John Newton wins GCSAA award

By Alistair February 19, 2023 09:35

John Newton, CGCS, who served as superintendent of Veenker Memorial Golf Course at Iowa State University (ISU) for 33 years, has received the 2023 Col. John Morley Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), for making a significant contribution to the advancement of the greenkeeper’s profession.

He spent his summers in the early 1970s working at Brooks Golf Club in Okojobi and helped build a course in 1976.

“I was always a morning person and enjoyed being outdoors,” Newton said. “My vision was to become a golf course superintendent, whether that was after finishing college or taking a job.”

Newton worked at Ames Golf and Country Club while completing his degree at Iowa State and moved to Carroll Country Club from 1981 to 1985 before returning to his alma mater. Newton spent 33 years at Veenker Memorial Golf Course at ISU and became a tremendous supporter of Iowa State’s turfgrass programmes, ensuring Veenker served as a living lab for ISU horticulture students.
During Newton’s tenure, he worked with countless ISU turfgrass students pursuing a career in the industry, operating the golf course with mostly student labour and only a few full-time team members.

The number of golf industry careers Newton influenced, from superintendents to researchers, is well over 100.

While he may not have led some of the more higher profile facilities, the impact he has had on the greenkeeping profession has been clearly high profile.

“His passion for the turfgrass management profession, successful track record of mentoring the next generation of superintendents, and consistent delivery of outstanding golf course conditions perfectly aligns with the spirit and criteria of this award,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said.

“I’m overwhelmed and very humbled by this,” Newton said.