NATCHEZ — With the recent renewal of his status as certified golf course superintendent, Greg Brooking is in a class of few.

The Duncan Park Golf Course superintendent was recently granted renewal by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, of which Brooking is a member. He will now maintain his status through Dec. 17, 2015, making him one of the few 20-year certified golf course superintendents in the nation.

Brooking said the GCSAA requires all of its golf course superintendents to continue receiving education even after initial certification.

“You have to actually get continuing education points,” Brooking said. “You’re tested by your peers when you first become certified, and you have to continue getting a certain number of points to maintain it.

“You do that by going to seminars and classes, maintaining knowledge in the field, and you also get points by publishing periodicals about experiments you try with your course.”

According to a press release by the GCSAA, only 1,700 of approximately 25,000 golf course superintendents worldwide have the Certified Golf Course Superintendent status. Brooking initially received his certification in 1995.

Brooking has worked at Duncan Park since 2001. Prior to that, he worked at Fernwood Country Club in Fernwood for 16 years, and at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, La., from 1979 to 1986.

“It feels good,” Brooking said. “I’m at the top of my class, so I feel good about being recognized as one of the better golf course superintendents in the nation.”

When looking back, Brooking said he definitely envisioned himself continuing to work as a golf course superintendent for the rest of his life.

“I love my work. I love what I do,” Brooking said.

“One of the things that really excites me is being able to come back to a course I played on as a child.”

And he thanked the Natchez Board of Aldermen and the recreation commission for helping him increase the value of what he said is an asset — the Duncan Park Golf Course.

“I think we can put our municipal golf course against any one in Mississippi, even with our limited budget,” Brooking said.