superintenent positions

new profession – posted 21 June 2004 10:22

I am currently in the corporate world and wanting to change professions. I hold a B.S. Degree in Business and have six plus years of sales experience. What is the job market like for future grads in Turf Management? Is the golf course superintendent field saturated? What type of pay range is there for Turf Managment Grads?Thanks!

cohiba – posted 21 June 2004 13:25

new profession,

There is always room for good people in turf management. The hours are long and the work is rewarding. The GCSAA is the place to go to find out about $$$. They do a comprehensive survey each year and list benefits, wages, ect. for all the regions of the USA. Private/Public/Municipal; 9hole vs. 18 hole vs. 36 hole ect.

After school, most students find a few years of experience is needed before they land that covetted Supers job. My suggestion is to get hooked up with a golf course now, even part-time, to see if it is up your alley. They may be able to help with school if they want you to stay on.

Also, start now trying to get your pesticide applicators license in your state. It will help on your resume.

Also, aim high with a high profile club. Private, restricted membership, where quality is #1. And the money is flowing freely. If you expect to get a supers job at a municipal golf course and then go for the big money at a private club you are wasting your time. The people that do the hiring don’t look at us.

Overall……..The pay ain’t great but the job is most rewarding. Everyday I go to the club with a smile on my face and feel that I’m not working a day in my life.

A hearty GOOD LUCK!

ted – posted 21 June 2004 19:25

plenty of bucks in turf management world as it relates to residential chemical lawn care- lot less headaches than the golf world i would suspect.

cohiba – posted 23 June 2004 13:32

Ted,

I was on both sides of the profession. I owned my own service for about 4 years. The things I have found learned:

In either profession there are few headaches when you are doing your job right. The headaches magically start in July and end in late August.

Dealing with customers in either side is tough but when they are paying you directly, as a small business owner, the stress is compounded.

It never rains when you need it most, and dosen’t stop when you have had enough.

If you need it to rain: Spray something that shouldn’t be watered in for 2 Days.

In summer I pay little to no attention to my wife, (I think she’s pregnant from the winter), but I can tell you that Jeanetta Jones, from the Weather Channel wore a red dress and three inch heals yesterday.

And in Spring, Summer and Fall my wife never sees me. She sees me so much in Winter that she wishes it were Spring Summer or Fall.

I hope this provided some insight into a turf mans’ life.

Good Luck and God Bless……….

ted – posted 23 June 2004 20:12

that sounds about right. i just would think it would be more demanding to be in a golf situation- customers are more sophisticated i would think. to answer the original question, a good chemical lawn care owner should make no less than 100-150 a year, take home, depending upon the market. that’s why i liked it for 20 years…

new profession – posted 23 June 2004 21:02

thanks for all the replies. what is the best way to go about getting into the chemical application/lawn side of the business? also, is it easier to make a living in the south? it seems like in my area, Kansas City, the market is very saturated with small lawn companies who are struggling to make a good income in a short timeframe due to weather. whereas, in the southern states, you can work outside all year…any thoughts?

cohiba – posted 24 June 2004 19:24

Ted, Golfers are so picky but the real problem is thier lack of education into the inner workings of the golf course. Augusta National, on color television, in the late 60’s ruined golf in America. The Augusta perfection is not natural. That’s what golfers came to know as the ultimate golf course. Nobody knows what their budget is. That they put dry ice under the azaleas so they bloom at just the right time. That they close for months at a time in preparation for the tournament.

Education is what business we are in.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I had that lawn sodded two years ago, why is it dead now?” Never mind that sod needs fertilizer, water and a proper maintenance program……..

I didn’t realize how much you lawn sprayer guy’s make a year…….I may be in the wrong business after all.

Thanks for the insight……………

ted – posted 25 June 2004 15:24

man, you nailed it as usual. our business came out of the golf business, but i sure wouldn’t want to deal with a bunch of golfers every day. you’re right, it’s all about education and managing expectations. golfers must be like doctors, they think they know everyting about grass! yeah, the chemical side of the business is very profitable, our worst years were at 35-40% margins and some years we did up to 55-60% margins, and if you can gross 300-350K a year or more… i sold out to the big boys a few years ago, no regrets, however.

cohiba – posted 27 June 2004 09:51

Ted, when was the last time you had 300 customers in a day? How about 55,000 a year? All customers that use thier lawn to walk on, leave ball marks, take divots out of, ride golf carts on?

I definitely made the wrong side of fence selection……………..

ted – posted 27 June 2004 16:40

yeah, i would think golfers would be worse than doctors. good insights.