Tree Management Plan

Objective of the Tree Management Plan

The objective of this tree management plan is to provide a safe and enjoyable golf experience while increasing the health and diversity of our tree resource.

Phase 1: Tree Inventory and Removal

Phase 1 of the plan will include the identification and mitigation of hazardous trees, diseased, and dead trees, as well as the removal of trees around critical turf areas (tees, greens, and fairways) to increase air movement and sunlight to turf. This will increase the turf quality in these areas, as well as increasing the overall enjoyment of the game.

If you’d like some more information on some of the diseases that threaten our tree resource and that have led to some of the hazardous, diseased, and dead trees currently on the course please follow this link: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_005591.pdf

Phase 2: Planting

During the hazardous tree mitigation and shade removal portions of this program certain areas may become too thin of trees. Proper planning and planting (right plant, right place) is critical to avoid over-crowding and a return to the problems of the past.  One of the most critical problems we face at Pine Acres is lack of proper aging and diversity of the tree resource. Proper aging helps eliminate large scale tree loss due to senescence and diversity helps eliminate large loss due to insect or disease loss to certain species.

Young trees planted in increments of five year periods will help create an uneven age of the trees. Planting new species will increase our diversity.

For recommendations on trees that are right for Pine Acres, please go to the Right Plant, Right Place page.

All these species do well in our area and are very tolerant to conditions associated with golf courses (high traffic, high compaction). We should avoid planting maple trees, cherry trees, and tulip poplar which are the dominate species already occurring on the course. When trees are selected for planting research should be done to be sure no current insect or disease issues exist for that species. This goes back to the previously addressed principle of right plant, right place.

If there is a particular tree not found on this list that a member would like to have planted the course superintendent will make the final determination on whether or not that tree will be acceptable. If it is not acceptable, the superintendent will provide adequate reasons as to why it is not.

Phase 3: Maintenance

Continued maintenance of the tree resource will be necessary to ensure the investment is properly protected. Maintenance will include the following practices: Pruning

  1. Pruning
    1. Pruning of your tree resource is important to reduce the spread of disease, increase enjoyment of the game and maintaining aesthetics.
  2.  Identify any trees of importance and write a plan to insure the long life and health of these specific trees. Identify any potential health issues with these trees and risk potential for naturally occurring damage such as wind, ice and lightening.
  3.  Continuing education on disease and insect issues will help to circumvent outbreaks on the cours Removal or thinning of disease susceptible species in the future can help preserve the species as a whole on the property
  4. Removal and replacement of dead or dying trees is an ongoing part of maintaining the tree resource on a golf course.  Dead or dying trees should be removed promptly and if applicable a replacement selected and planted in a timely manner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, trees are a resource and should be maintained properly.  The majority of the trees on the course were native to the property pre-

construction. Trees planted since construction did little to increase diversity and

aging of the existing resource. In addition, lack of a tree mitigation plan has led to many trees that should have been removed many years ago to remain

standing. By properly managing the resource we can provide a fair challenge to the course, increase the aesthetics and health of the trees on our course.