About Modern Turf
Modern Turf is a state-of-the-art turfgrass production company specializing in growing and installing a complete variety of high quality turfgrass for the golf and landscape industries. The company was founded with the expertise of several former golf course superintendents. The original founder and President of Modern Turf is Hank Kerfoot, a graduate of Lake City Community College (Lake City, Florida). The Vice President is B.J Haunert. B.J. is a graduate of Ohio State University. Buddy Smith covers the Carolinas as our Sales Manager and has a wealth of information and experience in the golf and landscape industries.
Individually, they have been involved in all phases of golf course management and construction and boast over 50 combined years of turfgrass management experience in the U.S., Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. We believe turfgrass grown and installed by former golf course superintendents produces a superior product for architects, builders, owners, golf course superintendents and landscape contractors.
Having been introduced to the game of golf at birth, Hank has been surrounded by turf his entire life. At age twelve he started caddying at Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, Va. This golf course would also become his first introduction to turfgrass management at age fifteen. Since then he has worked on some fourteen golf courses from Maryland to South Florida and Bermuda. His experience in the turfgrass industry ranges from grow-in and maintenance to construction, remodeling and establishing two sod farms.
While gaining firsthand knowledge of cool season turfgrass management in Virginia and Maryland, Hank received his formal training at Lake City Community College in Lake City, Florida. On the way to receiving his degree in golf Course Operations he served as the President of the Florida Turfgrass Association, Student Chapter and the President of the Student Government at Lake City Community College. His Leadership skills are still being put to good use as he has since served as President of The North-South Turfgrass Association in Charlotte, NC, President of The Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and is currently President of The South Carolina Sod Producers Association. He currently serves as a board member of the Rembert Area community Coalition, South Carolina Turfgrass Foundation, South Carolina Landscape and Turfgrass Association and the Montessori School of Camden.
After establishing a sod farm in 1999 for a client in Puerto Rico he founded ModernTurf, Inc. in February of 2000. An original purchase of 410 acres, Modern Turf now encompasses 1200 acres and produces 10 varieties of turfgrass. A state-of-the-art turfgrass production facility, Modern Turf provides the highest quality grasses available on the market today.
Hank resides in Camden, South Carolina with his wife and three children.
B.J. Haunert is the Vice President of Modern Turf. During his fifteen years in the turfgrass industry, B.J. has worked on golf courses throughout the eastern United States from Columbus, OH to Hilton Head, SC. During this time he has gained valuable experience in growing and maintaining quality turf.
After graduating from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy, B.J. relocated to South Carolina and has been a superintendent at some of the state’s top golf courses. He has hosted such tournaments as the AJGA Canon Cup and the S.C. Women’s Amateur. Now B.J. brings his turfgrass experience to Modern Turf as Vice President of Sales and Production. B.J. implements extensive fertilization and chemical programs to ensure that every piece of grass that leaves the farm is of the highest quality. He also attends conferences and seminars throughout the Carolinas sharing information on the ten different varieties of grasses that Modern Turf offers. B.J. helps customers from the golf and landscape industries determine what grass best suits their situations.
B.J. serves on the board of the SC Sports Turf Managers Association and is also a member of numerous organizations including the SC Sod Producers Association, Greater Columbia Landscape Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association and is a Certified South Carolina Pesticide Applicator. B.J. resides in Camden with his wife and two children.
Buddy Smith, Jr. is a well known name in the Turf Industry. With 23 years of diverse experience in the industry, he is a central part of the Modern Turf team.
In high school, Buddy started his own landscaping business where he had many prestigious accounts in the Charlotte, NC area. For seven years he handled all aspects of this business. The quality of work performed at these accounts has created references that Bud can still use today, twelve years later.
Buddy studied Turf Management and Ornamental Landscape Management at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. While earning his degree, he had an opportunity to do internships which included renovations. Some notable projects were at the Riviera Country Club in Miami, working with Hendrix and Dail in Myrtle Beach at Island Green and new construction of nine holes at the Governor’s Club in Chapel Hill, NC with Paragon Golf.
After graduation, Buddy worked as the Second Assistant at Atlanta National Golf Club. This prepared him for the Assistant Superintendent responsibilities at TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte. At Piper Glen, Buddy was responsible for all day to day operations and the organization of the Paine Webber Invitational and the Home Depot Invitational Tournaments.
Buddy then took a job at North Stone Golf Club in Huntersville, NC as the Assistant Superintendent to supervise the construction of this new golf course. Shortly after this was finished he had the opportunity to become the Superintendent at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, NC.
The position at Rock Barn included an $11 million new construction project which Bud was responsible for working with the contractors and the designers through all phases of the construction. With in a year of completion, this course hosted the PGA Tour Champions event, The Greater Hickory Classic. By the end of that year, the NC Ratings Panel rated the course #28 on there list of top 100 courses. Golf Digest also recognized the course as one of the best public golf courses.
Buddy now uses his education and experience at Modern Turf as a Sales Representative. He uses his first hand knowledge to consult with his customers and to help them make the right decisions for their situation.
Buddy is affiliated with the following organizations: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, NC Turf Grass Council, SC Turf Grass Association, North/South Superintendents Association, and Palmetto Superintendents Association. He is also a Certified Pesticide Applicator.
Buddy resides in Charlotte with his wife and daughter.