Terry Bonar, CGCS, can add Hall of Famer to his long list of career accomplishments.
The 2009 USGA Green Section Award winner, long-time TurfNet member and former TurfNet Superintendent of the Year finalist, Bonar recently was elected into the Northern Ohio GCSA.
Bonar worked at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio from 1963 until his retirement in 2010. He was the assistant for 18 years and was named head superintendent in 1984. The only interruption in his tenure there was in the 1960s, when he served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
During his time at Canterbury the course was the site of the 1979 U.S. Amateur and the 1996 U.S. Senior Open. It is scheduled to host next year's U.S. Senior PGA Championship. In recognizing Bonar's accomplishments the Green Section cited his efficient use of water and work mentoring employees. According to the Green Section there are more than 50 Bonar protégés who have moved up from the ranks of assistant or intern to work in other positions in the industry. Bonar also is a pioneer in the use of lightweight mowers to maximize turf health and playability.
He is a past recipient of the Mal McLaren Award, presented by the Northern Ohio GCSA and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Professional Excellence Award. He was a finalist for the 2003 Superintendent of the Year Award was won by Paul Voykin of Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield, Illinois. Three of Bonar's former instructors at Penn State, Burt Musser, Joe Duich, Ph.D., and Houston Couch, Ph.D., also are Green Section Award winners.