As a longtime golf course superintendent and general manager, Pat Finlen logged countless hours providing ongoing education to colleagues and aspiring superintendents in locations both near and far.
He taught at events throughout Europe and Asia and has been a regular lecturer at national, state and regional events, including the GCSAA Conference, Green Start Academy in North Carolina and the Northern California Golf Association's Assistant Superintendent Bootcamp. Finlen (at right) also served his profession as a past GCSAA president, sat on 29 association committees and is a past president of three different GCSAA chapters.
For his many contributions to the turf maintenance industry, Finlen has been named the recipient of the GCSAA's 2025 Col. John Morley Award. Named for the GCSAA’s founder, the award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent profession.
He will be presented with the award on Feb. 5 during the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.
"Personally, I have learned immensely from Pat's leadership and commitment during his tenure on the board and as GCSAA president," GCSAA president Jeff White, CGCS at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kansas, said in a news release. "His approach has profoundly influenced the way I serve and guide our association."
Currently the vice president of Denehy Club Thinking Partners, a Connecticut-based executive search firm, Finlen was a superintendent for 27 years at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside, California, and Lake Quivira Country Club in Kansas. He also was general manager at Olympic and Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, California for nearly 10 years combined.
At Olympic he was the host superintendent for the 2012 U.S. Open, a U.S. Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur and the inaugural U.S. Four-Ball Championship.
"His strategic thinking and visionary leadership have been invaluable to our success," said GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans.
Finlen, who was selected from a list of other candidates, was GCSAA president in 2013 and was named chapter superintendent of the year in 1996 by the Heart of America chapter and in 2004 by the Nor Cal chapter.
At Denehy Club since 2022, Finlen leads executive search opportunities nationwide with a regional focus on the West Coast and supports Club Thinking Partner's many consulting projects and still is available for editorial development and education programs.