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2011 OGA Annual Awards Presented at October 14
In recognition of golf course superintendents who are accountable for the quality of the courses that we play, the Superintendent of the Year award goes to Sean Watts of Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington. As Director of Facilities, Watts, and his small crew, are responsible for ALL interior & exterior building maintenance as well as all grounds maintenance including the golf course and 3 hiking trails. He does all of this while sharing the Lodge’s golf maintenance equipment with Orchard Hills Country Club, Hood River Country Club and Beacon Rock Golf Course. Watts, who is also Vice President of the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association, took over an operation that had many unfinished projects on the golf course which he led to completion in two years resulting in increasing the health and playability of the course from tee to green, which they’ve maintained to this day. He also dedicated significant effort in getting Skamania to be just the 12th golf course in Washington to achieve certification as an Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary. In his nomination, Phil Dodd, the former Golf Sales Manager for Skamania Lodge noted, “I’ve been a personal witness to his skills and abilities in supervision and management as well as golf and grounds maintenance.” “He’s a natural leader,” he added. “Because of his leadership skills, crew morale rose significantly in a short period of time. He is friendly and soft spoken but firm in his direction. His leadership style has gained him respect from everyone at Skamania Lodge.” Under Sean’s direction, Skamania Lodge regularly hosts High School students in job-shadow experiences as well as the Forest Youth Success Program, an annual summer program sponsored by Skamania County. This program teaches students environmental stewardship, providing hands-on experience learning how to take water samples to determine quality and enhancing wildlife habitat by monitoring nest sites. |
This year’s award winners included Member of the Year Jim Oberg of Wilsonville, Ore., Handicap Chair of the Year, Ralph Marconi of Lake Oswego, Ore., OGA Director of the Year, Don Clark of Harbor Links Golf Club in Klamath Falls, Ore., OGA Member Club of the Year, Veterans Golf Club of White City, Ore., Facility of the Year, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., Dale Johnson Media Award to John Denny, Sports Editor of the Clackamas Review, Golf Professional of the Year, Scott Erdmann from Oswego Lake Country Club ; Superintendent of the Year,