Busy Busy Busy

It's been quite awhile since I've run my mouth but it's been for a very good reason - we are BUSY!  While the weather has not been the best for golf, it has been just fine to get caught up on our spring tasks.  Being a week or two behind our usual spring schedule due to the long winter, the last two weeks have really helped us catch up.  Aerification, tree removal and general clean-up have been our focus as well as addressing some minor damage from the extreme winter.  We still have a ways to go, but we are getting there.

      

First off was aerification.  As you may have noticed, we did things just a little differently this year.  Instead of the heavy sand application, we went with a more moderate sand rate.  We followed that with a solid, deep-tine (over 7 inches deep) aerification (no cores).  This was not nearly as disruptive and should heal quite quickly.  We chose to scale back this spring due to the cold temperatures and late start to the golf season.  As long as we remain consistent with our normal practices of topdressing, we should be fine.  We will have to be more aggressive in the fall to make up for not getting quite as much sand in our profile as we usually do.

Sand was applied ahead of punching

With a few frosty mornings under our belt, we have also begun our spring tree removals.  Over the past several years, we have been forced to spend most of our time and money removing dead trees.  The emerald ash borer and the bark beetle have killed numerous ash and pine trees on the course and more significantly on our property lines.  With the safety of our members, guests, and neighbors the priority, we spent our time in these areas.  Now that we are caught up with those necessary removals, we can begin addressing trees more in play that are causing problems.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  ALL tree removals were first reviewed and planned by our master plan architect, reviewed 'on-course' by the grounds committee and approved unanimously.  They were removed thoughtfully and not without thorough discussion by professionals and our members.  This will be our policy moving forward regarding the removal (OR planting) of any live trees.  Our thought process was simple .  First and foremost, we want to encourage good growing conditions for the in-play areas with greens as the priority.  You have already noticed the trees adjacent to #8 green and 9 tee have been removed.  This has accomplished several goals - More sun and air movement for our worst performing green, better conditions for the thin rough around the green and #9 tee, and after removing them the very large tree next to the bunker really becomes a stand-alone gem that isn't hidden by the other trees.  Also, it is obvious to see how the smaller tree only a few feet from the largest tree was negatively affecting the shape and growth habit of this great tree.  Same goes for the large maple on #9 tee.  Once the smaller, misshapen tree was removed, the larger and more impressive specimen is now on display.

Looking at the shape of the maple on 9 tee, it is easy to see that the smaller of the two was struggling to compete with the larger cousin to the left.  It had a terrible shape and was generally unhealthy.  As a bonus, we should get better conditions, thicker turf and help the area better withstand cart traffic.  

Now with the smaller ugly maple gone, the larger specimen can stand out on its own.

With the removal of these three trees, the corridoor for air and sunlight has increased dramatically.  Should get thicker rough around the green and better conditions on the green.

You can see the trees really competing for their own sun.  The branches of the larger tree curving around the smaller one. We will continue to remove trees that interfere with more desirable specimens.

Now with the smaller tree gone, the larger specimen stands alone and can branch in all directions and hopefully turn into a great specimen.  You can see the void where the smaller tree used to reside.

One final word about trees.  I love trees.  I think they add a great touch to an old country club when properly placed, minimally used and not relied upon for strategy or "toughness" of the course.  They should be complementary, not domineering.  The death or necessary removal of a tree should not "ruin" a hole.  Any good architect will tell you that.  The fact of the matter about Highland Meadows is there are too many trees too close together in the wrong spots.  For example the groves of maple trees (maples are very shallow rooted and difficult to grow grass near) planted around this place have made it impossible to grow good turf in some very key areas (right of 16 green, left of 8 fairway, right of 2 landing area, right of 1 green etc etc) and that is not what trees are for on a golf course.  Many great courses are lined with trees but they should not be integral to how the hole is played. 

One of my favorite quotes from Jack Nicklaus.  

That being said, I would like it on the record that we do invest time, money, and effort to maintain the trees we do want to remain.  Just this week Rich Savory from Savory tree service was out to look at some distressed pines and spruces on the course.  We are going to do some trunk injections on the spruces behind #9 green and some fertilizing on the white pines that took it in the chops from the rough winter.