.
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PHOTO B: This rough putting surface was first seen by the assistant superintendent on a fall morning as she was making her morning check of the golf course. She first suspected it was vandalism since this green is located in the open, close to a public road. After further investigation, though, the assistant superintendent and her crew concluded it was the result of a deer. They never actually saw the deer, but the tracks that were left behind confirmed it. They were pretty sure the deer made the gashes in the green by using its antlers. After checking the rest of the course, two other greens had the same kind of gashes in them. To fix them, the staff took ball-mark repair tools and tried to fix the putting surfaces the best they could and then filled them with sand. It would appear that at least one deer in Indiana had a bad round of golf that night and took out its frustrations on the turf. At least deer do not travel in foursomes. Photo submitted by Kristen Sprunger, assistant superintendent at Wabash Valley GC in Geneva, Ind.
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