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USGA Green Section Award

The USGA's Green Section Award honors an individual's distinguished service to the game through work with turfgrass. (USGA/Steve Boyle)

Presented annually since 1961, the USGA Green Section Award recognizes an individual’s distinguished service to the game of golf through his or her work with turfgrass, including research, maintenance and other areas that positively impact the landscape upon which golf is played.

Through the work of its Green Section, which was established in 1920, the USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on turfgrass management, as well as research, development and promotion of environmentally friendly practices and a more sustainable game.

USGA Green Section Award Winners

1961 — John Monteith Jr.

1962 — Lawrence S. Dickinson

1963 — O.J. Noer

1964 — Joseph Valentine

1965 — Glenn W. Burton

1966 — H. Burton Musser

1967 — Elmer J. Michael

1968 — James L. Haines

1969 — Fred V. Grau

1970 — Eberhard R. Steiniger

1971 — Tom Mascaro

1972 — Herb and Joe Graffis

1973 — Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson

1974 — Dr. Howard B. Sprague

1975 — Dr. Fanny-Fern Davis

1976 — Dr. James R. Watson

1977 — Edward J. Casey

1978 — Dr. Jesse De France

1979 — Arthur A. Snyder

1980 — Dr. C. Reed Funk

1981 — Dr. Joseph W. Duich

1982 — Charles G. Wilson

1983 — Alexander M. Radko

1984 — Dr. W.H. Daniel

1985 — Dr. Victor B. Youngner

1986 — James B. Moncrief

1987 — Sherwood Moore

1988 — Roy Goss

1989 — James Beard

1990 — Chester Mendenhall

1991 — Dr. Joseph Troll

1992 — Dr. C. Richard Skogley

1993 — Dr. Ralph E. Engel

1994 — Dr. Kenyon (Ken) T. Payne

1995 — David Stone

1996 — Robert M. (Bob) Williams

1997 — Dr. Paul Rieke

1998 — B.J. Johnson

1999 — Dr. Noel Jackson

2000 — L. Palmer Maples Jr.

2001 — Dr. Patricia A. Cobb

2002 — George B. Thompson

2003 — Dr. Houston B. Couch

2004 — Monroe S. Miller

2005 — Peter Cookingham

2006 — Dr. Robert C. Shearman

2007 — Dr. Joe Vargas Jr.

2008 — Ted Horton

2009 — Terry Bonar

2010 — Dr. Daniel A. Potter

2011 — Dennis Lyon

2012 — Dr. Wayne Hanna

2013 — Dr. Victor Gibeault

2014 — Dr. Peter Dernoeden

2015 — Dr. Patricia J. Vittum

2016 — Dr. Bruce Clarke

2017 — Dr. Norman Hummel

2018 — Tim Hiers

2019 — Michael T. Huck

2020 — Dr. William Meyer

2021 — No Award Given (COVID-19 pandemic)

2022 — Frank Dobie

2023 — Roch Gaussoin, Ph.D.

2024 — Bob Farren