[Sean Leary]

To those who play PD regularly:

Is there any sense that a tree clearing could occur at the course?  Am I alone in thinking that it would be a good thing, independent of the gunsch issues?

Which trees? Like I said before the only ones that come into play are on #12 where I would support the clearing out of the left side.  For some reason a lot of people like the trees on #12 so it would be hard to get them to cut some of them down as they are very big.

A few years ago some trees were lost in an ice storm, most prominently the one overlooking the first tee and the two goalpost trees on one of the tee boxes on #9.

I agree with David. For many of the locals, 12 is their favorite hole, if you can believe it.

I could get rid  the trees that cause the chute  on 15 but thats personal to me, I know......

[David Camponi]

To those who play PD regularly:

Is there any sense that a tree clearing could occur at the course?  Am I alone in thinking that it would be a good thing, independent of the gunsch issues?

Are you trying to be funny? If so; I agree pretty amusing if not...then please tell us you must be thinking about a different course.

[Terry Lavin]

David,

No tongue in cheek.  There are several holes where trees ought to be removed, for various reasons, based on my eight to ten rounds.  There's a par-4 with goalpost trees about forty yards out, a par 3 named Chute for obvious reasons, and dozens of cottonwoods which have no place on any golf course.  That's not to say that I don't love the place; I do.  I think it would look and play better if they dealt with some of the tree issues.  But maybe you have more knowledge/experience, that's why I asked the question of those who play there regularly.

[brad_miller]

Terry,

I have been going out to PD for 10 years plus, the trees you mention are not a factor, part of the charm of 12 (the one with goalposts) is those trees. It would be a fine hole without the trees and may be Press Maxwell's best green. But the thinking needed (ball flight control) by the golfer just once in a round I find just wonderful. I would agree if this was the case on just one more hole. As to 15, from the front tee the trees do not matter, but if they where removed they could create a tee back in the 225-240 range which for big time play could make some sense. That said I need to usually play 3-4 iron from the back anyway.

[Terry Lavin]

Terry,

I have been going out to PD for 10 years plus, the trees you mention are not a factor, part of the charm of 12 (the one with goalposts) is those trees. It would be a fine hole without the trees and may be Press Maxwell's best green. But the thinking needed (ball flight control) by the golfer just once in a round I find just wonderful. I would agree if this was the case on just one more hole. As to 15, from the front tee the trees do not matter, but if they where removed they could create a tee back in the 225-240 range which for big time play could make some sense. That said I need to usually play 3-4 iron from the back anyway.

Brad,

Thanks for the post.  I guess one man's charm is another's borderline abomination.  I just looked at the goalposts on #12 in Ran's review of Prairie Dunes and I think they both should go, but the one on the right is inarguably interfering with play and should be cut down.  One can make an argument for the one on the left, I suppose.  Then there's the matter of the cottonwoods on the "Cottonwood" hole.  Are they out of play?  Yes, they are.  But they are unnecessary background or framing and the type of tree itself is a noxious, littering weed of a tree.  I don't really care what the name of the hole is, a cottonwood doesn't belong on a golf course, IMHO, just like a willow doesn't belong on a golf course.  Number 2 at PD is named "Willow" but I don't recall seeing one on the hole.  If it's not there, there is justice in the golf world after all!

In any event, these arboreal issues are mere niggling complaints; Prairie Dunes is an experience that every golfer should strive to have.  It's an authentic gem in a most unexpected venue, and the people at the club could not be more inviting.

[SL_Solow]

Terry; let's face it, trees near the line of flight are not your cup of tea.  Moreover, you fixate on them and tend to overemphasize them in discussions of courses you otherwise respect.  But we all have our pet peeves.

[Terry Lavin]

Terry; let's face it, trees near the line of flight are not your cup of tea.  Moreover, you fixate on them and tend to overemphasize them in discussions of courses you otherwise respect.  But we all have our pet peeves.

Shelly,

True, we do!  I just think that both sides of the goalpost is too big a penalty and calls for a stupid form of golf.  One tree off to the side which protrudes into play, demanding a cut or a draw is not nearly as objectionable as two trees on each side, one of which demands an exaggerated punch shot onto the green from the fairway strikes me as either too quirky or idiotic.

