Certification News
Congratulations to new and renewing CGCSs
Be the first to congratulate fellow members in your chapter. Find out who recently became certified or renewed their certified status.
Recertified members
Erik Guinther, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Steven W. Martin, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Matt J. Falvo. CGCS
Central New York GCSA
Jason A. Zimmerman, CGCS
Everglades GCSA
Marshall Edgren, CGCS
Florida West Coast GCSA
Bradly C. Pugh, CGCS
Indiana GCSA
Gregory Ellis, CGCS
Michiana GSCA
Matthew Kraemer, CGCS
Michigan GCSA
Gary C. Thommes, CGCS
Michigan GCSA
Owen G. Benson, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Eric K. Ritter, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA
Jeffrey C. Markow, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California
Thomas Athy, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA
Dan R. Cherrstrom, CGCS
Northern Ohio GCSA
Kenneth Happ, CGCS
Northern Ohio GCSA
David A. Stowe, CGCS
GCSA of New England
Michael Whitehead, CGCS
Rhode Island GCSA
Kevin G. Neal, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California
Richard Novak, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota
James J. Lezon, CGCS
Southern Nevada GCSA
Matthew Dillon, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA
Dustin N. Riley, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA
Scott E. Dodson, CGCS
Western New York GCSA
Newly certified members
Trevor V. Hedgepeth, CGCS
Old Dominion GCSA
Douglas Snyder, CGCS
Connecticut Association of GCS
Recertified members
Gib Fox, CGCS
Alabama GCSA
Saeed Assadzandi, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Bob Erickson, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Brad A. French, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Richard Lawrence, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Kevin P. Smith, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
S. Matthew Wharton, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Dennis L. Bowsher, CGCS
Central Ohio GCSA
Mark A. Novotny, CGCS
Central Ohio GCSA
Glenn A. Miller, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA
Mark D. Dalton, CGCS
Inland Empire GCSA
Thad Kintigh, CGCS
Iowa GCSA
Jonathan Jennings, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA
David Pawluk, CGCS
Michigan GCSA
David J. Sweet, CGCS
Michigan GCSA
John M. Gurke, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Scot D. Spier, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
William Whitworth, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA
Thomas J. Bastis, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California
Russell E. Heller, CGCS
GCSA of New England
Ryan K. Wulff, CGCS
Oregon GCSA
Larry C. Hantle, CGCS
Quad-State Turfgrass Assoc
Thomas Kramlich, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA
David A. Brandenburg, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA
Lee Strutt, CGCS
Recertified members
Alan B. Hospes, CGCS
Alabama GCSA
Jeffrey A. Lee, CGCS
Alabama GCSA
Cody S. Swirczynski, CGCS
Cactus and Pine GCSA
Stuart W. Eyman, CGCS
GC Managers Association of Cape Cod
Fred M. Gehrisch, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
James D. Varon, CGCS
Everglades GCSA
Kenyon Kyle, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Erin L. Stevens, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Bradley R. Orndorff, CGCS
Gulf Coast GCSA
Anthony Girardi, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA
A. Michael Maffei, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA
Thomas Schall, Jr., CGCS
Michigan GCSA
Daniel J. Marco, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Bruce H. Gregory, CGCS
Miami Valley GCSA
Josh J. Mahar, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA
Stephen Finamore, CGCS
GCSA of New Jersey
Richard Pavlasek, CGCS
North Texas GCSA
Jeffrey E. Holliday, CGCS
Old Dominion GCSA
Bruce W. Ruppert, CGCS
Peaks & Prairies GCSA
James P. O'Brien, CGCS
Philadelphia Association of GCS
Jeffrey M. Smelser, CGCS
South Texas GCSA
David A. Duke, CGCS
Newly certified members
Graham W. Kornmeyer, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Recertified members
Steven R. Neuliep, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Jerold A. McFellin, CGCS
Central Ohio GCSA
Fredric S. Holfoth, CGCS
Fingerlakes Assoc of GCS
Darren J. Davis, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Kenneth Brunermer, CGCS
Greater Pittsburgh GCSA
Gregg H. Stanley, CGCS
Long Island GCSA
Blake A. Halderman, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA
Brian A. Bossert, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Edward G. Braunsky, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Luke Cella, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS
Randy Shults, CGCS
Oregon GCSA
Jason S. Flowers, CGCS
Virginia GCSA
Joseph N. Booth, CGCS
Western New York GCSA
Robert A. Kelly, CGCS
Western New York GCSA
Newly certified members
Gregory Brandriet, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota
Lance Lauer, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA
Robert D. Cline, CGCS
West Virginia GCSA
Recertified members
David F. Herman, Sr., CGCS
Cactus and Pine GCSA
Patrick J. Franklin, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Timothy Cunningham, CGCS
Georgia GCSA
John F. McCarthy, CGCS
Georgia GCSA
Vincent J. Gilmartin, CGCS
Maine GCSA
Kevin Clunis, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA
Steven A. Merkel, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA
Keith M. Bennett, CGCS
GCSA of New Jersey
Gordon J. Seliga, CGCS
Northwestern Pennsylvania GCS
Rhod E. Trainor, CGCS
Ontario GSA
Carmen Magro, CGCS
Philadelphia Assoc of GCS
Matthew Crowther, CGCS
Rhode Island GCSA
Jessie P. Creencia, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA
Bryan J. Tipton, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota
Brian J. Roth, CGCS
Utah GCSA
Jordan C. Booth, CGCS
Virginia GCSA
