Staff at Ballantrae Golf Club

Arthur "Butch" Byrd Jr., General Manager, PGA

Butch joined the Ballantrae team December 1, 2005 and is in charge of overall Club operations.  Butch came to Ballantrae from the NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he served for 17 years in various capacities including Director of Golf and Recreation, Director of Club Operations, and most recently, General Manager.  Previous to NorthRiver, Butch was the Head Golf Professional and Club Manager at the Eglin Air Force Base Golf Club in Niceville, Florida for 17 years.  Butch is a class A member of the PGA of America and has been active nationally with the PGA, serving as the southeastern representative to the PGA, Board of Control from 1997-2000.  He is currently serving as Chairman of the National Membership Committee. 

Butch has received several awards from the PGA including Chapter Professional of the Year in 1994, Section Professional of the Year in 1995, and was inducted into the PGA Section Hall of Fame in 2004.  Butch earned a B.S. degree from Auburn University and was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Army in 1971.  He is married to his wife Carole and they have two grown children, Kristi and Betsy and three grandchildren, Joseph, Belle, and Anna Clare.
 

Article: Sam, Curdy and Butch Byrd

Hal Brown, Head Golf Professional, PGA

Hal Brown orignially from McKenzie, Alabama has worked in the golf industry for the past 14 years.  He began his professioanl career at Bent Brook Golf Course in 2001 and has continued his career employed at Ballantrae Golf Club starting June of 2004 . Hal is a class A member of the PGA of America and has an A.S. Degree in Business and a Golf Course Management Certificate from Shelton State.  Hal was first employed as the Second Assistant, then promoted to First Assistant and now to Head Golf Professional. He is married to his wife Trina and they have a son named Davis.

Gary Bush,C.G.C.S, Course Superintendent

Gary graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Agriculture and has worked in the golf industry for 26 years. His experience includes 14 years as the Golf Course Superintendent at the Mountain Brook Club during their golf course renovation.  He is a certified golf course superintendent by the national GCSAA and also holds a certified pesticide license for the State of Alabama.