Frost Delays

Frost is a common reason for morning tee time delay. The reason for the delays is the damage that can occur from foot or equipment traffic to the turf when frost is present. Generally speaking, nice fall golfing days and frost go hand-in-hand. With more frost days expected, this is a good time to look at the conditions favorable for frost.

Frost occurs on clear cold nights when turfgrass plants re-radiate heat (exothermic reaction). As the plant loses heat to the atmosphere the plant leaf cools. If the plant temperature is cooler than the air temperature then moisture from the atmosphere will condense on the leaf. If the leaf temperature drops below freezing then the water freezes and frost forms. This will occur even if the air temperatures are slightly above freezing. At this time of the year it is not uncommon to have frost form even if the air temperature is in the mid to high 30s.

Frost itself does not cause damage, but injury does occur with traffic on frosted areas. Turf damage is generally superficial. This is not to say that traffic should be allowed on frosted turf. If traffic occurs, whether it is foot or mechanical, damage caused by crushing the leaf blade will occur. Initially the symptoms will appear purplish to black in color (almost like an excessive Iron application). The damaged turf will then progress to a straw color. If no damage occurs to the crown, recovery will occur from the generation of new leaves.

Hogs Hogs Hogs Let's say it again HOGS

 I will tell you I have never witnessed such damage to a golf course as we have experienced here at Willow Fork Country Club. Some protective measures have been tried to restraint the hogs from entering our property, bottom line the club has alot of open territory these hogs could be entering from. We have even witnessed the hogs destroying homeowners front yards around the course, so even the entrances to the subdivision can lead to the golf course as well.

 I have been asked a numerous of times; Why are they hogs coming here? Think about it, we're as much as twenty inches behind in rainfall. If you were to take a walk out in the wooded areas normally you could see small pockets of water or wetland areas saturated with water. Today you go and look at these same sites and they are 100% dry. Bottom line is---There's very little water and food available where these animals would normally feed. With the drought the soil base is dry up to eight inches below the surface-that's where the insects live that normally hogs would feed on.

 So what does a wild animal as a hog do; It will find areas that are irrigated and fertilized "What a great menu for them". Once they locate such an area and begin to set a track they will repeat and as they have babies, they will learn the same route as well until some type change happens and causes them to go another direction for food.

 There's four protective measures we have taken here at the club to help slow down the hogs.

1. Electrical wire fencing was installed along holes #5,6,7. the fence is live from 8:00 pm till 5:00 am.

2. There's a hunter that will come out as called, so far he as shot 6. He generally comes after the midnight hours. Night vision and/or infra red vision is used and his rifles are equipped with silencers. 

3. The club has hired an individual to work night hours to monitor the course.

4. Hog traps are being set. I do have some extra one's coming to help out.

Where the Game Is in a Dry Season

 Houston

The current drought map of the U.S., maintained by the federal government, shows a small amber blemish in the Southeast, indicating midlevel drought conditions, and a much, much bigger circular bruise in the middle of the country, shrouding virtually all of Texas and Oklahoma. Its dark purple-brown colors denote not just extreme drought, but "exceptional" drought.
This is no news for Texans. "It's like we've had a big 'H' [for high-pressure zone] parked over us all year, and we've had to watch the rainy weather rotate counterclockwise around Texas, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel," said Charles Joachim, the golf-course superintendent at Champions Golf Club in north Houston.

Reuters

DESSICATION ROW: At 'Home on the Range' in Dripping Springs, Texas, Sept. 9, after little rain for months.

Houston, despite some people's impression of the Texas climate, is a semitropical city that averages about 50 inches of rain annually. This year so far it has received only 12 inches, 5 of which fell in January. More than 15,000 trees in the city's massive Memorial Park, including many lining the golf course there, are visibly dead or dying. (It will cost an estimated $4.5 million to remove them.) At the Tour 18 course north of the city, the hole meant to mimic the 17th at TPC-Sawgrass lacks one essential detail: water in the lake that surrounds the island green.
Miserly precipitation rates this year are only part of the problem facing Texas golf courses. The three-month stretch from June through August was the hottest that any state has experienced since at least 1895, when record-keeping began. Many parts of the state, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, suffered through 70 days or more of 100-degree-plus weather. "At those temperatures, a course can lose over a third of an inch of moisture every day, just in evaporation out of the turf," said Charles "Bud" White, the U.S. Golf Association's regional agronomist. The combination of drought and heat can cause clay sublayers to expand, buckling cart paths and bursting buried irrigation pipes. (The horrifying wildfires that devastated nearly four million acres in Texas and destroyed more than 2,500 homes have pretty much left golf courses alone.)
Every region in Texas and Oklahoma is its own story, as is every golf course, but surveying how courses have coped with this drought, one thing stands out: Without smart water management and contingency plans, many courses will fail if the drought continues for another year or two.
Even courses with access to sufficient water may find the cost prohibitive. Champions in Houston, co-founded and still owned by two-time major champion Jackie Burke, in normal years gets most of the water it needs from rainfall (stored in its irrigation lakes) and from a local treatment plant that recycles waste water. Both sources are basically free, except for the cost of the pumping. This year, however, the club has been forced to pump additional water from wells. To use this resource, Champions has to pay the local water district $1.75 per 1,000 gallons, which mounted to tens of thousands of dollars a month during the hottest, driest part of the summer. Those costs forced cutbacks in how much of the course the club irrigated and has resulted in the loss of several hundred trees, some of which the club had planted in the years since it opened in 1957.
To the west, by contrast, lack of supply is often the whole story. The semiprivate Quicksand Golf Course in San Angelo draws its water from the Concho River, but the flow was so low for much of the summer that course superintendent Logan Knapp was able to claim only about a quarter of the club's contractual allotment. (And even that was dangerous, since sucking the source dry could have caused $150,000 in damage to his pumping station.) He watered his greens every day, but the fairways and tees only twice a week. About 20 acres of turf died off.
Even that's better than the situation at the Territory near Duncan, Okla. The creek that is normally the water source for that course is bone-dry. Since June, using water purchased at great expense from a rural water district, superintendent Brad Babek has watered only the bentgrass greens, by hand.
The vast majority of courses in Texas and Oklahoma have been able—so far, at least—to finagle enough water to maintain good and even excellent playing conditions. The heat-loving Bermuda greens at Memorial Park in Houston, for example, are as slick as they've ever been, in part because of the absence of fungus and other turf diseases that often arrive in wet summers. In San Antonio, the Quarry and about 10 other courses which are hooked up to the city's recycled-wastewater system have had all the water they needed, since effluent water needs to keep flowing no matter what. Other courses in the San Antonio region that primarily pump from wells have had to make staged, percentage reductions in the water they consume.
Some prognosticators think the drought could last for several more years, but the short term is problematic, too. "The scary part is thinking about where we'll be six months from now if we don't get some good rain this fall," said Brian Cloud, regional representative for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Like squirrels gathering nuts, golf-course turf usually prepares itself for winter by storing carbohydrates in its root system. That doesn't happen when the grass is stressed or already dormant, as much Texas turf is this year. A severe winter also could kill off vulnerable turf. "Come spring, a lot of superintendents may have to find ways to manage their courses like they've never had to before," Cloud said.
—Email John Paul at golfjournal@wsj.com.

