The Golf Industry Show arrives in San Diego in less than a month, bringing with it the best in continuing education, access to hundreds of exhibitors and products, and a wealth of tools and occasions to help you improve your facility and advance your career. On top of that, opportunities for invaluable peer-to-peer interaction will be all around you.
So, how will you spend your precious time at GIS? Here, GCM spotlights some of the many happenings to help you make plans, plus some major milestones that will be marked this year in the Golden State.
History in the making
Need a hotel for the Golf Industry Show? It’ll cost you $2.50.
Don’t get too excited — that was what was being promoted in 1927 for the price of a room at Hotel Sherman in Chicago.
When 75 members of GCSAA — founded in 1926 and known at the time as the National Association of Greenkeepers of America — met at Hotel Sherman to participate in the International Golf Show and Country Club Exposition, the occasion was the launching pad for an event that has lasted into the 21st century.
The Golf Industry Show next month in San Diego will be the 90th trade show in which GCSAA has participated, including 1928 in Detroit, when the association hosted the first show of its own. The only years in which there was no show was the span from 1943 to 1945, during World War II. Two mainstays of the Golf Industry Show that have been there since the start are The Toro Co. and Jacobsen. Others in attendance when GCSAA traveled to Chicago all those years ago included Worthington Mower of Stroudsburg, Pa., Walter Hagen Golf Products of Detroit, and Premier Poultry Manure of Chicago.
“We are extremely proud to be a longtime supporter of GCSAA and are honored to have been involved in the Golf Industry Show since the very beginning of the event,” says Randy Harris, Toro’s director of marketing. “There are a number of reasons why we continue to partner with GCSAA and attend GIS year after year, including developing trusting relationships, gaining insight on and sharing our own most recent product innovations, and being able to take some time to care for our customers, who have been integral to our success as a manufacturer.”
The Golf Industry Show’s longevity is noteworthy, says Nicole Bowman, vice president of marketing and communications for the International Association of Exhibitors and Events. Bowman’s association also began in 1928, the year of GCSAA’s first solo attempt to host a show. “It says something about the health of the industry it serves,” Bowman says. “They’re bringing buyers and sellers together. Trade shows still are a well-respected and viable option for people who want to get their products out to others, and the trade show allows people to form true relationships.”
The trade show in 1929.
1950
1989
This year’s GIS is also special for Turfco. The company is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2019. With help from superintendents, Turfco introduced the first mechanized topdresser in 1961. “GIS this year is time to pause and reflect, and it’s pretty special because of our 100th,” says Turfco executive vice president Scott Kinkead. “The golf show is a great opportunity to see a wide range of people throughout the world all in one place, and it’s been our life around the world. GCSAA has done a great job of maintaining it and keeping it relevant.”
That’s exactly what GCSAA vice president John McNamara said in a 1928 edition of National Greenkeeper, the predecessor of GCM. “It is every greenkeepers’ advantage to be present and talk over the merits or demerits of the various equipment,” McNamara said.
A total of 75 greenkeepers attended that Chicago show in 1927. When GCSAA held the show in 1928, the total increased to 350. Last year in San Antonio, the number was nearly 12,000. There were 27 exhibitors in 1928; last year, the total was more than 530. In 1928, there were 14 lectures by turfgrass experts; last year, there were more than 95 education sessions. In 1928, Toro showcased its new Tee Mower, which featured an enclosed, chain-driven cutting reel. We’ll see soon enough what Toro — and so many others — will reveal in San Diego for the 90th.
“The Golf Industry Show is the only event where everyone is under one roof,” says Harris, adding, “We believe we have a duty as a leading manufacturer in the golf industry to support the educational, environmental and economic initiatives the GCSAA identifies as key issues in the industry we all serve, and much of that takes place during the show. Simply put, by supporting the Golf Industry Show and GCSAA, we’re helping ensure a bright future for the entire industry.”
Education, pups and more on the trade show floor
GCSAA is partnering with the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) to build a replica maintenance facility on the showroom floor in the San Diego Convention Center. Inside the Shop will offer hands-on demonstrations, contests and educational presentations all geared toward helping attendees create a more efficient, cost-effective and safer maintenance shop. There will also be giveaways.
