Director of Agronomy

Carmel Country Club located in Charlotte, North Carolina is seeking a highly successful Director of Agronomy as its next leader. This role offers a rare opportunity to lead one of the Southeast’s premier private facilities and play a key role in the strategic direction of the golf courses. The next Director of Agronomy must demonstrate visionary leadership, operational excellence, and a passion for cultivating an exceptional golf culture and member experience in partnership with an engaged leadership team and membership.

About the Club: 

Founded in 1947 and located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, Carmel Country Club is one of the premier private clubs in the Southeast. With a rich history, welcoming membership, and a progressive leadership team, Carmel offers an exceptional environment for both members and team members. The club features two championship 18-hole golf courses — the South Course, originally designed by George Cobb (1962) and recently redesigned by Rees Jones (2012 and 2025), and the North Course, originally designed by Ellis Maples and renovated by John Fought (2016) — providing distinct and challenging playing experiences. 

Beyond golf, Carmel delivers a full suite of amenities including a state-of-the-art sports and fitness center, tennis and pickleball facilities, resort-style pool complex, and multiple dining venues offering elevated cuisine and hospitality. The club prides itself on a vibrant, family-friendly culture and a forward-thinking approach to member experience, operations, and team member development. 

Carmel is recognized not only for its championship-caliber playing surfaces and facilities but also for its commitment to excellence in all facets of club life. With over 1,450 members, a strong financial foundation, and an unwavering investment in continuous improvement, Carmel Country Club represents an outstanding career destination for high-performing professionals in the private club industry. 

Core values: Courtesy, Awareness, Respect, Make It Special, Enthusiasm, Latitude 

Position Overview: 

The Director of Agronomy at Carmel Country Club plays a vital leadership role in maintaining the club's prestigious golf experience, overseeing the maintenance of all areas of the property, including golf courses and landscaping.

Reports to: General Manager/COO 

Supervises: South Course Superintendent, North Course Superintendent, Equipment Manager, Horticulturist, Irrigation Technician   

Club highlights: 

• Annual Budget - $5.64M Operating Budget. 
• Annual Capital - $5M Capital Budget  – reviewed and approved annually
• Grass types: South (A1 bentgrass greens, Zeon Zoysia tees and fairways, Celebration roughs); North (Champion bermuda greens, 419 bermuda grass fairways, tees, roughs)
• Irrigation system - Toro Lynx, irrigation lake with multiple wells on site; access to city water if needed
• Staff size - 65 total including two course superintendents, equipment manager, assistant equipment manager, multiple assistants and intern program, horticulturist and landscape team
• Equipment - Mix of lease and purchased equipment
• Total rounds - 65,000
• Future projects - Driving Range/Shorts Game expansion, Tee box expansion on North Course, Next Master Plan (North & South)
• Future events - 2029 Southern Junior, 2027 CGA Mid-Am Championship, 6 Charity Outings Annually

Success traits of individual

• Ambassador for the greens and grounds operations and team, and takes consistent pride in being considered a leader in the industry for operational, course conditioning and golf experience
• Effective communication skills to clearly articulate vision, goals, and expectations
• Inspires cohesive and focused strategic direction amongst all constituents
• High attention to detail, who is obsessive about golf course conditioning and member experience
• Highly organized and strong administration skills
• Innovative thinker - seeks out and implements new methods and technologies
• Fiscally responsible and makes pragmatic recommendations to elevate golf and member experience
• Culture architect - proven record of mentoring, teaching, raising standards and building buy-in collaboratively
• Exceptional relationship building skills with General Manager and department heads, and is a resourceful leader for all areas of the club operations
• Highly engaged with members and viewed as a trusted advisor, consistently taking ownership in delivering solutions and enhancing the member experience
• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, transparency, and consistency
• Develops long-range agronomic plans with clear benchmarks tied to membership experience and club standards
• Confident, direct and approachable demeanor 
• High golf IQ, and instills this within the team culture and operations

Initial Priorities of the Position:

• Learn, understand and unify club leadership, member expectations, and grounds and greens team around a shared mission, roles, and operating standards to create a consistent high quality golf experience.
• Develop the team with urgency, pride, and purpose, while collaborating with key greens and grounds staff to assess current agronomic practices, equipment usage, presentation and resource allocation.
• Deliver visible enhancements to both in-play and peripheral areas, bringing vibrancy, definition, and high attention to detail.
• Build trust and alignment with club leadership, presenting a clear, phased strategy for facility improvements and sustainability.
• Establish proactive communication cadence with members: agronomy reports, course updates, signage, and on golf course engagement.

