Bob Farren wins inaugural Col. John Morley Award

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Bob Farren Jr., CGCS and director of golf course and grounds management at Pinehurst Resort in the USA, will be honoured with the 2022 Col. John Morley Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

The Col. John Morley Award, named for GCSAA’s founder, was revamped in 2021 and is now presented annually to an individual who is or has been a GCSAA Class A or B superintendent member and has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession. The contribution must be significant in both substance and duration.

Farren, a 41-year GCSAA member, said: “I really never had any desire to do anything but this. I don’t know why, probably because I spent so much time at the golf course with my father and his friends. They were like uncles to me, so it was like one big family. In my high school years, I worked on the golf course, then we’d play on the golf course. It was just a big fraternity of people.”

In 1982, Farren became assistant superintendent on Pinehurst’s Nos. 1 and 4 courses, and he was promoted to superintendent of No. 4 for 1983-84. After a nine-month stint at Barry Hills Country Club, Farren returned to Pinehurst for good in 1985. It has been a steady climb ever since: superintendent on Nos. 2 and 6 in 1985; assistant director of golf courses and grounds from 1986-2001; director of golf courses and grounds in 2001; and director of golf course and grounds management since 2008.

During Farren’s tenure, Pinehurst No. 2 earned the distinction as the site of more golf championships than any other course in America, including the US Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup matches, and the PGA Tour Championship. Farren has been involved in 14 USGA championships, including three US Opens, and was crucial in the unprecedented double of 2014, when No. 2 hosted the US Open and the US Women’s Open in consecutive weeks.

His contributions to the industry extend well beyond high-profile events. Among the other accolades Farren has received include GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2007; Golf Digest’s Green Star Award for outstanding environmental practices in 2014; ANUVIA’s Legends Award in 2018 and induction into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 2018.