The first report of researchers investigating reflectance sensing for use in turf occurred over 40 years ago.  However, few turfgrass researchers conducted subsequent studies until the late 1990’s.  The first of the Trenholm et al. papers in 1999 seemed to mark a resurgence of interest in turfgrass reflectance.  Since that time, thanks to substantial advancements made by crop production researchers in wheat, soybeans, corn, cotton, and other crops and to several interested turfgrass researchers, reflectance sensing of turf has rapidly gained popularity.  The development of new, technically advanced sensors and sensor-based mechanical systems over the last eight years, suggests that optical sensing has a future in practical turfgrass management.  High integrity, sensor-based mapping, fertilization, and weed control systems are commercially available for crop production and non-selective vegetation management.  Handheld optical sensors provide an accurate, rapid assessment of turfgrass color and cover, two of the most important characteristics of turfgrass quality.   The turfgrass industry appears to be poised to take advantage of the economic and environmental advantages of this new technology.