[John Kavanaugh]

I was sitting under a tree this weekend enjoying the shade and wondered..what good is it.  Can anyone explain why after millions of years of evolution trees still create shade and what benefits it brings to golf agronomy.  Also, what are examples of really fine shade in golf?

[Dave_Miller]

I was sitting under a tree this weekend enjoying the shade and wondered..what good is it.  Can anyone explain why after millions of years of evolution trees still create shade and what benefits it brings to golf agronomy.  Also, what are examples of really fine shade in golf?

John:
Maybe because the tree blocks the sun and casts a shadow thereby creating what we call shade. Not sure how evolution could prevent this other than to do away with trees.
Best
Dave

[Dan Herrmann]

The tree expands its canopy to maximize the amount of the sun's energy it can use via photosynthesis.  This leads to a greater amount of shade.   A tree without leaves or needles would also be known as a "dead tree".

[Doug Ralston]

Eighteen Trees Needed!

Please apply Sand Hills GC.

Job description: Provide shade to those waiting to tee off. Be appreciated. No competition.

Requirement, High limbs, wide spread. Plenty of leaves from April to October.

[John Kavanaugh]

The tree expands its canopy to maximize the amount of the sun's energy it can use via photosynthesis.  This leads to a greater amount of shade.   A tree without leaves or needles would also be known as a "dead tree".

I don't believe shade "just happens" because of photosynthesis.  A more efficient method of evolution would have been for trees to use bacteria or algea instead of leaves which would have eliminated any useful shade. 

A tid bit on bacteria...Stromatolites of fossilized oxygen-producing cyanobacteria have been found from 2.8 billion years ago.[2] The ability of cyanobacteria to perform oxygenic photosynthesis is thought to have converted the early reducing atmosphere into an oxidizing one, which dramatically changed the life forms on Earth and provoked an explosion of biodiversity. Chloroplasts in plants and eukaryotic algae have evolved from cyanobacteria.

[Bob_Huntley]

I was sitting under a tree this weekend enjoying the shade and wondered..what good is it.  Can anyone explain why after millions of years of evolution trees still create shade and what benefits it brings to golf agronomy.  Also, what are examples of really fine shade in golf?

John,

I did enjoy the shade of the big tree when eating my Peach Cobbler at Augusta.

Bob

[Adam Clayman]

Who here has ever had to wait to tee off, on any hole other than #1, @ SH?

[Mike Benham]

Trees don't make shade, shade is the result of an object blocking the sun. 

An irrigation controller, a flagstick, a ballwasher, and a PGA  Pro taking 2 minutes to hit a shot all create shade by blocking the sun.

If you have no sun shining, which people might call this "dark", you have no shade ...



Ps:  the "dark" reference reminds me of one of the late George Carlin's skits about the weather forecast:

"Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning."

[John Kavanaugh]

Trees don't make shade, shade is the result of an object blocking the sun. 

This is where we don't agree.  Trees do make shade for very specific reasons or they wouldn't bother.  The making of shade makes them vunerable to herbevores of all sizes and storms of all strengths.  What for...some cool wet roots?  That is not great enough of a trade off.  I also find it difficult to believe that they simply are benefactors to animals who want to cool off.  Do shade trees occur naturally or are they some genetic byproduct similar to fat cows?

[Jim_Kennedy]

JK,
The canopy stifles competition.

[John Kavanaugh]

JK,
The canopy stifles competition.

That is a great point..thanks.

[John Kavanaugh]

Trees make shade so that animals will sit under them and crap.

I knew there were selfish reasons behind the making of shade.  I urinate on trees out of modesty..That can't explain why dogs do.

[Kalen Braley]

Wow,

I'm shocked this thread even got 12 responses.....perhaps it is finally a sign of the apocalypse on GCA.com

[Phil_the_Author]

In the beginning, the first tree stood and after hearing God say, "Let light come to be" said to itself, "I wonder what will happen if I stand in front of it...

That is how and why trees made shade! 

[John Kavanaugh]

Wow,

I'm shocked this thread even got 12 responses.....perhaps it is finally a sign of the apocalypse on GCA.com

Before we dismiss trees without cause it is important to understand why they exist.  I played in a tournament, slow moving as expected, this weekend where shade was a valuable resource.  There are many forms of shade to be found out on a golf course like, cart canopies, umbrellas, shelters, etc...but no shade can compare with old fashioned tree shade.  I can not think of another living organism whose evolution can be traced to the benefit of others quite like the tree.  It makes no sense.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Red Velvet Cake the next time, Bob. Red Velvet...

John, your son wants his bot evol textook back!

[Kalen Braley]

John,

Your completely missing the boat on this one.  Evolution is all about finding the quickest, most easily exploitable path to survival.  Trees have obviously become what they are because it benefits them the most.

Your also forgetting a key component as to why shade is good for them.  By making shade they are making plant life below them more difficult to live and when more of it dies off, the less resources like water and minerals they have to share with other plants.  Do you think proponents of tree removal were just pulling it out of thier ass when they said turf quality significantly improves without trees sucking up thier resources?

[Ian Larson]

...why is the sky blue?

[John Kavanaugh]

...why is the sky blue?

Well newbie...we did have an interesting discussion a few years back on the effects of humidity on golf.  That is about as close as the color of the sky can have to being related to golf course architecture.

[Joe Bausch]

...why is the sky blue?

I'm guessing Ian already knows why, but perhaps others are curious why the sky is blue and at sunset red-orange, etc.  Here is a wonderful web page with not too complicated explanations:

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html

[John Kavanaugh]

Do you think proponents of tree removal were just pulling it out of thier ass when they said turf quality significantly improves without trees sucking up thier resources?

Yes I do...These guys and their followers are too quick to dismiss the value of shade and hard pan.  I don't see the benefit of wall to wall lush turf.  Who says it is an improvement?  The guy who has to cut the grass...you gonna trust him?

[Dan Kelly]

This thread's title took me back, fondly, to my youth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Is_There_Air%3F

Bill Cosby rating: ****

His ranking: Don't ask me!

[Dan Herrmann]

The sky is blue because of light scattering.

John - should that philosophy apply to a golf course originally built with few or no trees (such as Oakmont)?

[Kalen Braley]

JK,

If you prefer hitting off patchy hard pan, hitting tree roots, and playing from otherwise poor turf conditions due to tree infringement, then more power to you. 

[John Kavanaugh]

The sky is blue because of light scattering.

John - should that philosophy apply to a golf course originally built with few or no trees (such as Oakmont)?

I'm not gonna say that the original architecture is always the best architecture.  I think any sane person would agree that if 5,000 trees are removed perhaps one too many hit the pile.  I'd like to see a little shade left for those of us who are getting older and might want to go out and watch a bit of golf now and then.  Courses like Oakmont exist for more than just those who play the course.  Even on lesser known courses some of us who want to teach our children the game need a touch of shade now and then.  Shade is good for the growth of the game.

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