Charles Fultz (center) with sons Lukas (left) and Jakob. Photo courtesy of Charles Fultz
Charles Fultz, general manager and golf course superintendent at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg, Va., has been selected to receive the 2025 Leo Feser Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Now in its 48th year, the award is presented annually to the author of the best superintendent-written article published in Golf Course Management, the association’s flagship publication, during the previous year.
Fultz, a 20-year member of GCSAA, is being honored for authoring his article about taking care of your mental health, “Help wanted: Why knowing when to ask for help with your mental health can be a good thing,” which appeared in the June 2025 issue of GCM. In his article, Fultz shares his personal mental health journey from his home life to the golf course and how he sought the help he needed to get back on a sturdy foundation.
“Winning this award is without a doubt one of those moments that I’ll put on my career milestones list. I was shocked to find out I won and emotional when I got the news,” Fultz said. “The article was deeply personal. I was just hoping to get the message out there when I wrote it and thought that if one person reads this and it in any way helps them, then the article did what I hoped for.”
Fultz highlights that with the support of friends and the courage to step outside of his comfort zone, he was able to get the help he needed to get back on a healthy path. He shares how it became not only a journey in mental health but in self-discovery and understanding himself. His story emphasizes the importance of advocating for yourself, taking care of yourself and knowing when to ask for help, so you can show up as your best self at home and on the course.
Fultz will officially receive the award during the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. He will also have his name engraved on a plaque that is permanently displayed at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. Fultz also won the 2006 Feser Award for his article, "The Great Communicators: How to keep those above and around you educated and informed" that appeared in the March 2006 issue.
“We commend Charlie on demonstrating both vulnerability and strength in sharing his story. Thanks to his honesty, we can continue to destigmatize the matter of mental health and work together to ensure our members have access to the support they need both personally and professionally,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “Congratulations to Charles on winning the Leo Feser Award. The award is well-deserved, and his article will undoubtedly serve as a guide for other members who may find themselves in need of a helping hand.”
The Leo Feser Award honors the late Leo Feser, a pioneering golf course superintendent and a charter member of GCSAA. Feser is credited with keeping the association’s official publication alive during the Great Depression. For three years, 1933-36, he wrote, edited, assembled and published each issue of The Greenkeepers’ Report — as the association’s magazine was known then — from his home in Wayzata, Minn. The award was first presented in 1956 and has been given annually since 1977.
For a complete list of previous Leo Feser Award winners, visit the GCSAA website.