The battle of trees vs turf continues

This past summer was the driest we've seen in many years and it was a challenge to keep the turf green and healthy. In areas of the course where trees are close to play, tree roots extend out into the turf and steal the irrigation water. The quality of the turf goes down the drain and golfers are left with difficult conditions to play from. The photos below are of the area just off the back of #16 green. Two large Douglas Fir trees are way too close to the green and are the cause of the poor conditions.

You hit a pretty good shot into #16 green and and are only one foot off the edge of the collar. It's the #4 stroke hole so you're thinking net birdie. As you get to your ball you see that it's sitting in a hole on baked ground with a clump of turf right behind it. Your easy par just turned into a bogey or more.

There are so many shots played from just off the green that the turf needs to be in good condition. Chipping is hard enough off of a perfect lie. What are the odds of hitting a good shot from the burned out area in the photo to that hole location?

We spent a lot of time hand watering the back of the green, and also between the trees and the green every summer. By the time we get to August it looks like the conditions above. The trees win the battle over turf  (and the greens crew) every year. I don't see any reason to keep these trees and suffer with the awful turf  during the peak of our summer play. 

Steve Kealy

Golf Course Superintendent