(Editorial) Cut 'em down

John Walsh

Trees are an integral part of many golf courses, and they add beauty to many facilities. However, I still can’t figure out why many golfers are so attached to them.

I’ve heard Paul B. Latshaw, certified golf course superintendent at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, and Dave Willmott, assistant golf course superintendent of The Sharon (Ohio) Golf Club, tell stories about how members of the clubs at which they work freaked out when they found out a tree – a favorite or not – was cut down or was going to be cut down.

Club members, many of whom pay a lot of money to belong to a club, are accustomed to their surroundings and most likely aren’t used to change, especially when they have a say in the matter. Despite that, I’m sure they realize the golf course is the most valuable asset of their club.

So, if golf is what they pay for and perfect course conditions are what they expect consistently, why do they get so upset when trees are removed to improve the health of turfgrass and better the course? Whatever the reason, they make what seems like an easy task difficult for you, the superintendent.
Latshaw once gave a presentation about tree management and said his experiences at the four clubs he’s worked at all had tree issues because many people forgot about the importance of light. Trees use light needed to grow grass. Light effects turf’s growth habit, root/shoot ratio, leaf thickness and density. And different grasses have different light requirements. For example, bentgrass need more light than Poa annua.

Because of this, tree removal is necessary at times. However, research is needed to determine which trees get the ax. Latshaw recommends tagging trees around greens to keep track of them and determine which ones provide the most shade. The first option to improve light and air movement is to prune a tree; the second option is to remove it. Monitoring shade – through time lapse photography and GPS – should be done until the light requirement for the turf on the greens is met.

Factors to consider before removing trees include:
• type of tree;
• health of tree;
• value of the hole; and
• the use of internal and external sources.

Because tree removal can be so sensitive, you should get input from golf professionals, architects, arborists, USGA Green Section agronomists and consultants if it’s feasible. And when seeking approval for tree removal, know the club’s organizational structure. Tips for securing membership approval include:
• Establish credibility;
• Make a good presentation;
• Emphasize the positive aspects of
removing trees;
• Don’t give up; and
• Identify the people against it.

Once you’ve identified the problematic trees and the decision to remove them is made, discretely mark the trees, limit the visibility of their removal and clean up immediately.

Because you’re likely to run into opposition to removing trees, keep these points in mind:
• Communicate;
• Realize it’s not popular with
members;
• Prepare for criticism;
• Be persistent;
• Remind the members of the positives of tree removal;
• Things will only get worse if nothing is done;
• Figure out what to do with the wood; and
• Don’t get caught up in the number of trees removed because people will get upset.

Some of you might need to hire a consultant for tree removal, others might not. Regardless, it’s still a good idea to check the amount of sunlight and air movement greens are getting and develop a tree-management program.

So go ahead, prune or chop down the trees needed to improve the health of the turfgrass on your course; just do it thoughtfully and carefully, or else it could turn into a bigger headache than you thought. But I guess you can always blame tree removal on lighting. GCN