The last time the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show was in Orlando, no one could have imagined what was in store for the entire world just a few weeks later with Covid-19. The 2023 version of this great gathering of golf course management professionals returned to Orlando last week and after two unorthodox years of national GCSAA events, it was great to get back to some semblance of normalcy. During my long plane ride home, I had a chance to reflect on my time at the show. While I was unable to attend every event or class, or see every booth on the trade show floor, I did manage to see and participate in plenty of great things during the week. Here are my top five in no particular order:
TurfRad Sensors: Utilizing passive microwave-sensing technology, these panel sensors can be mounted on mowers or carts to evaluate soil moisture levels up to 4 inches deep in the rootzone. This information is then uploaded via WiFi to a software platform that will produce color-coded heatmaps of soil moisture content in the area driven. Within an hour, you can have actionable intel on irrigation uniformity.
Doc Roch: Our newest Green Section Award winner Roch Gaussoin has been faithfully serving the golf industry for over 40 years. Among many other accomplishments, he has been instrumental in helping superintendents understand putting green construction and organic matter management. His educational progeny can be found working across the country. Not only is he a great turfgrass scientist and teacher, he can smoke a mean brisket too. Congratulations Roch!
Generation Next: A steady stream of university turf students visited our USGA booth during the trade show. These aspiring turf professionals will be in high demand as they wrap up their studies. Kudos to the men and women who are dedicated to training this next generation and to the students for the interest and enthusiasm they demonstrated in abundance at the show.
On-Course Learning: A big shout out to the GCSAA, host courses and sponsors who offered up multiple educational opportunities in the field. Morning and afternoon sessions were held at three different local facilities where attendees could interact with new technologies and products, and where they got the opportunity to learn from their colleagues at those courses. These sessions were very informative, and they allowed us northerners to enjoy the warm Florida sunshine while in class.
GS3: The much-anticipated launch of the GS3 ball had us busier than ever in the USGA booth. With the ability to measure green speed, trueness, smoothness and firmness, hundreds of interested folks dropped by to see it in action. It was fun to see all the excitement! If you missed our GS3 demonstrations at the booth, click here for more information. Be sure to fill out this short form if you’re interested in learning more about purchasing a GS3.
Hopefully, those who attended this year’s GCSAA Conference and Trade Show came away energized and inspired to tackle the year ahead.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, senior consulting agronomist – bwhitlark@usga.org
Cory Isom, agronomist – cisom@usga.org