The annual GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is the largest gathering of turfgrass professionals in the country. Each year, experts from all corners of the industry attend, from golf course superintendents to product distributors. This show is a great opportunity to learn, make connections with others in the industry, and find ways forward.
As we think about opportunities the conference present, we are always conscious of the challenges facing the golf and sports turf industry. We discuss some of the issues here, and lay out our approaches to each of these industry hurdles.
Issues We Will Address at GSCAA
We always work to stay on top of emerging industry trends and concerns. These are some perennial golf industry issues that will be part of our 2025 discussion.
Labor Issues
As with many parts of the green industry, labor has been an issue in golf for many years. Finding and retaining workers has been difficult, which makes it harder to keep skilled workers on board for long periods of time. This trend existed before 2020, but was certainly exacerbated by the pandemic. Many golf courses and managers have been looking for streamlined and easier ways to get their maintenance tasks done while workers are hard to come by.
Water Availability
Like many parts of the sports industry, golf relies on huge amounts of water. The golf industry in the US requires over 2 billion gallons of water per day to keep courses and landscapes in top shape, or 0.5% of the country’s daily use. Courses healthy grass not just for the visual appeal, but to ensure players can perform their best. Smart water use and precision irrigation has led to a decrease in overall water use, but it remains an issue of concern.
Insects and Diseases
Golf courses have to be sure to manage seasonal insects and diseases that can affect turf. Some health issues like Snow Mold and Mole Crickets are annual problems (at least depending on what part of the country you’re in). New invasive insects emerge all the time, such as Annual Bluegrass Weevil. Part of any successful PHC program is anticipating emerging problems and acting proactively to protect landscapes.
Course Management
Managing a golf course requires more than dealing with turf health. Other PHC issues that require attention include the course’s trees, shrubs, and annual flower beds. Environmental issues such as drought, heat, hurricanes, or unseasonal temperatures can create unexpected stressors. All of these concerns need to be balanced against consideration of finances and customer expectations and satisfaction. In many cases, products and programs can provide affordable solutions.
Direction of the Industry
Big industry shows are an excellent opportunity to discuss emerging trends in the golf industry. Addressing soil health has become more popular, as it affects every aspect of plant health, from roots and grass to trees. Combination products that address multiple problems are also rising in popularity, as are moisture management programs to address water availability and high watering costs. Taken together, these trend all point towards more awareness in plant health care and towards more convenience and simplicity in products.
We’re excited to take part in the conversations on these subjects and show you the solutions we have for industry concerns. Find us at Booth 2611 and see what we have!