ERS ~ Thunderbird Country Club ~ Rancho Mirage, CA ~ Golf Course Superintendent
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Cactus and Pine, GCSA |
Employment Referral Service |
GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT PROFILE:
THUNDERBIRD COUNTRY CLUB
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA
Thunderbird Country Club is seeking an innovative, detail focused, team-oriented Golf Course Superintendent with a passion for consistently providing exceptional golfing conditions. The Golf Course Superintendent will have experience with and an understanding of desert climates, along with strong agronomic, organizational, renovation, communication and leadership skills.
Click here to view a brief video about this opportunity.
Thunderbird Country Club
Thunderbird Country Club is a modern golf, tennis and country club experience in all aspects, with a fascinating history. The Club was established in 1951 and had the mystique of having no role model after which to pattern itself. It was the first, the original, and consequently was itself THE role model for the scores of Coachella Valley country clubs to follow.
Early on, golf-playing Hollywood flocked with glee to Thunderbird. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope each purchased lots edging the golf course. Upon opening, more celebrity couples purchased homes and brought their cachet with them. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball; baseball star Ralph Kiner and his tennis star wife Nancy Chaffee; and composer Hoagy Carmichael were among the charter homeowners.
However, it wasn’t just the entertainment contingent that firmly imprinted Thunderbird with prestige. Rosters of members during the club’s first decade are studded with names of corporate presidents, political leaders and major manufacturers; active and retired. For every Clark Gable and Randolph Scott, there was a Leonard Firestone. Golf, of course, was and is today the soul of the country club.
Often it is mere moments that in a second or two impact the history of an organization. One of those moments was when President Dwight D. Eisenhower began his friendship and association with Thunderbird Country Club. President Eisenhower (Ike to his Thunderbird friends) first visited the Club in 1954. Ike was just the beginning of Thunderbird’s friendship with 7 American Presidents three choosing to become members.
The club’s first pro-member tournament soon developed into the Bob Hope Desert Classic, the granddaddy of all celebrity charity tournaments in the valley. In 1955, the prestigious Ryder Cup that features the very top competitors between teams of American and British pros was hosted by Thunderbird Country Club. After two days of what “Golf Life” described as “par-smashing golf,” America won with Sam Snead as its star.
Another Thunderbird first was the development of the motorized golf cart, now as familiar on courses as grass. Eddie Susalla, assistant to the club’s first pro Jimmy Hines, observed motorized vehicles being used as transportation for the handicapped in Long Beach. Susalla got together with the “autoettes” manufacturer, and the upshot was a motorized golf buggy. Now golfers around the world scoot about in these slick electric conveyances, but Thunderbird members were first.
The club also has a sentimental and proprietary interest in another vehicle. Ernest Breech, a Thunderbird member, was chairman of Ford Motor Company, and was deeply involved in the creation of a new sports car to compete with the recently released Chevrolet Corvette. Breech asked the club’s permission to name the new model with its sleek and sporty design after the club. Permission was granted and in 1955 the first Ford Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line.
Thunderbird today has grown and matured without losing its youthful exuberance. But the club is not about names, politics, importance, money, government, or business; it’s about setting standards, establishing lasting friendships, and the power and sentiment of tradition.
Thunderbird Country Club distinguishes itself with a proud tradition of uncompromising quality, service, and friendly atmosphere for which the very finest private member-owned clubs in the United States are known.
