Golf Course Superintendents

Career summary

#Put some info into bulleted lists to match other aspect of NWOIS reformatting for 2013, 8/6/13 cj, deleted superfluous text, checked, few changes 2/17/15 lh

Golf course superintendents, sometimes called golf course turf managers, have a wide array of duties and responsibilities. This makes it necessary for superintendents to have skills and knowledge in many different areas including:

• horticulture and turfgrass science
• landscape design and maintenance
• equipment operation and maintenance
• ecology
• purchasing
• rules of play
• golf etiquette
• tournament hosting
• personnel training and leadership
• business practices such as accounting and budgeting

The main duty of a golf course superintendent is to ensure the grass playing surfaces called greens and fairways, and the course as a whole, are properly maintained. Depending on the grass type, superintendents must know how and when to apply the correct amounts of fertilizer, water, and pesticides to keep the grass healthy without harming the environment. They must also know when to cut, thatch, and aerate turf to keep the greens in top condition.

Golf courses also contain areas, called hazards, which serve to increase the challenge to golfers. Hazards commonly found on courses are pits of sand, called bunkers or sand traps, or pools of water. Superintendents ensure these are kept in good condition.

Improvement to the golf course is important to keep the course interesting and in line with current standards. Working with general management, they develop projects and budgets to improve the golf course using long-range plans and standards.

Superintendents also manage sod farms and nurseries that supply turf and bedding plants for the golf course. They also maintain the grounds and landscaping around the clubhouse. In some facilities, they may also maintain other recreational areas such as tennis courts and swimming pools.

Superintendents must have highly detailed technical knowledge about the course they manage and the game of golf in general. They may be called upon to answer questions about rules of play, golf etiquette, golf cart rules, frost delays, or other issues that affect players.

Superintendents also have administrative duties such as purchasing supplies and equipment, hiring and supervising employees, and creating and managing budgets. Depending on the size of the course, they may supervise one or more assistants and additional workers including irrigation technicians, equipment mechanics, and greens keepers.

Superintendents usually report to one person. This might be the owner, chairperson of the greens committee, general manager, or public administrator.

Related careers

This career is part of the Hospitality and Tourism cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Agricultural Worker Supervisors
• Business Executives
• Conservation Scientists
• Farmers and Farm Managers
• Professional Athletes
• Property and Real Estate Managers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to golf course superintendents.

• Monitor course environment by touring and inspecting conditions.
• Inspect condition of course hazards such as sand or water traps.
• Apply or instruct other staff to apply fertilizers, water, or pesticides.
• Plan maintenance and project work using long-range plans and golf course standards.
• Select and purchase supplies and equipment.
• Manage golf cart fleet.
• Set up, test, operate, monitor, and maintain irrigation equipment.
• Inspect, operate, and maintain equipment.
• Hire, release, train, and direct golf course workers.
• Maintain financial, personnel, and maintenance records.
• Manage sod farm and nursery.
• Inform golfers on course rules and etiquette.
• Plan and coordinate golf tournaments.
• Report to one of the following: general manager, greens chairperson, owner, or administrators.

Common work activities

Golf course superintendents perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Monitor and control resources
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Document and record information
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Perform administrative tasks
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, golf course superintendents:

Interpersonal relationships

• Supervise, coach, train, or develop golf course assistants and workers.
• Provide a service to others.
• Are responsible for the work of others.

Physical work conditions

• Work both indoors and outdoors.
• Sometimes are exposed to hazardous equipment. The likelihood of being injured is slight.
• Occasionally are exposed to contaminants, such as pesticides.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. This is to make sure that the golf course operates as smoothly as possible. Missing small details could cause the golf course to lose money.

Hours/travel

• Work 40 or more hours per week.
• May work on weekends.
• May travel to conferences during winter months to learn new techniques.

Physical demands

Golf course superintendents frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for golf course superintendents to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for golf course superintendents to be able to:

• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.

Skills and abilities

Golf course superintendents need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Use math skills to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.
• Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Work with things

• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Determine the tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Install equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Agronomy and Crop Science
• Business Management and Administration
• Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
• Horticulture Operations
• Recreation and Parks Management
• Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure Studies
• Turf and Turfgrass Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Landscape Architecture
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping
• Sport and Fitness Management

Training

To work as a golf course superintendent, you must:

• have a two- or four-year college degree;
• have three to five years of experience as a superintendent's assistant;
• enjoy leading and directing others; and
• be passionate about the game of golf.

