Michael C. Leftwich – Age 64 of Nashville, passed away on April 9, 2026, at his home. Born November 4, 1961, he was preceded in death by his parents, Charles W. and Imogene “Jean” Watts Leftwich. He is survived by his beloved son, Brooks Michael Leftwich, of Lafayette, IN.
For the past 10 years Mike was employed by The Parke Company in Nashville, working in property landscape maintenance at Sullivan Farms in Franklin, TN, and also ran his own agronomy consulting business, TurfGolf. Mike graduated from Overton High School in 1980, where he was a standout basketball player. He played basketball at Columbia State Community College for one year then transferred to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He graduated in 1984 with a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design, with an emphasis in Agronomy. He spent his career as a golf course superintendent, having grown in and maintained golf courses across the country and in Mexico, while working for well-known golf course architects. One golf course owner commented that he could “grow grass on glass.” He began his career as an associate superintendent at Colonial Country Club in Memphis, TN, followed by working for Jack Nicklaus Golf Development to grow-in Richland Country Club in Nashville and Shore Oaks Golf Club in Farmington, NJ. His construction and management experience then took him to Heatherwoode Golf Club in Springboro, OH, and Fields Ferry Golf Course in Calhoun, GA, as an employee of Golf, Inc. Mike spent one year overseeing the construction and grow-in of Cabo Real, in Los Cabos, Mexico, in the early 1990s before moving to Lewisburg, TN, to become the site rep for Gene Bates Golf Design during the construction of Saddle Creek Golf Course. Upon completion, he was the golf course superintendent for 13 years.
Mike’s pride and joy was his son, Brooks, who was born in 1996 and was practically raised on the golf course. Mike cut down clubs for him by the time Brooks could walk and his favorite saying to him was, “Let’s go mess around at the golf course.” Mike would pick him up from daycare or school and head to the golf course. Brooks’ love for the game came from his dad and for that he will forever be grateful.
Mike was a retired member of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America, Past President and Past Chapter Delegate of the Middle Tennessee Chapter, GCSAA, Past President of the UT Alumni Marshall County Chapter, and a member of Hillcrest United Methodist Church, Nashville.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 20, 2026 at Hillcrest United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, with the funeral to follow at 2:00 PM. Burial will be Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Cookeville, TN. Pallbearers are Randy Chandler, Brian Davis, Charlie Mitchell, James “Boodie” Moore, Doug Paschall, and Jimmy Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to junior golf programs through the Tennessee Golf Foundation or the USGA.
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This obituary was published by Hillcrest United Methodist Church.
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