Well, we've been pretty busy with lots of drainage projects. The irrigation is going great. Monday will be the final day of the mainline installation. We will probably start installing sprinkler heads sometime next week. Our own greens crew has been hard at work installing drainage in some of the really wet and hard to get to areas. We rented a mini excavator for 2 weeks and were able to do work on #4, 5, 8 (curtain drain in front of the green to eliminate puddling), #10 (3 curtains drain behind the green to eliminate puddling), #11 and 14. Many of the other areas that still remain will be done with our own trencher. We hope to install drainage on #1, 2, 17 and 18 in a few weeks if those holes continue to dry up enough to do the work.
The large pine tree by the right side of the Clubhouse was heavily pruned in hopes of getting more sunlight to the putting green. We talked about removing it, but there is an unsightly light pole amongst the limbs and if removed it, we felt it would be quite ugly. The tree looks much cleanier, however sunlight penetration was not improved at all by the pruning. Unfortunately the tree shades much of the putting green through the morning hours and results in weaker turf.
The greens are looking really good. Still some thin areas on a few greens that sufffer from heavy shade problems. #10 is looking better as well. I will snap a photo tomorrow and post it for comparison to how it looked 45 days ago.
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TREES - THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF GOLF COURSE TURF
James T. Snow
USGA Green Section
Far Hills, NJ
Trees clearly are important assets on most golf courses in the northern sections of the United States,
providing a great deal of beauty and strategic interest and serving a variety of other important functions.
On the other hand, the effects of trees are a major cause of poor quality turf on parts of many courses.
In some cases, trees have come to overwhelm the courses from both an agronomic and playability
standpoint, causing widespread turf problems and imposing restrictions on the strategic intent of the
original golf course architect.
While it could easily be argued that trees are not the biggest (most important) turf problem on many
courses, there can be no denying that they are the biggest (size) problem on most courses. On a few
courses they are both. In essence, the negative impact of trees on turf quality can be summarized as
follows (play considerations aside):
- Shade
- Poor air circulation
- Tree root competition
- Interfering limbs and branches
SHADE
The effect of shade is an important cause of turf weakness or failure on many types of areas. The
combination of shade and traffic, though, can be deadly. Turfgrass plants need light to photosynthesize
and produce food for growth and regeneration. When light levels are inadequate for too long a period,
carbohydrate reserves are depleted and the turf becomes too weak to quickly recover from traffic injury.
There also is good evidence that shade predisposes the turf to ceratin diseases that would not be a problem
were the turf located in full sun. The effects of shade are especially noticeable on greens and tees, where
foot and mower traffic is concentrated on relatively small areas, and in roughs where cart traffic is quite
heavy.
The lack of direct sunlight on a turf area also prolongs the drying out period after rainfall or
irrigation, leading to greater disease activity and greater soil compaction. Not surprisingly, Pna annua
follows closely on the heels of these problems, bringing with it another set of difficulties.
86 GOLF TURF MANAGEMENT I
The wholesale clear-cutting of trees from around a green or tee is usually not necessary to overcome
a shade problem. Instead, begin by removing selected canopy and understory trees to increase sunlight
intensity. Trees on the southeast, south and southwest sides of the turf area should be the first to be
removed. If this work does not resolve the problem to your satisfaction, then try thinning the canopy in
some of the remaining trees to further increase light intensity. The removal of more trees may be required
in some instances. Continue this removal and thinning process until healthy, wear resistant turf is restored.
POOR AIR CIRCULATION
Another of the consequences of too many trees in close proximity to important play areas on a golf
course is poor air circulation. It usually is quite easy to determine which greens or tees are suffering from
this problem; just tour the course on a hot, muggy day and note the areas where you feel the most
uncomfortable. The temperature of the air is often significantly higher in these areas, and a breeze to
relieve high humidity symptoms is usually lacking as well. Also, soil temperature and moisture levels
tend to remain higher for a longer period of time relative to other areas, due to the lack of good conditions
for drying.
As a result of these factors, disease activity, heat stress and soil compaction effects are common on
turf growing in such an environment. Again, £illl annua often takes over in these areas, performing poorly
during periods of stress.
A key to resolving air circulation problems is to open passageways for air to move through the area.
