anybody else not like tree lined fairways

[o_man]

In terms of design, I prefer a more open style as long as there are risk/reward options and you have to think your way around the course.

However, I do like playing tree lined courses, so long as the wooded area is maintained -- not overgrown so you can not find your ball, much less hit a recovery shot.

[bazinky]

I love tree-lined courses, as long as the trees are not central to the design of the hole. I don't mind when trees punish an errant shot, but the use of trees to "protect" greens or block approaches from the fairway is, in my opinion, a sign of a poorly designed hole. You're only one bad storm or lightining strike away from the hole potentially being ruined ...

[Forty]

Trees on the extreme edges of a golf hole are acceptable. Otherwise, they are the worst strategic tool an architect can use. I constantly hear how players like trees because they "frame" the hole or shot they need to hit. That's like needing someone to trace lines on a blank piece of paper so you can trace over them and then pat yourself on the back for being an "artist". Width of a hole is the greatest single tool an architect can use to make golf interesting and strategic by offering many angles of play. Not to mention, it allows a golfer infinitely more possibilities making a hole less redundant each time they play.

On top of that, trees are one of the biggest causes of turf problems. Grass is a bottom feeder. Trees take most of the sunlight and, when big, they consume a lot of water and nutrients the grass can't compete for. Trees block wind circulation which also hurts turf conditions.

Basically, if you like tight, tree-lined courses... you must like soft, redundant, strategy-less golf courses. Plus, don't complain to the super or the pro if your tree-lined course is soggy or the turf is dying. Why do you think Oakmont, Winged Foot, Olympic Club and many other clubs have removed thousands of trees the last ten years? Do the math.


-40-

P.S. No offense.

[Tupperwolf]

I don't mind trees, but I much prefer open course designs. One great example is The Home Course in Dupont, WA. I had one of the best driving days of my life because of how open the course was. There are plenty of bunkers and fescue to catch errant tee shots, but the lack of trees hemming in each hole made my swing very free and confident. If there are trees on the course, I don't want it to be thick woods with undergrowth, etc - my home course has plenty of trees, but they are spaced apart without any undergrowth (just grass) so that driving into the trees still sucks, but a nice punch shot can still get you on the green. You have to have some technique to play a recovery shot, but at least you have a chance. Being forced to find your ball in the woods slows down play, and it can be impossible to just punch back out to the fairway again. Too penalizing. Then again, that's golf. That kind of golf just isn't fun to me!

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='QWKDTSN' timestamp='1284755563' post='2702100']
I don't mind trees, but I much prefer open course designs. One great example is The Home Course in Dupont, WA. I had one of the best driving days of my life because of how open the course was. There are plenty of bunkers and fescue to catch errant tee shots, but the lack of trees hemming in each hole made my swing very free and confident. If there are trees on the course, I don't want it to be thick woods with undergrowth, etc - my home course has plenty of trees, but they are spaced apart without any undergrowth (just grass) so that driving into the trees still sucks, but a nice punch shot can still get you on the green. You have to have some technique to play a recovery shot, but at least you have a chance. Being forced to find your ball in the woods slows down play, and it can be impossible to just punch back out to the fairway again. Too penalizing. Then again, that's golf. That kind of golf just isn't fun to me!
[/quote]


The real challenge to any type of narrow fairway, is the tendency to try and "steer" the ball which always has a bad result. It seems like thick trees lining the fairway just make this tendency worse because they are so high and visual. Not complaining so much about the trees, as I am acknowledging a weakness I have that I'm trying to overcome. otoh I don't like all the underbrush in the south on many newer courses ....... you should not have a lost ball every time you hit into the treeline....just give me some bare ground under the trees to punch out from, that is all I ask.