Desert Mountain names new director of agronomy

Todd Bohn is the new director of agronomy for Desert Mountain Club, starting July 5.

A Kansas City native, Bohn arrives at Desert Mountain from Big Cedar Lodge where he served as director of agronomy and oversaw conditioning of five premier golf courses, three of which he also managed during construction.

During his time in the Ozark Mountains, Bohn worked with some of the top names in golf at Big Cedar: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The Ozarks National Golf Course hosted five PGA Tour Champion events and the inaugural Payne’s Valley Cup.

At Desert Mountain, Bohn will be reunited with Nicklaus Design, at the only private community worldwide with six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses. Its latest course, Seven, is an 18-hole, par-54, USGA-rated, championship layout, designed by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Todd into our Desert Mountain family,” Desert Mountain Club CEO Damon DiOrio said. “His expertise and previous successes with operations at world-class golf courses makes him the perfect fit for Desert Mountain as we continue to dedicate resources and attention to golf in our community.”

Bohn started as an intern at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. He moved up the golf course superintendent ranks, landing at Wolf Creek Golf Club near Kansas City in 2011. 

An innovative leader in agronomic science and conditioning, Bohn is known for his skills in finance, construction and turf biology, all of which will benefit him as he shifts from managing five courses to managing seven. The vast knowledge he possesses has forged his reputation for developing quality turf, with a clear understanding of course conditioning details.

Bohn will oversee all agronomic operations at Desert Mountain and a dynamic team of 230 agronomy employees. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in golf course management from Kansas State University. Bohn, his wife and their daughter will relocate to the Scottsdale area this summer.