Texas drought could last 15 years

Lake E.V. Spence in Robert Lee, Texas (AP)

A Texas climatologist says the state may face another 5 to 10 years of the current agriculture-crushing drought.
Texas state climatologist John Nielson-Gammon tells The Lookout that he fears the drought--which has already cost more than $5 billion in damage--may be similar to the one that struck the state in the 1950s. The weather patterns at the source of this drought are likely to continue, Nielson-Gammon said--namely the "La Niña" weather pattern in the Pacific. The drought cycle began in earnest in 2005--though 2007 and 2010 were wet years--and may stick around until 2020. Ninety-five percent of the state is experiencing severe or exceptional drought.
"Many residents remember the drought of the 1950s, and tree ring records show that drought conditions occasionally last for a decade or even longer. I'm concerned because the same ocean conditions that seem to have contributed to the 1950s drought have been back for several years now and may last another five to 15 years," he said in a statement.
The 1950s drought, which lasted seven years, reshaped Texas by spurring a movement away from rural areas and into cities. The state also formed a network of artificial lakes that are still around today.
It's still unclear what the long-term impact of this drought will be. The past year has been the driest year on record in the state, while the past summer was also the hottest on record, according to the National Weather Service. More than 125,000 acres burned in wildfires. Half of the state's cotton crop has been destroyed, even long-time ranchers are selling off their cattle en masse, and millions of trees are withered and dying. The touristy area of Lake Conroe, near Houston, is quickly drying up as well.
In April, Gov. Rick Perry asked Texans to pray for rain in an official proclamation, but those prayers have gone unanswered.
Federal aid will offset most of the drought's damage so far--approximately $5.2 billion in agricultural losses and $250 million in wildfire devastation, reports The Christian Science Monitor. But the drought may cause more long-term damage, according to Hillary Hylton at Time. The price of cotton products is likely to go up soon, while beef prices might go down for a while before rising dramatically in two years or so. That's because Texas farmers who are selling off their cattle now will glut the market, but in a few years there will be fewer cows breeding.

Texas Courses Try to Survive Heat Wave & Drought

Texas Courses Try to

Survive Heat Wave & Drought

By: Steve Habel

If you live in Texas, where it has been famously reported that there are two seasons - hot and not, you're accustomed to extremely warm and dry weather every time the calendar turns from April to May.

A Fairway in West Texas Shows
Effects of Heat & Drought

But the summer of 2011 will go down in history as the hottest and driest season ever. Rainfall has been virtually nonexistent since November 2010; temperatures soared to triple-digits in the spring and have stayed there for a record number of days.

The lack of rain has taken its toll on just about everything in the Lone Star State as reservoirs have virtually disappeared, crops have withered or were never put in the ground, and animals and fish continue to die from the effects of the heat.

With water at a premium, golf courses - which rely on precipitation to augment wells and effluent, or reclaimed, water to keep their greens, tees and fairways alive - have restricted their irrigation schedules in accordance with mandated water-rationing orders.

Some golf courses have closed, victims of a battle for water to quench the thirst of municipalities, while most have soldiered on, adhering to water-conservation practices while finding inventive methods to stay alive and keep their players on the course and members satisfied, if not happy.

"It quit raining last September and really hasn't rained a significant amount since," said Travis Miller, a drought specialist with the Texas Agrilife Extension Service and a specialist with the Governor's Drought Preparedness Council. "More than 90 percent of the state is in an exceptional drought or in an extreme drought. The remarkable thing is the extent and the severity of the drought combined."

Stranded Docks on Dried-up Creek
Feeding Lake Travis

The Hard Facts

Since January, Texas has received less than seven inches of rain, compared to a norm of about 14 inches, making it the most severe one-year drought on record. In August, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center said the La Nina weather pattern blamed for the lack of rain might be back soon, and if that happens, the dry spell would almost certainly stretch into 2012.

The extreme dry conditions have extended into parts of the Great Plains, including Oklahoma and Kansas, and, until the recent monsoon season, heavily affected New Mexico as well.

Some Texas rivers and lakes are at lows not seen since the 1950s - the decade when Texas suffered its worst drought in previous recorded history. Of the state's 3,700 streams, 15 major rivers and more than 200 reservoirs, at least seven reservoirs are effectively empty and more than half of the streams and rivers are at below-normal flow rates.

Playing off Grassless Fairways Are the
Norm on Some Texas Courses

Meanwhile, brush fires have destroyed more than 12,000 square miles of land since mid-November. The wildfire season usually wanes in spring but has persisted this year because of the unusually hot and dry conditions.

Just this week, the area surrounding Possum Kingdom Lake 45 miles west of Fort Worth was struck by its second huge wildfire in five months; the latest blaze was threatening as many as 400 homes in the area and had scorched about 6,200 acres, fueled by high winds, parched vegetation and unrelenting heat. Thirty-nine homes have been destroyed by this latest fire after 160 were incinerated in an extensive April blaze.

Central Texas has been among the areas hardest hit. In Austin, there has been no recordable rain since May and it has received less than a fourth of the 30 inches it usually gets each year. And the heat has been unbearable, even for longtime residents. On September 2, the city of Austin will endure its 78th consecutive day of triple-digit temperatures, far eclipsing the previous record of 69 days set in 1925.

Dry Bed of Pedernales River in Texas

Battles over Water & Survival

Texans are golfing more this year than last but course conditions have been severely affected. "Golfers want greens to be green," said Jimmy Mettlen, general manager and golf pro at Neches Pines Golf Course in the east Texas town of Diboll.

"The fairways might be a little harder than what we'd like, but the greens and tee boxes are good. That's one thing about golf: wherever you play, you remember the greens, and we've been able to keep ours in good condition. Our guys work very hard to keep it that way."

Mettlen has been drawing from the course's own water supply, which is good, but not as good as a real cloudburst. "The bottom line is we all need the water, and there's no water like God's water," he said. "Rain has a lot more of what the grass and trees need than anything else as far as both water and oxygen. When it rains, the course gets full coverage. That's impossible to do with simple irrigation."
Many municipal facilities in Austin are staying green in the scorching heat thanks to the city's use of reclaimed water. The city also uses untreated lake water to keep courses like Morris Williams GC playable during the drought. One of the problems is finding a time to irrigate as golfers are showing up before sunrise and playing into dusk to avoid the heat of the day, so crews have to move fast.

