Hekemian wouldn't have purchased the property without having it surveyed. The survey should have located anything growing along the property line such as the tree in question. If the tree / trees are or were on Club property, so be it. If the adjacent property owner disagrees with the survey, he can hire his own surveyor to survey that property line.
The type of tree is irrelevant to the situation . If they were wrongly removed, then the property owners either negotiate a settlement or go to court.