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.

Newly certified members

Daniel P. Dingman, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Ken Maltby, CGCS
Central Florida GCSA

Recertified members

Scott E. Niven, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Glenn A. Miller, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA

David M. Plummer, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Thomas A. Wolff, CGCS
Central Illinois GCSA

Bruce J. Burger, CGCS
Central Texas GCSA

John M. Tworig, CGCS
Eastern Shore Association of GCS

Mark Krick, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Michael D. Crawford, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Clayton A. DuBose, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Brett A. Shaffer, CGCS
Rio Grande GCSA

Mike D. Kroeze, CGCS
GCSA of Central California

Jared B. Viarengo, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Robert T. Stringer, CGCS
Central Texas GCSA

Jason K. Koester, CGCS
Iowa GCSA

Wes C. Keenum, CGCS
Ridge GCSA

Newly certified members

Michael W. Wolpoff, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California

David J. Donner, CGCS
Northern Ohio GCSA

Benjamin R. LaBarre, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA

Asa J. High, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Justin Pawlicki, CGCS
Florida West Coast GCSA

Jonathan S. Murphy, CGCS
Louisiana-Mississippi GCSA

Brandon Razo, CGCS
Central Illinois GCSA

Recertified members

Robert O. Farren, Jr., CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Ricky D. Heine, CGCS
Lone Star GCSA

Anthony R. Lambert, CGCS
Indiana GCSA

Ralph J. Kepple, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Ronnie L. Adkins, CGCS
West Virginia GCSA

Bradly C. Pugh, CGCS
Kentuckiana GCSA

Donald C. Garrett Jr., CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Fredric S. Holfoth, CGCS
GCSA of New York

Sean P. Cain, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Neil C. Radatz, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA

John Shaw, CGCS
Greater Pittsburgh GCSA

Kyle E. Bibler, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Jeff E. Therrien, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Scott A. Severance, CGCS
Tennessee GCSA

David A. Duke, CGCS, MG
No Chapter Listed

Newly certified members

Nicholas H. Brandt, CGCS
Eastern Shore Association of GCS

Stuart Wells McClure, CGCS
Tennessee GCSA

David W. Pitts, CGCS
No Chapter Listed

Recertified members

David H. Robinson, CGCS
Central Florida GCSA

Anthony S. Mancuso, CGCS
Central Texas GCSA

Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS
Peaks & Prairies GCSA

Joseph F. Felicetti, CGCS
GCSA of Cape Cod

Richard A. Wit, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota

Kevin L. Welp, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Joe D. Wachter, CGCS
Mississippi Valley GCSA

Matthew A. Crowther, CGCS
GCSA of Cape Cod

Eric S. Smith, CGCS
Ohio GCSA

Michael J. Rayman, CGCS
Central Illinois GCSA

Damon L. Williams, CGCS, LICM, CMCA, AMS, MCM, LSM, PCAM
Carolinas GCSA

Kevin P. Sunderman, CGCS
Florida GCSA

Eric Ritter, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA

Keith M. Bennett, CGCS
GCSA of New Jersey

Newly certified members

Cory R. Brown, CGCS
Western Washington GCSA

Nicholas C. Lubold, CGCS
Philadelphia Association of GCS

James F. Symons, CGCS
Southern Nevada GCSA

Michael P. Cauley, CGCS
Florida GCSA

David W. Beanblossom, CGCS
Kentuckiana GCSA

Aaron Fankhauser, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

John M. Walls, CGCS
Palm Beach GCSA

Ross A. Niewola, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA

Gustavo Rodriguez, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA

Recertified members

Scott M. Ramsay, CGCS
Connecticut Association of GCS

Alex H. Greenacre, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Richard Pavlasek, CGCS
South Texas GCSA

Kevin D. Glover, CGCS
Tri-State GCSA

Jason Ellis, CGCS
Everglades GCSA

Newly certified members

Cody L. Horstman, CGCS
Cactus and Pine GCSA

James Nick, CGCS
Old Dominion GCSA

Scott A. Ellis, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Jonathan Heywood, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Matthew V. Czarnecki, CGCS
Mississippi Valley GCSA

Joseph Trombino, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA

Aaron C. Barnett, CGCS
South Florida GCSA

Recertified members

William K. Shirley, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Dale Kuehner, CGCS
Greater Pittsburgh GCSA

Jeffrey M. Smelser, CGCS
South Texas GCSA

Jeff Goren, CGCS
Cactus and Pine GCSA

Scott A. Main, CGCS
Hawaii GCSA

Eric R. McPherson, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA

Philip N. Lagao, CGCS
Oregon GCSA

Steve Howlett, CGCS
Hi-Lo Desert GCSA

Matthew F. Delly, CGCS
GCSA of New York

Timothy J. Benedict, CGCS
Long Island GCSA

Sam Reznicek, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Newly certified members

Grant M. Suderman, CGCS
Heart of America GCSA

John M. Gianopoulos, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Steven J. Hammon, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Robert B. Flemming, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Daniel Palin, CGCS
Tennessee GCSA

