So this tree thing seems to be catching on

[Mike Sweeney]

Yale, Merion, Olympic, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, National just to name a few are pulling out trees.

This month I have seen Waterbury and Hollywood, both old line clubs that probably resist change, pulling out trees over the winter, and it makes me think that pulling out trees is close to becoming "mainstream".

Who is winning the tree battle, Oakmont (pulling out trees) or Augusta (planting trees)?

Who are the others that are in the process of pulling out trees, and which courses are the obvious next targets?

Has Golf Club Atlas contributed to this process?

[Mark Studer]

The club's ability to grow turfgrass is winning when the ever expanding canopy of trees is put in its place.  Our superintendent has the toughest job already : especially when competing for sunlight.  Congratulations to those who support their superintendent to make the appropriate tree management decisions.  Just ask your super what he thinks is best and support it within the realworld budget.   

[Phil Benedict]

The club's ability to grow turfgrass is winning when the ever expanding canopy of trees is put in its place.  Our superintendent has the toughest job already : especially when competing for sunlight.  Congratulations to those who support their superintendent to make the appropriate tree management decisions.  Just ask your super what he thinks is best and support it within the realworld budget.   

I think Mark has hit the nail on the head:  memberships will embrace tree removal when it's pitched as a way to improve turf quality.  The impact on the architecture is usually secondary.  Over time members may decide they like the way tree removal opens up the course and creates better sight lines; initially, however, it's the positive effect on turf that drives the decision to remove trees.

Another point about trees is that it's much more controversial to remove a lone tree on the interior of the course that someone planted than a hundred wild trees on the exterior of the course.  Often times the lone tree on the interior has more of an impact on the play of a hole - in other words the architecture - than a bunch of trees on the edge of play. 

[Joel_Stewart]

Yale, Merion, Olympic, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, National just to name a few are pulling out trees.

All above are private wealthy clubs except for Yale.  Are there any public courses that have removed trees?   Harding Park removed a few in the renovation but I wonder if there are any others?

Not sure if GCA contributed but it didn't hurt.  I think the word spread through the superintendents.

[Doug Wright]

I heard this weekend that Cherry Hills is removing the pine trees (and everything else) from behind the island on the par 5 17th green. This will open up the view of this green to the lake, 18th hole and clubhouse beyond, challenge depth perception etc. A good move.

[John Foley]

I've heard that Kittansett went through some significant tree thinning over the winter, but have not seenor heard of any results.

Same at Oak Hill - but given their pride in the tree's I don't think they will ever become an Oakmont even though the property was just like it in the 20"s. If I get out there this weekend for the Sr PGA this weekend I can report.

[Brian Potash]

Hudson National in Westchester removed many trees over the winter and is continuing to remove more into the season.  I think there was an issue with the town that was finally cleared up last year, allowing the club to proceed with the project.

Aside from providing more views of the river (which I dont really care about), it has opened up many holes, and made the course play a bit easier as well.  I believe the response has been very positive so far.

(not a terrible first post I hope!)

[Mike Sweeney]

All above are private wealthy clubs except for Yale.  Are there any known public courses that have removed trees?   Harding Park removed a few in there renovation but I wonder if there are any others?

At Yale, I believe that Scott Ramsey either made a small profit or a small loss on the tree removal program. He was able to sell the trees.

Split Rock in da Bronx could use a hugh tree effort. I believe the course has more potential than Cobb's Creek for restoration. Sitting on NYC Park land, I know there has to be a bunch of issues as the concept of removing tree which is foreign to them.

Metropolis in Westchester is a Poster Child for tree removal, at least 2-3 years ago.

[J Sadowsky]

Yale, Merion, Olympic, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, National just to name a few are pulling out trees.

All above are private wealthy clubs except for Yale.  Are there any known public courses that have removed trees?   Harding Park removed a few in there renovation but I wonder if there are any others?

Not sure if GCA contributed but it didn't hurt.  I think the word spread through the superintendents.