Keeping the grass healthy isn't the staff's biggest worry, but rather doing the same for the players. "I don't think people truly grasp what this heat is," said Kevin Gomillion, who oversees all operations for Austin's five municipal tracks. "We had our city championship in August, and we provided water bottles and water on every hole."

Because of the extreme weather the Lower Colorado River Authority, which regulates water use for more than a million people in Central and South Texas, asked its water users in July to implement a voluntary 5 percent water reduction.

Twin Creeks County Club, located in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park, complied with the request and went even further by reducing irrigation on out-of-play areas -practice-area targets and roughs - by 25 percent.

Because of the dearth of precipitation, the LCRA will soon mandate that Twin Creeks and other area golf courses reduce their irrigation by 20 percent. "Hopefully, relief will come and restrictions of this kind will not be necessary, but with the bleak weather forecast reductions of this magnitude are unfortunately likely," said Don Alexander, Twin Creeks' superintendent.
At Onion Creek Club in southeast Austin superintendent Michael Moore is bracing for another mandated water reduction. "The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer reduced our allotted pumpage by 30 percent beginning last week," Moore said. "We can expect this allotment to be reduced to 40 percent by the end of September if we do not start getting some type of rainfall. We are doing our best to try and keep all of our fairways green so that we do not have as many areas to grow back in after this drought is over."

Onion Creek Club has 27 holes of golf but will limit play to 18 holes daily through next week to reduce the traffic on selected nines for extended periods.

Bay Forest Golf Course in La Porte, south of Houston, uses reclaimed water or "grey water," which isn't restricted, to try to keep its course alive. Even so, the irrigation system can't keep the 170-acre layout wet enough as the roughs are cracking and trees dying.

Residents of the Hill Country town of Spring Branch are at loggerheads after the state gave its local golf course - Hawk Golf Club at Rebecca Creek - permission to use water from the barely moving Guadalupe River to irrigate its greens.

The town is under Stage 3 water restrictions because of the drought. The owner of the course says he goes through 150,000 gallons a night but added that the amount is less than half of what is a normal night's use. The course is working on purchasing a new irrigation system to save more water and its owners haven't been fined for excess watering.

In the Austin suburb of Manor, one golf course has given up the fight, at least temporarily. ShadowGlen Golf Club, a highly regarded daily-fee facility, shuttered its doors August 25 after a continuing and long-festering dispute over water. ShadowGlen's water source was shut off, forcing the club to close according to Blake Chaffee, the club's director of golf. Chaffee indicated that the club's management and owners hoped the closure would be temporary.

ShadowGlen's owners have been embroiled in a battle concerning the use of effluent water the course owns rights to but is not receiving. The water is not potable - drinking water-quality - that is being taking away from others in the community. It's grey water that is being dumped into nearby Wilbarger Creek, even during the drought.

Texas Aquatic Plant Management Society Newsletter

 One would have to be at least 60 years old to remember the last drought of this current one’s magnitude, older still to appreciate the true impacts of such a catastrophic event. The following update is provided to us from our friends at Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) in Houston Texas, but pretty much covers conditions all over the state. It is compiled from many sources, and tells the story so well that I felt no need to try to supplement or change it. It is NOT GOOD NEWS, but it certainly is information that everyone needs to be aware of and to start to prepare for, especially for folks in our industry, It is going to be a historic and interesting time, no doubt. 
Bellville: -24.60"
Brenham: -24.55"
College Station: -23.18"
Columbus: -25.32"
Conroe: -27.73"
Crockett: -20.53"
Danevang: -20.05"
Galveston: -17.97"
Freeport: -26.99"
Hobby: -26.96"
Bush IAH: -26.72"
Huntsville: -29.08"
Katy: -24.64"
Livingston: -31.21"
Madisonville: -26.97"
Matagorda: -25.37"
Tomball: -33.13"
Victoria: -26.73"
Fire Weather: It was already bad before Labor Day weekend, but then came the strong winds and dry air on the backside of TS Lee bringing horrendous fire weather conditions to the state. Since November 15, 2010, 3.6 million acres have burned across the state (old record was 2.1 in 2006) in 19,605 wildfires, with 4,376 structures lost. 48,613 structures have been threatened and saved. In the last 7 days alone, 181 fires have burned 166,45 acres across the state.
Elevated to at times critical fire weather conditions will continue until widespread wetting rains fall over the entire region. If rains do not fall, the state will have critical fire weather conditions behind each cold frontal passage this fall under strong and dry north winds which will promote rapid wind driven wildfires.
This is the worst fire weather conditions we have ever faced and additional fires similar to the Bastrop fire will become increasingly common if no rain falls.
Currently 251 out of 254 counties have burn bans in place, effective last week it is prohibited to start a BBQ in any City of Houston Park.
Agriculture: Crop and livestock losses stand at 5.2 billion dollars
During the summer of 2010 hay was selling for 12 dollars per ton, today it is selling for 170 dollars per ton.
There is little to no vegetation left for livestock to feed on. Hay is being trucked into the region from the SE US and the central plains to substitute for the lack of vegetation locally. Un-irrigated vegetation is now ei-ther dead or close to being dead. KBDI values are nearly 750-800 across every county in the area. At val-ues of 800, there is no longer any water in the top 8 inches of soil and all vegetation with roots in this layer will begin to die. It is interesting to note that The extreme short term dryness coupled with the record and long lasting heat of this summer is also result-ing in the loss of millions of trees across the area. It is estimated that at least 1.2 million trees have died in the last 3 months in the 8 county area around Houston. The Texas Forest Service estimates that between 26-64 million trees are currently at risk of dying from the current conditions or about 10-12% of the canopy coverage in this area. 6.6 million trees were lost to Hurricane Ike, so on the low end, the current drought may kill 4-5 times more trees than Ike. In Memorial Park alone 2,800 trees have died. In central Texas, live oak and cedar trees are starting to die from lack of water. Without sustained soaking rainfall all vegetation will continue to suffer and the area landscape will continue to decline.
Wildlife is also being greatly affected across the entire region as water sources have been depleted. There is no longer enough water to sustain wildlife in rural areas and significant losses are starting to occur espe-cially with respect to turtles, deer, and ground forage animals. In lakes and streams where water has dried up all fish supplies have been lost.
Water Supply: Strong evaporation rates from high temperatures and gusty winds continue to result in rapidly declining lake levels across the state. Decreases on capacity in the last 3 weeks have been 5-10% across many of the water supply systems. A total of 583 water supply systems have mandatory water restrictions in place with an additional 294 under voluntary restrictions. LCRA is reporting that the amount of water flowing into the Highland Lakes chain from Jan-July 2011 was only 10% of average, or the lowest ever recorded since the completion of Lake Travis in 1942. This poor inflow combined with incredible evaporation rates (122,000 acre feet) from Jan-July is resulting in significant losses on the water supply lakes. Based on the current lack of inflow into the lakes, strong evaporation, and demand, the lakes will continue to decline by about 1 foot per week into early October.
Lake levels below conservation pool and current capacity:
Lake Conroe: -5.30’ (77%)
Lake Houston: -7.60’ (61%)
Lake Buchanan: -27.36’ (43%)
Lake Travis: -48.38’ (39%)
Toledo Bend: -11.00’ (61%)
Lake Livingston: -3.10’ (86%)
Lake Somerville: -9.39’ (43%)
Lake Georgetown: -22.61’ (39%)
Sam Rayburn: -12.22’ (59%)
Forecast: No rain is forecast for the next 5 days, with maybe a 20% chance of rainfall over this upcoming weekend. With La Nina conditions developing again, and the tropical threat appearing to end for Texas, a warm and dry fall, winter, and spring appears to be in store for the state. 1 and 3 month forecasts from CPC show below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures through the end of 2011. The current drought will be  
Rainfall Departures from October 1, 2010 to September 3 are:

