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From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    As the GCSAA marked its centennial anniversary at its conference and trade show in Orlando, the past and future of turfgrass maintenance was on full display at the Orange County Convention Center.
    While the history of the profession of turf management was evident with all manner of retro and period equipment, the story of this year's trade show was the overwhelming amount of new technology on display.
    There was literally a bright, shiny new toy at almost every intersection on the floor.
    There was more autonomous and robotic technology at the show than ever before, and you can bet there will be even more in years to come.
    Even companies that historically focus on solutions in a jug are branching out into the world of more touchy-feely technology.
    Autonomous and robotic mower manufacturers like FireFly Automatix, Kress and Husqvarna are not strangers to the show, and this year their collective offerings focused more on software upgrades than new hardware.
    New on the floor, however, was the Kress Voyager autonomous zero-turn mower that utilizes RTK mapping, LiDAR and Vision AI to navigate complex sites and slopes up to 40 percent. 

    The Astro autonomous sprayer by Frost is designed for use on greens. John Reitman photo There were other companies, showing off robotic technology, like Frost Inc., with its new Astro autonomous sprayer, the first autonomous sprayer designed specifically for applications on golf course greens. Guided by Ninja GPS, the Astro can cover a wide area with a 19-gallon tank feeding nine nozzles on 10-inch spacing.
    Also new were the Pace Technology fleet management system in the Jacobsen booth and the Bright Autonomy platform that promises to turn any piece of mechanized equipment into a robotic machine by retrofitting with just a few parts.
    One of the products making the biggest splash in the robotic sector was the new ULM 272 autonomous fairway mower from Baroness, a behemoth of a unit compared with other units in that sector because it can alternate between robotic and human operator control.
    The February edition of the Green Section Record hints that the next big thing will be sprayers that use a series of 3D cameras to identify and treat specific weeds.
    Even Syngenta, which this year will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Daconil receiving US EPA label registration, was highlighting a new tech tool in its booth with the introduction of the Aero GCX Microclimate Sensor. The Aero GCX can be paired with the company's Spiio GCX wireless soil sensor to become an integrated system that monitors conditions above and below the surface.
    For someone who has slogged through 20-plus, mostly boring trade shows, this year's event was the most enjoyable — by far — due to the overwhelming amount of new technology. Ideas that just five years ago were dismissed as unconventional are quickly becoming commonplace and accepted. 
    As the GCSAA moves into its second centennial, one can only wonder what new technology will be at your disposal in just the next five years, never mind the next 100.
  • Move over Reggie Jackson, there's a new "Mr. October" in town . . . Mac, a 1-year-old border collie mix from Hyannisport Club in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, received the most votes from attendees of the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show to become the 2026 "Dog of the Year."
    In what has become a must each year on the trade show floor, attendees of this year's GCSAA show visited the LebanonTurf booth to vote for their favorite pooch from the annual "Dog Days of Golf Calendar" to determine which would be crowned Dog of the Year.
    "Mac clearly won the hearts of this year's crowd at the show," said Christopher S. Gray, Sr., director of marketing for LebanonTurf. "He's a deserving winner who represents our industry very well as true golf course working dog."

    Mac, a 1-year-old border collie mix, works at Hyannisport Club in Massachusetts. Mac, who began patrolling the Hyannisport Club property at only 8 weeks old, has earned the title "The Chief of the Geese Police". Mac also enjoys checking irrigation heads to ensure they are working properly and playing with the syringe hose while his dad, first assistant golf course superintendent David Kennedy, keeps the greens cooled.
    Along with the glamourous title, Mac and David will receive $500 and a plaque. Additionally, Mac earned $3,000 for David's local GCSAA chapter and a $2,000 donation to K9 for Warriors.
    LebanonTurf and the GCSAA partner together annually to develop and provide the annual calendar that has become an industry staple for the members of the association and can readily be found in golf course maintenance facilities throughout the United States and abroad.
    Submissions for the 2027 calendar will open in the summer.
  • After several years of static attendance, the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show experienced its largest increase in nearly a decade.
    A total of 12,824 attended this year's show in Orlando, which is the most since the 2017 show, also in central Florida, attracted 13,600. That number also is almost 2,000 more than last year's show in San Diego (11,000).
