Description

Position Overview

Hillcrest Golf Club, located atop the scenic Florida Mesa in beautiful Durango, Colorado, is seeking a collaborative, hands-on, and forward-thinking Golf Course Superintendent to lead all agronomic and grounds operations for our high-traffic, community-centric facility. As one of the region's most active daily-fee golf courses, Hillcrest hosts more than 45,000 rounds annually, supports multi-purpose winter use, and features an extended tournament calendar including premier events such as the Navajo Trail Open and the Fort Lewis College Collegiate Tournament.

The Superintendent will be a key leader within Hillcrest's management team, responsible not only for exceptional course conditioning, but also for team development, grounds improvements, irrigation strategy, safety compliance, technology adoption, and cross-departmental collaboration. The ideal candidate is a positive, humble, team-oriented professional who aligns with Hillcrest's culture, vision, and mission.

This role is an excellent opportunity for a current Superintendent or a highly driven First Assistant who is ready to step into full leadership at a respected mountain-region facility.

Key Responsibilities

Agronomy and Course Conditioning

• Maintain and elevate turf conditions across greens, tees, fairways, rough, practice areas, native zones, and landscaped grounds.
• Deliver tournament-caliber playing conditions for the Navajo Trail Open, the Fort Lewis College Collegiate Tournament, and Hillcrest's extended event calendar.
• Lead development and implementation of agronomic programs including fertility, topdressing, aerification, moisture management, cultural practices, pest control, and turf recovery.
• Manage and ensure safe, compliant chemical and fertilizer applications with complete SDS documentation and proper storage.
• Oversee property-wide vegetation care including tree management, shrub maintenance, flower beds, landscaping aesthetics, and beautification projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve course playability, safety, and visual appeal, rather than simply maintaining existing standards.

Irrigation and Water Resource Management

• Operate, program, diagnose, and repair the Rain Bird irrigation system, satellites, and pump station.
• Implement efficient water-usage strategies aligned with Colorado regulations and environmental responsibilities.
• Maintain records of water use, pump performance, and seasonal irrigation adjustments.
• Support planning, evaluation, and future implementation of Hillcrest's upcoming irrigation improvement project.
• Collaborate with the City of Durango and Fort Lewis College to ensure proper water allotments, usage compliance, and long-term resource stewardship.
• Train staff on proper irrigation repair, daily moisture checks, and system troubleshooting.

Leadership, Team Development, and Culture

• Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor full-time and seasonal maintenance staff while fostering a supportive, positive, team-first culture.
• Lead by example through a hands-on, hardworking, ego-free leadership style consistent with Hillcrest's values.
• Create structured training programs for mowing, equipment use, course setup, chemical applications, irrigation, safety, and winter operations.
• Conduct staff evaluations, maintain accountability systems, and promote staff retention and growth.
• Promote clear, respectful communication and strong collaboration with other departments.

Operational, Financial, and Administrative Management

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget, labor plan, and capital improvement strategy.
• Forecast equipment needs, justify capital expenditures, and manage procurement of supplies and materials.
• Oversee equipment fleet maintenance and coordinate with the Shop Manager to ensure reliability and longevity.
• Maintain accurate documentation including chemical logs, weather tracking, fertilizer programs, pesticide records, labor reports, and project files.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations including pesticide laws, stormwater requirements, OSHA regulations, and environmental safety standards.

Projects, Facility Improvements, and Multi-Use Operations

• Lead course improvement projects including bunker work, tee expansions, drainage enhancements, tree programs, and landscaping upgrades.
• Manage or support restroom renovations, pathways, signage improvements, and other infrastructure enhancements.
• Oversee winter operations including snow removal and support for Nordic skiing activities. Experience is preferred but not required.
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and city partners when applicable.

Communication and Collaboration

• Work closely with the General Manager, Head Golf Professional, Shop Manager, and department leaders to ensure synchronized operations and an exceptional customer experience.
• Communicate course conditions, projects, and updates to staff, operations teams, and the public when needed.
• Coordinate with the City of Durango and Fort Lewis College on water allocation, seasonal adjustments, and reporting requirements.
• Engage with Hillcrest's junior, adaptive, collegiate, and community programs in support of events and collaboration.
• Attend leadership meetings and contribute to strategic planning discussions.

Success Traits of the Ideal Candidate

• Team-oriented, humble communicator with strong emotional intelligence.
• Positive leader with a desire to learn, grow, and embrace Hillcrest's evolving vision.
• Detail-driven agronomist with a passion for delivering high-quality playing conditions.
• Comfortable working in a high-volume, four-season mountain environment.
• Innovative and tech-savvy with interest in modern irrigation, moisture management tools, and agronomy software.
• A strong teacher and mentor who invests in staff development.
• Adaptable, resourceful, and composed under changing weather or operational pressures.
• Passionate about the game of golf and knowledgeable about competitive tournament standards.

Qualifications

Required

• Three or more years of progressive leadership experience in golf course maintenance as a Superintendent or strong Assistant.
• Degree or certificate in turfgrass management, agronomy, horticulture, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining high-quality cool-season turf in a mountain or four-season climate.
• Proficiency with irrigation systems, with Rain Bird experience preferred, and pump station operations.
• Colorado Pesticide Applicator License or the ability to obtain one within six months.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to collaborate across departments.
• Ability to perform physical work in varied weather conditions and seasonal demands.
• Basic technology competency including Microsoft Office and agronomy-related tools.

Preferred

• Experience preparing courses for tournament or championship-caliber play.
• Experience in high-traffic golf environments exceeding 40,000 rounds per year.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and equipment maintenance familiarity.
• Experience with wildlife or geese management programs.
• Knowledge of stormwater regulations and environmental compliance.
• Industry involvement or networking, including GCSAA membership.
• Experience supporting Nordic or multi-use winter operations.