I hope everyone had a great Christmas with lots of presents and especially good cheer. All the best to everyone in 2011 and especially good health. I hope we have a better summer than last year, with great conditions and lots of golfers.

Thank you to everyone who has helped STA whether be hosting a field day or year-end tournament or your attendance at a seminar or meeting. You are showing support for our Association and our industry.

The end of the season and time to sit back and reflect on a challenging year for golf courses and parks. It is also time to prepare for our Fall Wind-Up and Annual General Meeting, November 23rd at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. An agenda of the events for the day will appear with this newsletter. Your attendance at this event will benefit your golf club and you could do well to bring your Manager or Greens Chairman or President along.

The highlight for the month of September for one, at least, was the inaugural induction ceremony for the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame. The STA was a big part of this event. I would like to thank the golf courses who sponsored various tees for the golf tournament. Your participation was appreciated. Peter Semko, an STA honourary life member was inducted this first year.

The S.T.A. Research Tournament is now history. We were pleased with turnout – the weather was great and we made some much needed money for turfgrass research. Pat Kachur and Don Best were perfect hosts and had their golf course in excellent shape as well as preparing an excellent banquet.

Let's start this month by writing about the S.T.A Research Tournament. By participating in this event you'll help the Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association fulfill its mission which encourages and promotes turf research in our industry. We need your team to register as soon as possible.

Members of the STA must be tired of all the rain we’ve had since April. I know many golf courses aren’t going to meet their financial projections budgeted for last winter because rounds are down all over the province. Hopefully we will have good weather the rest of the season.

I suppose the big news for May was the relentless rain we've had in most of the province. It certainly would be a hardship for public and municipal golf courses as revenues would be almost non-existent. Here in Saskatoon, it has been a long time that I've seen some golf courses closed on consecutive days.

Just recently you received notice that 2010 STA membership fees are due. When submitting your membership cheque please enclose the official membership application form with much needed information. I would particularly like your home e-mail address. The reason for this is to keep members up-to-date on special events and to pass on any turf tips I run across each month.

Finally spring is here and everyone is in all likelihood getting ready for a busy season. Some golf courses in Saskatoon are open while others are still waiting for the flax straw to thaw out. The golfers, as always, are getting anxious to start playing and are ignoring the practice facilities that are open.