Daniel Island Club superintendent receives top honor

Michael Fabrizio, a certified golf course superintendent and director of grounds and golf maintenance at the Daniel Island Club, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the 1,800-member Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association (CGCSA) at a ceremony in Myrtle Beach on Nov. 18, during the organization’s annual conference and trade show. The award is the highest bestowed by the association.

Fabrizio has been leading the Daniel Island Club’s grounds and golf maintenance crew since 1999, when construction of the first golf course began. He worked carefully with the design and development team during the construction of both Tom Fazio’s Beresford Creek course and the Ralston Creek course, a Rees Jones design. Earlier in his career, he helped nurture the courses at Wild Dunes, both before and after Hurricane Hugo. His experience also includes positions at Sapphire Lakes Country Club, Dataw Island and Palm Coast Resort, where he was director of golf maintenance and national accounts before coming to Daniel Island.

“I have been very blessed and fortunate to have stumbled my way into this career at a time that the game of golf grew exponentially in the number of players and courses alike,” Fabrizio said during the awards ceremony. “I have also been lucky to have been at the right place at the right time, affording me outstanding construction and development opportunities.”

Dedicated to service and supporting his industry, Fabrizio’s influence has touched many in the golf superintendent profession. He has a notable track record of giving back to his profession through employee mentoring and guidance and his service with the CGCSA, where he was a past president and has long been an active member.

“I never had the privilege to work for Mike, but I have had the privilege of working in the same area as him,” says CGCSA director Rob Daniel. “The consensus amongst a lot of guys in this area is that none of us would be where we are in our careers without his help or influence.”

Fabrizio, the youngest recipient of the CGCSA’s Distinguished Service Award, emphasized the importance of service in work and life during his comments at the awards ceremony.

“Our profession is in the service industry,” he said. “We are here to provide a service, whether you are at a private club, resort or public golf course. Simply put, serving is what we do.”

The Daniel Island Club is a private, developer-owned country club located in Charleston. To learn more, visit www.danielislandclub.com.