Vanja Drasler

When it comes to the turf industry, Vanja Drasler should be called a world citizen. Drasler is a superintendent at Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, New Jersey, working under Michael Campbell, the director of golf course operations. Her two years at Montclair comprise just one element of what has been a truly remarkable career in turf.

A native of Slovenia, which, in her early years was a part of Yugoslavia, Drasler was initially drawn to a career in turf because, like so many others before her, she wanted to work outdoors.

“I worked in government, and it was kind of boring,” she tells Rick Woelfel on the Wonderful Women of Golf Podcast. “I didn’t like to spend eight hours of a day in an office. I was looking to get something outside like landscape architecture or something similar.”

At the encouragement of a friend, Drasler applied for a job at Diners Golf Club in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city. That was in 2008. By 2010, she was the superintendent. Two years later, she received accolades after hosting the International European Ladies Amateur Championship.

Drasler went on to work at clubs in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. But her ambition was to work in America. With that goal in mind, she volunteered at tournaments at every opportunity, including two PGA Championships, a U.S. Open, a Players Championship, an Open Championship, a Ryder Cup and a Dunhill Cup, splitting time between her job responsibilities in Europe and volunteering in the U.S.

Along the way, she earned a golf course management certificate (with distinction) from Ohio State. She also took on internships at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, and Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Drasler says the variety of experiences allowed her to not only grow professionally, but also share her knowledge.

“I learned at every course. Every tournament I learned something new. When I went back to Europe, I always shared my experience and knowledge with my assistants and other people. I shared with other people what I did.”

Drasler arrived at Montclair in July of 2022. The move required giving up her position at Attersee Golf Club in Austria, where she had spent seven seasons, and overcoming an abundance of bureaucratic and visa-related hurdles.

It also meant adjusting to a new set of agronomic circumstances. “I knew what (I wanted a golf course to look like), but I didn’t have budgets like I have here,” she recalls. “Weather-wise, I would say it’s pretty much the same as back home. The only difference is we didn’t have the high humidity we have here.

“Grass-wise, I didn’t have bentgrass on fairways and didn’t have bentgrass on tees” — in Europe, Drasler was primarily managing bluegrass. “And we didn’t have as much disease as here, of course, because of all the humidity.”

Drasler also notes that her fungicide and pesticide options in Europe were extremely limited due to government regulations.

Calling Montclair a busy place is an understatement. The present golf course debuted in 1922. The First, Second and Third Nines were designed by Donald Ross. The Fourth Nine, created by Charles “Steam Shovel” Banks, opened six years later. “I never worked before on a course like this one,” Drasler says. “It’s kind of unique (with four distinct nines) We have to be ready in the morning on each nine at the same time.

“I take care of the Third Nine and Fourth Nine. Mike Sharpe takes care of the First Nine and Second Nine, but that doesn’t mean we don’t help each other if there is something going on. I’m glad I have (Campbell) above me who is helping us and teaching us how to do things.”

Drasler says her time at Montclair has been a great learning experience. “I’ve learned a lot in the last two years,” she says. “I’ve learned so much. I’ve never worked at a place like this one. It’s really busy. There’s always something going on. But with a great team around you, you can manage.”