how to manage a golf course pond

by Jakayla Leuschke Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 10 min read

5 Pro-Active Golf Course Pond Management Tips

Shoreline Restoration. Bodies of water can cause intense damage to the surrounding area by a natural process called...
Bad Odors and Algae. Nobody wants to play on a course where the pond on the 9th hole has a thick, unsightly layer of...
Invasive Plants. While most aquatic plants help keep the ecosystem healthy and in check,...

Full Answer

How do golf courses keep their ponds clean?

A dredge for golf course ponds is the basis for dredging. The machine works by pumping the water and sludge out through a submersible pump and into a series of bladder bags or dewatering tubes. These bags have minuscule holes, which let the water escape but keep the muck inside.

Do golf courses stock their ponds?

However, most golf course ponds are often stocked with fish to keep aquatic growth down and maintain a natural balance in the water. While some courses may outright prohibit fishing on the course, others stock fish to entice anglers to play a round.

How deep should a golf course pond be?

Even if a pond is only to serve as a hazard or design feature, eight to 10 feet should be the minimum depth considered. Failure to provide this depth will increase weed control costs, if not create a permanent eyesore.

Why are golf course ponds green?

As ponds and lakes age, they accumulate organic matter, which originates from a variety of sources that enter the water body, such as dead algae, leaves, branches, and even wildlife and pet feces.Mar 21, 2019

Does every pond have fish?

Natural ponds often serve a wide range of animal species. However, not all ponds you see have fish in them as normally expected. There are a few subtle and no so subtle ways to find out if fish are in the water.Sep 26, 2017

Can you eat golf course fish?

Re: Is it safe to eat golf course pond fish? DO NOT EAT THOSE FISH! I work in the field of water science/conservation. If you eat those fish, you are taking a huge risk of doing harm to your body.Apr 11, 2015

What do you call a pond on a golf course?

On a golf course, a "water hazard" is a pond, lake, river, stream, sea, bay, ocean or any other open water on the course, including ditches and drainage ditches.Dec 29, 2018

What happens to aquatic plants in golf course ponds?

While most aquatic plants help keep the ecosystem healthy and in check, others can choke the life out of a golf course pond. Invasive aquatic weeds will compete and outgrow native vegetation—to the point that nothing else will grow.

How to stop algae outbreaks in golf course?

A better option is to have your ponds dredged, which can remove hundreds or even thousands of pounds of organic muck. This will help stop the outbreak dead in its tracks.

What is the smell of the 9th hole pond?

Nobody wants to play on a course where the pond on the 9th hole has a thick, unsightly layer of algae that gives off a horrendous odor. Nuisance algae outbreaks most often occur during the warm summer months and can take up many man-hours as the maintenance crews try to figure out how to deal with it.

Why does my pond smell like rotten eggs?

That rotten-egg smell is hydrogen sulfide gas and is caused by bacteria eating the organic matter at the bottom of the pond.

What does it feel like to be a golf course superintendent?

If you’re a golf course superintendent, managing the ponds and lakes can seem like a royal pain, especially with all the other responsibilities that you have. Water features can often feel like a hazard to both golfer and superintendent alike.

What is the process of erosion that causes water to eat away at golf courses?

Bodies of water can cause intense damage to the surrounding area by a natural process called shoreline erosion. Sedimentation and damaged banks can eat away at your course, leaving it looking unsightly and unkempt, no matter how much maintenance you perform.

Why do golf courses have aeration systems?

Most golf courses have aeration systems that help ensure water gets properly agitated and circulated. As a side benefit, they will also add oxygen to the water and help keep the fish and other aquatic wildlife safe.

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Why are ponds important to golf courses?

A pond on a golf course represents many challenges besides being a hazard for errant shots. Ponds are a habitat for many creatures in the wild. Whether they are natural or man made, ponds contribute a variety of things necessary to support life. They are used as a drinking source for most, protection for others, mating ground, and food source.Bodies of water on golf courses are also aesthetically pleasing when properly maintained.With all of these things relying on the same area for very important reasons, it is imperative for us as grounds managers to ensure a balanced environment to cater to all them.

What is a superintendent on a golf course?

Golf Course Superintendents are considered to be the managers of the grass you play on when you are out on the golf course . As this is the truth, their responsibilities run much farther and wider than most people tend to consider. Superintendents are responsible for everything on a golf course from the grass, to the fence that marks the property line, to the tee towels and trash receptacles. Which brings me to the topic of the article, that is the management of the ponds on the course property.

What are some things that help control water quality?

Some other things that help control water quality are aquatic plants, fish, amphibians and micro organisms. Each of these act like a filter for the water, taking up excess nutrients as a food source, discourageing algae blooms and creating a balanced enviroment.

Why is water important for grass?

A healthy water source is beneficial to micro organisms, roots and shoots of plants, the ration exchange capacity of the soil and reaction and degradation of fertilizer and pesticide products. The better the quality of water, the better the efficiency in which all of the above work.

Why are golf course ponds considered nuisances?

Golf course ponds are often referred to as “attractive nuisances” for the simple reason that they may lure people to a potentially dangerous situation. Accordingly, we must do everything possible to prevent an accident.

How to choose a pond location?

When selecting the position for ponds, look for low-lying or flatter portions of the property. Doing so will maximize the benefit of gravity-flow to drainage systems and minimize the expense of excavation. Choosing a lower spot will give the pond a more natural aesthetic benefit.

What are the nutrients in lake water?

Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are food for algae and, consequently, their presence in large quantities almost ensures the algae blooms that superintendents frequently battle.

Why is it important to place a lake in the lowest elevation?

By placing the lake or pond in the lowest elevation, you maximize the amount of drainage that can reach it. Therefore, you are capturing and recycling as much rainfall as possible. With drainage comes risk of water quality. Despite superintendents’ excellent safety record with water quality, contamination due to fertilizer, pesticides, and other chemicals, are a threat. This is such a concern because there is direct drainage from the lake through the irrigation system.

How is phosphorus removed from a pond?

Phosphorus is removed through chemical reactions with mineral-rich soil of the pond floor.

Why do golf course lakes need PVC?

To conserve water in golf course lakes, it’s typical to line them with an impervious membrane to prevent leaking. PVC liners have been the material of choice for the lake industry.

How wide is a safety shelf in a lake?

In early attempts to address the issue, designers specified a “safety shelf” incorporating a 6-foot-wide horizontal landing positioned 3 feet below the normal water level along the entire perimeter of the lake. During the course of years of experience, we have found that the resultant change in slope below water level, which often cannot be seen, may create a less safe condition than if the bottom slope was gentle and even.