Prepare for Environmental Changes Now

As the end of January approaches spring is just around the corner (bulbs are popping on the island), and golf course superintendents are starting to think about the 2010 golf season and how it can be better than 2009,

I think that given the state of the economy and a difficult summer weather wise many superintendents are probably wondering how it could be worse.

One way to make 2010 a better year is to start maintaining the course with more care and respect for the environment. Start naturalizing more areas, expand buffer zones, use less resource inputs (water, fertilizers and pesticides) and really start to consider the effect your maintenance practices are having on the environment.

You will need to start by talking with your full time staff and discussing with them how you can improve environmentally. They are the ones that will support your new environmentalism on the golf course.

Once new and returning staff start work for 2010 they will need to be retrained. Changing over mid-season can be very difficult if not impossible to do.

If you are in the Audubon program take a good look at the requirements for certification and pick a couple of items that you would like to change for 2010. The idea of the Audubon program is not necessarily to do it all at once but to start moving in the "green" direction.

Now is the time to plan for changes, do not wait until its too late.