GCSAA enhances best management practices manual with customization options

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) recently streamlined a process to enable golf course superintendents to efficiently create a facility best management practices (BMP) manual.

Last year, GCSAA commended the signing of Florida H.B. 967 into law by Ron DeSantis, which recognizes Florida’s Golf Course BMP Certification program.

The creation of facility BMP manuals is part of GCSAA’s BMP Initiative, which began in 2017. By the end of 2020, all 50 states established BMP guidelines. These state guidelines provide the blueprint for facility manuals and cover key areas such as water management, integrated pest management and pollinator protection.

New enhancements center around a new approach where GCSAA members log into the GCSAA Facility BMP Planning Guide to receive a facility BMP modeled from their state guidelines. Superintendents can then customize the facility BMP document to fit the needs and circumstances of their own facility.

The association had previously provided a template for facility BMP development, but with the update, GCSAA members now have a document to customize with text and photos documenting management practices at their facility. GCSAA says the update will not affect existing manuals.

GCSAA has provided a series of how-to videos and webinars to walk superintendents through the customization process. In addition, GCSAA-affiliated chapters will continue to host workshops and seminars to help members succeed in creating their manuals.