San Diego, California, United States: Industry heavyweights Rhett Evans and Mike Whan will share their insights on the future of golf at next week’s GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.

Entitled Working Together for Golf’s Future: Insights from USGA and GCSAA Leadership, the session on February 5 will be moderated by Golf Digest Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde.

It will highlight shared efforts and opportunities across the golf industry to ensure long-term success for the game.

Evans, Chief Executive of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) said: “Golf’s continued success relies on collaboration across all sectors of the industry. We’re fortunate to work alongside the USGA and other partners to address challenges and leverage opportunities that benefit the game as a whole.

“The conversation is designed to not only share insights from our organisations but to foster dialogue about the shared responsibility we all have in shaping the future of golf.”

During the discussion, Evans and United States Golf Association (USGA) Chief Executive Whan will explore key areas of focus for the future of golf courses, including:

• Labour: Supporting a strong workforce to ensure golf facilities are prepared to meet evolving demands, and building workforce development programmes focused on recruitment and retention.
• Education: Providing expertise, resources and programmes to enhance the knowledge and skills of golf course teams and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.
  Advocacy: Promoting the value that golf and courses provide worldwide, while advancing key issues critical to the game long-term – from water shortages to weather impacts.
• Data and Technology: Leveraging information, promoting data capture and driving innovation to improve decision-making and drive efficient resource management.

Whan said: “We have a great partner in GCSAA, and together, we’re investing more than ever before to ensure superintendents and owners have what they need to succeed – not just today, but long into the future.

“It starts with listening, and I’m looking forward to hearing more about how we can collaborate and focus our efforts, for the good of the game.”

This session is open to all GCSAA Conference and Trade Show attendees and will take place on the GCSAA TV Stage at the San Diego Convention Centre.

The USGA is a long-standing presenting partner of the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show and continues to fund turfgrass research and education programmes critical to golf’s future, while celebrating the vital role superintendents play in delivering quality playing conditions to golfers worldwide.

The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is produced by GCSAA along with presenting partners, including the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).

The 2025 event will take place from February 3-6. For more information, please visit https://www.gcsaaconference.com/