Heaton’s story in the January issue of GCM offered real-world tips on supervising employees from different generations
Lawrence, Kan. — Jeff Heaton, the GCSAA Class A golf course superintendent at Lake Geneva Country Club in Lake Geneva, Wisc., has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Leo Feser Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Now in its 44th year, the award is presented annually to the author of the best superintendent-written article published in Golf Course Management, the association’s flagship publication, during the previous year.
An 11-year member of GCSAA, Heaton authored the story “Bridging the generation gap,” which was published in the January 2021 edition of GCM. The story offered real-world tips and suggestions on supervising and working with employees from different generations, honed through Heaton’s increased use of high school and college students to round out his in-season golf course maintenance team at the resort course he manages along the shores of Lake Geneva in southeast Wisconsin.
Jeff Heaton, the GCSAA Class A golf course superintendent at Lake Geneva Country Club in Lake Geneva, Wisc.
Heaton’s story detailed steps he took to increase motivation and decrease absenteeism among this “Gen Z” workforce, generally between the ages of 18 and 21, steps that included raffles, doughnuts and pizza, golf privileges and flexible hours. In the end, there were more wins than losses, and among some, even interest in pursuing a career in the turf industry. “Perhaps there is more to this success story still to be written,” Heaton wrote.
GCSAA President Mark F. Jordan, says, “Superintendents from coast to coast can identify with Jeff’s challenges in filling out his maintenance staff and the unique direction he took to do that. But it was the lessons that Jeff learned about managing across different generations and his willingness to share those lessons with others that are especially noteworthy. I commend Jeff on his interest in writing this story for GCM and congratulate him on being selected as the recipient of the 2021 Leo Feser Award.”
Heaton will officially receive the award Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m. in GCM’s booth on the trade show floor (No. 2455) during the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego. He will also have his name engraved on a plaque that is permanently displayed at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan.
The Leo Feser Award honors the late Leo Feser, a pioneering golf course superintendent and a charter member of GCSAA. Feser is credited with keeping the association’s official publication alive during the Great Depression. For three years, 1933-36, he wrote, edited, assembled and published each issue of The Greenkeepers’ Report — as the association’s magazine was known then — from his home in Wayzata, Minn. The award was first presented in 1956 and has been given annually since 1977. Members of GCSAA’s GCM Editorial Board Task Group select the winner of the award each year.
For a complete list of previous Leo Feser Award winners, go to www.gcsaa.org/about-gcsaa/awards/leo-feser-award.
About GCSAA
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 19,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
The GCSAA Foundation is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to secure funding and support to strengthen advocacy, education, and research that advances the work of golf course management professionals. Visit the Foundation at www.gcsaa.org/foundation.
Contact:
Angela Hartmann
Director, Marketing and Communications
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 3647 or 785-393-1361 (cell)
ahartmann@gcsaa.org
Mike Strauss
Manager, Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 5164
mstrauss@gcsaa.org
