Staying the course at one course

Job boards and peers can tell fibs. Social media masks reality better than an agitated parent hiding Easter eggs in the backyard.

Upon closer review, job hopping might not be as cool as it seems.

Managing editor Matt LaWell relied on connections and storytelling passion for our cover story about industry professionals who have spent entire golf maintenance careers at one course (One and only on page 18). In typical LaWell fashion, he brilliantly blends the art of human relationships with the science of extensive research. Matt celebrates six years with Golf Course Industry this month. He’s a storytelling savant unafraid to pitch and pursue self-generated ideas.

Hopefully we’ve created a culture where a talent such as Matt feels valued and empowered. And hopefully that’s part of the reason why a talent such as Matt remains motivated to perform at a high level with the same job title.

About job titles: We all have them, we all interpret them differently. Employers of choice implement numerous behind-the-scenes mechanisms to ensure continued personal and professional growth while helping employees achieve life goals. Utilizing these mechanisms can prevent a key employee from feeling “stuck,” “blocked” or “unable to advance.”

Supervisors must understand what matters to key employees through regular conversations and layered observations. Leaders should never assume they know what a co-worker needs or wants. Humans change and evolve. An employee who deems job titles frivolous in April 2025 might aggressively seek a new one in April 2027.

The golf industry is filled with skilled professionals at people-focused clubs making higher salaries and enduring less work stress than head superintendents at turbulent facilities. And what about seemingly dreamy jobs at “Top 100” courses? Proceed with abundant caution. Courses golfers brag about playing don’t always translate into quality work environments. Look beyond recognizable logos if longevity and fulfillment matter to your career. Rewarding jobs abound in this industry for determined people with growth mindsets.

The people Matt interviewed for his story, Lee McLemore, Jason Stewart, Will Stearns, Bob Hingston and Craig Sondergaard, offer terrific examples of the possibilities when staying the course at the right course. Matt spoke with the quintet for previous Golf Course Industry stories. When he mulled sources for this month’s profile, he immediately mentioned the above names. Matt knew the engaging quintet would speak openly and confidently about their experiences, because they work for people who don’t micromanage employees’ words, thoughts or actions.

Their insights combined with Matt’s punchy writing and thorough reporting add perspective to industry career discussions. Matt profiled people who prove the forever job of our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s contrasts visions harbored in our teens and 20s.

Following golf maintenance careers is a fascinating and fulfilling part of telling and distributing people-focused stories. I started with Golf Course Industry in May 2014 — fun goes fast! — and know many industry professionals who have switched jobs three, four and even five times during that stretch.

I’m sure their reasons for change were valid. We all have bills to pay, families to feed, challenges to conquer and dreams to chase. A jerk or two might have acquired the course or joined the board. That new general manager might be insufferable. Sometimes different scenery reignites passion, prevents complacency or satisfies curiosity.

Not every job leap goes as expected. We all know professionals who regretted leaving a position. Careers are gambles, and fibs residing on job boards and peers’ social media feeds can lead to the wrong play. Unfortunately, I’ve seen superintendents leave stable situations and get entangled in club politics at their next stops.

We’re wired to remember the negative more than the positive. But when you’re surrounded by positive people like Matt, it reinforces how professionals pursuing passions for employers who appreciate their work proliferate the golf industry. We frequently visit or drive past courses and learn the club has employed the same superintendent for a few decades. We applaud and admire both parties.

Loyalty doesn’t need to be a split fairway. It can be a one-direction target where the situation becomes better as the landing area approaches.