As we begin the Centennial celebration in 2026, a special thank you goes to Colonel John Morley, founder of GCSAA. Celebrating 100 years is a remarkable milestone, and what we’ve accomplished over the past century makes me excited about the next 100.

January started strong as I attended the 60th Annual Tennessee Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show. Great attendance, quality education sessions and a successful annual meeting made it a terrific kickoff to this historic year.

We then gathered for the GCSAA Centennial Conference and Trade Show, where attendance and energy were outstanding. The celebration at ICON Park was epic, and a great time was had by all. The 2026 GCSAA Golf Championships were also a success — even if Central Florida surprised us with record-breaking morning temperatures in the 20s. It made for some cold tee times, but the camaraderie and competition were second to none.

As we celebrate 100 years of serving our members and advancing the profession, we also look ahead. The 2027 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana — another great opportunity to gather and continue building momentum for the future.

I also want to remind everyone that Rounds4Research is April 20–26. This is an important opportunity to support turfgrass research that directly benefits our industry. I urge you to consider donating a round of golf at your facility to help advance the game and strengthen the future of our profession. Donating also benefits your local chapter, with 80% of the proceeds staying at the chapter level, making a direct impact in your region.

Thank you for all you do, and here’s to an incredible Centennial year ahead!

Sincerely,
Ron Prescott, GCSAA Southeast Field Staff Representative