SunnilandSUPERSpotlight: Jon S. Cockerham
When I received my bachelor’s degree in Science majoring in microbiology from Mississippi State University in 1989 my aspirations were in quality control for food production, hopefully within the citrus industry in Florida. I was born and raised in Jupiter/Tequesta and returned there after college looking to start a career. Needing some income while sending out resumes and waiting on responses I took a job on the crew at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach. After finding out that a superintendent could make a good salary while spending time outside with nature, involved with a favorite sport of mine, I decided on a change of professional pursuit. Superintendent at the time, Jerry Redden, had enough faith in me to make me his assistant and the rest just fell into place. Now in the business for 30 years, 20
62
as a superintendent here at Suntree Country Club, I have relied, as so many of us have, on information and education from peers and vendor representatives. One of my most influential and helpful friends in the business was the late Fred “Uncle Freddy” Marshall. Fred was working with Sunniland Corporation when I met him and was a tremendous help with my decisions on
course fertility and pest management. He was well known by many central Florida superintendents and passed along a wealth of knowledge to me based on his experiences. With Uncle Freddy now gone my relationship has continued with the folks at Sunniland and I still look to them for recommendations and the great products and service they provide!!
Golf Central • Volume 20, Issue 10
