A Brief History of Walt Gooder
Some of Walt’s accomplishments:
1982 President, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA)
1984 Founding member, Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation (ATRF)
1986 Founding member, Alberta Golf Superintendents Association (AGSA)
1988 Master Superintendent designation, CGSA
1997 CGSA Superintendent of the Year
2006 AGSA Distinguished Service Award
2008 CGSA John B. Steel Distinguished Service Award
2023 Walt Gooder Distinguished Service Award Winner – Reid Solodan
The Walt Gooder Distinguished Service Award is the AGSA’s highest honor given to a turfgrass professional. It was named after Walter Gooder, who was one of the founding members of the AGSA in 1986. Walt was a mentor to many Superintendents of the AGSA and had a profound influence on shaping our profession both Provincially and Nationally.
This award is given to and individual who excels as a Superintendent in many areas. Some of the criteria include:
Involvement in the AGSA
Mentorship
Community Involvement
Environmental Stewardship
Fellowship
Professionalism
Contribution to the Industry both Provincially & Nationally
This year’s candidate has all those qualities and many more!
He has been at his current club since 2004, he holds the CGSA national designation of Accredited Golf Superintendent. He helped the club become Audubon Certified
He served on the AGSA board of Directors from 2013- 2019 serving as President in 2018. He has hosted many provincial events including those of his peers, the AGSA Championship, and CGSA National Fall Field Day.
He has also received awards on the national Level:
In 2019 he received CGSA/Rain Bird Environmental Achievement of the Year Award
In 2020 he won CGSA Gordon Witteveen Award for Article of the Year for Vermicomposting 101
Somehow, he still has time to serve for his local community. He was a member of the Canmore minor hockey Board of Directors for the past ten years. He is also currently serving as a board member of the Canmore Eagles Junior A hockey team. He has coached in minor hockey at many levels and currently is an Assistant Coach of the Innisfail Eagles Senior Hockey team.
One of the things that always impressed me was that Reid never did anything half fast! If he was on a committee or board, he was all in all the time. This sentiment is echoed with everything he works on. This award is well deserved.
He is supported of course by Terri and their children Rien and Gray.
It is my honor to present my colleague and friend Reid Solodan with the 2023 Walt Gooder Distinguished Service Award.
Mark Begin
Golf Course Superintendent
Medicine Hat Golf & CC
President AGSA
Past Recipients
Year | Recipient |
---|---|
2022 | Jason Clouston |
2021 | Hugh Greene |
2020 | Dustin Zdan |
2019 | Wade Peckham |
2018 | Terry Shinkewski |
2017 | Wade Bishop |
2016 | Keith Blayney |
2015 | Barb Alexander |
2014 | Paul Dodson |
2013 | David Boyd |
2012 | Wayne Brown |
2011 | Bruce Constable |
2010 | Jay Leach |
2009 | Ron Hume |
2008 | Glenn Genereux |
2007 | James Beebe |
2006 | Walt Gooder |
2005 | Dean Morrison |
2004 | Jon Clark |
2003 | John Ing |
2002 | David Sluchinski |
2001 | Debbie Amirault |
2000 | Andrew AuCoin |
2023 | Reid Solodan |