On an annual basis, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association selects an individual who has made “an outstanding contribution to the profession of Golf Course Superintendent” to receive the John B. Steel Award. In 2015, Rob Officer of Winnipeg, Manitoba was the recipient of this Award.
After graduating from Fairview College with a Diploma in Turfgrass Management in 1987, Officer was the Assistant Golf Superintendent or Golf Superintendent at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club (1987 – 1992), Selkirk Golf & Country Club (1993), Swan River Golf & Country Club (1993 – 1994) and Grand Pines Golf Course (1995 – 1997). During his time as a Superintendent, he had 10 staff members go on to become Superintendents. His passion for education and mentorship resulted in him being appointed Lead Instructor at the Fairview College Grounds and Golf Course Program in 1994 – 1995.
Officer’s integral role in developing the Greenspace Program at Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba is another legacy that demonstrates his commitment to the profession. From 1992 to 1997, Officer was an Advisory Committee Member for the Red River College/Assiniboine Community College Turfgrass Management Committee. As Program Facilitator/Instructor (1997 – 2005) and Program Instructor (2005 – 2016) of the Greenspace Management Program and the Program Instructor and Academic Planner (2016 – 2019) of the Civil Engineering and Landscape Technician Programs, Officer taught over 300 graduates including more than 30 who went on to become Golf Superintendents.
Rob Officer’s strong commitment to education included his own by achieving degrees from the University of Winnipeg in Business Administration (2008) and Environmental Studies (2009) and from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Environment (2012).
Officer’s service to the Golf Superintendent profession includes serving on Committees and Boards of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association – Member of Board (1988 – 1998), President (1994 and 1995) and Member, Environmental Resource Manual Committee (1999) – and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association – Member of Board (1992 – 1998), Chair of National Occupational Standards (1994 – 1998), Member of Education and Certification Committee (1994 – 2001) and Member of Public Relations, Communications and Marketing Committee (2005 – 2013). He was also a member of the Membership Standards Committee of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (1997). In addition, he was Vice Chair of the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (1997) and served as a member of the City of Winnipeg Topsoil Advisory Committee (2005 – 2008) and the City of Winnipeg Advisory Committee, Golf Courses Operating Agency (2005 – 2009).
Upon Officer being named recipient of the John B. Steel Award, Daniel Ciekiewicz, Superintendent of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club said: “Rob Officer is synonymous with excellence, commitment, not settling for second best, an outstanding work ethic, professionalism and the development of people.”
Rob Officer is an inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc, September 30, 2019.