In the wake of World War II, a horse by the name of Assault made history in 1946 as the first and only Texas-bred thoroughbred to win horse racing's Triple Crown.
Not since Assault, with Warren Mehrtens aboard, has another horse from Texas won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. But after 71 years, Texas finally has another Triple Crown winner.On Tuesday, Dec. 19, Anthony Williams, CGCS at TPC Four Seasons in Irving, Texas, became a winner of one of golf's triple crowns when he was named the Overall and National Private course winner of the Environmental Leaders in Golf Award. Williams, 53, also was the winner in the resort division in 2005 at Pine Isle Resort and the public course division a year later at Stone Mountain Golf Club, both in Georgia. He is the first superintendent to win the award in all three domestic categories.
It is the second time Williams, who worked 30 years for Marriott before starting at the TPC facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex earlier this year, won an ELGA in his first year at property.
"It is not lost on me how rare this is," Williams said. "To come back after being retired in a different category and a different state and achieve level of stewardship is rewarding."
Jay Neunsinger of Boundary Oak Golf Course in Walnut Creek, California was the National Public Course winner., and Scott Main, CGCS at Mauna Kea Resort in Kohala Coast, Hawaii, was the National Resort course winner. The awards, which are presented annually by GCSAA and Golf Digest in cooperation with Syngenta, recognize golf course superintendents and their courses for overall course management excellence and best management practices in the areas of water conservation, water quality management, energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste management, wildlife and habitat conservation, communication and outreach, and leadership.
Winners will be recognized Tuesday, Feb. 6, during the Opening Night Celebration of the 2018 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. Winners will also be featured in upcoming issues of Golf Digest and GCSAA's official monthly publication, Golf Course Management magazine.
The 2009 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year, Williams has a long list of awards to his credit including: Georgia GCSA Superintendent of the Year (2014), GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Award (2014), Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association Environmental Communicator of the Year (2011), GCSAA President's Award for Stewardship (2010) and the J.W. Marriott Award of Excellence (2008).
"We'll add this one to the trophy case and move on to the next one," Williams said.
"Everything I know about stewardship and character, it's not in me not to try to take a property to the next level. It's the best way to produce the best playing conditions and healthy club financials."
ELGA chapter winners (facility, location, chapter):
> Stephen Britton, CGCS, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac, Maryland., Mid-Atlantic AGCS.
> Mark Condos, Las Positas Golf Course, Livermore, California, GCSA of Northern California.
> Matthew Gourlay, CGCS, Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kansas, Heart of America GCSA.
> Gary L. Heath, Glendoveer Golf and Tennis, Portland, Oregon, Oregon GCSA.
> Gary Ingram, CGCS, Metropolitan Golf Links, Oakland, California, California GCSA.
> Bobby Jaeger, Lake Tahoe Golf Course, South Lake Tahoe, California, Sierra Nevada GCSA.
> Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS, Candler Hills Golf Club, Ocala, Florida, Florida GCSA.
> Mark Krick, CGCS, Fox Hollow and Homestead Golf Courses, Lakewood, Colorado, Rocky Mountain GCSA.
> Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, New Jersey, New Jersey GCSA.
> Wayne Mills, La Cumbre Country Club, Santa Barbara, California, GCSA of Southern California.
> Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut, Metropolitan GCSA.
> Charles "Roby" Robertson IV, CGCS, TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona, Cactus & Pine GCSA.
> Ian Schlather, TPC River's Bend, Maineville, Ohio, Greater Cincinnati GCSA.
> Carl D. Thompson, CGCS, Columbia Point Golf Course, Richland, Washington, Inland Empire GCSA.
> Marc Weston, CGCS, Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, Connecticut, Connecticut AGCS.
ELGA merit winners (facility, location, chapter):
> Michael Bednar, Palouse Ridge Golf Club, Pullman, Washington, Inland Empire GCSA.
> Dave Davies, CGCS, TPC Stonebrae, Hayward, California, GCSA of Northern California.
> Troy Flanagan, The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California, GCSA of Northern California.
> Darin Pakkala, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, California, California GCSA.