#ThankASuper Spotlight Series: Dan Wildeman

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.

Dan Wildeman
Course and Grounds Superintendent
Holly Hills Country Club (Ijamsville, MD)

# of years worked at current course: One year and seven months
Total years worked in the industry: 23 yeara

How did you get into the golf maintenance industry?
I started working on a golf course as a summer job while in school. I really enjoyed walk mowing greens and raking bunkers, and I worked for a superintendent that got me really interested in the profession (shout out Walker Sory!). At the time, I had a few career options available to me, but when I realized I could make a career out of maintaining a golf course, I decided to quit my position as a part-time vacuum cleaner salesman and go to school for turfgrass management. That turned out to be a good decision.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is being able to see the results of my work every day. I’ve always been captivated by how a golf course looks and how the landscape, colors and elevation changes are intertwined with the surrounding land. I am a sucker for a good view!

What’s the most misunderstood part of the job?
I think most people don’t understand how difficult it can be to deal with Mother Nature. It is great to have a job that allows you to spend time outdoors on a golf course. However, there are times when working outside can be quite difficult. In Maryland, we have temperatures that can go up to 100 degrees in the summer and drop to single digits in the winter. We must be willing and able to keep our grass, flowers and other landscape material alive in the summer heat and also complete our scheduled projects during the cold winters. All this while keeping the daily golf course conditions at the highest possible level through any weather situation such as flooding rains, damaging winds, drought conditions and the occasional nice day.

What advice would you give to your younger self or younger superintendents just starting out?
Do not neglect time with family and friends. This career can be time consuming and stressful, so it is important for you to have a schedule that allows for free time to live and to enjoy your life outside of work.

What are a few accomplishments you are most proud of at your course/in your career?
I am proud that I have developed so many lasting relationships in the industry. I have worked with many great people in my career who have taught me so much about golf course maintenance. It feels good for me to now be able to do that for others who are trying to make a career in this industry.

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?
Holly Hills is currently going through a bunker/green surrounds renovation and installing a new irrigation system. This work is being done in four phases and should be completed at the end of 2026. These projects have already had an extremely positive impact on the golfing experience.  The work is being done by experienced and well-qualified contractors. Our team works with them closely and assists in any way possible. Our team is also responsible for maintaining the new turf after planting and keeping the golf course in top condition while the work is being done. The golf course remains open for play during the renovations, which can be tricky at times.

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?
Some resources that have been readily available throughout my career may not always be readily available in the future. In some parts of the world, drought conditions are leading to water use restrictions, which has been a serious issue for the past few years. Fertilizer/nutrient runoff has also been a hot topic with golf courses. Meanwhile, fungicides that protect our greens from deadly pathogens are all being put under much scrutiny. Scientific research has been important for us to keep as many tools as we can while maintaining a healthy environment.  Hopefully this important research continues.

What are some of the most helpful forward-thinking practices that have benefitted your facility?
We adjust our cultural practices each season. Aeration and fertilization practices are always very time consuming and can be expensive. Over the years, I have tried to design our programs to target specific areas that need more or less cultural practices. For example, we do not pull cores every time we aerify greens, and we do not apply nitrogen fertilizer to every part of our property. The decision on whether or not we will pull cores depends on how much thatch buildup there is and how much organic matter is present in the rootzone. Meanwhile, our decision on whether or not we fertilize an area will depend on how healthy or unhealthy the turf is.

What does the game of golf mean to you and how has that helped fuel the passion you have for your career?
After all these years in the golf industry, I still find enjoyment in the game of golf. Playing golf for me can be a grind, just as caring for a golf course can be a grind. However, there is a lot of satisfaction that can come from doing both well. I enjoy playing a variety of golf courses, not just the one I work at. I also enjoy seeing all of the PGA and LPGA tournaments and how those properties look and the different challenges that come along with playing and managing golf courses in the regions across the country and different parts of the world.