    Illustrating the ongoing need for quality turf education, attendees filled 8,074 seminar seats, a number the GCSAA says is a new record that has stood since the 2008 show in Orlando that drew more than 25,000 attendees. This year's event was bolstered by education tailored for assistant superintendents and equipment managers.
    The trade show floor at the Orange County Convention Center featured 523 exhibitors (vs. 464 in 2025) and 178,600 square feet of exhibit space, an increase of 16% over 2025.

    Several awards also were handed out at the show:
    Col. John Morley Award — Bob Alonzi, CGCS, Joe Alonzi, CGCS. President's Award for Environmental Stewardship — Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, Fairview Country Club Greenwich, Connecticut. Outstanding Contribution Award — Bert McCarty, Ph.D., professor emeritus Clemson University. Emerging Leader Award — Steven Spatafore, Los Altos (California) Golf and Country Club. Edwin Budding Award — John Patterson, CTEM, Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia. Next year's conference and show is scheduled for Jan. 15-21 in New Orleans.
  • The post-pandemic golf boom continues to chug along.
    Nationwide demand for golf in 2025 reached a record 540 million rounds played, according to the annual state of the industry report presented recently at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.
    It marked the third consecutive year of record-breaking rounds played, according to the annual report. 
    Presented annually by Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp. and Stuart Lindsey of Edgehill Golf Advisors, the report also revealed that the number of golfers in the pipeline is still growing, and the inventory of golf courses continues to decline, even if ever so slightly. 
    An increase in demand for golf is just one of many statistics used to help measure the state of the golf industry. Those rounds played take on greater meaning when factoring in weather in 2025. 
    Years ago, Koppenhaver's Pellucid Corp. established a metric known as Golf Playable Hours. GPH is a measurement of the metrics that influence how many hours in a day one can play golf, including daylight, temperature, wind, precipitation, etc. According to this year's report by Koppenhaver and Lindsey, 2025 represented the lowest nationwide average for Golf Playable Hours was the lowest in 2025 since Koppenhaver established the metric.
    The number of golfers in the system grew in 2024 by about a net 900,000 players to about 24.2 million, according to Pellucid. Although final numbers on the number of golfers in the market are not yet in for 2025, the National Golf Foundation is predicting the number could be another million, bringing the number of players shooting upward to about 25 million.

    A total of 24 million golfers played a record 540 million rounds in 2025. Photo by John Reitman Behind that net gain of 900,000 golfers is a pick-up of 6.5 million players (3.4 million new golfers and 3.1 million recommitted golfers) coupled with 5.6 million people who walked away from the game.
    "And so now what we do is we look at this and say, okay, let's look at first retention," Koppenhaver said. "So, 76 percent of those were retained year to year.
    "In consumer packaged goods, if you've got a product and you're looking at year-year-to-year, 80 percent is an acceptable retention rate. We would like to see an 80 percent for a viable ongoing brand. So I look at our 76 percent, not bad."
    The golf industry has been marked by supply contraction for two decades, with closures outpacing new construction every year since 2006. Although construction is booming in a few places, such as South Florida and Texas, overall it was down again in 2025.
    Construction was completed on 20 golf courses in 2025, according to the report, but a total of 50 closed, for a net loss of 30 courses (in 18-hole equivalents).
    In those 20 years, supply has contracted from 14,848 golf courses in 2006 to 12,703 last year, for a total loss of 2,145 courses in 18-hole equivalents.
    The key to continued success at the individual facility level should be on player retention, because it is easier to keep golfers than attract new ones, said Lindsey.
    "How many rookies do we have to attract to offset a lost golfer?" asked Lindsey.
    "So the problem here is everybody we lose, we have to replace with more than one of them in the franchise."
  • The task of ordering parts soon will become much easier for Toro customers.
    Toro, the Bloomington, Minnesota-based manufacturer of golf course maintenance equipment, is adding a parts-ordering function to its Intelli360 digital equipment-management platform.
    "Our goal with Intelli360 is to provide a true digital toolbox that helps simplify the complexity of managing a modern fleet," said Janel Hinde, digital product marketing manager at Toro. "By integrating parts ordering and introducing advanced features like public and private shopping lists, we’ve made the process much more intuitive. It’s about ensuring that parts ordering is as efficient and effortless as possible."
