Best Management Practices (BMPs) have become one of the most important tools the golf course industry uses to care for the land responsibly. While the term may sound technical, the idea is simple: use proven science and practical experience to protect the environment while keeping golf courses healthy and playable. … I saw the value of BMPs firsthand while redeveloping a golf course next to the American River in Sacramento, Calif. The course sits in an environmentally sensitive area that includes a major fishery and the 5,000-acre American River Parkway. State regulations strictly prohibit fertilizer from entering the river basin, making environmental protection a top priority.