Recertified members

Jeffrey W. Hemphill, CGCS
Long Island GCSA

Adam Kloster, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California

Brian Hollingsworth, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Michael J. Studier, CGCS
Heart of America GCSA

Joey G. Franco, Jr., CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Ryan K. Wulff, CGCS
Oregon GCSA

Lydell Mack, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Kyle J. Rausch, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota

Newly certified members

James C. Crell II, CGCS
Louisiana-Mississippi GCSA

Ian R. Gallagher, CGCS
Northern Ohio GCSA

Scott W. Hans, CGCS
GCSA of New York

Hunter A. Dorsey, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Recertified members

Jessie Creencia, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Stephen E. Cohoon, CGCS
Virginia GCSA

John J. Lammrish, CGCS
North Florida GCSA

Michael J. Fast, CGCS
Ohio GCSA

James J. DeReuil, CGCS
Gulf Coast GCSA

Wilton M. Harbin, Jr., CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

William K. Wall, CGCS
No Chapter Listed

Eric H. Frazier, CGCS
Old Dominion GCSA

B. Paul Culclasure, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Newly certified members

Matthew A. Marsh, CGCS
GCSA of Southern California

Erik D. Wiles, CGCS
Everglades GCSA

Jesse F. Sutton, CGCS
Vermont GCSA

Recertified members

Joel V. Purpur, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS

Samuel C. MacKenzie, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS

James J. Walraven, CGCS
GCSA of South Dakota

Jeffrey R. Clouthier, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA

James B. Sua, CGCS
No Chapter Listed

John J. LeClair, CGCS
Rhode Island GCSA

Jim Myers, CGCS
Western Washington GCSA

Lance J. Johnson, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Shayne S. Skolnik, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Shane Bass, CGCS
Florida GCSA

Peter J. Rappoccio, CGCS
GCSA of New England

Robert D. Steger, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Heath Puckett, CGCS
Alabama GCSA

Daniel B. Tolson, CGCS
Peaks & Prairies GCSA

Adam Bagwell, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Andy J. Klein, CGCS
Heart of America GCSA

Shaun M. Satterly, CGCS
No Chapter Listed

Newly certified members

Christopher Kukor, CGCS
Greater Pittsburgh GCSA

Leonard B. Pritchett, CGCS
Virginia GCSA

Drew Nottenkamper, CGCS
South Florida GCSA

Jordan M. Gilmore, CGCS
Southern California GCSA

Recertified members

Dean A. Baker, CGCS
Ontario GSA

Scott E. Dodson, CGCS
GCSA of New York

R. Jeff Brewster, CGCS
Suncoast GCSA

Michael J. Whitehead, CGCS
Rhode Island GCSA

Patrick M. Walker, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

James J. Lezon, CGCS
Southern Nevada GCSA

Fred Gehrisch, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Scott Cybulski, CGCS
Maine GCSA

Gary W. Myers, CGCS
Kentuckiana GCSA

Dustin N. Riley, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA

Vincent A. Pavonetti, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Matt J. Falvo, CGCS
GCSA of New York

Kevin M. Kienast, CGCS
San Diego GCSA

Jeffrey J. Frentz, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS

Glenn M. Matthews, CGCS
GCSA of Central California

Ian A. Peluso, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Spencer Roberts, CGCS
Heart of America GCSA

Parker L. Ferren, CGCS
Florida GCSA

Newly certified members

James F. Palokas, CGCS
Eastern Shore Association of GCS

Kyle E. Soller, CGCS
GCSA of Arkansas

Renee Geyer, CGCS
Western Washington GCSA

Ryan M. Franklin, CGCS
Indiana GCSA

Recertified members

Perry G. Greene, CGCS
Central Illinois GCSA

Kevin Clunis, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA

Stephen F. Ehrbar, CGCS
Palm Beach GCSA

Jeffrey C. Markow, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California

Matthew J. Dillon, CGCS
Sierra Nevada GCSA

Greg Bailey, CGCS
No Chapter Listed

K. Robert Buege, CGCS
Suncoast GCSA

Thomas J. Bastis, CGCS
GCSA of Northern California

Paul M. Brandenburg, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

David J. Sweet, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

S. Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
Kentuckiana GCSA

Erik W. Guinther, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Newly certified members

Justin A. Browning, CGCS
Tennessee GCSA

Recertified members

Alan B. Hospes, CGCS
Alabama GCSA

James B. Johnson, CGCS
Minnesota GCSA

David A. Stowe, CGCS
GCSA of New England

Thad W. Kintigh, CGCS
Iowa GCSA

Russell E. Heller, CGCS
GCSA of New England

Jason A. Zimmerman, CGCS
Everglades GCSA

Brad A. French, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Erin L. Stevens, CGCS, MG
Calusa GCSA

Steven W. Martin, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Steve Southard, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Joshua M. Dunaway, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Newly certified members

Landon T. White, CGCS
California GCSA

Recertified members

Douglas H. Jones, CGCS
Rocky Mountain GCSA

Thomas W. Athy, CGCS
Nebraska GCSA

Thomas V. Schall Jr., CGCS
Michigan GCSA

Dennis L. Bowsher, CGCS
Ohio GCSA

Bruce W. Ruppert, CGCS
Peaks & Prairies GCSA

Barry G. Graham, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

John M. Gurke, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS

David J. Pawluk, CGCS
Michigan GCSA

David A. Brandenburg Jr., CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA

