Elk Problem Increasing
at Banff Springs Golf Course

By Andrew Penner, TravelGolf.com Staff Writer

The approach shots at the Banff Springs golf course are backdropped by massive granite walls, stately pines, and the emerald blues and greens of glacier fed lakes and streams. It’s world class golf in the heart of the Canadian Rockies – a moving experience for any golf enthusiast. While the approaches filled with stunning views can be distracting, it’s what’s often in the immediate foreground that can really break your concentration. That would be the elk – and there are lots of ‘em.

Not only can these large animals cause a problem for golfers navigating the course (power carts often have to weave in and around herds feeding on the fairways), but they also present challenges for superintendent Kevin Patterson in keeping the Banff Springs course in top form. This is not an easy task when hundreds of 1500 pound creatures are continuously urinating, sparring, feeding, and just generally acting like wild beasts on the pristine property.

While Elmer Fudd may offer a quick solution to the problem, these animals are well protected within Banff National Park. Offering elk kabobs, elk a la peppercorn sauce, and elk stir fry with teriyaki sauce (and you thought you could do a lot with shrimp) to the thousands of visitors who play the course each year would appear to be a viable and financially prudent resolution. However, it simply isn’t an option. "We have a number of strategies in place to control the flow of the animals and keep the damage to a minimum," offers Patterson. "We are in a position were we must work with these animals."

Elk Damage

According to Patterson, the elk present a problem in a number of ways from an agronomic perspective. For one, elks continuously urinate on the Stanley Thompson masterpiece. Elk urine is secreted at body temperature in high volumes. During fall and winter when the air and soil temperatures are low, the plant is stressed considerably and cannot synthesize the chemicals in the urine nor handle the severe change in temperature. Consequently, the greens and fairways in Banff are dotted with dead spots in the spring. "We spend 120 hours in spring repairing urine spots on the course," says Patterson.

That’s not all. The bulls have a tendency to spar with the flagsticks, shattering them into bits and pieces. "We remove the flagsticks every evening, otherwise we’d be cleaning up shrapnel on a regular basis," says Banff’s longtime Director of Golf, Doug Wood. "Sparring" is a way for the bulls to prove their studliness (similar to when guys go the bar and break ashtrays over their foreheads, smash chairs over each other’s backs, or attempt to put their fists through brick walls). At any rate, the elk’s fixation with the flagsticks actually begins with their love of salt. When the golfers handle the flagsticks, salt is left behind from hands and fingers – a tasty treat for the elk.

Elk hoof prints also cause considerable damage to the turf. "It takes us 25% longer to cut the greens in the morning because hoof marks must be repaired prior to cutting," says Patterson. "The worst situations in green damage arise when the bulls literally dig up large sections of the greens with their antlers. Sometimes these areas of destruction are the size of a car. Unfortunately, when this type of devastation occurs, the mangled turf must be painstakingly repaired and put back into place like a jigsaw puzzle."

Additional Problems

Urine isn’t the only substance which elk secrete in large quantities. While elk dung isn’t anything to worry about from a plant’s perspective, most superintendents and golfers alike would consider "too much pooh" somewhat displeasing from an aesthetic standpoint. Interestingly, the maintenance crew in Banff uses leaf removal equipment to clean up elk dung in the spring and fall. It’s an immense job that requires over 600 working hours.

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Many people don’t realize that elk can be dangerous animals. One must use precaution and common sense around the elk. Elk have charged people on the course, however, there have been no reports of physical contact with humans in an aggressive situation on the Banff Springs golf course. In other words, you don’t need to pack a high powered rifle in order to stay alive in Banff (Parks Canada wouldn't be too fond of that anyway).

The most dangerous time of year is mating season in late fall. Just like any man wooing the woman he loves, the male elk tend to get a little defensive, protective, and downright stubborn when it comes to outside interference during moments of, shall we say, "pursuing love." The course actually enforces a "free drop rule" if your golf ball comes to rest anywhere near a bull defending his love interests.

Mothers with calves also can present a problem. Simply keeping a safe distance from a cow with her calf is best. "On occasion we have moved tee markers up to the fairway if, for instance, a mother is parked by a tee box with her calf," says Patterson.

Controlling The Flow

Elk are just about as much a part of the Banff Springs golf course as the panoramic mountain vistas, the beautiful Thompson bunkering, and the eloquent green sites (the fourth hole, affectionately known as "The Devil’s Cauldron," is often regarded as one of the best par-3’s in the world). Controlling the movement of the animals is critical.

The course has a number of strategies in place to help guide the animals into positions where they will be least affected by "Joe Hack" and his titanium artillery. "Planting areas of natural montaine grasses was one of the first steps in initiating control in where these animals tend to gather," replies Patterson. These areas containing the natural grasses of the montaine region are situated between holes, in open areas, behind tee markers, and in other areas that are, for the most part, out of the direct line of play.

Other steps include using scare tactics to move large herds off fairways into areas off the course or out of high traffic areas. Occasionally, "bangers" or "screamers" are used (they make really loud noises!), which excite the animals into moving away from the threat and into safer areas.

In addition, Parks Canada has implemented the use of dogs to herd elk away from the townsite. They have just recently begun using dogs on the course as well. The elk consider the dogs "predators." This method has been a very effective way of moving the elk in a controlled fashion.

The End Result

The Elk are permanent fixtures on the course. They were there long before Thompson was commissioned to create golf majesty in Banff National Park in 1927. Finding ways to work with and around these animals will continue to challenge greens superintendents long after Kevin Patterson has left his position in Banff. Educating the golfing public and implementing natural systems which help minimize confrontation and turf damage can go a long way in ensuring this mountain golf getaway will leave all parties at peace.