As a golfer, it’s sometimes difficult to understand all that goes into maintaining a course. When you step onto a green or tee box and it looks great, your focus is more on the round, instead of the conditions. But behind the scenes, sometimes hidden under the cover of darkness, is a team of hardworking, talented greenskeepers.
On its own, maintaining a PGA-level course is difficult. Place that course in the Truckee-Tahoe region and you’re looking at a whole new set of challenges. You’re constantly battling the elements, and those elements change from year to year. From snow to ice to drought to wildfire, a variety of different measures have to be taken to keep the grass healthy and the greens fast. To keep play impeccable year after year, your number one tool is experience.
At Tahoe Mountain Club, experience comes in the form of Jason DeHerrera. One of our most tenured employees, Jason first set foot on the rolling hills of Old Greenwood back in 2005. What started as a summer internship grew into a noteworthy career. Through hard work, knowledge of the seasons, and never accepting course conditions as “good enough,” Jason eventually rose to the position of Tahoe Mountain Club’s Director of Agronomy, overseeing course maintenance at both Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing.
Jason Deherrera, outgoing Director of Agronomy
Aside from making the course beautiful no matter what Truckee winters throw their way, Jason and his team are also responsible for the excellent playing conditions that attracted the Barracuda Championship to Old Greenwood in 2020. In the years since, the tournament has increased the esteem of OG to a world-class golf destination.
In the 18 seasons since Old Greenwood saw it’s first round played, only one has been without Jason DeHerrera. But now Jason (or as we call him, DeHa) has a new job: Dad. He and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world this past fall.
“It has truly been my honor to have been your Director of Agronomy,” Jason said upon announcing his departure from the Club and plan to start his own business. “The last 17 years have been a blast. I’d like to thank you, the Membership, for always supporting me and the Agronomy team.”
Joe Valente, new Director of Agronomy
While we’ll miss his smiling face and ever-positive attitude, Jason wouldn’t leave us without ensuring Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing are in capable hands. He’s been training his replacement for the last dozen or so years. We couldn’t be happier to announce Joe Valente as Tahoe Mountain Club’s new Director of Agronomy. Joe joined TMC in the summer of 2011 and has spent the last several years as the Superintendent at Gray’s Crossing. He says experience gained there has him prepared to oversee both courses.
“Gray’s can be more difficult to maintain at times. Because of the way the holes are laid out, it does not get as much sun and as a result, is more susceptible to damage during winter,” said Valente.
That transitioning out of winter, is actually one of the hardest parts of maintaining the courses. While the Kentucky Bluegrass that makes up the fairways and rough can bounce back quickly from winter, the Bentgrass that makes up the greens and tee boxes needs more time to recover.
“We’ll start blowing snow off the greens in the coming weeks in hopes of giving them extra time in the sun,” said Valente.
While for many of us it might still feel like the dead of winter, our estimated opening of Old Greenwood is just 13 weeks away. Time for Joe and his Crew to get to work doing what they do best.
In closing, thanks to Jason for years of dedicated service to the Club, and best wishes for things to come. To Joe and Crew, we know you’ve got this!
