Golfing at Boulder City Golf Course - With a TWIST!

Folks, I have golfed at Boulder City Golf Course many times and only NOW have I noticed this "anomaly" which I found absolutely fascinating and thought I'd share in the attempt to find out what this is! On the fairway of hole #12 - a par-5 - I noticed this anomaly while waiting to take my second shot. Can any of you tell me what this is?!? It's "growth" on a tree akin to a "tumor" of some sort and this growth is GRASS growing on a TREE ABOVE THE GROUND!!! Holy Moses! I thought this would be something awesome to share in the hope that someone can come up with an explanation of WHAT THIS IS!