Golf course trees removed

More than 40 full-grown cottonwood trees that had become a maintenance nuisance were taken down recently along hole No. 1 of the south course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.

The cottonwood trees — some more than 50 years old — grew a shallow root system that wreaked havoc on nearby cart paths, bunkers and putting greens.

"It's too bad to lose them," Terry Nelson, of the Whitefish Lake Golf Association, said. "We tried managing them in the past, but it didn't work."

Nelson said he heard reports of some golfers hurting their wrists when hitting balls near the trees' shallow roots that were growing through the fairway grass.

Cottonwoods grow 'sucker" roots that will sprout new trees even if the main trunk is cut down. Excavators will dig up the felled trees' roots and stumps to prevent this from happening.

If the weather cooperates, all the excavation work should be completed this fall.

A mix of new conifers and maintenance-friendly deciduous trees will be planted in place of the cottonwoods. Some trees from other holes on the course will also be relocated to hole No. 1.

Nelson said he expects the 427-yard, par-four hole will play easier without the big trees, "But, there are enough trees left that it's not wide open."

The south course was designed by John Steidel and completed in 1994.

Two cottonwood trees on hole No. 2 of the north course were also removed.