[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Greenkeeper and Superintendent"

A greenkeeper is an agent who maintains the golf course in optimal condition.

A "greenkeeper" is a person responsible for maintaining not only the greens of a golf course but also the overall equipment repair, operation, and landscaping management.

The main duties include mowing, cultivation, maintenance, pesticide application, fertilization, watering, drainage, winter preparation, and spring preparation. The most important task is to keep the putting green in optimal condition (The greenskeeper must pay attention to all the details to maintain the putting surface in top condition). To become a senior greenkeeper, one must accumulate more specialized knowledge and experience.

Determining the hole locations on the green is also an important duty of the greenkeeper. When it rains, flags are placed at the front or back of the green to minimize damage. On weekends, the hole is placed in the center to facilitate faster play. During tournaments, the pin is positioned in very difficult and steep locations to prevent easy birdies. Recently, instead of the term "greenkeeper," the term "superintendent," meaning "supervisor" or "manager," is used.

This is because, a few years before World War II, the National Association of Greenkeepers changed its name to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. When visiting prestigious golf courses in the U.S. to understand their management style, calling someone a greenkeeper is not appreciated. They must be called "superintendent."

A: What does a golf course superintendent do?

B: He is the man in charge of caring for the landscaping and maintenance of the course grounds.

A: Is he the same as the green keeper?

B: Years ago, it used to be called a green keeper, but today the term "superintendent" is used instead.

A: Is it expensive to maintain a golf course?

B: Because of the advanced irrigation, fertilizer, and labor, it can cost up to a million dollars a year to maintain an eighteen-hole course.

Text and photos by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist