A First for "The Canadian"
Even though the Golf Course Management Conference happens every year, this one felt different—and for good reason. For the first time ever, the Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association (OGSA) and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) officially joined forces to host the event together.
Bringing these two organizations under one roof created something bigger than just a conference. It felt like a true meeting of the minds—a national stage for superintendents nationwide to swap insights, share challenges, and move the industry forward.
What Made the 2025 OGSA/CGSA the Canadian Stand Out
Even though the event felt familiar in the best way, every year brings something new to take home. A few highlights from this year:
🌱 Real excitement around biologicals – It's clear the conversation is shifting. More superintendents are curious about sustainable inputs, and we had some great chats about where products like ours fit into their programs.
❄️ Hopeful thoughts about winter – With Ontario coming out of a very cold, very snowy winter, the optimistic buzz around the room was that maybe, just maybe, the prolonged freeze might have helped knock back some dormant fungi and break a few disease cycles ahead of the season. Fingers crossed.
💬 Candid talks about challenges – From budget constraints to unpredictable weather, people were incredibly open about their obstacles, making the solutions-sharing feel more meaningful.
🔬 The latest research – Dr. Jordan from the University of Guelph shared updates on the incoming threat of take-all patch, a disease more courses are watching closely. And Dr. Hsiang's presentation on 30+ years of tracking fungicide resistance in dollar spot was a standout—hearing firsthand how resistance has crept in over decades was eye-opening and reinforced why so many supers are looking for new strategies.
🐦 Superintendent stories – We always love reconnecting with people like Kevin from St. Andrews, who stopped by with updates from his course (and always brings good energy), and Dean Piller from Cordova Bay, whose thoughtful insights and experience continue to shape some of the best conversations we have all year. These are the relationships that remind us why this conference feels like more than just business.
Until Next Year
We don't take these kinds of gatherings for granted. A lot is happening in this industry—environmental pressures, rising costs, shifting expectations—and it can sometimes feel like a lot to carry. But leaving OGSA this year, we felt reminded that no one's carrying it alone.
We're already looking forward to next year. Same place. Same faces. Same purpose.
And if you didn't get a chance to stop by and chat this year—consider this your invitation for 2026. We'll be there, as always, ready to talk turf, trade ideas, and swap season stories.
Until then, thanks to everyone who made The Canadian what it is. We can't wait to do it all again.
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