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.
