Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association past president Scott Griffith, CGCS, of the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, was recently named the association’s Superintendent of the Year. Griffith was honored before a record crowd of more than 250 people at the association’s annual awards banquet at The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island.
Now in his 16th year at the University of Georgia Golf Course, Griffith, 47, has been at the forefront of Georgia GCSA activities for more than a decade. He has been a tireless champion of best management practices and government relations efforts. He also launched and hosts an annual fundraising tournament that has generated close to $200,000 for the association’s Legacy Scholarships.
As a trustee of the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation, Griffith frequently advocates on behalf of golf and golf course superintendents at events such as the annual Georgia Environmental Conference, the largest gathering of environmental power brokers in the state. He has done the same with lawmakers in Atlanta at Georgia Golf Day and in Washington, D.C., at National Golf Day.
Griffith’s volunteer service has also extended to helping build sports fields for boys in the state foster care system and speaking to veterans through The Warrior Alliance and Operation Double Eagle. That latter volunteer effort is particularly close to his heart, as he served eight years in the U.S. Army Marine Corps Reserves.
In February, he will be among eight candidates vying for three open seats on the GCSAA board of directors. Speaking to Griffith’s candidacy, Georgia GCSA vice president Tim Busek of St Ives Country Club in Johns Creek, said, “Scott commands the work ethic essential to the success of any superintendent and, critically for a GCSAA board member, he has shown time and again that he knows how to lead people and achieve results away from the golf course.”
Other highlights from the Georgia GCSA’s awards banquet and three-day conference include:
- Richard Staughton, CGCS, of Towne Lake Hills Golf Club and Wade Thomas of Idle Hour Club were inducted into the Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame awards were presented in partnership with Jerry Pate Company.
- William Shirley, CGCS, from Peachtree Golf Club, received the Distinguished Service Award.
- Harold Ammons of Flat Creek Country Club won the Environmental Leader in Golf Award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation for his efforts promoting wildlife habitat.
- Michael Dayton of Reynolds Lake Oconee – The Creek Club was named Assistant Superintendent of the Year, and as such will serve as assistant superintendent liaison to the board of directors in 2023.
- Brandon Hayes of Reynolds Lake Oconee – Great Waters was elected secretary-treasurer, and Heath Allen of Kinderlou Forest Golf Club and Jim Dickson of Sugar Hill Golf Club were elected to the board of directors. Brad Tremmier of RiverPines Golf was re-elected.
- Rhett Baker of Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown won his fourth consecutive Georgia GCSA golf championship.
- The association recognized Chuck Moore of King and Prince Golf Course and Dylan Stafford and Ken Lambright of Sea Island Golf Club for presenting excellent conditions for the golf championship.
- The association presented pins for membership milestones. Recipients included Randy Mangum of Corbin Turf & Ornamental Supply, Mike Simons of Forest Hills Golf Course, and Scott Slemp of Piedmont Driving Club for 30 years; Billy Fuller of Billy Fuller Golf Design and Sam Crowe of CGCS Certified Turf Consulting for 40 years; and Randy Nichols, CGCS, and Paul Petrie, CGCS, for 50 years.
- Justin Lumpkin of Currahee Club won the Superintendent Division of the annual Sporting Clays Championship presented in partnership with Syngenta. The Open Division winner was Gary Morris of Legacy Turf Farms.
- Ralph Kepple, CGCS, of East Lake Golf Club and Josh Dunaway, CGCS, of Augusta Country Club each won $1,000 in a last chance raffle presented in partnership with Greenville Turf and Tractor;
- Keith Hood of Eagle Watch Golf Club, won a raffle for an Ironwood 650 Traeger Grill.