The to-do list for hosting an international professional golf event was a bit longer for Oakland Hills Country Club this year, thanks to uninvited and unwanted guests.
Tree-eating beetles called emerald ash borers have infested 47 ash trees on the property, forcing club officials to remove them just two months before arrival of the Ryder Cup golf competition.
The infestation has killed 6 million ash trees in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties, according to the state.
"It's hit us hard as it has most of the Midwest," said Rick Bayliss, chief operating officer for Oakland Hills.
But removing the trees will have no impact on golf matches when the course hosts the Ryder Cup in September, Bayliss said. The trees being removed, while on the course, are not in the tee, fairway or greens areas of any holes.
Officials at other Metro Detroit golf courses are taking precautions against ash borer infestation. At the Country Club of Detroit, officials have sprayed 15 ash trees on the course to ward off the beetles and haven't yet found any diseased trees.
The Detroit Golf Club hasn't been as fortunate. Of the 65 ash trees on the property, at least 27 have shown signs of infestation, said superintendent Clem Wolfrom. But so far, none of the trees is in a location that would affect golf games.
"We haven't done anything to stop it," Wolfrom said of the infestation. "We'll let Mother Nature take its course and take a look at them in the fall to see if they need to be removed."
During the spring, officials at a municipal golf club near Columbus, Ohio, had to deal with the emerald ash borer on a large scale.
Steve Groves, who helps manage Champions of Columbus Golf Course, said 400 trees had to be destroyed after infested lumber brought in from Michigan was used to build a nearby shopping center. Emerald ash borers found their way from the construction site to the golf course but did only minor damage, all in areas that aren't critical to play.
But no other courses are hosting this year's Ryder Cup, which makes protecting the course's playability a top priority. The event features top American and European golfers squaring off in teams. This year's event will feature some of the most recognized names in the professional ranks.
"From a strategic standpoint, it won't impact the game, especially for 24 of the greatest players in the world," Bayliss said.
Emerald ash borers usually leave trees dead or dying, creating safety hazards from falling or breaking branches. This year's cup will bring an expected 38,000 visitors to the course from Sept. 14-19. With media members, workers and volunteers, the crowds are projected to reach between 43,000 and 45,000.
Club member John Morad, a former club president, hasn't played the course this week but has seen the work that's been done. He said he has no worries about the course being ready.
"They'll get it in shape in time," he said. "In fact, it's pretty much in shape right now."
Oakland Hills has hosted championship play before, dating back to the 1924 U.S. Open.
Source: The Detroit News
