Some veteran golfers at Augusta Country Club may notice something missing along the golf links, but most will hardly notice a thing.
What’s missing?
Fifteen trees which fell victim to pine wilt. They were cut and hauled to the city dump by club members last weekend.
J.T. Smith, grounds superintendent, expects to do some more cleanup work with the help of member-volunteers this weekend. The start time for that work, weather permitting, will be 8 a.m. Saturday.
Club officer Mike Schwemmer says there was 70-foot tree on the course which is now gone. That should make the approach to that hole a bit easier.
The 36-year-old Smith took over the outside duties late this summer. This Wichitan is a K-State graduate with a degree in horticulture and emphasis on turf management.
According to Schwemmer, the Augusta course is now Smith’s “big back yard.” His “yard” co-worker is Juin Robinson
Following his college graduation, Smith worked at courses in Kansas City, Houston, and Amarillo.
His most recent job was an assistant  superintendent at Terradyne course in Andover.
Jill Keazer of Augusta is the clubhouse manager at ACC.
The golf course is moving into the winter season when fewer and fewer of the 160 members play. There are no tournaments scheduled over the upcoming holidays.
The Augusta course consists of nine holes with tree lines which allow it to be payed as an 18-hole course. The greens are bent grass and the fairways are Bermuda.
Find more info at www.augustaccgolf.com