    By integrating parts ordering directly into its equipment-monitoring and maintenance platform, Toro creates a more optimized fleet-management experience. 
    Intelli360 allows users to:
    Locate and track equipment View operating status and hours, maintenance due and existing work orders Create new work orders
    The new parts-ordering function, which should be available before the end of the month, provides a more modern and intuitive user experience. Parts ordering within Intelli360 uses a new single-cart model that allows users to add Toro parts and non-OEM parts to a single order. 
    An integrated shopping list feature allows for faster re-ordering of common items like filters and blades. Staff can also build "shopping lists" of needed components for supervisor review and approval before an order is finalized. Technicians can identify a maintenance need, add repair parts to a shopping list and managers can complete the parts order with just a click.
    Future upgrades eventually will include integrated parts-inventory management that will allow for automated alerts when stock drops below user-defined thresholds, as well as fault code notifications that will help diagnose and address the fault. 
    Users can sign up for Intelli360 today at Intelli360.toro.com and tailor their subscription level with either Light, Pro or Ultra subscriptions to meet their unique operational requirements. Parts ordering is available with all subscription levels. Current myTurf users also can access their fleet within Intelli360 using their myTurf credentials.
  • The accuracy of Syngenta's new Aero GCX microclimate sensor was quickly affirmed Monday when it recalled the overnight low temperature recorded at an Orlando golf course.
    "Twenty-seven," Travis Roberson, Syngenta's digital platforms field technical manager, exclaimed for a group of shivering onlookers at Orange Tree Golf Club, where superintendent and assistant general manager Rob Torri is in his 30th year.
    The Aero GCX Microclimate Sensor (right) from Syngenta is one of a handful of innovations that are coming soon from Syngenta, a company known for providing chemical solutions for turf managers, not digital ones.
    Until now.
    "What's great about digital solutions like Spiio soil sensors and Aero weather stations for micro climate collaboration is that it happens much faster (than chemical solutions), within months, less than a year," said Stephanie Schenke, Syngenta's turf market manager. "We have a whole team who has been trying to bring these digital solutions to the marketplace, and they listen to customers. And they gave us the feedback that weather stations are something they use often, but our soil sensors deliver what is going on on the golf course through Greencast Connect based on their own climate on the golf course. We knew we had something to bring to the marketplace."
    The solar-powered sensor collects temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure in real time that superintendents can access through Syngenta's GreenCast Connect platform, helping them make informed decisions for a host of agronomic practices.
    The Aero GCX also can be integrated with Syngenta's Spiio GCX wireless soil sensor to provide turf managers with other key metrics, like soil moisture and temperature.
    Recommendations for use, said Roberson, are to install it where it can operate unencumbered at a height of 5 to 6 feet but in a natural grass area representative of what users want to measure.
    The system should be available for turf managers by late summer or early fall, according to Roberson. By then, Roberson said, the system could provide real-time information in intervals as regular as 5 or 10 minutes.
    Benefits include:
    Comprehensive above-ground environmental monitoring. Summaries of trends across the property. Real-time data transmission through wireless cellular communication. User-friendly cloud-based dashboard accessible through mobile or desktop. Easy installation with compact dimensions (5.9 in. x 3.74 in. x 2.3 in.). · Seamless integration with the Spiio™ GCX wireless soil sensor for below-ground insights. Ability to monitor microclimates of challenging growing locations across a property. Disease forecasting where ambient temperature and humidity are factors affecting establishment. Frost forecasting based on indicator locations. Increased precision in tracking evapotranspiration.
    Syngenta technical services representative Matt Giese takes a soil sample to inspect how Trefinti, a combination nematicide and fungicide, has been controlling nematodes at Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando. Photo by John Reitman Other innovations unveiled this week by Syngenta at the GCSAA show are Atexzo insecticide and Trefinti, a combination nematicide and fungicide product.
    With the active ingredient isocycloseram, Atexzo is a new class of chemistry that received label registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency late last year for control of a variety of common pests in cool- and warm-season turf. 
