Dear Member,

Following RTJ’s recommendation, we’ve added three new future “rockstar” trees to Garden’s second hole, marking the final step in our work to enhance both the playability and beauty of this part of the course.

Earlier this year, we removed the gorse bank on the left side and expanded the fairway around the new bunkers. The addition of these trees now completes the picture, adding a touch of strategy (and a little mischief) for those who like to “thread the needle” down the most direct line to the green!

The new arrivals caused quite a stir this week, not surprising given their impressive size at over eight metres tall! We carefully selected three native beauties: one English Oak and two Field Maples. They suit our soil and conditions perfectly, and they’ll look fantastic both now and for many years to come. We wanted trees that would make an instant impact, so we went big, as big as we could manage, possibly beyond that, in fact!

These trees have been grown entirely above ground in special “air-pots.” It’s a clever system that encourages a healthy root structure and means that, even though they’re over 15 years old, they’ve never been planted in or dug out of the soil before. This helps them settle in quickly and avoids the usual transplant shock.

Each tree weighs in at more than two tonnes, with a root ball over two metres wide so it took some impressive teamwork and heavy machinery to get them off the lorry, into position, and safely secured below ground. (You’ll see from the photos that it was no small feat!)

Looking ahead, we plan to plant further future “rockstar” trees on Church’s sixth hole in the New Year. These will be positioned after the fairway bunkers on the left side, again adding some strategic challenge for the long-but-not-quite-perfect drives that used to find the gorse there.

We’ve added stakes for easy identification, and relief must be taken under this guidance:

No Play Zones – Young Trees & Prepared Beds
The staked/guarded young trees and their prepared/mulched beds are No Play Zones (NPZs) treated as Abnormal Course Conditions.
Relief is mandatory under Rule 16.1f when there is interference from an NPZ to the lie of the ball, stance, or area of intended swing.
For a ball in the general area, take free relief under Rule 16.1b (nearest point of complete relief, one club-length, not nearer the hole, in the general area).
For a ball in a bunker, see Rule 16.1c. For a ball on the putting green, see Rule 16.1d.
Interference by an NPZ within a penalty area is addressed under Rule 17.1e (no free relief).
Players must not stand in or play a stroke from an NPZ.

We hope you enjoy the new additions and perhaps think twice before taking the “rockstar line” next time you play (but still go for it!).

John Lockyer
Director of Greens