#ThankASuper; Troon Superintendents On Why They Love Their Jobs
In celebration of International Thank a Superintendent Day, we asked some of our agronomy leaders around the world to share their journeys in agronomy, how they got into the profession and why they love their job.
Marcus Hartup
Vattanac Golf Resort, Cambodia
How did you get into agronomy?
In the early 90s, I had the ability to work on a local golf course and from there I have worked in agronomy in 5 countries.
Why do you love your job?
The ability to come to the golf course each day and enjoy the environment in which the golf course sits with its flora and fauna is a pleasure. Also seeing the development of the team is very rewarding for me.
Patrick Montagne
Golfpark Otelfingen, Switzerland
How did you get into agronomy?
I am originally from the South of France where I studied agriculture and through this program, I was able to specialise in Agronomy and fruit arboriculture. I went to golf course steward school in Montpellier and Superintendent is a job that I immediately liked a lot because of the diversity and beautiful architecture of golf courses.
Why do you love your job?
I like to work outdoors with a small team and love the challenge of presenting a good golf course on a daily basis.
Jack Balfour
Els Club Dubai, UAE
How did you get into agronomy?
Becoming a part of this industry stemmed from playing golf from a young age. I was a member at my local golf course where I spent a lot of time playing golf throughout the season and was intrigued by how the agronomy team maintained the course. My club was looking to take on a trainee greenkeeper, which I applied for and succeeded in securing.
Why do you love your job?
This is a very unique job that requires a different level of dedication, passion, and drive to create a golf course that will be remembered as a great golf experience. Agronomy presents a variety of challenges, and with so many different aspects of the job, there is always something to be thinking about and planning for. The constant challenge is what keeps me motivated to improve every week, knowing that we have done all possible to prepare the course but there is always something that can be better. Working in a large agronomy team is a great environment to be part of as everyone plays a role and brings something different to the table that can be utilised on the golf course, but stepping back at the end of the week and enjoying what we have produced as a team always brings great satisfaction
Grahame Taylor
Dumbarnie Golf Links, Scotland
How did you get into agronomy?
I really enjoyed playing golf as a youngster and spent most of my time out on the golf course. Being outside all day socialising with friends was an enjoyable time. When I finished school, I thought it sounded like a great idea to work on a golf course all day and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
Why do you love your job?
I remember my first day 27 years ago, working on my home course gave me the motivation to help make a difference in the condition of the course. Even the smallest tasks carried out were satisfying as you could see the improvement. The variety of tasks makes the job interesting every day. Maintaining a golf course on the scale of Dumbarnie Golf Links takes a real team effort and I love to see the team showing passion and commitment to preparing the course for our golfers on a daily basis. As the golf course condition changes there are no two days the same, this means job satisfaction can be achieved daily.
It’s the love for the job that makes working in agronomy really enjoyable.
Roque Buendia
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Spain
How did you get into agronomy?
My family background is linked to Agriculture and my father was also an Agronomist, so since I was a child I have been spending a lot of time with my father checking out our farm, mostly fruit trees. I only had to open my eyes and learn from my dad, later when I had to choose my university studies, it was really easy to choose the right path.
Why do you love your job?
It’s a challenge every day, there is always something to do, it requires planning, strategy development, purchasing, budget control, human resources management, motivation skills, and agronomy knowledge, and it also requires keeping your eyes wide open every day. I have to work out of the office most of the time and inside the office around 30% of my time. It´s almost a perfect combination. In the end, the most important thing is that most of the time I feel free and happy.
Ricardo Baron
How did you get into agronomy?
I started my degree in Agricultural Engineering and after that started on a golf course doing an internship; I really enjoyed that summer and realized this is my passion and that’s how I ended up where I am now.
Why do you love your job?
Being outside with nature is a big thing, I enjoy the big opportunities for doing and executing projects and it is a feel-good feeling knowing you have achieved something and people can experience and enjoy it.
Matt Hartup
Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club, Australia
How did you get into agronomy?
Long story short would be through playing sport. From a young age, I was either kicking the football around the field or trying to hit a golf ball around the local golf course. My interest really grew after I was offered an opportunity to help manage and prepare cricket wickets and football ovals which was a great introduction to the turf industry. The science and art of agronomy is something I really enjoy and continue to learn more about each day.
Why do you love your job?
Being outdoors and working in a team environment are two things very important to me. But dealing with all the different challenges day in and day out is what I love the most. It’s always a good feeling when you overcome challenges and create great playing surfaces and a great product in the field of agronomy.
