McCleary Awarded 1st RMGCSA Distinguished Service Award

Joe McCleary, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, received the first Distinguished Service Award from the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association on October 13^th,  2009, at the RMGCSA’s Annual Meeting and Elections held at the Sanctuary Golf Club.

            McCleary, employed by the City of Aurora, has been the Superintendent at Saddle Rock Golf Course for the last 13 years. McCleary received this award for his outstanding contributions to the field of Golf Course Management in the State of Colorado.

            McCleary's participation and volunteerism ranges from the direction and publication of the 2003 Colorado Golf Economic Impact Study, the collection of water usage data from golf courses in the State of Colorado for the 2005 USGS Water Survey, the establishment of the Golf Foundation of Colorado, and the start of the nationally recognized Colorado Golf Carbon Project (with research based in Colorado).

“Joe continues to amaze us with his love for the game of golf, the environment and our profession”, said Dave Cahalane, RMGCSA President.

            McCleary, an ardent environmentalist, has served on the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Environmental Committee, created a Recycling Program at Saddle Rock Golf Course for Aurora residents, and has hosted school groups and the media to successfully illustrate and educate these groups to the benefits that  golf courses serve in the environment.

“Joe McCleary is a very special Golf Course Superintendent with an unbelievable commitment to the environment.  His ability to merge golf course management with sound environmental and ecological practices has resulted in a synergy at Saddle Rock that has benefitted the entire community," says Dennis Lyon, Aurora Manager of Golf. "In my opinion, Joe sets the standard for environmental stewardship.  The City of Aurora is very proud to have Joe McCleary as one of its employees and congratulates him on the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association Distinguish Service Award.”