September 1 will be a big day for Aubrey Martin. It will be the first day of his retirement after 45 years of employment at Gordon Trent Golf Club.
Martin was still at Patrick County High School when he started working at Trent Golf Course in 1971. The golf course was brand new in those days—it was less than ten years old when he began working there. Martin was taking a vocational class in high school, but he said he learned to fix golf course machinery on the job.
He remembers being called to Principal Joe Cobbler’s office over the PA system; the other kids thought he was getting in trouble because he was called so frequently. His secret was that he was needed down at the golf course. In those days, there was no work program at the high school, but Martin had his own program with the principal and Gordon Trent.
Martin says he learned to do “most everything” in the 45 years he has worked at Trent. He helped build the second nine holes in the early ‘80s. He ran the rock picker, drove the dump truck, helped put in irrigation and seeding. He was, again, a valuable member of the team when three holes were added and the course was expanded in 1999-2000.
Still able to do “most everything,” Martin has been working on weekends for 38 years. You will see him changing flag pins, mowing and watering greens or working at the counter in the pro shop. One of the biggest things he looks forward to in his retirement is being off on the weekends to be with family and go to some of the local festivals that he has missed over the years. Beginning September 1, he has plans to hunt and fish, two of his favorite pastimes.
Dewey Hinnant, course manager/pro, announced the declaration of August 23 as “Aubrey Day.” Respected by players and fellow employees, he will be missed this autumn at GTGC.
The Gordon Trent family says that the golf course would not be what it is today without Martin’s faithful service. His friends are encouraged to congratulate him on his 45 years and upcoming retirement. 
