GCSAA names three Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winners

(From left to right) Parker Ferren, CGCS, Lydell Mack, CGCS, and Steven Murphy.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) announced three recipients of its Grassroots Ambassador Leadership (GAL) Award, including Parker Ferren, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds maintenance at Copperleaf Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Fla., Lydell Mack, CGCS, director of operations at Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper, Ga., and Steven Murphy, golf course superintendent at the Ole Miss Golf Club in Oxford, Miss.

The GAL Award, presented in partnership with Toro, recognizes and honors individuals 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. Through Toro, the winners receive a trip to participate in the annual National Golf Day event in Washington, D.C.

“The willingness of Parker, Lydell and Steven to tell their stories and advocate for the golf industry has positively impacted the future of the game,” Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA, said. “Their commitment to communicate key issues, from water and fertilizer issues to labor issues and the H-2B visa program, have paved the way for a stronger future for golf, both environmentally and economically.”

Ferren, a 17-year member of GCSAA, joined the Grassroots Ambassador program in 2018. He served on the GCSAA Government Affairs Committee from 2019 to 2022 and has attended National Golf Day on several occasions. Ferren was also involved in the development and implementation of Florida’s state golf course best management practices (BMP) guidelines.

Mack, a 19-year GCSAA member, joined the Grassroots Ambassador program in 2015 and has served on the Georgia GCSA Board of Directors for nearly five years. He was initially paired with Rep. Douglas Collins (R-GA) and for the last two years has worked with Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA). He has hosted Clyde at Big Canoe to discuss issues for the golf industry, including the importance of the H-2B visa program. During National Golf Day, he discussed the importance of labor expansion and golf as a responsible environmental steward with Clyde.

Murphy has been a Grassroots Ambassador for two years after being recruited to fill a spot in Mississippi, and he is paired with Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). Through the program, Murphy has used his platform to get ahead of the negative press that is common in his district in Mississippi.