6 questions you might have for golf-course superintendents

If the greens are pure, the bunkers groomed, the fairways firm and the tee boxes level, you have reason to be grateful and a person to thank.

You even have an official day to do so.

Tuesday, Sept. 9 — that’s today! — is Thank a Super Day, as in golf-course superintendent. To mark the occasion, here are 6 fun facts about supers and their jobs.

How much do golf-course superintendents work?

An average of 60 hours per week during the summer, according to a survey by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

How much do golf-course superintendents earn?

For 2025, the annual base salary of a super in this country was $121,238, a 10.6% increase over 2023, according to that same GCSAA survey. For assistant superintendents, the average base salary for 2025 was $62,184, a 10.5% bump since 2023.

What is the typical profile of a golf-course superintendent?

The average super is 41.7 years old and has been at the job for 15.9 years; 86 percent of supers have an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree.

What kind of budgets do superintendents manage?

In 2023, the most recent year for which the data was available, superintendents had an average maintenance budget of just under $1 million (that’s $999,585, if you’re keeping score at home).

How much play do superintendents’ courses get?

Over the past six years, peak-season rounds (May-Sept) are up an average of 18% from pre-Covid numbers. And the boom does not appear to be slowing. Last year, golfers in the U.S. logged a record 545 million rounds, and they’re on pace to surpass that mark this year.

What is the scope of superintendents’ duties?

A super’s job isn’t limited to mowing and growing. They maintain ball washers and empty trash bins. They take part in bunker rebuilds and irrigation upgrades, drainage repairs and tree-removal projects. They also volunteer at one another’s courses to help them prepare for big events. Not even Augusta National does it on its own.

For all of that and more, you can thank a super. And don’t feel restricted to one day only. You can offer words of gratitude throughout the year, and share photos and videos here.