Formal education

A two- or four-year degree in agronomy, turfgrass science, landscape architecture, or horticulture is the most common route to this occupation. Continuing education has become a requirement for superintendents as turfgrass management becomes more technical and environmental issues of pesticides, wildlife conservation, and water conservation increase in importance.

Work experience

Most golf course superintendents begin as assistant superintendents mentored by an experienced manager. The average time spent as an assistant ranges from three to five years.

On-the-job training

Few golf course superintendents receive training on the job. Employers hire experienced, proven workers or promote experienced lower-level assistants.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Accounting
• Computer Applications
• Introduction to Business
• Horticulture
• Plant and Soil Science
• Public Speaking
• Physical Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities, you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community are here .

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire golf course superintendents who have prior experience managing golf courses. Employers look for a knowledge of turf management, accounting and bookkeeping, and time management skills. They also seek workers who are up to date on federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding the management of golf course operations.

Tips

An internship on a golf course provides valuable experience. Keeping abreast of changes in water, vegetation, and wildlife conservation practices on golf courses is also helpful.

#Tip comment added from Greener Greens article, Subaru Drive Magazine, Spring 2014, 3/31/14 cj.

Costs to workers

Golf course superintendents who apply pesticides must obtain a license from the State Department of Agriculture. There is an annual fee. Superintendents may also pay dues to a state or national association, or pay for educational materials and testing to become nationally certified. They may also pay to attend continuing education classes or take classes online to keep up with changes in the field.

Licensing/certification

Golf course superintendents often obtain licenses for specific tasks such as pesticide application. Licensing divisions within the Washington State Department of Agriculture at 360.902.1800 can provide specific information or through their website:

http://agr.wa.gov/Portals/PF/ 

National certification is also available from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Contact information for the association is listed in the Other Resources section of this description.

#fine 3/26/13 lh

Wages

Currently, there is no specific statewide wage information available for golf course superintendents.

#No ES wage info available 7.13 ss

Pay varies with the employer's size and location. Pay also depends on the worker's education, experience, and responsibility. Superintendents managing larger, 18-hole courses earn more than superintendents of smaller courses. Nationally, the average base salary for golf course superintendents in 2017 was $89,189 per year.

#Updated national average for 2015 from https://www.gcsaa.org/career/compensation-report 3/23/17 lh. Updated wage from 2017 Compensation and Benefits report by the Golf Course Superintendents Association 4/2/18 cj.

Superintendents usually receive benefits. Common benefits include paid vacation, health and dental insurance, and a retirement plan. Many superintendents also receive a bonus in addition to their base compensation.

Employment and outlook

Washington employment

Currently, there is no specific statewide employment information available for golf course superintendents.

#No employment info available 7.13 ss

There are about 327 courses in Washington. Most are located in cities or small towns.

#Source for number of public and private courses updated 3/17/14 cj: http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/state.aspx?state=WA , no change 2/17/15 lh

National outlook

Currently, there is no specific statewide outlook information available for golf course superintendents.

#No outlook info available 7.13 ss

The outlook for golf superintendents depends on the continued popularity of the game, increase in the number of golfers playing, the amount of income available for recreation, and the construction of new golf courses. Some job openings will also occur as superintendents retire or move to other occupations.

Other resources

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 
1421 Research Park Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
800.472.7878
785.841.2240

National Recreation and Park Association 
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148
800.626.6772
703.858.0784

Professional Golf Association 
100 Avenue of the Champions
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561.624.8400

Professional Grounds Management Society 
9 Newport Drive, Suite 200
Forest Hill, MD 21050
410.223.2861

Sports Turf Managers Association 
805 New Hampshire, Ste. E
Lawrence, KS 66044

Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association 
1377 Aaron Ave NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206.459.1698

What Does a Golf Course Superintendent Do? (Rutgers University) 

References

Career cluster

• Hospitality and Tourism

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net job zones 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Greenskeeper I (406.137-010) 
• Greenskeeper II (406.683-010) 
• Superintendent, Greens (406.137-014) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Enterprising/Realistic/Conventional
• Enterprising/Realistic/Investigative
• Realistic/Enterprising/Social