Golf Superintendents' Assn., Mississauga, ON

In 1966, Canadian superintendents organized themselves to form the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. CGSA, now with close to 1, 500 members, hosts the Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show each year and organizes frequent regional education seminars and webinars. It helps sponsor research projects through its participation in the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation and produces a number of publications including its official national publication, GreenMaster and an annual Membership Directory. CGSA also has an Employment Referral Service called Super Search which assists employers and employees in filling vacant positions. CGSA is an active participant, along with six other national golf associations, in the National Allied Golf Association. In 1998 CGSA established a Master Superintendent Designation Program, to identify progressive Superintendents and to formulate standards of excellence in the golf course management profession. This program was renewed and strengthened in 2006. In addition, a second designation, the Accredited Golf Superintendent (AGS) was added in 2006. Both of the programs are based on the National Occupational Standards that were adopted by the CGSA in 1998. Eligibility for the designations is limited to superintendent members of the CGSA and both require the successful completion of a written examination.