Tree Work...Lakes 7 & 8

We started out this week by continuing our assault on the thick brush and trees near the green on Lakes 8.  This is our second year working in this area due to the number and size of the trees that are creating problems from too much shade and limited airflow.  A couple of the trees are 80 feet or taller, and because of the shadows they create we're having to go further into the woods to remove them.  While on Lakes 8, we also cleaned up a large oak tree that separated from it's stump and fell late last year.  This particular tree had two main trunks growing out of the same stump.  After cleaning up the fallen trunk it was determined that the other trunk still standing had significant decay and had to be removed for safety reasons.  It was hanging over the cart path at such a severe angle that it was only a matter of when, not if, it was going to fall and anyone passing underneath was in harm's way.

After finishing up on #8 we moved the operation to #7 and started removing trees that were casting heavy shade on the silver and blue/gold tees.  If you recall from an earlier post, the staff began removing brush and smaller trees in these areas several weeks ago to speed up the removal process once the excavator was there.  We also removed a maple tree that had up-rooted in a recent storm and was hung up in another tree across the cart path.  It would have taken a tree company all day to perform the removal and cleanup, and cost around $2,000 just for that one tree.  We had it down and cleaned up in an hour, and for a fraction of the cost thanks to the right equipment and exceptional staff members.

One half of a double-trunk oak tree down to the right of Lakes 8 fairway

Significant decay inside the base of the other trunk still standing on Lakes 8

Here you can see the other part of the oak tree on the right side of the picture leaning over the cart path towards the fairway on Lakes 8

A large maple tree too close to the blue/gold tee on Lakes 7

Thin, unhealthy rough along the blue/gold tee on Lakes 7 from too much shade

Even a highly maintained bentgrass tee can't compete with big trees

Up-rooted maple hung up in an adjacent tree safely removed by the maintenance staff

Tree Work...Orchard 6 & Lakes 9

Last week we finished up on Orchard 6 by removing the dead trees in the left hazard at the beginning of the fairway.  They had been dead for many years and were an eyesore from the tee.  I was also able to get a better picture on Orchard 6 after all the snow melted.

So far this week we finished removing the pine trees along the tennis courts and started cleaning up around the green on Lakes 9.  The trees and brush along the right greenside bunker had become so thick that grass wouldn't grow along the outer edge and roots were visible in the bunker sand.  As an added benefit, the back portion of the green will now receive full sun and stay drier in the spring and fall.  While on Lakes 9, the staff also spent a good deal of time cleaning up the overgrown area to the right of the cart path just past the green.  The tangled mess of honeysuckle, jaggers, locust and sumac was very unappealing and didn't fit the manicured look of the course and surrounding homes.

Orchard 6...before

Orchard 6...after

Dead trees left of Orchard 6 fairway

30" diameter stump from a dead poplar tree removed on Orchard 6.
You can stick your entire arm down into the cavity.

Dense trees and brush right of Lakes 9 green

No chance of getting turf to grow in these conditions

Overgrown area just past Lakes 9 green...before

Overgrown area...after

Tree Work...Orchard 6

In between all the snow and ice events this week, we were still able to find some time to work on Orchard 6 between the tees and the fairway.  The big tree in the pictures below was a half-dead poplar that had a 30" diameter at the base.  We only have a 25" bar on our largest chainsaw, so it took some time to get the tree on the ground and cleaned up.  We anticipate another day to remove the last few trees in order to have a full view of the fairway.

White tee view...before

White tee view...after

 

Blue tee view...before

Blue tee view...after

Tree Work...Orchard 6

With the ground being thawed the available areas to work in are limited, but that hasn't stopped our progress.  We started clearing vegetation between the fairway and tees on Orchard 6 where significant growth has occurred over the years.   The entire right side of the fairway was blocked from view along with the Out-of-Bounds stakes.  Approximately 25 trees have been removed so far, and we anticipate another couple days to finish removing the vegetation and restore the work area.

Orchard 6 fairway prior to removing trees

Work in progress viewed from the Gold tee

Work in progress viewed from the Blue tee

End of day 1 viewed from the Blue tee