Turf Pirate's Journal

A Turf Pirate's Journal ( The Family Tree ) Tree Pirates

Greetings Turf Pirates and welcome

to another edition of a Turf Pirate’s

Journal rising swiftly from the scribes at the Galactic headquarters of the Ancient and Honorable Tribe of

Turf Pirates. Today we focus on the many branches of the Turf Pirate’s Family tree. In this case literally the tree itself or more specifically those close cousins better known as Tree

Pirates. The International Society of Arboriculture is the gold standard for tree care certifications ranging from Certified Arborist to Master Arborist

to name two and home base to many Tree Pirates. Yes, there are connections throughout the turf and tree world so it is no surprise to those in the know that many Turf Pirates share deep roots with Tree Pirates. It is not so well known

that Tree Pirates actually pop out of the ground from rotten poplar stumps. See the rare photo of a Tree Pirate actually being born. Yes, I know that it’s hard to believe that the legend is true.

Tree folk often hire Tree Pirates to

either save a struggling tree or remove a dangerous or rowdy tree. Tree felling is one of the most dangerous jobs in the green industry and when an expert Tree Pirate works their magic it seems to be not dangerous at all but as an ISA Certified Arborist with decades

of tree experience I assure you that when least expected the danger shows up and you had best be prepared to react with precision or you will see the “Stitcher” (ER Doctor who stitches you back up) in your local emergency room or worse. I have acquired a few scars of wisdom over the years but have been blessed to avoid serious injury. A Lace Bark Elm in a precarious bind gave me a unique bear claw shaped scar on my left forearm and now that it has aged I realize that it was way cheaper than a tattoo and has a better back story. It also reminds me that we can be injured 1,000 different ways on any given day, safety must be front of mind. I hope that you are now scared straight about the dangers of tree work or at least I got your attention. I want you to also know that it’s the joy of climbing the big ones, saving the rare ones and dropping the impossible tree with an expertly crafted Humboldt notch or sliding out of your escape route avoiding a barber chair that makes a tree pirate worth his/her salt. Clearly it’s the joy and pain of riding the razors edge that keeps us all in the industry.

Tree Pirates and Turf Pirates are

joined by the call of the outdoors and the thrill of simply being tougher than the average obstacle. It is rare but certainly understandable that a person may be both an accomplished Turf Pirate and an accomplished Tree Pirate but the key is you have to earn your stripes from both elders. This is the way. I am not sure which came first my love of turf or my love of trees but what I do know is the golf industry has allowed me to master them both

and that is the point. You do not have to choose one over the other but you must deliver the skills and product equally when called upon. There is an old saying, “Jack of all trades master of none” used by those who cast stones but in Turf Pirate lore it

sounds a bit different, we say “Jack of all trades, master of some”. Tip your hard hats Tree Pirates, loosen your chain resistant chaps and sit around the tribal fire as welcomed elders.

The Turf Pirate’s family tree has many branches and even deeper roots, may we always bend and never break.