Jordan Fairweather
Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai, Dubai Hills Golf Club, UAE
How did you get into agronomy?
My parents moved to live on a golf course when I was a teenager and I started taking golf lessons and then helping the maintenance team out on the golf course in the evenings and it progressed from there; I have now worked in 7 countries.
Why do you love your job?
Working outside with something that is living and breathing means no two days are the same; it’s always changing, and there are always new challenges. Being able to implement change and see the golf course grow and mature. Working on golf courses is us enhancing nature and the environment for the community so you know your work is doing good in many ways.
Phil Chiverton
The Grove, UK
How did you get into agronomy?
From leaving school at 16 years old, I was approached for a Youth Training Scheme where I was offered the opportunity to work at either a tomato growing factory or a golf course. Of course, I ended up choosing the golf industry and started working in golf course maintenance. I have loved it ever since, and have now been in the industry for almost 40 years.
Why do you love your job?
I love many aspects of it, one being the ability to watch the team develop and get promoted within the industry. I have been a course manager for 30 years now, so being able to watch individuals come and go over the years from apprenticeships and developing to where they are now and make a name for themselves is really rewarding. The majority of my assistants have now become course managers in their own right, so seeing the rewards and feedback you get from producing talent is a great aspect of it.
Ben Mclean
Delhi Golf Club, India
How did you get into agronomy?
As a teenager, I had a huge passion for golf. By chance, a temporary position came up at my local golf club I jumped at the opportunity and soon became hooked on the industry.
Why do you love your job?
I love the journey, the challenge of being better than yesterday, and developing a team to achieve a common goal; it’s a great career and can be extremely rewarding.
Nuno Morgado
Costa Navarino, Greece
How did you get into agronomy?
I got into agronomy because I love nature and I am passionate about being able to protect and manage the environment. My dream is to manage Natural Parks, in the future.
Why do you love your job?
I love my job because I can combine my passion for nature and still have a great deal of land to manage environmentally, at the same time being part of something more diverse and challenging. My great passion for golf has grown thereafter as I love to see the results of the agronomic improvements which we initiate daily.
Gustav Pieterse
Bangalore Golf Club, India
How did you get into agronomy?
Working as a Golf Course Maintenance crew on one of the best courses in the United States really made me passionate about the turf industry. It made me excited to learn more about the science involved in managing the Agronomy on world-class golf courses to world-class standards.
Why do you love your job?
I love the fact that there is a balance between nature, science, and office responsibilities. It’s an ever-changing challenging environment where your work is displayed out there to the world and many individuals daily.
Bryan Pierce
Kapalua Plantation Course, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
How did you get into agronomy?
Golf was a huge part of my life starting at the age of 7. I was a competitive, young junior golfer and was always fascinated with how golf courses were able to cut so low and create these beautiful conditions. My family owned some acreage, and I wanted my own place to practice, so I saved up my allowance and bought my own Jacobsen Greens King walk behind mower. In a few months, I constructed my own putting green and bunker, and the rest was history. I was hooked on maintaining my own green and trying new things, which led to my choice to major in Turfgrass Science at the university level.
Why do you love your job?
Being outdoors and creating something special each and every day for people to enjoy is a great feeling. Golf has been a huge part of my life since I was very young, and I love that I can provide joy to so many people that get to play on a golf course I have put so much time into. I love working with so many different personalities and learning from each and every one of them. It is an extremely rewarding job that I am very fortunate to have. There is never a boring day in the turfgrass industry!
Jonathan Williams
Eagle Mountain Golf Club, Fountain Hills, Arizona
How did you get into agronomy?
Once I turned 16, my parents wanted to impose on me the value of money and hard work, so they told me I needed to get a job. The retired navy veteran that lived across the street said the local golf course needed summer labor. I needed to please my parents so off to the golf course I went. I believe my young and malleable mind liked the idea of being outdoors and the science behind the golf courses aesthetics. Once I found out that I could also go to college and learn about golf course agronomy (which was also a parental requirement), I was hooked.
Why do you love your job:
My father is a genuine, certified rocket scientist (and the smartest person I know). When I was growing up, he would explain to me how everything worked and in intricate detail. Radios, TVs, lawn mowers, air conditioning, electricity, the internet, GPS, planes, and of course rockets. These discussions made me have a passion for science, engineering, chemistry, and physics. It is amazing how much science, engineering, chemistry and physics a golf course agronomist deals with. I love looking at a system and analyzing how it works, solving problems, and making it more efficient. If the problems at work are interesting and you get paid to provide beneficial solutions, who wouldn’t love their job?