The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and The Toro Company, the award sponsor, are pleased to announce Dean Piller, AGS of the Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia as the CGSA Gordon Witteveen Award winner for 2021.
The Gordon Witteveen Award, sponsored by The Toro Company, is presented annually by the CGSA to the superintendent or assistant superintendent who has authored the best article for publication in the CGSA GreenMaster magazine during the past year. Dean's article entitled "Managing Your Golf Course Ecosystem", which was published in the Winter 2021 issue of GreenMaster, was judged by a panel of peers and Dean was chosen as the winner.
"It was an honour for me to contact Dean to notify him of this award," said Braydon Gilbert, AGS, CGSA Communications and Editorial Committee Chair. "We want to thank all authors who have contributed to the magazine and encourage members to continue to submit articles for their magazine."
Dean's article chronicles 30 years of managing Cordova Bay acknowledging the ecosystem on this property as the very backbone to the identity and natural beauty that Cordova Bay has established. Dean shares the experience of making the course more environmentally responsible and creating a natural habitat where golfers, flora and fauna could co-exist. To read Dean's article visit: (GreenMaster Winter Issue).
Dean has been a CGSA member since 1985, holds the Accredited Golf Superintendent (AGS) designation and participates on the Communications Editorial Committee. He has been the Superintendent at Cordova Bay Golf Course since 1990 and was the CGSA President in 1999. Dean has been the winner of several CGSA awards including the CGSA Superintendent of the Year in 2010, the CGSA Environmental Achievement Award in 2009, the CGSA/Rain Bird Environmental Achievement Award in 2019 and has been the recipient of the Gord Witteveen award six times in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017 and 2021.
Mr. Piller will receive an All Access conference registration, a cash award of $500 generously donated from the Toro Company and will be presented with the Gordon Witteveen Award during the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.
We hope you will participate and congratulate Dean on winning the 2021 Gordon Witteveen Award. To register for the conference or to attend the awards ceremony please visit The Canadian.
CGSA encourages everyone to submit articles to enhance the magazine and share your story with your colleagues.
Braydon Gilbert, AGS
Chair, Communications Editorial Committee
About CGSA:
The CGSA represents golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, equipment technicians, and others involved in golf course management across Canada. CGSA was founded in 1966 and has over 1,000 members. Its mission is to promote excellence in golf course management and environmental responsibility through the continuing professional development of its members. For more information please visit www.golfsupers.com.
About The Toro Company:
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, including turf, snow and ground engaging equipment and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With sales of $2.4 billion in fiscal 2016, Toro's global presence extends to more than 90 countries. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, Toro and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers care for golf courses, landscapes, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural fields. For more information, visit www.toro.com.