Fire At George Bush Park Contained

1,500 Acres Bur

HOUSTON -- A large fire burned about 1,500 acres of land at George Bush Park, but firefighters said it was 100 percent contained Wednesday.

RAW Video: George Bush Park Fire

Images: George Bush Park Fire | Map Of George Bush Park

The fire started near a roadway at the park in the 16700 block of Westheimer Parkway near state Highway 6 about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

More than a dozen firefighters remained on the scene dousing hot spots and making sure flames did not flare up again. Fire lines around the flames helped contain it.

Smoke will likely be in the area for several days, officials said.

David Weeks said he is relieved the fire is out because he lives a few yards from the park.

"I actually woke up twice last night to just check for embers and stuff. There's a road there so it wasn't going to come over, but an ember could have come over and landed on one of the roofs," Weeks said.

Fire officials flew in a Houston Police Department helicopter to get an aerial view of what was still smoldering Wednesday.

"The problem with this is that you have large dead trees out there. That once these trees burn, they can smolder for days," said Danny Watkins with the Houston Fire Department.

Houston Fire Department officials said the fire traveled north-northeast and was pushed by the wind for a while.

Several agencies, including the Houston Fire Department, West I-10, Cy-Fair and other volunteer fire departments were battling the flames.

"It's just so dry," KPRC Local 2 chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley said. "It's what they call a tinderbox. It's as dry a ground fuel as you can get. This is the worst drought we've seen in probably a couple hundred years."

George Bush Park is about 7,800 acres.

No evacuations were ordered and no one was injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but fire officials said a tossed cigarette may have ignited it.

HFD Safety Tips During Drought

Barbecue Safety

• Portable barbecue pits, charcoal grills and other open-flame cooking devices outside of a building should not be operated on combustible balconies or located within 10 feet of combustible walls or roofs or other combustible materials.
• When igniting the barbecue charcoal, use a charcoal lighter, not gasoline. Gasoline can flash violently in and around the pit causing serious injuries to anyone in the area of the flash. A fire extinguisher or charged garden hose should be handy while the fire is burning. Check the pit frequently to ensure that it is OK.
• Hot ash and coals from barbecue pits and charcoal burners should be placed in a non-combustible container until cooled or thoroughly saturated with water, before being disposed.
• Citizens should also be aware that there is a temporary ban on all barbeque pits in city of Houston parks.

Open Flames

• The city of Houston Fire Code prohibits all open-burning within the Houston city limits at all times. The burn ban in unincorporated areas of Harris County also prohibits any outdoor open-burning, including the burning of: a bonfire, rubbish fire, campfire, trench fire, or other fire in an outdoor location when not contained.

Vehicles, Trailers & Tools

• Park vehicles so that the exhaust system does not come in contact with dry grass, leaves, or weeds.
• Adjust the safety chains on trailers to ensure they don’t drag and create sparks that can cause roadside starts.
• Keep lawn mowers and agricultural equipment in proper working condition and avoid rocks and other materials which might cause a spark.
• Do not weld or cut without a spotter, a water source and a shovel.
• Notify the electric power company when dead trees or overhanging limbs endanger the electric wires. The wires may touch each other or the ground, causing sparks that start fires.

Cigarettes or Other Smoking Materials

• Another cause of accidental fires is carelessly discarded cigarettes or other smoking materials. They can smolder for hours and should be completely doused with water before being discarded in a safe manner, rather than tossed out a window or on the ground.
• Texas' arson law includes felony punishment for anyone whose cigarette recklessly sets fire to a building or injures anyone. Arson is a second-degree felony in Texas, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but if a person is hurt or killed or if the fire involves a church, arson is a first-degree felony, carrying possible punishment of up to life in prison.

Alligators

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

© TPWD 2003/Photo by Earl Nottingham

Description

Body length: 6-14 ft.
The American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, once on the verge of extinction, has made a tremendous come-back over the past 30 years. In 1969, Texas provided complete protection for the American alligator and classified it as endangered after passage of the Texas Endangered Species Act in 1973. Under this protection, along with Federally implemented regulations eliminating unregulated alligator hide markets in the United States, the species has made a full recovery and was delisted from the status of endangered in 1985.
The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is related to crocodiles. Almost black in color, the American alligator has prominent eyes and nostrils with coarse scales over the entire body. It has a large, long head with visible upper teeth along the edge of the jaws. It's front feet have 5 toes, while rear feet have 4 toes that are webbed. An agile swimmer, the American alligator often floats or swims with only it's eyes and nostrils exposed.
The American alligator is carnivorous, and will eat anything it can catch, including fish, turtles, lizards, snakes, small mammals, waterbirds, crustaceans and other alligators. They can be very vocal; the young typically make a bark and adults will bellow, grunt, or hiss, depending on the circumstances.
American alligators normally avoid humans, but American alligators can become perceived as a nuisance when they establish territories around people. As human populations in Texas continue to expand, there have been an increased number of encounters between people and alligators. Alligators have been known to prey on pets and must be treated with caution. Alligators can be surprisingly quick on land and are capable of running quickly over short distances.

Life History

Alligators in Texas are mostly inactive from mid-October until early March, when they brumate. Alligators emerge from brumation in March. March 1 through May 30 is the peak time for breeding and nesting. During breeding season, females stay close to home territories while males may occupy ranges up to ten square miles. The female will build a nest of local vegetation up to 6 feet across and several feet high. She lays her eggs in the center of this mound, allowing the decaying vegetation and sunlight to provide the warmth necessary to incubate the eggs. Females typically lay over 35 eggs. Each egg is about 3 inches long. The eggs incubate for about 2 months, and the female will watch and defend the nest during this time. As the young hatch, they "yip" and the female will assist them by digging them out of the nest. Hatchling alligators are about 9 inches long and will stay near the female for up to two years. The female will continue to protect the young during this period. During breeding season, alligators from 4 to 5 feet long are also very transient while searching for territories of their own. Periods of extreme weather conditions such as drought or heavy rains can result in an increase in alligator movements.

