Golf Can be More Than a Hobby

By: Adam Ikamas, CGCS
Executive Director
Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association

I was 17 years old in 1997, and I vividly remember picking up the yellow pages (this is how you found phone numbers in the pre-Google olden days) and calling Moravian Hills Country Club and asked to speak to the grounds department to inquire about a job. 

A few days later I was sitting in the Superintendent’s office chatting about why I wanted to work there, then a few days after that I was on a bunker rake. I was hooked! To be honest my motivation was just to be able to get access to the course to play free golf on Mondays. Little did I know where that phone call would lead me – or where any similar phone call could lead you. 

I worked for three years at Moravian Hills, then jumped over to Gowanie for a season and enrolled at Michigan State to pursue a career in Turfgrass Management. What followed was an internship at Oakland Hills on the South Course, then on to an Assistant Superintendent position at The Cedar River Course at Shanty Creek, before a 7-year run at the 36 holes at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa as Superintendent. In 2011, I left Crystal to take on the position of Executive Director for the newly formed Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association where I write this piece today. 

This wonderfully-rewarding journey started with one step, a phone call at the time. If you love golf, if you want to work outside on a golf course, if you want to be done with your workday in the early afternoon, if you want access to free golf; then maybe you should take that first step and reach out to your local Golf Course Superintendent. 

If outdoor and early morning is not your thing there are still plenty of other options out there. Like many industries today, every area of golf is looking for staff. The pay is very competitive, and the environment is one of the best out there. You can be part of a team that produces joy for so many people, to work with Mother Nature and get instant gratification of a job well done. Not everyone will have a similar path if you choose to take your first step, but even the first step can be so rewarding. 

Maybe you find your career, or a new career, or maybe you have a great experience you can look back on fondly. Golf can also create great networking opportunities in whatever career you are in or going in to. Getting to know the members at the local club will inevitably open career doors that would not be accessible otherwise. 

Spring is ready to pop, so reach out to your local golf course today and get ready for the best summer you can have! You never know where that first step will take you.  (MGJ)

Editor’s Note: Crystal Mountain is seeking workers in several departments including Golf, Outdoor Recreation, Food and Beverage and the Crystal Spa are looking to hire full-time, part-time, on-call, seasonal and year-round employees. Some are good for high school aged people, and others needing career experience.

In addition to good wages, Crystal Mountain offers a long list of employee benefits: free golf, free activity passes, access to the Peak Indoor Pool and Fitness Center, as well as discounts on meals, retail, lodging and Crystal Spa services. Healthcare benefits, 401(k) plans, tuition assistance and paid time off are also included for full-time, year-round employees. 

There will be one final Job fair on Friday, May 13 from 3:00-7:00 pm.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online prior to the job fair and will have the opportunity to interview with hiring managers during the event. All attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Crystal Mountain gift card.