OTA Member Completes GCSAA ASCS

Christoppher Berry, the second assistant golf course superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club completed the Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series (ASCS) administered by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) sponsored by John Deere.

Christopher’s career started at 15 working at a small nursery before transitioning to the golf industry, going to work at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River Oregon.  There he was introduced to various roles from grounds crew, irrigation technician, equipment manager assistant, to eventually the second assistant superintendent.  While working at Tokatee, Christopher attended Walla Walla Community College and graduated with an AS in Turf Management and Aquatics Certification from Penn State. 

After eight years, Christopher transitioned back into the landscape industry, working for a landscape construction firm as an assistant manager, where he gained valuable insights into time management, business operations, and financial planning.  He eventually went on to own his own landscape construction company, before returning to Springfield Missouri where Christopher had spent some of his early childhood. 

After arriving back in Springfield, Christopher worked for a couple of landscape companies before the golf industry lured him back in, when Johnathan Prange, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Highland Springs hired Christopher in the open second assistant position.  After getting back into the golf business, Christopher discovered the opportunity to enhance his expertise through the GCSAA ASCS program, where he diligently worked to complete, with the approval of Highland Springs and more importantly the support of his wife of 20 years and their three children.

For more information on the ASCS, contact GCSAA or our GCSAA Central Section Field Representative Randy Robinson.     

Photo: Randy Robinson on the left, Christopher Berry on the right. Photo credit Melvin Waldron