By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

For Joe Moore, the new golf course superintendent at the Rincon Golf Course, the job is “like coming home” to him.

The Savannah native spent his growing-up years in Savannah and South Carolina. But he also has strong ties to Effingham County.

“My dad lives in Rincon, my mom and brother live in Guyton,” Moore said.

Before becoming a course superintendent just over ten years ago, Moore, 45, said he was in golf course construction in Florida.

“We built a lot of courses designed by (PGA Tour Pros) Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer, and one by Jack Nicklaus,” Moore said.

His first superintendent position was at Bacon Park in Savannah in 2013. Prior to accepting the position at Rincon Golf Club, Moore was the Superintendent at Douglas Golf and Country Club, in Douglas.

According to several websites, a golf course superintendent’s job entails everything from agronomy, equipment maintenance, personnel- and project management, to effective communications with staff and the public. It’s more than just watching the grass grow – although this element is still important.

Keeping the grass green, dry (but not too dry) and watered (but not too wet), and mowed – rough roughs and smooth greens; cart paths maintained, carts fully charged and clean for golfers, irrigation systems running; and bunkers (sand traps) drained and smooth, are all the duties of a golf course superintendent.

Moore jumped into his new position right away the first week of December. Due to Effingham County receiving a lot of rain recently, the greens had to be top-dressed to help absorb the extra water.

“The top-dressing on the greens was definitely noted by the members that played today,” Brayn Bessinger, Rincon Golf Course manager, told the council at its Dec. 11 meeting. “They asked us about it and said, ‘This is something we haven’t seen’.”

The Rincon Golf Course’s irrigation water is reclaimed water from the waste-treatment plant, so rain is a blessing and a curse.

“We have the effluent water that we have to use. Some of it we’re going through and I’m adding hoses where we can actually use it without damaging the golf course,” Moore explains. “That is a big issue here when it rains. We still have to use the irrigation water. That's one reason that the course stays wet.

“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve struggled to get water,” Moore added. “Here, it’s the opposite.”

Since the golf course has all the irrigation equipment in stock, making drainage repairs in the bunkers is being done in house. But all the other repairs, Moore says, have to be done in steps with approval from the Rincon City Council.

“Everything that costs money has to go through (city) council,” Moore said. But he was optimistic that most, if not all, repairs can be completed in 2024.

The regreening, Moore hopes, could be done in April. The new growth should be ready by May. The cart paths, he explained, might entail closing nine holes to do those cart paths; then do the cart paths on the other side of the course. April to August is the busiest time at the course.

Moore added he’s happy with the crew he inherited. “Everyone’s been really good to work with.”

Moore has a grown son and daughter both in college. His daughter is studying to be a pediatrician.