From Turf to the Boardroom: Kenton Brunson on Education, Leadership, and the GM Path

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Summary
In this episode of Leadership on the Links, Tyler Bloom sits down with Kenton Brunson, Director of Agronomy at Mid Ocean Club, to explore why golf course superintendents are uniquely positioned to become elite club leaders. Kenton shares his unconventional career journey, from agronomy student to superintendent to earning his MBA and CCM, while challenging long-held assumptions about silos in club operations.
The conversation dives deep into education versus experience, the real value of advanced degrees, and how continued learning helps superintendents earn credibility in the boardroom. Kenton explains how exposure to club management disciplines reshaped the way he leads people, collaborates with department heads, and measures performance across his team.
Listeners also gain a behind-the-scenes look at Mid Ocean’s progressive people-development systems, including skills matrices, performance scorecards, emotional intelligence tracking, and learning-and-development investment. Kenton emphasizes that leadership longevity isn’t about doing everything yourself, it’s about building systems, trusting people, and choosing the right leaders to learn from early in your career.
This episode reinforces a powerful message: superintendents already manage the largest assets, budgets, and teams at the club, now it’s time to fully step into that leadership potential.
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What You’ll Learn
• Why superintendents are naturally positioned to become club executives
• The real ROI of MBAs, CCMs, and continued education
• How education helps superintendents earn trust in the boardroom
• Why getting “out of your silo” makes you a better leader
• How to use performance scorecards instead of opinions
• Building staff development systems that improve retention
• Why people development is a competitive advantage for clubs
• How emotional intelligence impacts leadership effectiveness
• Practical approaches to delegation and time management
• Career advice for young superintendents planning long-term success
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Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and why superintendents are built to lead
01:50 – Kenton’s early career path and agronomy background
03:40 – From superintendent to thinking like a club executive
05:45 – Education vs. experience: MBA and CCM insights
08:30 – Getting into the room: why education still matters
11:00 – What superintendents learn from club management programs
13:10 – Breaking silos and connecting with department heads
15:40 – Performance management and staff development systems
18:30 – Skills matrices, scorecards, and measuring success
22:10 – Emotional intelligence and leadership self-awareness
25:20 – Delegation, time management, and leadership mindset
29:40 – Governance, alignment, and defining success at the club
33:00 – Choosing leaders over logos early in your career
37:10 – Leadership advice to Kenton’s younger self
38:30 – Final thoughts and where to connect
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Links Mentioned
Bloom Golf Partners Website: https://www.bloomgolfpartners.com
Club Management Association of America (CMAA): https://www.cmaa.org
GCSAA: https://www.gcsaa.org