TurfNet
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.
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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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr