“ They take pride in their work. I think that is the most important part of making a golf course look good.”
But there is more to turf care than mowing patterns. In the winter, when grass growth slows, the team shifts to large-scale improvements: reconstructing drainage systems, reworking landscaping, performing equipment maintenance, and training new staff. It is a season of regrouping before the summer rush. Riley recalled a joke told to him from his days as an intern:“ For nine months out of the year, you have the best job in the world. For three months, you have the worst.”
With nearly 20 people on the maintenance crew, the scale of operations at Valdosta Country Club is significant. Still, challenges remain.“ We are our biggest critics out on the golf course,” Riley says.
“ They take pride in their work. I think that is the most important part of making a golf course look good.”
30 Valdosta Scene | June 2025