#ThankASuper Spotlight Series: Drew Matera

In honor of international “Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day,” we are proud to highlight the unsung heroes of the golf industry and KemperSports family: our incredibly hardworking and outstanding superintendents and course maintenance teams.

Drew Matera
Golf Course Superintendent
Whiskey Creek Golf Club (Ijamsville, MD)

# of years worked at current course:  6 years (2001-2006, Assistant Superintendent & 2023-present, Superintendent)
Total years worked in the industry: 27 years

How did you get into the golf maintenance industry?
I thought I would get to play more golf….Ha!

What’s your favorite part of the job?
Problem solving, strategic planning and improving a golf course day in and day out.

What’s the most misunderstood part of the job?
Just how multi-faceted a superintendent has to be and that we basically get to take the winter off.

What advice would you give to your younger self or younger superintendents just starting out
Sometimes, the smartest thing you can say is, “I don’t know.” That is to say you don’t need to answer every question. You just have to know where to go to get the answer.

What are a few accomplishments you are most proud of at your course/in your career?
My work as a consultant, director of agronomy and superintendent for some of the most prominent people in golf course maintenance, design and construction today.

This past year, have you and your team worked/completed any exciting construction/renovation projects? If so, what was your team responsible for and how will it enhance the golf course/facility?

• Drainage projects on several tee boxes, bunkers and cart path edges
• Re-grassed a few tee boxes as well as a chipping green
• Built a 10,000-square-foot Bentgrass nursery
• Rehabilitated the driving range infield and target greens
• Built a couple of rock walls
• Added 750 linear feet of irrigation pipe and sprinkler heads
• Started rehabbing naturalized zones as well as rough on our treelined holes
• Streamlined and simplified maintenance routines to increase efficiency  

What insight do you have about the future of the industry? Are there any innovative practices you’re helping lead to benefit the environment/your facility?
Technological enhancements in our industry are evolving every day so keeping up with the current trends in equipment, chemistry and water management practices are essential to your success. 

What are some of the most helpful forward-thinking practices that have benefitted your facility? 
Flexible scheduling around our outing schedule. Most of our large events provide us with the opportunity to get a lion’s share of our work completed either prior to or after the event since the course is closed to the public on those days. The ability to work unfettered pays dividends by providing our golfing public with a nice, finished product.

See below for our full series of #ThankASuper spotlights:

• Fred Parcells, Skyway Golf Course at Lincoln Park West (Jersey City, NJ)
• Cody Woods, Lake of Isles (North Stonington, CT)
• Michael Bostian, Waverly Woods Golf Club (Marriottsville, MD)
• Jordan Kalasky, Heritage Shores Golf Club (Bridgeville, DE)
• Brett Niner, Blue Mash Golf Course (Laytonsville, MD)
• Steve Kuretsky, Cantigny Golf (Wheaton, IL)
• Dave Groelle, Royal Melbourne Country Club (Long Grove, IL)