Scott H. Schaller, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA
Mark A. Johnson, CGCS
Newly certified members
John J. Vuknic, CGCS
Calusa GCSA
Recertified members
Pat S. McHugh, CGCS
Florida GCSA
Allen R. Brissenden, CGCS
Florida West Coast GCSA
Eric Wygant, CGCS
Greater Pittsburgh GCSA
Matthew Ceplo, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA
Michael Zedreck, CGCS
Mountain & Valley GCSA
James M. Paresi, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California
David M. Dwinell, CGCS
GCSA of New England
Larry E. Johnson, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA
Mark McKinney, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA
Chad L. Nixon, CGCS
Sun Coast GCSA
Richard J. Matteson, CGCS
James B. Sua, CGCS
Recertified members
Michael Samulski, CGCS
Central Ohio GCSA
Hal P. Akins, CGCS
Everglades GCSA
Scott A. Hamm, CGCS
Everglades GCSA
Paul G. Diegnau, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA
Brian D. Hellbusch, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA
Mike B. Wooten, CGCS
Oklahoma GCSA
Anthony Gustaitis, CGCS
Philadelphia Assoc of GCS
Adam J. Kloster, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California
Richard Ray, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California
Doug D. Heinrichs, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA
John A. Ford, CGCS
Western Washington GCSA
Newly certified members
Travis S. Williams, CGCS
Central Illinois GCSA
John Bambury, CGCS
Recertified members
Douglas Lowe, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA
Ronald D. Hibbard, CGCS
Central Florida GCSA
Thomas Ocepek, CGCS
Central Pennsylvania GCSA
Anthony Mauldin, CGCS
Old Dominion GCSA
Recertified members
Stephen Ravenkamp, CGCS
Cactus and Pine GCSA
Sean M. Duffy, CGCS
Central Florida GCSA
Brad R. Christensen, CGCS
Central Texas GCSA
James G. Garrett, CGCS
Central Texas GCSA
Gordon Caldwell, CGCS
Eastern Shore Association of GCS
Richard Stuntz, CGCS
Heart of America GCSA
Chad M. Higaki, CGCS
Hawaii GCSA
Gerald A. Tarsitano, II, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA
Mark P. Kastenholz, CGCS
Hoosier Turfgrass Association
Don E. Paul, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California
Kip A. Tyler, CGCS
GCSA of New England
Timothy Glorioso, CGCS
Northwest Ohio GCSA
Michael Sandburg, CGCS
Oklahoma GCSA
Patrick Gertner, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California
Robert Markut, CGCS
Treasure Coast GCSA
Philip M. Bailey, CGCS
Virginia GCSA
Stephen Cohoon, CGCS
Virginia GCSA
Thomas J. Huesgen, CGCS
Western Washington GCSA
Kenneth Gokey, CGCS
What new CGCSs say about the program
“In all honesty, I wanted to become certified in order to enhance my marketability. Several years ago, I interviewed for my ‘dream’ job. A member of the search committee was a CGCS. The successful candidate was also a CGCS. You see where this is going. In today's highly competitive job market, you owe it to yourself to have every possible advantage for that ‘dream’ job interview. Certification won't guarantee you the job, but it sure can't hurt!”
– Bobby Cline, CGCS, Guyan Golf & Country Club, Huntington, W.V.
“Completing the certification process was a career goal I have had since I started in golf. Going through the testing, portfolio and attesting has given me a foundationto confidently manage a golf maintenance operation.”
– Brent Racer, CGCS, Awarii Dunes Golf Course, Axtell, Neb.
“Achieving certification has always been a goal of mine, and should be for anyone looking to challenge yourself both personally and professionally. The experience really showed me that the bar has been set high for anyone wanting to pursue this goal. While the four-letters ‘CGCS’ don’t necessarily make you a better superintendent, or better than one who’s not certified, it certainly puts you in a position to learn and grow as a superintendent and measure yourself against this field full of talented individuals.”
– Greg Brandriet, CGCS, Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club and Resort, Spearfish, S.D.
“Achieving certification was a goal I set for myself when I first decided to pursue a career in becoming a Golf Course Superintendent. Going through the steps of the process was a very informative review of all aspects of our operations. This detailed review gave me new ideas and different ways to fill some gaps that we could have been missing through the years. The process cultivated new perspective, solidified strengths and highlighted weaknesses. These are all important in becoming a better leader and turf manager. I would encourage any Assistant or Superintendent to consider the benefits of becoming a CGCS."
– Carter Hindes, CGCS, Director of Agronomy, Sterling Golf Management, Houston, Texas
“Having been mentored by other Certified Golf Course Superintendents as I progressed through my career, becoming a Certified Golf Course Superintendent has always been my goal. The process encouraged me to explore areas that I would not have otherwise; solidifying my strengths, while also strengthening my weakness. The growth and development created by the Certification process has certainly made me a better Superintendent.”
– Travis Williams, CGCS, Weibring Golf Club, Illinois State University
“Participating in the CGCS program tells people who I am. I am someone who wants to know they are among the elite in their profession, I have a passion for what I do, and I believe in the continuous gathering of knowledge.”
– Chuck Nowicki, CGCS, The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, Monroe, N.Y.
“Certification has been a personal goal since I first started my career as a course superintendent. Certification displays to employers, guests and members a superintendents commitment to the profession of turfgrass management. The certification process has provided me with an opportunity to objectively evaluate my education and experience as a turf manager. Its been an rewarding experience.”
– John Bambury, CGCS, Ballybunion Golf Club, Kerry, Ireland