Also new this year are bite-sized, 1½-hour education seminars, offered Feb. 6-7 on the trade show floor. Registration and fee are required, and 0.2 education points will be awarded.
GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans will be the moderator for a session on the trade show floor about labor. The session, “Help Wanted: Creative Staffing Solutions for Your Golf Course,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 6 on the GCSAA TV stage and will focus on tangible solutions and innovative ideas for securing and retaining qualified employees for golf course maintenance teams. Speakers for the session will be Matt Shaffer, Jay Willis, Pat O’Brien and Crancena Ross.
Another trade show floor presentation, #TheLab, will spotlight technology. Attendees will be invited to experiment with the latest technology and learn how new technological advances can assist them in managing their courses. “#TheLab” is presented in conjunction with GreenSight Agronomics. “Think Apple Store meets turf,” says Shelly Urish, GCSAA’s trade show manager.
Golf course dog demonstrations will happen throughout Wednesday and Thursday at booth No. 1239. Stop by to get insight from goose dog experts on everything from goose nest management to troubleshooting common issues with golf course canines, plus have your GIS badge scanned for your chance to win a golf course dog of your own.
The Trade Show Finale, presented in partnership with John Deere Golf, will cap off trade show activities from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 7. You won’t want to leave the show floor early: This finale event will feature entertainment, food and cash prizes. Following the announcement of the winners of the School Spirit Award and Student Scavenger Hunt, hypnotist Ricky Kalmon will take the stage for a one-of-a-kind performance.
Get the trade show map and full list of exhibitors.
GCSAA Education Conference: Solutions for you
The GCSAA Education Conference will offer more than 420 hours of educational fare, including 89 seminars (38 of which are new), 21 free sessions, 202 educators (two of whom, Manuel Chavarria, Ph.D., and Javier Schaab, are new instructors for Spanish-language seminars), three field trips and five 1½-hour seminars on the trade show floor. The education program at GIS presents attendees with strategies for addressing matters related to course maintenance, employee management, business practices and even their personal lives.
A free two-hour seminar, “Solutions Center” (Tuesday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m.-noon, Room 6D) will allow participants to crowdsource solutions to their conundrums. Four superintendents (Jason Haines, Chris Tritabaugh, Carlos Arraya, CGCS, and Troy Flanagan), two professors (Bruce Martin, Ph.D., and Doug Soldat, Ph.D.) and everyone else in the room will put their heads together to determine solutions to problems presented by group members.
A new free session, “Epic Fails,” will be an hour of fun and relived anguish as presenters detail their personal catastrophes in golf course management (Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2-3 p.m., Room 5AB). Superintendents Haines and Tritabaugh, assistant superintendent Jessica Lenihan, equipment manager Chris Rapp and former superintendent and current regional agronomist Kevin Hicks will dish on how they looked disaster in the face and worked through setbacks.
As in past years, the free Turf Solutions I and II, which bookend the first two days of the education conference, will each be two hours long and taught by professors, industry experts and superintendents. “Turf Solutions I: Everything But the Kitchen Sink!” (Monday, Feb. 4, 8-10 a.m., Room 6AB) will look at new approaches to common quandaries. Bill Kreuser, Ph.D., and superintendent Jason Haines will discuss driving your growth rate. Beth Guertal, Ph.D., will explore the effects of silicon in turf management, and Kenneth Cropper, Ph.D., will reveal what works and what doesn’t when it comes to moss control.
On Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 5, 3-5 p.m.), “Turf Solutions II: Tricks of the Trade” will highlight three agronomic obstacles and measures superintendents can take to overcome them. “Bluemuda: Changing the Way We Grow Grass in the Transition Zone” will be the topic of discussion for Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., and Brad Nevitt, a former assistant superintendent who is a sales manager for Advanced Turf Solutions in Fishers, Ind. The rest of the session will focus on water quality and conservation. Marco Schiavon, Ph.D., and Matteo Serena, Ph.D., will explain how to manage turfgrass soil and irrigation salinity, and New Mexico State University’s Bernd Leinauer, Ph.D., and Joel Krause, a superintendent at Eagle Crest Resort in Ypsilanti, Mich., will explore how a novel technology — subsurface drip irrigation — can impact water conservation on the golf course.
