Pond management on a golf course represents unique challenges. Golf course management best practices encourage daily turfgrass maintenance, but that very maintenance makes water features and irrigations ponds particularly susceptible to algae and major chemical imbalances. Still, with careful attention to small problems, you can avoid big pond problems altogether. According to Natural Environmental Systems, algae are the most common problem in golf ponds. The three basic types of algae of which you should be aware are:

• Planktonic algae: Free floating and microscopic algae that are common and harmless in small amounts – these give most ponds the characteristic green color and are part of the ecosystem in a healthy pond. These little guys are the basis of the food chain, dissolving oxygen that supports other aquatic life.
• Filamentous algae: This “pond scum” or “pond moss” is a type of algae with a furry appearance that grows on submerged rocks and logs, then breaks free of the bottom and floats to the top, creating an unsightly green mat. These algae have no real value for a healthy pond – they can and should be eradicated.
• Attached-erect algae: These tend to look like more highly evolved “vascular plants” – attached-erect algae mimics plants with leaf-like structures. Though less common than the other types, they can cause problems – snagging balls, clogging inlets and outlets, even acting as a danger to the legs or arms of unsuspecting (and hopefully rare) swimmers.

What Causes Algae in Golf Ponds? Excess nutrients can throw a pond out of balance. Fish excrement, grass clippings from regular course trimmings, uneaten fish food, and chemical runoff from fertilization methods tend to provide more nutrients than a healthy pond ecosystem can utilize – and that’s what allows algae blooms to move in. When sunlight penetrates shallow, clear ponds, those problems tend to be compounded. Golf Management for Pond Problems Super’s Choice recommends these steps to keep your little pond problems under control before they become big pond problems.

• Add Beneficial Pond Bacteria: Some bacteria occur naturally in ponds and lakes and are part of a healthy ecosystem. They help to decompose excess organic waste and manage water qualityconcerns.
• Add Natural Phosphate Binder: A plant-based phosphate binder neutralizes the phosphates that can lead to water quality imbalances. A good phosphate binder can act as a replacement for aluminum sulphate that’s free of industrial chemicals and more environmentally friendly.
• Maintain Proper Aeration: Use an aerator to make sure you have optimal levels of dissolved oxygen in your water features. Not only does dissolved oxygen encourage a healthy environment, but the motion created by the aerator helps you move water treatments effectively across an entire pond. The smaller the pond, the greater the need for an aerator – or even a fountain.

Take care of your course as an entire ecosystem. Balance the needs of your grass with the needs of your water features, and balance the needs of your golfers with the needs of your grass. Pay attention to small problems to keep them from ballooning into bigger concerns. Water quality is about balance – when something is a little out of balance, it can fall drastically out of balance in a short amount of time. Know what you’re dealing with and how to keep it under control, and you’ll be well on your way to healthy water features on a healthy course. To learn more about golf course management from professional who can take your course to the next level, visit eaglegolf.com today!