Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame

We are honored to have former Superintendents and MGSA members inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame. See the honored individuals below.

2003 - John B. Steel

Serving as the first president of the Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association in 1967 was a highlight in the career of John B. Steel, who was the superintendent at St. Charles Country Club for many years.

He was well respected across Canada and in his home province and was a leader in the development of the profession which saw the term “greenskeeper” disappear from the golf language to be replaced by the more descriptive term “course superintendent”.

John was also a founding member of the Manitoba Golf Course Superintendents Association in 1950 and was president of the provincial body on three occasions - 1952-53, 1960-61 and 1976.

He was elected as honorary life member of both the Manitoba and Canadian associations in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the profession of golf superintendents.

John was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1988, four years before his death in 1992 at the age of 91, and he is an inaugural inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Inc., September 29, 2003.

2011 - Walter Perchaylo

Walter 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.

2013 - Ray Savard

Developing a new golf course while keeping an old one in operation was a crowning accomplishment for Raymond Savard as a 35-year career as golf course superintendent came to a close.

Born in Winnipeg January 5, 1949, Savard became course superintendent at the old Charleswood Golf Club in 1976 and held that position until 1988, when he took on the superintendent duties at the Southwood Golf and Country Club. He retired from that position after the 2011 season.

He was an active member of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association for 35 years and belonged to the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association for 31 years. He served on the board in several capacities before becoming president of the MGSA in 1986-87. He was on the CGSA board of directors from 1988 to 1992.

Savard was chosen Manitoba superintendent of the year in 1989 and 2011 and received the John B. Steel Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association in 2011 for outstanding lifetime contribution to the advancement of the profession of Golf Course Superintendent.

The national award, which bears the name of the first superintendent inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame, was awarded in part in recognition of the efforts Savard and his staff put in on double duty on the construction and grow-in of the new Southwood course in St. Norbert while maintaining the old Southwood course in Fort Garry.

During his career, Ray Savard always kept up with latest developments in course management and was available to provide assistance when fellow superintendents required a hand. He has also been an active volunteer in the community with the Christmas Cheer Board of Winnipeg, where he has been an integral part of the delivery of Christmas hampers.

2018 - Greg Holden

Clear Lake Golf Course is a model of environmental stewardship principally due to the efforts and innovation of its Superintendent from 1993 until 2017, Greg Holden. Known by the nickname “Turf”, Holden was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba in 1951 and had his post-secondary education at the University of Manitoba and Fairview College.

Holden’s environmental awareness became a passion during his involvement with the expedition "Las Balsas". This epic trip involved a trans Pacific voyage of three rafts from Ecuador to Australia.

He was the author of the environmental section of the successful bid by the Clear Lake Golf Foundation to Parks Canada to operate the golf course.

As Superintendent, Holden has more than fulfilled the commitment to ensure an environmentally sensitive and sustainable golf course. Initiatives include employing organic fertilizer programs and non-chemical approaches to controlling weeds and disease; a re-cycling program that has reduced material sent to landfill by 80%; composting grass clippings and kitchen waste with dry carbon-based material for use on greens and flower beds; use of composting toilets to reduce water usage by over 300,000 gallons per season; and utilizing used cooking oils to make bio-diesel to operate equipment.

Holden has been recognized by the Manitoba Eco-Network with its 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award “in recognition of significant contributions to the protection and awareness of Manitoba’s environment” and with the 2012 Little Saskatchewan River Conservation Award. Holden was honoured by the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association as the 2012 Superintendent of the Year and by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association as the 2017 Superintendent of the Year.

He has also given back to his profession by assisting other superintendents whenever asked, educating the public on the importance of the profession and by serving on the board of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association between 2003 and 2012 including a term as President in 2010.

Greg Holden is an inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc., September 24, 2018.

2019 - Rob Officer

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.

2021 - Derrick Chlopecki

Golf Manitoba has announced it's 2021 Inductees to the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and MGSA is pleased to advise that Derrick Chlopecki is being recognized in the builder category.

Derrick started his career in the golf industry in 1987 as the Equipment Technician at the Rossmere Country Club. In 1991 he assumed the role of Superintendent.

He was then hired in 1993 as Superintendent at the Pine Ridge Golf Club, a position that he still holds to this day. During his 29 years at Pine Ridge, Derrick has consistently delivered exceptional course conditions for its membership and has hosted numerous club, provincial, national and professional events including an impressive 22 years as the host Superintendent of the Manitoba Open. Derrick has been the host Superintendent 23% of all Manitoba Opens hosted in the events 100+ year history.

Chlopecki, is a long-time member of the MGSA and was awarded the MGSA Superintendent of the Year in 2017.

Derrick will be celebrated alongside his fellow inductees; Donna Brownridge, Gerald Morrissey and the 1991 Manitoba Junior Girls Interprovincial Team Champions. The ceremony will be celebrated in 2023 as it was delayed in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

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