Don’t design around trees

In yet another example of why not to design a golf hole around a tree, Augusta National loses the iconic Eisenhower tree.  The tree that President Eisenhower constantly complained about, thus giving it its name, was severely damage by the ice storms in the south last week.  The tree was also the incident where Tiger Woods injured his knee in the pine straw in 2011 and missed four months and two majors.

Many will say that the tree is an important part of Augusta’s history.  I don’t know of any other tree that when you say it’s name, people know what, and where you are talking about.  Yes, it was a majestic tree, and it is always sad to lose a tree of this stature, as long as it doesn’t interfere with turf conditions.  But truth be told, the tree has had no significant impact on playing the golf hole, minus Tiger’s knee, since the concern over distance.

I always tell clients not to design a hole around a tree, because you never know if that tree will be there tomorrow.  This is living proof!  A storm, or a disease, can wipe out your signature tree.  Then you are left with a golf hole that could be void of strategy. 

What can you do about it?

 

I remember the Eisenhower tree situation being brought up in the past.  The Club has always had this tree, and others, wired for protection against lightening damage.  I’m sure they thought this day would come.  In fact, they had already planted a new tree past Ike’s tree in preparation.  That tree may poise the same problems for future tournaments like Ike’s tree did in the days before the new ball.

So, if you have a tree that you would hate to lose put a plan in place should, and when, that day happens.  It could include looking at other hazards to put strategy back into the golf hole.  That way your not in a panic when the day comes.

To see photos and a thread about Ike’s tree, go to GolfClubAtlas.com

The Polar Vortex and Golf

It’s -8 degrees as I write this blog and it’s not supposed to get above zero for the next 36 hours or so.  A Polar Vortex, they call it.  A term I’ve never heard in my 49 years on Earth, and we’ve had temperatures this cold before.  This year it has not only happened once, but this is the second time.  You’ve probably heard or said this before, “But it’s starting to get old”.  However, there may be a bright side to all of this cold weather and it’s impact on golf.

It’s only January 27 and next week the Groundhog will tell us we still have six more weeks of winter.  Fitting since the Spring Equinox is March 20.  So that means we may still have a long ways to go before winter’s over.  More days to stay inside, which means more days of cabin fever.  So my prediction is that by the time the snow melts, the grass greens up, and golf courses in the Midwest open, people will be stumbling over each other to get outdoors.

Therefore, I think golf courses will see an influx of play in April and May.  It may even be bigger then any other spring.  No matter the temperatures, people will just want to be outdoors.  It’s a good thing our course superintendents have had the long winter to get their equipment ready and recharge the batteries.  More golfers means more people to work around to get the course back in shape.  But I don’t think they’ll mind, they’ll just be glad to be outdoors themselves.
 
I hope this prediction comes true and this cold winter doesn’t mean another hot summer like 2012.  We could use a break with some normal temperatures.  I know I’m looking forward to getting back out on the course.