Perhaps no other factor is more important for enjoying a round of golf than the condition of the golf course. Today's golfers have come to expect playing conditions that only a few years ago would have seemed impossible. The lightning-fast putting greens and immaculate fairways of today's golf courses are the result of many years of dedicated research. The USGA's vision for turfgrass and environmental research is to "use science as the foundation to benefit golf in the areas of turfgrass and resource management, sustainable development, and environmental protection." Since 1920, the USGA has funded projects at land grant universities across the country at a cost of $40 million to improve the playing conditions and enjoyment of the game.