Tree Maintenance Continued

Here are a few more pictures for you to see.

Open up left side of 8 Tee to allow valuable
sunlight through

Allowing morning sunlight to filter on the 11th Green

Thinning of trees between the 5th and 8th Greens
 to better allow sunlight and water through to
improve turf quality.

Large Spruce Removal 7th Green

USGA - Tree Removal Recommendations

Here are some after photos of the tree work staff have been performing on the course this winter. We have selectively removed trees in all locations around the greens that was suggested by the USGA. We are continuing with removals to reveal some interesting views throughout the course and river.


Removed Pine and Norway Maple
Close to Club House

New View of the Valley Holes

View from the Putting Green

14th Hole

River View from 15th Tee

Hard to Believe these photo's were taken on February 6th, 2012.

More to come!

4th Tee After

By simply removing a couple of cedars trees and capping the end of the hedge with a new one, creates a wider opening for members to access the tee.

Addressing Wear Issues

4th Hole

            The wear around the 4th tee has been an issue for 20 years and expanding the walk on/off is our only solution. We will be removing the first 15 feet of the cedar hedge to increase the amount of area we have to walk on and off the tee. We have sourced a 15-18ft cedar to replace the last cedar removed to hide the unsightly end to the hedge because there will be no foliage left on the exposed cedar. The area will then be leveled and sodded. 

            The front portion of the tee is still well protected by the pines near the ball washer and will allow members approaching to see the front of the tee and where the blocks are placed.  We may also look at pruning the hedge 2 feet off the ground to allow air movement under the hedge and across the tee.



4th Tee Before

            Staff will be widening and extending the curbing along a portion of the path where the carts park, giving members more room to get on and off the carts.  This area will be graveled for the time being until we can find an opportunity to pave.

After Photo To Follow!

Thanks

Mark Piccolo

USGA Advisory Service

At our last Greens Committee meeting  it was suggested we retain the services of a USGA  Turfgrass Advisor. This individual will help assess not only the difficulties we are having with our greens but will create an agronomic plan on the entire golf course to help guide the club forward similar to what an architect does for design. They will also help communicate to the membership what has been happening and what needs to be done to produce consistent playing conditions. We have scheduled a tour with our Greens Committee for next week and when the report has been completed will make it available for all members to read.
Here is a bit on what it is they offer.

The Value Of A USGA Turfgrass Advisory Service Visit

The Turf Advisory Service is a program of service. Its benefits to the individual club will be considerable. Countless times in the past one little bit of information from the Green Section has saved a club many times the cost of USGA service."

Richard Tufts, Chairman, USGA Green Section Committee 1953

The Green Section field agronomists:

• Have more direct contact with golfers and course officials than any other department in the USGA. They are ambassadors and representatives of the USGA in the field.
• Are the most knowledgeable, respected, and impartial golf-turf consultants in the world. Backed by the USGA, the Green Section's services provide dependable recommendations that course officials can count on.
• Have lots of experience - they see many (100+) courses each year.
• Know what to look for when observing the course and checking for problems.
• Ask probing questions to identify symptoms or problems that the course personnel may not recognize.
• Have seen symptoms countless times and can quickly identify problems and offer the best solutions.
• Help establish long range plans and preventative maintenance programs to mitigate future problems.
• Network frequently with other USGA agronomists for additional advice and suggestions.
• Catch problems early, before they get out of hand, thereby preventing turf loss and/or large expenditures.
• Serve as a sounding board for ideas.
• Keep up with the latest in research, products and techniques. Information is backed up by the largest private turf research program in the world.
• Serve as a key communications link between course officials and the golf course superintendent.
• Write reports that serve as a planning guide and as a benchmark to compare with future evaluations.
• Have only the club's interest in mind and have no financial interest in products or services recommended, unlike many private consultants.
• Know good specialists to turn to for more detailed evaluation, if needed.
• Have access to the cumulative knowledge of 18 USGA field agronomists who make nearly 2000 visits annually.
• Know that one small suggestion can save many times the cost of the TAS visit.
• Provide our clubs and courses with reports that deliver the only history of changes in maintenance practices and the actual physical design of the course over time.