Michigan (which like Yale is technically private) was one of the earlier tree-removing projects.  For most publics, tree-removal can be expensive, so I think you'll see less of them.  But if you look at some new publics (like, in NoVa, the new Laurel Hill), you'll see that more publics are going with less trees and more openness.

[Phil_the_Author]

Joel,

You asked, "All above are private wealthy clubs except for Yale.  Are there any known public courses that have removed trees?   Harding Park removed a few in there renovation but I wonder if there are any others?"

In the restoration of Bethpage Black prior to the 2002 Open more than 9,000 trees were removed. In addition, in the last two years more than a few and less than a lot of trees have been removed as well. e.g. - the trees behind the 4th green and some along the 12th fairway...

[Dave_Miller]

Yale, Merion, Olympic, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, National just to name a few are pulling out trees.

This month I have seen Waterbury and Hollywood, both old line clubs that probably resist change, pulling out trees over the winter, and it makes me think that pulling out trees is close to becoming "mainstream".

Who is winning the tree battle, Oakmont (pulling out trees) or Augusta (planting trees)?

Who are the others that are in the process of pulling out trees, and which courses are the obvious next targets?

Has Golf Club Atlas contributed to this process?

Mike:
Tree management is an important issue everywher.  When trees start to overlap and affect playability and open areas that need sunlight they need to thinned or removed.  Pine trees are particularly invasive for a variety of reasons and need to be monitored carefully.
Even Donald Ross, in his book "Golf has never failed me" discusses that trees at times and when necessary need to be removed.
Best
Dave

[John Sheehan]

Yale, Merion, Olympic, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, National just to name a few are pulling out trees.

All above are private wealthy clubs except for Yale.  Are there any known public courses that have removed trees?   Harding Park removed a few in there renovation but I wonder if there are any others?

Not sure if GCA contributed but it didn't hurt.  I think the word spread through the superintendents.

Joel,
I don't know if this qualifies as a "known public course" but a few years ago, as part of its restoration project, Haggin Oaks removed hundreds of trees.  Predictably, old timers howled and many of them quit; but the result has been great improvement in all areas: turf, site lines, stategy, etc. 

Private ones in our area include Claremont in Oakland.  Not positive, but I think Tom Doak was involved in that. Again, mighty improvement.  Used to have to walk single file down some of those fairways..

[Melvyn Morrow]

Trees

What are trees, they start off as saplings when planted on a course then over time grow up to be a pain in the bum (sorry butt) when planted on a fairway.

You don’t see many trees on a Links course.

The early photos on this website have shown courses of the 1920-30’s with many large saplings scattered through what appears to be the side of the course, then recent photos show the mature trees. But you do not need trees on the fairways. Forget the obvious playing hazard of having a great big ******* tree in the way, the real question is the root spread, water consumption in dry and wet conditions and the overall effect on the fairway.

Trees are fine lining the fairway, but out passed the wide roughs but not in the line of play.

As related with Course Design or Architecture, a tree is totally independent and its growth will predominately depend upon the elements, perhaps with a little help from the ground staff. Do Designers take into account the growing cycle of the tree and in its various stages as part of the design hazard or is it just quirky to have a tree on the fairway?

I for one would agree that all trees should be removed from all fairways, but retain them if they are not on the line of play for the average golfer.   

[Adam Clayman]

Ed Placha told me about a guy who has put together a couple of gizmos to create a tool supers can use to explain why they need to cut trees down. It's some kind of photo cell that has the ability to calculate the hours of sun light on specific area. It measure the angle of the sun light and intensity. Once armed with scientific data, it's just a matter of translating it to the committees involved. i.e. "How can I grow grass on that tee box when it only gets 3 1/2 hrs of direct sunlight per day?"

[Kevin_Reilly]

Tilden Park has started thinning out eucalyptus trees in certain parts of the course.  Probably an extension of fire-related management that is occurring throughout the Oakland-Berkeley hills, but it is having a good effect on parts of the course.  There is much more to do, though.