Although GCSAA accepts education proposals on any topic, the association is particularly looking for proposals on the following topics:

Weather

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Identify the hardiness zones, precipitation, annual average temperature with optimum and survival temperature extremes, dew point temperatures and evapotranspiration rates for a given location.
• Develop a basic understanding of meteorology.
• Identify wind, airflow, light, topography and microclimate elements across the golf facility.
• Identify plant sensitivity tables for environmental tolerances for turfgrass, native and ornamental species.
• Use meteorological information (precipitation and atmospheric conditions) to plan for and respond to changes in pressure systems associated with weather fronts and adjust maintenance practices to ensure healthy turfgrass.
• Use weather tracking systems to anticipate safe playing conditions and irrigation requirements.

Equipment

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Describe common equipment maintenance, including previous performance quality problems, their causes and resolutions.
• Monitor and apply scheduled equipment maintenance, including preventative maintenance and safety issues.
• Understand the equipment necessary for maintenance operations and the proper operations and maintenance of that equipment.
• Develop a record-keeping program and replacement schedule that ensures equipment is maintained, repaired, replaces and disposed of in a timely, fiscally responsible manner.

Natural areas and native plants

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Select sites for plants, shrubs and trees to minimize issues to golfers and to enhance playability, safety and the environment.
• Use appropriate natural plants to enhance the environment to favor non-problematic wildlife, birds, insects and pollinators.

Technology

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Adapt and use up-to-date electronic technologies for healthy turfgrass management, facility administrative management, outreach communications, documentation, and management of environmental resources to ensure environmental protection.
• Adapt geographic software, mapping, aerial photography, GIS/GPS and similar up-to-date products whenever and wherever feasible and practical to ensure healthy turfgrass and environmental protection.

Budgeting/limited resources

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Report financial activity, such as purchases and expenditures, using a manual general ledger or a computer-based accounting system.
• Analyze financial status to forecast purchases based on various conditions (including cash flow, revenue, climatic conditions and bulk purchasing).
• Monitor and track current budget status.
• Communicate capital improvements as justifiable investments.

Staff management

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Motivate and supervise staff.
• Identify and resolve human relations problems.
• Work collaboratively with crew supervisors and staff to identify key operations and maintenance tasks in accordance with the facility business or maintenance plans.

Fertilization

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Understand fertilization application techniques and turfgrass requirements for healthy turfgrass and playability as they relate to soils and plant nutritional requirements.
• Understand fertilizer carriers, their technology and nutrient release characteristics.
• Initiate and maintain record-keeping in accordance with procedures for local, state and federal regulatory agencies.

Turfgrass cultural practices

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Understand and use supplementary turfgrass cultural practices including coring, drilling, slicing, spiking, vertical mowing, rolling, topdressing, matting, wetting agents, soil amendments, colorants, plant growth regulators and water injection on the golf course.
• Determine how supplemental cultural practices will impact the turfgrass and playability at specific sites at the facility.

Environmental communications

In this area, GCSAA is looking for seminars and sessions that would teach attendees how to:

• Engage employees, stakeholders, community leaders, and others in the environmental planning process and create an awareness of the course’s best management practices for sustainability and value to the community.
• Create a plan to communicate with the public on the importance of environmental stewardship.