Trees and Turf

While OCGC has several nice, well kept mature trees, a few things need to be noted.  Trees and shrubs DO have sertain life spans.  Some of the trees have exceeded their useful lifespan.  The pictures are a few examples: picture 1 is of a dead Scrub Pine and a leaning pine.  Picture 2 shows an oak tree with a mossy scale disease and is in the process of declining.  Picture 3 is a canker beginning to split on a gum tree.  Picture 4 is of the dead pine at the corner of the dogleg on Seaside #17.

Trees can have an effect on turf quality.  The turf thinning on 14 green Seaside and 5 Newport are perfect examples.  Trees are an enemy to older varieties of bermudagrass (like our Midlawn).  Examples can easily be seen on 5, 8 and 11 Newport.  Some thinning will be required to bring these fairways up to the standard of the others.  Every tree will be analyzed as to its health and how it affects playability.  I had a professional arborist in last week and he brought a lot of these maladies to my attention.  Right now Dogwoods and Pines are really susceptibe to diseases. 

As the USGA so nicely puts it "if there is competition between a small (grass) and large plant (tree)...the larger plant wins everytime!"