More new trees

Spring is the season for planting. Many years in a row now, we have planted new trees across the property, and the program continued this year. The new trees were planted last week.

We have a strong tree planting and maintenance program. Every year we work on maintaining the trees we have- cleaning, raising, and removing dead trees as necessary. We also plant new trees yearly, adding more species variety to the property as well as planting in proper locations so as not to interfere with the turf.

This year we added 8 new trees: 1 Japanese snowbell between 1 tee and 18 fairway. 2 Sweet Bay magnolias between 12 and 13 fairways. 3 red maples to the right of 17 fairway. And 2 sugar maples along the entrance road. Unfortunately, 4 of these new trees were replacements for trees that had just been planted in the last few years. Even though last year was not their first year in the ground at Bretton Woods, we believe the drought, coupled with the cold, was too much for them to handle. Nevertheless, we expect the newest trees to perform well, just as most other new trees have over that same time period.

The maple to the left is a replacement. The one to the right
was newly added to complete the line of trees.

The replacement trees were the snowbell, the 2 magnolias, and 1 of the 2 new trees along the entrance. Each was placed back in the original location, fitting back in with the original design, or in the grove of other similar trees.

The trees on the right side of 17 are a slightly different circumstance. In the past, there was a very large silver maple in a very similar location. However, over the last few years, the silver maple had declined rapidly. One season we cleaned out the dead wood and tried to reinvigorate it, but to no avail. Last year, it deteriorated even further and was in danger of dropping more dead wood. Along with its ailments, it also caused too much shade on the Bermuda grass fairway below. It had never been in a good position, and we even shifted the fairway away from its shadow some. Finally, we had no other option but to remove it. Once we removed the silver maple, it was clear from speaking with the Golf Committee, that a tree nearby would be important.

That is where the 3 new red maples come in: they were planted to replace the one silver maple. Although the new trees are not quite as close to the fairway, they are in a similar enough position to still add some strategic interest. They are also the same species- red maple- as 3 other trees along the same stretch to the right of 17 fairway. Now there is a nice grove of trees to provide some difficulty to shots lost to the right.

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not hit into the Grounds department staff because it is dangerous. Please be sure that we see you before hitting your shot.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org