Gallatin, TN | Grasslands Club is a privately owned, member-focused golf and country club located in the greater Nashville, Tennessee region along the scenic Old Hickory Lake corridor in Gallatin. The Club features 36 holes of championship-caliber golf across two distinct 18-hole layouts, the Fairvue and Foxland Courses, each designed by noted golf course architect Bill Bergin. Both courses offer a high-end, lakeside golf experience with multiple teeing options and daily variety in playing conditions.
Complementing the championship courses is a 9-hole short course and a five-bay Performance Improvement Center, supporting instruction, club fitting, and player development across all skill levels. Together, these amenities create a comprehensive and highly active golf environment that serves a broad and engaged membership.
Beyond golf, Grasslands provides a fully integrated private club experience, including multiple dining venues, lakeside social spaces, racquet sports, and fitness facilities. Recent capital investments exceeding $30 million have positioned the Club for its next phase of growth, creating a premier physical product that now requires an equally elevated level of operational execution.
Facility: Privately owned
Course Access: Private
Initiation Fee: $50,000
Annual Dues: $9,900
Number of Holes: 36
Total Annual Rounds: 52,000
Members: 1,300 (750 Full Golf)
Primary Golf Season: March - November
Caddie Program: No
Practice Range: Yes (2)
Short Game Area: Yes
Title: Director of Golf
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Supervises: All Golf Operations Staff
Position Description: Grasslands Club is seeking a high-impact, forward-thinking Director of Golf to lead the continued transformation across all areas of the golf operation. This is not a maintenance role, but an opportunity for a proven leader to step into a club positioned for growth and establish the structure, standards, and team culture necessary to perform at a consistently high level. The Director of Golf will be responsible for translating the Club’s recent investments into a refined, reliable, and service-driven member experience, while building and leading a team aligned around clear expectations and accountability. Success in this role will require the ability to bring clarity, consistency, and energy to an operation that is ready to be developed and elevated. The successful candidate will demonstrate a hands-on leadership style, maintaining a strong presence with both staff and membership. This role is best suited for an individual who thrives in environments where expectations are high, performance matters, and leadership is defined by both structure and engagement.
Personal Characteristics: The ideal candidate is a driven, disciplined leader with a strong internal standard for performance and a clear commitment to improving both people and systems. They lead with confidence and clarity, holding themselves and others accountable while maintaining a high level of professionalism, consistency, and respect. This individual is highly organized, detail-oriented, and action-focused, with the ability to identify issues quickly and address them directly and effectively. They are not hesitant to make decisions, provide candid feedback, or take ownership of outcomes, even in challenging situations. Equally important is a genuine commitment to the growth and development of others. The successful candidate takes pride in building people, creating accountability, and establishing an environment where expectations are clear and performance is elevated. A mindset of continuous improvement—both personally and professionally—is essential.
Culture Rebuild
The Director of Golf will be responsible for establishing a culture rooted in accountability, professionalism, and consistency across all areas of the operation. Success will be defined by the ability to build trust with the membership through reliable execution, while delivering a level of consistency and professionalism that defines the standard of the operation.
This opportunity is not suited for individuals who are most comfortable maintaining existing operations. It is designed for a leader who is motivated to build, improve, and lead with purpose. The Director of Golf will play a central role in elevating the overall golf experience to a level consistent with the Club’s long-term vision of becoming one of the most respected private clubs in the region.
Member Experience and Service Excellence
Delivering consistently elevated member experiences across all areas of the golf operation is central to the role. This includes establishing and upholding service standards that reflect a private club environment, while ensuring that every member interaction is professional, engaging, and aligned with the Club’s expectations.
A visible and approachable presence with membership is essential, building strong relationships, maintaining open communication, and fostering trust through responsiveness and attention to detail. Success in this area will be defined not only by operational execution but by the overall perception of the golf experience among the membership. Exceptional service must be driven through both systems and people, ensuring the team is trained, aligned, and committed to delivering a level of care that enhances long-term member satisfaction and connection.
