When I was working for GCSAA, that was a recurring theme of discussions with board and staff. But I always wondered how it squared with the number of superintendents who basically had lifetime jobs at courses all over the country.
Now, I realize those are not the norm, but neither are the courses like the one you just described.
I finally concluded that there is a certain kind of super, who is VERY upwardly mobile, and wants all that perks and money come with the high-profile jobs. IOW, they are actively looking for the jobs that come with short tenures and high salaries. Not because they want to get fired, but because they want to run that kind of course, and want the rewards that come with it.
I have no idea what the actual average tenure is, but I have seen too many long-term positions to think it's 4 or 5 years.
FWIW, North Jersey CC just hired the superintendent from Baltusrol's Lower Course who'd been there 15 years, 12 as superintendent. Mark Kuhns was at Baltusrol 19 years.
John Zimmers was at Oakmont about the same amount of time and moved to Inverness voluntarily, I think.
John Jennings last two jobs before Shinnecock were 7 and 12 years, at Patterson and Chicago GC, now he's been at Shinnecock for 6. I'm pretty sure he happily took those moves.
So... I guess my point is that some clubs, and some supers are eager to either fire someone in the first case, or quit for a better job in the second. It's not just superintendents these days, look at stats for how many jobs are expected in their lives for most people who entered the job market in the last 20 years.
Running a top-tier golf course isn't something I'd EVER be willing to subject myself to, for any almost any salary, so I recognize the pressures.
But I still think the "hired to be fired" mantra is a little overstated.