The 2023 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference & Trade Show, which was held in Orlando, Florida from February 6-9, was attended by almost 70% more people than attended the 2022 event in San Diego.
Total attendance was 11,000, compared to 6,500 12 months ago, and comparable with the 11,700 who attended the last pre-pandemic event held in Orlando in 2020. A total of 6,300 seminar seats were filled, which was up 70% over 2021, and was the highest number since 2008. In addition to education for superintendents, the event also included specialized education for assistant superintendents, equipment managers, students and more.
The trade show, the largest annual event in the turfgrass management industry, covered nearly 250,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Orange County Convention Center and hosted nearly 450 exhibitors.
The week began with the GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro. The event was sold-out and featured the launch of the Toro Par-3 shoot-out along with formats offering golfers an opportunity to have fun, meet new people, renew old friendships, and play in various flighted competitions.
Among the highlights, the conference began Monday with the launch of the GCSAA Interactive Facility Tours and ended with a Welcome Reception, presented in partnership with Syngenta, at Aquatica Beach. Tuesday featured a continuation of education in the classroom and on the golf course as part of the GCSAA Interactive Facility Learning Tours, with the day capping off with the announcement of an memorandum of understanding between GCSAA and The Warrior Alliance.
On Wednesday, the Sunrise Celebration, presented in partnership with Syngenta, saw John Newton, CGCS Retired, receive GCSAA’s Colonel John Morley Award to begin the day. Then, attendees experienced the launch of the Interactive Grass Learning Stage built through a collaboration of the GCBAA, GCSAA, USGA and ASGCA at the trade show. Wednesday also featured the 2023 GCSAA Turf Bowl, presented in partnership with John Deere, which was won by Penn State University.
Thursday saw the launch of GCSAA Auction $Bucks, enabling attendees to earn points used to bid on items in a live auction at the GCSAA Send-Off Celebration, presented in partnership with John Deere. The highlight of the Send-Off Celebration was the presentation of the GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award to Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops.
The GCSAA will continue to offer conference learning with a two-day virtual event of new education offerings for everyone from March 14-16. Details and registration information can be found at www.GCSAAConference.com.
The 2024 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show will be held from Jan 29-Feb 1 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona.