Mitchell Savage, CGCS at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado, has been named the recipient of the GCSAA's 2024 Excellence in Government Affairs Award.
Savage, at right, is recognized for his advocacy efforts on several issues in Colorado in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain GCSA, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Section of the PGA and Mile-High Chapter of the Club Management Association of America.
The Excellence in Government Affairs Award is presented annually to a chapter, superintendent or coalition for outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government affairs. Savage will receive the award Feb. 1 during the Government Affairs Session at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix.
Savage served on the Rocky Mountain GCSA board and previously led its government affairs committee. Today, he still works closely with the Colorado Golf Coalition and has played a key role in the drive to maintain uniform state-wide pesticide regulations in Colorado.
The award recognizes Savage's proactive approach in advocating for state control of pesticide regulations and for being an influential voice in the Colorado golf industry. Having testified numerous times before state legislative committees in Denver, he always shows up fully prepared with a succinct message and several examples that support his efforts on behalf of the Colorado golf industry.
"I am incredibly honored that my peers from Rocky Mountain GCSA thought that my efforts on behalf of our association and coalition were worthy of a nomination for this award," Savage, said in a news release. "Winning this award reaffirms that the work we are doing in the state of Colorado with our golf coalition is making a difference and hopefully serving as a model for others to follow in advocacy efforts around the country."
A 2019 winner of GCSAA's Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award, Savage is paired with Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) as part of the Grassroots Ambassador Program. In his work as a Grassroots Ambassador.
He remains active on behalf of the golf industry in issues regarding regulations affecting pesticide use and availability.
"Our profession is doing some amazing things with advocacy, and I am excited and honored to be a part of the industry-wide efforts," Savage said. "There will never be too many people on the team, and there is always a need for more individuals to answer the bell and stand up and advocate for the golf course management profession."
Previous Excellence in Government Affairs Award winners:
2023 - Kenneth Benoit Jr., CGCS
2022 - Cactus and Pine GCSA
2021 - California Alliance for Golf
2020 - Peter J. Gorman
2019 - Robert Nielsen, CGCS
2018 - Jack MacKenzie, CGCS
2017 - Rory Van Poucke
2016 - Hi-Lo Desert GCSA
2015 - Florida GCSA
2014 - Anthony L. Williams, CGCS
2013 - Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents
2012 - Jay Nalls
2011 - P.J. McGuire, CGCS
2010 - Carolinas GCSA, Michael Crawford, CGCS (Advocacy); Richard Gagnon (Compliance)
2009 - Tim Hiers, CGCS, The Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
2008 - Michael Maffei, CGCS, Morefar Golf Course, Brewster, N.Y.; Peter McDonough, GCSAA Class A superintendent, The Keswick (Va.) Club; Richard Staughton, CGCS, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, Woodstock, Ga. (Advocacy)
2007 - Douglas C. Lowe, CGCS, at Greensboro Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., Georgia GCSA
2006 - Michael A. Stachowski, superintendent at the Golf Course of Concordia in Cranbury, N.J. (Advocacy); Patrick Blum, superintendent at Colonial Acres Golf Course in Glenmont, N.Y. (Compliance)
2005 - Craig A. Hoffman, superintendent at The Rock Golf Course on Drummond Island, Mich.; Stephen A. Kealy, CGCS at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Wash.; Kenneth N. Lallier, CGCS at The Quechee Club in Hartford, Vt. (Advocacy); Sean A. Kjemhus, golf course superintendent at Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club in Canmore, Alberta (Compliance)
2004 - Mark Esoda, CGCS at Atlanta (Ga.) Country Club; Jim Husting, CGCS at Woodbridge (Calif.) Golf and Country Club (Advocacy); Francis J. “Bud” O’Neill III, CGCS, formerly of Wild Quail Golf and Country Club in Wyoming, Del.; Peter Pierson, recently retired superintendent from Pequabuck Golf Club in Cromwell, Conn. (Compliance)
2002-2003 - Dean Graves, superintendent at Chevy Chase (Md.) Club (Advocacy); Joe McCleary, CGCS at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, Colo. (Compliance)