This declining white pine on the 6th hole was recently removed this past week. As I mentioned in past posts, this area on #6 is a priority this year. It's been needed for the last 20 years but due the other higher priorities, it's been put off. We counted the rings to determine the age and came up with 92. My tree man once told me, he personally has never cut a white pine with more than 110 rings. This means many of these trees on the course are towards the end of their life. Unlike oaks and other hardwoods, pines are short lived, poor quality trees that break easily. Fortunately, there are many trees already there to take their place. HCC has a tree density issue, meaning we have way too many trees to the point they out complete each other and never reach their potential of a majestic tree. Of course, the roots and shade they cause wreak havoc with turf quality and this is the main reason I am a proponent for their removal. After all, it's a golf course, not a tree farm and the game of golf is enjoyed best on high quality turf. There is a balance there and many times an architect strategically places trees for that reason. However, on the 8th hole, the fairway slopes from left to right, pushing all Tee shots right. The overcrowded Oak trees (that are growing sideways in many cases seeking sunlight) completely block the player out of a shot to the green. Something tells me if Donald Ross were alive today, he would take issue with that. I personally think, for the most part, a well struck shot that comes to rest on a fairway should be rewarded with a clean 2nd shot and the golfer should not be penalized. Another example is the 7th hole. One could argue the oak trees on the left side rough have outgrown their welcome. A player's ball landing in the intermediate rough is often times blocked out. That wasn't the intent of the architect. Our contract services budget allows for a good amount of tree trimming and removal each year. However, without spending a large amount, it is a slow process and one that I estimate will take another 5-8 years to get to where we need to be. After that point, it becomes maintenance. Most of these areas are so overpopulated that when we are finished, members typically don't notice or even comment just how much nicer it looks. It's one thing to plant trees on 20' centers, it's another to have trees growing 5 feet from on another in the same root ball, competing for the same nutrients. Rather than having one beautiful specimen, we end up with 2 ugly trees.