Brent Downs, director of agronomy for Otter Creek Golf Course and Harrison Lake Country Club, has earned a Master Greenkeeper Certificate by the British and International Golf Greenskeepers Association. He is pictured at Otter Creek.
Brent Downs started his professional career at the home of The Masters, so perhaps it’s only fitting that he eventually would become a “Master Greenkeeper.”
The director of agronomy for Otter Creek Golf Course and Harrison Lake Country Club, Downs has earned a Master Greenkeeper Certificate by the British and International Golf Greenskeepers Association (BIGGA).
“Well, first, no one ever achieves something like this on their own,” Downs said. “It takes a village. So the first thing is thankfulness and gratitude to the GCM (Golf Course Maintenance) teams I lead at Otter and Harrison for their support and dedication, ownership, membership and my mentors. We did this together.”
Downs, 43, is only the 90th individual to earn Master Greenkeeper status since BIGGA began the program in 1990. He is just the 36th person to hold both Master Greenkeeper and Certified Golf Course Superintendent classifications.
“Being the 90th person ever in the world to be recognized as Master Greenkeeper is amazing,” Otter Creek and Harrison Lake Country Club owner Bob Haddad said. “Think about that. It is difficult to wrap your mind around. But I am not surprised. Brent has earned this very special, coveted distinction. He is the consummate professional golf course agronomist.”
The path to become a Master Greenkeeper is a rigorous three-stage process. Stage 1 involves education, training and experience. Candidates must be BIGGA members and earn at least 200 credits through a range of formal and informal education and training for years of greenkeeping experience. They must have at least 10 years working as a greenkeeper; have three years as a head greenkeeper, course manager or superintendent, including at least two years at their current golf course; and be at CPD approved status.
Stage 2 is an assessment of golf course operation carried out by two Master Greenkeepers during the growing season. The inspection covers eight areas — staff organization, financial management, record and stock control, management communication, course development program, maintenance compound, machinery and irrigation and course presentation.
Stage 3 is a case study and technical examination.
Downs said he feels a great deal of humility and elation at the same time.
“I am humbled by the recognition and congratulations, and I hope everyone who works with me knows I give them the best I can, every day,” Downs said. “To know there have only been 89 others in 34 years is incredibly humbling knowing the leaders on that list. Elation that I get to share it with the teams at both clubs, my family and friends and industry peers.
“Finally, a great deal of gratitude for the journey and to BIGGA for creating such a rigorous examination process,” he added. “It took five years start to finish, and I appreciate every step and trial along the way. It got me to where I am professionally today. I just hope I was able to appreciate everyone and everything that helped me get here.”
Downs is in his seventh season at Otter Creek and second at Harrison Lake. He had been the Superintendent at Bardstown (Kentucky) Country Club and Hillcrest Golf and Country Club in Batesville.
Prior to that, Downs spent time as assistant superintendent at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville and Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh. His professional turf management career began in 2008 with an entry level manager position at Augusta National Golf Club — home of The Masters — and he returned every year to work The Masters until 2021.
“Watching Mitchell (Eickhoff) come from Augusta also and take the Superintendent role after I was promoted and take it to new heights, win AJGA Superintendent of the Year and begin his own certification journey (CGCS) this fall, watching former Senior Assistant Timothy Martin decide to follow a path through Augusta National (he is there currently) and all of our team members who have gone on to great successes past and present,” Downs said. “I am so blessed to have shared this journey in my own growth with all of them as a team.”
Previously, Downs was an intern in Australia and the United Kingdom. He is the fourth person associated with Loch Lomond Golf Club to earn the Master Greenkeeper Certificate.
“I initially met Brent when considering purchasing and operating Otter Creek,” Haddad said. “I sensed right away that he was special. Brent is an outstanding, selfless individual with solid character. He cares about his team and knows the importance of developing talent, communicating clear expectations and trust in the team to perform. He is always working to be the tide that raises all ships. Brent is a terrific, consistent communicator. He has proven to be a good, patient listener, as he and I have developed our relationship and crafted the vision and goals for both HLCC and Otter Creek.”
“I couldn’t have done this without the support of owner Bob Haddad, who is an incredibly supportive and dedicated owner, and I owe him so much for the faith he showed in me when he promoted me over both properties last year,” Downs added. “I cannot imagine anybody I would rather share this with and celebrate this with than the team members at Harrison and Otter in all roles who I have worked with over the last seven years.”
Haddad said Downs is comfortable in a variety of roles, including budgeting, crafting a training plan, ensuring a safe work environment, building chemical programs, handling HR challenges, watering or hopping on a piece of equipment to spray, mow or aerify.
“Columbus, Otter Creek, HLCC and I are extremely fortunate to have Brent stewarding our best golf courses,” Haddad said. “But for me personally, I have gained a friend who I enjoy spending time with, challenges me and makes me smile.”
Downs is grateful for the certification and for the time he has spent in the Columbus community.
“It means everything to be able to share this with everyone that has supported us these last seven years,” Downs said. “Those first two-to-three years at Otter Creek were very difficult because we knew some things would get worse before they got better, and then the pandemic happened. Through it all, the membership stuck with us, and we have now seen some of our best conditioning with a renovation with Kite/Fuller on the horizon, and it is amazing that I get to share all these successes with them.
“Columbus is such a wonderful community and such a great place to be a part of, and I’m just grateful,” he added. “From everything to my work community to my faith community at St. Bartholomew, when I went through a rough personal time three years ago, it was Otter Creek and the Columbus community that picked me up, and there is no way I would have been able to achieve this without their support and for that, the only word I can use is ‘extremely grateful.’ Thank you so much for your support, advice, criticism when I needed it. So thankful.”