Oftentimes, the removal of shrubs and understory trees is enough to significantly improve the situation.
A general thinning of the canopies of some of the remaining trees also can be of great benefit. The
removal of some of the larger trees, especially those that block prevailing winds, can prove helpful if
previous effects fail.
Though shade and air circulation problems tend to go hand-in-hand, this is not always the case.
Some greens, for example, receive full sunlight throughout the day, yet suffer greatly from poor air
movement. This is particularly true on poorly drained soils. The message, then, is not to rely on shade
as a symptom of poor air circulation, but to look for the problem based on its own merit.
TREE ROOT COMPETITION
One of the great hidden dangers of trees on golf courses concerns the effects of their roots on nearby
turf. Like turf, trees absorb water and nutrients through their roots to sustain life and promote growth.
And like turf, the tree roots that are active and functional are those located in the well aerified soils in the
upper few inches of the profile. Thus, turfgrass roots and tree roots are very often in direct competition
for available water and nutrients, and usually the turf areas suffer greatly during periods of stressful
weather.
A good method of reducing or eliminating tree root competition is to mechanically prune the tree
roots so they no longer compete with turf roots in the area where problems are being encountered. Greens
and tees are the important play areas where root pruning is most often done, but pruning along the edges
of fairways and near the tree lines in the roughs is becoming much more common as golf cart use
increases. As suggested earlier, the combination of tree effects and heavy traffic can be deadly; thus the
need to root prune in the roughs.
Mechanical tree root pruning can be accomplished by several means. The most common method is
to cut a 2-foot deep trench at a convenient site between the trees and the turf area of concern. For best
effect, several layers of tar paper, sheet metal or some other barrier should be place vertically along the
wall of the trench prior to backfilling to discourage new tree roots from encroaching too quickly.
Nevertheless, root pruning usually must be repeated every few years, as the tree roots eventually manage
to find their way through or under the barrier.
Other methods involve the use of vibratory plows, stump grinders, or blade attachments to backhoes
to cut a narrow slice in the soil that severs tree roots and temporarily benefits the turf. However, this
practice must be done every year or two because a physical barrier cannot be installed.
SNOW 87
Unfortunately, many turf managers are not fully aware of the extent to which tree roots can affect
the turf, often blaming disease, insects, traffic or some other common problem for what is largely tree root
competition. A common response to a recommendation to root prune trees is a blank stare and a few
non-committal mumbles about how they might give it a try if they have a chance. However, the word
about the successes of those who have tried it is getting around, and more and more golf courses are
adopting root pruning as an important annual practice in needed areas.
TREEI~MBINTERFERENCE
It might at first seem hard to imagine how tree limbs that interfere with a golf shot would cause
agronomic problems for the grounds crew, but that is exactly what happens on golf tees. Trees planted
years ago off the right front side of a tee, for example, eventually grow to the extent that their limbs
interfere with a tee shot from the right side. Golfers will instinctively compensate for this interference
by hitting most of their tee shots from the left side of the tee. As a result, the right side receives less and
less play, while the left side is eventually subjected to most of the traffic. It is not uncommon in these
instances to see the right side develop thatch problems and the left side become consistently thin, weak,
and dominated by Pna annua or crabgrass.
There is a simple solution to this problem, involving the pruning back of interfering tree limbs or the
removal of trees that are hopelessly in the way. However, because trees grow slowly, most golfers don't
realize what is happening to their teeing area until interference becomes extreme. Even then, they are
often reluctant to spend the money to prune or remove trees unless the situation becomes desperate.
Instead, they usually ask the golf course superintendent to put forth a bit more effort to keep the tee in
better condition. Obviously, tree work is the best solution.
SUMMARY
Trees can greatly affect the quality of turf on a golf course by the shade they cast, the air circulation
they block, and the roots they produce. In addition, they can reduce the useable area on a tee by 30% -
50% or more by producing limbs that interfere with playoff one or both sides of the tee. The best
means of preventing these problems is to use care when planting trees on a course. For established trees,
a good program of tree removal or branch thinning can increase sunlight penetration and air circulation
to a great degree, and interfering limbs can be removed as needed to allow full use of tees. Finally,
careful attention should be paid to root pruning around greens, tees, and other important turf areas where
tree roots obviously are having a negative impact.
