Why is Maintenance Removing Trees on Blackheath #5,#8, and #18?

Turf and trees, the epic battle for resources (sunlight, water, and nutrients) often leads to the demise of one or the other, more often it is the turf that loses. As golf course managers what can we do to successfully manage both turf and trees that dominate a golf course landscape?In order to successfully maintain a healthy stand of turf for putting greens, the turf requires a total of 8 to 10 hours of full sunlight. Trees growing in close proximity to greens can significantly impede sunlight and air movement, contributing to more disease pressure, thinner and weaker turf. Excessive and prolonged shade will restrict photosynthetic activity (the process of plants making food reserves) preventing the plant from being able to produce sufficient carbohydrates (food reserves), leading to less root mass. Comparing the root system of turf grown in shaded conditions with turf grown in full sun, the shaded turf had a half-inch root system while the full-sun turf had a root system three inches plus.

Observing the turf on BlackHeath #5 and #8 greens over the last few years, the turf health has suffered during the summer months.  Attributing the thin, weak turf to shade from nearby trees, the decision was made to remove trees allowing more sunlight to reach the greens.  In the process of deciding which trees to remove, an app called Sun Surveyor Lite was used, free in the apple app store.  This app illustrates the projection of the suns rays as it moves across the sky.

The sunrise on February 17^th on BlackHeath #8. This green was receiving less than 4 hours of sunlight during the winter months and less than 6 hours during the summer months. The picture above depicts even after removing only a few trees more morning sunlight reaching the green.

 

This picture shows the trees that remain to be cut down as indicated by the shadow they cast across the green.