Habitat and Distribution

Alligators are found in or near water. The American alligator is common in swamps, rivers, bayous, and marshes of the southern U.S., including the eastern third of Texas. While typically found in fresh-water, they can tolerate brackish water as well. Formerly an endangered species, the alligator is now a protected game animal in Texas. Special permits are required to hunt, raise, or possess alligators.


If You See An Alligator

The American alligator was once very common in rivers, creeks, and backwater sloughs of East and South Texas. Unregulated market hunting and habitat alteration resulted in near extirpation of the species in Texas by the 1950's. Legal protection, enhanced habitat conditions, and new water impoundment projects have resulted in a rapid repopulation of Texas by alligators during the past 20 years. To complicate matters, an ever-expanding human population continues to encroach upon the alligator's domain. These factors contribute to increased encounters between alligators and people.
Most Texans in "gator country" will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations. However, there are occasions when certain alligators become "a nuisance" and must be handled by the proper authorities. TPWD received more than 400 nuisance alligator calls in Southeast Texas during 2003. (A substantial number of these were not true problem gators, and the sheer volume of these reports is taxing available manpower and resources needed to handle the real problems.) More than 100 alligators were relocated, mostly from subdivisions adjacent to natural habitat. A similar number had to be killed in similar situations. In these incidents alligators had lost their fear of humans and exhibited aggressive behavior. Relocation is not always a viable option, as by nature these animals are territorial. Relocating problem animals to other areas often creates greater problems. What is needed is a better-educated populace more able to recognize the few nuisance alligators and to coexist safely with the majority of alligators that are not nuisances.
The current legal definition of a nuisance gator is "an alligator that is depredating [killing livestock or pets] or a threat to human health or safety" under definitions laid out in the Texas Administrative Code (Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65, Section 65.352). The following information should help you determine if the observed alligator may pose a threat to you or your property. If, after reading the following, you determine that an alligator is a "nuisance," please contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement communications center in La Porte at (281) 842-8100 or in Austin at (512) 389-4848.

IF YOU SEE AN ALLIGATOR...

•If the alligator is not approaching people or otherwise posing an obvious threat, wait a few days if possible - even up to a week - before contacting TPWD. In spring and summer, alligators are moving to breed and find new habitat. Most of the alligators moving around are smaller ones that have been pushed out of their normal habitat by larger alligators. Usually, these smaller alligators will move further on in a week or two.
•If you hear an alligator hiss, it's a warning that you are too close.
•Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land. Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic. Alligators are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered. A female protecting her nest might charge a person who gets close to the nest, but she would quickly return to the nest after the intruder left.
•It is not uncommon for alligators to bask along the banks of a pond or stream for extended periods of time. These alligators are usually warming their bodies; they are not actively hunting. Often times a basking alligator may be seen with its mouth open; this is a way to cool its body temperature down, since alligators do not pant or sweat. An approaching human should cause these alligators to retreat into the water. (In some cases, the alligator may be protecting a nest - see below.) However, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it leaves the banks of the water body to spend time near homes, livestock pens, or other structures.
•If you walk near the water and an alligator comes straight toward you, especially if it comes out of the water, it is definitely a nuisance alligator that needs to be reported to TPWD. In many cases, these are alligators that have been fed by people or have been allowed to get human food.
•If you see an alligator while walking a pet make sure that your pet is on a leash and under your control. Your pet will naturally be curious, and the alligator may see an easy food source. Alligators have a keen sense of smell. In areas near alligator sightings it is wise to keep pets inside a fenced area or in the house for a few days, during which the alligator will often move on.
•If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely.
•If you see a large alligator in your favorite swimming hole or pond, do not swim with it. Although alligator attacks in Texas are rare, it can happen. The "attack" reports in Texas are usually more accurately described as "encounters." As with all outdoor activities, realize that wildlife encounters are a possibility.
•It is not uncommon for alligators to pursue top-water fishing lures, and this activity does not constitute a threat to humans. As with fish, alligators are attracted to these lures because they mimic natural food. Most alligators can be easily scared away from boats or fishing lures. However, alligators that repeatedly follow boats, canoes, or other watercraft, and/or maintain a close distance without submersing may be considered nuisance alligators.
•If you see a nuisance alligator, consider why it is there. Did someone clean fish and throw the heads into a pond or river? If so, they created a potential alligator problem and could be breaking state regulations. Since October 1, 2003, it has been a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 for anyone caught feeding an alligator.

DOs AND DON'Ts FOR LIVING WITH ALLIGATORS

Adapted from "Living with Alligators," Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission )
Don’t - kill, harass, molest or attempt to move alligators. State law prohibits such actions, and the potential for being bitten or injured by a provoked alligator is high.
Do - call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator that has lost its fear of people.
Don’t - allow small children to play by themselves in or around water.
Do - closely supervise children when playing in or around water.
Don’t - swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed.
Do - use ordinary common care. Swim only during daylight hours.
Don’t - feed or entice alligators. Alligators overcome their natural shyness and become accustomed or attracted to humans when fed. It is now a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, to intentionally feed an alligator.
Do - inform others that feeding alligators creates problems for others who want to use the water for recreational purposes.
Don’t - throw fish scraps into the water or leave them on shore. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators, the end result can be the same.
Do - dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at most boat ramps or fish camps.
Don’t - remove any alligators from their natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is a violation of state law to do so. Alligators do not become tame in captivity and handling even small ones may result in bites. In particular, never go near baby alligators or pick them up. They may seem cute and harmless, but mama alligator will be nearby, and will protect her clutch for at least two years.
Do - enjoy viewing and photographing wild alligators from a safe distance of at least 30 feet or more. Remember that they're an important part of Texas's natural history, as well as an integral component of many wetland ecosystems.

Keep safe and help in preventing wildfires

Learn ways you can help keep Texas safe from wildfires

Approximately 90% of wildfires in Texas are caused by people. Seemingly harmless things like outdoor grilling, dragging safety chains behind a trailer, welding and building campfires can accidentally start a dangerous wildfire.
Use caution when:



Burning debris
        · Obey all local burn bans and restrictions.
        · Postpone burning when conditions are dry or windy.
        · Establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil.
        · Never leave fire unattended.
        · Keep water and hand tools nearby.
Note: Escaped debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires in the State of Texas. Firefighters across the state cite inadequate fire breaks and failure to stay with outdoor fires as the two most common reasons for escaped fires.
Negligently allowing your fire to escape onto someone else’s property is a Class C misdemeanor offense that is punishable by a fine up to $500.



Welding/grinding/cutting
        · Remove vegetation from the work area.
        · Where vegetation cannot be removed, use a sprayer to wet down the work area prior to starting welding operations. Wet a wider area on the down-wind side from the welding location. If working in the same area for an extended period, re-wet the vegetation surrounding the work site.
        · Keep water handy.
        · Have someone with you to spot any fires that the sparks ignite so that they can be caught while small.
        · Avoid parking vehicles in dry, tall grass.
NOTE: During extreme dry, hot and windy conditions, fire may appear to be out but will re-ignite when temperatures and wind increase. Be sure to stir and wet down areas of grass that have burned dowsing with plenty of water before leaving site.




