Ben White, assistant superintendent from the Markland Wood Golf Club in Etobicoke, Ont., is the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award winner for 2019.
The CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year award recognizes the specific achievements of a golf course assistant superintendent whose performance and contributions to the success of the facility go beyond those that would normally be expected.
The award is presented to an individual who has contributed to his or her golf facility in a significant way and who has demonstrated professionalism, leadership, innovation and a team approach at work.
White has been in the golf course industry for 27 years. He is going into his 13th season with Markland Wood. Before that, he was chemical/irrigation technician from 2002-2007at Lambton Golf and Country Club and 1999-2002 at Weston Golf and Country Club, both in Toronto.
Owen Russell, MS, nominated White for the award.
“Superintendents face many challenges to provide playing conditions, given the weather and budgets that they are provided,” said Russell.
“Ben was highly involved in the devastating flood repairs we completed in 2013, the greens resurfacing project as a result of ice damage in 2014 and the construction of a new practice facility in 2016,’ he said.
“It makes the challenge much easier when you have a trustworthy, dedicated partner to assist you. We started our golf course maintenance careers together in March of 1992 at Weston Golf and Country Club,” added Russell.
“I have witnessed Ben grow from a young 15-year-old with a weed eater in his hand into the well-respected industry professional he is today. He has invested 27 years of hard work into three private clubs in the Toronto area,” he said.
“Ben’s experience is coupled with his technical expertise as he completed both the Short Course at the University of Guelph and the Penn State Turfgrass Management World Campus Program. In my opinion, Ben White is the Assistant Superintendent of the Year, every year,” said Russell.
CGSA president Greg Austin adds that White’s attitude is contagious.
“Those closest to Ben White describe him like this. He goes above and beyond in all things. He exemplifies the highest standard of integrity. Ben is someone that leads by example. He is a quiet leader. Ben is the go-to guy. He makes everyone around him better,” he said.
Josh Tubbs, senior marketing manager for the Toro Company, says people such as White benefit the industry.
“Toro is proud to honour outstanding assistant superintendents like Ben, who represent the next generation of industry leaders. We look forward to hosting Ben and a group of his assistant superintendent peers for networking and education during the upcoming Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents,” he said,
As the CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year winner, White will receive an All-Access registration to the Canadian 2020 Golf Course Management Conference in Ottawa from March 1-5, four nights accommodation and transportation costs.
Toro will provide a stipend for meals and incidental expenses during the conference.
White is also invited to attend the Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents, an exclusive event hosted at the Toro Company headquarters in Bloomington Minn, in August of each year, including round-trip airfare and accommodations during the event.