Course Update 2/24/20

We had a full week of tree work last week and made good progress in two key areas on Grove 8 and 9.  On Grove 8 we removed a large Elm and a handful of Black Cherries and Locust left of the cart path near the landing zone.  The trees, especially the Elm, had grown out over the edge of the fairway and were limiting play down the left side.  The trees were also obstructing full view of the fairway and left rough from most of the tees, along with heavily shading those parts of the rough and fairway.

On Grove 9 we cleared a significant amount of trees and brush on both sides of the red hazard on the left near the old drop area.  The vegetation had become so overgrown it was nearly impossible to see if a ball hit into this area stayed in bounds, thus slowing down play.

We first had to clear brush and small trees to gain access to the large Elm on Grove 8.

The Elm tree split while cutting due to old age and decaying wood, but luckily no one was hurt.

Here's a view from the blue tee on Grove 8.  A portion of the Elm tree had to fall across the cart path due to the amount of wood in the canopy and the way it was leaning.

Here's our work area down in the left hazard on Grove 8.

Grove 9 viewed from the blue tee.  You really can't see much of the old drop area left of the blue tractor with the red trailer due to dense vegetation.

Bryan Morgan, Assistant Superintendent, leading the charge to clear the unwanted vegetation.

Here you can see a lot more of the old drop area on Grove 9 after we finished clearing the far side of the red hazard.  The trees on the left side of the picture are also being removed to further improve the view from the tees.

Here's the finished product on Grove 9 after the dead trees and brush were removed on the tee side of the hazard.