#ThankASuper Spotlight Series: Darrell Hill

Darrell is pictured above on the far right

At KemperSports, we know that the beauty and playability of golf courses and the overall golf experience wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of golf course superintendents and their maintenance teams. In honor of International “Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day,” we’re proud to once again present our #ThankASuper Spotlight Series—a celebration of the hardworking men and women who care for our courses and ensure our guests enjoy the opportunity to play the game they love.

Darrell Hill
Superintendent
Galloping Hill Golf Course (Kenilworth, NJ)

# of years worked at current course: Three seasons
Total years worked in the industry: 15 years

How did you get into the golf maintenance industry?
I was between jobs and an acquaintance of mine happened to be a golf courses superintendent and offered me a laborer position and I took it.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
The opportunity to be outside year-round.

What’s the most misunderstood part of the job?
That it is not simply a job cutting grass.

What advice would you give to your younger self or younger superintendents just starting out?
Absorb as much information as you can so when the opportunity arises to fill a superintendent or director-type position, you can have the confidence of knowing you can handle all types of unexpected hardships thrown at you.

What are a few accomplishments you are most proud of at your course/in your career?
Learning irrigation layout without having any kind of footprint to work with. Also, repairing old issues that were a constant problem prior to me coming on board that have greatly improved our team’s time management.

What insight do you have about the future of the industry? Are there any innovative practices you’re helping lead to benefit the environment/your facility?
Anticipate innovation. Robotics and AI are going to be at the forefront in the foreseeable future.

What are some of the most helpful forward-thinking practices that have benefitted your facility?
Train your entire staff to accomplish all aspects of golf course maintenance.

What does the game of golf mean to you and how has that helped fuel the passion you have for your career?
Golf can be a separation from anything that ails you. It’s the only thing that you can enjoy getting frustrated about because at the end of the day, it’s all about the quality of that time spent either playing or working. Like the adage says: If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!