Honor for UF's Dr. Bryan Unruh

For Immediate Release                                                                                 June 7, 2024

UF’s Unruh Honored by

Florida Superintendents

Jensen Beach, FL - The Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association has honored researcher and educator, Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, with the Marie Roberts Lifetime Service Award. Dr. Unruh is a professor at the University of Florida and associate director of the West Florida Research and Education Center. The award recognizes individuals other than superintendents whose participation, support and achievements have made significant contributions to the Florida GCSA and Florida golf industry.

The award is the latest in an impressive line of honors Dr. Unruh has earned during his career.

“I’ve been fortunate to be recognized by my peers in the past but to be recognized by my stakeholders, the people I serve day in and day out, is just special,” he says. “I wake up every day to try and make their professional lives better and I take an award like this as affirmation that my work is making an impact.”

The award nomination for Dr. Unruh emphasized his pivotal role in establishing the landmark Best Management Practices (BMP’s) program in Florida, which enhances environmental sustainability on Florida golf courses. That program is now recognized in Florida Statute. He has played a similarly important role helping create BMP’s for the 20,000-member Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Dr. Unruh was also praised for his day-to-day service to golf course superintendents at an individual and local level, as both a researcher and educator. He has also appeared in numerous settings providing a scientific perspective as governments and regulatory bodies consider environmental issues.

In addition to numerous peer-sourced awards, Dr. Unruh received GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2023. Later in the year he was honored with the inaugural President’s Award for his service to the green industry from the Florida Turfgrass Association. That association presented him with its highest honor, the Wreath of Grass, in 2009.

Notably, the Marie Roberts Award was presented to Dr. Unruh by one of his former graduate students, Jason Frank, now vice-president of business development, marketing, and research and development with Harrell’s.

“Dr. Unruh’s record of service to golf course superintendents and the green industry in Florida is truly remarkable,” Florida GCSA president, Parker Ferren, CGCS from Copperleaf Golf Club in Estero, says. “Golf course superintendents, the game at large and the communities it serves are all better off as a result of his work over many years.”

For more information:          Florida GCSA Executive Director, Jennifer Bryan (772) 214-5335

Trent Bouts

Tee Media Consulting

(864) 414-3123