Hey dirt enthusiasts! Ever heard the saying "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? Well, at Estes Park Golf Course in Colorado, they've tweaked that wisdom to "when elk give you droppings, make premium topsoil." And boy, do they have a story to tell!
Mother Nature's Unexpected Gift
At a breathtaking elevation of 8,000 feet, Superintendent John Feeney faced an unusual challenge: 200-300 elk treating his 27-hole golf course like their personal rest stop from September through April. Talk about uninvited guests who overstay their welcome! Learn more about elk management strategies.
The "Waste" Not, Want Not Approach
Initially, these mountain-dwelling party crashers left behind what seemed like a massive headache - literally tons of elk pellets that had to be hauled away to landfills. But Feeney, our resourceful hero, decided to think outside the box (or should we say, outside the dumpster?).
The Secret Recipe (Warning: Not For Your Kitchen)
Here's where it gets interesting. Feeney developed a special blend that would make any composters green with envy:
Equal parts elk "presents"
Fresh grass clippings
Aeration cores
Pine needles and pinecones
A dash of spent brewery grains (because why should the elk have all the fun?)
The Magic Behind the Mixture
The process isn't exactly set-it-and-forget-it. These 4-foot-high, 50-foot-long compost piles need:
Regular turning (like a very slow, very large cooking pot)
Constant moisture monitoring
Enough heat to break down those stubborn elk pellets
A good soil screener to finish the job
The Results? Nothing Short of Amazing!
This innovative approach produces around 70 cubic yards of premium topdressing annually. When applied to the fairways, it:
Protects grass crowns during harsh mountain winters
Accelerates soil warming in spring
Saves a whopping $40,000-$50,000 compared to traditional sand topdressing
From Problem to Solution
What started as a massive cleanup headache has transformed into a sustainable solution that's perfect for their mountain course's shallow root zones and challenging winter conditions. It's proof that sometimes the best answers to our problems are right under our feet (or in this case, left behind by our four-legged friends).
The Bottom Line
Who knew elk could be unwitting contributors to sustainable golf course management? While they might still be the "nemesis" of the greens team, their "contributions" are now a valuable resource rather than a waste management nightmare.
Need help with your own screening operation? Check out our line of EZ-Screen portable screeners - turning nature's challenges into opportunities, one scoop at a time!
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