Past-presidents and environmental leaders enter Georgia Superintendents Hall of Fame

Mark Hoban (left) and Buck Workman

Two past presidents and leaders in environmental turfgrass management are the latest inductees to the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Hall of Fame: Mark Hoban, from Rivermont Golf Club in Johns Creek, and Buck Workman, CGCS, from Cateechee Golf Club in Hartwell.

Hoban led the association in 1991-92, was Superintendent of the Year in 2002 and received the Distinguished Service Award in 2017. He is widely known for pioneering efforts in organic turfgrass management in the belief that healthy soil can reduce the need for fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. His work was recognized with the Environmental Leader in Golf Award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation in 2014.

Workman was Georgia GCSA president in 2001 and Superintendent of the Year in 2005. In 2000, he received the Environmental Leader in Golf Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in the public course category. He was a runner-up in the natural resource conservation category of those awards in 2019.

The Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame is presented in partnership with the Jerry Pate Co.

Another past president (1999-2000), Jim Dusch, from Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, was named Superintendent of the Year, presented in partnership with Corbin Turf and Ornamental Supply, at a banquet attended by 230 people. Slade Tant, from The Savannah Golf Club in Savannah, was honored as Assistant Golf Course Superintendent of the Year. As a result, Tant will serve as assistant superintendent liaison to the board of directors in 2022.

In other news from the annual meeting, Chris Steigelman, CGCS, from The Landings Club in Savannah was elected president. Steigelman, is director of grounds and projects at The Landings Club. Tommy Hewitt, from Windermere Golf Club in Cumming, was elected vice-president. The new secretary-treasurer is Lydell Mack, CGCS, from Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper.

Other highlights from the annual meeting included:

• Skin Edge, from GeorgiaLink, won the Distinguished Service Award for two decades of government relations advocacy on behalf of the Georiga GCSA and the Georgia golf industry.
• Mark Hendricks, of Greenville Turf and Tractor, received the President’s Award.
• Rhett Baker won his third Georgia GCSA superintendent golf championship, presented in partnership with Greenville Turf and Tractor, to go with previous wins in 2018 and 2019. The win earns him a start in the 2022 Georgia State Mid-Amateur Championship.
• The association recognized the work of Aaron Saunders, director of golf course maintenance, and Andy Brown, golf course superintendent, in presenting excellent conditions for the championship on the Pine Lakes course.
• The Georgia GCSA presented two checks totaling more than $50,000 to the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation. The money was raised from donated tee times in Georgia during Rounds 4 Research auctions in 2020 and 2021 and will fund turfgrass research projects in the state.
• The association presented 25-year membership pins to Shannon Marion, of Greenville Turf and Tractor, Chuck Moore, from King and Prince Golf Course, and Mike Nettles, from Trident Lakes Golf Club.
• Moore also won a grill in the annual raffle presented in partnership with Bulloch Fertilizer.
• Tommy Hewitt won the sporting clays championship presented in partnership with Syngenta.
• The association recognized Eric Dickerson, from Reynolds Lake Oconee – Great Waters, on winning GCSAA’s Most Valuable Technician Award in 2020.