University of Georgia’s Scott Griffith named Georgia GCSA’s superintendent of the year

The Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association named Scott Griffith its superintendent of the year. (Photo: Justin Wojtczak)

The Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association (GCSA) named Scott Griffith, CGCS, from the University of Georgia (UGA) Golf Course its superintendent of the year. The association honored Griffith before a crowd of more than 250 people at its annual awards banquet at The King & Prince Beach and Golf Resort in St. Simons Island.

“If you look at the names of the people who have won that award in the past, it’s a pretty strong group of individuals,” Griffith told Golfdom. “(Winning this award) is a testament to the work that I’ve put in through the years.”

Griffith, in his 16th year at the UGA Golf Course, has been at the forefront of Georgia GCSA activities for more than a decade, as a former treasurer, vice president and president. He also hosts an annual fundraising tournament which has generated close to $200,000 for the association’s legacy scholarships.

Griffith is also a nominee to serve on the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America‘s board of directors. He tells Golfdom that after a year away from the Georgia GCSA — following his service as immediate past president — he caught the itch to get back into serving the golf industry.

“I was planning on running next year,” he said. “I enjoyed serving so much in the Georgia chapter. I was out for a year, and found myself trying to get involved. It brought me so much pleasure to serve. I was at a past presidents meeting and the topic came up. I was told ‘Scott, sometimes you’ve got to do it when the timing is right.”

Other highlights from the Georgia GCSA’s awards banquet and conference included:

• The association inducted Richard Staughton, CGCS from Towne Lake Hills Golf Club in Woodstock, and Wade Thomas, from Idle Hour Club, in Macon, into its hall of fame;
• William Shirley, CGCS from Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta, received the Distinguished Service Award;
• Harold Ammons, from Flat Creek Country Club, won the Environmental Leader in Golf Award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation for his efforts in promoting wildlife habitat;
• The association named Michael Dayton, from The Creek Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee, as assistant superintendent of the year. Dayton will serve as assistant superintendent liaison to the board of directors in 2023;
• Association members elected Brandon Hayes, from the Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, as secretary-treasurer, and Heath Allen, from Kinderlou Forest GC, and Jim Dickson, from Sugar Hill GC, to the board of directors. Brad Tremmier, from RiverPines Golf, was reelected to the board.