Become a golf course superintendent

Russell Myers turned his interest in golf into a job that enables him to be involved with his favorite sport on a daily basis.

As a golf course superintendent for the Card Sound Golf Club in Key Largo, FL, Russ Myers’ day begins at 5 a.m. His first three hours are spent making sure all is going well—that the golf course is playable and all his employees have been scheduled with their daily tasks. The rest of the day is much less predictable.

Myers’ responsibilities are vast and may include work on projects and employee evaluations as well as additional duties ranging from budgeting to mechanical work and fertilizing.

Growing up in the upstate New York town of Odessa, Myers spent much of his time playing nine-hole golf on a local public golf course. Summer jobs during high school further increased his interest.

At SUNY Cobleskill, the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology in Cobleskill, NY, he majored in turf grass maintenance, which led to a bachelor’s degree in technology in plant science.

His major required a 15-credit internship, during which Myers built a golf course at the Links at Hiawatha Landing, a public, upscale links-style golf course in Apalachin, NY.

Upon entering college, however, Myers wasn’t completely sure of his career plan. He coached and played basketball, which was a big part of his life. “Coaching had a diverse environment,” says Myers. “I almost chose to go into that field.” He was even accepted for a graduate assistantship in coaching at the end of his senior year, but at the same time was hired by the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, where the Masters Golf Tournament is held annually.

Myers worked in Augusta for four years before moving onto his current position, where he has worked for three years. Myers views his field as a growing industry and sees many positive aspects of such a career. “Golf is a game of respect and tradition where kids are exposed to adults early on,” he explains. “Because it is enjoyable, it gives you pride in what you do.” Myers also emphasizes that being able to create something and work outside are benefits to his job.

The only negatives about the field includes low job security and long work hours, which Myers himself doesn’t see as a con, because he enjoys what he does. The job of golf course superintendent can also require you to move around and go where the work is.

Salary ranges and potential are steadily growing. Private golf courses tend to pay better than public courses, as do larger courses with more holes. According to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, recent graduates looking for entry-level positions may start out as assistant superintendents or crew members making an average of $29,000 per year. However, for top-level certified golf course superintendents, the average yearly base salary in 2013 was $98,187.

According to Myers, the future looks bright for his industry. “The sport is so universal for all age groups,” he says. Golf will continue to attract new players. Growth will depend on land use and overcrowding, he also explains. The cost will affect growth as well; as it becomes more expensive to play, it will become more expensive to build.

For students interested in getting into the field, internships and part-time jobs are the way to go. As individuals who are already trained, interns are widely regarded as the most valuable source of labor. “There are more golf courses looking for interns than available interns,” Myers says. “Golf course superintendents would love to run their courses with all interns if they could.” By simply inquiring at a local golf course, much the way that Myers did when he was a student, you can find opportunities to gain experience.

In order to prepare for success in the field, it is important to understand why you’re doing as you are. A background in agriculture may be helpful, but is not required. Responsibilities of golf course superintendents are diverse, ranging from knowing how to grow grass to how to manage a staff. Therefore, critical thinking is a must in terms of skills to develop.

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