Ozarks Profile: Tye Heidbreder

What is your job?

Superintendent at Twin Oaks Country Club. Heidbreder is responsible for all management functions of Twin Oaks' golf course, which include mowing, fertilizing, irrigating, aerating, topdressing, verti-cutting, seeding and pest control. He has an assistant superintendent and a grounds crew of nine employees.

Tell us about your organization.

Founded in 1955, Twin Oaks Country Club is a members-only club located at 1020 E. Republic Road. The club, which now has about 650 members, offers a 6,630-yard, 18-hole championship golf course designed by architects Floyd Farley and Craig Schreiner. Twin Oaks also offers swimming and tennis facilities and a men's grill and ladies' lounge in the clubhouse.

What is your educational background?

Heidbreder holds a bachelor of science in agriculture with a minor in horticulture and emphasis in turfgrass management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

What jobs led you to your current one?

Heidbreder began his career in golf course management working summers on the grounds crew at Jefferson City Country Club. After he received his degree, he became the assistant superintendent at Kansas City Country Club, where he stayed for six years. Heidbreder became the superintendent at Twin Oaks in 1991.

What is the best part of your job?

"Working outside on a beautiful golf course. That's what got me into this I couldn't sit at a desk all day."

Give us some personal information.

Heidbreder, who is 37 and from the small town of Lohman, near Jefferson City, is single and has little time to spare he starts his day at around 5 a.m. He said he enjoys playing golf when he does have spare time. "I'd like to play once a week, but I usually play a couple of times a month. I can see the golf course from a different perspective when I play it." In addition to playing golf at Twin Oaks, Heidbreder said he enjoys playing at Highland Springs.

What are challenges your industry faces and how do you handle them?

"The biggest challenge in my industry is working with Mother Nature and dealing with so many unknowns. Another challenge public and resort courses have is dealing with the large number of people wanting to play golf now." Heidbreder also said golf course etiquette has become somewhat of a lost art, especially at public courses, and it is something the golf industry as a whole needs to return to.

Compiled by Melissa Wilson