Jim Conant, CGCS, Superintendent at The Country Club of Pittsfield has been selected as the recipient of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England’s 2020 Distinguished Service Award.

Jim is a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS), a past President of the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation and a past President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Cape Cod and has been a golf course superintendent for 33 years. He has been a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England for 31 years.

In addition, Jim was Chairman of the one-million-dollar capital campaign that built the Dr. Joseph Troll Research Center. This is the leading turf research center in New England. He was the Commencement Speaker for the 79th commencement of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. 
He currently serves as a member of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Board, representing the golf industry. He has been Past President and a member of the board of directors of the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference. He organized and sent out the first communication for bringing everyone to the table 
at the first meeting in Taunton, MA to develop and plan the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation (NERTF) concept now held in Providence, Rhode Island.

In addition to his active role in the golf industry, he has many accomplishments in his community:
• Elected to the City of Pittsfield School Committee. 

• Past member of the City of Pittsfield Park Commissioners. 

• Past Chairman of the City of Pittsfield Community Preservation Commission. 

• Past President of Pittsfield Babe Ruth baseball league.
• Current Chairman of the City of Pittsfield Conservation Commission and 15-year member. 

• Current Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Horticultural Educational Program at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, MA. 

• He has been awarded Service Above Self, a volunteer award from the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club for 15 years of service.

As one nominator stated, “Jim is dedicated to the Golf Course Superintendent profession and has always been willing to serve in any capacity that he felt would advance the profession.”