Golf Course Superintendent

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Lead course improvement…