If a tree falls on a golf course...

You may have heard by now, the tree on the 8th hole is finally down. The decision to remove the tree has been fairly controversial and there have been countless discussions about the issue. It is difficult to say whether there were more voices in support of or in opposition to the decision, but it seems as though I heard from an equal number on both sides. Before the season gets under way and the conversations start anew I thought I should provide a detailed account of the process that led to the removal of the tree.
First I would like to address the issues that initiated the conversations. As a golfer, I had a strong opinion about the tree and its influence on the hole, however I am not a member of the club, and therefore this opinion carries little weight. As a superintendent I have a professional opinion on the issue based on the influence the tree had on the health and playability of the green, which should be the club’s top priority.
The key issue with the tree was its location on the southwest corner of the green. The large canopy created shade on the green for a large portion of the day, which affected the competitive advantage of desired turf grass species with a weaker one. Our greens are comprised primarily of bentgrass. This perennial grass species has excellent durability with respect to maintenance practices and extreme weather conditions. It will withstand aggressive grooming and topdressing that must be performed to provide firm, smooth playing surfaces, and is more reliable in the heat of summer and after long, cold winters. The weaker grass species, Poa annua, is less reliable under these conditions and presents numerous other challenges. Without going into too many scientific details, this grass is a winter annual. By nature this plant wants to complete its life cycle in one year. It germinates in the fall, and then produces copious amounts of seed in the spring before dying in the heat of the summer. Read that sentence again. The shade produced by the tree provides a competitive advantage that favors a grass population dominated by the weaker Poa annua. Now that the tree has been removed the green will be in full sun from dawn through the late afternoon. Over time the playing surface will become drier and the bentgrass will dominate the weaker annual Poa. Other issues that played a less significant role in the decision include root competition and the amount of leaves, sticks, and acorns that littered the front of the green throughout the season. While these issues were definitely a problem, the key issue was the affect of the shade on the health and playability of the turf.
The issue was discussed in detail the very first time I toured the course with the Pro, President, and reigning club champion. My comment was that it was the worst tree I had ever seen on a golf course. I was informed that the club had received recommendations to remove the tree from the previous superintendent as well as the architect hired to develop a master plan for the club. After working with this issue for a year it became clear that they were right. I obtained quotes from reliable tree companies in the range of $1800 to $2000 to drop the tree and chip the brush, but not remove the wood. The first winter it was too difficult to get their equipment in and out of the work area without creating significant damage to the golf course so we decided to wait. The second year we were concerned about the economy and the decision was made to avoid any unnecessary expenses. Finally, I could not stand the thought of waiting another year and decided to drop it myself. I purchased two wedges from the hardware store for a total of $17, tied a rope to the tractor (and said a quick Hail Mary), and laid the tree safely down in the hollow.
Once the tree was removed, we were able to confirm the fact that the tree was not planted until almost thirty years after the course was built, and therefore the removal is consistent with our efforts to restore the character of the golf course. After reviewing aerial photographs from the 1930’s it became clear that there were no trees near the green surface, and that golfers were challenged to hit the green or face a difficult recovery from either the left or right. I am confident that golfers will spend a little more time thinking about this shot than in the past, and that is what makes this one of the best holes on the golf course.
I was amazed by the visual impact that the removal has on the hole from the tee. The green surface looks much larger now that the key point of reference has been removed, and the bank to the left is much more intimidating. The front left hole location will be one of the best on the course, and balls heading into the hollow that were deflected by the tree will now flirt with the hazard. I am anxious to hear other people’s opinions on this affect.

I hope this has cleared up this issue and will eliminate any misinformation that might be floating around the 19th hole. If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to contact me, or sign up as a follower and leave your comments below.

A Very Sticky Subject

A few weeks ago I was taking a tour through the clubhouse, as I often do this time of year, making sure that nothing was out of the ordinary. I usually check to see if any lights are on, or toilets are running, or thermostats need to be turned down. As usual nothing seemed out of place and I was about to return to my office when I happened to look out the window of the rear dining room. I could not help but stare at the view, or more accurately, the lack of one.

Sometime after 1957, someone decided to plant a row of spruces and white pines to create a backdrop for the 9th (then 7th) green. This was a popular trend among committees and chairpersons in the 60's and 70's, and probably coincided with the planting on the 7th (then 5th) hole.

As a superintendent, these trees have bothered me since I first arrived in 2007. The trees were planted on the east and south sides of the green, and prevent the sun from reaching the playing surface until very late in the morning. While the shade is not enough to kill the turf, it does have a significant impact on the playing surface. Anyone who plays on a regular basis will tell you that the back of the green is much softer and even wet, as opposed to the front third that recieves significantly more sunlight.

As a golfer, I felt the trees detracted from the hole in a number of ways. First, they provided a frame of reference for a shot that was meant to be partially blind, and therefore negated one of the architect's design strategies. Second, any player that did not hold the green was punished by an extremely difficult, downward chip from a very poor lie. Finally, if the approach shot was so poorly played, the trees could actually knock it down and prevent an even more difficult recovery. In a game that is based on equity, this situation makes absolutely no sense.

After we removed the trees from the 7th green and revealed the character that lies in the features and vistas it became clear that our finishing hole is not living up to its potential. Eliminating these trees will restore the architect's orignal intent and will improve the condition of the turf behind the green, and therfore chance of recovery.

Removing trees from a golf course is a very controversial subject, and there are a few other trees that I feel more strongly about, so I never really pushed the issue on this hole. Once I realized the impact the trees have on the view from the patio and the clubhouse, I felt that the issue needed to be addressed.

The leadership of the club is working extremely hard this season to maximize the value of a membership at Suffield CC, and highlight the features that will attract new members and outside business. One of the key amenities at the club is the setting, and the beautiful view of the golf course as the sun approaches the horizon on a warm summer night. These trees block approximately 40% of the horizon when viewed from the clubhouse.

I have brought this issue to the attention of the Grounds Committee and the Board for careful consideration. I mentioned in both meetings that it is easy to remove trees but very difficult to put them back, and therefore the decision must be made on the golf course. I went out today and took some pictures from various angles to support these statements. I have posted these opinions and pictures so that people could share their comments for or against removing the trees. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, it cannot compare to being there and observing this in person. I encourage you to stop by the club, walk around, and consider the impact they have on the golf course as well as the atmosphere around the clubhouse.