6/19/2012 7:06 PM
Thanks, I think? for asking what I think about the job posting.
For one, I work on a state turf board with the poster, great guy.
Patrick hit the nail on the head, and I think he is probably correct on that position, in that, this person would work with the golf course superintendents and sports field managers. We have a similar position, actually I think we might have two in our system and the pay range is about the same. My old supervisor who has since retired and not been replaced yet was one, he just oversaw the golf courses, (we have 63 holes, one being a lighted par 3 9, plus a 4 hole kiddie course). Our supervisor at times seemed like a high payed gopher, picking up paperwork for us taking it down to our parks office. Other times he would work on budgets, prepare bid documents, set up schedules to share equipment and fertilizer and other applications. Sort of like a regional agronomist in some cases. We have at least one person on the sports turf side as well, since I know we have at least 4 softball/baseball field complexes and maybe (not sure of all the details) one big soccer complex. Superintendents I would guess would make in our range where we start out of about $27,500 and top out at $38,500. I don't know where the GCSAA salary survey gets $55,000 as the average municipal salary, I try to keep it balanced and do the survey every year, those KC and St. Louis guys must drive it up. I don't know if they have assistants we don't.
What I'm sure they have since we have it is, a state pension plan, health insurance, maybe a 457, with matching, and other benefits, plus pretty good job security.
Why aren't those salaries up higher then that? Good question, I just wish ours was as high as our pro's and golf managers, and that is without their bonuses for the play we get.....hmmm, I wonder who really is responsible for that? Anyway, when an operations superintendent that oversees all of these positions is only getting up in the $70,000 - 80,000 range and assistant parks directors might make it to $90,000 with only the park's director reaching six figures, think about the food chain pecking order of staff/management and then you get where our salaries are coming from.
Quite honestly if my son wasn't a sophomore in high school and since we are having fun with band activities, I would have thought about applying for it, but somethings are more important then money I am finding out. Columbia is where the University of Missouri is and the turf farm, great city and area, except during the week of field day when it's as hot as heck.
Hopefully I've answered some of your all's questions, I hopefully haven't put that position in a bad light either.
Mel
Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO