what is a typical day for a golf course superintendent

by Schuyler Heidenreich 6 min read

Golf course superintendents need to address issues or potential problems on the course and remedy them as quickly as possible. Long work hours are required, especially during peak seasons. This often includes working weekends. Days often start at 5am before the sun comes up, and usually finish by late afternoon/early evening.

"This is seven days a week (during the golf season). I usually get in by 6 o'clock or a little after and work until four to six at night. Weekends we get in at six in the morning and mow greens, change cups and rake sand traps. It's a minimum of two hours and a lot of times I'll be here until noon."Aug 18, 2008

Full Answer

How much experience do you need to be a golf course superintendent?

Working as a Golf Course Superintendent typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes. (Copyright 2021 Salary.com)

What is the difference between a golf course superintendent and Foreman?

For example, a Golf Course Superintendent responsibilities require skills like "Course Maintenance," "Fairways," "Maintenance Activities," and "Golf Courses." Meanwhile a typical Landscape Installation Foreman has skills in areas such as "Hardscape," "High End," "Plant Material," and "Job Sites."

How many hours do school superintendents work?

According to the survey, superintendents log an average of 39 hours per week in winter; 48 hours in spring; a 51 hours in summer; and 45 hours in the fall. Their duties aren’t divided evenly.

How much do golf course supervisors get paid?

The base salary for Golf Course Superintendent ranges from $60,900 to $87,500 with the average base salary of $72,700. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $63,700 to $91,600 with the average total cash compensation of $76,000.

What does a superintendent of a golf club do?

A golf course superintendent manages and directs the maintenance, management and operation of golf courses. They conduct routine inspection of equipment and vehicles to ensure productivity and safety of the facility.

How much does the Augusta National superintendent make?

How much does a Golf Course Superintendent make in Augusta, GA? The average Golf Course Superintendent salary in Augusta, GA is $69,600 as of May 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $58,300 and $83,800.

How much do golf course superintendents make in Texas?

How much does a GOLF Course Superintendent make in Texas? As of Jun 11, 2022, the average annual pay for a GOLF Course Superintendent in Texas is $43,510 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $20.92 an hour. This is the equivalent of $837/week or $3,626/month.

How much does a golf course superintendent make in Ohio?

How much does a Golf Course Superintendent make in Ohio? The average Golf Course Superintendent salary in Ohio is $72,600 as of May 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $60,900 and $87,400.

How much do top golf superintendents make?

According to the 2019 Compensation and Benefits report by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), golf course superintendents make an average of $93,176 annually, whereas the average base salary for an assistant superintendent is $46,270.

How much does the head greenkeeper at Augusta make?

Golf Greenskeeper Salary in Augusta, GAPercentileSalaryLocation25th Percentile Golf Greenskeeper Salary$25,564Augusta,GA50th Percentile Golf Greenskeeper Salary$26,356Augusta,GA75th Percentile Golf Greenskeeper Salary$28,042Augusta,GA90th Percentile Golf Greenskeeper Salary$29,577Augusta,GA1 more row

What is a golf course superintendent?

Golf course superintendents are skilled professionals who are responsible for providing care and maintenance to the golf courses they are working for. These superintendents must supervise a team of staff members to coordinate work schedules for landscaping and maintaining the golf course grounds.

How fast will golf superintendents grow?

Between the years 2018 and 2028, golf course superintendent jobs are expected to undergo a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How much does a sports field manager make?

Description Of a Sports Field Manager. Sports field managers tend to earn a higher pay than golf course superintendents by about $6,196 per year. Each job requires different skills like "course maintenance," "fairways," "maintenance activities," and "golf courses," which might show up on a golf course superintendent resume.

What is the difference between a golf course superintendent and a turf manager?

As an example of this, a golf course superintendent is likely to be skilled in "course maintenance," "fairways," "maintenance activities," and "golf courses," while a typical turf manager is skilled in "athletic fields," "ncaa," "routine maintenance," and "mow.". Turf managers typically study at similar levels compared with golf course ...

What skills are similar to golf course superintendent?

For example, several resumes showed us that golf course superintendent responsibilities requires skills like "course maintenance," "fairways," "maintenance activities," and "golf courses.".

What degree do turf managers get?

Turf managers typically study at similar levels compared with golf course superintendents. For example, they're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What skills do irrigation managers need?

