Tom Hurst, Technical Specialist at Bernhard and Company, is the 2013 winner of the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) Edwin Budding Award. The award is sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen.
In his illustrious career spanning over 50 years, Tom Hurst has become a legend for the manner in which he goes about his business; he has taken customer service to another level with his selflessness, enthusiasm and incredible technical knowledge.
He began his working life in 1957 with a small ‘Mom and Pop’ mower business before joining Lawn and Golf Supply Co., the Jacobsen distributor out of Phoenixville, PA in 1965, as a Field Service Representative. Lawn and Golf also had the Bernhard Grinders franchise and during his 37 year career he demonstrated and sold many of their products. Tom retired in 2002, but after a few months kicking his heels, decided retirement wasn’t for him and joined Bernhard and Company in a tournament support role where he has attended virtually every major golf event assisting and passing on his knowledge. As a Grinder Specialist with Bernhard’s, his work ‘behind-the-scenes’ has been immeasurable; he has taught literally thousands of technicians to sharpen mowers in the correct manner.
In his nomination, Dave Delsandro, formerly at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, NY and now Superintendent at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania said, “You rarely find an individual in any industry that has unprecedented technical knowledge and expertise coupled with an incredible work ethic and understanding of real-world applications. Tom has and will undoubtedly continue to elevate this level of professionalism. He has left a lasting legacy on everyone he has worked with throughout his career and I am honoured to be one of those people.”
He received his award from Alan Prickett, Ransomes Jacobsen’s Managing Director at a presentation ceremony held at the BTME Show during Harrogate Week recently.
Commenting after receiving his award he said, “This is a truly humbling experience; it’s great to know that you’ve touched a few people’s lives and that they have shown their appreciation. Ransomes Jacobsen’s introduction of this award some six years ago was a tremendous initiative in recognising the unsung heroes of the golf business – the technicians that keep the equipment running at the facility. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the people I’ve met here in Harrogate.”
The Edwin Budding Award was created to recognise technical professionals in the turf equipment sector whose actions have gone above and beyond the norm to help shape the golf industry. Edwin Budding was one of those individuals who helped define golf, not as a player, but as an engineer. He designed the first cylinder mower, which has shaped golf as we know it today.
Ransomes Jacobsen www.ransomesjacobsen.com