It’s sunny and cold as I look out the window on this the first day of the New Year, and decade. Amazing! Not the sunny and cold, as it is winter, but the passing of another year and decade. How fast they come and go, and how precious is the time we’ve been given. Lest you think I’m waxing nostalgic – ‘grateful’ is the more accurate word. There were many challenges in 2009. There were difficulties and sad moments, which brings to mind the memory of a young superintendent who died in a terrible tree removal accident. It was a sad and difficult loss for our industry, and life changing for his family. To live life as though it will last forever is foolish – we’re all working with a finite number of days. If you’re reading this you’ve been blessed with another day – be thankful, nothing happens by chance. So how will you use the time you have? Let me suggest a few factors to consider and apply as we move into 2010:

Identification – know who you are.
Dedication – know whom you’re trying to please.
Organization – know what you’re trying to accomplish.
Concentration – focus on one thing at a time.
Delegation – don’t try to do it all yourself.
Meditation – make a habit of personal quiet retreat.
Recreation – take time off to enjoy life, family and friends.

With the above considered, answered and applied, listed below are my top ten golf course maintenance New Year’s resolutions.

1. Communication: Resolve to not rely on what you did in 2009, be creative and proactive.
2. Watering: Resolve, to the extent that applicable variables allow, to keep it dry.
3. Green Speed: Resolve to guard turf health first, then playability with full consideration given to available resources.
4. Pesticides: Resolve to follow product labels explicitly with the environment, budget and playability merged.
5. Course Officials/Green Chair: Resolve to establish and maintain good continuity and representation.
6. Maintenance Complex: Resolve to provide a safe and efficient facility for staff to work from.
7. Tree Management: Resolve to do what is right for the grass upon which the game is played.
8. Politics: Resolve to apply sound agronomics as opposed to short term appeasement.
9. Labor: Resolve to staff the maintenance operation appropriately for desired conditioning.
10. Equipment: Resolve to ensure that the staff has the tools they need to achieve the desired results.

The OTF Conference and Show, in early December, was well attended and overall a success – great information and camaraderie. The next stop on the conference circuit is the Indiana Green Expo (http://www.indianagreenexpo.com/) in Indianapolis on January 6^th, 7^th and 8^th. There is an excellent lineup of presentations, along with the trade show. I’ll be offering a 2009 review and a presentation on routine verses championship conditioning. Hope to see you there.

As always, we look forward to working with you and your course in 2010. Budget now for at least one TAS visit, pricing will be the same as 2009. A mailing will be sent out over the next six to eight weeks, to all courses in our database, which outlines visit options for the coming year. However, the scheduling process can be initiated anytime with a call or email.

All the very best in 2010.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859.356.3272