    With no signal word or caution on the label, Atexzo is registered for control of annual bluegrass weevil, armyworm, Asiatic garden beetle, Bermudagrass mites, billbugs, black turfgrass ataenius, crane fly, cutworms, European chafer, European crane fly, flea beetle, green June beetle, grubs, Japanese beetle, June beetle, May beetle, mole cricket, northern masked chafers, Oriental beetle, sod webworm, southern masked chafer, sugarcane grub, turf caterpillar and white grubs.
    Research has shown it to be especially effective on crane flies, various billbug species, mole crickets in the nymph and adult stages as well as annual bluegrass weevil, an increasingly troublesome pest for superintendents in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

    Orange Tree Golf Club superintendent and assistant general manager Rob Torri, left, and Matt Giese of Syngenta inspect a soil sample. Photo by John Reitman ABW, depending on location, can produce two or three generations per year, and they can be asynchronous with significant overlap among generations, according to Lisa Beirn, Ph.D., Syngenta technical services representative. 
    Beirn said it is critical to target overwintering generations that emerge in spring to lay their eggs.
    With the active ingredient cyclobutrifluram, Trefinti powered by Tymirium Technology, is a nematicide, fungicide product in the phenethyl pyridineamide chemical class. It is registered for control of sting, lance, root-knot, ring, spiral, dagger and sheath nematodes, as well as Anguina pacificae, which is prevalent on the West Coast.
    It also is a tool for battling fungal diseases such as fusarium, powdery mildew, spring dead spot, mini-ring, take-all root rot and fairy ring.
    Syngenta technical services representative Matt Giese says application timing for control of both nematodes and many fungal diseases, such as fairy ring, often align, meaning optimal control with minimal applications.
    Said Orange Tree's Torri: "It's been a game-changer for us."
  • It is difficult to adequately put into words how to thank someone you have worked with for more than 20 years — someone whose vision helped shape not only a company, but an entire professional community.
    When Peter McCormick founded TurfNet in 1994, the Internet was still an experiment for many. Few at that time had an Internet connection, and even fewer had an email address, much less knew what one was. Yet Peter recognized, long before most, that golf course superintendents needed more than trade publications and annual conferences. They needed a place — an ongoing, trusted gathering space — where they could learn from one another, share hard-earned knowledge, debate ideas and build relationships that extended beyond geography and job titles. What he created was not simply a website, but a community.
    During the past 32 years, that community has become an essential part of the golf course superintendent profession. Superintendents have turned to it for answers in moments of crisis, for guidance when facing unfamiliar challenges and for camaraderie in an often-isolated line of work. Because of Peter's leadership, thousands of professionals have felt less alone, more informed and better equipped to succeed in their careers. That impact cannot be overstated.
    I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside Peter for more than two decades. In that time, I was able to see a side of him few others have a chance to witness. The generous side who has given thousands of dollars to others in the name of his friend Jerry Coldiron, a former golf course superintendent who died on Thanksgiving Day in 2017. The side who supported others through GoFundMe contributions. The side who has adopted several rescue dogs. The side who promoted work-life balance, and expected you to pursue it like he did. As he said so many times, "What we do is not ice cream. It won't melt if you don't do it today."
    Peter understood that good work comes from people who feel respected, supported, and empowered — and he built a culture that reflected that belief. His standards were high, but they were always rooted in fairness, curiosity and a genuine desire to do things the right way. 
    What I admire most is that he never lost sight of TurfNet's purpose. Decisions were never made in a vacuum; they were made with the superintendent in mind. Even as technology evolved, business models shifted and the industry changed, the mission remained constant: to serve the profession honestly and thoughtfully. That will be his enduring legacy.
    As Peter steps into retirement at the end of January, he leaves behind more than an enterprise he founded. He leaves behind a network of professionals, colleagues and friends who are better connected because of his work, and who carry forward the values you instilled.
    Thank you for the vision and leadership you extended over all these years. It has been an honor to be part of what you built, and a greater honor to call you a mentor and colleague. Your work has mattered.
  • Created with the current needs of professional turf managers in mind, The Aquatrols Co. recently launched a redesigned website. 
    The new site provides a faster, more intuitive way for golf course superintendents, sports field managers and lawn-care professionals to access Aquatrols' many solutions. The platform brings together brands from the recently merged Aquatrols and Precision Laboratories brands under the former's badge to provide a more cohesive brand experience.
