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Uplands Golf Club superintendent Brian Youell named CGSA’s John B. Steel award winner

Brian Youell, master superintendent at Victoria, B.C.’s Uplands Golf Club, has been named the recipient of the 2022 John B. Steel Distinguished Service Award.

The award is named for the first president of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and the first superintendent to be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. It is presented annually to an individual, chosen by the CGSA board of directors, who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the profession of golf course superintendent.

Youell has been a CGSA member since 1993 and has held the association’s master superintendent designation since 2002. He is in his 42nd year at Uplands Golf Course which celebrated its 100th anniversary on Dec. 1. His career in the industry spans almost 45 years. He was the CGSA/Rain Bird Environmental Achievement Award winner in 2017, the 2016 CGSA/Toro Gordon Witteveen winner and the CGSA Superintendent-of-the-Year Award winner in 2012. He has hosted several PGA TOUR Canada events over the years with Uplands being noted as one of the best courses on tour.

Youell will receive an original soap stone carving designed and carved by Bill Fach, retired master superintendent and a past CGSA president. Additionally, he and his wife Pam will receive an all-access registration to the Canadian Golf Course Management Conference, to be held Feb. 22-24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver. The package includes four nights’ accommodation and transportation costs. He will receive his award at a ceremony Feb. 22.

“What an honour to win such a prestigious award,” Youell said. “I know many of the names of the past winners of this award, and I feel very fortunate to be associated with these individuals. I’ve had an amazing 42 years with Uplands Golf Club, and I’ve been very fortunate to host 20 PGA Tour Canada events. I’m so happy to have chosen this career path and network with amazing people.”