Regarding costs:
We are a working class private club in economically hard hit Rhode Island. Our budget is not even close to elite clubs. Over the years, we have become very efficient with our program. A few details:
1. Of our 2300+ removed trees on a 100 acre property, my winter staff of 2 has removed, cleaned up and stump ground 98% of the removals. (Over 8 years) A hurricane or two have helped... We have contracted out the removal of maybe 100 of the oldest and more difficult takedowns. Spring and summer staffs remove stump grindings and fill holes with topsoil, grade and seed. Topsoil is our biggest expense today (besides labor) for stump holes.
2. We are lucky that we have full time staff. (4 of us) We easily accomplish our winter work and tree work from Dec 15 to March.
3. We have been able to give away most of the hardwood. Advertise on Craiglist that you have free wood, and it disappears, quickly. Some even take pine. (We make all outsiders handling wood sign a liability release form) We have only sold a few pieces, as we determined early on that trying to sell wood would have been not worth the extra time and effort.
4. We are lucky in that we have a state park next to us that has bridle paths and they happily accept wood chips for their horse trails. For a few years, we gave chips to an company in NH who converts them to wood chips for consumers.
5. We are also fortunate in that we are able to borrow a wood chipper from another local club. In turn, we frequently lend them turf renovation equipment that they are lacking. It helps to be friendly to our neighbors!! During early years when we paid to rent a chipper, we would rent one for a week or two in late March and chip all winter treework then.
6. For us, the cost of NOT doing the tree work is important as well. Turfgrass has vastly improved. Greens are at least 50% bentgrass and their day to day condition has improved immensely. Same for fairways, tees and roughs. Incredible views and vistas have been opened up and members are very proud of their golf course. Today, the club is improving financially....but would not want to think of what may have happened here if tree work was neglected in the very crowded and competitive Rhode Island golf market.
We have bought a few pieces of equipment to help. We purchased a skid steer loader, off lease from another club that gets use in all facets of our operation. We purchased a used stump grinder.
Early on, our operation was not nearly as efficient as it is today. In previous years, we rented a wood chipper, and have paid people to take wood and chips from the club. Occasionally still, there are a few expenses but this has not been a budget buster for the Club. As a matter of fact, our 2013 "Tree Program" account is unfunded....but we also have 15-20 trees down on the property as I write.
Patrick Gertner
Potowomut Golf Club
East Greenwich, RI