Amateur

CGSA names 2017 Superintendent of the Year

Mississauga, Ont. – The CGSA and Bayer have announced Greg Holden from the Clear Lake Golf Course in Onanole, Man., as the CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year for 2017.

The CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award recognizes a member of the CGSA who has held the position of golf course superintendent for a minimum of five years and who has distinguished her or himself through dedication to the profession, performance as a golf course superintendent and contributions to their profession and their community.

“Greg Holden is probably known as the most adventurous Golf Course Superintendent and truly one of the most vigilant of the environment,” said Jim Flett, AGS, CGSA president. “I had the privilege of calling Greg to inform him of winning this award and with this being Greg’s final season as Superintendent at Clear Lake Golf Course before retiring, what better way to add to his already astounding career.”

Greg has been a CGSA member since 1999 and was the President of the CGSA in 2010. He is one of the most innovative superintendents and the only Superintendent in Manitoba that collects up to 10,000 + litres of used cooking oils from shops and resorts around town to make Bio-Diesel to run 7 pieces of equipment.

Holden has experienced many adventures throughout his life thus far.  Everything from being a cameraman on a six-month journey crossing the Pacific Ocean on a rafting expedition from Ecuador to Australia, co-owning and operating the Mooswa Resort with his wife Linda in Riding Mountain National Park for 15 years, to operating a small organic farm on his property prior to stepping into his current position as Superintendent at the Clear Lake Golf Course.

His distinguished career began back in 1993 when he got the opportunity to work for the Clear Lake Golf Foundation. At that time, they were in the process of submitting a bid to Parks Canada to run the golf course in Riding Mountain National Park. Mr. Holden was instrumental in the writing of the environmental section of that bid that ultimately won them the contract to operate the course for Parks Canada over a 25-year period.

Holden has won him and his course many awards including the Eco Network Environmental Stewardship Award; was a finalist for the 2009 Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award and was the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association (MGSA) Superintendent of the Year Award winner in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to the industry.

Mr. Holden will receive the CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award at the 2018 CGSA Awards Ceremony in Quebec City as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.

The award is funded by Bayer – a ssponsor of the CGSA.

The CGSA represents golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, equipment technicians, and others involved in golf course management across Canada. CGSA was founded in 1966 and has over 1,000 members. Its mission is to promote excellence in golf course management and environmental responsibility through the continuing professional development of its members. For more information please visit www.golfsupers.com.