Education and/or Experience 

• 5-8 years as a director of agronomy or golf course superintendent at a high expectation private, member-owned facility with high volume golf rounds
• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Horticulture or Plant Science
• An Associate’s degree from an intensive two-year turf grass management program. 

• Transition zone experience with multi-grass (bentgrass, bermudagrass, zoysiagrass) Additional training in mechanics, design, surveying and ecology. 
• Multi-course experience at a management level is preferred 
• Strong project management and long-range planning experience
• Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) preferred
• Pesticide Application certification
• Valid driver’s license

Key Skills, Knowledge, Aptitude and Other Traits:

Golf Course and Grounds Management

• Oversees all aspects of golf course maintenance, including clubhouse grounds, open spaces, and associated landscaping.
• Ensures course is maintained in optimal playing condition through consistent inspection and proactive adjustments.
• Supervises planting, fertilizing, and care of turf, plants, shrubs, and trees in alignment with the club’s turf management plan.
• Oversees and manages all course construction, renovations, and major maintenance projects.
• Develops and maintains irrigation, drainage, and watering systems to support agronomic needs and water conservation goals.
• Leads road, roadside, and non-golf property landscape maintenance, including the clubhouse and surrounding areas.

Equipment and Facilities Oversight

• Supervises equipment repair operations and ensures maintenance of all grounds equipment per established standards.
• Conducts daily facility checks and ensures secure inventory management of equipment, tools, and keys.
• Coordinates work with outside contractors and service providers as needed.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Hires, schedules, trains, supervises, and evaluates agronomy department staff.
• Maintains accurate personnel records and promotes a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develops and executes professional development and training programs, including safe equipment use and chemical handling.
• Emphasis on working with turf management team including interns, development and recruitment. 

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations including HAZCOM, OSHA, and EPA standards.
• Manages the proper use, storage, and disposal of chemicals, petroleum, and controlled substances, minimizing environmental impact.
• Maintains required documentation and promotes sustainable maintenance practices throughout the operation.
• Possesses up-to-date knowledge of golf course laws and regulations, and the rules of golf as they relate to maintenance.

Budgeting and Strategic Planning

• Prepares and manages the department’s annual operating and capital budgets, making adjustments as needed to meet goals.
• Develops and updates a comprehensive grounds manual.
• Establishes and executes short- and long-term maintenance and improvement plans for the golf courses and grounds.
• Makes recommendations for capital improvements and major equipment purchases based on long-range planning.

Communication and Club Coordination

• Serves as a key liaison with the Director of Golf and applicable club committees to align course maintenance with play schedules and member expectations.
• Attends staff and management meetings and keeps members informed about maintenance activities and schedules.
• Makes course closure decisions based on weather and turf protection requirements.

General Responsibilities

• Demonstrates strong administrative and executive capability, particularly in problem-solving and decision-making.
• Capable of leading operations during emergency situations and taking necessary action.
• Carries out additional duties as assigned by the General Manager. 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Open and commensurate with experience reflective of top facilities with similar club demographics.
• Bonus
• Health (significant portion paid by club), dental and vision insurance
• 401k with company match
• PTO/Vacation
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Employer Life Insurance, STD, LTD is provided by the club
• Continued education
• Local & national dues
• Uniforms
• Free food
• Golfing privileges
• Company Car
• Cell phone allowance

Application Instructions:

To apply for the Director of Agronomy position, candidates should submit a single PDF that includes a cover letter addressed to Mr. Aaron Dawson, General Manager/COO, outlining their interest in the role, relevant qualifications, and why Carmel Country Club aligns with their personal and professional goals. The PDF should also include a current résumé highlighting applicable experience, credentials, and achievements.

All application materials must be submitted via email by Friday, July 18, 2025, to Tyler Bloom at Bloom Golf Partners at [email protected], using the subject line: “[First Name, Last Name] – Carmel Country Club.” 

Candidate interviews are anticipated to take place in early August.