Walter Perchaylo was involved in the golf maintenance business for more than 50 years and earned a reputation as a mentor to many young superintendents as they started their own careers.
He was born in Poland on June 15, 1936, and arrived in Canada in 1939. He died in Winnipeg Aug. 13, 2008.
Perchaylo served as the golf superintendent at Pine Falls Golf Club from 1960 to 1966, then took over as superintendent at Pine Ridge Golf Club from 1967 to 1987. He was also superintendent at the neighboring Elmhurst Golf and Country Club at the same time in 1968 to 1974.
In 1957-58 he was involved in the surveying and ground work when the Falcon Lake Golf Course was constructed and he also served as a mechanic at Niakwa Country Club from 1995 to 2000. He was the owner of Dew Drop Irrigation from 1987 to 1995 and was also the ice technician at Heather Curling Club from 1970 to 1995.
Perchaylo served on the board of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association from 1962 to 1970 and was the president of that organization in 1969-70. He was also a member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association from 1975 to 1987.He was named Manitoba superintendent of the year in 1986.
Well respected by his peers, Perchaylo was sought out by many in the industry for advice on such subjects as irrigation, equipment repair and innovative methods involved in golf course maintenance.