Georgia superintendents name their Superintendent of the Year

Members of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association have selected Chuck Moore from The King and Prince Golf Course on St. Simons Island as their Superintendent of the Year. Moore was honored in front of about 200 colleagues and industry representatives during the association’s annual awards banquet at The King and Prince Beach Resort.

Moore was selected on the basis of his agronomic expertise along with his extensive support for his colleagues and association over many years. Rick Mattox, general manager at The King and Prince Golf Course, describes Moore as “one of the kindest and most innovative people I have ever known.” “He has provided our facility with a quality product day in and day out since he started,” he adds.

Moore has been superintendent at The King and Prince since the summer of 2000 but his relationship with the Joe Lee design began in 1995. He arrived as an intern under former Georgia GCSA director, Berry Collett, CGCS. He stayed on as a crew member after graduating from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and worked his way up to the assistant superintendent’s role. In 1999, he left for his first golf course superintendent position at Francis Lake Golf Club in Lake Park.

Soon after, Collett accepted the role of director of golf course maintenance at Sea Island Golf Club where he hosts the RSM Classic for the PGA Tour. Moore was immediately invited back and has been at The King and Prince ever since. Over that time Moore has hosted the Georgia GCSA golf championship four times and the association’s bermudagrass conference 10 times.

“Chuck’s dedication to his golf course, his facility and to the betterment of his colleagues sets the bar for all of us,” says new Georgia GCSA president Scott Griffith, from the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens. “He epitomizes what it takes to earn this award, which is the highest honor we can bestow.” The Superintendent of the Year award is presented in partnership with Corbin Turf and Ornamental Supply.

Griffith was elected at the association’s annual business meeting earlier in the day. Tim Busek from The Manor Golf and Country Club in Milton is the new vice-president. The association also elected new directors Mark Hayes from Marietta Country Club in Kennesaw and Lydell Mack from Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper.

Other highlights from the association’s awards banquet include:

• The late Dr. Glen W. Burton was inducted into the Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame. Burton, who lived in Tifton and died at age 95 in 2005, was one of the most decorated plant scientists of his time. Among a long list of honors was the National Medal of Science, which he received from President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1983. It was his work with bermudgrasses that made him an icon in golf. Grasses he developed included Tiffine, Tifway, Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, TifSport and TifEagle, revolutionizing the game for golfers and golf course superintendents in the South. The Hall of Fame is presented in partnership with Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation.
• Mark Hoban from Rivermont Golf and Country Club in Johns Creek received the Distinguished Service Award. Hoban is a past-president (1991-‘92) of the association and was Superintendent of the Year in 2002. He is widely known for his efforts pioneering new territory in organic golf course management.
• Scott May from Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta was named Assistant Superintendent of the Year. May was nominated by L.J. Robinson, golf course superintendent at Cherokee Town and Country Club, South Course who praised May’s commitment, attention to detail, loyalty and care for his colleagues.
• Trey Cutshall from The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face received the Environmental Leader in Golf Award.
• David Noto from Mossy Creek Golf Course in Clarkesville received his trophy for winning a sixth Georgia GCSA superintendent golf championship in the past seven years.
• Wes Denmon from Brookstone Golf and Country Club won the Golden Pen Award for the best superintendent written article to appear in the association’s bi-monthly publication Through The Green. His story was headlined: “My First Year as a Superintendent: Surprises, Support and Satisfaction.”
• Justin Lumpkin from Currahee Club in Toccoa won the Georgia GCSA photography contest.

Photo: Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association