GCSAA Past President Peter J. Grass, CGCS, holds the distinction of being the only president in GCSAA history to hail from a nine-hole golf facility. Now he holds another distinction: He is the first superintendent named to the Montana Golf Hall of Fame.

Grass was announced as part of the Montana State Golf Association’s 2026 Hall of Fame class in May and formally inducted during a ceremony Aug. 5.

“No one has been more dedicated to serving his profession than Pete Grass,” Nick Dietzen, executive director of the MSGA, said of his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. “His leadership locally, regionally and nationally through the GCSAA is representative of his commitment to the critical work of superintendents in the golf industry; but he extended far beyond that, emphasizing the whole person and the importance of mental health and work-life balance, which was uncommon in the industry.”

Grass, a 42-year GCSAA member, spent his entire storied career at Hilands Golf Club in Billings, Mont. He began working at the 103-year-old club as a teenager in 1975, washing clubs and cleaning carts, before eventually becoming assistant superintendent in 1981 and superintendent in 1991.

Grass’s path to the Hall of Fame is paved with leadership roles and honors. He served on the board of the Peaks & Prairies GCSA from 1991 to 2001, including as president in 1996-97. He was first elected to the GCSAA Board of Directors in 2009 and later served as GCSAA president in 2016. He also spent eight years on the Board of Directors of First Tee of Montana.

“Leading through his actions is part of Pete Grass’ nature,” Lori Russell, executive director of the Peaks & Prairies GCSA, told the Montana State Golf Association. “He’s continued to give into his retirement as he did throughout his career on both the regional level with the Peaks & Prairies GCSA and the GCSAA national level.”

More recently, Grass received GCSAA’s 2022 Leo Feser Award. The annual award honors the best superintendent-written article in GCM. He earned the honor for his article, “I need help (and I don’t mean labor),” which appeared in the May 2022 issue and focused on overcoming mental health challenges.

Perhaps the most aptly named superintendent in Montana history is now also its most honored.