Paul Carter, CGCS, elected 89th GCSAA president

Paul Carter, CGCS, superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tenn., has been elected president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Carter will serve a one-year term following his election during the association’s annual meeting on Feb. 5, held in conjunction with the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, Fla. The election comes as GCSAA prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sept. 23.

Carter served as vice president of the association in 2025 and is the 89th president in the association’s history. Carter has served on the GCSAA board of directors since 2019. A 33-year member of the association, he is also a member of the Tennessee GCSA and a past president of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Carter has served as superintendent at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay since 2001 and holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture sciences from Auburn University. 

“I am honored, privileged and proud to be the 89th president of GCSAA,” Carter said. “But it’s not my year. It’s your year. It’s our year. It’s GCSAA’s year. So, as we kick off the Centennial, I can’t think of a better way to honor our founder, Col. John Morley, than to get engaged.”  

Along with Carter, chapter delegates elected Marc Weston, CGCS, superintendent at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington, Conn., as vice president, and Steven Hammon, CGCS, superintendent at Traverse City (Mich.) Country Club, as secretary/treasurer. 

Aaron Fankhauser, CGCS, director of agronomy at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden, Colo., was newly elected to join the board. In addition, board members Brian Roth, CGCS, superintendent Oquirrh Hills Golf Course in Tooele, Utah, and Ryan Kraushofer, CGCS, superintendent and general manager at Westminster National Golf Course in Westminster, Md., were re-elected to serve.  

Board members H. Scott Griffith, CGCS, director of agronomy at the University of Georgia Golf Course, in Athens, Ga., and Gregory Jones, CGCS, MG, director of agronomy at Champions Run in Omaha, Neb., will continue their service on the board.  

T.A. Barker, CGCS, the superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville, Utah, will serve one year as immediate past president, while Jeff White, CGCS, director of agronomy at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan., is retiring from the board.