Any current GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador is eligible to receive the award. Current members of the GCSAA Board of Directors who serve as ambassadors (or their immediate families) are not eligible to receive an award. GCSAA Government Affairs Committee members are eligible, but cannot participate in the judging process. An ambassador is only eligible to receive the award once per two-year term.

Ambassadors may self-nominate, but nominations may also be submitted by any GCSAA member or non-member on behalf of an ambassador. Nominations should be submitted on a quarterly basis. Nominations not selected during a given quarter may roll over into the following quarter.

Nominees will be judged on how their efforts and outreach to their assigned policymaker via the Ambassador Program has served the interests of the golf course superintendent profession and the golf course management industry. Efforts do not have to be successful for a nominee to receive the award.

The GAL award seeks to highlight advocacy efforts related to:

• Consistent outreach, communication, and interaction with the assigned Congressional office.
• Actions taken to educate the assigned policy maker or his or her staff on issues affecting the superintendent profession.
• Ability to make a policy related “ask” of the assigned lawmaker in support of one or more GCSAA priority issues.

The GAL award recipients will be selected by the GCSAA Government Affairs Committee. Award recipients will be notified of their selection during the last week of each quarter throughout the year.

The GAL award recipients receive:

• All expenses paid attendance at National Golf Day (two-night stay)
• Recognition at National Golf Day
• Recognition in GCSAA publications and websites

2024

2023

Bryce Gibson, CGCS
Dustin Plemons
Patrick Van Vleck, CGCS
Donald Garrett Jr., CGCS

2022

Parker Ferren, CGCS
Lydell Mack, CGCS
Steven Murphy
Christian Sain

2021

Patrick J. Salter, CGCS
Matt Gourlay, CGCS, MG
David H. Robinson, CGCS
Kyle Marshall

2020

Chris Cook
Chris Reverie
Greg Pheneger
Marc Weston, CGCS

2019

Mitch Savage
Kyle Barton
Ryan Swilley
Bill Bieck, CGCS

2018

Greg Brandriet, CGCS
Ben Anderson
Nick Janovich
Anthony L. Williams, CGCS

For more information contact Michael Lee, manager, government affairs, at 800-472-7878, ext. 3612.

Please submit at least a 400-word narrative. Provide as much detail as possible. The following questions should serve as a guide to drafting the narrative:

• How long have you been a Grassroots Ambassador, and why did you join the program?
• Describe how you connected with your assigned policymaker or their staff and any challenges faced.
• Describe the interaction(s) with the assigned policymaker or their staff. Describe meeting details.
• What was the response to the priority issues raised in the meeting? Describe the meeting outcome.
• How will you continue to interact with your Congressional office moving forward?
• Why do you feel advocacy is important?
• What has been most rewarding about working with your Congressional office or about advocacy in general?

Submit a nomination »