At Compass Pointe Golf Course, we put safety and the environment first.  We have create an oasis based on best management practice, Audubon International criteria, and Maryland law.  What you may not know, Homeowners, as well as commercial operators, must obey Maryland nutrient laws.  Homeowners are responsible for buying 44% of fertilizer sold in Maryland.   To hinder the excessive amount of fertilizers found in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, University of Maryland made recommendation to the MDA who created the Maryland Nutrient Law.  Here are the following restrictions taken from MDA site. :

• Everyone must follow University of Maryland fertilizer recommendations.

• A single fertilizer application may not exceed 0.9 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft which can include no more than 0.7 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft.
• Visit extension.umd.edu/hgic for seasonal and yearly nitrogen recommendations.
• Lawn care pros should consult the Maryland Professional Lawn Care Manual.
• Phosphorus may only be applied when a soil test indicates that it is needed or when a lawn is being established, patched or renovated.
• Fertilizer may not be used to de-ice walkways and driveways.
• It is against the law to apply fertilizer to sidewalks or other impervious surfaces. Fertilizer that lands on these surfaces must be swept back onto the grass or cleaned up. 
• No fertilizer applications within 10 to 15 feet of waterways. 
• Do not fertilize lawns if heavy rain is predicted or the ground is frozen.
• Do not apply lawn fertilizer between November 15 and March 1. 
• Enhanced efficiency controlled release products may be applied at no more than 2.5 pounds per year, with a maximum monthly release rate of 0.7 pound of N per 1,000 sq ft.

Feel free to stop by the golf course and ask questions.  Plus The University Of Maryland Cooperative Extension is a great resource for all your lawn and garden needs.  Please join us in protecting the Chesapeake Bay and our wildlife.    Every little bit helps.