Georgia Honors Drinkard as Superintendent of the Year

Few go so far in a golf course superintendent career without going anywhere than James Drinkard has done at Athens Country Club. Recently, Drinkard was honored as Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association, 45 years after he started at the same club earning $1.85 an hour.

“If you love what you’re doing and you love where you’re doing it, well, you’ve really got something,” he said of his time at the club, which is home to 27 holes designed by Donald Ross.

In one sense, Drinkard’s career is typical of many successful superintendents in that he got a taste during high school, later earned a turfgrass degree, then worked his way through the ranks, eventually arriving at the top. But that he did so while working at the same facility for so long is anything but typical.

For that, he credited his mentor, and eventual father-in-law, Buzz Howell, longtime colleagues Bill Hunt and Chris Thornton, and an army of turfgrass students from the nearby University of Georgia. “The partnership with the students has helped us a lot over the years,” Drinkard said. “Hopefully, we’ve helped them a little a bit too along the way.”

Drinkard’s award, presented in partnership with Corbin Turf and Ornamental Supply, was one of a host of highlights at the Georgia GCSA’s annual awards banquet at King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island earlier this month. He also received a special pin on the night to mark 40 years of membership with the association.

Close to 250 people packed the hotel’s banquet hall for what was also a bitter-sweet occasion, as the final formal duty for much beloved executive director, Tenia Workman.

Workman retires this month after 22 years helping lead the association. She was welcomed to the stage with a prolonged standing ovation and then received a luxury golf cart, from E-Z-Go, in thanks for her service. In February this year, she was honored with the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Earlier in the day of the awards banquet, Georgia GCSA members elected Brandon Hayes, from Reynolds Lake Oconee – Great Waters, as president. Hayes will work closely with the man he succeeds in the role, Tim Busek, who in turn is replacing Workman as executive director. Busek was formerly golf course superintendent at St Ives Country Club in Johns Creek.

At the annual meeting, members also elected Brad Tremmier, from RiverPines Golf in Johns Creek, as vice president and Scott Slemp, from Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, as secretary-treasurer.

Members also returned Heath Allen, from Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, for another term on the board of directors and elected newcomers, Lucas Walters, from Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island, and Ronald McWhorter, from Reynolds Lake Oconee – The Landing.

In other news from the association’s three-day end-of year event:

• The late Jim Dusch, who spent much of his career at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, was inducted to the Georga GCSA Hall of Fame, presented in partnership with Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation.
• Chris Steigelman, CGCS from The Landings Golf and Athletic Club in Savannah, received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Travis Goss, also from The Landings Golf and Athletic Club, was named Assistant Superintendent of the Year.
• Steve Gonyea, CGCS from Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris, won the Environmental Leader in Golf Award presented in partnership with the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation.
• Chris Purvis, from Canton Golf Club in Canton, won the annual superintendent golf championship, presented in partnership with Beard Equipment Company, at King and Prince Golf Club and Ocean Forest Golf Club.
• Jud James, from Whitewater Creek Country Club in Fayetteville, and Mike Waldron, former executive director of the Georgia State Golf Association, each received pins for 30 years of membership. John Leach, from Bent Tree Country Club in Jasper, and Rocky Dreibrodt, of Corbin Turf and Ornamental Supply, each accepted 25-year pins.
• Past president and Georgia GCSA Hall of Famer, Richard Staughton, CGCS was the featured speaker at the annual prayer breakfast presented in partnership with Corbin Turf and Ornamental Supply.
• Mike Nettles, from Trident Lakes Golf Club in King’s Bay won a Traeger Grill in an end-of-night raffle presented in partnership with Bulloch Fertilizer.
• Asa High, from Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island, and Lydell Mack, CGCS from Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper, won the last chance giveaway, presented in partnership with Beard Equipment Company.
• Philip Soukup from The Landings Golf and Athletic Club in Savannah, won the hashtag competition #NEWBEGINNINGS2025