The effects of trees can be a significant extra stress at a time when the turf is already under great
stress due to heavy traffic, difficult weather conditions, and many other factors. By giving careful
consideration to the concerns noted above, it should be possible to improve the health and playability of
the turf on any course where trees are an integral part of the scene.
Welcome Wing Point Members
This blog is intended to keep the members at Wing Point up to date on the course conditions, the challenges we face with weather, the day to day update on projects, and hopefully add some insight to your overall golf experience. The blog will be updated as much as possible. Information on things that may impact your golf experience such as sanding or aeration will be posted as well. Take time to read one of the polls on the side of the page. The results will help us make decisions on course maintenance practices and give us feedback on what you, the members are thinking.
Golf Course Superintendents Association...Local and National Websites
A must read article!
TREES - THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF GOLF COURSE TURF
James T. Snow
USGA Green Section
Far Hills, NJ
Trees clearly are important assets on most golf courses in the northern sections of the United States,
providing a great deal of beauty and strategic interest and serving a variety of other important functions.
On the other hand, the effects of trees are a major cause of poor quality turf on parts of many courses.
In some cases, trees have come to overwhelm the courses from both an agronomic and playability
standpoint, causing widespread turf problems and imposing restrictions on the strategic intent of the
original golf course architect.
While it could easily be argued that trees are not the biggest (most important) turf problem on many
courses, there can be no denying that they are the biggest (size) problem on most courses. On a few
courses they are both. In essence, the negative impact of trees on turf quality can be summarized as
follows (play considerations aside):
- Shade
- Poor air circulation
- Tree root competition
- Interfering limbs and branches
SHADE
The effect of shade is an important cause of turf weakness or failure on many types of areas. The
combination of shade and traffic, though, can be deadly. Turfgrass plants need light to photosynthesize
and produce food for growth and regeneration. When light levels are inadequate for too long a period,
carbohydrate reserves are depleted and the turf becomes too weak to quickly recover from traffic injury.
There also is good evidence that shade predisposes the turf to ceratin diseases that would not be a problem
were the turf located in full sun. The effects of shade are especially noticeable on greens and tees, where
foot and mower traffic is concentrated on relatively small areas, and in roughs where cart traffic is quite
heavy.
The lack of direct sunlight on a turf area also prolongs the drying out period after rainfall or
irrigation, leading to greater disease activity and greater soil compaction. Not surprisingly, Pna annua
follows closely on the heels of these problems, bringing with it another set of difficulties.
86 GOLF TURF MANAGEMENT I
The wholesale clear-cutting of trees from around a green or tee is usually not necessary to overcome
a shade problem. Instead, begin by removing selected canopy and understory trees to increase sunlight
intensity. Trees on the southeast, south and southwest sides of the turf area should be the first to be
removed. If this work does not resolve the problem to your satisfaction, then try thinning the canopy in
some of the remaining trees to further increase light intensity. The removal of more trees may be required
in some instances. Continue this removal and thinning process until healthy, wear resistant turf is restored.
POOR AIR CIRCULATION
Another of the consequences of too many trees in close proximity to important play areas on a golf
course is poor air circulation. It usually is quite easy to determine which greens or tees are suffering from
this problem; just tour the course on a hot, muggy day and note the areas where you feel the most
uncomfortable. The temperature of the air is often significantly higher in these areas, and a breeze to
relieve high humidity symptoms is usually lacking as well. Also, soil temperature and moisture levels
tend to remain higher for a longer period of time relative to other areas, due to the lack of good conditions
for drying.
As a result of these factors, disease activity, heat stress and soil compaction effects are common on
turf growing in such an environment. Again, £illl annua often takes over in these areas, performing poorly
during periods of stress.
A key to resolving air circulation problems is to open passageways for air to move through the area.
Oftentimes, the removal of shrubs and understory trees is enough to significantly improve the situation.
A general thinning of the canopies of some of the remaining trees also can be of great benefit. The
removal of some of the larger trees, especially those that block prevailing winds, can prove helpful if
previous effects fail.
Though shade and air circulation problems tend to go hand-in-hand, this is not always the case.
