Rick Jones
Rowlett,TX
Summary
Results-driven Golf Course & Athletic Turf Superintendent focused on budget oversight and operational excellence. Extensive experience in leading teams and coordinating projects at top-tier golf courses. Strong capability in managing daily operations and implementing quick solutions to quality challenges.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
First Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Omni Hotels & Resorts At PGA Frisco
08.2023 - Current
- Trains, motivates, and supervises staff capable of performing the tasks associated with maintaining the golf course.
- Plans, schedules, and monitors daily operations, including coordinating and assigning work.
- Assists the Golf Course Superintendent (GCS) and Lead Assistant with personnel matters such as performance reviews and terminations.
- Reviews the golf course daily and provides feedback to ensure agronomic and maintenance standards are met.
- Assists Lead GCS in documenting and filing daily records for team member assignments.
- Monitors golf course playing conditions related to moisture management programs and ensures proper management techniques are followed.
- Works with the Second Assistant Superintendent to manage the irrigation system and monitor programming systems.
- Communicates with the Application Foreman regarding applications and scheduling on the golf course.
- Ensures team members properly use, clean, and maintain equipment.
- Maintains accurate logging of information for departmental record keeping, including rainfall and weather conditions.
- Builds relationships with the golf shop and informs them of maintenance procedures.
- Discusses daily schedules and concerns with the Golf Course Superintendent to ensure efficient management and quality control.
- Maintains pesticide license and continues education in the field.
- Ensures organization of the Golf Course Maintenance (GCM) facility, equipment, and grounds.
Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Johns Island Club
10.2022 - 02.2023
- Assisted with the renovations from hole #14 through hole #18 (Tee-to-Green). Including a three-hole par 3 short game, two croquet fields, two practice putting greens, a teaching academy putting & chipping green, a dual driving range and four nurseries.
- Assisted with planning, scheduling, instructing, training, and directing a crew of forty (40) in the performance of golf course maintenance procedures and job responsibilities.
- Assisted with chemical and fertilizer applications.
- Oversaw the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system.
- Advised the Golf Course Superintendent of course conditions.
- Oversaw cleanup and storage of tools and equipment at the end of the shift.
- Advised the Superintendent of all performance issues and enforces performance standards.
- Communicates with members, co-workers, management, and the general public in a courteous and professional manner.
- Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions.
- Exhibits and maintains a professional demeanor to reflect a positive image of John's Island Club.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Golf Course Superintendent.
- Conducted market analysis of golf courses and made recommendations for improving operations to better compete in local area.
Golf Course Superintendent
ABM Industries (Barefoot Bay Golf Course)
03.2021 - 09.2022
- Maintained the appearance and safety of the course by diagnosing and treating agronomic issues.
- Directed irrigation repairs and daily scheduling.
- Implement planned fertility, pesticide, cultural practices and applications for 60 acres that comply with the Department of Florida Agriculture laws for application, handling, and storing of pesticides/herbicides and fertilizers used on the golf course or fields.
- Managed course preparations for tournament and daily play that meet company and USGA playing standards.
- Integrated environmental programs specializing in IPM (Integrated Pest Management). Maintained accurate records of all pesticides/herbicides and fertilizers used on the golf course or fields.
- Oversaw maintenance and purchases of the golf course equipment/parts.
- Coordinated, scheduled and directed capital improvement projects.
- Maintained thorough customer and employee records, documenting activities, charges and outstanding incidents within the maintenance budget (+/- $500K).
- Directed the proper execution of all maintenance operations involved in daily maintenance of golf greens, fairways, tee-boxes, collars, approaches, sand traps, roughs, common ground landscape areas, bodies of water and facilities surrounding the maintenance shop.
- Responsible for the selection, training, assignment, assessment and development of maintenance staff; providing corrective actions as needed.
- Team building by holding daily safety meetings to ensure the highest level of safety for all maintenance staff.
- Embodied the company core value of environmental stewardship through conversation, regeneration, restoration and sustainable practices.
- Directed additional duties as requested and discussed with the Golf Course Manager.
Athletic Grounds Crew Chief
University of Arizona
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Maintained and prepared stadium fields and common area grounds for football, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, volleyball and track & field competition; along with other events, including but not limited to mowing, seeding, fertilizing, irrigation repair, field painting, weeding, edging, mound building, field drags and maintaining consistent level playing fields.
- Measure, design, paint and line athletic fields for sports competition.
- Supervise several full-time and part-time employees.
- Maintain a high level of attention to details in all aspects of the operation to include, but not limited to: field conditions, trash patrols, and equipment upkeep and work area cleanliness.
- Evaluates landscaped areas, fields and parking areas for identifying repairs and or replacement needs. Ensures that landscaped areas including storm drains, litter, etc., are cleaned for preventing flooding and potential hazards.
- Assist with general facility management issues, including both day-to-day operations as well as game-day operations.
- Maintain pump stations and drywells for athletic fields. Maintain synthetic turf field, water supply, and drainage systems.
- Assist with budgeting, procurement, and asset management.
- Responsible for trash removal from each facility on game-days. Performs general maintenance and repairs on grounds related tools and equipment such as but not limited to: mowers, blowers, weed eaters, irrigations systems, small motor vehicles, etc.
- Assist with additional duties as assigned by the Turf Director.
Turf Route Manager
Austin's Lawn Care and Landscaping LLC
05.2019 - 11.2019
- Responsible for ensuring that the client's expectations for all. Applications and timeliness of follow up services are being met or exceeded through effective communication and staff management.
