TTA Member Spotlight on Jeff Huber

Q: What is your title/where do you work?

A: For the last 16 years, I have been the Golf Course Superintendent at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs.

Q: How many years have you been in the industry?

A: At 16 years old, my first summer job was at a golf course in my hometown in Illinois, and I have been working at golf courses since then. That adds up to just over 35 years in the industry.

Q: What is your background?

A: I received a degree in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois. After graduation, I went to work as an assistant superintendent for David Stone at the Honors Course. There — and especially under David’s guidance — is where my education really started. I worked for David for almost seven years learning how to prepare and present a golf course.

TTA Member Jeff Huber, Golf Course Superintendent at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs, Tennessee

Q: How did you decide to pursue a career in turf?

A: Growing up in a small farm town in central Illinois, there was not exposure to a lot of career options. I knew I did not want to be an agricultural farmer and really enjoyed working on the golf course while in high school. I decided that being a golf course superintendent would be a good fit for me.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

A: There are many great things about my job. The best part is having the opportunity to work for and alongside so many great people. And this course is very special. Sometimes it is hard to step back and see just how beautiful the course is because you are caught up in the daily tasks and constantly seeing things to improve upon, but when you are able to look out and see so many members and guests enjoying what we were able to produce, it makes all the hard work worth it.

Q: What are some unique challenges of your job?

A: Our biggest challenge is that several of the holes are located in a flood plain. We are prone to flooding a few times each year, so depending on the severity of the flood we often have debris to remove and sometimes need to rebuild bunkers and tees.

Scenic views at the Golf Club of Tennessee

Q: How many employees are part of your team?

A: We have a great group of team members in our maintenance department. Many of them have been with the club for over 20 years. In the summer, we expand to 40 staff members including full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Our first assistant, Matt Carson, does an outstanding job keeping that many people going in the right direction and on task.

Q: Do you have a mentor in the industry?

A: There is no doubt the person I have learned the most from is David Stone. When David offered me a job to come work for him right out of college, I questioned his decision to hire me telling him I did not know anything about growing grass in the South. David replied, “That’s alright, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” And he did. Getting to spend almost seven years working and learning from him is the only reason I am where I am today.

The day’s work begins early

Q: Why is it important to be part of industry organizations like TTA?

A: There is so much to learn from others in the turf industry. Organizations like the TTA bring people together to share knowledge and experiences with one another. People in our industry are always willing to lend a hand and expertise.

Q: Favorite place you’ve ever played golf?

A: I have been very fortunate to play some exceptional courses. I have to say Augusta National and Pine Valley would be at the top of my list, although playing on any course with family or friends is always a great time.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: In this line of work there is very little free time in the summer months, but during the slower times of the year I enjoy taking trips with my wife Sharon and my daughter Anna to visit other cities, especially if the trip includes a theme park.

Q: What would your advice be for people entering the turfgrass industry now?

A: The turfgrass industry is much different now than when I chose this career more than 30 years ago. Back then, jobs were easy to come by and you didn’t have to be an assistant for very long before you could move on up through the ranks. It takes more patience now and you have to have a passion for golf if you want to go far in this business. I’m not saying you need to play golf all the time, but you need to be able to relate to what both the best players and the novice players are experiencing. But most of all, you need common sense and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

TTA would like to thank Jeff for his contribution to the association and to the industry.