Director of Agronomy

Craguns Legacy Courses is seeking an experienced and passionate Director of Agronomy to lead the agronomic operations of our 54-hole golf destination and help shape the future of one of Minnesotas premier resort golf properties.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Craguns as we enter a new era of ownership investment course improvement and growth. The Director of Agronomy will be responsible for delivering exceptional playing conditions while leading a talented team and developing long-term strategies for the property.

After many years of dedicated leadership at the Legacy Courses our long-term Director of Agronomy is preparing for retirement. As we make this transition he will remain available as a resource to the incoming Director offering valuable knowledge of the property courses team and operation when helpful. This provides a unique opportunity for our next Director to benefit from that experience while having the freedom and support to lead the department bring new ideas forward and help shape the next chapter of the Legacy Courses.

The Opportunity

• Lead agronomic operation across 54 holes including the Lehman 18-hole Championship course Dutch Legacy 27-hole complex par-3 course and practice facilities.
• Establish and maintain exceptional championship-level playing conditions across greens tees fairways roughs bunkers and practice areas.
• Lead and develop a year-round leadership team and 45 seasonal employees (12 H2B and 10 J1 Visa workers).
• Oversee approximately $2.0-$2.5 million in annual operations.
• Provide strategic oversight of irrigation drainage water management equipment turf health pest management and course infrastructure.
• Develop annual and multi-year agronomic and course improvement plans.
• Partner with ownership resort leadership golf operations and course architect Tom Lehman on future course improvements and capital projects.
• Prepare the property for the CRMC Championship and other signature events.
• Champion a culture of professionalism teamwork safety accountability and continuous improvement.
• Regularly experience the courses as a golfer to evaluate conditions playability presentation and the overall guest experience.

• Set and maintain clear daily conditioning standards for greens tees fairways roughs bunkers practice areas and course preparation.
• Deliver consistent exceptional playing surfaces with the goal of being recognized as the best resort/public golf conditions in the Midwest.
• Use sound agronomic judgement to balance playability turf health weather traffic labor and long-term sustainability.
• Coordinate maintenance schedules with golf operations to support pace of play guest satisfaction outings tournaments and resort demand.
• Lead coach and hold accountable the year-round and seasonal agronomy teams.
• Develop the Head Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents as future leaders and provide clear ownership of their respective areas.
• Build a culture centered on pride professionalism communication safety teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Oversee seasonal recruitment onboarding scheduling training performance management and retention including H-2B and J-1 team members.
• Develop and execute annual and multi-year agronomic plans for all golf courses and practice facilities.
• Manage fertility chemical application cultural practices pest management tree management drainage and water-use strategies.
• Develop and oversee long-term management for ponds wetlands shorelines sediment and muck accumulation erosion water quality and related environment features including recommendations for major repairs or capital solutions when warranted.
• Provide strategic oversight of irrigation systems pump stations controls wells drainage and water management.
• Develop repair preventative maintenance and replacement plans for agronomic infrastructure.
• Develop multi-year equipment and infrastructure replacement recommendations for ownership review.
• Develop and manager an annual operation budget of approximately $2.0 million to $2.5 million.
• Maintain strong cost controls without compromising the primary goal of exceptional course conditions.
• Forecast labor equipment chemical fertilizer irrigation and infrastructure needs
• Participate and partner with ownership resort leadership golf leadership and Tom Lehman on the long-range vision for the courses.
• Maintain golf clubhouse grounds and resort-owned or resort-managed homes located within the golf property to a professional standard.
• Coordinate effectively with Facilities Resort Grounds Events Sales Marketing and other departments when work overlaps or affects the guest experience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 7 years combined experience as a Golf Course Superintendent or Assistant Golf Course Superintendent required.
• Demonstrated ability to produce exceptional playing conditions at a high-quality golf facility.
• Strong knowledge of northern climate turfgrass management irrigation plant health soils drainage and pest management.
• Proven experience leading full-time and seasonal teams.
• Budgeting purchasing inventory management and capital planning experience.
• Strong communication organization judgement and problem-solving skills.
• A working knowledge of the game of golf and a willingness to play the courses regularly to evaluate conditions from the golfer perspective.
• Ability to work the hours required by weather seasonal operations tournaments and resort demand.

Additional Qualifications

• Current GCSAA membership expected with demonstrated active participation in professional education association programs industry networking or leadership activities strongly preferred
• Experience at multi-course resort high-end daily-fee or large-scale golf operation is highly valued.
• Minnesota pesticide and applicator licensing preferred: candidates must have the ability to obtain required licensing within 90 days of employment.
• A degree or certificate in Turfgrass Management Agronomy Horticulture or a related field is preferred but not required when balanced by strong experience and demonstrated results.

Salary & Benefits

• Full-Time Exempt Senior Management position. $110000-$150000 based on experience.
• Medical Dental Vision Insurance- Supplemental Life Insurances Employer Sponsored Basic Life Policy
• Competitive PTO Package
• 401k with employer match
• Resort and Golf Course Perks discounted lodging dining merchandise use of facilities marina rental
• Approved Dues Education Licenses & Permits reimbursement with leadership approval
• Relocation assistance or temporary housing potential for selected candidate