One Season Down, Summer to Go

While not entirely unique to our corner of the earth, Turf Managers in the Commonwealth often quip that we don’t simply have four seasons. 2021 roared in with seasonal cold and extended snow despite Phil’s proclamation. Six more weeks of winter whittled down to three as late February evolved into an early jump on meteorological spring for many of us. For those not basking in the late winter sun, several dips in temperature coupled with wintry mixes reminded us to not get ahead of ourselves and be mindful of the calendar. Once the snow melted, we all hopefully experienced a wonderful transition into a balmy and welcoming spring as our facilities were thrust into another busy season. Much like every year, flexibility, experience, and innovation in our agronomic practices all proved to be the keystone of another successful season.

While it may have been delivered through a computer screen and not in the flesh, the Board of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council sincerely hopes our members saw value in the virtual conference held this past January. Spirited talks by familiar faces provided the feeling of normalcy and community that we all missed with the cancellation of our annual low-season educational summits. While we haven’t had the opportunity to meet in person throughout the past year, the seasonal checkpoints we all look forward to will return in the near future. The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council realizes that there is no better time than now to take a close look at the effectiveness and value of our operations and practices. We can assure you that the Council is actively working to ensure member participation and value is maximized in a post-Covid world with engaging educational seminars that provide us all with camaraderie and cutting edge Turf Industry research.

Looking ahead, we know that increased usage of our facilities will contribute an unpredictable variable to our maintenance practices. Driving range tees will be perforated, cart traffic will be bountiful, and parks will be full. Summer will be dry for some, wet for others, and a head scratcher at times for all. Hopefully, as a member of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, your knowledge base and strong network of peers will be an invaluable tool to guide you through another busy season.

Tom Fisher

2021 PTC President