His love of golf started in 1992 in his hometown of Sussex, N.B., half way between Moncton and St. John, when Davin Marr would hang around the pro shop at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club and bug the head professional.
It was there that he met the likes of golf course superintendents Bill Armstrong, Bernie Tabor and Geoff Fuller, and Marr’s interest in turf maintenance began to grow.
When he moved to Vernon five years later for a “slightly longer golf season,” Marr met and came to work for course superintendent Geordie Wakutz at Hillview Golf Club.
And he hasn’t left.
The B.C. Golf Superintendents Association has announced that Marr, greens superintendent at Hillview, has been named by his peers as the 2015 B.C. Golf Superintendents Association’s Superintendent of the Year.
He will be awarded the honour of distinction in Whistler Tuesday.
“I’m very surprised and very honoured to win this,” said Marr, 42.
“It’s nice to know that you have garnered the respect of your peers, especially from the big guys, like Predator Ridge, Victoria Golf. I’m just a little guy at a little golf club.”
Realizing that the golf course had more influence on him than just a place to work to pay the bills, Marr enrolled in the turf management program at Fairview College, Alta in the fall of 1999.
After graduating in April 2001, he returned to his assistant superintendent’s position at Hillview Golf Club under the guidance of Wakutz and course owner Jim Atmore.
For Marr to be recognized by his peers and the people in the golf industry with this award is rewarding for him, says Atmore.
“We at Hillview are very proud of Davin’s achievement and feel very pleased that he has been such a dedicated and hard-working member of Hillview Golf for the last 20 years,” said Atmore.
“His pride in his work has been very much appreciated by the owners and people that play our course.”
According to BCGSA spokesperson Ginny Tromp, Hillview Golf Club, under Marr’s guidance, has become one of the finest golf facilities in B.C.
“Not only has Davin lent his expertise to maintaining Hillview to this high standard of excellence, he has also served on a number of committees and boards, both regionally and provincially,” said Tromp.
Marr was named president of the BCGSA in 2011/12.
“Through Davin’s tireless work and dedication to the golf industry, he has garnered the utmost respect from greens superintendents provincewide,” said Tromp.
