Tree Lined ( Claustrophobic Golf)

[Rick Sides]

So played a course in New Jersey today that was so tree lined that any shots left or right was in the trees.  Then I watched the Open today and saw few trees and said to myself golf should be a game that you are punished a bit are thick, tree lined courses really golf ? Golf is hard enough.  Should these courses be totally changed given such slow play ?

[Mike Worth]

So played a course in New Jersey today that was so tree lined that any shots left or right was in the trees.  Then I watched the Open today and saw few trees and said to myself golf should be a game that you are punished a bit are thick, tree lined courses really golf ? Golf is hard enough.  Should these courses be totally changed given such slow play ?

Almost sounds like you’re describing Little Mill

[Rick Sides]

The Links.   Will never play it again.  Invasive trees

[Tommy Williamsen]

I hear what you are saying but I do like a tree lined course. That said, too many parkland courses have trees that encroach too much on the playing corridors. If the trees are properly limbed and spaced then at least there is some escape. Periodically, I like a course to tell me what shot to hit. It just isn't something I want to play as a steady diet.

[Jon Sweet]

The Links.   Will never play it again.  Invasive trees

I’d imagine the kids that come out of their youth program can hit it straight. I’d say buckle down, give it a go, embrace the challenge of keeping it in play.

[Jim Hoak]

Keep in mind two things about trees that are beyond your control.  First, they grow.  So what they are now in terms of artificially hindering play may change over time.  Second, removing trees once they are planted will likely be subject to the rules of non-golfers who impose city regulations on tree removals.
So, don’t assume you will always have control over trees on your course!  Plant wisely and scarcely.

[Sean_A]

For as much as I say trees shouldn't interfere much with golf, trees do have a place in the game. But they need to be the right trees in the right places and for the right reasons. I was really looking forward to a course with trees yesterday with those high for UK temps. I ran out of steam not long after the turn.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

And consider for a moment what the effective of trees on the playing surface, for at the end of the day golf is played on grass.
Grass doesn't like growing in the shade. Nor does grass grow as well when nearby trees steal the water and goodness in the soil. Plus trees just keep on growing and growing and growing, the rate of growth can be quite surprising, and tree roots stretch out a long, long way and they do love invading drainage lines etc which gives rise to conditions like soggy fairways.
And when a decent size tree has to be taken down, one that the greenstaff can't take down themselves, it costs £$ for tree surgeons which in turn puts up subs and greenfees.
atb

[Ally Mcintosh]

One of the major differentiators between GCA nuts and “normal” golfers is the love of the land. Most GCA nuts get a kick out of contour, undulations and mid-length views of landscape.


Many “normal” golfers think only in terms of the playing corridor or contrast to the land itself (e.g. trees, lakes, off-site mountains, beaches etc…)


Trees definitely have their place. But hole corridors cut through wall to wall forest are not as exciting to look at for a GCA nut as hole corridors cut through a more open landscape because there is less connection to the land.

[Kalen Braley]

I've never understood the binary "all or nothing" attitude towards trees on the golf course as it relates to them becoming over grown.

Just like you need frequent maintenance of the turf, seems like you could keep the crew busy in the slow season by letting them do some tree pruning and/or clearing out brush/small bushes, especially for the ones that impact play the most.

[Anthony Gholz]

Ally:


Well said.  Our course is lake bottom sand ridges with humps and bumps.  Five feet of elevation is a lot, ten feet is a mountain.  BUT it all flows together and the side views of the ridges in the evening are spectacular.


Thanks for saying it "better than most."


Anthony

[Ken Moum]

I've never understood the binary "all or nothing" attitude towards trees on the golf course as it relates to them becoming over grown.

Just like you need frequent maintenance of the turf, seems like you could keep the crew busy in the slow season by letting them do some tree pruning and/or clearing out brush/small bushes, especially for the ones that impact play the most.

Kansas City CC has an interesting approach.  All the trees are mapprdand tagged and they have (had?) a regular schedule for pruning.


Our Super in Topeka told me about it, and when I was there during the TransMiss several years ago I looked there were number tags on the trees.


I also would say the trees were a reasonable but difficult obstacle.

[Jim_Coleman]

   Like anything else, a course (particularly a parkland course), can have too many or too few trees. 
   Trees that choke off fairways, block air and light, and provide no choice but to be in a fairway or chip out are bad architecture.  Little Mill also came to my mind when I read the first post.
   But several trees set back from fairways and greens that penalize poor shots and often offer shot choices (fades, draws, low shots, sometimes punch outs on the rare occasion of a perfect stymie) are good architecture. Tree removal programs that leave a course with few if any obstacles between tees and greens, in my opinion, are not good architecture. Yes, Oakmont removed all trees, but 130 bunkers provide more than enough driving challenge. I do not believe a parkland course with very few trees works very often.

[corey miller]

Encroaching trees are very disheartening but many Parkland style courses in this area are cutting trees (while taking bows) from the "restoration" crew while simultaneously growing unplayable rough.  And nothing looks more ridiculous than 80 yard wide fairways with 30 yards wide fairway surrounded by seas of rough especially when the goal is for the rough to be "lush and consistent". 

[Brad Lawrence]

Variety is the spice of life. I would not want all courses to be tree lined or wide open.  Trees can be a great way to ask players to hit certain shots and I’ve never seen a tree that was placed unfairly. Obstacles make the game more enjoyable, for me anyway.

[Thomas Dai]

Ash die-back is with us in the U.K. Could be expensive.
Atb