The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America this week announced that one of its national awards will go to a Coloradan, Ed Ward, the equipment manager at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland for the last 16 years.
The Edwin Budding Award is presented annually to an equipment manager or related innovator, technician, educator or engineer who has made a significant impact in the golf and turf business.
Ward is being recognized for initiating the development of two equipment lifts designed specifically for golf course machinery. That happened more than 25 years ago, and since then, the 70-year-old has developed accessories for the lifts.
The lifts were produced in Evans, Colorado from 1991 until 2013, when Trion Lifts Inc. was acquired by Alabama-based Turf Pride. The lifts are sold worldwide, being used as far away as New Zealand and Hong Kong.
“I am kind of flying on Cloud 9 right now,” Ward said in a news release. “The last thing I ever expected was to win an award from the GCSAA. I let out a big yell when I hung up the phone after being informed by the GCSAA president. What an honor. I feel so lucky.”
Ward, a licensed aircraft mechanic, began working in the golf industry in 1983, as an equipment technician.
“We are pleased to be able to recognize an equipment manager who has added so much to the profession,” said GCSAA national president Pete Grass. “Equipment managers are vital to the overall operation of any golf facility, and we are indebted to Ed for his accomplishments.”
Ward will be recognized — along with other GCSAA national award winners — on Feb. 7 during the Golf Industry Show, set for Orlando, Fla.
