28
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
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November/December 2017
MY DAVEY
SPRUCING UP A U.S. OPEN COURSE
Employees at Davey's Milwaukee R/C office had the
privilege of tuning up the modest tree canopy at Erin Hills
golf course, the site of the 2017 U.S. Open Championship.
Foreman Matt Dodge, trimmer Sam Neterval-Quiel and
trimmer-trainee Brian Jackson spent four days caring for
the course's trees ahead of the tournament, which was
held in June.
Adam Passo, district manager of the Milwaukee office, said
the crew had to minimize its impact on the turf to not cause
any damage to the course before the pros showed up.
"We had to do everything by hand," Passo said. "They gave
us a little golf cart with a bed on the back to haul our gear
out to the trees. And all the trees had to be climbed."
Davey has enjoyed a partnership with Erin Hills dating back
to 2008 that has included a Plant Health Care program, tree
pruning, fertilizing and installation of lightning protection
systems. The crew cared for oaks, cherries and ironwood
trees before the tournament. Best of all, they got to
experience the excitement of staging and setting up a
professional golf tournament.
"It was interesting being surrounded by all the people
getting prepared for the U.S. Open," Passo said. "There's
a lot of activity."
These photos show how the course at Erin Hills has been opened up
over the years to create more of a links feel, but the remaining trees
that accent the landscape benefit from Davey's expert care.
The work had come about on a whim. Passo said he
reached out to the course after hearing about the upcoming
tournament in a TV commercial.
"If you know that a facility is having a large function like that
and will have a need for tree care, it's worth just following
up with them," he said. "I had to knock on their door quite
a bit to get their attention, but once they realized they did
have a need, money wasn't an issue. It was just getting it
done in a timely manner."
