Golf Course Superintendent

Golf Course Superintendent

Location: Southwest Florida
Club Type: High-end private 18-hole golf club
Reports To: General Manager / Director of Agronomy
Employment Type: Full-time, year-round

Position Summary

The Golf Course Superintendent is responsible for the overall management, maintenance, conditioning, and presentation of the golf course, practice facilities, grounds, and related landscaped areas. This position leads all agronomic operations for a high-end private club and is expected to deliver exceptional playing conditions, visual presentation, environmental stewardship, and member satisfaction throughout the year.

The ideal candidate is an experienced turfgrass professional with a strong background in warm-season turf management, golf course maintenance, personnel leadership, water management, budgeting, and operations in the demanding Southwest Florida climate.

Essential Responsibilities

• Direct the daily maintenance and agronomic operations of the 18-hole golf course, driving range, short-game areas, putting greens, clubhouse grounds, and related property.
• Maintain consistently high standards for greens, tees, fairways, roughs, bunkers, native areas, ornamental plantings, and landscaped grounds.
• Develop and implement annual and long-range agronomic plans consistent with the club’s standards, budget, master plan, and member expectations.
• Lead, train, schedule, and evaluate the golf course maintenance team, including supervisors, equipment technicians, and seasonal employees.
• Establish efficient daily work plans and ensure that all work is performed safely, professionally, and with minimal disruption to golfers.
• Manage warm-season turfgrass programs, including fertility, irrigation, mowing, plant growth regulation, aerification, topdressing, overseeding, pest control, and renovation practices.
• Develop comprehensive programs for managing heat, humidity, tropical weather, heavy rainfall, drought conditions, turf disease, nematodes, insects, weeds, and other Southwest Florida agronomic challenges.
• Oversee the planning and execution of cultural practices, including core aerification, vertical mowing, topdressing, drainage improvements, re-grassing, and course improvement projects.
• Manage the club’s irrigation system, pump station, wells, drainage infrastructure, water quality, and water conservation initiatives.
• Monitor soil and tissue tests, weather conditions, disease pressure, moisture levels, nutrient inputs, and overall turf performance.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing pesticide use, fertilizer applications, water use, environmental protection, and employee safety.
• Maintain accurate records of chemical applications, fertilizer use, irrigation, weather, labor, equipment, inventory, and agronomic practices.
• Develop and manage the department’s annual operating budget and capital improvement budget.
• Monitor labor, chemical, fertilizer, fuel, equipment, and supply costs while maintaining exceptional course conditions.
• Oversee the maintenance, repair, replacement, and safe operation of all golf course equipment.
• Coordinate with the golf professional staff, outside services, clubhouse operations, landscape staff, contractors, consultants, and club leadership.
• Support tournaments, member events, guest play, and special club functions through detailed preparation and effective communication.
• Maintain a visible, professional, and service-oriented presence with members and guests.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and pride in the property.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Agronomy or club leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, turfgrass management, horticulture, plant science, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressive golf course maintenance experience, including supervisory or management responsibility.
• Previous experience as a Golf Course Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent at a private club, resort, or comparable high-end golf facility.
• Demonstrated experience managing warm-season turfgrass, preferably bermudagrass, paspalum, seashore paspalum, or related turf varieties.
• Strong knowledge of golf course agronomy, irrigation, drainage, fertility, pesticide application, disease identification, and integrated pest management.
• Current Florida pesticide applicator license, or the ability to obtain one within an agreed-upon period.
• Proven experience managing departmental budgets, staffing, purchasing, and capital projects.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to operate or supervise the operation of golf course maintenance equipment.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Golf Course Superintendent designation or progress toward certification.
• Experience at a high-end private golf club with demanding member expectations.
• Experience managing golf course operations in Southwest Florida or a similar subtropical climate.
• Experience with bermudagrass greens, overseeding programs, water management, and hurricane preparedness and recovery.
• Knowledge of irrigation control systems, weather stations, moisture meters, GPS technology, and agronomic data platforms.
• Experience coordinating golf course construction, renovation, re-grassing, bunker, drainage, or irrigation projects.
• Membership in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America or a related professional organization.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and team development
• Advanced warm-season turfgrass management
• Irrigation and water conservation
• Budgeting and financial management
• Strategic planning and project management
• Attention to detail and high-quality standards
• Problem-solving and sound judgment
• Member service and professional communication
• Safety and regulatory compliance
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and in extreme weather conditions

Working Conditions

This position requires extended periods of outdoor work in heat, humidity, direct sunlight, heavy rain, and other variable weather conditions. The Superintendent must be available to work early mornings, weekends, holidays, tournaments, emergency situations, and other periods when course conditions or club operations require additional oversight.

The position may require lifting, walking, standing, climbing, driving, and working around moving equipment, chemicals, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and uneven terrain.

Compensation and Benefits

The club offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications, which may include:

• Competitive salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional association dues
• Continuing education and conference opportunities
• Golf privileges
• Uniform or clothing allowance
• Relocation assistance, if applicable
• Meals or employee dining benefits, if applicable

Success in This Role

Success will be measured by the Superintendent’s ability to consistently provide exceptional playing conditions; lead and retain a highly effective maintenance team; manage the department within budget; maintain reliable irrigation and drainage systems; communicate effectively with club leadership and members; and advance the long-term health, appearance, and value of the golf course.