To improve course conditions and relieve the Turf Care Department of some burden, we are implementing a program to encourage golfers to take ownership of a single hole.  The tasks are simple; fix ball marks, fill divots, rake bunkers, and pick up stray garbage.  Holes are assigned on an alphabetical basis and divided amongst the membership. 

The main two items with the program are ball marks and divots.  The greens have been rolling really well since we healed up from aerification at the end of September.  Any bounce or bump your ball encounters on the way to the hole is a blemish caused by a ball mark that was not repaired.  After our frost delay last Friday, I blew off all the greens with a backpack blower and I could not believe how many ball marks were on these greens.  If I had stopped to fix each one, I would have to forget about cleaning off the leaves. 

There is currently one sign in the Proshop and there will be signs posted in each locker room with your hole assignments.  Know which hole is yours and take pride in making it the best hole on the course.  Encourage your playing partners to care for their tee, green, and fairway.  Complain to that person when your ball veers off course because of an ball mark.  Let them know, "This would not have happened on my hole." 


We appreciate the help with course maintenance and it goes a long way in increasing our productivity.  When our greens mowers are not stopping to fix 20 ball marks per green, they finish much sooner and move on to the next job.  Besides, a ball mark that is not repaired immediately will take weeks longer to heal than one that is properly tended to. 

As a final reminder, here is a picture of number 4 green with a flag on every ball mark that is not repaired.  This is from a few years ago and its been used on the blog a couple of times.  It does not take long for a green to get riddled with pock marks, so please do your part to keep the course at its best.

One at a time, we dropped these 30 ft pines with no trouble at all.  Using a winch and a 5/8" bull rope, the trees went down exactly where we wanted them and landed very soft.  Cutting up and hauling away the wood and debris was very time consuming.  By day's end we had a couple tree trunks and stump grindings remaining on the slope.  The chainsaws were spent and so were our backs, so we packed it up to finish the following morning.

After dropping the first couple of trees, it was obvious how this project would affect the 7th green.  The primary reason for removing these trees was to open up the 8th tee and turn it back into a golf hole.  The trees had grown to crowd in the right side, just off of the tee.  Players were limited to using only the far left portion of the tee and a draw was still impossible.  The new view includes the entire green complex and sets up well from all parts of the tee.  More sunlight to the 7th green was a bonus in this renovation.  The green received limited morning sun and frost was a problem in the heart of winter.  Morning sun is major factor in the overall health and root density of turf and probably any plant.  Other on-course projects have proven this without a doubt.  Two "trouble greens," #6 and #13 both have improved greatly after tree trimming increased exposure to morning sunlight.  These greens went from being trouble spots that needed daily supervision to being the solid variety that you can count on to make it through tough conditions.

Before tree removal

After tree removal 

Doesn't this look like a much easier shot now that the trees are gone?  For some reason, it's not.  The expanded view must get in a player's head because I've seen so many shots end up far right, almost in the lake that is behind the bushes and pump house.  Before the tree removal, these shots would have been knocked down by the pines and end up behind the 7th green.  Another change is the reduction of shots going left of the cart path and out of bounds. 

The other night I took a shower and was surrounded by the scent of cedar.  It was pretty nice compared to how I sometimes smell after a full day of work at the golf course.  Poultry manure is an occasional scent, especially around aerification, and iron sulfate is a frustrating odor that lasts for days.  This time was soothing, but I'm not in it for the aromatherapy.

We have embarked on a major tree renovation throughout the golf course and the chainsaws have been buzzing for days.  We completed a hole-by-hole analysis of our current trees and devised a plan for future plantings and removals.  There are many species growing here that will not fare well with changes in the environment.  Sodium building in the soil is the main culprit and trees that can tolerate saline soil will be chosen to replace those that cannot. 

With any program of this nature, removal is step one in a long process.  In the five years I've worked here we have cut down or removed over 160 trees.  Nearly every one of these was dead, dying, or had fallen in a storm.  The new plan calls for removal of over 350 trees.  You might need a moment for that to soak in, yes, 350 trees.  Replacements are roughly estimated at 275, resulting in a reduction in total trees of 75.  Don't worry, we are not going to go cut down all 350 in a couple of weeks or even a couple of years.  The plan is comprehensive to cover every tree which may have a limited number of years to remain on the golf course.  The large redwoods throughout the property will all fail eventually, as they submit to the sodium in the soil.  We will wait to remove those trees until they have died which could be years down the road.

We are starting to remove other trees in order to clear space for the new species to be introduced and to mature.  Planting will begin today on the left side of #4 where valley oaks will take the place of small and struggling incense cedars.  All dead trees will be removed by the end of the year, which is in the neighborhood of 30 trees.  Most of these are small redwoods, not-so-giant sequoias, incense cedars, and a variety of pines.  Stump grinding will follow closely behind to complete the process ASAP. 

Other trees are being removed for the sake of playability.  A major renovation will take place next Monday, November 15th.  The upper tee box on #8 has been compromised for years by pine trees growing behind the seventh green.  About 15 years ago, these pines were planted to replace other trees that were removed for the same reason.  A right-to-left shot into the eighth green is nearly impossible from this tee box.  The tee is also being destroyed on the left side and untouched on the right.  Have you ever noticed how that tee is not level and much lower on the left than the right?  I believe this has more to do with over use than any sinking or settling on the levee.

Once we remove the pines, the entire tee can be utilized by a player whether they typically draw, fade, hook, or slice.  Turf conditions will improve on the eighth tee, the seventh green, and the rough on the slope near the cartpath.

It is sad to see healthy trees removed and I regret having to do so.  Therefore, the new plantings will be carefully planned to mature on the golf course without impeding a fair shot.  I have researched the tree species that grow well in our unique environment and calculated the height and spread of each one.  

Be sure to check back for frequent updates and explanations of current and future projects.  If you missed any of the past Tree Program posts, they are linked below:

Eucalyptus pests
Say Goodbye to the Redwoods
Introduction