Leadership and Staff Development
Building and leading a cohesive, high-performing team is a core priority. This includes recruiting, training, and developing talent with a strong emphasis on teaching, mentoring, and investing in long-term career growth. The ability to develop Assistant Golf Professionals into confident, promotable leaders is essential.
This role requires a leader who takes ownership of team development and is intentional about helping individuals reach their professional goals. Creating an environment where learning is continuous, expectations are clear, and development is both structured and personalized is critical. At the same time, maintaining a culture rooted in ownership, urgency, and professionalism requires the ability to address performance gaps directly and constructively, ensuring team members are both supported and challenged to improve.
Business and Operational Leadership
Strong business acumen is required across all areas of the golf operation, with a clear focus on measurable performance and results. This includes analyzing data, identifying opportunities, and implementing solutions that improve efficiency, drive revenue, and elevate overall operational effectiveness.
Financial leadership is a critical component, requiring disciplined oversight of budgeting, forecasting, and ongoing performance to ensure accuracy, accountability, and alignment with the Club’s strategic objectives. Success will be demonstrated through the ability to evaluate results, adjust approach, and drive continuous improvement.
Systems, SOP Development, and Execution
Establishing structure through well-defined systems and Standard Operating Procedures is essential to creating disciplined execution across the operation. This includes developing, implementing, and enforcing comprehensive SOPs that define workflows, clarify expectations, and reinforce accountability.
Success in this area will be reflected in the ability to deliver consistent performance across daily operations, ensuring that operating standards are clearly defined and executed.
Player Development and Engagement
Leading a structured and intentional approach to player development and programming is key to driving participation and connection within the membership. This includes creating programs that appeal to a broad range of skill levels while maintaining a high level of organization and execution.
Success will be defined by the ability to deliver programming that is welcoming, purposeful, and performance-driven, while consistently evaluating participation and outcomes to ensure sustained growth and relevance.
Technology and Administrative Excellence
Leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, communication, and overall performance is an important component of the role. This includes maintaining proficiency in systems such as Club Essential and utilizing data and reporting to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Strong administrative discipline is required across all areas, including reporting, merchandising systems, and inventory control. Success will be demonstrated through a consistent, organized approach to operational detail, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and alignment across the department, even in a fast-paced environment.
Provide oversight and direction across all golf operations, including the golf shops, outside services, instruction, and programming, ensuring alignment with established standards and a consistent level of execution across all areas. This includes maintaining a visible and engaged presence with both staff and membership, reinforcing expectations, and supporting daily performance.
Responsibility for the planning and execution of tournaments, leagues, and club events, with a focus on organization, consistency, and member engagement. This also includes optimizing tee sheet utilization, pace of play, and the overall flow of the golf experience.
Management of retail and merchandising operations, including the development and execution of strategies that drive performance while aligning with the Club’s brand and member preferences.
Collaboration with the Club’s leadership team to ensure golf operations remain aligned with broader strategic priorities, while contributing to the overall direction and success of the organization.
Including, but not limited to, the following:
A Class A Member in good standing with the PGA of America is required.
Candidates should bring five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in golf operations, along with a proven track record of culture building, team development, and operational improvement.
Experience within high-volume, multi-course private club environments is strongly preferred.
A strong history of creating and implementing Standard Operating Procedures is essential.
Candidates should have proven success in player development programming, particularly in women and junior initiatives, and possess a high level of proficiency in Club Essential or a similar system.
Strong financial and analytical skills, along with excellent communication and problem-solving abilities, are required.
The club will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position includes performance-based incentives aligned with operational and cultural goals as well as health and wellness benefits.
All applications MUST be submitted through the PGA of America's Career Services Department as described below.
Resume deadline is May 27, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time
Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, Grasslands Club, Director of Golf
Please address all correspondence to - Mr. Jim Ausley | Chief Operating Officer | Grasslands Club
Jim West, PGA is the lead consultant for this search, please contact him with any questions.
Email: jwest@pgahq.com
The employer does not wish to be contacted at this time
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