Weathering the extremes: 2026, changing the way we think about turf management

If there’s one thing turf professionals know, it’s that no two seasons are the same, but even by recent standards, 2026 has been exceptional.

One of the most difficult seasons in recent memory, the weather has challenged every assumption about turf management. Here, Reesink Turfcare considers how 2026 conditions have reshaped maintenance priorities, machinery investment and long-term planning.

What have turfcare professionals been dealing with?

One word defines the weather in 2026 and that is, unprecedented. The year began with record-breaking rainfall across much of the UK, with many regions experiencing their wettest January on record.

By 8 February much of the UK had already reached 89% of its average winter rainfall, while England had already exceeded its seasonal average at 111%.

These figures demonstrate that 2026 didn’t just start wetter than average, but featured rainfall intensities and frequencies that rival some of the most notable periods in the observing record, with turf managers finding themselves spending more time managing water than managing grass.

Then, the weather swung dramatically and priorities reversed.

By mid-July, the UK had experienced three heatwaves, more days above 30°C than the whole of the infamous year of 1976 and record temperatures across late spring and early summer. Attention shifted almost overnight from removing water to conserving it.

Clubs are investing in more versatile fleets capable of performing across a much wider range of conditions.

How has this affected turf management practices?

The opening months of the year demanded more patience than productivity from turfcare professionals. Months of relentless rain, waterlogged fairways, saturated sports pitches and inaccessible parks disrupted maintenance schedules across much of the UK. Turf managers found themselves watching weather forecasts as closely as they watched the grass itself, waiting for the smallest window to get machinery onto the ground without causing damage.

Then the rain stopped. Temperatures climbed, soil moisture disappeared and irrigation systems went from occasional use to being one of the busiest assets on site, while grass growth slowed to a crawl.

What has this meant for turfcare professionals?

For turf managers, it’s been like preparing for two completely different biomes. Scientists have gone so far as to call it climate whiplash.

Heavy rainfall meant machinery often couldn’t access playing surfaces without causing damage to the turf. Planned renovation programmes slipped and drainage weaknesses became glaringly obvious.

Gullane Golf Club has added Toro’s autonomous mowers to its fleet this year.

As a result, maintaining the consistently high standards of presentation and playability that members, players, spectators and tournament organisers expect became increasingly difficult.

Then high temperatures, prolonged dry spells and mounting pressure on irrigation systems presented an entirely different challenge. Instead of wondering when surfaces would dry out, teams focused on moisture retention, irrigation scheduling and preventing turf stress.

Expectations, however, remained unchanged. Turfcare professionals still had to deliver firm, healthy, visually impressive surfaces despite the increasing pressure that extreme weather placed on every aspect of course management.

Thinking beyond today’s conditions

While weather extremes are nothing new, the speed and severity of these changes are what’s forcing the industry to think differently, not only about maintenance practices but about investment decisions.

It’s hard to say what the rest of the year will look like but with the weather behaving less and less like an average year and the UK potentially heading for an era of sharper swings between flood and drought, planning and adaptation systems will need to catch up.

Toro Intelli360 provides essential information for proactive fleet management in extreme weather.

Don’t let the weather dictate your fleet strategy

While the weather may have slowed grass growth, it shouldn’t slow long-term planning. One of the biggest risks is reactive maintenance.

Periods of slow growth often create a false sense that machinery usage has reduced permanently. The reality is very different. Grass always starts growing again, and what feels like a quiet period in July can quickly become one of the busiest parts of the year a few weeks later.

Equipment that has been stretched for years doesn’t suddenly become younger because it spent six weeks parked in the shed and deferred purchases often become emergency purchases. Successful turf management has always involved thinking several months ahead and the same applies to machinery procurement.

Building resilience starts with good practice

Extreme weather doesn’t just test machinery; it tests the resilience of the turf itself. While no one can control the weather, turf managers can improve how surfaces respond to prolonged wet periods and extended drought through sound agronomic practices.

Aeration with the Toro ProCore 648s remains one of the most effective tools for building healthier turf. Relieving compaction, improving oxygen movement through the soil profile and encouraging deeper rooting all help playing surfaces cope with both excess water and prolonged dry spells. Effective drainage management, targeted nutrition and careful moisture management also contribute to turf that’s better equipped to recover when conditions change.

