[Mark_Huxford]

My club want to cut down every tree on our course to copy great links courses of Britain. There aren't a lot of trees at the moment and certainly none that encroach on the line of play. I quite enjoy the skylines they create and the wildlife. I think they may block out noise also.

Tom Doak wrote a thread called 'the look' a couple of days ago. Is it right to copy others or is it better to let your course develop over time?

Paraparaumu with/without trees?

Mark,

[RJ_Daley]

The "look" is a great thing to discover in each and every property as it relates to a variety of regional settings.  Diverse land and country side have their own unique "looks" to offer.  I don't think that it is necessarily effective to try to create the sand dunes or links look in a flat cornfield in Indiana with horizons that are totally out of whack with the 200 or so acres where you have dozed up a bunch of hummocks, dunes and bunkers.  The interior of the course has to somewhat blend with its greater surrounds.  

Mr. Huxford, if your club wants to cut down every tree on the course, yet the surrounds are to some extent wooded, sparsely or heavily, I think that it would not be effective to remove just the trees on the golf property.  You have said that the few trees that are there don't encroach on the lines of play.  Then, I believe that if natural habitat for birds, and ground/tree dwellers is provided, they should be left as is and trimmed when needed.

I am thinking of the "look" of some of the Australian sand belt - heath land courses we see in the winter months when there are tour events there.  They look fine with trees and shrub vegitation adequately cleared away from lines of play.  

Here in Wisconsin, we have a links-style course in a broad clearing of mostly wooded and lakes land.  There was an extensive program in 50s and 60s to add trees to the once links-like concept of Langford from 1930.  In a style much like Raynor, Langford manufactured a links-like emmulation.  It plays and fits very well because he did not try to actually create a true links environment, only a suggestion of similar characteristics.  There were areas of trees that did not encroach play that were left to blend with the surrounding countryside in Langfords original.  Then with the tree planting programs, the quality of the intended style of play was seriously deminished.  Now, with wise guidance from Architect Ron Forse, the Lawsonia golf course operators have cleared the planted trees out and returned it to a very nice setting and within the context of links-like playability.

That is the proper way to go in my opinion.

[Jim H]

Many of the links courses of Britain have widespread areas of tall gorse and scrub vegetation.  When these areas are located atop even moderately high dunesland the protection offered from wind and erosion, and evapo-transpiration, are significant. Look at the Old Course and the vegetation that surrounds (protects) it, especially on the outward nine.

Consult this chart...note how there can be a protective effect 15 to 20 times the height of vegetation.

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/f1054-1.gif

If your club has mainly flat land and is located in an area that gets a lot of wind, the plan of removing all trees and scrub vegetation could be a recipe for disaster.

[Ran Morrissett]

Mark,

As I recall, trees are a non-playing issue at Paraparumu save for perhaps a hooked tee ball on the 6th.

Aren't many of the trees around the perimeter and don't they block some unslightly homes while still being short enough so that they have next to no impact on the wind?

The odd indigenous trees here and there ala the oaks on the front nine at the Ocean Course at Kiawah can enhance the visual appeal/variety of a course (see course profile). The dark green trees on the left of the hillside of your 4th hole are another appealing example.

Mark, what do the aerials of your course show in regards to trees circa 1960 or so?

Overall, to answer your question, I think the dark green trees give PB a feel and look all its own (I understand Formby enjoys the same luxury). Given that they don't encroach on play or alter Russell's design intent, I would leave well enough alone.

Don't make your course look like other links just for the sake of it - its uniqueness is a big part of its appeal!

Cheers,

[Slag_Bandoon]

  Destruction of life for a look? Not for playability concerns or strategy or maintenance?  Hmmm, perhaps there is an ulterior motive here. Is one of the members a chainsaw salesman?  Or low on firewood?  
 From the glowing reports that Paraparaumu inspires, I think it would be a misguided mistake to remove that which has survived.

[aclayman]

I have only one question Mark, Are they(commitee) trying to be something they(course) are not?
If it's a links course...  make it look like one, if it isn't.... DON'T.

[Brian Clark]

Mark

The trees should stay. They do not influence the strategy and add visually to the experience.

For many years I have admired the way that the decision-makers at Paraparaumu have resisted the pressure to change and tamper with the design. They appeared to have deserved pride and confidence in the course and a deep understanding of what makes the course great and unique.

The current alterations are a disturbing trend and the whole development is a sad affair.

What has changed within the club to initiate this change of direction. A different committee...Tiger visiting...?

[Mark_Huxford]

I think it would be prudent to only remove trees that have been planted since Alex Russell left the site in 1949. We have plenty of aerial photograhpy to use and I will suggest this to the club. The alternative is really second guessing the Architect's intentions for the trees on the course and no one at PB is qualified to do that.

Ran,
There has been some bad tree removal on the perimeter recently in my opinion because I regard the course boundary to be PB's biggest weakness. It's all due to the lack of space here (privacy, noise, little feeling of isolation).

Some interior tree removal has been very successful however such as behind the 2nd hole and opening up areas can have it's benefits. I would like to see all the ornamental trees removed for example as they currently cramp the course and only serve to distract the eye.

Brian,
Because the whole course is built within a 130 acre property, the harmony of the layout was always a knife edge balance which I think the club underestimated.

It's like that party game where you have to slide a wooden stick out from the bottom of the tower to build the tower higher. Move the wrong stick and the whole thing comes crashing down. The new 18th is that stick and the tower is beginning to wobble.

As for what has caused this change in direction? I think it's an insecurity brought about by pressure from new courses and new equipment. A misguided feeling of not wanting to get left behind. Ironically that may be just what has happened seeing the rest of the world is moving towards restoration just as we are making changes.

 

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