Chapter:TREES BY DR. J. C. CANNING

We owe our present crop of beech and oak development to the work begun in the 18th century by the Landlords. The woodlands, which now feature round our towns and villages, are for the most part, the result of this private planting commenced on the demesnes. In many areas these form the nucleus of our State forests. Ireland, however, has the smallest area of woodland within the E.E.C. (about 6%). This situation is being rectified, but ever so slowly.
Trees have been a very important feature of Portarlington Golf Club since the days of its inauguration in 1909. All the existing beech and oak are now in the region of two hundred years old, and many of the beeches are suffering from fungal disease, so that their life span is limited. The few elms that we had have now succumbed to Dutch Elm disease. Some of our beech and oak could have their life span prolonged, but tree surgery is an expensive item costing about £250 -£300 for each tree so treated.
In 1950, under the presidency of the late James J. Daly of CIonaslee, Mr. R.H.H. Russell being captain, the memorable year when Portarlington won the Barton Cup, it was decided that a tree-planting programme be initiated. The copper beeches and the lime trees were planted on the left of the second fairway. A group of six limes on the left of the eighth fairway and beside the eighth green were also planted. They are now a rather pleasing feature on the Course. Three limes and three copper beeches were planted on the left of the ninth fairway. It must be noted that in the thirty seven years since planting, these trees have not reached the stature that one would expect in that time scale. This is mainly due to damage by the gang-mower. Five poplars, now reduced to two, were planted beside the sixth tee which was then known as "Benghazi". The two Japanese cherry trees were planted by the then president, J. F. Hogan, who also happened to be "our friendly bank manager". In 1955 two small plantations of contorta were made beside the fourth fairway by the then captain, M. J. Finnegan, under the guidance of the secretary, James J. O'Sullivan, Senior. These have since become known as "Finnegan's Folly" and have merited the prayers of many would be prize-winners.
During his terms of office, James J. O'Sullivan, Senior, planted the rhododendrons on the right of the ninth fairway near the clubhouse. Six poplars were planted on the right of the fifth fairway in 1964, by Fr. Barry O'Connell, to counteract the depredation- of Jim Brennan who had focussed his attention on the beech tree in the immediate vicinity. Despite the good intentions of the Reverend gentleman their presence has not received the degree of piety which our magnanimous president may have expected. 1968 witnessed the departure of Patrick J. Conlon, affectionately known as "little Pat", to Athlone. To mark the event he asked me to plant the two red chestnuts at the entrance gate. The one on the right was demolished in 1980 by a passing motorIst who did not leave his name. This was replaced by me in 1985. The legal profession made their mark when under the captaincy of Aidan O'Donnell the conifer plantation on the right of the second fairway was made. It was done rather late in the year and as a result of a prolonged spell of dry weather, the failure rate was rather high. However, sufficient have survived to capture many a wayward drive off the second tee. I may mention here, also, that we owe the existing putting green to Aidan O'Donnell.
In 1972, the then president, Ted Parkinson, replanted the wooded area between the ninth fairway and the road with spruce. Unfortunately, many of these have ended up as Christmas trees. The vandals are unknown. We owe the sequoia on the right of the fourth fairway also to the above.
Our president, Donal Dunne, when he became Captain in 1983, re awakened our interest in tree-planting. He planted the row of Leylandii between the second fairway and the practice ground. This permits the ambitious young golfer to avoid the prying eyes of our over-zealous handicapping committee. The planting of shrubs which was started in 1984 was not entirely successful due mainly to the depredation of hares, badgers, deer, squirrels, not to mention the members of the Golf Club.
Since 1984, under the guidance of H. Sweetman, R.H.H. Russell and the writer, a more ambitious programme of tree-planting to the right of the first green and on the left of third fairway has been made. Two unsightly wet areas on the right of the fourth green and on the right of the fifth fairway have been planted. A lime plantation, incorporating walnut, was made on the left of the fifth fairway in 1987. To replace the denuded area on the right of the fifth green a mixed plantation of beech, chestnut, sycamore, red oak, with Douglas fir as a centrepoint, was made in 1986. Two plantations were made on the left of the sixth fairway, the first consisting of white beam and the second of London and Norwegian plane. A lime plantation was also made on the right of the sixth fairway. The area to the left of the sixth fairway, near the sixth green, is of particular interest. It probably represents the kitchen garden of a bygone dwelling house whose outline may be seen close by on the sixth fairway. Two plantations were made on the right of the eighth fairway in 1986, to replace the anticipated loss of the neighbouring beeches. These plantations incorporate giant redwoods i.e. sequoias, Japanese Cypress, Eucalyptus and two cedars. In 1987, the area to the right9f the eighth green, and the five poplars on the right of the ninth fairway, were planted.
Tree planting on a golf course is of particular interest and it has been my aim that members should see the less commonly grown varieties of trees growing beside our native species. Needless to say, the scope of this article does not permit mention of all the variety of trees that may be seen on the Course. But the attached list shows the wide variety that has been planted since 1984.
Since that year it has become the custom of each new president and captain, on the dayof their drive-in, to mark the occasion by planting a tree. It's a custom initiated by the writer and we all hope it will continue.
In conclusion I want to say that tree planting on the Course has been one of the most pleasant and enriching tasks that this writer has undertaken for the Club, and it is rewarding in itself to know that these trees will even further enhance our beautiful Course and preserve its character for future generations.

The following is a list of the variety of trees that may be seen in Portarlington Golf Course, thirty six in all. The accompany figures indicate the variety of each order. It is also worth noting that the number of trees planted on the Course (during the last five years) is now approaching the five hundred mark.