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 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. |
