[Bobcuse]

We are blessed with the beauty of huge old oak trees throughout the Villages. I am sure oak trees need some careful pruning to maintain their health, but I am dismayed to see what is happening to some of these beauties on our championship golf courses. I called the facility manager at one of the courses about 18 months ago after they aggressively trimmed a gorgeous oak behind our home to ask why they had to cut it back so severely. His response was that they were having trouble with the condition of one of the greens, and by trimming the tree they hoped to solve the problem. He also said it was common practice on all the courses to "limb up" these trees periodically. Two weeks ago, a truck pulled up to the very same tree and a crew proceeded to butcher what once was a gorgeous tree (see photo).

Now before all of the negative posters jump on this post, I am well aware that these trees are the property of the golf courses and they can do whatever they please, even cut down the trees if they wish. I am merely pointing out that the butchering of this ancient oak tree was likely done to quiet some complaining golfers who were having problems making par because both the tree and the green looked healthy. I have friends who play the course who told me the green is fine. Shame on whomever made this decision. It took about three hours to ruin a 100 year old beauty.