    Key features of the new site are:
    Intuitive product search: Streamlined navigation makes finding solutions for specific soil challenges faster than ever with product information, labels and safety data sheets all in one place. Enhanced resource library: Interviews, articles and agronomic insights are now front and center. Mobile-optimized design: Optimized for use on desktop, tablet and mobile devices for a seamless experience for all users. Dedicated rewards page: Conveniently track participation dates and eligible products, with a link to sign up or log into an existing account to track benefits.
    Aquatrols Co. photo The new site also makes it easier for customers to connect with local Aquatrols representatives. 
    "Our goal was to build more than just a website; we wanted to create a resource that reflects our commitment to innovation and the people who manage the world's finest turf," said Aquatrols GM Erick Koskinen. "This new platform ensures that our customers have the right information at their fingertips, exactly when they need it."
    Aquatrols was founded in 1954 as the maker of the first commercially available wetting agent for soil. Since then, the company, with headquarters in Paulsboro, New Jersey, has added cutting-edge surfactants and other technologies to help turf managers maximize water use in the turf and horticulture markets.
    Today, the company is part of Lamberti, a global specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Italy.
  • Advanced Turf Solutions has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Nassau Suffolk Turf Services.
    Founded in 2001 in Fishers, Indiana, Advanced Turf Solutions is an independent, employee-owned distributor of turf and ornamental products to the golf, sports turf and lawn care markets. Farmingdale, New York-based Nassau Suffolk Turf Services has been a distributor of turf and ornamental products on Long Island for more than 25 years.
    Through this acquisition, customers will have access to the ATS product catalog and the company's recently launched online store, giving customers easy access to the same line up of products available in the company's 30-plus outlets throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
    "As part of Advanced Turf Solutions, we're excited to be able to offer an even better experience to our customers while maintaining the same personalized service they've come to know and expect," said Nassau Suffolk Turf co-owner Tom Stylarek.
    The acquisition marks Advanced Turf Solutions' third major expansion in the Northeast in recent years, following the acquisitions of Valley Green, Inc. and Atlantic Golf and Turf, in 2022 and 2025, respectively.
  • Mother Nature shows no favoritism when it comes to extreme weather on golf courses.
    More than half the country is in the crosshairs of what the National Weather Service is calling one of the largest winter storms in recent memory. A surge of cold air plunging south from Canada is expected to collide with warm, moisture-laden air from the Gulf of Mexico, creating conditions forecast to produce record amounts of snow, sleet, and freezing rain from Texas to Maine through the weekend.
    The system is expected to impact golf courses across the North, South, and Transition Zone.

    The threat of severe winter weather raises concerns about turf damage on golf courses throughout much of the country. Kevin Frank photo Extended periods of cold, with overnight lows dipping into the single digits, are forecast to persist for at least the next week across much of the affected region. Those conditions raise concerns about potential long-term turf damage across a wide range of grass types and management zones.
    To help superintendents prepare and respond, TurfNet offers on-demand webinars addressing winter injury across turf systems. Kevin Frank, Ph.D., of Michigan State University and Paul Koch, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin examine winter damage in cool-season turf, while Wendell Hutchens, Ph.D., of the University of Arkansas, and Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., cover winterkill in warm-season turf and throughout the Transition Zone.
    All TurfNet University webinars are sponsored by LebanonTurf.
  • For turf managers who want to take the next step in professional grade utility vehicles, Toro introduced the all new Workman LTX at the recent Sports Field Managers Association conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
    The Workman LTX will replace the long standing GTX line of utility vehicles.
    The Workman LTX is available in two powertrain options — battery- and gasoline-powered.
    Toro's HyperCell lithium-ion battery technology and comes standard with two batteries, and an optional third batter can be added to extend runtime. 

    The gasoline-powered model is driven by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 400 EFI engine with integrated oil level sensors and an automatic engine shut-off feature. The fuel-injected, horizontal-shaft engine is powered by a single cylinder that delivers 14 hp.
    Exterior features include redesigned hood, bumper, grille and headlights. A redesigned dashboard configuration provides more storage than previous GTX models. Foot-operated and electric parking brake options create more space for the operator. Operator information is displayed on an LCD layout, and USB A and C ports accomodate both iOS and Android devices.
    ensure device compatibility and constant connectivity. The oversized cup holders and an optional bolstered bench seat provide the space and support needed for the most demanding shifts.
