Steven Spatafore, director of agronomy at Los Altos Golf and Country Club, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Emerging Leader Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes someone in the industry who has been a superintendent with less than five years of experience or a student, associate member or assistant superintendent who displays continuous growth in service and leadership, according to the GCSAA.
“To be recognized for doing what I love is truly special,” Spatafore said in a statement. “I share this award with my team members, who work hard every single day, and with my mentors who always encouraged my participation in the GCSAA.”
Spatafore has been the director of agronomy of Los Altos Golf and Country Club since June. He previously served as superintendent at Contra Costa Country Club for nearly five years before coming to Los Altos and is a member and past president of the Northern California Golf Course Superintendents Association. He became a GCSAA member 11 years ago as a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and had several summer internships before serving as a assistant-in-training at Pebble Beach Resorts. The GCSAA is a golf organization for people who manage golf courses worldwide, with 20,000 members in 78 countries.
