giant fans on golf courses??

[agnes_day]

why are they there? i saw them yesterday when my husband and i drove by this country club, and then i saw some of the same fans on the lame golf course they have out here..are they to keep the golfers cool, or to make the ball go elsewhere...or what??

 

[OccamsTazer]

I have wondered this too!

 

[the lemon tree]

My guess is that it keeps the lawns cool so as to minimize yellowing/the need for watering.

 

[saddina]

Are you sure it's not windmills? A few out here have them to "green" up the place. (Basically to shut up people who complain about the carbon footprint of all that water and fertalizer).

 

[agnes_day]

well surely someone on here can tell us..i think its kind of weird!

 

[the lemon tree]

Source: http://grounds-mag.com/golf_courses/grounds_maintenance_giving_turf_breath/

Air movement and turfgrass health
The growing environment of the turf on and around a green complex essentially is determined by sunlight penetration and air movement. These factors contribute mightily to the rate at which the putting green complex dries out.

Wet greens are usually bad greens. Excess moisture contributes to increased disease incidence as well as other maladies such as algae. Mechanical damage on greens that do not dry out quickly is even more severe. In traveling the Mid-Atlantic region, the worst greens I see are those located in pocketed growing environments with poor sunlight penetration.

Air movement across the green produces a drying effect for the soil and increases the evapotranspiration rate of the plant. This combination leads to drier conditions and healthier turfgrass.


Therefore, " For air flow, however, several options usually are available to improve airflow in a specific area. Removing underbrush and trees can improve air movement, while fans provide an artificial option for increasing air movement. A combination of tree removal and fan installation ultimately may be necessary to improve air movement and the overall growing environment."

 

[agnes_day]

ahhhhh, ok.
thanks for clearing that up..i just couldnt even think of what they were for.

 

[the lemon tree]

I was curious too! You learn something new everyday!