Baling hay
        · Check bearing frequently and stop use if they get too hot.
        · Remove any loose hay trapped around rollers-the friction can build up and start a fire.
        · Keep a fire extinguisher and field sprayer nearby in case a fire breaks out.
NOTE: During extreme dry, hot and windy conditions, have someone with you to watch for smoking balers.




Camping
        · Check local restrictions on campfires.
        · Build and burn campfires in a metal box or fire pit only.
        · Do not build a fire in dry, windy conditions.
        · Make sure the campfire is at least 15 feet from surroundings and low hanging branches.
        · Use an approved gas stove as an alternative for heating and cooking.
        · If charcoal grills are permitted, use them only over fire proof surfaces such as asphalt or bare mineral soil.



Using fireworks
        · Follow all county and city laws regarding fireworks use.
        · Only use fireworks outdoors and away from dry grass and buildings.
        · Read the labels and use only as directed, with adult supervision.
        · Keep water, wet towels an d a garden hose nearby.
        · Allow fireworks to cool completely before handling, and discard used fireworks into a bucket of water.

 Using lawn equipment and motor vehicles

· Keep mufflers and spark arresters on lawn care equipment in proper working order and watch out for rocks and metal when mowing
 · Dragging chains can start a grass fire along the road without your knowledge. A small piece of hot metal rips off the chain when it comes in contact with the pavement. When in contact with dry vegetation it can ignite a wildfire. Check to make sure your chains are secure and short enough not to drag.


Learn ways you can prepare your home and family for a wildfire

READY, SET, GO! 
READY. Prepare for the possibility of a wildland fire before the threat occurs. Take preventive actions to make your home safer from the threat of wildfire by using Firewise and similar principles (firewise.org).
- Remove combustible materials from around your home. Keep grass mowed short.
SET. Elevate your family’s awareness when fire weather occurs or when wildland fire activity increases. Form a family disaster plan.
- Agree on an evacuation plan that includes what to do if you get separated and where you’ll go in case of evacuation.
- Pack critical medicines, important documents, family heirlooms to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
GO. This is the simplest step: Execute your disaster plan by leaving early, well before the fire arrives.
- If instructed to evacuate, do so! Your “stuff” isn’t more important than your LIFE.

Resources: texasfirestorm.org and redcross.org.  

Be on the look out for your trees

Drought Causes Trees To Lose Limbs

 HOUSTON -- Southeast Texas homeowners are dealing with a serious danger right in their back yards. The drought is affecting trees so badly that they are losing limbs. Homeowner Jennifer Stancik said she felt her whole house shake when large branches from her back yard oak trees started to break. She said it felt like an earthquake.
"It was like a humongous bomb," said Stancik. "I've never experienced anything like it."
One large branch crashed right into her neighbor's bedroom. Her neighbor was OK, but it caused quite a scare.
"You didn't even want to go outside," said Karen Hoelscher. "It was that scary."
Silvicare Tree Service owner Mike Hackfeld said that in his 30 years in the business, this summer is the worst he has ever seen for dying trees. He said a majority of his service calls are for dying trees or dead tree limbs of living trees.
Hackfeld said it is important for homeowners to water their trees, especially large trees, in this dangerous drought.
Stancik said she is hoping and praying her oak trees, which are several hundred years old, will not cause anymore damage.
"Never in my wildest dreams would I think the drought would cause something like this," said Stancik. "It's eye-opening."

Hog Control "let's hope"

WARNING

ELECTRIC FENCING HAS BEEN

INSTALLED ALONG HOLES

#5,6,&7

Due to the severe damage that the hogs have caused us in the last two weeks an electrical wire fencing has been installed along hole #5,6,&7.

7:00 AM to 10:00 PM   No electrical current during     

                                                            operation hours!!! It's OK
                                        to touch the wiring.

10:00 PM to 7:00 AM   Electrical current will be on!!!
                                        Do not touch the wiring!

Golf Course Superintendent

Willy Plowman                      

Disney World to turn golf courses over to Arnold Palmer group

After four decades, Walt Disney World is getting out of the golf business.
The giant resort said Wednesday it has struck a 20-year-deal to turn over its five golf courses to a group headlined by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. The move pairs Disney World's courses with one of golf's best-recognized brand names while also allowing the resort to step back from a business that has become less attractive amid competition from a glut of new courses built during the housing bubble.
 Under the deal, Arnold Palmer Golf Management will take over day-to-day operations of each of Disney World's golf courses: Palm, Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, Osprey Ridge and Oak Trail. Financial terms weren't disclosed, though the Texas-based Palmer group will make annual lease payments to Disney and split revenue earned from the courses with the resort.

Roughly 330 Disney employees will be affected by the change. Disney said nearly all of the workers will be offered other jobs, at comparable pay, elsewhere in the resort. It expects others will be hired by Arnold Palmer Golf Management.
For Disney, a key attraction is the involvement of Palmer, considered one of the greatest players in the history of professional golf. The resort is banking on the association with Palmer to help set its courses apart in a crowded marketplace and lure more golfers who may have ignored Disney World in the past.
"This deal would not have gotten done if it had not been for Mr. Palmer's engagement and his desire to associate his brand with the Disney brand," said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises.
As part of the deal, Palmer will personally oversee a redesign of Disney's Palm course. The renovation isn't likely to be complete until at least 2013.
Representatives for Palmer, who lives in Bay Hill not far from Disney World, said he was unavailable for comment Wednesday. But in a prepared statement issued by Disney, the retired golfer said: "After 40 years as a golf course architect, I'm looking forward to this opportunity to contribute to Disney's rich and storied golf legacy. I've enjoyed a lifetime of memories playing golf and it will be a great reward to pass that on to those who share a passion both for Disney and the game of golf."
But the deal is also designed to get Disney itself out of the golf business, which has become much more challenging in recent years, particularly in Orlando and the rest of Florida. A glut of new courses — many built as part of residential subdivisions that sprouted during the housing boom — has forced operators to slash green fees to lure golfers, eroding profitability.
"There's too many courses and not enough players," said Tom Stine, co-founder of Golf Datatech, a golf-industry research company based in Kissimmee. "It's made the Orlando market very, very competitive from an operator standpoint."
Golf courses are also expensive to run. Stine said annual operating and maintenance costs for a single course can exceed $1 million — and Disney, which has a critically important image to protect, likely spends more than most. "You don't ever see a blade of grass uncut anywhere on the Disney World property," Stine said.

Golf Cart Rules and Etiquette

Observe the Rules of the Cart Paths

• golf etiquette
• golf safety

Know and observe golf cart rules and etiquette guidelines.

