POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Springs Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA and its members are looking for a leader who has an engaging personality and collaborative management style to serve as the Director of Agronomy. The candidate will report to the General Manager and will continue to elevate the service standards and uphold the tradition and reputation of the club by providing a best-in-class golf course. 

The Director of Agronomy will oversee the entire golf maintenance operation, have strong financial acumen and will have a proven record of excellent staff development and member relations. The candidate will formulate respectful relationships with all department heads and communicate with the Director of Golf daily on course conditions. The Director of Agronomy will also understand the seasonality and turf-grass growing demands of the Coachella Valley area and understand that the club has a strong desire for The Springs Country Club to be one of the best Clubs in the State of California where excellent golf course conditioning is a high priority and main focus.

THE ORGANIZATION

Live every golfer's dream. The private golf club lifestyle you've been waiting for.

Pristine course. Perfect weather. Panoramic views. All right outside your door every single day. That's the dream for those who love the game — anytime access to incredible play. Add delightful friends, an attentive staff and world-class amenities...and you're no longer dreaming. You're living it. 

Here at The Springs.

A golf club in the Palm Springs area where you can actually get a tee time whenever you’re in the mood to play. At many private clubs, this is rare — but it’s real at The Springs. It’s easy to get on the course any time, so you can fit your rounds into your day — not the other way around. That’s how life in a premier golf club community should be.

The complete luxury golf club membership.

With its stunning views and impeccable condition, The Springs’ 18-hole original Desmond Muirhead Signature Course design is often described as the best-kept secret in the valley but it's only one part of the complete golf experience here. Members enjoy a 30-tee driving range, short game area, putting green, a spectacular new clubhouse and more.

The current irrigation and renovation project is designed by Cary Bickler and includes a full greens renovation to USGA specifications, re-leveling all tees, adding forward tees, full bunker renovation and a complete new Rainbird Irrigation System and will completed in the fall of 2025.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Rounds Played: 23,000
• Cart Rounds: 22,950
• Average Member Age: 71
• Average Handicap: Men 22 Women 34
• Number of Calendar Events & Golf Championships: 50
• Number of Course Closures Annually for Agronomic Practices: 1 (Overseeding)
• Green Committee Meetings Annually: 12
• Golf Course Architect: Desmond Murihead 1975; Redesigned 2025 Cary Bickler
• Maintenance Team: Full Time: 19 
• Equipment: John Deere
• Irrigation System: Rainbird
• Greens: Mini Verde
• Approaches/Surrounds: TifTuf
• Tees/Fairways/Roughs: TifTuff Tees/  328, 419 and Common Bermuda Fairways and Roughs

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitors the performance of all daily operations, functions and services; assures the course is maintained to the highest standards.
• Seamlessly balances the need for visibility and administrative duties.
• Develops and effectively manages the golf maintenance budget in collaboration with the Controller and General Manager.
• Adheres to all federal, state and local laws regarding health, safety and employment.
• Provides resolution of escalated customer service issues.
• Ensures effective orientation and training for new staff and requires ongoing professional development.
• Ensures the accurate recording of hourly labor and timely payroll processing.
• Attends committee meetings and Board Meetings as directed by the General Manager.

SKILLS, BACKGROUND AND PERSONALITY

Qualifications:

• GCSAA Certification Class A Superintendent or working towards a Class A certification, 3-5 years of Golf Course Superintendent or Director of Agronomy experience at a top-tier private club.
• A degree in turf management or related field of study is required.
• Maintains an active Commercial California Pesticide License with Turf and Ornamental certification.

Skills:

• Must possess a strong curiosity to understand the Coachella Valley/Desert area in terms of turf management 
• It’s critical that the new Director of Agronomy embrace the existing tenured staff, continue to mentor them and take the culture to the next level
• Experience maintaining Mini Verde Greens and warm-season turf grasses (Tif Tuf, 419, 328 and Common Bermuda grass) and managing associated pests, weed infestation and diseases, especially in the Coachella Valley area.
• Must have a thorough understanding of growing high quality turf grass in the arid climate of the Coachella Valley area under hot, dry, windy conditions
• Experience in drainage, irrigation and lake maintenance.
• Outstanding written and oral business communications.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications, irrigation system software and email.

Characteristics:

• Conducts himself or herself in a responsible and professional manner always, while at or away from the Club, and requires other staff members to do the same to reflect the proper image of the Club throughout the community.
• Must possess the ability to interact and build strong relationships with members
• Engaging personality; professional and respectful.
• Empathetic listener, problem solver and critical thinker.
• Highly organized and adaptable, exceptional time management and communication skills.
• Open-minded to new ideas and creative thinking and strong leadership qualities.