Golf Course Superintendent Internship Jobs in Arizona

Job Title: Head Golf Course Superintendent

Reports to: General Manager/Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Compensation: $175,000 - $200,000 Base Salary, plus Annual Incentive

Relocation: Relocation Assistance Provided by Club

Address: FireRock Country Club

6000 East FireRock Country Club Drive, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

About FireRock Country Club:

FireRock Country Club is a member-owned premier private club located slightly northeast of Scottsdale, Arizona. The Club golf venues include an 18-hole championship golf course. The 18-hole course, designed by Gary Panks, opened in 2000 and was voted by the Arizona Republic as the “Best New Golf Course,” and it has continued to live up to its lofty status ever since.

The course is meticulously crafted from the desert terrain, with lush, rolling fairways that hug canyon washes, elevated tee boxes exposing spectacular scenery, and undulating greens that provide the ultimate risk-reward opportunities on every hole. In 2019, the bunkers were renovated. In 2025, Stadium Zoysia was installed on all tees, fairways, and surrounds, along with a new irrigation system.

The Club offers unparalleled golf, exquisite dining, and other unsurpassed amenities, including tennis, fitness, swimming, and exceptional dining. What separates the Club from others is its down-home charm and restful escape from everyday life.

For more information on the Club, visit https://www.firerockcc.com.

Position Summary:

The Head Golf Course Superintendent is responsible for maintaining, improving, and managing the golf course, Clubhouse grounds, landscaping, and the equipment used to maintain these areas. The Head Golf Course Superintendent will fulfill these responsibilities as a hands-on leader through positive, effective leadership by developing, training, managing, and coaching the golf course and grounds team.

Essential Job Functions:

• Maintaining the Club's 18-hole golf course and practice areas to ensure exemplary playing conditions at all times.
• Maintaining the Club's grounds and landscaping to ensure they are pristine and provide an ambiance aligned with the environment, seasons, and the Club's expectations.
• Providing the proper care of the golf course, grounds and landscaping, including turf management, irrigation, fertilization and pesticide applications.
• Inspecting the golf course, grounds and landscaping regularly to evaluate, recommend/implement routine and large-scale improvements.
• Working with the General Manager to plan maintenance, improvement and renovation projects. Presenting information and explaining ideas, concepts, plans, and activities with clarity and composure.
• Preparing and managing annual budgets for maintenance and capital improvements in accordance with established maintenance standards and long-range plans.
• Approving all golf course and landscaping expenditures and exercising cost control measures to keep operating and capital expenses in line with the approved budgets.
• Planning and directing all maintenance and project work, applying agronomic, business, and administrative expertise to achieve outstanding course maintenance standards and long-range goals.
• Creating an effective team through positive leadership and recruiting, hiring, developing, managing, coaching, and training the golf course and grounds team.
• Researching, sourcing, recommending, and acquiring equipment and supplies to maintain the course, Club grounds, and landscaping.
• Overseeing equipment maintenance programs and inventory control. Maintaining accountability for the cost, utilization, and performance of equipment.
• Ensuring drainage, irrigation, and watering systems are properly designed, operating, and maintained.
• Assessing and selecting appropriate pesticides, fertilizers, and nutrients, and creating and implementing annual pesticide and fertilization programs that maintain and improve the golf course turf, club grounds, and landscaping while protecting turf, flora, and fauna.
• Ensuring chemicals, petroleum, and other controlled products are used, stored, and disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations; maintaining required records and striving to minimize the use of chemicals and petroleum products.
• Overseeing accurate and complete record keeping for maintenance procedures, pesticide applications, inventory, weather, employee timekeeping, and payroll.
• Implementing and enforcing a comprehensive safety program for employees, members, and guests on course, and, where applicable, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Working closely with Golf Operations and other Club management or Club committees to prepare for successful tournaments and events.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience in agronomy and turf grass management practices, golf course architecture, construction and renovations, and construction principles, practices, and methods.
• Knowledge and experience in maintaining and constructing putting greens, tees, fairways, roughs, and bunkers.
• Knowledge and experience in construction and maintenance of facilities, shelters, fences, bridges, cart paths, service roads, parking lots, ponds, and streams.
• Knowledge in planting, cultivating, and pruning of native and ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Knowledge and experience in the characteristics and proper use of various fertilizers and soil conditioners, pest control methods and materials.
• Knowledge and experience in drainage methods and watering practices and irrigation systems, including wells, pumps, and automatic controls.
• Knowledge and understanding of current federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting management of golf course operations – including, but not limited to, safety and environmental stewardship standards, laws and regulations, and a basic understanding of employment laws and best practices.
• Knowledge of financial management, including developing, creating and managing budgets and assessing and evaluating cost benefits.
• Ability to train, motivate, develop, coach and effectively direct the work of others in a safe, productive and efficient manner.
• Knowledge and understanding of the game of golf.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Bachelor's or Associate's degree in Agronomy, Turf Management, Plant Sciences or related field, or certificate with significant training and experience.
• A certification/licensed in pesticide usage or the ability to become certified/licensed within 6 months of employment.

Club Benefits:

• Health insurance - three health insurance options to select the best that fits your needs.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare expenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – a tax-advantaged way to save for eligible healthcare expenses.
• Dental & Vision Insurance – to help support your dental and vision care needs.
• Life Insurance – Employer-provided life insurance coverage.
• GAP Insurance – Additional coverage to help provide financial protection for unexpected medical expenses.
• Competitive 401(k) Plan – an opportunity to save for retirement through a competitive 401(k) program.
• PTO - Paid time off accrued based on tenure.
• Complimentary Snacks & Meals – snacks and meals provided as an added workplace benefit.