[PCCraig]

Here is an article and TV clip about the fight over trees at The Shorewood Golf Course at U.W.-Green Bay. The clip certainly gives a face to the average golfer who can't seem to grasp the benefits of tree management.

http://www.wbay.com/story/16491193/2012/01/10/golf-course-considers-cutting-down-200-trees

[Mike Nuzzo]

Can you believe someone would want to make room to play GOLF on a golf course.

[PCCraig]

Can you believe someone would want to make room to play GOLF on a golf course.

 

[John Blain]

Would you expect any other reaction from a university owned golf course? A bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers getting in the way.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Would you expect any other reaction from a university owned golf course? A bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers getting in the way.

Yes, I would. Think Yale...and nowhere in the report does it say the university is against cutting the trees, only that the Chancellor has the final say after hearing from forestry experts and the community.

Edit:
It also appears that the gc staff is in favor of the tree cutting plan.   

[John Blain]

Would you expect any other reaction from a university owned golf course? A bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers getting in the way.

Yes, I would. Think Yale...and nowhere in the report does it say the university is against cutting the trees, only that the Chancellor has the final say after hearing from forestry experts and the community.

Edit:
It also appears that the gc staff is in favor of the tree cutting plan. 

The chancellor has the final say after hearing from forestry experts and the community.

Like I said, a bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers.  

[PCCraig]

Would you expect any other reaction from a university owned golf course? A bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers getting in the way.

Yes, I would. Think Yale...and nowhere in the report does it say the university is against cutting the trees, only that the Chancellor has the final say after hearing from forestry experts and the community.

Edit:
It also appears that the gc staff is in favor of the tree cutting plan. 

The chancellor has the final say after hearing from forestry experts and the community.

Like I said, a bunch of know nothing liberal tree huggers.  

I'm confused, is Yale contemplating a tree removal/management program?

[Jeff_Brauer]

I always tell my courses that I will save every tree on the golf course.....just tell me where to stack the logs.

[Jim_Kennedy]

JPBlain,
A Chancellor is the CEO of a university, he's the guy who gives the go/no go....and just like any other CEO he relies on others in his/her organization to furnish the information needed to make an informed decision. Universities are part of a community, in many more ways than just being a golf course, so the views of that community might hold more sway in any final decision, but the fact that the staff has already taken the pro-removal position is instructive.     

P. Craig,
There were a lot fewer of them the last time I played vs. the time before that.

[RJ_Daley]

I just saw this, and I suppose as the resident GCA guy on the scene, could make a comment.  But, if you open the link, and read the first forum participant comment signed by 'turfguy'; there isn't really much else of any intelligence to say.  Turfguy pretty much has it covered.

So, my only observations is that 'if' 10-15% of the trees were somehow stealthily removed without anyone's observing the removal process, and the stumps were pulled or ground to allow turf to be seeded in their place, I highly doubt anyone would know the trees were removed!  The UWGB  course is the 9 hole leftover of a much older previously semi-private 18 holer.  The UWGB is a commuter college placed way out from the city, and the sprawling land it is sited on included that old course.  The athletic fields and part of the beautiful campus arboretum are where the taken 9 holes exist, and a good eye can still find green sites and tee boxes in the now reclaimed native prairie. The members of that old course employed recently deceased archie Don Herford to design a new course even further out for them called Royal Scott, which an old regular 4some men's club partner of mine was a principle developer of that reincarnation of the old membership homelot development.

The UWGB campus has a nature walk-jog trail that goes all the way around the campus that includes the border of this UW course.  It is my favorite power walk for fall days, here in GB, of about 4 miles.   I availed myself of that beautiful trek just at the middle of November.  My trek on the UW course among those oaks yielded a pocket full of Topflites and Noodles.  You won't find many premium balls in those environs, because not too many serious golfers play there due to the bowling alley nature of the oak tree infested playing corridors.     It is otherwise a sporty little 9 holes that 5 clubs is more than enough to play all the shots.  Perhaps even 3I, 8I, putter... 

At the end of the nature trail, next to the course is the real attraction.  They have preserved Curly Lambeau's charming cottage, right on the banks of Green Bay.  For true NFL football memorabilia historical fans, it is a place of quiet reflection on where it all began. 

[Kris Shreiner]

Pat and RJ,

Thanks for the post and insights. As tree issues generally produce, a variety of opinions emerged. While the liberal tree-hugger tag may be a bit rash, many folks have grave concerns anytime large heritage-type trees are included in a removal conversation. The turfer's mention of high need requirements for the sward certainly could use an attitude adjustment as he's not winning any points with non-golfers using that language.

With responsible, prudent assessment and subsequent removals where necessary, a rational balance should be realized that can keep all but the most demented satisfied. I will say seldom should a well-suited, healthy tree be removed from it's location unless it clearly is out of place in the landscape, be it golf-related or otherwise.

Cheers,
Kris

[Tim Martin]

JPBlain,
A Chancellor is the CEO of a university, he's the guy who gives the go/no go....and just like any other CEO he relies on others in his/her organization to furnish the information needed to make an informed decision. Universities are part of a community, in many more ways than just being a golf course, so the views of that community might hold more sway in any final decision, but the fact that the staff has already taken the pro-removal position is instructive.     

P. Craig,
There were a lot fewer of them the last time I played vs. the time before that.

3000 trees have been removed since Scott Ramsay came on board. As Jim can attest a dramatic change for the better.

[Jim_Kennedy]

3000 trees have been removed since Scott Ramsay came on board. As Jim can attest a dramatic change for the better.

Damn, that's amazing, especially for a know-nothing-liberal-tree-hugging-golf-course-owning-university.   

[John Blain]

I can promise you there were a bunch of know-nothing liberal professors and administrators who fought llike hell to keep all 3,000 of those trees from being cut down and none of them would have any idea where the fourteenth was if asked

[Tim Nugent]

I don't know why anyone would preceive the need to try to add back tees on this course.  It is a nice 9-hole course.  Most of the drive zones are in the 200-335 yds range - perfect for 9-hole recreational golf.  Besides many of the holes can't be lengthened due toconstraintsor safety.  An arguement can be made for increased sunlight and air circulation.  Look at an aerial (Google earth has a good one without leaves) and you can see the impact by examining the shadows.
Dying and dead oaks should be removed to reduce the risk of falling and damaging healthy trees and to reduce the risk of disease.
Conversely, the area around remaining oaks should be leaft native and not turfgrass as that competition thing works both ways.

The public tends to see golf courses as intruders of otherwise natural areas.  Hence the sensitivity to arguements about removing otherwise heatlhy tree to increase the golf footprint.  The best way to get through these is to frame the arguement as one of long term health and preservation backed up by an Arborist.  If the g Once the cutting begins, if a few more disappear, odds are no one will notice. And if they do, it is always easier to ask forgiveness than permission. 

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