Director of Agronomy

By The Santaluz Club, March 3 - San Diego, California

The Santaluz Club seeks a disciplined, strategic, and forward-thinking Director of Agronomy to lead one of the Club’s most visible and critical assets — the golf course and surrounding landscapes. This position operates as the executive leader of agronomic operations, carrying full accountability for: Championship-level course conditioning Environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance Water resource strategy Infrastructure and irrigation performance Financial and capital planning Team leadership and culture development Technology integration and operational innovation Long-term infrastructure planning The Director functions not simply as a superintendent, but as a senior operational executive within a member-owned governance structure. Success requires executive presence, financial fluency, agronomic expertise, and the ability to balance member expectations with long-term asset stewardship. THE CLUB The Santaluz Club is a premier, family-oriented private club centered on championship golf, racquet sports, fitness, aquatics, dining, and year-round social engagement. The Club is guided by a clear strategic vision emphasizing: Exceptional member experience Responsible capital stewardship  Operational excellence Sound governance Long-term sustainability Golf is the cornerstone of the Santaluz experience. Course conditioning, architectural integrity, water management, and environmental responsibility are central to the Club’s reputation among Southern California’s leading private clubs. ARCHITECTURAL PEDIGREE The golf course was designed by Rees Jones, one of the most respected architects in modern golf. Known as “The Open Doctor,” Jones has led restoration and redesign efforts at numerous U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues, including Torrey Pines (South Course), Bethpage Black, Congressional Country Club, and Pebble Beach. At Santaluz, Jones created a strategic, visually compelling championship layout that integrates seamlessly with the native San Diego landscape. The design emphasizes thoughtful shot values, strategic bunkering, elevation movement, and playability across a broad range of skill levels. The Club’s current $7.8 million Master Plan renovation honors and refines Jones’ original architectural intent, reinforcing long-term playability and competitive relevance. NATIONAL RECOGNITION The Santaluz community has earned recognition as one of Golfweek Magazine’s Top Residential Golf Communities, reflecting the quality of both the golf experience and the overall lifestyle offering. The master-planned community was developed by DMB Associates, an award-winning national developer recognized for creating architecturally cohesive, environmentally responsible lifestyle communities. This pedigree underscores the high standards and long-term vision embedded throughout the property. MASTER PLAN RENOVATION UNDERWAY The Club is actively executing a comprehensive $7.8M Golf Course Master Plan including: Complete bunker reconstruction and architectural refinement Greens resurfacing Irrigation infrastructure modernization Tee reconstruction and expansion Strategic playability enhancements The Director of Agronomy will serve as the agronomic authority throughout phased construction —maintaining conditioning standards, advising governance stakeholders, protecting turf health, and ensuring long-term performance following project completion. This renovation represents a defining period in the Club’s evolution. OPERATIONAL PROFILE 18-hole championship golf course Approximately 366 Golf Members 100 acres of managed turf 200 acres of native landscape Hacienda and Clubhouse landscape oversight Staff Size: 38 full-time and seasonal team members Irrigation System: Rain Bird Pump Stations: Flotronix with three 75 HP pumps per station (2) Water Source: Recycled irrigation water – potable water option Autonomous mowing fully integrated across fairways, rough, and practice areas Structured Green Committee partnership within disciplined governance model LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS The Director of Agronomy must demonstrate excellence in five core domains: 1. Agronomic Mastery Deliver consistent, high-performance playing conditions rooted in advanced knowledge of turfgrass science, soils, irrigation management, and environmental best practices. 2. Financial & Capital Discipline Operate as a business leader with full accountability for: Annual operating budget execution Multi-year capital planning Labor modeling and workforce management Cost control across chemicals, equipment, and contracted services ROI evaluation on infrastructure and technology investments The Director must communicate confidently with governance stakeholders regarding financial implications of agronomic decisions. 3. Water Resource Strategy Lead precision-based irrigation management in a highly regulated Southern California environment through: Usage forecasting and compliance oversight Drought preparedness planning Integration of soil moisture data, ET modeling, and weather analytics Evaluation of water-conditioning and salinity mitigation strategies Water stewardship is both an operational and reputational priority. 4. Renovation & Infrastructure Leadership Provide steady leadership throughout construction phases while maintaining course conditioning standards and protecting long-term turf performance. 5. Member & Golf Professional Engagement Develop strong, collaborative relationships with the Golf Professional team, recognizing their daily member interaction as a critical feedback channel regarding course performance and playability. Maintain visible, professional presence with membership through education, accessibility, and transparent communication. The Director must be both technically respected and personally trusted. CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate will possess: Minimum five years’ experience as a Golf Course Superintendent at a high-end private club or championship facility Degree in Agronomy, Turf Management, Horticulture, or related field Proven renovation and construction experience Experience collaborating with leading golf course architects Demonstrated ability to maintain firm-and-fast conditions consistent with original design philosophy Demonstrated understanding of maintaining and managing aggressive forms of Poa Annua Strategic shot-value understanding aligned with championship architecture Advanced irrigation and water management expertise Strong financial acumen and capital planning experience Proven ability to communicate agronomic risk clearly and confidently to Boards and governance stakeholders Track record of mentoring Assistant Superintendents into Superintendent roles Commitment to structured staff development and succession planning Ability to recruit and retain high-performing agronomy teams Strong industry vendor relationships Valid California QAL/QAC GCSAA Certification preferred Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred Executive presence, emotional intelligence, and disciplined decision-making are essential.