Golf Course Superintendent
First Tee – Northwest Arkansas
Location: Lowell, Arkansas
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
About First Tee – Northwest Arkansas
First Tee – Northwest Arkansas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization dedicated to building character, instilling life-enhancing values, and empowering young people through the game of golf.
For nearly 20 years, we have impacted thousands of youth across Northwest Arkansas by providing affordable and accessible programming that develops confidence, resilience, leadership, and integrity. Through our on-course classes, outreach programs, school partnerships, camps, and community initiatives, we help young people build confidence that extends far beyond the game.
Our 30-plus-acre campus is one of the region's premier golf learning facilities and serves as both a public golf destination and a youth development center. The campus features:
- A renovated 9-hole, par-3 golf course
- Full-length driving range
- Indoor Learning Center with heated practice bays and golf simulator
- Dedicated putting and short-game practice areas
- Youth learning spaces and classrooms
- Community event and tournament facilities
- Administrative offices
- Character Development Mobile Unit operations
Unlike a traditional golf course, every acre of our property exists to support our mission. Each year, our facility welcomes thousands of youth participants, families, golfers, volunteers, donors, and community partners. We are seeking an experienced Golf Course Superintendent who shares our commitment to excellence and understands the vital role a well-maintained facility plays in creating life-changing experiences for every visitor.
Position Summary
The Golf Course Superintendent provides strategic leadership, technical expertise, and day-to-day operational oversight for all aspects of golf course maintenance and grounds management. This position is responsible for maintaining exceptional playing conditions while ensuring a safe, welcoming, and visually appealing environment for youth participants, public golfers, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
The Superintendent oversees the maintenance of the golf course, driving range, practice facilities, irrigation systems, buildings, equipment, and surrounding grounds. This position also supervises all grounds maintenance personnel and works closely with organizational leadership to coordinate maintenance activities around youth programming, tournaments, fundraising events, and community initiatives.
This position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer to ensure facility operations support the organization's mission.
Essential Responsibilities Golf Course & Grounds Management
- Maintain exceptional playing conditions for greens, tees, fairways, roughs, driving range, putting greens, and short-game practice areas.
- Develop and execute annual, seasonal, and weekly turf management plans.
- Monitor turf health and proactively identify disease, insects, weeds, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stress.
- Maintain landscaping, ornamental beds, trees, shrubs, parking areas, entrances, sidewalks, and common areas.
- Ensure the property consistently reflects the high standards of First Tee – Northwest Arkansas.
Agronomy & Turfgrass Management
- Develop and implement fertility, aerification, topdressing, overseeding, and cultural management programs.
- Conduct soil testing and evaluate turf performance.
- Apply fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, growth regulators, and other products safely and accurately.
- Maintain all pesticide application records in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Calibrate spray equipment and monitor application accuracy.
- Recommend turf improvements that promote healthy, sustainable playing conditions.
Irrigation Management
- Operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain the irrigation system.
- Schedule irrigation based on weather, soil moisture, and turf needs.
- Repair sprinkler heads, valves, wiring, pumps, and controllers as necessary.
- Promote responsible water management and conservation practices.
Equipment & Maintenance Facility
Maintain all maintenance equipment, including:
- Greens mowers
- Fairway mowers
- Rough mowers
- Utility vehicles
- Tractors
- Sprayers
- Aerification equipment
- Ball pickers
- Small engines
- Hand tools
Responsibilities include:
- Preventative maintenance scheduling
- Equipment inspections
- Repair coordination
- Parts inventory
- Fuel management
- Vendor coordination
- Long-term replacement planning
Staff Leadership
Lead and develop the grounds maintenance team by:
- Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding employees.
- Scheduling daily assignments and seasonal workloads.
- Conducting performance evaluations.
- Coaching and mentoring staff.
- Approving leave requests and managing work schedules.
- Coordinating background checks and required certifications.
- Promoting teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive work environment.
Facility Operations
Maintain all exterior facilities, including:
- Clubhouse exterior
- Maintenance building
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Cart paths
- Drainage systems
- Fencing
- Entrance landscaping
- Exterior lighting
- Storage areas
Coordinate maintenance schedules around:
- Youth programming
- Summer camps
- School partnerships
- Outreach initiatives
- Public play
- Tournaments
- Fundraising events
- Community activities
Communicate planned maintenance projects with organizational leadership to minimize disruption to programming and guest experiences.
Budget & Asset Management
- Develop annual operating budgets for grounds maintenance.
- Monitor expenses and ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
- Manage maintenance inventories.
- Obtain competitive vendor quotes.
- Recommend capital improvements and equipment purchases.
- Develop long-term equipment replacement plans.
Safety & Compliance
Ensure compliance with:
- OSHA regulations
- Arkansas pesticide application requirements
- Environmental regulations
- Equipment safety standards
- SafeSport requirements
- Organizational policies and procedures
Maintain accurate records for:
- Chemical applications
- Fertility programs
- Irrigation repairs
- Equipment maintenance
- Safety inspections
- Employee training
Customer Service
- Foster a welcoming environment for golfers, youth participants, families, volunteers, and visitors.
- Respond professionally and promptly to facility concerns.
- Work collaboratively with all departments to ensure an exceptional guest experience.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications
- Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of golf course maintenance experience, preferably in a leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of turfgrass management, agronomy, irrigation systems, and golf course operations.
- Experience supervising maintenance personnel.
- Ability to diagnose turf diseases, insects, and environmental stress.
- Experience calibrating sprayers and irrigation equipment.
- Valid driver's license with reliable transportation.
- Ability to obtain and maintain all required Arkansas pesticide applicator licenses.
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Degree in Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, or a related field.
- Golf Course Superintendent experience.
- Experience with Toro maintenance equipment and irrigation systems.
- Knowledge of irrigation control software.
- Membership in, or willingness to participate in, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and continuing education opportunities.
Physical Requirements
The successful candidate must be able to:
- Work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and lift up to 50 pounds.
- Operate heavy equipment safely.
- Work early mornings, weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings as required by seasonal conditions and organizational events.
- Safely handle fertilizers, pesticides, and maintenance equipment.
Benefits
We recognize that our employees are one of our greatest investments and are committed to providing a competitive benefits package.
Salary: Depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits include:
- Employer-paid health insurance
- Employer-paid dental insurance
- Employer-paid vision insurance
- Three (3) weeks Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid holidays
- Professional development opportunities
- Continuing education support
- Golf and practice facility privileges
Why Join First Tee – Northwest Arkansas?
This is more than a golf course superintendent position.
Every green you maintain, every fairway you improve, and every project you complete helps create a place where young people discover confidence, build character, and develop life skills that last a lifetime.
If you take pride in your craft, enjoy leading others, and want your work to have a meaningful impact on your community, we invite you to join our team.
Equal Opportunity Employer
First Tee – Northwest Arkansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.
Employment is contingent upon:
- Successful completion of a criminal background check.
- SafeSport Training certification.
- Verification of applicable licenses and certifications.
How to Apply
Interested candidates may apply through one of the following methods:
Indeed: Submit your application online.
Email:
Isaac Tellez, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
