#ThankASuper Spotlight Series: Glen Murry

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 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.

Glen Murry
Midwest Regional Agronomist, KemperSports
Golf Course Superintendent, The Governors Club (Brentwood, TN)

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

How did you get into the golf maintenance industry?
I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I went to school and got a business degree. Pretty soon after that, I realized I didn’t want to sit inside all day, so I walked onto a golf course in Virginia Beach making $8 an hour and the rest is history.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
Getting to be outside on 100-plus acres of property that I get to call my canvas. Getting to work and hang out with good people makes the job even better than it already is on its own.

What’s the most misunderstood part of the job?
People just think we cut grass. I can’t tell you the last time I did.

What advice would you give to your younger self or younger superintendents just starting out?
Being a superintendent is an effort-based job. If you show up every day with a drive and willingness to learn, people will teach you. If you don’t, you’re a lot less likely to move up and get better at it. Starting later than most people in the business, I was a sponge when I first started. And though I didn’t find raking bunkers to be the most fun job In the world, I made sure to do that job the best I could so that I could take on new responsibilities and progress, and I’d recommend newcomers to do the same.

What are a few accomplishments you are most proud of at your course/in your career?
Earning my GCSAA (Golf Course Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) Golf Course Superintendent Certification was pretty cool. I also became director of agronomy of a 36-hole facility within a short period of time, which was a career highlight. Now, inspiring the next generation and showing them how much fun this job can be is awesome. Over the last couple years, I’ve had young guys working seasonal shifts for me that have ended up switching majors and going to school to pursue a degree in turf management, and that’s what it’s all about for me now.

This past year, have you and your team worked/completed any exciting construction/renovation projects? If so, what was your team responsible for and how will it enhance the golf course/facility?
I’m currently working on a renovation and master plan for the club. The team and I have done a bunch of bunker work and resodding tees recently too. Overall, I’ve been lucky to build a team at The Governors Club that I’d say is the best team I’ve ever been a part of in my career. And hearing the membership commend the work we’re doing and tell us that the course is in the best shape that they’ve ever seen it makes all the hard work worth it.

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?
GPS around everything is becoming a big thing as is autonomous mowers, though a lot of it still costs a lot of money. As simple as it sounds, just the way we schedule and communicate with our teams is largely digital and at the click of a button. We used to write down assignments on a chalk board, but all of that is now done on our phones. I can even control our irrigation system from my phone.

The other advancement I’ve witnessed firsthand are just the grass varieties themselves. We’re seeing a lot more heat-tolerant bentgrasses being developed by universities that are doing a lot of experimenting to help make course conditions better across the board..

What are some of the most helpful forward-thinking practices that have benefitted your facility?
We’ve shied away from cultural practices that are the norm as it relates to the smooth and fast greens and dryjecting versus core aerification.

What does the game of golf mean to you and how has that helped fuel the passion you have for your career?
Everything. While I find that most superintendents don’t play, I’m a firm believer in it. I play with my assistant super and equipment guy at least once a week. Outside of work, I’m watching the PGA Tour every week and studying golf course architecture and keeping up with new projects thanks to having friends in that side of the business. The love of the game directly applies to how I approach my job every day.