The numbers are in for this year's Carolinas GCSA Conference and Trade Show. And a record-setting show it was.
A record 2,250 people attended this year's show, held Nov. 17-19 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. That topped the previous record of 2,162 set in 2024.
Many other records fell this year, including 1,515 seminar seats filled. That bested the record set in 2023 of 1,508. Other records set this year were 256 exhibiting vendors, up from 240 in 2024; 446 booths sold, up from 425 in 2007; and 429 participants in the golf championship, up from 374 in 2023.
The record-setting success of the show illustrates the need for superintendents to network and learn from industry experts as well as from colleagues.
"Of course, the golf industry is riding high but a week like this doesn't happen without something to bring it together," said Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger.
"And we certainly have 'it' here in the Carolinas with the community that has been built over the years. Our members thrive on getting together and learning from each other. Put that together with the service, quality and value we provide here at Conference and Show and that's why our show is what we saw last week - the biggest and best regional gathering of the golf course maintenance industry in the country."
Another milestone this year was the number of companies that offered support outside presence on the trade show floor. A total of 50 companies sponsored a range of other activities associated with the gathering.
In other news from this year's show:
- Brian Green of Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University was named the association's 52nd president, taking over from Alex Tolbert of Orangeburg (South Carolina) Country Club.
- Tim Carpenter, CGCS at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, North Carolina, and Zac Ramey of The Country Club of Spartanburg (South Carolina), were elected to the Carolinas GCSA board of directors. Doug Lowe, CGCS at Greensboro (North Carolina) Country Club was elected to fill a board seat reserved for past presidents.
- Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Resort, was named the recipient of the association's Distinguished Service Award.
- Students from Clemson University won the 12-team turf bowl, breaking a five-year run by Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
- Chad Kintzer of The Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, was elected to a three-year term as president of the Turf Equipment Technicians Association of the Carolinas. Jake Teeter, from Winding Creek Golf Club in Thomasville, North Carolina, received the Bill Ledford Award as Turf Equipment Technician of the Year.
Next year's conference is scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.