Eighty-eight delegates from 90 GCSAA-affiliated chapters gathered Oct. 27-28 in Lawrence, Kan., for the annual Chapter Delegates Meeting.
The meeting brought delegates together to discuss initiatives, provide insight on moving the association forward, and to meet candidates for the board of directors, who they will elect at the 2026 Annual Meeting in February.
As GCSAA celebrates its Centennial in 2026, the theme of this year’s meeting was “Connected for a Century: For 100 years, GCSAA has thrived because of the connections that unite our members, chapters, and leaders. This year, we celebrate the strength of those relationships—the shared purpose, collaboration, and community that have kept the game and our association on course. Together, we look forward to building the next 100 years, side by side.”
The first day included a presentation from CEO Rhett Evans on GCSAA’s Connection with Chapters. His comments echoed the theme of the meeting that a strong GCSAA means strong chapters and strong chapters support GCSAA.
President T.A. Barker, CGCS, then discussed key accomplishments and recapped the year.
GCSAA’s government affairs advocacy efforts and Best Management Practice initiatives were highlighted. The BMP facility adoption tool has been updated, making it easier for members to develop BMP guidelines for their golf course. BMP adoption works in tandem with advocacy to ensure the future of the profession.
Day one concluded with information on activities for the Centennial. Chapters are encouraged to include Centennial activities during their events and were introduced to opportunities to contribute to the Col. John Morley Centennial Campaign.
On day two, discussion was centered on Rounds 4 Research, Career Pathways and the importance of membership recruitment and retention, with breakout sessions to discuss programs and initiatives. A Town Hall Session allowed delegates to pose questions on the future of the association. Candidate presentations provided interaction with those running for the 2026 Board of Directors.