God Bless the Chainsaw

[Emile Bonfiglio]

I played a round at Eastmoreland GC in SE Portland this morning, my first round there since they have undergone a massive tree removal project (270+ trees) and it looks sooooo much better. In Portland it easier to kill a man than it is to cut down a tree so this must have taken some major work to get approved, but the effort was worth it.

The trees that were removed have not changed the strategy of the holes much but really made the course feel much more open and will no doubt improve the airflow for the grass. This is my first experience with a tree removal project and I am so impressed. The new super there Kathy Hauff has done wonders!

[PCCraig]

You know a course worships trees when this is their stock photo for hole #2:

[Emile Bonfiglio]

We aren't talking small trees either, some of them were mammoth in size like this one..

[Charlie Gallagher]

Emile,
    One of the first courses I experienced pre tree removal and post removal was Worcester CC. Around 10 years ago Worcester was covered with stately oaks and maples. It also had big white pines in a number of corners of the course. An Asian beetle infestation caused the government to order tree removal. At about that time a large ice storm damaged hundreds more trees and they had to be removed as well.
   The resulting sight line improvement coupled with the enhanced effect of the wind both contributed to the beauty of the course and it's challenge. Further trees have been removed as the years have passed with additions of fescue in many formerly treed areas. Worcester has been transformed into a more attractive course, with better turf and challenge because of the tree removal campaign. I am pretty certain Donald Ross would be pleased with course which is now about 100 years old.

[Thomas Dai]

Chainsaws, wonderful things. Generally speaking, trees on a golf course are pretty much only of use if the club allows you to walk male dogs on the property - hope this isn't seen as sexist, from a dogs point of view that is!.

All the best.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Nice, long overdue.

 Although on Eastmoreland 270+ trees is only a good start.   

[PGertner]

That is a nice start.....

We have removed 2300 in less than 10 years on a 100 acre property...and we aren't done, yet!!

Patrick Gertner
Potowomut Golf Club
East Greenwich, RI 

[Tommy Williamsen]

About ten years ago we removed about 1000 trees.  Not many noticed because the woods were mostly thinned.  That said I think sometimes we rejoice too much over tree removal. It does not always help.  We have a couple of trees that cause the player to really think what kind of tee shot to hit.  They can be hazards like any other when used wisely.

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