#eisenhowertree

[golfhistorytoday]

On this day, In 2014 The famous Eisenhower tree on the grounds of Augusta National was removed due to a major ice storm #augustanational #augusta #eisenhowertree #golfing #otd #pga #golfcourse #golfer #golflife #instagolf #nikegolf #golfswing #golfers #golfball #golfaddict #golfcart #golfstagram #golfdigest #golfchannel (at Augusta National Golf Club)

[awgolfdesign]

#EisenhowerTree

There has been a lot of anguish over the news in the last few days about the ice storms in the U.S. claiming the famed Loblolly Pine, 'the Eisenhower Tree' from the 17th fairway at Augusta National, just weeks before the 2014 Masters is due to commence.

This particular tree is named after the former President Ike Eisenhower, a member of the club who lobbied (whilst in power) to have the tree removed. His pleas were rejected and the tree remained, and, I imagine to his frustration, the tree took on the former president's name.

Much debate has followed about what should be done to rectify the removal of this grand old tree.

My first reaction was one of happiness, as I believe that Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones never had the intention of tree lining every fairway and reducing the golfers thoughts to simply playing the long straight drive. Many of the original holes utilised much wider fairways giving the golfer more shot placement choices. A quick look through the history books however, shows that this particular pine was indeed part of the original layout, and must have been earmarked as a fine specimen to remain as a feature to play around. What is disappointing is that so many trees had been added around this tree, and it had become a fine specimen on the edge of a younger copse of pines, forcing the golfer down a straight and narrow chute, and diminishing somewhat its stature as a lone specimen.

Closer inspection of the copse on Google Earth has revealed an interesting tree though. As my picture at the top shows (17th fairway runs left to right through the centre of the image), the large Eisenhower Tree is the dominating feature, but as the copse has been placed around it, a similar specimen has been placed 15 - 20 or so paces behind the Loblolly, and directly in line with it. It is already of considerable size (although not as impressive as the Eisenhower Tree obviously), and with the removal of the original, has every opportunity to grow to a similar size as the now deceased giant.

The Tree is dead, Long live the Tree!