Director of Agronomy

Cragun; Brainerd (MN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k with employer match

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Cragun’s Legacy Courses is seeking an experienced Director of Agronomy to lead the agronomic operations of a 54-hole golf destination in Minnesota. You will manage greens, tees, fairways, and practice areas while developing long-term plans and overseeing a 45+ person team, including seasonal workers.

The role involves strategic oversight of irrigation, water management, and course infrastructure, with collaboration across ownership, resort leadership, and events to elevate playing conditions and

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years combined experience as a Golf Course Superintendent or Assistant.
• Demonstrated ability to produce exceptional playing conditions at a high-quality facility.
• Strong knowledge of northern climate turfgrass management and pest control.
• Budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and capital planning experience.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead agronomic operation across 54 holes and multiple complexes.
• Develop annual and multi-year agronomic and course improvement plans.
• Oversee irrigation, drainage, water management, equipment and turf health.
• Lead year-round and seasonal agronomy teams, including recruitment and training.
• Partner on capital projects with ownership and course architect Tom Lehman.
• Ensure professional standards and guest experience across the property.

Skills

Golf course management

Leadership

Budgeting

Irrigation systems

Pest management

Communication

Staff development

GCSAA knowledge

Education

Turfgrass Management degree

Job description

Description

Cragun’s Legacy Courses is seeking an experienced and passionate Director of Agronomy to lead the agronomic operations of our 54-hole golf destination and help shape the future of one of Minnesota’s premier resort golf properties.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Cragun’s as we enter a new era of ownership investment, course improvement, and growth. The Director of Agronomy will be responsible for delivering exceptional playing conditions while leading a talented team and developing long-term strategies for the property.

After many years of dedicated leadership at the Legacy Courses, our long-term Director of Agronomy is preparing for retirement. As we make this transition, he will remain available as a resource to the incoming Director, offering valuable knowledge of the property, courses, team, and operation when helpful. This provides a unique opportunity for our next Director to benefit from that experience while having the freedom and support to lead the department, bring new ideas forward, and help shape the next chapter of the Legacy Courses.

The Opportunity

• Lead agronomic operation across 54 holes, including the Lehman 18-hole Championship course, Dutch Legacy 27-hole complex, par-3 course, and practice facilities.
• Establish and maintain exceptional, championship-level playing conditions across greens, tees, fairways, roughs, bunkers, and practice areas.
• Lead and develop a year-round leadership team and 45+ seasonal employees (12+ H2B and 10 J1 Visa workers).
• Oversee approximately $2.0-$2.5 million in annual operations.
• Provide strategic oversight of irrigation, drainage, water management, equipment, turf health, pest management, and course infrastructure.
• Develop annual and multi-year agronomic and course improvement plans.
• Partner with ownership, resort leadership, golf operations, and course architect Tom Lehman on future course improvements and capital projects.
• Prepare the property for the CRMC Championship and other signature events.
• Champion a culture of professionalism, teamwork, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Regularly experience the courses as a golfer to evaluate conditions, playability, presentation, and the overall guest experience.

Requirements

• Set and maintain clear daily conditioning standards for greens, tees, fairways, roughs, bunkers, practice areas, and course preparation.
• Deliver consistent, exceptional playing surfaces with the goal of being recognized as the best resort/public golf conditions in the Midwest.
• Use sound agronomic judgement to balance playability, turf health, weather, traffic, labor, and long-term sustainability.
• Coordinate maintenance schedules with golf operations to support pace of play, guest satisfaction, outings, tournaments, and resort demand.
• Lead, coach, and hold accountable the year-round and seasonal agronomy teams.
• Develop the Head Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents as future leaders and provide clear ownership of their respective areas.
• Build a culture centered on pride, professionalism, communication, safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee seasonal recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, training, performance management, and retention, including H-2B and J-1 team members.
• Develop and execute annual and multi-year agronomic plans for all golf courses and practice facilities.
• Manage fertility, chemical, application, cultural practices, pest management, tree management, drainage, and water-use strategies.
• Develop and oversee long-term management for ponds, wetlands, shorelines, sediment, and muck accumulation, erosion, water quality, and related environment features, including recommendations for major repairs or capital solutions when warranted.
• Provide strategic oversight of irrigation systems, pump stations, controls, wells, drainage, and water management.
• Develop repair, preventative maintenance, and replacement plans for agronomic infrastructure.
• Develop multi-year equipment and infrastructure replacement recommendations for ownership review.
• Develop and manager an annual operation budget of approximately $2.0 million to $2.5 million.
• Maintain strong cost controls without compromising the primary goal of exceptional course conditions.
• Forecast labor, equipment, chemical, fertilizer, irrigation and infrastructure needs
• Participate and partner with ownership, resort leadership, golf leadership, and Tom Lehman on the long-range vision for the courses.
• Maintain golf clubhouse grounds and resort-owned or resort-managed homes located within the golf property to a professional standard.
• Coordinate effectively with Facilities, Resort Grounds, Events, Sales, Marketing and other departments when work overlaps or affects the guest experience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 7+ years combined experience as a Golf Course Superintendent, or Assistant Golf Course Superintendent required.
• Demonstrated ability to produce exceptional playing conditions at a high-quality golf facility.
• Strong knowledge of northern climate turfgrass management, irrigation, plant health, soils, drainage, and pest management.
• Proven experience leading full-time and seasonal teams.
• Budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and capital planning experience.
• Strong communication, organization, judgement, and problem-solving skills.
• A working knowledge of the game of golf and a willingness to play the courses regularly to evaluate conditions from the golfer perspective.
• Ability to work the hours required by weather, seasonal operations, tournaments, and resort demand.

Additional Qualifications

• Current GCSAA membership expected, with demonstrated active participation in professional education, association programs, industry networking, or leadership activities strongly preferred
• Experience at multi-course, resort, high-end daily-fee, or large-scale golf operation is highly valued.
• Minnesota pesticide and applicator licensing preferred: candidates must have the ability to obtain required licensing within 90 days of employment.
• A degree or certificate in Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, Horticulture, or a related field is preferred but not required when balanced by strong experience and demonstrated results.

Salary & Benefits

• Full-Time Exempt, Senior Management position. $110,000-$150,000 based on experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance- Supplemental Life Insurances, Employer Sponsored Basic Life Policy
• Competitive PTO Package
• 401k with employer match
• Resort and Golf Course Perks~ discounted lodging, dining, merchandise, use of facilities, marina rental
• Approved Dues, Education, Licenses & Permits reimbursement with leadership approval
• Relocation assistance or temporary housing potential for selected candidate