- Responsible for providing sales proposals and information to clients, with the ability to secure the sale.
- Firm knowledge of nutrient, or other landscaping issues impacting turf and ornamentals; and firm knowledge of common identification of T&O weeds, disease and pests.
- Firm knowledge of governmental regulations, material safety and manufacturer's instructions for products.
- Ability to train staff on all mixing and applications of products to enhance T&O growth and development; including application equipment and calibration of application equipment.
- Provide superior customer service, attention to detail, responsiveness and follow through.
- Work closely with department staff to ensure quality guidelines are met or exceeded, and ensuring that the completion of all paperwork is done accurately to assist the office staff in having what is needed to accurately bill clients in a timely manner.
- Share and perform shop closing, association meetings, weekends, after hours and snow crew responsibilities to meet the needs of crews and customers.
- Other duties as assigned.
Senior Groundskeeper III
Georgia Institute of Technology
03.2019 - 05.2019
- Georgia Tech Athletics. Prepare, maintain and restore grounds within assigned fields as directed, including activities or tasks fundamental to football and baseball/softball field care.
- Recognize, prioritize, and implement best course of action practices in all aspects of field management including mowing, edging, sodding, infield maintenance and moisture management, and other cultural practices on all surfaces.
- Maintain all clay areas including: infield skin, mounds, home plate and warning track.
- Report and address field issues such as turf stress, disease, irrigation problems, etc.
- Monitor, report, and resolve irrigation issues, problems and/or concerns on all assigned fields or complex.
- Communicate with coaching staff and school officials regarding practice/game schedules, camp dates, and inclement weather situations.
- Track inventory and monitor purchasing of fertilizers and field materials.
- Assist with tarp handling and inclement weather situations.
- Layout and paint lines of NCAA sport fields and supporting events.
- Applies fertilizers and chemicals, assists in annual field renovations (aerate, top-dress).
- Performs a variety of maintenance duties.
- Trims trees per sport regulations.
- Keeps clean turf equipment such as tractors, utility vehicles, and mowers.
- Assist with any other duties assigned by the Sports Turf Manager.
Grounds Crew/Tarp Crew
Kansas City Royals Baseball
03.2018 - 03.2019
- Prepare the field for an MLB game, maintain during the game, and repair the field after a game.
- Sod cutting and installations.
- Fertilizing and aeration of grass.
- Mowing, trimming, verticutting, top-dressing and use of blowers.
- Basic equipment maintenance skills.
- Field marking and logo painting.
- Batting practice set up and break down.
- Tarp pulling during inclement weather.
- Infield, mound and home plate building/maintenance.
- Additional duties may be assigned by the Turf Manager.
Grounds Crew
Kansas City Chiefs Football
03.2015 - 03.2019
- Assist maintaining stadium field, practice fields, and landscaping around the stadium.
- Perform routine department duties such as mowing, trimming, and edging.
- Assist in field set-up, aerating, top dressing, verticutting, fraise mowing, pest control, painting, irrigating, irrigation repair, weed control, fertilization, maintenance, as well as hedge and tree pruning.
- Assist in field prep for concerts, events, Chiefs games, and college games held at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Applying and removing field tarps as directed.
- Painting and marking of all fields as directed and in accordance with NFL Rules.
- Removal and replacement of turf and sod on all fields.
- Safe operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery used in turf management.
- Supervise contract labor.
- Additional responsibilities as assigned by Head Turf Manager.
- Inspected grounds to identify needs and plan weekly landscaping projects.
Utility Maintenance Lead / Stadium Operations
Kansas City Chiefs Football
09.2013 - 03.2015
- Maintain cleanliness of concourses and concrete areas around the stadium.
- Use proper technique to power wash without damaging the concourses and concrete areas.
- Comply with proper safety policies and procedures while handing any or all cleaning chemicals.
- Be fan friendly and familiar with the stadium in order to provide accurate directions throughout the stadium and concourses.
- Supervise contract labor.
- Other duties as assigned by the Stadium Operations Manager.
Education
Associates - Agribusiness Management, Golf Course Management
Florida Gateway College
Lake City, FL12.2026
Certificate - Golf Course Management (Agronomy & Plant Science)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH12.2023
Skills
- Turf management practices
- Irrigation repair techniques
- Course design and implementation
- Safety procedures adherence
- Material management strategies
- Problem-solving analysis
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Proficiency in turf machinery operation
- Certification in pesticide application
- Expertise in turf species knowledge
Timeline
First Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Omni Hotels & Resorts At PGA Frisco
08.2023 - Current
Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Johns Island Club
10.2022 - 02.2023
Golf Course Superintendent
ABM Industries (Barefoot Bay Golf Course)
03.2021 - 09.2022
Athletic Grounds Crew Chief
University of Arizona
11.2019 - 02.2020
Turf Route Manager
Austin's Lawn Care and Landscaping LLC
05.2019 - 11.2019
Senior Groundskeeper III
Georgia Institute of Technology
03.2019 - 05.2019
Grounds Crew/Tarp Crew
Kansas City Royals Baseball
03.2018 - 03.2019
Grounds Crew
Kansas City Chiefs Football
03.2015 - 03.2019
Utility Maintenance Lead / Stadium Operations
Kansas City Chiefs Football
09.2013 - 03.2015
Associates - Agribusiness Management, Golf Course Management
Florida Gateway College
Certificate - Golf Course Management (Agronomy & Plant Science)
The Ohio State University