Like many of you, I grew up on The Simpsons. I haven’t watched it in years, but there are scenes from early episodes which I still get a laugh from. One of them – quite fittingly – is from the golf themed episode ‘Dead Putting Society’ where Bart and Todd Flanders enter a mini golf tournament. Leading up to the tournament Bart is pressured to win by Homer. As Bart reflects on his prior accomplishments, he realizes he doesn’t have any first-place awards. Of the few ribbons and trophies in his room, he does have a trophy in which the plaque reads ‘EVERYBODY GETS A TROPHY DAY’. It’s one of my favorite scenes from the series.

Now you may be asking, how does Bart’s trophy fit into highlighting 50 GCSAA member benefits or programs in as many weeks. Well, for this third week, I am focusing on the ten GCSAA accolades awarded annually. I’m specifically highlighting the awards this week as a few of them currently have their nomination process open (Outstanding Contribution, Edwin Budding and Emerging Leader).

If you’re not aware, the ten GCSAA awards handed out each year include:

• Pinnacle Awards:
  • Col. John Morley Award
    • The Pinnacle Award for GCSAA members, the Col. John Morley Award is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent's profession.
  • Old Tom Morris Award
    • The Pinnacle Award for those outside of the GCSAA membership, the Old Tom Morris Award is presented to an individual who, through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris. 
• Leadership Awards:
  • President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship
    • Awarded to individuals who provide exceptional environmental contributions to the game of golf -- contributions that exemplify the superintendent's image as a steward of the land.
  • Excellence in Government Affairs Award
    • Recognizes and honors an individual, chapter or coalition/alliance that demonstrates outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government affairs.
  • Outstanding Contribution Award (nominations due August 15^th)
    • Recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the membership, through outstanding contributions for the golf course industry.
  • Edwin Budding Award (nominations due August 15^th)
    • Given annually to an individual in the turf equipment industry whose actions have gone above and beyond the norm to help shape the turf equipment management industry into what it is today.
• Achievement Awards:
  • Leo Feser Award
    • Presented annually to a GCSAA member superintendent in recognition of the best superintendent-written article in Golf Course Management magazine.
  • Emerging Leader Award (nominations due August 15^th)
    • Recognizes an individual who serves the industry as a superintendent with less than five years’ experience, student, associate member, or assistant, who displays continuous growth in service and leadership.
  • Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards
    • Recognizes golf course superintendents and golf courses around the world for their commitment to environmental stewardship.
  • Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award
    • Recognizes and honors individual Ambassadors who have demonstrated growth in advocacy and advancement of the GCSAA Priority Issues Agenda through Congressional outreach and relationship development with a member of Congress.

At the surface this may seem like a plethora of awards and we’re approaching ‘everybody gets a trophy day’ status. However, with over 19,000 GCSAA members worldwide, only an extremely small fraction of members are awarded one of these ten – nine if you consider the Old Tom Morris Award is awarded to a non-member.

The awards are also not just some preconceived formalities which are handed out at the GCSAA Conference and Tradeshow. On the contrary, they are a way to recognize members who are advancing the golf industry and serving their peers – something that is not always easy to do.

They are also extremely beneficial when promoting the industry to outside entities, such as the media, government officials and influential individuals. Golf faces several challenges both on and off the course. The more we can tell our story from members will only help offset these challenges. Showcasing members of GCSAA who are moving the industry forward not only gives the individual well deserved recognition, but it also advances the entire profession when the winners are profiled in and outside of our industry.

I hope you will think of these awards while you are at your facility advancing the industry. Be that environmentally, serving your peers, through advocacy, or contributing to the membership, I would encourage you to pursue the various awards which will not only add to your own personal achievements, but also advance the profession as a whole.

If you missed the previous posts, be sure to check them out here:

1. GCSAA Association Health Program
2. GCSAA Foundation