I know: Everyone's an expert

After someone finds out that I'm a golf course superintendent, the first comment I hear is, "What do I have to do to get MY lawn to look like your fairways?" In writing this column, I hope to shed some light on key ideas to help you get the most out of your lawn and landscapes while being a good steward of the environment.

The fact of the matter is that it would probably cost too much to keep your lawn like the fairways of your local golf course. Depending on climate, region and budget, most golf courses spend between $3,000 and $10,000 per acre per year to achieve the desired results. This would equate to you spending $350-$1,200 per year on a 5,000 square foot lawn! Over the next several columns, we'll discuss how to get the best results in your yard without leveraging your kid's college fund.

What gives me the right to tell you how to care for your lawn? For the past five years, I have been the Golf Course Superintendent at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course. Before that, I ran a country club in the Boise area for five years. Prior to my time in Boise, I spent six years at a course in Carefree, Ariz., along with courses in Colorado and Minnesota going back to the mid-80s. In all, I've been around golf for more than 30 years.

I studied Business Management at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, and received my degree from Penn State University in Turfgrass Management. I have served on the board of directors of several local superintendents associations, and have hundreds of hours of continuing education in both agronomy and turf management seminars.

Playing golf at UMD is kind of like getting a hockey scholarship in Florida, but the point is that I've been around golf for most of my life. I've hosted and worked U.S. Opens, the Boise Open, Arizona State Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur and several smaller events, so I'm very familiar with tournament preparation. I have extensive experience in golf course construction, and knowledge of both cool and warm season turf species and plant life.

My goal is to use this expertise to help make your yard the best it can be. In future columns, we'll discuss such subjects as fertilizer analysis, when and how fertilizers should be applied, tree care and pruning, use of herbicides, pest control both in turf and ornamentals, and reading chemical labels.

We will also cover irrigation system repair, scheduling, blow-out, trouble shooting, and new technology that can help you maximize efficiency and save water at the same time. I personally have a very strong interest in the "organic" movement. I can provide some suggestions for managing both your yard and garden to be more sustainable landscapes that are safer for your family, pets and the community.

For questions or feedback, Kevin Hicks can be reached at khicks@cdaresort.com