But you helped remind me that I didn't include Briarwood as a course that is clearly better than Ravisloe.  Back to the editing room I go!

[Mike Benham]

[Sean Leary]

David,

No tongue in cheek.  There are several holes where trees ought to be removed, for various reasons, based on my eight to ten rounds.  There's a par-4 with goalpost trees about forty yards out, a par 3 named Chute for obvious reasons, and dozens of cottonwoods which have no place on any golf course.  That's not to say that I don't love the place; I do.  I think it would look and play better if they dealt with some of the tree issues.  But maybe you have more knowledge/experience, that's why I asked the question of those who play there regularly.

I figured those were the trees you were thinking about. I think that they don't "fit in" aethestically with the rest of the course, I agree with you there. The problem with 12 is that the hole has no defenses if the trees aren't there. With no trees, I would just blast driver to where the trees are now and have 60 to 80 yard flip wedge in. The trees make you think about how far back you want to be and how far left you want to go for the best angle. The wind storm a few years ago took down a LOT of the branches on those two trees, which improved the hole, in my mind because there is more room and the trees are less obtrusive.

I don't like the trees on 15 either as I mentioned before. Brads idea about removing the trees for a new tee box has merit....

[David Camponi]

David,

No tongue in cheek.  There are several holes where trees ought to be removed, for various reasons, based on my eight to ten rounds.  to say that I don't love the place; I do.  I think it would look and play better if they dealt with some of the tree issues.  But maybe you have more knowledge/experience, that's why I asked the question of those who play there regularly.

You know another course that could use some serious tree trimming...........Chambers Bay!!!

I go up to PD once a year, a relative is a member; probably a total of about 40+ plays....if you specifically don't like 12, then okay, saying that the whole course could use some tree trimming is obscene, 12 is the only hole a tree is in play; #15 they are not in play except for a shank or A Terrible with a capital T tee ball.

[David Kelly]

With all the bunkers down the left on #12, I would remove the trees on the left side - at least the two or three closest to the fairway.  As you can see in Ran's picture, they are still in the way if you drive into the left side bunkers which I think is overkill.  Removing the tree on the right would, as Sean said, just allow the golfer to blast away.  

I don't mind the trees around the 14th green and 15th tee because they are not in play and they provide a nice shaded area late in the round.

[Kalen Braley]

I've never played the course...

...but this pic on Rans profile sure make it look like the trees on 15 tee are not hard to hit.

P.S. If there is a strong left to right wind, in this case coming from the south..and one doesn't have a draw in the bag, looks like it could be tough to get it on the green.

[David Camponi]

The trees are basically at the end of the tee box, if you are playing far enough back that they may be in your way; then you are to far back.

Let's assume I agree with you that the trees are in play on 15 and 12; you think the following statement by Terry is .... 

"Is there any sense that a tree clearing could occur at the course?"  - Terry Lavin aka The man who hallucinates trees.

[David Kelly]

I've never played the course...

...but this pic on Rans profile sure make it look like the trees on 15 tee are not hard to hit.

P.S. If there is a strong left to right wind, in this case coming from the south..and one doesn't have a draw in the bag, looks like it could be tough to get it on the green.

The angle from where the picture is taken is not the same as where you would tee up your ball on #15.  Plus because the tees are so close to the tee box a little adjustment on where you tee the ball within the markers makes a huge difference. 

[Kalen Braley]

Thanks for the clarification guys.

And yes I would agree, I wouldn't think PD is in need of a tree clearing program...

[brad_miller]

PD has lost many more trees since Ran's last set of pictures in 2009. Also till a few years ago there was a large tree in back of #2 up on the hill, I used to like it, now I do not miss it.

[Sean Leary]

The trees on 15 are only in play from the back of the back tee box, and that is because of the overhanging canopy, not because of the trees right and left seen here....

[Chris Cupit]

As a confirmed tree hater I'd like to echo what David said earlier and that is that aside from hole #12 and #15 (if you are playing too far back) there are NO TREES at PD that are in play.  I don't remember a single tree remotely inplay until #12 and I hit it AWFUL for two days--literally all over the map.

