Association of Golf Superintendents Job Descriptions

Golf superintendents oversee maintenance and presentation of the course.

According to its mission statement, "The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and enhancing the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf." It is the responsibility of golf course superintendents and their colleagues to supervise and maintain the courses.

Golf Course Superintendent

The golf course superintendent oversees the day-to-day operations and management of a course, including any construction or maintenance and equipment repairs. He also offers his assistance and advice to the board of directors or owners, and is involved in all long-range planning. The superintendent is responsible for coordinating with the club manager and any golf professionals as well as working with any membership groups and organizations.

General Manager

The general manager is responsible for all aspects of management, specifically overseeing the golf course and its facilities, operations, maintenance, customer service, promotional aspects, accounting, human resources and sales. Other responsibilities include managing policies and procedures for department heads and meeting any goals that have been set for the course.

Equipment Manager

The equipment manager typically is responsible for all aspects of maintenance. Among his responsibilities are repairing equipment, maintaining records for each piece of equipment, placing orders as necessary and reporting any needs or problems directly to the superintendent. His top priority is ensuring safety of the customers and employees, as well as maintaining clean service areas and buildings.

Horticulturist

Under the direction of the golf course superintendent, the horticulturist manages the greenhouse and nursery to provide plant materials for the golf course, clubhouse and other buildings. These landscaping responsibilities could include designing flower beds, cultivating shrubs and flowers, and trimming and pruning hedges and shrubbery. The horticulturist also is responsible for overseeing the irrigation of landscaping, directing groundskeepers in maintaining landscaping, and applying pesticides and fertilizers when necessary.

Foreman

The foreman helps the golf course superintendent by delegating assignments, overseeing employee performance and inspecting course conditions. Among his other functions are ensuring the completion of projects and assisting with decisions in regards to procedures, work standards and use of machinery. The foreman also is responsible for maintaining safe working conditions and teaching the staff the proper way to use equipment. In addition to overseeing the maintenance program, the foreman also is in charge when the superintendent and assistant golf course superintendent are away.

Irrigation Specialist

The irrigation specialist is responsible for the course's irrigation systems, including any programming, operation and maintenance that is required. She also watches for and reports any irregularities in conditions of the golf course. The main areas of responsibility for the irrigation specialist are watering greens, tees and fairways; maintaining the system, pipes and irrigation heads; and repairing the greens through seeding or using plugs of new grass.

Groundskeeper

Groundskeepers are responsible for routine maintenance of the golf course maintenance through construction, using hand-powered equipment, tractors, loaders and lawn mowers. A groundskeeper usually is assigned specific holes of the course, setting tee markers, locating holes on the greens and taking care of ball washers, towels and flags. He also might be required to remove any debris, seed tee boxes and clean flower beds. Groundskeepers might receive additional instructions and tasks from the golf course superintendent, horticulturist or irrigation specialist.

References

• Golf Course Superintendents Association of America