Scot Spier, CGCS
Midwest Association of GCS

Steven R. Neuliep, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Darren J. Davis, CGCS
Florida GCSA

Anthony M. Girardi, CGCS, MG
Metropolitan GCSA

Richard T. Lawrence, CGCS
Carolinas GCSA

Blake A. Halderman, CGCS
Metropolitan GCSA

Jeffrey K. Barlow, CGCS
Wisconsin GCSA

Timothy M. Cunningham, CGCS
Georgia GCSA

Set yourself apart: Learn more about becoming a CGCS

What new CGCSs say about the program

Noah Pier CGCS"Attaining the Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) designation has consistently been a professional milestone that appeared unattainable when I commenced my career in this field. It embodies unwavering dedication to the craft and the countless hours of hard work and perseverance invested in learning from esteemed mentors in the turfgrass industry. Earning certification signifies my commitment to continuous personal development and fostering the growth of my team members, as my mentors have done for me throughout my journey toward achieving CGCS.”

– Noah D. Pier, CGCS, University of Louisville Golf Club, Simpsonville, Ky.


Brandon Smith CGCS"Becoming a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) has always been a professional goal of mine in my career. I think it gives you professional recognition with your club management and membership. It shows your professional development over the years with continuing education and passion for the career. It's a solid step toward becoming a leader in your field. I would like to thank all my mentors over the years from N.C., Tenn., Ga. Your guidance and wisdom had a profound impact on me both personally and professionally throughout my career.”

– Brandon Smith, CGCS, Laurel Springs Golf Club, Suwanee, Ga.


Daniel Dingman CGCS"Completing my CGCS Certification has always been a career goal of mine, and it always feels great to accomplish a career goal!"

– Daniel Dingman, CGCS, Birmingham Country Club, Birmingham, Mich.





Nick Lubold CGCS"Achieving the CGCS designation has always been a professional milestone I’ve strived for since I began in the golf course management industry. It represents the highest standard of excellence, dedication, and expertise in our field. Earning this certification is not just a personal accomplishment but a testament to my commitment to delivering exceptional playing conditions and experiences for members and guests."

– Nick Lubold, CGCS, Sunnybrook Golf Club, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.


Brandon Razo CGCS"Earning the title of Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) through the GCSAA is one of the most meaningful achievements of my career. It represents years of dedication to the profession, a commitment to excellence, and the culmination of hard work, education, and hands-on experience. This milestone inspires me to continue growing, mentoring others, and representing the GCSAA and its mission to elevate the superintendent profession. I’m incredibly proud to carry this designation and thankful for the support of those who’ve helped me reach this point."

– Brandon E. Razo, CGCS, Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Ill.


Asa High CGCS"Earning the Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) designation is an important milestone in my journey to contribute meaningfully to the golf course management profession. This certification reflects my ongoing efforts to deepen my knowledge in agronomy, environmental stewardship, and leadership, while striving to uphold high standards of quality and sustainability. My hope is that achieving CGCS status will not only benefit the Club and team I represent but also encourage professional growth among my peers as we work together to create exceptional experiences for our members and guests."

– Asa J. High, CGCS, Frederica Golf Club, Saint Simons Island, Ga.


David Donner CGCS"Becoming a Certified Golf Course Superintendent is something that I have aspired to for a number of years. The CGCS designation represents the highest standard for the industry. The achievement is something I feel was necessary to represent the organization I work for and the team that I have the privilege to work with."

– David Donner, CGCS, Cleveland Metro Parks System, Bedford, Ohio



Ian Gallagher CGCSI think certification is a good program that helped me improve as a superintendent by testing my knowledge of the job and my performance as a manager. I enjoyed the challenge, and the process helped me focus on my professional growth and gave me more skills and knowledge to offer my club.”

– Ian Gallagher, CGCS, The Mayfield Sandridge Club, South Euclid, Ohio



Nick Brandt CGCS"Becoming a CGCS is important to me both professionally and personally. Certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence and willingness to embrace a significant challenge while providing trust and credibility within the industry.”

– Nick Brandt, CGCS, The Brick Companies, Queenstown, Md.



Wes Pitts CGCS"Achieving certification as a golf course superintendent has been a long-standing goal of mine. It not only recognizes me as a high-level professional by the leaders of our industry, but it also allows me to join a distinguished community of certified superintendents. It’s an honor to be counted among those who share a commitment to excellence and to contribute to a field that I am so passionate about.”

– Wes Pitts, CGCS, TPC Dorado Beach, Dorado, PR


Jesse Sutton CGCS"The CGCS designation signifies an individual’s dedication to excellence and continuous improvement as a Golf Course Superintendent. I feel fortunate to have found my passion in this industry and am filled with gratitude for my work. Becoming a certified golf course superintendent is my ultimate professional development achievement. The responsibility of this designation lies in continuing to raise the bar both personally and professionally.”

– Jesse Sutton, CGCS, Fox Run Golf Club, Ludlow, Vt.