    The Workman LTX Series will be available in six models with two-seat and four-seat options, and both come with the towing and bed capacity superintendents need. 
    The Workman LTX will be available for purchase this spring 2026.
  • In response to customer feedback, Advanced Turf Solutions has launched ATS Shop, a digital shopping platform that combines personalized service with the convenience and time-saving benefits of e-commerce.
    Built to complement relationships with customers and streamline the ordering experience, the ATS Shop allows customers to:
    Shop anytime, anywhere; the ATS Shop is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Check live product availability to see what’s in stock before ordering Schedule pickup or request delivery, whichever option works best for them View past orders and reorder with ease Shop from the entire product catalog The ATS Shop is built to mirror the traditional buying experience, including flexible payment options and multiple shipping options and integrates the sales representative into the process so they can remain tuned in to customer needs.
    Founded in 2001, Fishers, Indiana-based Advanced Turf Solutions is an employee-owned green industry distributor serving professionals in the golf, sports turf and lawn care markets.
  • For the better part of two decades, Syngenta has been helping provide about two dozen superintendents per year with business education not typically taught in turf school.
    With the help of faculty from the Wake Forest University business school, the company has brought non-agronomic topics like negotiating skills, managing across cultures and generations and creating work-life balance to the forefront for more than 400 superintendents during the past 17 years through the Syngenta Business Institute held on the university's campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 
    Just as important as the curriculum presented at SBI by some of the country's leading educators are the networking opportunities and the chance for superintendents to learn from each other, and not just for an hour or two at a conference, but for parts of four consecutive days, making for a completely immersive experience.
    That opportunity to learn from common and shared experiences also results in a rare and fast-forming camaraderie.
    The significance of peer-to-peer networking has come as no surprise to Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta. What has been a surprise is how quickly those relationships can develop in a room filled with strangers.
    "When we originally formed SBI, we wanted to make sure it was a small, intimate group for them to share their experiences, and building a network leaving here is critically important. And we have seen that every year," Schwenke said. 
    "What has surprised me is how quickly these relationships happen. It's always awkward the first night in that social event, but really by the next morning and that first day of education they're already becoming friends and forming relationships. And then over those next three days it gets stronger.
    "As these relationships form, they learn they all have similar challenges. Why not lean on each other more to work through the day-to-day?"

    Alan FitzGerald of Rehoboth Beach Country Club (left) and Jake Gargasz of Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana, share a thought during the 2025 edition of the Syngenta Business Institute in December at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Photo by John Reitman Entering his 14th season at Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, David Jones came to Wake Forest for business education, but gained as much from networking with peers.
    "I've been at my place for a long time. Any time I can learn something to make me a better leader, I want to do it," Jones said. "The networking is great too; learning how other superintendents do things is very beneficial."
    The interactive event promotes idea sharing through a host of group-think projects, round table discussions and offsite social events. It is not long before the group of strangers are asking questions of each other and sharing tips and advice.
    Brian Woods of Saltleaf Golf Preserve in Bonita Springs, Florida, had heard not only about the business curriculum at SBI, but the also about the chance to learn from other superintendents.
    "Iron sharpens iron," Woods said. "I wanted to meet with superintendents from around the country, and gaining valuable knowledge from Wake Forest University professors is a no-brainer. I will be able to take those practices I learned back to the golf course and put them into practice."
    Although the interpersonal relationships and networking opportunities afforded to superintendents has been a critical part of the SBI experience since the inaugural event 17 years ago, Syngenta's Schwenke always enjoys watching that part of the program unfold.
    "It surprises me how quickly those relationships happen," she said. "But I'm delighted to know that when they walk away they can be friends and peers and lean on each other."
  • Perhaps no one epitomizes the profession of golf course superintendent more than Paul R. Latshaw.
    One of the most accomplished figures in golf course maintenance, Latshaw helped set the standard for major championship playing conditions as the host superintendent for four Masters Tournaments, two U.S. Open championships and one PGA Championship. He is the only superintendent to have hosted all three U.S.-based major championships.