Some greens, for example, receive full sunlight throughout the day, yet suffer greatly from poor air
movement. This is particularly true on poorly drained soils. The message, then, is not to rely on shade
as a symptom of poor air circulation, but to look for the problem based on its own merit.
TREE ROOT COMPETITION
One of the great hidden dangers of trees on golf courses concerns the effects of their roots on nearby
turf. Like turf, trees absorb water and nutrients through their roots to sustain life and promote growth.
And like turf, the tree roots that are active and functional are those located in the well aerified soils in the
upper few inches of the profile. Thus, turfgrass roots and tree roots are very often in direct competition
for available water and nutrients, and usually the turf areas suffer greatly during periods of stressful
weather.
A good method of reducing or eliminating tree root competition is to mechanically prune the tree
roots so they no longer compete with turf roots in the area where problems are being encountered. Greens
and tees are the important play areas where root pruning is most often done, but pruning along the edges
of fairways and near the tree lines in the roughs is becoming much more common as golf cart use
increases. As suggested earlier, the combination of tree effects and heavy traffic can be deadly; thus the
need to root prune in the roughs.
Mechanical tree root pruning can be accomplished by several means. The most common method is
to cut a 2-foot deep trench at a convenient site between the trees and the turf area of concern. For best
effect, several layers of tar paper, sheet metal or some other barrier should be place vertically along the
wall of the trench prior to backfilling to discourage new tree roots from encroaching too quickly.
Nevertheless, root pruning usually must be repeated every few years, as the tree roots eventually manage
to find their way through or under the barrier.
Other methods involve the use of vibratory plows, stump grinders, or blade attachments to backhoes
to cut a narrow slice in the soil that severs tree roots and temporarily benefits the turf. However, this
practice must be done every year or two because a physical barrier cannot be installed.
SNOW 87
Unfortunately, many turf managers are not fully aware of the extent to which tree roots can affect
the turf, often blaming disease, insects, traffic or some other common problem for what is largely tree root
competition. A common response to a recommendation to root prune trees is a blank stare and a few
non-committal mumbles about how they might give it a try if they have a chance. However, the word
about the successes of those who have tried it is getting around, and more and more golf courses are
adopting root pruning as an important annual practice in needed areas.
TREEI~MBINTERFERENCE
It might at first seem hard to imagine how tree limbs that interfere with a golf shot would cause
agronomic problems for the grounds crew, but that is exactly what happens on golf tees. Trees planted
years ago off the right front side of a tee, for example, eventually grow to the extent that their limbs
interfere with a tee shot from the right side. Golfers will instinctively compensate for this interference
by hitting most of their tee shots from the left side of the tee. As a result, the right side receives less and
less play, while the left side is eventually subjected to most of the traffic. It is not uncommon in these
instances to see the right side develop thatch problems and the left side become consistently thin, weak,
and dominated by Pna annua or crabgrass.
There is a simple solution to this problem, involving the pruning back of interfering tree limbs or the
removal of trees that are hopelessly in the way. However, because trees grow slowly, most golfers don't
realize what is happening to their teeing area until interference becomes extreme. Even then, they are
often reluctant to spend the money to prune or remove trees unless the situation becomes desperate.
Instead, they usually ask the golf course superintendent to put forth a bit more effort to keep the tee in
better condition. Obviously, tree work is the best solution.
SUMMARY
Trees can greatly affect the quality of turf on a golf course by the shade they cast, the air circulation
they block, and the roots they produce. In addition, they can reduce the useable area on a tee by 30% -
50% or more by producing limbs that interfere with playoff one or both sides of the tee. The best
means of preventing these problems is to use care when planting trees on a course. For established trees,
a good program of tree removal or branch thinning can increase sunlight penetration and air circulation
to a great degree, and interfering limbs can be removed as needed to allow full use of tees. Finally,
careful attention should be paid to root pruning around greens, tees, and other important turf areas where
tree roots obviously are having a negative impact.
The effects of trees can be a significant extra stress at a time when the turf is already under great
stress due to heavy traffic, difficult weather conditions, and many other factors. By giving careful
consideration to the concerns noted above, it should be possible to improve the health and playability of
the turf on any course where trees are an integral part of the scene.
Sunrise...what every greens keeper gets to see!
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About Me
- Michael Goldsberry
- I am a high energy individual with a passion for golf.
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