But an irrigation manager might use skills, such as, "landscape design," "et," "irrigation technicians," and "irrigation scheduling.". When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, irrigation managers tend to reach similar levels of education than golf course superintendents.

What is a golf course superintendent?

A golf course superintendent is responsible for supervising all the workers and the operations on the golf course. This is exclusive to the course itself and not any restaurants, clubhouses, or businesses on the property. The superintendent is mainly responsible for the landscaping and maintenance of the grounds.

When do superintendents start their day?

This includes working weekends. Most begin their day at 5am before the sun has come up, usually finishing the day by late afternoon. Some superintendents come back in the evening to attend to the course once more before calling it a day.

Do golfers have to work long hours?

This requires them to think and act quickly. They also work long hours, especially during the peak seasons which vary greatly depending on location. This includes working weekends.

Turfgrass Science As A Career

John Jeffreys has served at Pinehurst’s iconic No.2 course since 2006, first as assistant superintendent, including the 2014 season when Pinehurst No. 2 hosted the U.S. Open Championship. He then advanced to head superintendent in July 2014.

Course Title Progression

In the golf industry, there are a lot of titles that sound similar. Who does what, and where does a student start?

A Day in The Life

So what’s it like to run a world-class course? Jeffreys notes that while there’s no typical day in his field, there are some common routines. Here’s how a day in his life unfolds:

How to Become a Golf Course Superintendent

Many avid student golfers and moonlighting landscapers aren’t aware of the higher educational opportunities (and requirements) for golf course superintendents. And education does count.

Look For Improvement

Jeffreys says a good superintendent also has to view the course with a fresh set of eyes each day, just as a golfer would. When you’re on the links 10+ hours a day, that can be hard to do.

Perfect The Product

When you focus on completing a daily checklist, Jeffreys says you can get tunnel vision. It becomes easy to overlook little things that someone else might see as a flaw. He asks his crew to think like a professional photographer.

Must-Have Turfgrass Management Skills

Knowledge of turfgrass science is a given for this industry. But it might surprise a student to know how little of a superintendent’s time is spent working on the golf course.” Jeffreys said. “There are days when I do spend 8-10 hours on the course. But the harder part is to come back in and get the office work done.”

What is a golf course superintendent?

The Golf Course Superintendent oversees continued development of golf course during golf season to improve playing conditions and maintenance of course during off-season. Responsible for overall maintenance and care of the golf course, including turf/grass management, irrigation, and chemical applications (e.g., fertilizer, pesticides) to ensure quality playing conditions. Being a Golf Course Superintendent liaises with the Head Golf Professional on any issues related to golf course operations and maintenance. Manage purchasing, replenishment, and inventory of all materials, supplies, and equipment used to maintain golf course. In addition, Golf Course Superintendent typically requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a golf course general manager. The Golf Course Superintendent manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Working as a Golf Course Superintendent typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes. (Copyright 2021 Salary.com)

How much does a golf course superintendent make in 2021?

The average Golf Course Superintendent salary in the United States is $72,400 as of June 28, 2021, but the range typically falls between $60,700 and $87,200. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

What is a golf course superintendent?

Generally, golf course superintendents are responsible for overseeing all aspects of maintaining an enjoyable and profitable golf course. They must ensure that all natural areas of the course, from the fairways to the greens and roughs, are healthy and properly maintained, and must also be aware of the general course environment, including ponds, ...

What do superintendents do?

What Do Golf Course Superintendents Do? 1 Oversee schedules and budgets for the golf course. 2 Work with government and environmental groups. 3 Oversee marketing and outreach strategies to increase customers and bookings. 4 Track inventory and order materials and supplies, checking for proper usage. 5 Hire, train, and supervise staff in special projects and regular maintenance.

How much does a golf course superintendent make?

With a Bachelors degree, golf course superintendents earn a median annual income of $39,866 compared to $36,083 for golf course superintendents with an Associate degree.

What degree do golf course superintendents have?

Golf course superintendents usually study applied horticulture, plant sciences or business. 35% of golf course superintendents hold a bachelor's degree and 22% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 5,492 golf course superintendent resumes to investigate the topic of golf course superintendent education more precisely.

What is a GCSAA superintendent?

Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) GCSAA offers golf course superintendents a professional certification program enabling them to be recognized for their superior levels of achievement in golf course management.

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