One of the highlights from the 2010 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Education Conference in San Diego was the 23 GCSAA certified golf course superintendents being honored for 25 years of maintaining their certified status.

"Twenty-five percent of GCSAA's Class A members have achieved the highest level of recognition through the CGCS professional designation," said GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, who has held the CGCS designation for 24 years. "This program requires their demonstration of a higher set of competencies in golf course management through testing and practical application. Employers can feel confident they employ a career professional who have made the commitment to professional development."

In addition to the 23 GCSAA certified golf course superintendents who were honored for 25 years of certification, nine newly certified superintendents were recognized at the event, as well as those celebrating 15-, 20-, 30- and 35+ year anniversaries. The certification luncheon was sponsored by Syngenta. USGA Vice President Cameron Jay Rains delivered the keynote speech.

To qualify for GCSAA's competency-based certification program, a candidate must have at least three years experience as a golf course superintendent, be employed in that capacity and meet post-secondary educational requirements and/or continuing education points. The candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities are validated through the development of a portfolio consisting of their responses to skill statements, case-study scenarios and submission of work samples; an on-site inspection of their golf facility; and a rigorous six-hour examination covering: equipment, irrigation systems, materials and technology; golf course and grounds; human resources, rules of golf, financial and administrative systems, regulatory and programmatic systems, crisis management, project management and ethics and values.

Maintaining certified status requires renewal every five years after the initial date of certification. To fulfill certification renewal requirements, a candidate must participate in 150 hours of continuing education and professional development. Three hundred twenty-eight GCSAA certified superintendents renewed their certification in 2009.

GCSAA certified superintendents honored for 25 years of certification in San Diego:

* Neil D. Acton, CGCS, Deer Creek Golf and Country Estates, Ajax, Ontario
* John V. Andersen, CGCS, PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
* Thomas W. Athy, CGCS, Omaha (Neb.) Country Club
* John C. Cummings, CGCS, Elkview, W.Va.
* Craig L. Elms, CGCS, Oklahoma City (Okla.) Golf and Country Club
* Thomas C. Fischer, CGCS, Libertyville, Ill.
* Randal C. Gai, CGCS, Claremont Country Club, Oakland, Calif.
* Mark E. Gorga, CGCS, Briarwood Country Club, Sun City West, Ariz.
* Thomas J. Gray, CGCS, Cordevalle Golf Club, San Martin, Calif.
* Gregory A. Hansen, CGCS, Grass Groomers, Little Rock, Ark.
* Larry C. Hantle, CGCS, The Country Club of Paducah (Ky.)
* LeRoy Kruse, CGCS, Gateway Hills Golf Course, Lackland AFB (San Antonio)
* Richard J. Lavine, CGCS, Foxtail Golf Club, Rohnert Park, Calif.
* Tony W. Littrell, CGCS, Midland Trail Golf Club, Eastwood, Ky.
* Patrick D. McCabe, CGCS, The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
* Walter C. Montross, CGCS, Westwood Country Club, Vienna, Va.
* William K. Moore, CGCS, Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club, Valrico, Fla.
* Brian W. Morris, CGCS, Blue Rock Spring Golf Club, Vallejo, Calif.
* Michael J. O'Connor, CGCS, Green Space Environmental, Williston, Vt.
* Alton V. Sheffield, CGCS, North Ridge Country Club, Raleigh, N.C.
* Lynn A. Thompson, CGCS, Western Hills Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio
* Randall C. Wahler, CGCS, Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, Ill.
* Jeffrey Wetterling, CGCS, Greenacres Country Club, Lawrence Township, N.J.

GCSAA certified golf course superintendents who reach the 25-year mark of maintaining their GCSAA certification status in 2010 will be honored at the next GCSAA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the 2011 Golf Industry Show, Feb. 7-11 in Orlando.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.