In March 1927, the National Association of Greenkeepers of America – the organization that would later become GCSAA – organized its first annual meeting and equipment show, which was held at Chicago’s Hotel Sherman. At the initial conference, 14 turfgrass experts addressed 350 attendees, and 27 exhibitors showed the latest trends in maintenance and equipment in a single room. This gathering set the stage for what would one day become the largest industry event of its kind. 
Fast forward to 2026, the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show has grown to more than 12,800 attendees filling a record 8,074 education seminar seats at its historical Centennial year conference held in Orlando. The trade show floor featured 523 exhibitors in 178,600 square feet of exhibit space spanning a total trade show floor space of 428,000 square feet. This space also included areas for education, GCSAA Services, the GCSAA Store and the Centennial Experience, an exhibit that took attendees through 100 years of GCSAA history.
During the first annual meeting, Col. John Morley expressed the belief that “the growth of so influential an association should not be of the mushroom type but rather along lines that will establish a firm foundation which will support the building of an everlasting monument to the profession of greenkeeping,” which has undoubtedly become the reality of GCSAA today.
Over the last 100 years, the association’s membership, annual conference attendance and educational offerings at the conference have grown exponentially, and this growth is a testament to the solid foundation laid by the association’s founder, Col. John Morley, and the value GCSAA holds for its members, the industry and the game of golf.