WEBSITE: www.thunderbirdcc.org
OVERVIEW OF THUNDERBIRD COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE & GROUNDS OPERATIONS
· $2.4M Budget
· 13,000 rounds of golf
· 99% Cart Rounds
· 18 holes
· Green Speed Expectations: 10-11
· Tif Dwarf Greens, overseeded
· Tifway2 Fairways, Tees and Roughs, overseeded
· First Tee Time: 7:30am
· Noise Ordinance Start Time: 5:30am
· Irrigation System: Rainbird, well water
· Renovations Golf Course Architect: Tripp Davis
· Average Age: 68
· 9 Green Committee Members
· 8 Green Committee Meetings per year
INITIAL AREAS OF FOCUS
· Develop an understanding of member expectations
· Set standards for optimal course conditions
· Become familiar with the Golf Course masterplan and upcoming renovation
· Build a strong team while minimizing turnover
· Develop a strong relationship with key Club Team Members and Green Committee
GOLF COURSE MASTERPLAN/RENOVATION
Beginning in mid-April 2022, Thunderbird will begin phase 2 of a $6.8m Golf Course Master Plan remodel on holes 4-18 which will include new bunkers, re-grassing of all playing surfaces, adding new water features, and deepening of lakes, reshaping and rebuilding certain greens and enhanced landscaping throughout the course. The newly renovated golf course is intended to be ready for play by early November 2022. Holes 1-3 were completed last year and are open for play.
Golf Course Superintendent Job Description
The Golf Course Superintendent (GCS) reports directly to the Club’s General Manager. The GCS is expected to be a visible presence among the team and members with exceptionally strong agronomic, business and communication skills. He/she is responsible for maintenance, operation, management, preparation, and condition of the golf course, club grounds and limited community grounds.
The GCS must be an excellent communicator with a collaborative approach with both the management team and his/her team. He/she will have an extensive agronomical knowledge and know how. Understanding the expectations of the membership, building a strong relationship with Club leadership, setting a high standard for Golf Course conditions and a detail-oriented approach are essential for success.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will be a Golf Course Superintendent at a club renowned for providing exceptional golfing conditions and will have the following qualifications:
· Strong agronomic ability
· Overseeding Experience
· Successful experience in Southern California and/or desert climates
· An appreciation for the aesthetic value of golf courses
· Solid irrigation management philosophy and practices, supporting firm fast conditions
· Stays current with advances in turf technology and equipment
· Experience with “high priority” bunker maintenance
· The ideal candidate will be able to deliver quality results and complete the master plan while remaining on budget
· An attention to detail along with the ability to address key issues
· Possesses collaborative leadership qualities that have resulted in high employee satisfaction-proven staff retention, low turnover, and staff development
· A mentor to team members and a history of developing future turf management leaders
· Creative work scheduling to maximize team productivity
· Strong relationship builder with a history of excellent relations with Committees, Golf Professional and General Manager
· Excellent member relations
· Strong listening skills with an understanding of the value of constructive criticism
· The ideal candidate will be highly driven and innovative
· Experience developing standard operating procedures and training programs to onboard new staff
· Excellent communication skills-listens to and responds to both club members and team members
· Strong budget management skills
· Experience developing capital equipment replacement plans
· Golfer/student of the game with a sound understanding of ideal playing conditions
· High golf IQ is essential
EDUCATIONAL AND CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS
A degree in turf management or related field of study is required. GCSAA Certification is preferred.
CLUB COVID REQUIREMENTS
The club does require staff to be fully vaccinated as a provision of employment.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Club offers a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package for a position of this scope and responsibility.
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 in your LinkedIn Profile.
Preparing a thoughtful letter of interest and alignment with the above noted expectations and requirements is necessary. Your letter should be addressed to Mr. Brett Draper, General Manager and COO and clearly articulate why you want to be considered for this position at this stage of your career and why Thunderbird Country Club and the Palm Springs area will be beneficial to you, your family, your career, and the Club if selected.
Your interest in this role must be communicated in the above manner no later than March 1, 2022, and preferably sooner. Interviews are expected to occur in late March with the new GCS assuming his/her role in a reasonable amount of time thereafter.
IMPORTANT: Save your resume and letter in the following manner:
“Last Name, First Name, Resume, Thunderbird”
“Last Name, First Name, Cover Letter, Thunderbird”
(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 Nan Fisher: nan@kkandw.com
Lead Search Executive:
Armen Suny
Search Executive
303-570-2741
Carmella Ruggiero
Executive Director
Cactus & Pine, GCSA
4700 E. Thomas Road
Suite 108
Phoenix, AZ 85018
480-609-6778 Office
480-600-3786 Cell
