Golf Course Superintendent

Job Description 

About Youngstown Country Club

Club Details:

Founded in 1898, just a decade after golf was introduced to the United States from Scotland, Youngstown Country Club (YCC) stands as one of America’s oldest and most distinguished private clubs. Known as the “Dean of All Clubs,” YCC has maintained a position of eminence in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, offering members and guests an elegant experience rooted in tradition and excellence.

In 1911, the Club moved to its current 121-acre Holland Farm site, where Walter J. Travis designed the original 18-hole layout. The course was refined in 1921 by legendary architect Donald Ross, creating a challenging yet fair test that remains one of Northern Ohio’s finest golf venues. Gently rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, and a meandering creek define the course’s character and timeless appeal.

YCC has hosted premier championships, including the 1925 Western Open, when icons such as Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and Tommy Armour competed, with Macdonald Smith emerging victorious. The Club has also been the site of the Ohio Open Championship, the Women’s Ohio Amateur Championship, an LPGA Open Qualifier, and a Men’s U.S. Open Qualifier.

The Club’s contributions to the game extend far beyond competition. YCC’s first greenskeeper, Col. John Morley, founded the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) in 1926. His legacy continues to shape the profession, and in 2009 he was honored with the Old Tom Morris Award, joining names such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Robert Trent Jones.

In 2023, YCC proudly celebrated its 125th anniversary, and in 2024, both its clubhouse and golf course were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, nestled within Youngstown’s rich steel-town heritage and near the natural beauty of Mill Creek Park, YCC remains a benchmark of excellence—blending its storied past with a vibrant present that includes golf, dining, tennis, skeet & trap, and swimming.

The Community: Youngstown, Ohio

Located midway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Youngstown offers the welcoming charm of a smaller community with the convenience of two major metropolitan areas just over an hour away. Once a proud center of America’s steel industry, Youngstown has transformed into a region known for education, healthcare, culture, and outdoor recreation.

• Affordable Living – Consistently ranked among the nation’s most affordable housing markets, Youngstown provides candidates with an exceptional opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life at a low cost of living.
• Education & Healthcare – The presence of Youngstown State University fuels a vibrant academic community, while nationally recognized hospitals and healthcare systems deliver excellent care.
• Outdoor Recreation – Just minutes from downtown, Mill Creek MetroParks spans more than 5,000 acres with hiking and biking trails, gardens, lakes, and a Donald Ross-designed public golf course, making it one of the largest and most scenic urban park systems in the country.
• Arts & Culture – The Butler Institute of American Art, historic theaters, festivals, and live music venues contribute to a thriving cultural scene. Sports enthusiasts also enjoy close proximity to professional teams in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
• Convenience – Situated along the I-80 corridor, Youngstown offers quick access to regional airports, world-class golf destinations, and leisure opportunities across the Midwest and East Coast.

Facility Information 

• Facility:Ownership - Member Owned
• Course Access: Private
• Number of Holes: 18
• Total Annual Rounds: 12,000
• Annual Revenue: $3,000,000
• Number of Carts: 75
• Members (Golf/Social): 225/75
• Primary Golf Season: March-November
• Caddie Program: No
• Practice Range: Yes
• Short Game Area: Yes
• Number of Staff Managed: 18 

• Acreages: 
• Greens/Approaches: 5
• Fairways: 30
• Tees/Range Tee: 3
• Rough: 92
• Wooded/Natural Areas: 68
• Total Maintained: 198
• Pump House: Flowtronics Station with new 50HP motors installed 2022
• Greens: 70% Poa Annua & 30% Bentgrass
• Tees: 80% Bentgrass & 20% Poa Annua
• Fairways: 80% Bentgrass & 20% Poa Annua
• Rough: Blend of perennial rye and Kentucky bluegrass
• Bunkers: 63 - In-House project to replace drainage and add Signature 700 sand has 4 holes of greenside and 18 holes of fairway bunkers remaining
• Irrigation System: 
• Station/Pumps: Flowtronics - 2-50HP electric motors (2022) & 1-25HP jockey
• Controllers: 2021 Toro Lynx
• Equipment: Owned and/or Financed
• Range from 1988-2025, most equipment is 2002-2018 with some acquired in 2020 & 2025
• XGD: Installed Spring 2025 

