The Trees of Pinehurst

Tree care maintains an important role here at Pinehurst. Many of these old trees need adequate care to be most beneficial to the environment. When trees are planted in the correct location and are provided the right medium to grow they become quite an asset.

There is no such thing as a bad tree, just a bad location. Trees assist with golf course design; they produce shade on hot days and shelter on rainy days. Trees are also used to mitigate pollution as they reduce dust, visual and even noise pollution. Trees also produce an abundance of oxygen; help stabilize soils and hillsides as well as provide great nesting sites for many birds and aquatic life.

All trees are subject to their environment. This past year was a difficult one with the high heat and lack of moisture. Trees may take years to show signs of stress and even death, each one is different. Some trees can be saved, but many times by the time a tree shows its symptoms it is too late. It could take many years for a tree to finally succumb to the stresses of drought. Many pines in our state that were affected to drought stress, fell victim to the mountain pine bark beetle. There is evidence of that occurring on the Front Range already. We have seen some pine beetle damage here at Pinehurst. We have begun a pesticide program in 2012 to spray the trees that could be affected the most by this beetle.

January is a great time of the year to prune trees. It is easy for crews to navigate the course with limited play or even just a little bit of snow on the ground. We keep a running tally of our trees throughout the property and identify problem areas. Safety with tree care is our first priority. Then we turn our attention to playability and plant health. In 2013, we will maintain our goals with tree care. Getting moisture to the root-zone will be critical. Many trees that are dealing with drought stress can become susceptible to insect damage. We continue to monitor the health and vitality of our cornerstones of this beautiful landscape.