After paying your greens fee and cart fee, but before you clamber into that golf cart and speed off to the first tee, make sure you know what the course's cart rules are. Are you allowed to drive the cart onto the fairway? Or does the course have restrictions in place? Sometimes, the golf cart rules change day-to-day at the same course, depending on conditions. We'll go over the variations of golf cart rules you might see posted at your local golf courses, but first, here are a couple reminders of things you should never do in a golf cart:

• Never drive the cart within hazard boundary lines, or within about 10 yards of water hazards or bunkers, or within about 50 yards of greens (unless you're on a designated cart path, of course). These areas are especially susceptible to damage by the wheels of golf carts. Never drive onto or close to tee boxes, either, unless on the cart path.
• Never drive the cart through mud, on or off the fairway.
• Never drive through casual water on any part of the golf course (unless it's a little bit of water over a paved cart path). The wheels of the cart can do serious damage to the turf, including leaving ruts, in wet areas.
• Never go joyriding in the golf cart. In other words, don't act stupid! People do get injured in cart accidents. See golf cart safety for specific suggestions.

Now, as mentioned above, golf courses may post notices about specific golf cart rules depending on conditions at the course that day. These notices may be posted in the clubhouse; sometimes courses uses small signs they stick in the ground alongside the cart path on the route to the first tee. You should always ask when you check in what the course's standard golf cart rules are, then also be alert for any signage. What might the signage specify? Cart Path Only
A "cart-path-only rule" is exactly what it sounds like: Keep your cart on the designated cart path at all times. Don't drive onto the grass.
Over time, golf carts speed up soil compaction, which can lead to less-than-ideal growing conditions for turfgrasses. And that can lead to less-than-ideal fairways for golfers. So even when "cart path only" is not in effect, it's a good idea to keep the cart on the designated path.
But when the rule is in effect, it's a requirement.
When "cart path only" is in effect, drive the cart on the designated path until you are parallel to where your golf ball rests on the course. Stop the cart, get out, pull a couple clubs (so you'll have some options when you reach your ball), and walk out to the ball.

90-Degree Rule In Effect

The "90-degree rule" means
that the golf course is allowing carts onto the grass 
but only at 90-degree angles from the cart path.
In other words, don't drive the golf cart up the middle of the fairway
from the tee box to your golf ball.
Stay on the cart path until you are at the same distance as your golf ball,
then turn off the cart path and drive straight to the ball.

The "90-degree rule" minimizes the time a golf cart spends rolling over the grass, while still allowing convenience for golfers.
Cart Path Only on Holes X and X
A course may post signs that designate certain holes off-limits to carts, for example, "Cart path only on No. 4 and No. 16 today." In this situation, the course's regular golf cart rules apply (remember, ask when checking in), but on the specified holes you are required to keep the cart on the designed cart path. The reason is usually moisture on the specified holes - they may be too wet for carts - or ground under repair on the specified holes.
No Carts Beyond This Point
This sign is one you might see in a fairway as you close in on the green. Courses don't want golf carts near the putting green; the "no carts beyond this point" sign makes sure golfers get that message. Even if you are allowed to drive the cart on the fairway, be sure to observe these signs. When you see one, stop and return to the designated cart path before proceeding forward again.
This sign may also come in the form of an arrow pointing toward the cart path. The meaning is the same: Don't take the cart beyond this point on the fairway; go back to the cart path.
So, those are the signs golfers are most likely to see on a golf course regarding cart usage. Observe the signs - and don't forget to ask about golf cart rules when you check in.
A few more bits of golf cart etiquette:

• Always stay on designated cart paths on par-3 holes. Even if the course allows carts onto the fairways on par-4s and par-5s, stay off the grass on par-3s.
• Observe common-sense driving rules, just as do in your car on the road. Be especially careful at any cart-path intersections and in areas where bottlenecks occur (see golf cart safety for specific safety suggestions).
• If you need to drive the cart quickly around the course (maybe you left a club behind a few holes back, maybe you badly need to find a restroom, etc.), be aware of golfers you are passing by. If a golfer is about to swing or attempt a putt, slow down as you approach and stop the cart until the golfer has completed his or her stroke. Carts are noisy. Be courteous. You wouldn't want someone else making noise during your backswing, don't do it to others with your cart.
• Along the same lines, many golf carts beep when they are in reverse. So if you need to put the cart in reverse, be aware of any golfers close to you and whether they are about to begin a stroke.
• When you finish a hole, walk off the green, get into the cart and move on to the next teeing ground before marking the scorecard. In this way, you won't hold up any group behind you that is waiting for the green to clear.

How to Rake Sand Bunkers

Find the Best Entry and Exit Point

Locate the lowest spot around the edge of the bunker that is conventient to your golf ball. This will be your entry and exit point. Identifying this spot keeps you from walking down a steep facing (possibly damaging the turf), stepping off a higher rim (leaving deeper footprints), or having to walk a longer distance which would require raking a greater area of sand.

Enter the Bunker with Rake

Once you've identified the most convenient low spot from which to enter and exit ... enter! Notice that the golfer is carrying the rake into the bunker with him. Contrary to what some golfers believe, it is not only within the rules to take a rake into a bunker with you, it is advisable to do so because it speeds up the process. (Note: Be sure you do not allow the rake to touch the sand, except when you drop it before playing the shot. If you do anything with the rake - or your club - that can be construed as "testing the condition of the hazard," then you are in violation of the rules. For more on this, see our Rules FAQ, "Is it illegal to take a rake into a bunker?")

Play Your Shot

Play the shot. Notice that the golfer has dropped the rake directly behind the area where he has taken his stance. You should drop the rake at a convenient spot, within reaching distance. Otherwise, in retrieving the rake, you'll just add more area of sand that needs to be tended.

Smooth Over the Sand as You

Back Out of the Bunker

Begin raking over the signs of play from the sand - the area where your club made contact with the sand, and your footprints. Pull the tines of the rake toward you as you begin moving back to the rim of the bunker. But be careful not to pull too much sand toward you. The idea is to restore an even surface to the sand without displacing too much sand. If you are pulling too much sand toward you, try pushing the tines outward a few times, too. All the while, you should be progressing back to the edge of the bunker.

Exit the Bunker and

Complete Raking

To complete the raking, step out of the bunker and make your final few passes over the sand with the rake. Unless otherwise instructed at the golf course (check the scorecard and any bulletin boards inside the clubhouse), replace the rake outside the bunker parallel to the line of play (for more on this, see our FAQ, "Should rakes be left inside or outside bunkers?").

Admire Your Work

When you are finished, the sand's surface should be evened out, with no signs of divots or footprints, and no excess sand having been pulled toward the bunker's edge. There will be little furrows left from the tines of the rake. The important thing is that the sand be in as good or better condition than that which you found it in. Make sure golfers following behind you have a good quality bunker from which to play any necessary sand shots.