The turfcare team at Youngstown Country Club typically consists of:

• Full Time Year Round - 4Year Round 32 hours per Week - 4
• Year Round 24 hours per Week - 2
• Seasonal/Summer - 8

Position Overview:

• Title: Golf Course Superintendent
• Reports to: Board of Trustees
• Position Description: 

Youngstown Country Club is searching for an inspirational and forward-thinking Golf Course Superintendent to lead the agronomy department in delivering championship conditions steeped in tradition. This position demands innovation balanced with reverence for the club’s historic legacy and member-centered culture.

You will direct all agronomic operations, manage budgets and staff, drive strategic enhancements, ensure compliance and safety, and collaborate closely with Club leadership and members. Your stewardship will carry forward the Morley legacy while positioning YCC for continued excellence.

The Club understands the confidential nature of this process, and the information received from all interested parties will be kept in the strictest confidence. Multiple interviews will be conducted before a final decision is made. 

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Establish and oversee the agronomy department, procedures, controls, and focus with the goal of providing consistently high-quality playing conditions and attention to detail.
• Maintain and elevate course conditions; greens, fairways, and roughs aligned with Ross/Travis design ethos.
• Implement policies and procedures for the agronomy department, including compliance with company expectations while maintaining exceptional playing conditions.
• Ensure the safety and compliance of the department by meeting all federal, state, and local regulations regarding chemical applications, labor laws, and all other regulations that apply to agronomic practices.
• Implement and oversee chemical, fertilizer, irrigation, and turf management plans, ensuring adherence to regulations.
• Work with the Board of Trustees in the preparation of the annual budget, including all expenses within the department.
• Review and analyze various financial results/reports while monitoring the overall agronomy department performance and take any corrective actions that may be needed.
• Maintain and produce various (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) business reports, forecasts, and plans accordingly.
• Create a team atmosphere where agronomy team members learn and grow in their profession. 
• Instill a sense of pride in teamwork, which will contribute to the achievement of Youngstown Country Club's vision. 
• Propose capital improvements and strategic projects for turf and infrastructure enhancements for the annual budget.
• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees on annual budgets; monitor expenses and drive cost-efficient operations.
• Organize department management meetings, and staff meetings, and participate in department head/committee meetings as designated. 
• Follow company policies and procedures regarding the handling of Youngstown Country Club's equipment and other assets.
• Advise and assist the Board of Trustees and implement policies, procedures, and goals that will strategically enhance the agronomy department for operational and financial success.
• Ensure member and guest satisfaction with respect to all levels of service and operation within the department.
• Participate in club leadership and department meetings; represent agronomy in cross-departmental initiatives.
• Engage diplomatically and professionally with members, guests, and staff reflecting YCC’s standard of excellence.
• The Superintendent is encouraged to participate in the game of golf with the membership when time allows. 

Including, but not limited to, the following:

• A college degree or university program certificate is required.
• Degree in turfgrass management, agronomy, horticulture or related field preferred.
• Class A Membership in the GCSAA.A minimum of 5 years of Golf Course Superintendent or Lead Assistant experience at a high-quality facility is required.
• Extensive experience managing high-quality cool-season or transition zone turf grass is essential.
• Experience in cool season turf management is preferred.
• Experience working with classic course architecture and managing turf in historic settings.
• Construction, renovation, and grow-in experience is preferred.
• Chemical and Pesticide certificates.
• Valid Driver’s License. 

• Salary - $105-125K commensurate with experience
• Performance Bonus - Up to 10% of salary 

• Health InsuranceSimple 401k Plan
• Paid time offMeals while on duty
• The Club will pay for national and chapter association dues
• Education Allowance 

https://sites.google.com/pgahq.com/youngstown-country-club-super/home 

Resume deadline is October 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time

Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, Facility, Search Position

Please address all correspondence to - Mr. J.D. Williams | Search Committee Chair | Youngstown Country Club