In the previous installment of Par for the Course we met Donnie Caldwell, the resident golf pro overseeing operations at the Wasioto Winds Golf Course in Pineville. This week, we meet Caldwell’s brother, Ronnie, and his nephew, Braxton, both of whom are tasked with keeping the course not only functional, but looking great as well.
With about four decades of on-the-job experience, Ronnie Caldwell was there when Wasioto Winds was first being developed. He has served as course superintendent since the very beginning, and he is now passing his extensive knowledge down to his son, Braxton, who recently completed a turf management certification program at the Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) Knox County Campus.
Those who follow along with Wasioto Winds on social media may have noticed posts in recent days showing the Caldwells and their crew hard-at-work as restorative efforts have been underway in the aftermath of severe flooding that literally left sections of the course completely underwater. A few weeks ago, on another rainy day in late-January, both father and son took some time while the course was closed to play to discuss their demanding, and rewarding, jobs.
“We have a hidden gem right here in the mountains that a lot of people still don’t know about,” Braxton Caldwell said of Wasioto Winds. “
Braxton said that he was born into the world of golf, with his father being a superintendent and his uncle being a golf pro, but he also said that it was something that he embraced from the very beginning. “There is something about golf that just feels like it is a part of me,” he explained. “It is something that I look forward to every day.”
Braxton is a 2020 graduate of nearby Pineville High School, and he considers himself very fortunate to have been involved in the First Tee program, as he said it presented him with many amazing opportunities. If you missed last week’s column, Donnie Caldwell spoke at-length about First Tee Pine Mountain, which is the regional branch of the national organization that uses golf to help support and develop young people from the elementary ages and up. For more information, go online to www.firsttee.org or www.firstteepinemountain.org.
Braxton ended up getting the opportunity to compete in golf at the collegiate level for one year at the University of the Cumberlands, but his path would soon lead him back home to Pineville and learning the ropes of how to maintain operations at Wasioto Winds.
Just recently, Braxton was part of the very first group of students to earn a turf management certificate from the SKCTC Knox Campus. “You can only go so far in this industry without being certified,” he said. “The certificate opens up more avenues, as you need to have something to go along with your work experience. I can pursue more career advancements now.”
So, how does one go about pursuing a turf management certificate?
SKCTC Workforce Solutions Coordinator Collin Grubb said that the customized training program is something that was introduced in order to give students another exciting option for a potential career path. Beginning in March and running through November, the program gives students the opportunity to get hands-on experience thanks to a partnership with the Indian Springs Golf Course in Barbourville. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, those participating in the program will learn about growing different types of grasses, soil science, and the principles of proper maintenance that include mowing, irrigation systems, fertilization, pest control and more.
Grubb said that SKCTC’s turf management certificate program looks at other areas, such as lawn care and the management of other types of athletic facilities, in order to maximize the chances of finding employment. Job shadowing opportunities and on-the-job training also help trainees to get hooked up with potential employers ahead of completing the certificate program.
Although the 2025 turf management program is already getting underway, Grubb said anyone who might be interested in learning more about how they can be included in 2026 can contact him by phone at (606) 670-5529 or by e-mail at cgrubb0025@kctcs.edu.
Getting back to the Caldwells, Ronnie said, “98 percent of people have no idea what goes into being able to play a round of golf. There is a science behind this, and it is pretty challenging.”
Even after nearly 40 years, Ronnie said that he is still learning new things on almost a daily basis. It has been a labor of love, though, and it is one that he is happy to see his son taking an interest in as well.
Learn more about Wasioto Winds by visiting www.parks.ky.gov/golf and running a search for the course.
