Can't see the wood' for the tree's.....

I'd like to post some information about the recent tree planting exercise that has been undertaken on the 3rd hole this week. Firstly the reasons why? This summer we have been faced with some issues of errant tee shots entering neighbouring properties on the 3rd hole. After consultation with a  Health & Safety expert, a golf course architect & members of the greens committee a number of measures have been introduced to try & help reduce & minimise the risk that these errant shots may cause.
One of the proposals was to plant more trees on the left of the hole. The thinking behind this was to try and influence the tee shot that people play off the tee. By making the left side of the hole less appealing to golfers, we can try and reduce the number of incidents of balls entering properties and potentially causing damage. Alongside the new planting we will also be removing some old silver birch tree's down the right hand side of the hole to give golfers more confidence of playing down the right. Now of course nothing can stop a bad shot, and the likelihood of balls still entering properties' remain high, due to the close proximity of the properties to the golf hole, but the club has to be seen to act in a reasonable manner and we have a duty of care not only to our neighbours but also to the members and golfers of Muswell Hill Golf Club. To not act on the incidents could ultimately end with a dramatic redesign of the golf hole with it's length being reduced.

So to the tree's that have been planted. Working with tree expert John Nicholson a selection of pines, oaks, birch and lime have been planted. Over 200 tree saplings were planted. The reason for choosing these tress was to give us the evergreen coverage with the pine, to help with some quick growing species the lime and birch and to ultimately have some oak as final specimen tree's.

One of the most important factors to remember about new plantings is that some of these tree's, potentially up to 70% of the ones planted, will be removed in time as the tree's mature and develop. This style of woodland management will give the golf course a continuous coverage of different age species and ultimately lead to the establishment of trees that will last for well over 150 years.

The work to thin out copses all across the golf course will begin, with the long term aims of providing better trees on the golf course in terms of golf strategy, tree health and preserving and enhancing environmental and wildlife habitats.      

Where's the winter?

Normally by this time of year on the golf course the mowers would be taking a well earned rest whilst we would be hard at work on our winter project's. But this year the slow down in grass growth hasn't happened yet, and although it's been very windy of late, Storm Desmond the  current 'named' force of nature to batter down on us, temperatures have been regularly above 10 degrees which means continued grass growth. A long side the wet weather we've been experiencing has made presenting the course that little bit more challenging. We've been using the handmowers a lot more, less traffic across the golf course & the cutting heights have been raised to help protect the plant going into winter. It's very important we keep the plant 'green & healthy' as environmental stress, low temperatures, reduced sunlight, increased rainfall can all lead to a weakened grass sward and at this time of year recovery is minimal. Having a healthier plant coming into the spring will give us the best possible start for next year's golfing season.
We've started some of our winter maintenance programmes, the first of the paths have been added to the 2nd, 7th & 17th and some tree work has begun around the course. Drainage has also been installed into the problem wet area in between the 16th bunkers on the right hand side of the green.
This work will carry on through the winter as will  the course presentation but with course protection a major factor in all the work we do.
Enjoy your golf.