Category: Award Winners

2021 Superintendent of the Year

Troy Flanagan, The Olympic Club

This award is presented annually to a superintendent who has made contributions for the betterment of the GCSANC, its members and the golf course superintendent’s profession. Evaluation criteria for this award includes local or national committee participation, community service that represents the industry in a positive light, or local association participation.

2021 George Santana Distinguished Service Award

Don Naumann, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply

This award is presented to an individual who has displayed the highest level of professionalism while demonstrating a long-standing commitment, dedication and contribution to the GCSANC and the turfgrass industry.

2021 Bert Graves Affiliate Merit Award

Joe Ballmer, Syngenta

This award is presented annually to the Affiliate representative who has made contributions resulting in the betterment of the GCSANC and its members.

2021 Excellence in Turfgrass Management, Private

Ryan Nicholson, Diablo Country Club

This award is presented to a superintendent member who maintains his/her private facility to a standard that reflects consistent, high quality playing conditions, while displaying exceptional agronomic and management skills. The resourcefulness of this individual is an important consideration in the selection criteria and may include factors such as, budget, site restrictions, rounds of golf, staff size, weather, etc.

2021 Excellence in Turfgrass Management, Public

Steven Hoying, Baylands Golf Links

This award is presented to a superintendent member who maintains his/her facility to a standard that reflects consistent, high quality playing conditions, while displaying exceptional agronomic and management skills. The resourcefulness of this individual is an important consideration in the selection criteria and may include factors such as, budget, site restrictions, rounds of golf, staff size, weather, etc.

2020 Superintendent of the Year: Josh Clevenger, Claremont Country Club:

I’m Josh Clevenger, proud husband, father and Golf Course
Superintendent at Claremont Country Club in Oakland.

Twenty-five years ago, I began my career in golf course maintenance in Reno, NV, working on the crew and starting my education toward becoming a superintendent. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with and for many great people in the industry, all having helped me get to where I am today.

The last eleven years at Claremont have been amazing for my family and me. I thank the Club, the Claremont membership, and the maintenance staff for their support and efforts throughout the years.

I am humbled and honored to receive this award from my peers, and have a great respect for all you do every day. Thank you.

2020 George Santana Distinguished Service Award:

In 1982, Bob Klinesteker (photo: middle)  and his wife, Pam, moved to the Bay Area after Pam accepted a job with an architecture firm in the City. Bob came without a job lined up, but he had his degree in turfgrass management from Michigan State University and had Superintendent experience under his belt.

The first week in town, Bob met with Lou Tonelli at Lake Merced. Lou had told Bob that his resume was better than most of the Superintendents in the area at the time and hired him in the interim. He passed his resume around the Bay Area, and within just a couple of weeks got an opportunity to meet with Kjell Qvale and Sandy Tatum at San Francisco Golf Club, as their superintendent was retiring. It would be the last real interview Bob would need.

Over Bob’s 38 year career, he’s seen and done almost all you can imagine. He’s put in multiple irrigation stations, tackled English daisies with pitch forks, and battled the anguina pacifica nematode. In recent years, he’s been known for putting in bentgrass greens when no one believed it was possible to do so in San Francisco. Look at those greens today and you’ll see otherwise.

When Bob was told of this award being presented to him, his first comment was that he rarely attended events. While accurate, the reply from the Awards Committee would be that you don’t have to attend a meeting to make an impact on an industry, and that is what Bob has done. Whether he knows it or not, he has been a mentor to a lot of the younger guys coming up in the industry, just by making himself available.

While Bob’s time at SF Club winds down, by no means will things be slowing down for him. He’s actively involved with his daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Mason, as they revamp their newly purchased home in Oakland, and no doubt he and Pam have a few trips lined up.

2020 Bert Graves Affiliate Merit Award: Suzanne Johnson, Pacific Material Resources

Unbeknown to Suzanne, her path to Owner and President of Pacific Material Resources started soon after graduating high school. Upon graduation, she got a job with Bank of America. With the help of good mentors, she was able to self-teach the financing and accounting principles that led her into an accounting position with Santa Clara Transfer.

In 2008, Suzanne saw an opportunity to go on her own with Pacific Material Resources. Asked if it was difficult being a woman in the industry, Suzanne said, “it’s ironically not as much of an old boys network as you’d think.”

Being a woman in the industry actually gave Suzanne an opportunity. With many government contracts, there are tax incentives to use locally owned and minority run businesses. Couple that with her hard work and passion for the job she does for her customers, and you have a recipe for success.

Shortly after 2008, Suzanne folded her passion for golf into her business and joined GCSANC to make the contacts in golf. Suzanne got into golf because her husband of 48 years, Steve, wanted to play golf with someone on their vacations. She loves the sport because she can do it individually or take part in a team game when she wants. It’s also relaxing for her after a stressful day at work.

What makes a stressful day for Suzanne? Lately it’s the computer systems, but also meeting customer’ expectations. She always wants to do a good job for her customers, and she puts a lot of pressure on herself to do so.

The most appealing part in the golf industry for Suzanne is researching new products to meet customers’ needs.

In addition to golf, Suzanne likes to run and go boating. Suzanne and Steve have a home on Marla Bay, where they’ll occasionally take the boats or wave runners out to watch the Edgewood Classic.

Suzanne and Steve have two children, Stefania and Shawn, whom she sees as frequently as possible, although they live in Kentucky and San Diego, respectively. She also gets to enjoy her 4 grandchildren, ages 5,4,3,2.