How to Repair Divots

About.com Golf

Most good swings on well-struck iron shots produce a divot in the fairway. The word "divot" actually refers to two different things: the top layer of turf that is sliced off and sent flying as your iron enters the ground; and the resulting scar, or patch of bare earth, that is left in the fairway. If you look closely, in the photo above, just to the left and forward of the golfer you can see part of the divot flying away.
Repairing divots is an important duty of golfers who create them. According to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, a repaired divot can speed up the healing process (meaning: the grass will cover over the scar in the fairway) by a couple weeks, as opposed to an unrepaired divot.

Identify Your Divot

About.com Golf

Yep, that's a divot all right. The golfer's iron has sliced off the top layer of turfgrass, exposing the sod underneath. (This happens because irons are designed to strike the ball on a descending path, meaning that they continue downward and into the ground after making contact with the ball. See the article "Hit Down, Dammit!" for more explanation of this concept.)

Choose the Appropriate 

Method

Now that you've taken a divot, what's your correct course of action? There are two ways of repairing, or "fixing," divots. One is to fill the divot with sand or a sand-and-seed mixture; the other is to retrieve the turfgrass/sod patch that was sliced off and put it back in place. How do you know which is the proper course of action where you are playing? Check the golf cart. If the course wants you to use sand, they'll provide it for you. The sand (or a mixture of sand and seed) will be in a carafe that sits in a what looks like a large cupholder. The cupholder is usually attached to the frame that holds up the roof of the cart.
If you see this container of sand on the cart, the golf course is telling you to use sand. If you don't see it, then you'll put the turf back in place (which we'll see a couple pages forward). On the cart above, we see that sand is provided, so ...

When Using Sand or Sand/Seed

Mix, Pour Into Divot

About.com Golf

Take the container of sand and simply pour the sand, or sand/seed mix, into the divot. Pour enough to fill the divot.

Smooth Over Sand to

Level Out Divot

About.com Golf

One you've filled the divot, use your foot to smooth over and tamp down the sand. And you're done! Such a simple thing to do, yet it helps the golf course heal. But what if no sand is provided on the golf cart? In that case, you'll do something a little different ...

No Sand or Sand/Seed Mix

Means Replacing the Displaced Turf

About.com Golf

When no sand is provided, find the turf that was sliced off from the fairway. If you've taken a "clean divot," you'll find the turf still in one, neat piece. But sometimes, the turf will be in bits in pieces. Just retrieve it as best you can, and replace it in the ground. If your divot is in one piece, then fit it back into the ground the same way it came out (as you would a puzzle piece). If it's in multiple pieces, just do the best job you can to make it fit neatly back into place.

Tamp Down Replaced Turf

To Complete Repair

About.com Golf

When the turf is back in the ground, tamp down with your foot, and you're done. Repairing divots is not always a necessity; with certain types of turfgrasses, at certain times of the year, repairing the divot won't make any difference, good or bad, to the health of the golf course. But unless you are certain that's the case where you play, and when you're playing, you should always repair your divots on the golf course.

Why It's Important to Repair Your Ball Marks on the Green

During a tournament on the Champions Tour, Mark Johnson (center), Morris Hatalsky (left) and Ben Crenshaw take time to repair their ball marks. If they can do it, so can you.

Dave Martin / Getty Images

Ball marks - also called pitch marks - are the bane of smooth-putting and healthy greens on golf courses all over the world. They're the little depressions, or craters, sometimes made when a golf ball descends from the sky and impacts the putting surface. Repairing those little depressions is very important. Equally important is doing it the right way. Because while many golfers fail to repair ball marks - and shame on you if you are one of them - there are also many well-meaning golfers who do "repair" the pitch marks, only to do so incorrectly.
A ball mark can cause the grass in the depression to die, leaving not just a scar but also a pit in the putting surface that can knock well-struck putts offline. Repairing a ball mark restores a smooth surface and helps keep the grass healthy. But "repairing" a ball mark incorrectly can actually cause more damage than not attempting to repair it at all, according to a study done at Kansas State University.
The KSU researchers, whose conclusions were reported on Cybergolf.com, found that incorrectly "repaired" ball marks take up to twice as long to heal as those that are properly repaired.
So golfers, lets all start fixing our ball marks, and doing it the right way. And if you have a moment - if there isn't another group of golfers behind you waiting for you to clear the green - fix one or two other ball marks, too, if you find more of them on the green.
Repairing ball marks isn't just important for the health of the greens, and for smooth-rolling putts. It isn't just a matter of golf etiquette. It is our obligation to help take care of the golf courses we play. And repairing ball marks is a big part of that obligation to the game.
On the next few pages are illustrations courtesy of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and text explaining the right way to fix ball marks.

How to Repair Ball Marks

Ball Mark Repair Tool

Courtesy Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

The ball mark repair tool is the right tool for the job of repairing ball marks. The tool should be familiar to every golfer; it's a simple tool, just two prongs on the end of a piece of metal or hard plastic. There are some newfangled ball mark repair tools on the market, but the jury is still out on whether any of them really do a better job at helping greens heal than the standard, old-fashioned tool pictured above.
By the way, you'll sometimes see this tool referred to as a "divot repair tool." It's not used for repairing divots, of course, so that name is inappropriate. But if you do see that term, this is almost certainly the tool to which it is referring.
The ball mark repair tool is an essential piece of equipment that every golfer should have in his or her golf bag.

Insert the Ball Mark Repair Tool

Courtesy Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

The first step in repairing ball marks is to take your ball mark repair tool and insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the depression. Note: Do NOT insert the prongs into the depression itself, but at the rim of the depression.

Push Edges of the Ball Mark Toward the Center

Courtesy Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

The next step is to push the edge of the ball mark toward the center, using your ball mark repair tool in a "gentle twisting motion," in the words of the GCSAA. This is the step where golfers who incorrectly "repair" ball marks usually mess up. Many golfers believe the way to "fix" a ball mark is to insert the tool at an angle, so the prongs are beneath the center of the crater, and then to use the tool as a lever to push the bottom of the ball mark back up even with the surface. Do not do this! Pushing the bottom of the depression upward only tears the roots, and kills the grass.
So remember:
Wrong: Using the prongs as levers to push up the bottom of the depression.
Right: Using the prongs to push grass at the edge of the depression toward the center.
Just use your ball mark repair tool to work around the rim of the crater, so to speak, pushing the grass at the edge toward the center of the depression. One way to envision this is to picture reaching down with your thumb and forefinger on opposite sides of the ball mark and "pinching" those sides together.

Smooth Over and Admire Your Work

Courtesy Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Once you've worked around the rim of the ball mark with your repair tool, pushing the grass toward the center, there's only one thing left to do: Gently tamp down the repaired ball mark with your putter or foot to smooth the putting surface. Then admire your work and pat yourself on the back for helping to take care of the golf course.