Opening centennial success

The 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show attracted 12,824 industry professionals to Orlando, according to a news release from the association. The total is a 15 percent increase compared with the 2025 event in San Diego.

A record 8,074 seminar seats were filled in 2026, exceeding the previous record set in 2008. In addition to education for superintendents, the event included specialized education for assistant superintendents and equipment managers.

The trade show floor at the Orange County Convention Center featured 523 exhibitors, up from 464 in 2025, and 178,600 square feet of exhibit space, a 16 percent increase over 2025. The total trade show floor was 428,000 square feet and also included areas for education, GCSAA Services, GCSAA Store and the Centennial Experience, an exhibit that took attendees through 100 years of GCSAA history. GCSAA turns 100 on Sept. 13.

“As we kick off our centennial year, it meant a great deal to see our members show up in such strong numbers to learn, connect and grow.” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “Our role is to serve them by providing education, resources, and opportunities that help them strengthen their careers and facilities, and this week reflected that shared commitment to the future of the profession.”

The conference was preceded by the GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro. More than 600 golfers competed in flighted competitions across five Orlando-area golf courses. Defending champion Mike Gianopoulos, CGCS, superintendent at Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the 2026 GCSAA National Championship.

On Monday, the Opening Session, presented in partnership with Syngenta, saw brothers Bob Alonzi, CGCS, a 55-year GCSAA member, and Joe Alonzi, CGCS, a 50-year GCSAA member, honored with the Col. John Morley Award. Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, superintendent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, was presented with the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship, while researcher and educator Bert McCarty, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Clemson University, won the Outstanding Contribution Award. GCSAA also announced a $1-million donation to the GCSAA Foundation from the Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation. The session concluded with a panel discussion focused on the future of the game featuring the GCSAA’s Evans, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and USGA CEO Mike Whan moderated by Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde.

On Tuesday, more than 4,000 GCSAA members and industry friends attended the GCSAA Centennial Celebration at ICON Park. The sold-out gathering provided an evening of connection and celebration to reflect on GCSAA’s past, present and future.

Wednesday featured the 2026 GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl, presented in partnership with John Deere. Penn State University was the 2026 champion, successfully defending its title from 2025. The Turf Bowl competition included 288 students on 79 teams from 33 universities across North America.

Also on Wednesday, students from high schools across the Sunshine State had the opportunity to compete in the Florida Turfgrass Science Invitational, an FFA-endorsed event designed to stimulate student interest and to promote the turfgrass industry as a career choice.  South Fork High School in Stuart, Florida, won the competition.

The week wound down with Thursday’s Closing Session, presented in partnership with John Deere. Highlights of the Send-Off Celebration included the presentation of the Emerging Leader Award to Steven Spatafore, director of agronomy at Los Altos (California) Golf and Country Club, and the Edwin Budding Award to John Patterson, CTEM, the equipment director at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia. The session concluded with a panel discussion focused on developing tomorrow’s golf course management leaders, composed of Evans; Manny Gan, John Deere global director of golf and sports turf; and Mara Downing, John Deere vice president, corporate communications and brand management. The 2026 CTS concluded with the Closing Event featuring motivational speaker and celebrity hypnotist Ricky Kalmon.

The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is produced by the GCSAA along with its presenting partners the GCBAA, USGA and ASGCA.

The 2027 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is scheduled for Jan. 15-21 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.