2006 Survey results
The 2006 GCSAA Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in Atlanta and available on the GCSAA Web site, examined the opinions of superintendents on trends in golf and golf course management. The survey is designed to position the golf course superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry.
Augusta National, 25 years with creeping bentgrass
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1. It has been 25 years since Augusta National converted its greens from bermudagrass to creeping bentgrass. Do you think they would have made the change if today's bermudagrass varieties had been available?
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Yes
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217
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61%
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No
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89
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25%
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No opinion
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49
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14%
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2. Have the latest varieties of grass for putting greens made the golf course superintendent's job:
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Easier
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137
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39%
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Harder
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134
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38%
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No effect
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82
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23%
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3. Compare the height of cut for greens when you started in the industry to the height of cut for fairways today.
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Greens were significantly lower than today's fairway
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161
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46%
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Greens were slightly lower than today's fairway
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152
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43%
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Greens then and fairways today are about the same height
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28
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8%
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Greens were slightly higher than today's fairway
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10
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3%
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Greens were significantly higher than today's fairway
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2
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1%
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4. At your course, have you taken advantage of any of the new turfgrasses developed since 1980?
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Yes
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292
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82%
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No
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58
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16%
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No opinion
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4
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1%
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5. What part of your course will be most changed in the next decade as a result of new turfgrass varieties?
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greens
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169
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48%
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tees
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30
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8%
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fairways
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78
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22%
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rough
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28
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8%
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"naturalized" areas
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48
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14%
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Maintenance cost and golfer expectations
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6. What course conditions do the golfers at your course expect?
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"Fast and firm" while tolerating some off color grass
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91
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26%
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"Fast and firm" with all green grass
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145
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41%
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Fast, soft and green
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116
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33%
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Slow, soft and green
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3
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1%
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7. Have the expectations of golfers regarding course conditions changed since you've been in the profession?
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Considerably higher expectations
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258
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73%
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Slightly higher expectations
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87
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25%
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No change in expectations
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10
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3%
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Lower expectations
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0
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0%
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8. What effect have golfer expectations had on the cost of maintenance since you have been in the profession?
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Significantly decreased costs
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7
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2%
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Slightly decreased costs
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1
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0%
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No effect
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10
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3%
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Slightly increased costs
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112
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32%
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Significantly increased costs
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225
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63%
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9. In your opinion, do the golfers at your course understand that higher quality conditions generally require the course to spend more money on maintenance?
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Yes
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184
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52%
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No
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162
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46%
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No opinion
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9
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3%
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10. Do you think higher costs created by a demand for better conditions have made it harder to recruit and retain golfers?
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Yes
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217
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61%
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No
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114
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32%
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No opinion
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24
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7%
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11. Approximately how many yards difference is there between the forward tees and back tees on your golf course?
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Less than 500
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67
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19%
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500 to 999
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87
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25%
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1,000 to 1,499
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88
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25%
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1,500 to 1,999
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88
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25%
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More than 2,000
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25
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7%
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12. In the past, many courses' forward tees were 5,500 yards or longer, but many new golf courses have forward tees that are less than 5,300 yards. The goal is to provide playability for all golfers now that most fairways are irrigated. Does your course incorporate these shorter forward tees?
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Yes, it was designed with them
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130
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37%
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Yes, we have added new, shorter forward tees
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97
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27%
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No, but we are planning new forward tees
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35
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10%
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No, and we have no plans to add shorter forward tees
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94
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26%
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13. Do the golfers at your course want it to be less demanding or more demanding?
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Less demanding
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86
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24%
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Leave it the same
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196
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55%
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More demanding
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72
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20%
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14. What course setup changes do the golfers at your course ask for most often?
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More back tee placements
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68
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19%
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More forward tee placements
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69
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19%
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Easier hole locations
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216
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61%
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More difficult hole locations
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27
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8%
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Less or shorter rough
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235
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66%
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More or taller rough
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26
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7%
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Fewer trees
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49
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14%
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More trees
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30
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8%
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Firmer bunkers
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127
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36%
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Softer bunkers
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87
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25%
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Higher fairway height
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77
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22%
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Lower fairway height
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49
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14%
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15. If you had a free hand to change one thing at your course so that it would be playable for more golfers what would you implement?
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Wider fairways
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43
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12%
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Slower greens
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60
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17%
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Additional, shorter tees
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45
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13%
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Fewer bunkers
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58
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16%
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Shorter rough
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31
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9%
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Fewer trees
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59
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17%
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Other, please specify:
View Responses
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56
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16%
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