Selecting a professional superintendent to manage your golf course investment

The creation of a golf course can turn even an otherwise insignificant tract of land into a highly valuable property. The golf course architect’s artistic skills and the builder’s expertise can transform a desert, idle farmland — even an old landfill, into an attractive asset that beckons golfers.

But a golf course is an exceptional kind of asset, one that requires special management. So while an architect and builder may be able to lay the groundwork for a truly spectacular golf course, without skilled management, a course will never achieve its full potential. Worse, without competent management a course will surely and progressively deteriorate.

Your golf course superintendent is the individual responsible for every facet of the day-to-day and long-term management of the most valuable asset of your facility – the golf course.
Obviously, you want to find the right person to handle this complex and vital job. This booklet covers some of the most important things to consider when you are hiring for this important position, and suggests some helpful resources to facilitate your search.

Your golf course represents a technically complex, long-term capital investment. This is true, regardless of whether your course is a resort layout that sees 80,000 rounds a year or a private club that sees 25,000 rounds, whether your course is 50 years old or just now in development.

GCSAA offers a number of resources to assist employers with their search for professional golf course superintendents and staff. Information is available at www.gcsaa.org and by calling (800) 472-7878.