AND so, it was decided that a screen of mature trees should be transplanted adjacent to the path in front of, and to the right, of the tee. Because the tee is elevated, the trees would have to be large enough to form a tall enough screen and a visual deterrent.


Ruskins’ tree spade removes the first Acer ... which is then transported to its new site ... and carefully lowered into place Job done!


This would encourage golfers to play the hole as a true dog leg and be deterred from taking a more risky shot. This would leave an approach shot of 100-120 yards to the green. This second shot would also be narrowed on the right side to further encourage the tee shot to be positioned down the left. The cost of purchasing trees with a minimum height of 10 metres was explored. A budget of around £2000 per tree could be expected for the purchase alone. The second, and preferred option, was to transplant trees from further down the hole. A feasibility study was carried out by contractors Ruskins during an on-site visit on 31st May. Five trees were selected for transplanting which they felt would give sufficient protection and encourage a new line of play. Ruskins assured us that there is an excellent success rate with transplanting trees of this size. Three species of tree where chosen; three Acers an oak and an ash. Work commenced in early September which, we were advised, was the best time to carry out this type of work. The 8th hole was closed during the work for safety reasons. On the morning of the tree planting we cordoned off the 8th tee and surrounding area with safety marker tape and put out signs to inform the golfers of what was happening. Ruskins arrived with their tree spade, one of the largest in the UK, capable of removing a 5-ton root ball. The club’s H&S officer was also on site to witness the work and ensure all the risk assessments and protocols were being executed. The first job was to excavate the hole for the first tree and then deposit the soil ball near to the last tree to be moved. The trees selected for the transplanting were being


Days OFF


moved from a copse of trees further down the fairway,


which also


achieved a much needed thinning of the plantation. The first tree to be moved, an Acer, needed to be the largest. The tree spade consists of a hydraulic set of rams that drive in eight spades all independently. Each spade is lubricated with water to help ease the digging process. It took less than 30 minutes to excavate the tree and move it to its new location. Due to the soil conditions, and size and variety of the trees being moved, the tree spade was able to under cut the tree in one operation. An irrigation pipe was inserted into each hole, allowing the tree to be watered after planting. Once the trees were in their new home Ruskins installed guy ropes to secure them until they are established. Two trees were replanted on the


front of the tee and the remainder were planted a little further down the fairway to accentuate the dog-leg. All five trees were planted by lunchtime without too much disturbance to play on the course.


The total cost of the operation was £3000. This may seem a lot of money but, when you consider the cost implications and ongoing maintenance of installing a fence, which would be in excess of £5000, or purchasing five new trees at £10,000, the value of this option is clear. We shall be keeping an eye on the


trees to monitor their establishment. The initial shock of moving them will bring on an early fall of leaves, with the trees not fully recovering until next year when their root systems become active again. The entire project has proved a


great success for all concerned. It has shown the benefit of having a good policy document to help plan and initiate this type of project. It may sound like a lot of hard work but, at the end of the day, we have to be accountable to all concerned when working on such a diverse environment as a golf course, and that includes our non-golfing neighbours.


... or what Pitchcare readers get up to out of office hours


LYNN HILTON, Publicity Manager, SISIS Equipment: I have been Publicity Manager for SISIS for more years than I will admit to - even under duress. My father was the late Eric Staniforth, M.D. of SISIS, so the company has been a part of my life since I was born. I devote a minimum of 8 hours a week to the Macclesfield & District Talking Newspaper for the Blind, a registered charity run by 55 unpaid volunteers. I am the Editor with a ‘staff ’ of 12. Every week we précis the contents of the local papers and record on to audio tape and CD. My finest hours in this role were interviewing Radio 4’s Jenny Murray in her kitchen and Timothy West in his dressing room. He performed a sizable chunk of King Lear for me as we sat knee-cap to knee-cap. Magic. My husband John was a jeweller and gemmologist so Saturdays were spent doing his book-keeping and helping in the shop. He opted for early retirement a year ago so we now have a lot more free time. My greatest love (excluding husband, son and mother) is art history so my long-suffering husband has been hauled round most of the major art galleries in Europe. We have just returned from Florence and he says he never wants to see another ‘Annunciation’! John is quite an authority on silver and I collect C18 glass, so we also spend a fair bit of time at antique fairs. I’m an avid reader with never less than 3 books on the go, and I love to cook.


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