In terms of course management, water has become a significant issue, even in areas that once had a free water supply. The Water Track in the education program will provide a number of options for learning how to best manage irrigation and be an environmental steward. Twelve water-related seminars will be available throughout the week, including three free sessions and a two-hour Spanish-language seminar. On Monday, Feb. 4, Hunter Industries will offer a full-day field trip to the company’s headquarters in San Marcos, Calif., where participants can learn about the design, renovation and maintenance of irrigation systems and get tips for efficient water management practices.
On the personal side, licensed professional counselor Lisa Goatley will present practical steps for avoiding burnout and limiting stress in everyday life in a two-hour seminar on Monday afternoon, “Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout,” and a second seminar, “Better Thoughts for Better Living,” at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Many first-timers to GIS will be equipment managers, who may not have had an opportunity until now to attend the education conference. Three new sessions for equipment managers will be offered without charge: “Next-Generation Technicians,” presented by equipment manager Charles Totten; “Maximize Your Shop Investment,” with equipment manager Hector Velazquez and Foley United’s Greg Turner; and “Reducing Headaches in the Shop,” led by fleet manager Bill Januszewski and equipment managers Dave Prekop and Sam Holysz.
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, a full-day learning tour to Barona Creek Golf Course will give visitors a peek into the inner workings of equipment operations at the course, courtesy of Barona Creek staff Sandy Clark, CGCS, equipment manager Blas Huezo and Dennis Orsborn. In addition, “Find Out What It Takes to Pass the Turf Equipment Technician Certificate Program” will provide information on attaining valuable certification in the equipment management field. An opportunity to take exams for the certificate program will be available on-site, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Seminars are vital, but not all GIS education will take place inside a classroom. Superintendents can venture to a San Diego-area golf course to discover how to engage the next generation and grow the game by establishing a First Green field trip program. The First Green is an environmental and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education initiative that uses golf courses as classrooms to introduce young minds to environmental stewardship. In the interactive workshop “Launching a First Green Field Trip Program at Your Own Golf Course,” superintendents with First Green experience (Stephen Kealy, CGCS, and Jeff Gullikson, CGCS) and former First Green communications director Cathy Relyea will advise attendees on launching a program in their own community.
Turfgrass Talk Show to tackle labor and other challenges
The Turfgrass Talk Show — set for 3-5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 in Ballroom 20 — will take a citric turn as superintendents and other golf course professionals discuss how to cope “When Given a Lemon.”
Guests from near (Michigan, Florida) and far (France, Singapore) will discuss making a course playable after a hurricane; rebuilding a golf course and preparing it for the Ryder Cup; and the challenge of hosting back-to-back golf tournaments. New this year will be a lineup of rapid-fire talks on staffing and labor.
This interactive session will feature a live band and reception afterward. Hosts Thomas Nikolai, Ph.D., the “Doctor of Green Speed” from Michigan State University, and Don Roth, assistant superintendent at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, Mich., will be joined by guests Tim Hiers, CGCS, director of course operation, White Oak Properties, Yulee, Fla.; Paul Armitage, general manager, and Alejandro Reyes, golf course superintendent, Le Golf National, Paris; and Andy Johnston, general manager/director of agronomy, Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore.
The Great Debate fires up again
Want to see superintendents square off about agronomics in a fun and informative format? If so, The Great Debate — 11 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Room 6CF — is for you.
In this free session — back by popular demand for its second year — seven superintendents will have a limited number of minutes to deliberate a variety of hot topics. In 2018, panelists went back and forth on subjects such as walk mowing vs. triplexing and light vs. heavy topdressing. Moderator T.A. Barker, CGCS, from Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville, Utah, will spin a wheel to determine the “debate” for a given segment of the session.
