Huntingdon Valley Country Club - Golf Course Superintendent

THE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT OPPORTUNITY AT HUNTINGDON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Huntingdon Valley Country Club is seeking a highly motivated Golf Course Superintendent with exceptional agronomic and communication skills. The club is searching for an individual committed to providing its members with firm and fast championship-playing conditions along with detailed course aesthetics while respecting environmental and budgetary constraints.  The successful candidate will have a high Golf IQ, an ongoing thirst for knowledge, continued education, networking, and research.  

Since 1927 there have only been 3 Golf Course Superintendents at HVCC. After 42-years of outstanding leadership and commitment to Huntingdon Valley Country Club, the Golf Course Superintendent is retiring from this role.

Click here to view a brief video about this opportunity

HUNTINGDON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB OVERVIEW

Huntingdon Valley Country Club a private, family-oriented club located in southeastern PA, with 300+ acres that showcase 27 holes designed by William Flynn. Today's Huntingdon Valley offers a blend of the rich traditions of the past with all the contemporary amenities that are necessary for an active and enjoyable Club experience. They strive to offer an atmosphere of exceptional service and warm hospitality, providing members and their guests the unique experience through recreation, fine dining and social interaction.

HUNTINGDON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB BY THE NUMBERS:

• Architect: William Flynn
• Masterplan Architect: Andrew Green
• Rounds Played: 36,000
• Cart Rounds: 8,100
• Greens Budget: 2.2 million
• Green Speed Expectations: 10 - 11
• Average Handicap: Men 15.9, Women 36.9
• Green Committee (members): 11
• Green Committee Meetings: 12
• Greens Construction: Pushup
• Green Turf Type: Bent/Poa annua
• Fairway: Bent, Poa & Rye
• Roughs: Bluegrass/Rye/Tall Fescue
• Irrigation System: New system scheduled for the Fall of 2023
• Water Source: Creek with wells being investigated.

HUNTINGDON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB WEB SITE: www.hvccpa.org

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION OVERVIEW

The Golf Course Superintendent reports directly to the Club’s General Manager / Chief Operating Officer. The Golf Course Superintendent is expected to be a visible presence among the team and members with exceptionally strong agronomic, business, and communication skills and be a natural, at building productive relationships with the team, members, and vendors. He/she is responsible for the maintenance, operation, management, preparation, and condition of the golf course and club grounds.

The Superintendent must be an excellent, transparent communicator and possess a strong work ethic.  He/she will have excellent strategic planning abilities, a positive attitude, and extensive agronomical knowledge and know-how. Working collaboratively with Club leadership, professional development, inspiring confidence in the team, and staying at the forefront of research and technology are necessary for success.

Initial Areas of Focus:

• Repair and grow-in any thin areas on greens and fairways.
• Understand the Club’s golf culture and complement Williams Flynn’s course design and its association with the ground game.
• Become familiar with and committed to the club’s standards for championship, firm and fast conditions.
• Develop a strong relationship with key Club Team Members and the Greens Committee.
• Ability to recruit, retain and develop staff.
• Quickly come up to speed on the club’s capital replacement plan & overall equipment inventory
• Work closely with the Middletown Sprinkler Company overseeing the complete replacement of the golf course irrigation system that will begin in September 2023.
• Lead and direct the club’s bunker renovation project scheduled to begin in 2024.

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Staffing – Recruits, trains, motivates, and monitors the productivity of employees.
• Budgets – Plans and executes short-term and long-term operating and capital budgets.
• Agronomics – Individuals must possess a working knowledge of the use and interactions of commercial products, soil biology, organic and natural plant stimulants, growth regulators, as well as plant protectants.
• Order Management – the club’s goal is to produce firm and fast playing conditions whenever weather conditions favor the drying down of the golf course. 
• Scheduling – plans and executes maintenance practices as much as possible around member and outing play, maximizing efficiency and minimizing disruptions.
• Interactions – works closely with other departments to help ensure the club-wide success of its goals.
• Capital – plans, and budgets for short- and long-term replacement of capital equipment and infrastructure.
• Off-Season – Plans and executes off-season maintenance and or construction of necessary facilities, equipment, trees, creek banks, tees, irrigation, drainage, etc.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have previous experience as a Golf Course Superintendent at a club renowned for providing exceptional firm and fast golfing conditions and will have the following qualifications:

• Proven history of providing exceptional playing conditions at top-tier clubs
• Experience with maintaining cool season grasses in the transition zone, “Mid-Atlantic” region preferred
• Strong attention to detail with an understanding of the importance of course aesthetics
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to build and develop a high-performing team
• A strong financial acumen with the ability to develop and adhere to budgets
• Understanding of all pest control options
• Solid irrigation and management philosophy and practices
• Strong agronomic skills and stays current with advances in turf technology and equipment
• Experience with course renovations and major project oversight
• The ideal candidate will communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the GM/COO, Head Professional, and Greens Committee to address key issues and provide optimal course conditions
• Self-motivated and highly driven
• Excellent member relations & interactions
• Strong listening skills and open to new perspectives and ideas
• Enjoys and thrives in mentoring team members
• Exceptional strategic planning abilities
• Visionary with an understanding and appreciation for the Club’s culture
• Listens to and responds to both club members and team members  
• Highly organized
• Subscribes to sustainable maintenance practices (e.g. firm and fast, sound irrigation philosophy)
• Golfer/student of the game with a sound understanding of ideal playing conditions
• High golf IQ is essential

EDUCATIONAL AND CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS

A minimum 2-year degree in turf management, Pennsylvania Pesticide Application Certification (within 90 days).

5 years’ experience serving as the Golf Course Superintendent at a top-tier club preferred.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The Club offers a bonus and benefits package, including a 401K with club contribution.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY

Please upload your resume and cover letter, in that order, using the link below. You should have your documents fully prepared to be attached when prompted for them during the online application process.  Please be sure your image is not present on your resume or cover letter; that should be used on your LinkedIn Profile.

Prepare a thoughtful cover letter addressed to Bill Troyanoski, GM, and clearly articulate your alignment with this role and why you want to be considered for this position at this stage of your career, and why Huntingdon Valley Country Club and the Huntingdon Valley area will be beneficial to you, your family, your career, and the Club if selected.

You must apply for this role as soon as possible but no later than March 8.  Candidate selections will occur on March 13 with first Interviews expected shortly thereafter.  The new candidate should assume his/her role in late-April or early-May.

IMPORTANT:  Save your resume and letter in the following manner:

“Last Name, First Name - Resume” &

“Last Name, First Name - Cover Letter – Huntingdon Valley CC”

(These documents should be in Word or PDF format)

Note: Once you complete the application process for this search, you are not able to go back in and add additional documents.

Click here to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you have any questions, please email Katy Eliades: katy@kkandw.com

Lead Search Executive:

Armen Suny, Search Executive                                                                                                  

303-570-2741 (M)

armen@kkandw.com