Efficient and precise water management is critical in extreme heat.

But good practice alone is no longer enough. Many clubs are investing in more versatile fleets capable of performing across a much wider range of conditions, including lightweight machines that minimise ground pressure during wet weather and equipment capable of maintaining productivity as conditions fluctuate.

Toro’s range of ride-on and pedestrian mowers, including the Greensmaster, Reelmaster and Groundsmaster families, are designed to provide that versatility.

Smarter technology for changing conditions

The weather patterns seen throughout 2026 have reinforced one trend already gathering momentum: versatility matters.

That’s driving greater interest in technology that improves efficiency rather than simply replacing horsepower. Autonomous mowing, intelligent irrigation, moisture monitoring and telematics are becoming practical tools that help turf managers respond faster and make better decisions when conditions change.

Better decisions start with better data

Extreme weather doesn’t just change how machinery is used; it changes when it’s used, how hard it’s worked and where resources need to be focused.

Toro Intelli360 gives turf managers visibility of fleet performance, helping them understand machine utilisation, monitor servicing requirements and identify opportunities to improve efficiency. During prolonged wet weather it highlights underused equipment and enables maintenance to be scheduled before workloads increase again

Historical utilisation data also helps clubs make better long-term investment decisions, allowing managers to review seasonal usage, justify replacement programmes and build phased investment strategies based on evidence rather than assumptions.

If extreme weather is now the norm, data will become the difference between reactive maintenance and proactive fleet management.

Aeration with the Toro ProCore 648s helps playing surfaces cope with excess water and prolonged dry spells.

Working smarter on the ground

Labour has been under constant pressure throughout 2026. During wet periods, every workable weather window becomes precious. During dry spells, reduced grass growth allows staff to focus on irrigation, presentation and renovation work instead.

Autonomous mowing is proving an increasingly practical way of creating that flexibility. Machines such as the Toro Turf Pro 500 keep routine mowing programmes running consistently while freeing skilled operators to concentrate on the work that cannot be automated.

Every drop matters

Water management has become equally critical. As temperatures climbed and rainfall disappeared, irrigation systems shifted from occasional use to becoming one of the busiest assets on site.

Modern systems such as the Toro Lynx Central Control System enable turf managers to apply precisely the right amount of water where it’s needed, reducing waste while maintaining healthier playing surfaces.

Robert Jackson, Division Manager for Reesink Hydro-Scapes, explains: “With water becoming an increasingly valuable resource, efficiency is no longer simply desirable; it’s essential. This summer has shown many customers that modern irrigation technology gives them far greater control over how, when and where water is applied, helping maximise every litre while maintaining consistent playing conditions.”

Technologies such as turfRad further support decision making by measuring rootzone moisture quickly and accurately, allowing managers to target irrigation only where it’s genuinely required.

Planning before pressure returns

Waiting until equipment fails before considering replacements is risky. Although supply chains have improved significantly, lead times still exist, particularly for specialist machinery and larger fleet renewals.

Periods of slower growth provide the ideal opportunity to review fleet performance, compare new technologies, arrange demonstrations and build future capital investment plans.

Jon Cole, Reesink Turfcare Divisional Business Manager, says: “Use periods of reduced mowing to review fleet performance, analyse operating costs, evaluate new technologies and consider where efficiencies could be gained before workloads intensify again.

“The irony is that quieter periods, when machines aren’t working flat out, are often the best time to start planning replacement strategies. Not because you need to buy immediately, but because you have the time to make the right decision.”

Looking ahead

Few in the industry believe 2026 will be remembered as a one-off. Instead, it reflects a longer-term shift towards greater weather volatility, increasing pressure on resources and the same high expectations for playing conditions.

Successful turf management will increasingly depend on resilience: combining skilled people with smart technology, reliable equipment and informed decision-making.

The lesson from 2026 isn’t that clubs should spend regardless of conditions. It’s that they shouldn’t allow a temporary pause in grass growth to become a pause in strategic thinking.

Whether reviewing an ageing fleet, exploring autonomous mowing, upgrading irrigation infrastructure or using data to make better decisions, quieter periods provide the time to plan before pressure returns. Because the weather may dictate when mowing takes place, it shouldn’t dictate when planning does.