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Tam
O'Shanter of Pennsylvania Nature Trail
THE BACK NINE |
HOLE #10 -
WOOD DUCKS
Nesting Wood Ducks, one of the most striking of American
ducks, have been found in previous seasons to the right of the
short tee. With the loss of much of the ancient forest with
its big, hollow tree trunks used by these ducks for nesting,
the wood duck nearly became extinct. Able to survive close to
human settlements, the survival of the wood duck has been
greatly helped by a widespread program of nest box building
and placement. Although wood ducks spend most of their time in
or near water, they have been known to nest as far as a mile
away from the nearest body of water. In the past the young
from this nest have been transported by the Game Commission to
a larger wetland area to mature.
HOLE
#11 - BLUEBIRDS
The
symbol of spring, hope and happiness, the bluebird has
declined dramatically in number over the past 50 years.,
primarily due to pesticides and to the loss of nesting sites
(in cavities of old, decaying trees). To the left of #11 green
is a bluebird area designed to enhance their population by
providing suitable habitat. These delightful birds feed on a
large number of insects, including snails, cutworms and
grasshoppers. Tam O'Shanter has been a member of the National
Bluebird Association since 1991.
HOLE #12 - MAINTENANCE SHOP
The Maintenance Shop to the right of the tee is kept neat and
clean, and recycling is a priority. Natural greases and oils
are used and recycled. Our Certified Golf Course
Superintendent, Rick Kearns, utilizes integrated pest
management (IPM) which employs biological control strategies
and thus limits the need for chemical controls of pests and
turf diseases. He has passed a rigorous testing program to
obtain the Pennsylvania Pesticides Applicator’s License and
was honored with the Environmental Stewardship Award in 1996
by the National Golf Course Superintendent’s Association.
HOLE
#13 - VIEW
The naturalized area surrounding the tee is designed to
attract birds. As you view the distant rolling hills, you can
see that the golf course is part of the greater environment.
In 1985 a tornado cut a path of destruction up the length of
this fairway. Since then over 1,000 trees have been planted on
the golf course and the trees gradually been reestablished,
leaving little evidence of the natural disaster.
HOLE
#14 - NEW WETLAND
In the ravine to the right of the tee is a newly established
wetland. This is a replacement wetland area for the one that
was destroyed by the highway construction. We now know that
wetlands play an integral role in providing wildlife habitat
and ensuring water quality for essential ground water supplies
and down stream water resources.
HOLE
#15 - WILDFLOWERS
In the area of the well site to the right of the short tee is
a grassland wildflower area to attract butterflies. These
beautiful creatures are essential to plant pollination and
enhance the environment with their colorful flight. There are
also butterfly boxes on the course, which are usually busy
with action.
HOLE
#16 RED-TAILED HAWK
Watch the skies or treetops in this area for red-tailed hawks.
These large, soaring hawks nest in woodlands and hunt in open
country, which make golf courses an ideal habitat. The
red-tails prey on mice, chipmunks, rabbits and other rodents.
Their call is a high, faint scream.
HOLE
#17 - SOUND BARRIER
Noise pollution can be a problem when in proximity to a major
highway. Therefore, the mounds behind the green of this hole
were included in its design to function partly as a sound
barrier, and partly to stop golf balls from straying onto the
roadway.
HOLE
#18 - PINE TREES/IMP TECHNIQUES
The pine trees lining this hole are valuable for wildlife.
These trees provide year-round cover and seeds of the white
pine. One integrated pest management (IPM) technique used in
the clubhouse area is the use of garlic spray to repel
mosquitoes and other insects. |