They'll see a spectacular course that's been set up for one week, and then they want to have that the whole golfing season. The result, superintendents report, is that much of their job entails communicating with their members and educating the public about the benefits of a different attitude toward course conditioning. Hop Meadow, for example, is one of two courses in the state that has fully qualified as a Certified New York State Audubon Society Sanctuary. They've become more observant, and that's added an entirely new facet to their golf experience. It also helps establish somewhat altered standards of maintenance.
Superintendents can live with dandelions in the rough or some crabgrass.
Now I'm much more particular. The same with clover in the rough. We won't intervene until it gets to a certain level, and then I'll go spot spraying. Part of educating golfers is accepting that there are certain economic costs involved in sounder environmental practices. Today, eco-friendlier products are more expensive, because of the research and development costs.