Bret Corbett wins GCSAA’s Larry Powell Scholarship

Bret Corbett, a doctoral student at Virginia Tech University, has received the Larry Powell Scholarship from the GCSAA.

Corbett is a member of the Coharie Indian Tribe.  The Larry Powell Scholarship is funded by donor support through the GCSAA Foundation and benefits individual members of GCSAA, or those interested in becoming members, who represent underserved populations. Scholarship preference is given to needs-based applicants with consideration for demonstrated leadership skills and community engagement.

The Larry Powell Scholarship is selected by GCSAA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.

Corbett grew up on a farm in Selma, North Carolina. He was inspired as an elementary and middle school student by watching his father go back to school to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree while managing the family farm. Corbett said his father was the first person in his family and the community to attend college.

“My father’s journey demonstrated the power of hard work and perseverance,” Corbett said. “His dedication to his education and career, especially in agriculture, greatly influenced my decision to pursue a career in turf management.”

Corbett said his passion for golf course management stemmed from weekends at the Bayer Environmental research farm where his father worked.

“My brother and I would help water the research plots for my dad on the weekend,” Corbett said. “This is where I developed a deep appreciation for the intricate details that contribute to the maintenance and aesthetics of a golf course. Observing the meticulous work required to keep the greens in pristine condition ignited my interest in the science and art behind golf course management.”

Corbett is looking forward to making an impact in the turf industry. He has been simultaneously juggling a full-time job and working on a doctoral degree, while he and his wife raise a young child.

“My vision is to lead innovative projects that that advance the field of golf course management,” Corbett said. “This scholarship will not only support my educational pursuits, but also enable me to contribute meaningfully to the future of turf management. My wife and son have had to make many sacrifices, but we know it will be worth it in the end. Receiving this scholarship will provide financial relief and a much-needed sense of security and stability in our household.”

Corbett played baseball in junior college before transferring to North Carolina State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in crop science with a concentration in turfgrass science in 2015. He earned a master’s degree in entomology from N.C. State in 2018 and then started working on his Ph.D. in 2020.

Corbett will be formally recognized at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.

Larry Powell began mowing fairways at Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio when he was eight years old. The course, built by his father, the late Bill Powell, is the only facility in Ohio that has been designed, built, owned and operated by an African American.  Bill and Larry became the only African American father-son members of GCSAA. The Powell family, which includes Larry’s sister Renee, the second African American to play on the LPGA Tour, was honored with GCSAA’s Old Tom Morris Award in 2019.