Hungry javelinas plague prestigious Arizona golf course with oversized divots

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) With no respect for etiquette on the fairways, let alone a dress code, a group of scruffy porcine invaders has left a trail of devastation across a prestigious Arizona golf course hailed among the country’s finest.

Greenkeepers at the picturesque Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona have posted to social media videos of the destruction wrought by the marauding pack of javelinas, also known as collared peccaries, which has dug up large areas of the course.

“What should be one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country is being destroyed by herds of javelina,” Em Casey, assistant superintendent of the club, posted to X, formerly Twitter.

According to Golf Monthly, the rooting javelinas have been active for several weeks, creating a sprawling patchwork of oversized divots that would put even the most hapless hacker to shame. Tees, fairways and rough of multiple holes have all experienced the unwelcome excavation. .............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/24/arizona-javelina-pig-destroy-golf-course

[GoCubsGo]

1. Invaders?

Javelinas lived there long before that stupid game was even invented, let alone before that golf course was built. They're just reclaiming what is theirs.

[former9thward]

6. What about when bears or other animals attack humans in National Parks?

They were there long before humans and are just reclaiming what is theirs.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. What about bacteria? What about smallpox?

Not talking about attacks on humans; it's about wild hogs attacking dirt and grass. Most tourist attacks in national parks are caused by tourists ignoring warnings in order to get good "selfies".

It will be interesting to see if they can come up with a solution that doesn't involve making bacon.

[GoCubsGo]

36. What about them?

Enter their territory at your own risk. It's not like the Park Service doesn't have signs all over the place warning of the consequences of encountering wildlife.

[former9thward]

37. That is not the policy of the U.S. Park District.

And I am sure you know that. They show the bears no mercy.

[GoCubsGo]

38. I know enough to know that there is no such thing as the U.S. Park District.

[former9thward]

39. Oh, A typo cop!

Just what we like on DU! They always seem to show when they don't have a point to make.

[GoCubsGo]

41. Whatever. I'm not interested in whatever fight you're trying to pick with me.

Adios.

[inthewind21]

44. Yeah

it is.

[TSExile]

2. Hmmmm...

Can anyone move them to Bedminster and really screw up someone's golf game? 😊😊😊😊😊

[Attilatheblond]

15. They probably wouldn't do well there in winter

But maybe they could join the ranks of 'snow birds' who travel to AZ every winter.

[TSExile]

17. Well then...

...how about Palm Beach???

[Attilatheblond]

18. Heck of a plan!

They stink to high heaven too, so that would be an added benefit.

[TSExile]

19. Heh heh heh...

I like the way you think!!

[hatrack]

21. *COUGH* Feral Hogs *COUGH*

[Zeitghost]

33. They aren't feral hogs

Unlike the hogs, they are native to the area and have been there for millions of years.

[hatrack]

34. No, I meant which animals should be introduced to Bedminster . . .

Javelina wouldn't likely thrive in New Jersey, but feral hogs would probably do just fine at Chez Orange.

[Zeitghost]

35. Got it

I missed the context.

[Ferrets are Cool]

31. It wouldn't matter since he never hits the fairway

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

47. LOL

I just got a picture of the world's largest Putt-Putt course, with hundreds of yards of scenery in between.

Now where are the windmills and castle moats to shoot through?

[Renew Deal]

3. It's time for humans to reassert their dominence.

[JanMichael]

4. I am seeing a Caddyshack moment here.

Go Javelinas!!!

[Xavier Breath]

14. Has anyone checked the pool yet for a Baby Ruth? n/t

[Yavin4]

40. Think Like a Javelina

[redqueen]

5. How much water is wasted on a golf course in Arizona

[former9thward]

7. None.

Non-potable water is used for golf courses in AZ. How much water is wasted in swimming pools in California?

[redqueen]

11. Is that a fact? I thought it was closer to 25% grey

and read that they all go over their allotment every year, but when they deliver billions to the state nobody's much inclined to do anything about it.

Could be that something's changed in the past year?

[former9thward]

12. You may be right.

I have a home in Maricopa county and I have always been told it was non-potable water. I don't golf or use swimming pools so I don 't have a dog in the fight. The latest thing (2014 study) I found said this:

PHOENIX – In parts of northern Arizona, golf courses over the past decade have stopped using drinking water to keep their greens vibrant. Instead, they use effluent or recycled water.

However, in Phoenix, less than a quarter of the water used on golf courses is reclaimed wastewater. According to a 2014 University of Arizona study, 75 percent of the water used to irrigate courses in the Prescott active management area is effluent, compared with only 21 percent in the Phoenix active management area.

One local official says it’s critical to rethink the use of water – especially given Arizona’s $3.9 billion dollar golf industry.

“It’s important just from a perspective of living in the desert that we really value our water, and we use it for the correct purposes,” said Phoenix Councilwoman Debra Stark, who has worked to get golf courses to stop using drinking water.

https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2018/05/31/drought-causes-moon-valley-lookout-mountain-golf-courses-stop-irrigating-with-drinking-water/#:~:text=PHOENIX%20%E2%80%93%20In%20parts%20of%20northern,golf%20courses%20is%20reclaimed%20wastewater.

[StarryNite]

43. How much water is wasted in swimming pools here in AZ?

[inthewind21]

45. WHAT!!!!

There are swimming pools in Arizona? No Way!


I'm kidding. I know there are. Just getting a kick out of a retort about golf courses in Arizona vs. swimming pools in CA.

[former9thward]

46. None.

People on golf courses and swimming pools enjoy recreation. I don't do either but I'm sure people would complain about what I do.

[ZonkerHarris]

8. Just play through you rugged country club individualists.

[Drum]

16. Lolz

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. gosh oh no

[LiberalFighter]

10. Let them do their thing.

[drmeow]

13. Cry me a river

[dalton99a]

20. Javelina stew or chorizo

[hatrack]

22. Gosh , that's terrible . . .

?t=1

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Played In Key West A Few Times

Once, I got to a hole & I see what I thought was a bunch of branches laying on the green.
I thought "That's odd for how diligent the crew is here."
Hit my shot & when it hit the green, the branches scattered into the bushes.
They were iguanas sunning themselves.
They stayed in the bushes while I was putting. I went to the next tee, and when I turned around they had all gone back on the green.
Just hanging out.
They didn't do damage though. Just catching some rays.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

24. Luke Air Force Base in Glendale has a nice course.

Was there in January of 2020 for 10 days. My husband played a number of rounds. The sounds of jets flying overhead were loud however.

[Prairie Gates]

25. Well

[Lochloosa]

26. Play it as it lies. Rules of golf.

[Chainfire]

27. They need to build a wall.

[Ferrets are Cool]

32. Thread winner

[marybourg]

28. One of the javalina babies fell into

one of the in-ground trash cans we have in our community. The mother was shrieking and wouldn’t let anyone near enough to get the baby out. Fish & Game had to be called to dart the mother so the baby could be retrieved.

[Paladin]

30. I'm siding with the javelina. Fascinating creatures. (nt)

[StarryNite]

42. Javelinas are a native species.

Golfers aren’t. Relocate the golfers.