Great photo that shows you how trees won’t develop when they are growing in overcrowded environments where they're competing with each other for nutrients, sunlight and water. Thinning out trees on the golf course is not only healthier for the turf, but also healthier for the trees. Highlands CC lacks beautiful specimen trees because of the excessive competition. As old as HCC is, we should be known for our specimen Oaks and Maples! Think about the Oak trees between #7 and #8 or those between #8 and #9. If every other tree was removed, it would allow the others the become specimen trees, much like the beautiful Oak tree on the left side on #17, approximately 100 yards from the green. That is an example of a tree that reached it’s potential because it didn’t have other trees competing for the same resources. This is just a thought I’ve had for a long time but there are no immediate plans for any major tree removal. I want to be very clear about that so there is no misunderstandings and rumors starting that we are removing trees this winter.