This spring has been a difficult one for bermudagrass and zoysiagrass because cold snaps have impeded their re-growth. Many superintendents have experienced green-up, only to find off-color turf because of late frosts in March or April. These frosts have extended into South Texas, which shows the significance of these widespread late frosts.

My examinations on golf courses this spring has not revealed any particular damage to the bermudagrass from these late frosts, nor have I seen much Spring Dead Spot activity in the region. This week brought temperatures in the upper 80's and even the mid 90's in many parts of the region, finally jump-starting the bermudagrass and zoysiagrass growing season.

Often, golfers become quite impatient in the spring when the weather improves, expecting to see mid-summer conditions on bermudagrass tees and fairways. I would remind you of the rule of thumb for active growth of bermudagrass - until the daytime highs and nighttime lows add up to 150°F, there will not be active growth for bermudagrass. Unfortunately, this is one problem that is totally physiological, and no amount of fertilizer or water can change this temperature-related factor. With luck, golfers will understand and appreciate this important point.

Let me also encourage you to complete the GCSAA's energy survey, which will be so very important for the industry.

Note from Dr. Clark Throssell, GCSAA….

We are encouraging all superintendents to complete the energy use and environmental practices survey to ensure adequate representation from all types of golf courses across the United States. If you have completed the survey, thank you for your support. If you have not started the survey, or started but not finished the survey, please consider the following points:

1. The deadline for completing and returning the survey is Tuesday, May 19.

2. If you cannot answer a question(s), skip that question(s) and complete the rest of the survey. Feedback we received indicated that a number of people were unable to easily obtain information about electricity and heating fuel use at the facility.

A superintendent suggested the following steps to make the process of obtaining electricity use for the facility go more smoothly:

• Locate all of your electrical meters at your course.
• Have meter numbers for your shop, clubhouse, pro shop, pool house, irrigation pump station ready for power company contact.
• Ask a staff member to call your local power company's "billing department" and ask for kw hours used for each meter plus the combined total from all meters from Jan 1 - Dec 31.

Superintendents can access the survey at http://survey.ngf.org/81022/login.asp?code=1 .

If you have questions, please contact Mark Johnson, GCSAA Senior Manager of Environmental Programs at mjohnson@gcsaa.org .

Please help your profession by completing the energy use and environmental practices survey.

As a reminder, the USGA Green Section Turf Advisory Service visit rates for 2009 are as follows:

• Half-day -- $2300 with a discount of $500 if paid by May 15 ($1800)
• Full-day -- $3100 with a discount of $500 if paid by May 15 ($2600)

Please note that a visit may be taken at any time of year, but payment must be received by May 15 ^th for the discount.

Applications for TAS visits can be downloaded off the USGA website at http://www.usga.org/turf/turf_advisory_service/turf_advisory_service.html .

We look forward to being of service to you and your club.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself Bud White, via phone at (972) 662-1138 or email, ( budwhite@usga.org ), or Ty McClellan at tmcclellan@usga.org or (630) 340-5853.