Anthony L. Williams, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club by Marriott, has been selected by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Board of Directors to receive the 2010 GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.
The award will be presented during the 2010 GCSAA Education Conference on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The conference (February 8-12) will be held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show (February 10-11) at the San Diego Convention Center.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Anthony, who is an innovative and tireless environmental steward,” said Mark Kuhns, GCSAA president. “He not only goes to great lengths to identify and implement new ways to improve his facility’s environmental stewardship efforts, but he continues to share his findings and best management practices with his peers, as well as mentoring so many others.”
Williams worked with the University of Georgia to develop a detailed water-quality testing program. He played an integral role in the work of the GCSAA’s Georgia chapter with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division on a ground-breaking water conservation initiative, creating the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Conservation Program. Williams has helped mentor many colleagues about water conservation and has been instrumental in securing the commitment of 97 percent of chapter members participating in the Georgia BMPs for Water Conservation Program. He also continues to assist other superintendents and chapters across the country in creating their own BMP water conservation programs.
A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Marriott’s Stone Mountain Golf Club is a 36-hole public facility located 16 miles from Atlanta. Williams developed a maintenance plan that resulted in Marriott’s hotel property at Stone Mountain, the Evergreen Conference Resort, being recognized as the first hotel to become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Williams hosts Green Links, a feature on The Environmental Institute for Golf’s Web site, www.eifg.org, that highlights a different case study in its EDGE publication each month. Williams has authored two case studies for EDGE—the first focuses on water conservation and management at Stone Mountain, and the second is a collection of effective integrated pest management initiatives.
A 13-year GCSAA member, Williams holds an associate’s degree in horticulture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He is one of only approximately 1,800 individuals in the world currently holding the GCSAA certified golf course superintendent designation. Williams is also a certified grounds manager, certified turfgrass professional, certified ornamental landscape professional, certified arborist, certified pool and spa operator, and a certified Georgia master gardener.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.