2019 — Tom Tanto

Tom Tanto

Winner of the Roy William Memorial Award for 2019

Mr. Tanto is a well-known figure in the golf industry.  After emigrating to the United States from Hungary after World War II, Tom earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.  Shortly after graduation, he was introduced to the world of golf course construction and was smitten.  A few years later, in 1969, he started his own golf course construction company, Tanto Construction and Supply.

The company thrived under Tom’s leadership; a period spanning 32 years.  His reputation in the industry was based on honesty, quality work, and customer service.  His list of clients includes some of the best-known names in the industry.  Tanto Irrigation installed irrigation systems on untold numbers of private and public courses including work on twenty-five of Golf Digest’s Top 100 courses.

In the East and Midwest, irrigation consulting was still an emerging industry in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  Tom was an early friend and advocate of the profession.  He recognized and appreciated the value a professional irrigation consultant brought to a project and understood and respected the divergent roles played by the irrigation consultant and contractor.  In turn, Tom Tanto and his company, Tanto Irrigation, earned the respect, and referrals, from many irrigation consultants who understood and appreciated the very important role the installing contractor has on the success of any irrigation project.

Along the way, Tom developed many friendships and close professional relationships with those he worked with.  His positive attitude and warm personality made it easy to make a connection.  In addition to the ASIC Roy Williams Award, he was recently awarded the GCSAA Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the industry.

ASIC is honored to be presenting the prestigious ASIC Roy Williams Memorial Award to Tom as it is a fitting tribute to his leadership in golf irrigation contracting.

P. +1 (248) 929-9842
E. info@asic.org
PO Box 7070
Huntington Woods, MI 48070