Participating superintendents are Rodney Crow, CGCS, Mount Vintage Golf Club, North Augusta, S.C.; Ian Daniels, Teugega Country Club, Rome, N.Y.; Matthew Gourlay, CGCS, Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kan.; Mark Prieur, Trafalgar Golf Club, Milton, Ontario; Sean Reehoorn, Aldarra Golf Club, Sammamish, Wash.; Moe Robinson, Summerlea Golf & Country Club, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, and Western Trent Golf Club, Bolsover, Ontario; and Leasha Schwab, Pheasant Run Golf Club, Sharon, Ontario.
So, how popular was The Great Debate last year? Amanda Miller, GCSAA conference education events manager, says a larger venue has been secured at the San Diego Convention Center for this year’s edition. The room seats 350, which is 100 seats more than the 2018 venue, which was at capacity.
Turf Bowl returns for 25th year
Marking 25 years of the thrills and chills of academic competition among the best and brightest turfgrass science students, Turf Bowl XXV (aka the annual GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl) will take place Thursday morning, Feb. 7 (Ballroom 20A), following the traditional breakfast for student competitors and their advisers (Ballroom 20B).
This is the 10th year that the Turf Bowl has been presented in partnership with John Deere Golf. The competition itself should be business as usual, but students and their faculty advisers should be aware of some important procedural changes that will be implemented at the Turf Bowl Kickoff Reception, which will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 on the West Terrace.
Every team that intends to participate in the Turf Bowl must register. Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. — 30 minutes earlier than last year — at the reception location. All team members must be present, and each student participating in the competition will register by presenting his or her GIS badge. All Turf Bowl participants must be student members of GCSAA. Any student who is not a GCSAA member can join the association at the GIS registration booth.
Also on Wednesday evening, a GCSAA photographer will take photos of the Turf Bowl teams, and students should dress appropriately. Remember Auburn’s (almost) matching ties in 2018? Remember Auburn’s big win in 2018? Dress for success!
Ladies Leading Turf back for second year
Women are no doubt a minority in the golf and turf industries. That fact in mind, GCSAA Class A superintendent Leasha Schwab from Pheasant Run Golf Club, in Sharon, Ontario, organized the first Ladies Leading Turf Networking Social at last year’s Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. As its name indicates, the event offers women who work in various sectors of the golf industry a unique, tailor-made setting in which to connect, and it will return to GIS on Wednesday, Feb. 6, from 4-5:30 p.m. in Room 28 of the San Diego Convention Center.
Syngenta is sponsoring the reception, which includes complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The first hour will give attendees the opportunity to network and will feature remarks by Schwab and Maureen Kahiu, a superintendent at Veterinary Laboratory Sports Club (also known as VetLab) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Men are invited to join the gathering at 5 p.m. to hear guest speaker Nikki Gatch, Southern California PGA chief membership officer. Gatch is a former college golfer (Oklahoma State University) and former golf professional who now serves on the board of directors of the Southern California Golf Association.
Awards and recognition at the Golf Industry Show
Old Tom Morris Award
Recipient: The Powell family
Presented at the Opening Session, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:30-9:50 a.m., Ballroom 20.
Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award
Recipients: Ted Horton, CGCS, and Tom Tanto
Presented at the Opening Session, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:30-9:50 a.m., Ballroom 20.
President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship
Recipient: CourseCo
Presented at the Opening Session, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:30-9:50 a.m., Ballroom 20.
GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards
Recipients: Carl D. Thompson, CGCS; Shannon Easter; Gary Ingram, CGCS; and Matthew Gourlay, CGCS
Presented at the EIFG/Government Affairs reception, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 3-4:30 p.m., Room 16.
Excellence in Government Affairs Award
Recipient: Robert Nielsen, CGCS
Presented at the EIFG/Government Affairs reception, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 3-4:30 p.m., Room 16.
Leo Feser Award
Recipient: Brian Youell
Presented at the GCM booth (No. 1231) on the trade show floor, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m.
Edwin Budding Award
Recipient: Hector L. Velazquez
Presented “Inside the Shop” (booth No. 5929), Wednesday, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m.