#15 is a chute I guess but as many mentioned on here before, if you can't hit it between that chute you are way too far back or just suck.

Maybe there were some trees in play for the second shot into #1 if you hit a drive way right?

Also, the fairways, or actually the width from gunch to gunch must be 60-70 yards wide on most holes.  The only "tight" holes I remember were #7, #12 and #18.  The only hole I think the drive is a bit awkward and visually a little "so-so" is 18.  I think they could build a great massive "blow out" bunker and tuck it into the left dunes and then carve back some of the gunch on the right to widen the hole just a hair overall.  It would also force a longer hitter to play their drive out over a sliver of the gunch to avoid going through the fairway into the new bunker

(#17 played downwind and was about the only hole I managed decent drives on so I can't speak to how narrow the second shot is but its a 485 par 5 from the tips).

This tree hater loved PD

[Sean Leary]

As a confirmed tree hater I'd like to echo what David said earlier and that is that aside from hole #12 and #15 (if you are playing too far back) there are NO TREES at PD that are in play.  I don't remember a single tree remotely inplay until #12 and I hit it AWFUL for two days--literally all over the map.

#15 is a chute I guess but as many mentioned on here before, if you can't hit it between that chute you are way too far back or just suck.

Maybe there were some trees in play for the second shot into #1 if you hit a drive way right?

Also, the fairways, or actually the width from gunch to gunch must be 60-70 yards wide on most holes.  The only "tight" holes I remember were #7, #12 and #18.  The only hole I think the drive is a bit awkward and visually a little "so-so" is 18.  I think they could build a great massive "blow out" bunker and tuck it into the left dunes and then carve back some of the gunch on the right to widen the hole just a hair overall.  It would also force a longer hitter to play their drive out over a sliver of the gunch to avoid going through the fairway into the new bunker

(#17 played downwind and was about the only hole I managed decent drives on so I can't speak to how narrow the second shot is but its a 485 par 5 from the tips).

This tree hater loved PD

As I mentioned before, it is too bad that you didn't get the "normal wind". 7 becomes reachable with a shortish iron, and 17 becomes a three shot hole. You definitely played the harder wind....

18 is the most awkward tee shot on the course, at least for me. Agreed totally that some room right would he helpful. Typically that hole is downwind so it is a rescue or long iron for most......

[brad_miller]

Had friend who was one of the USGA officials at the 2005 Sr Men's Open. He said the pros loved the course, only complaint was the 18th, the left rough before the gunch was 4-6 inches and they could not hold the fairway. The played the course at something like the current blue tees. Have just started playing #2 from the back of the forward, left most tee, love this angle, that said for the Golf Digest crowd it makes it a bit easier.

[David Kelly]

He said the pros loved the course, only complaint was the 18th, the left rough before the gunch was 4-6 inches and they could not hold the fairway. The played the course at something like the current blue tees.

Set set it up shorter than the blue tees because for one they put a grandstand on the #1 back tee pad.  They also played #2 on the white tee box as well as a few other holes.  On one of the week days they played #15 from the women's tee and they were hitting 9irons into the hole.

[Sean Leary]

He said the pros loved the course, only complaint was the 18th, the left rough before the gunch was 4-6 inches and they could not hold the fairway. The played the course at something like the current blue tees.

Set set it up shorter than the blue tees because for one they put a grandstand on the #1 back tee pad.  They also played #2 on the white tee box as well as a few other holes.  On one of the week days they played #15 from the women's tee and they were hitting 9irons into the hole.

I also believe that the back tee on 13 that was built specifically for the Open was never used....I like 13 better from the up tees so that you can go over the left bunkers.....Dangerous but if you pull it off, short iron in.

I also enjoy playing 12 from the original tee way to the left.....

[Terry Lavin]

Prairie Dunes might be a perfect spot for a gca.com get-together!

[Sean Leary]

Prairie Dunes might be a perfect spot for a gca.com get-together!

Come Memorial Day weekend with the Murray brothers. There will be a few of us there....

[Jim Franklin]

One of my favorite spots in golf is the tee box on #7 on a quiet, sunny day. For some reason, I was struck at the beauty of the course at that spot on the corner of the property. I hope to see it again.

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