Golf Course Irrigation Specialist 

Position: Full Time Seasonal Irrigation Specialist/2nd Assistant Superintendent

Department: Golf Course

Salary: $22 - $25/hr. DOQ

Position Summary

The irrigation specialist/2nd assistant superintendent is responsible for the programming, operation, maintenance, and repair of the golf course irrigation system, the installation of new irrigation, turf management, and the reporting of any irregularities in course turf quality. The employee may also operate vehicles or equipment for a variety of maintenance or construction tasks. The employee must exercise independent judgment when completing tasks. The employee must be able to meet the physical strength and dexterity requirements of the position. This job runs from the spring until the course is closed, typically after Thanksgiving.

Supervision Received

Works under the direct supervision of the Golf Course Superintendent and/or Assistant Superintendent.

Supervision Exercised

Some small crew assignments.

Essential Functions: Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Operates the irrigation system on a daily basis, watering greens, tees, and fairways.
• Operates irrigation heads in dry areas needing additional water.
• Maintains and repairs all irrigation systems, pipes, and irrigation heads in Golf Course as needed. Services, maintains, and programs mechanical irrigation controllers via electric satellite control.
• Makes recommendations on golf course playing conditions and irrigation management
• Makes recommendation concerning renovation and installation of new irrigation systems; assists in planning new improvements to course.
• Grades and prepares soil base; lays sod; and seeds greens, tees, and fairways.
• Performs maintenance such as planting, pruning, removing trees/shrubs, picks up trash, mows, trims, cuts and cleans up uncontrolled weeds, digs holes, pours cement, and removes snow when necessary.
• Operates all equipment used on golf course, including light/heavy duty vehicles, mowers, rakes, shovels, blowers, sprayers, hand saws, hydraulic boom, small tools and any other equipment associated with turf care. May operate specialized equipment such as dump truck, backhoe, ditch witch and trencher.
• Assists in the maintenance and performs preventative maintenance work such as checking oil and fluid levels on all equipment to insure proper and safe operation. Reports any mechanical problems to Golf Superintendent.
• Accurately read various gauges as related to the irrigation system.
• Shovels dirt, sand, and other materials.
• Assists the mechanic if needed and is given the opportunity to learn all aspects of equipment and reel maintenance.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.
• May assist the golf course superintendent and assistant superintendent with training and supervision of other crew members.

Work Environment

• Physical Demands: Depending on the job duties needed to be done for the day, the position will require bending, squatting, twisting, and crouching while maintaining, repairing, or installing irrigation. Pushing and pulling is required while working on jobs for the irrigations system including the maintenance or repair of pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads, and is also required while assisting in job duties for landscaping including weed eating, push/pull mowers, etc. Lifting and carrying are required constantly in lifting hand tools, in the maintenance and repair of pipes, valves and sprinkler heads for the irrigation system. Also requires occasionally lifting from mower bags, bags of seed, lifting rocks/trash/debris, fuel cans, and other material used.

• Work Environment: The work will be performed outside on the golf course and in the maintenance building. Work is characterized by the necessity for considerable physical exertion and by working outdoors under extreme weather conditions. Work involves heavy lifting, exposure to chemicals, fumes, and machinery with moving parts, loud noise, dirt and irrigated water.

• Equipment Used: The employee will operate irrigation field controllers, pipes, valves, irrigation sprinkler heads, light/heavy vehicles, small equipment, tractors, and mowers. The employee will also work with electric wiring as related to the irrigation systems.

This description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skill, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the principal job elements essential for making compensation decisions. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement with the employer and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements change.