I often get asked what the biggest mistake clubs make when hiring a superintendent? The biggest mistake I believe is that clubs hire safe. They are risk-averse. They stick with a candidate who is currently second- or third-in-command at a well-known club. These individuals are not the decision makers. Often, an elite leader with a great skill set and character from a lesser-known club is the best candidate.
The club chooses a candidate who won’t be questioned by the membership, rather than the leader, who can move the operation forward. The best hires I’ve seen weren’t the safest — they were the right fit for where the club wanted to go.
Hiring is a strategic decision, not just a risk management decision.
Be sure to sign up for our complimentary seminar, brought by the Ohio Valley Chapter CMAA and presented by Michael Stott, CCM, CCE. Click this link https://t.co/1T7ul4DXAi to join via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12 at 2PM.
We’ve recently completed several Equipment Manager and Equipment Technician searches.
Here’s where compensation actually landed:
Equipment Manager
• 18-hole: $92K–$126K depending on the scope of the property.
• 36-hole: $150K+
Technicians
• $26-$36 per hour.
Clubs are budgeting based on last year’s market — not today’s.
The best candidates know their value.
If you want to attract them, you have to meet them where the market is.