As we begin a new decade, we still have yet to climb out of the economic recession which hit the industry hard throughout 2009.
There’s evidence to suggest things are turning around favourably which is music to our ears.
Until that day arrives in earnest, however, the industry is still going to have to do the best it can with less.
In the golf world, afficionados of the game will continue to expect the same high-quality playing conditions, even though they know (or should know) that maintenance budgets may be slashed significantly.
This has forced superintendents to become more creative in their approach, to do more with less. In many instances, this way of thinking is working and, at the very least, a good compromise has been reached to keep everyone satisfied.
Other superintendents from across the country will have some good stories of their own to tell March 1 and 2 at the Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show in Toronto, which this year is being jointly sponsored by the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association. I’m particularly looking forward to the presentation by Scott Bowman, superintendent at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, who will be speaking about hosting the
Canadian Open. He had his hands full with the hand Mother Nature dealt him last year, and his reflections on that will be interesting to hear.
Go to page 20 to see the entire speaker lineup for the conference.
On the pesticide issue front, 2010 looks to be a year when other provinces are apt to officially follow in Quebec’s and Ontario’s footsteps in implementing a ban on the use of chemical pesticide products for cosmetic use on lawns and sports fields. The Maritime provinces and British Columbia are bearing down on the issue, and we’re likely to see some action in these provinces before the year is out.
A new U.S.-made documentary, based on Hudson, Que.’s Supreme Court victory to maintain its ban on pesticide use, is receiving critical acclaim.
I’ve yet to see the film, but the story behind it can be read in this issue on
page 40.
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