CSGA Volunteer of the Year
STEVE BASSON
Ellington Ridge Country Club
T
he CSGA is fortunate to have
a loyal set of volunteers who
help make our events possible
throughout the season. Each year,
the CSGA recognizes a volunteer who has
dedicated their time and effort to Connecticut
golf and the CSGA for its Volunteer of the Year
award. The CSGA is proud to recognize Steve
Basson of Ellington, Connecticut and Ellington
Ridge Country Club, for his commitment to the
game of golf in Connecticut.
Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Steve
enrolled at Norwich Free Academy in the
ninth grade. During high school, Basson had
little knowledge about the game of golf; instead
focusing his competitive interests on baseball
and basketball, “I did not even know that a 4
iron was longer than a 9 iron,” Basson explained
when detailing his lack of interest in golf at the
time.
Upon graduating from Norwich Free
Academy, Steve enrolled at Providence College
where his love for basketball grew. He graduated
with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Math in
1979, and went on to attend the Rensselaer
Polytech Institute in Hartford, where he earned
a Master’s degree in Computer Science. Basson
began his career as an actuary for The Travelers
in 1985.
While enrolled at Providence College,
Steve met his wife Brenda, which is where his
love of golf began. In order to spend more time
with his father-in-law, Steve wanted to learn the
game of golf. With the occasional assistance of
his brother-in-law, he began learning about all
aspects of the game and playing regularly.
While he was learning the game,
Basson began playing golf with a group at
Travelers that would regularly play at Ellington
Ridge Country Club. Steve joined Ellington
Ridge in 1989, and with the assistance of his
wife Brenda, Steve started a weekly Scotch
match at Ellington Ridge, peaking his interest
in the Rules of Golf. Each week, Basson would
develop a series of questions to give groups the
chance to earn a mulligan. The questions varied,
“anywhere from what color was the flag on the
fourth hole, to naming the US Open winner, to
any rules question I could find,” Basson stated.
After spending years developing these
weekly questions, Steve became very familiar
with the Rules of Golf, and in 2004 he decided
it was time to apply what he had learned. Steve
enrolled in the annual CSGA Rules School that
year, which was taught by long time CSGA rules
officials John Morris and Malcolm McLachlan.
Basson earned his rules certificate in that class,
and has been regularly helping golf associations
throughout Connecticut and New England
since 2005.
After retiring from The Hartford’s
actuary program in 2014, Basson has dedicated
more time to volunteering with the CSGA. He
enjoys trail running and training his dog Hogan.
Steve’s love of the game, the Rules of Golf, and
his commitment to the CSGA has earned him
this year's Volunteer of the Year award.
2016 ANNUAL / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 87