As another golf season begins to wind down across Ontario, I think many of us can look back on 2026 as another season that demonstrated the resilience, adaptability and professionalism of golf course superintendents and their teams.

Ontario had many opportunities this season to showcase the quality of our golf courses and, more importantly, the people who maintain them. Several Ontario CGSA members and their teams hosted major national and professional championships this year.





In turfgrass management, balance is at the core of nearly everything we do. We balance moisture and oxygen. Playability and plant health. Risk and reward. We constantly make adjustments, knowing that pushing too hard in one direction often comes at the expense of something else. While golfers may only see the final product, we understand that healthy, resilient turf is rarely created through extremes. It is created through consistency, observation, and thoughtful decision-making.

Registration is Now Open for The 2027 Canadian Golf Course Management Conference and Tradeshow:

Sean Brillinger, MS, AGS is the Newest Master Superintendent in Canada!

CGSA and Envu Announce Wade Peckham as the 2026 CGSA/ENVU Superintendent of the Year Award Recipient

Please join the CGSA in welcoming the following new members and/or members who rejoined recently:

For any membership inquiries, contact Lori Micucci.

• Cole Forbes, Greens Keeper Brule Point Golf Tatamagouche NS
• Lilly Goetting, Student Panorama BC
• Dominic Kerr, Student Scarborough ON
• Keenan Lewis, Student Olds College Winnipeg MB
• Dane Seidlitz, Student Vancouver BC
• Paul Theoret, Superintendent GOLF ST-ANICET QC. St-Anicet QC
• Derrick Wells, Superintendent PGA National Palm Beach Gardens FL
• Ronan Willard, DTM Student Guelph ON
• Brian William, Student Winnipeg MB

More Than Turf Photo Contest

We know many of our members are talented photographers, and we want to showcase your work! Submit your favorite photos for a chance to win prizes - and, of course, bragging rights.

2026 Contest Categories

📸 Animals

📸 Landscape

📸 Sunrise/Sunset

Prizes Include:

• Your winning photo professionally framed
• CGSA gift pack
• Featured recognition in CGSA publications

Each month, submissions will be featured in GreenMatter and on CGSA social media channels. One winning photo, selected by the Communications & Editorial Committee, will also appear in each edition of GreenMaster. The grand prize winners will be announced in January 2027.

Click here to view the 2025 submissions for some inspiration!

How to Enter:

Email your photos to: cgsa@golfsupers.com

* Submitted photos may be used in CGSA publications, marketing materials, and promotional content.

Photo Submitted by David Linstead of Bridges Golf Course in the early morning.

2026 National Tournament Program

The 2026 National Tournament Program is now into October, and the CGSA is proud to recognize the final superintendent members hosting these prestigious events with a commemorative plaque in appreciation of their contributions and commitment to excellence.

We’ve added lots of photos from recent plaque presentations to this issue, and we’ll continue to share more member profiles and photos showcasing the exceptional work being done by our members and their teams at host facilities. Click this link to view the latest highlights.

To view the complete 2026 National Tournament Schedule, click here. 

CGSA Vice President Cameron Kusiek (left) presenting Dustin Zdan, AGS (middle) and Carter Lintott, Assistant Superintendent (right) with his National Tournament plaque.

CGSA 2026 Award Programs

The CGSA offers a variety of award programs that recognize the achievements, leadership, and contributions of its members in the golf course management profession.



These awards provide an opportunity to showcase the exceptional work of golf course professionals and highlight their dedication to their facilities, teams, the environment, and the golf industry.

Several of our award programs are sponsored in whole or in part by valued industry partners. We sincerely appreciate their support, which enables the CGSA to provide meaningful recognition to deserving award recipients.



We invite you to nominate a deserving colleague or apply for one of the 2026 CGSA awards. Review the award programs and deadline dates below to find the opportunity that best fits you or a fellow CGSA member.

November 30th Deadline Dates:

• John B. Steel Award
• CGSA/Rain Bird Environmental Achievement Award - Step Two
• CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award
• CGSA/Prairie Turf Equipment - Equipment Technician of the Year Award
• CGSA Student Scholarship Awards
• Gordon Witteveen Award (GreenMaster articles submitted including the Winter issue) 

For more information, click here or contact Lori Micucci. 

Industry News

Register for the Upcoming Webinar on the Sustainable Golf Pathway:

Register for the Upcoming Webinar HERE.

Join CGSA, NGCOA Canada, the GEO team and special guests on October 28 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET for a practical conversation about the Sustainable Golf Pathway, how it works and the real business value it can bring to your facility.

Have a specific question you'd like addressed live?

Send it ahead of time to Blair Breen at bbreen@ngcoa.ca and we’ll do our best to cover it during the webinar.

Click here for more information.

NTRF: Winter survivability begins long before snow arrives. Explore NTRF-funded research to learn the latest in how turfgrass species respond to hardening, de-hardening, cold temperatures and extended ice cover.

Featured Research:

• Survivability of Poa Annua Subjected to Forced Hardening
• Effects of Ethylene Inhibition on Creeping Bentgrass and Annual Bluegrass Survival of Ice Cover Stress
• Evaluation of Cold Tolerance of Tall Fescue Cultivars After De-Hardening Events to Improve Tall Fescue Breeding Strategies for Cold Climates

Click here to access the full research library.

Target Specialty Products Canada Launches New Website, Article written by Emmie Dundon: Target Specialty Products is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned Canadian website, www.target-specialty.ca

“We started from scratch and looked at this entirely from our customers’ point of view—asking what we could provide to help both Turf and Pest Management professionals enhance their operations and enjoy a seamless buying experience,” stated Mark Scenna, Director of Target’s Canadian business. 

Click here to read the full article.

Golfmax Feature:

2% Discount at Invoice on Professional Turf Products:

BrettYoung is a major supplier of turf products throughout Canada with distribution in Winnipeg, MB; Saskatoon, SK; Leduc, AB; Calgary, AB; Vancouver, BC; and Ontario. NGCOA Canada members receive a 2% discount at invoice on professional turf products. 

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

• Agronomic Testing
• Fertilizer 
• Accessories
• Soil Amendments
• Erosion Control Products
• Equipment
• Control Products
• Turf and Native Seed

Click here for more information.

Clear Health

Click here to view the quarterly newsletter for Clear Health Benefits.

Homewood Health

What is Homewood Health (Pathfinder Comprehensive)! 

The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) is pleased to announce that, Homewood Health (Pathfinder Comprehensive) is now the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association's new Employee Assistance and Workplace Mental Health Program. This is an add-on Member Benefit for $60 plus tax.

We have chosen Homewood Health because it offers a more comprehensive range of services designed to support the mental health, well-being, and overall wellness of our members and their families.

As a CGSA member, you and your eligible dependent family members will have access to a wide variety of confidential employee assistance, mental health, and wellness services.

For more information, please click here.

To read a copy of the October Life Lines, please click here.

If you would like to sign up for this benefit, please contact Lori Micucci at the CGSA office.

VENNGO Perks

 All YEAR ROUND SPECIALS

• Health Specials
• On the Go - Locations
• e-Card Savings
• Entertainment Savings
• Travel Savings

VIDEO ON HOW TO USE MEMBERPERKS

To see the benefits of using Memberperks, please click here.

Check out the newest MemberPerks and discover even more ways for you and your family to have fun and save this month.

Log in to your MemberPerks account to explore all the latest offers and exclusive deals available all year round!

If you are not currently a subscriber to Venngo, please contact Lori at lmicucci@golfsupers.com to be added to the list.