May 23, 2006

Sherwood Moore, CGCS, receives honorary degree

Sherwood Moore, CGCS, considered to be one the nation's most notable golf course superintendents, was honored by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with an honorary Doctor of Science degree during the school's commencement ceremonies May 27.

Moore pioneered the use of fairway contour mowing and triplex green mowers on fairways and prepared Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., for three USGA championships. He has served as an articulate spokesman for the profession, written many articles on its practice, and mentored a number of the nation's finest superintendents. Moore has also served as president of both the New Jersey and New York Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendent Associations.

A 1937 graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at what was then Massachusetts Agricultural College, Moore participated in the Winter School for Greenskeepers and Golf Course Foremen; the nation's first program of its kind, it is still offered at UMass Amherst.

He successively served as superintendent at the Lake Mohawk, Crestmont and Hollywood clubs, all in New Jersey, before moving on to Winged Foot and then to Captains, in Brewster, Mass. Now retired, Moore lives in Brewster with his wife, Marie.

His honors and decorations include:

  • GCSAA Distinguished Service Award, 1982
  • New York State Turfgrass Association, Citation of Merit, 1984
  • Metropolitan Golf Association, Special Recognition for 45 years of service, 1984
  • Massachusetts Turfgrass Conference dedication, 1985
  • New Jersey Turfgrass Hall of Fame Inductee, 1986
  • United States Golf Association Green Section Award, 1987
  • GCSAA's Leo Feser Award, 1988
  • The Metropolitan GCSA Sherwood A. Moore Award established in his name
  • GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award, 1990

Other career highlights:

  • USGA Open preparation at Winged Foot Golf Club, 1959
  • President of GCSAA, 1962
  • USGA Senior Open Preparation at Winged Foot Golf Club, 1980
  • Acting agronomist, USGA Green Section, 1987 and 1988
    GCSAA member since 1939