Superintendent interview questions..

[John Kavanaugh]

If you were hiring a new super for a 9 hole course in the Midwest that recently lost 40% of the greens only built 3 years ago, what questions would you ask.  The fairways are zoysia and the greens are bent.  The salary is $30,000 with an additional budget of around $60,000 for all other required items including labor.  note: Dues are $450 per year for a family and there are approximately 250 members.

[Craig Sweet]

I'd ask what experience he/she has resurecting greens.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

John, I would ask who is in his network of friends that are supers other places. The tight budget and with those problems he is going to need all the free help he can get.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Honestly... my first question would be: do you play golf?

[John Kirk]

What type of experience do you have growing bent grass?

[Brad Klein]

Jeff, kudos.

By the way, the parameters of the job description and the golf course are scandalous and would not draw anyone to apply who has any training or education. Either the golf course is some dirt haven of a nothing in the middle of nowhere or the owner/operator is trying to get something for nothing.

[John Gosselin]

so you want an educated professional for about $10/hour....the $10 is conservative considering the number of hours it would take to deliver a decent end product


ask him/her if they can read, write, and cipher numbers

[John Kavanaugh]

Honestly... my first question would be: do you play golf?

Why...the best super around here getting that kind of money doesn't play, or is it you think not playing is a good thing.   Look guys, do the math..you have 250 members paying $450/year..that's $112,500 per year and you still need to pay a manager, service debt and run the clubhouse.  The low wages are not a matter of greed.

[Jason Mandel]

John-

Maybe dues need to be raised so they can afford a qualified super that would be interested in working at this position.  

Happy New Year

Jason

[John Kavanaugh]

John-

Maybe dues need to be raised so they can afford a qualified super that would be interested in working at this position.  

Happy New Year

Jason

If you city boys get a chance try to watch the excellent program currently running on PBS called Country Boys...you may notice that $30,000 a year ain't bad down in the boon docks.  We don't have no rich dentists round here.

[corey miller]

What golf architecture books do you have/have you read?

[S. Huffstutler]

1st question:
    Why did you get fired at your last job?

Alternate 1st question:
     How many days since you graduated from turf school?

2nd question:
     At this rate of pay, how many hours per day will you be spending
     searching for a real job, how many resumes will you be sending
     out on a weekly basis, and will you be using Club paper to print
     them?

I did take a job for about this amount of money once, that was 5 years ago and I had already retired from the military, otherwise I couldn't have afforded to take it. It was a terrible job.
Someone will take it and if you're lucky, they'll have some inkling of what to do.....good luck.

Regards,

Steve

[mike_malone]

 When can you start? Asked of the first person who shows up at an interview.

[John Gosselin]

What happened to the super who lost 40% of the greens on this new course? Did you fire him/her or did they leave on their own?

Did you have a super?

For your size of facility why do you need a manager?

Could you roll those two jobs into one a pay more therefore get a more experienced candidate?


Do you have a pro?

Could I send you my resume?

[John Kavanaugh]

What happened to the super who lost 40% of the greens on this new course? Did you fire him/her or did they leave on their own?

fired today

Did you have a super?

see above

For your size of facility why do you need a manager?

We need somebody to cook and get us beers

Could you roll those two jobs into one a pay more therefore get a more experienced candidate?

No...we drink lots of beer


Do you have a pro?

The guy who gets us beer has been a pro in the past but now our guy is a seven time club champ.

Could I send you my resume?

Sure, but we are on a fast track so you may want to give me your phone number first or fax a resume to 618-943-4149.

[Rick Baril]

If you were hiring a new super for a 9 hole course in the Midwest that recently lost 40% of the greens only built 3 years ago, what questions would you ask.  The fairways are zoysia and the greens are bent.  The salary is $30,000 with an additional budget of around $60,000 for all other required items including labor.  note: Dues are $450 per year for a family and there are approximately 250 members.

After reading your job description, it made me think of the scene from Forrest Gump - which may provide the question you seek:

Mrs Blue: Are you crazy? Or just plain stupid?
Forrest Gump: Stupid is as stupid does.

But, then again, why can't golf be simple and inexpensive?

How about contacting nearby Universities.  They might be able to recommend a good candidate.  Did you check with the GCSAA?

Would you be interested in a semi-retired super that is (I think) in the final phase of recuperating from knee surgery?  He's extremely well qualified and may be interested in a short term stint, which may give you some time to accomplish a more thorough search.  IM or e-mail me if you would like me to make an inquiry for you.

[John Kavanaugh]

I know this is hard to believe but we have a course designed by the same guy who first did Medinah...has had two Masters champions win our annual tournament (Fuzzy and Bob) and has two full time employees....A cook/pro/bartender and a super.  We are currently beating applicants off with a stick but you gotta know a lot of hillbillys will do anything short of going bankrupt to be their own boss...see truckdrivers and farmers.  This is a good job round these parts.

[A_Clay_Man]

I know the course in question (or think I do) and the first question I would ask would be either; 1) What kind of grass do you reccomend we grow on our greens here in podunkdiddy?
Or, I'd give him the set of circumstances that ruined your greens and ask him what he'd do different? Buut first, you HAVE to know the answer to the latter.

Do you know what happened and why?

[Mike_Trenham]

If you city boys get a chance try to watch the excellent program currently running on PBS called Country Boys...you may notice that $30,000 a year ain't bad down in the boon docks.  We don't have no rich dentists round here.

Country Boys is worth a watch, feeling down about your lot in life see what these people are dealing with and you will know you are darn lucky even if you lost 40% of your greens.

[RJ_Daley]

So we know that the course is a Bende, very old, and that the greens were rebuilt 3 years or so ago.  4 greens were apparently lost.  Were the greens built in a way (besides the turf species and cultivar selection) that aided in their non-survival?  

I assume a course that old, servicing debt, either borrowed to rebuild the greens and/or install irrigation, or took out an operating loan because you weren't pulling in enough as it was.

I'd tell the candidate what you realistically expect, then ask him/her what they need to run the facility to those standards in projected operating expenses and salaries.  If you find someone you like on that basis, then go to the beer guzzling bubbas and tell them how much the beer is going to be next year, along with the new dues structure.  

If you want to stay status quo with those numbers, then don't expect much short or long term.

[Brad Klein]

Typical #%&^@# member, blames the superintendent when there's no budget to work with. Maybe the guy was not all that skilled, but you got what you paid for and you're going to get it again.

[John Kavanaugh]

Typical #%&^@# member, blames the superintendent when there's no budget to work with. Maybe the guy was not all that skilled, but you got what you paid for and you're going to get it again.

Now you are making me feel bad...I've deleted my post because the guy deserves better than me getting into a pissing match.  

[Brad Klein]

John, I'm impressed. Behind that gruff, bomb-throwing public demeanor of yours there might actually be an once or two of compassion for real people.

[John Gosselin]

Up the dues $10/month(3 beers) and give your new super a raise. Take the rest of the money and put back into your to protect your initial investment in construction.

I am all for affordable golf, but not properly funding the golf course maintenance will cost you more in the long run.

I am sure I am not telling you anything you don't already know.

Do you accept non resident memberships? Could I get an application? If you need references that could be a problem.

[Brent Hutto]

John, I'm impressed. Behind that gruff, bomb-throwing public demeanor of yours there might actually be an once or two of compassion for real people.

Maybe he just momentarily thought he was on the golf course playing instead of behind a keyboard typing and let his "other side" take over.