Golf Course Superintendent

Madison Country Club is seeking a Superintendent with proven agronomic and leadership skills, with a passion for classic golf course maintenance and improvement, who will provide exceptional golfing conditions and team leadership, and be an effective communicator.  Our current Superintendent is retiring after 45+ successful years with the Club. 

The Club is situated on the shore of Long Island Sound. The original holes were designed by Willie Park, Jr. in 1900, and expanded to 18 holes and relocated over the years, with the routing of the course largely intact for the past half century. The course was fully renovated and restored by Brian Silva in 2014-15. The original irrigation system was replaced with a state-of-the-art irrigation system in 2023. 

By the numbers:

• 18 holes on a small footprint (100 acres approx.)
• $1.7M Maintenance Budget (approx.) 
• ~26,000 rounds of golf played between April 1 and December 1, with limited play on temporary greens during the winter 
• Greens and Surrounds: bentgrass 
• Tees: bentgrass/poa annua 
• Fairways: bentgrass/poa annua 
• Rough: fescue/bluegrass 

As the Golf Course Superintendent (GCS), you will oversee the maintenance and evolution of the 18-hole golf course, practice area, and landscaping across the Club. You will lead an agronomy team that ensures the turf grass and course features are repaired and maintained to established standards. In this position, you are expected to provide quality leadership, while creating a friendly and open atmosphere, to ensure superb playing and practicing conditions for members and guests on a daily basis. In addition to strong leadership, this role requires meticulous attention to detail and a passion for golf course management and turf care. 

The GCS reports to the Chair, Green Committee and regularly liaises with the Golf Professional and the Board.  The GCS is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the Madison Country Club golf course and grounds. 

Continuing education, professional development, and staying at the forefront of research and technology are necessary for success. In addition, the GCS will provide innovative and relevant leadership and will  foster an educational culture of developing and producing future turf professionals. The GCS must be a great communicator and have a natural style of engaging with the club’s members, staff and Board. The GCS must also be a student of and passionate about the game of golf and possess a relentless attention to detail. 

INITIAL AREAS OF FOCUS 

• Continue to provide exceptional playing conditions that exist today. 
• Develop a plan to improve the quality and consistency of the bunkers, rough, and native and waste areas. 
• Continued focus on a high level of detail work. 

The ideal candidate will be a current Superintendent or the First Assistant with a minimum of 6 years’ total experience, who has (or is): 

• successful experience with managing bentgrass greens, bent grass/poa annua tees and fairways, and fescue/blue grass rough; and controlling poa contamination in and around greens 
• a history of providing exceptional golfing conditions 
• planned, organized and directed the maintenance and construction of greens, tees, fairways, rough, bunkers, ponds, and native areas 
• supervised the planting and cultural practices involved in growing various turf grasses, maintaining trees and ornamental plants 
• detail-oriented, with success at maintaining all areas/edges of the course in addition to primary playing areas 
• leveraged continuing education resources to stay at the forefront of research and technology 
• a history of frequent and timely communications with the Green Committee/GM, Golf Professional, Board and members
• is a holder of or ability to acquire within 30 days Connecticut pesticide purchase and applicators licenses
• understanding of all pest control techniques 
• a solid irrigation management philosophy and practices 
• subscribes to sustainable maintenance practices (e.g., prudently reduce chemical use) 
• a strong relationship builder with a history of excellent relations with their Golf Professional/GM, Green Committee and Board
• experience with formal standard operating procedures, training programs, and golf course maintenance standards
• experience mentoring team members 
• listens to and responds to club members, and team members 
• strong budget management and forecasting skills 
• a golfer/student of the game with a sound understanding of ideal playing conditions and a passion for the game
• technologically savvy and comfortable with basic business, web and application software 
• strong observational skills, detail oriented 
• experience with “fine-tuning” completed golf course renovations 
• experience with various Connecticut regulations for business and golf course is desirable