Idaho superintendent honored for his association magazine article spotlighting his development of software to track golf course maintenance
Lawrence, Kan. (Nov. 29, 2016) – Gerald Flaherty, the certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) at The Valley Club in Hailey, Idaho, has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Leo Feser Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). 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.
Flaherty, a 23-year member of the association, authored the story “Smarter, smoother labor tracking,” published in the October 2015 issue of the magazine. The story highlighted how Flaherty and Jaime Sharp, the head golf professional at The Valley Club, joined forces to develop “taskTracker,” a software application that allowed Flaherty to better track labor and manage golf course maintenance activities at his club.
“I’m really proud of the taskTracker, and it’s allowed me to develop really good relationships with a lot of other superintendents,” Flaherty said. “I always make it a point to read the GCM articles that win the Feser Award, and now to be one of those winners – I’m honored by that.”
“Innovation and creative thinking are critical job requirements for most golf course superintendents. Gerald certainly displayed that in the development of not only the taskTracker product, but also in the story he authored for GCM on the process that brought the software from concept into reality. The story was thorough, informative, entertaining and well-deserving of the Leo Feser Award,” said GCSAA President Pete Grass, CGCS.
As a part of winning the Leo Feser Award, Flaherty receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2017 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, where he will be recognized during the Opening Night Celebration, Tuesday, Feb. 7, which is presented in partnership with Syngenta. He will also have his name engraved on a plaque that is permanently displayed at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan.
The Feser Award honors the late Leo Feser, a pioneer 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 called 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.
Read the award-winning story in GCM.
About GCSAA and the EIFG
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 18,000 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.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org. or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Contact:
Craig Smith, Director, Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 4431 or 785-691-9197 (cell)
csmith@gcsaa.org
