AGCSA: What type of degree do you have and where did you obtain your degree?
Wisdom: 2 year degree from Faulkner St. C.C.

AGCSA: As a Golf Course Superintendent, what percentage of your job comes from experience that you obtained from working on a golf course and what percentage comes from what you learned in college?
Wisdom: I’d say about 10% comes from what I learned in college. The other 90% comes from experience, self-study, asking questions from knowledgeable superintendents, and learning from mistakes.

AGCSA: What subject or class in turf school would you say has the most influence in your job as a Head Superintendent and why?
Wisdom: I can barely remember being in college but I think it would have to be soils and fertilizers because maintaining proper fertility levels is the most important factor for healthy turf.

AGCSA: What advice would you give to a turf student who is about to embark on his first summer internship and is there any certain job at the golf course that he should make a special effort in learning?
Wisdom:  The first thing would be to make sure you choosing this profession because you love it. If you choose it because you think you can make lots of money and play lots of golf, you're probably in it for the wrong reasons. Be the first one there in the morning and the last one to go home everyday. Make someone tell you to go home. I think you should learn every single job possible including flymowing or weedeating. Don’t make anyone do a job you wouldn’t or couldn’t do on your own because you may end up having to do it.

AGCSA: How many years have you been in Golf Course Maintenance, including any work as a crewmember?
Wisdom: 13

AGCSA: What attracted you to a career as a Golf Course Superintendent?
Wisdom: I actually started out on the other side working in the pro shop and spent about a year as an assistant pro, but I realized I hated sitting inside all day and I don’t have the personality to do it either. I love being outdoors and being a golf course superintendent allows you to be artistic, creative, and there is always something you can do everyday to make your course better.

AGCSA: What is your work experience and time you spent there? Who did you work for?
Wisdom:  I spent six years at a course in St. Louis and worked for Steve Hargis. I worked at Magnolia Grove in Mobile for Layton Overstreet as well as Gib Fox and Scot Ribolla for a couple of years. I was an assistant at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores for Mike Rienzi for two years with a short stint at the Grand Hotel’s golf course for Scot Ribolla sandwhiched in there. Then I moved to Highland Park in May 2001, when my wife finished nursing school and wanted to move back home. When Bill Hirchert left in December of 2002, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to take over for him.

AGCSA: What person in your professional life has mentored you or been the most beneficial to you in helping you deal with the rigors of being a Head Superintendent and how did they help?
Wisdom: I’ve always tried to learn everything I can from everyone I’ve worked for both good and bad. Bill Hirchert has taught me just about everything I know about bentgrass, but I also learned a lot from Owen Compton our former Director of Golf who was killed in a car accident.

AGCSA: What is the greatest thing that being a Superintendent has taught you about yourself?
Wisdom: That I need to learn how to deal with stress better and be more patient with other people.

AGCSA: What would you say is the hardest thing to overcome your first year as a Head Superintendent, after being an Assistant before? What advice would you give a first time Head Superintendent?
Wisdom: The hardest thing to overcome is just realizing that now everything is over your head. When you’re an assistant, you basically just need to get everything done that the superintendent wants as well as make suggestions. It’s a lot less stressful. My best advice is to not be afraid to ask questions from other experienced superintendents. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t talk to either Bill, Mark Langner, or another superintendent run a crazy idea by them and I’m full of crazy ideas.

AGCSA: What advice would you give to someone facing their first encounter with a disease or major pest problem? What should their attitude and approach be in dealing with the problem?
Wisdom: Send out a couple of samples and ask someone to come look at it with you. Even if you are 100% positive you know what it is, it won’t hurt to have another persons opinion. Everybody has another course close to them and most superintendents will do just about anything to help someone else out.

AGCSA: What do you enjoy the most and least about being a Head Superintendent?
Wisdom:  What I enjoy most is seeing happy golfers and hearing positive comments even when I don’t agree with them. What I enjoy least is long hours in the summers and cold weather in the winter.

AGCSA: What would you say is the most important trait to have when dealing with your maintenance crew on a day-to-day and long-term basis?
Wisdom:  I believe I’m fair and consistent so there’s no guessing.

AGCSA: Every Superintendent has to answer to his or her boss/bosses (GM, owner, board etc...). What advice could you give someone in dealing with his or her higher-ups?
Wisdom:  Be honest, don’t make excuses and when they want something done do it that day if possible.

AGCSA: If you could change one thing about your job that would make it perfect in your eyes, what would it be?
Wisdom: It would never rain.

AGCSA: What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made while working on a golf course?
Wisdom: I’m sure there where others but one is trying to water off frost to get play out earlier and instead creating a skating rink. Instead of letting it burn off on its own by 8:30 it ended up taking until 10:30.

AGCSA: What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever been asked to do by a golfer or board member?
Wisdom: I have had people who live around Highland Park call me and ask me to come get our ducks out of their yards on more than one occasion.

AGCSA: List your family and How do they cope with your job?
Wisdom: My wife’s name is Kate and she is an RN in the NICU at UAB Hospital. She is awesome and rarely complains if I stay to work late or go in on weekends for no reason. My daughter is Elle and she is only 17 months so she copes fine unless I’m a little late picking her up from day care and its close to her dinner time.

AGCSA: What kind of things (hobbies) do you like to do when you get away from work?
Wisdom:  I love to spend time with my family. My favorite thing is to go hiking for a day.  There is nothing like a little solitude in nature to clear your mind. I also love to read but my daughter doesn’t like it at all so I don’t do as much as I would like anymore.

AGCSA: Lastly, what is your favorite golf related movie? (the battle lines will be drawn between Caddyshack, Bagger Vance, Happy Gilmore and Tin Cup!)
Wisdom:  I’d have to say probably Tin Cup because the way he thinks on a golf course, or doesn’t think reminds me of myself.