Education is the mantra of most golf superintendent associations today. This message is pounded into anyone entering the business, as well as any individual hoping to improve his or her employment opportunities within the industry.
Turf schools work hard to establish relevant criteria for aspiring turf managers who, when looking for employment as golf course superintendents, had better know their stuff.
Growing grass is only one aspect of golf course management- an important one no doubt, full of science and plant stress conditions, environmental decisions, and so on.
Today, it is also a job that includes accounting, budgeting, human resources, and investing in people skills when greens committee or board meetings are on the schedule.
Working on a golf course in a position of responsibility is not for the faint of heart. Long days turn into long seasons which are full of a 24/7 commitment. Every day is a game day.
The grass does not take a day off as golfer’s flock to courses on weekends and holidays to get a break from their jobs. Superintendents and assistants are mentally on duty seven days a week.
These jobs require a special kind of person. The job must be more than just a job if anyone is going to succeed long term.
Most employers, at some point, will face the same issue of keeping staff, after investing in their advancement. Golf club managers are asking themselves how best to compete with city or municipalities for turf management positions where similar skills are required.
Many graduating students will scan the landscape for job opportunities and see golf course positions and municipal park positions advertised. They will then weigh the aspects of each employment opportunity.
Stan Kazymerchyk is the turfgrass instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley, BC, and did an interesting study on this. He is a former golf course superintendent and knows the ropes. Each year he prepares his students technically, and as a mentor and experienced friend, to enter the work world.
I was one who lost sight of the many opportunities turfgrass students actually have, other than golf course work. To me, the golf course was always the shiniest path to take, as I loved the game and the challenge of growing elite turfgrass. It is a fact, as Stan pointed out to me, that many others also grow elite turfgrass.
MLB parks, colleges, Rose Bowls, Olympic stadiums, Premier League football stadiums, Wimbledon etc. all dressed up are every bit as impressive as a stripped fairway. One of Stan’s students is actually over in the UK now after working on BMO Field.
It seems that there is a trend today for students to weigh “other aspects” of employment, such as a Monday to Friday workweek, municipal pension plans, overtime pay, long weekends and workplace stress. In a golf environment the stress can be great when trying to cut the grass on greens to a fraction of a millimeter, and then asking it to stand up to the daily onslaught of golfers and weather-related issues.
The following is an article from Stan last year and is directed at turfgrass students across the country who will have to weigh various aspects of the job when deciding on a position.
This info will help students understand some employment dynamics.
Is this You?
You are a golf course groundsman reading this at the crew lunchroom table. Perhaps you are just passing time during your break at the job you are happy doing for the rest of your life…. or maybe you are reading this for another reason. You may be lacking challenges, maybe feeling the effects of a physical job in the elements or may need a better paycheck. Perhaps you may be experienced at what you do and are now ready for the next move up. You feel you may have the skill-set necessary to move into management as an assistant and eventually superintendent.
There may be an assistant or superintendent above you ready to move on or retire, leaving openings below. Or an opening comes up at a course that fits you. Odds of this are pretty good these days. A big generation of Boomers are retiring, with many more to come. A casual survey indicates that 36 per cent of BC superintendents are now within five years of retirement age. Some younger ones are moving on to sportsfield jobs, sales, or other industries.
In 2017, there have been 39 excellent entry-level management jobs advertised in B.C. that you could have moved up to right now. Likely, quite a few more have been awarded directly by personal referrals that never made it to the ads.
If you are making an hourly wage of $15-25, your annual income is about $30-50,000, assuming you work year-round.
Salaries for golf management jobs vary, but a rough guide might be:
Assistant: $40-70,000 Superintendent: $50-100,000+
This will depend on region, course stature and expectations.
You likely know what people hiring for these positions are looking for: Several years of golf course experience, with working knowledge of irrigation and spraying. Some training and leadership roles. A proven strong work ethic, as viewed by your supervisors.
Involvement in professional associations and activities. A Turf Management diploma is usually listed as a minimum educational requirement, typically the difference between interview and no interview.
Horticulture education in North America has historically been cyclical, with enrollments at many schools at generally low levels right now. When you consider that there is and will be proportionately less Turf grads coupled with an increase in job openings, your prospects for moving into management with a Turf diploma have never looked better.
Guelph University in Ontario offers a two-year Turf diploma and a four-year Turf degree. Olds College in Alberta has a one-year certificate, a two-year diploma and a four-year degree.
KPU in Langley is B.C.’s only program, offering a two-year Turf Management diploma. Students may attend full-time or part-time. Grants and student loans are available and EI sponsorship is possible. Expect small class sizes, year-round Field Lab, applied learning, close industry contact and personal career guidance.
Discuss career advancement with your mentors. Assess your strengths and weaknesses towards moving up. Recognize that turf education is key to a quick rise and to career success. Check out the school websites and talk with their faculty. Take charge of your future.
Stan Kazymerchyk
Turf Management Instructor
KPU (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Our environment is changing rapidly and challenging turf managers every day. Golf course superintendents are special people who know their craft and are constantly learning. A career in golf can be very rewarding and there is nothing better than hearing compliments on course conditions from your members or other golfers.
Remember: you will be working hard for many years so it’s important that you love your job and look forward to each day.