    In recognition of his contributions to the golf course maintenance profession, Latshaw has been named the recipient of the 2026 USGA Green Section Award. 

    USGA Green Section Award recipient Paul R. Latshaw helped define the role of the professional golf course superintendent. Marc Longwood photo via USGA "This recognition means a great deal to me," Latshaw said. "Turfgrass work is often behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in the golfer's experience and the long-term health of the game. I've been fortunate to collaborate with superintendents, researchers and industry partners who are passionate about improving how we care for golf courses, and the USGA's recognition of our work means the world."
    In a career that spanned from 1964 to 2001, Latshaw's leadership shaped some of the game's most iconic venues, including Augusta National, Congressional, Oakmont, Riviera, Wilmington and Winged Foot.
    Latshaw's impact on the business of golf course maintenance also can be measured by the people he mentored and practices he helped develop. Latshaw had a well-earned reputation for demanding much from his employees. And those who were serious about their careers lined up to be part of his team. More than 100 of his former employees have gone on to become superintendents, turfgrass scientists and industry leaders. 
    Latshaw protege Eric Greytok once said of his mentor: "He was a good teacher and taught a lot of people in turf, and a lot of people sought him out to learn from him."
    Latshaw also played a key role in advancing modern course-maintenance practices, including innovations in putting-green performance, environmental management and bunker construction that remain widely used today.
    He will receive the award Feb. 28 at the USGA's annual awards dinner in New York City.
  • PBI-Gordon Corp. recently named Kevin Laycock as the company's vice president of sales as well as its Order to Ship division.
    Laycock's responsibilities include leading revenue growth, sales initiatives and organizational leadership. He also will work with cross-functional teams to advance customer engagement and support long-term growth.
    Based in Kansas City, Missouri, employee-owned PBI-Gordon is a manufacturer of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth regulators and other products for the professional turf and ornamental management, lawncare and agriculture markets.
    Laycock brings more than 20 years of industry experience leading commercial organizations and delivering profitable growth across professional, consumer and distribution channels. Most recently, he served as senior director of Category Management at SiteOne Landscape Supply. His previous leadership roles include positions with FMC Agricultural Solutions and Bayer CropScience. Laycock is a graduate of the University of North Carolina where he earned an MBA in marketing and strategy.
  • After 32 years of vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment, Peter McCormick has announced his retirement from TurfNet, the company he founded and guided from its earliest days into one of the most respected voices in the turfgrass industry.
    Since establishing TurfNet in 1994, Peter built far more than a business. He created a trusted platform for education, communication, and connection—bringing together superintendents, industry professionals, researchers, and commercial partners from around the world. Under his leadership, TurfNet became synonymous with credible journalism, thoughtful commentary, and a genuine dedication to advancing the profession. His retirement is effective Jan. 31.
    Peter’s career has been defined by curiosity, integrity, and a deep respect for the people who work in turf management. His ability to anticipate industry needs, embrace innovation, and foster meaningful dialogue helped shape TurfNet’s unique role as both a news source and a community. Many careers were supported, many voices amplified, and many friendships formed because of his efforts.
    “It has been a great run, well beyond anything I could have imagined back in 1994,” said McCormick, 71. “Memory tends to blur over time but the things that jump out at me are the people, the friendships and the fun we had… all while quietly going about changing the industry for the better. But fatigue does set in, the fire in the belly flickers, and there comes a point when it’s time to step aside.”
    McCormick sold the business in 2001 to Turnstile Publishing Company (publishers of Golfweek and SuperNEWS, among other titles) and stayed on to manage it for them for the next 25 years. When Turnstile folded SuperNEWS in the mid-2000s, Jon Kiger and John Reitman came over to TurfNet and have also stayed for 20+ years. Kyle Taylor will be joining the TurfNet staff in addition to his responsibilities for The Golf Wire, another Turnstile product.
    As he steps into retirement, Peter leaves TurfNet on strong footing and with a lasting legacy that will continue to influence the industry for years to come. His impact is evident not only in the organization he built, but also in the countless professionals who benefited from his leadership, mentorship, and belief in the value of shared knowledge.
    Please join us in congratulating Peter McCormick on an extraordinary 32-year career and thanking him for his lasting contributions to TurfNet and the turfgrass industry. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement and whatever adventures come next.

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