19980611013249A

Left wing impacted a pole during landing roll. (.4)the pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that he 'failed to maintain proper control of the aircraft, deviated from an acceptable track down a grass runway (270) and contacted a pole with the left wing' while he 'was in the process of turning out to avoid another object.' Conditions at the time were calm winds, with heavily overcast gray skies with light precipitation. After a comment from his passenger the PIC saw the bright white golf cart and began to maneuver away from it. The pic's 'first reaction on feeling the contact with the pole was disbelief, because I knew I could not have struck the cart, and the pole simply hadn't registered in my mind at all.' Neither the PIC nor passenger ever saw the pole which was ordinarily marked with bright yellow parachute extending out and centered around the pole. With the parachute having been removed, the pic's expectation of the pole's usual vivid (yellow) image was different from reality and he had no incentive to execute any corrective action. Additionally, the Gliderport grass runway had no markings delineating its boundary nor did it have any centerline marking t o guide the PIC in maintaining directional control. (-23) pilot had departed private glider airport for a short flight and returned for landing. Pilot was inbound and had made a normal approach, but airspeed was slightly higher than normal (55-60MPH). The landing rwy (27) was grass, 2000-feet long with a pole located approximately 30 feet south of the rwy centerline. In addition, a golf cart was parked approximately 3-4 feet north of the pole. Pilot said he was fixating on the golf cart and lifted the wing to miss the golf cart, but did not see the pole. The left wing contacted the pole approximately 9 feet above the ground causing the aircraft to make a 180 degree turn before coming to a stop. The left wing spar bent about halfway down and the wing tip was dented.