Tree Influences On The Turf Conditions

The subject of trees on the golf course can be an emotional one.  
The two  USGA videos listed below share the agronomic influences that trees can have  on the quality of the golf course and the playing conditions.  Please take a look.
                                                  

Treeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cafVxkWt1GI&t=59s

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer

On your next trip to the golf course you will notice a number of trees with orange tape around the base. These are ash trees and many are infected by the Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that has done devastating damage to ash trees across the Midwest. I will have a number of professional tree contractors visit NCC and provide me with a proposal for the removal of the ash trees.

Golfer safety, aesthetics and strategic location of the individual trees will be evaluated. We have treated several of the more strategically located ash trees without much success. While some of the ash trees are currently dead and void of any leaves, there are others that still have a decent canopy. Based on all accounts across the Midwest, once the borer is in an area, there is little or no hope for any of the ash trees to survive long term. All the ash trees have been identified for bidding purposes.

Once a proposal is in hand, I will submit the information and scheduling options to the club officials. Dr. Hurdzan, our Golf Course Architect, will be included in any replanting of trees on the course to insure they are in line with the desired playability and design of the course.

                                                                         

Tree Screening

The photo above shows how we are in the process of screening the Golf Course Operations Facility from the golfers view on #1 Red. We will plant a total of 10 to 12 Norway Spruce trees behind the green to screen the buildings. We constructed a 4 foot berm and we are planting 18 to 20 foot trees on top of the berm. Smaller ornamental planting will used to screen the lower view of the parking lot. The screening project should soften the view of the buildings and reduce the noise of the machinery and equipment entering and exiting the facility. I will send photos of the project when it is completed.

Tree Trimmed - Red #8

Part of our tree management program includes the trimming of trees during the winter months.
I know several of you will be pleased to see that we have raised the canopy on the tree located in the left rough on Red #8 just short of the first, left fairway bunkers.