Crooked Stick Loses Iconic Oak Tree on #6

[Ross Harmon]

Unfortunately, Crooked Stick lost their iconic oak tree to the right of the 6th hole in yesterday's storm. The 150 year old tree was key to Pete's routing of the northeast corner of the course back in the early 1960s and will be dearly missed by all who play Crooked Stick. I've heard there were a few other trees on the front side damaged by the storm, though nothing will be as noticeable as the oak on the 6th. I'll be at Crooked Stick next weekend and will upload some post-storm pics then.


Here's a pic of my wife playing the 6th last summer:

[Anthony_Nysse]

Dang. I'm playing here a week from today. I will try to get a photo.

[Howard Riefs]

Sorry to hear this.

Some photos of the tree after the storm:


https://twitter.com/jjuerlinggolf/status/884947635693658113


https://twitter.com/ACwishtv/status/885123368583823360


https://twitter.com/Cohner12/status/884961540746752000


https://twitter.com/CPAcarmel/status/884840344503898113

[Tom Allen]

Wow.  That's a shame.   That tree was really was an asset on that hole (which I don't say a lot).

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

I remember that tree having more of a strategic value on the tee shot for number 7. Other than adding to the charm, does that tree have any bearing on how #6 plays - short of badly pushed shots?

[Ross Harmon]

I remember that tree having more of a strategic value on the tee shot for number 7. Other than adding to the charm, does that tree have any bearing on how #6 plays - short of badly pushed shots?

Impact should be minimal... perhaps the breeze will swirl a little more in the back right!


Howard - thanks for posting those links!

[Nigel Islam]

I remember that tree having more of a strategic value on the tee shot for number 7. Other than adding to the charm, does that tree have any bearing on how #6 plays - short of badly pushed shots?

When I played there in 1999, I clipped the tree and it slowed my overclubbed hook/draw enough that I had a 15 foot putt. It framed that awesome bridge perfectly too. Not a huge tree guy, but this was one of the good ones.

[Ted Sturges]

I haven't been out to look at the 6th since the storm hit.  I won't get out there until Saturday.  I've seen through the trees as I drive on 116th Street that the grand old tree is down.  I'm not a tree guy, but this one was certainly gorgeous.  It will be interesting to see how the hole looks and plays without the tree.  To answer an earlier question, the tree does affect play on both the 6th and 7th (from the back tee only on 7).  For back right hole locations on 6, to hit it close required going over at least a portion of the tree, or shaping it left to right.  From the back tee, where you can have nearly 200 yards, this required a shot I do not possess.  I've seen several tee shots from 7 back tee hit the tree as well. 


I know that Pete routed the course in such a way as to keep that tree as a focal point, and I think he accomplished that goal from 1964-2017.


TS

[Ted Sturges]

I played at CS on Saturday and can report that all is well with the 6th hole.  It would have been lunacy to suggest taking down such an iconic tree, but now that it is gone, I think the hole actually looks better.  More playing options are now present, and the hole has a very clean look.  It will take some time, but I think many will come to enjoy the new look and playing features better as well.  I hope our club's leadership group takes their time and considers leaving the hole as is, and doesn't rush into putting another tree in the same place.


TS