[Steve_ Shaffer]

Since Florida is a big topic here lately and the Senior Tour will be playing this course this week, has anyone played this non-residential course originally designed by Joe Lee redesigned by Gene Bates? It looks interesting:





http://tinyurl.com/2sprwu

[Patrick_Mucci]

Steve,

I played the course before it was recently redesigned.

I enjoyed it, it was a good members course.

I've been invited to play the redesigned course but haven't been to Florida enough to get the chance.  If I play it, I'll post my thoughts.

[Mitch Hantman]

It was a fine Joe Lee design before the renovation, with only some office buildings lining the perimeter of the course.  

Gene Bates did a makeover, and it is a good course.  Some overgrown trees were removed during the renovation, and the hurricanes removed many, many more.  The members weren't happy about the tree loss, but it seemed to help open up vistas and wind channels, not to mention sunlight.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mitch Hantman,

You bring up an interesting issue.

Trees

Most on this site want them removed.

However, many at most clubs want them retained or introduced.

The most recent hurricane eradicated all the wrong species that snowbirds had planted over the years.

Most insurance companies will no longer cover tree loss at golf clubs.

Yet, substantive numbers of members want to replace the lost trees.  And many like making their course in Florida look like their course in the Northeast.

It's a dilema.

[PThomas]

I think I might try to replant if they can cover unsightly buildings and /or help quiet street noise

[Mitch Hantman]

Paul,

You are mostly referring to perimeter foliage, and I agree.  I'm with Pat on planting only native trees - they hold up better in hurricanes, and in Florida, palms don't impede the strategy of the hole as much as other types.  

Pat,

I am with the majority on this site regarding trees.  I have not encountered any trees on Florida courses, that if removed, would be missed strategically.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I think I might try to replant if they can cover unsightly buildings and /or help quiet street noise

You won't find a budget capable of funding those efforts.

Berms work better than trees as an accoustical barrier.
The same can be said for visual barriers provided you're not talking about multi-story buildings, where the amount of fill required would be enormous.

Most clubs berm then plant when they want to shield tall structures.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mitch,

If they replant the same trees, they'll only get blown down again, and this time there won't be any insurance coverage.

It's amazing how aerodynamically equiped palms and pines are.

I guess Darwin was a landscape architect in his spare time.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The 7th hole should be interesting for the seniors. A new tee has been added to make it play about 320y:

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