Mitch Savage
Advocacy at the heart of his golf-course stewardship
As the sun rises on CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado, Mitch Savage takes a break from his superintendent duties and enjoys the view. Even after more than 25 years of working on golf courses, this scene never gets old.
“I found it so peaceful to be on the golf course so early in the mornings and watching the sun come up,” Savage said. “The golf course was like a canvas to prepare and paint each day for the golfers who were coming out. I found it a very rewarding job.”
Savage, 42, is the director of agronomy at CommonGround Golf Course. He’s also a 22-year member at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and serves on its government affairs committee. Last year, Savage received the GCSAA’s Excellence in Government Affairs Award for his work advocating for state control of pesticide regulations.
While Savage says he was flattered to win the award, the recognition is not why he does what he does.
“What I find really rewarding is when a lawmaker at a committee meeting, after you provided some short testimony, looks at you, and you can tell when they’re genuine, and they say thank you for this testimony,” Savage said.
“A golf course is this living, breathing thing. I hope I work in this industry for a long time and I know I’ll never stop learning.”
Mitch savage
Savage got his start in agronomy in high school at a nine-hole, city-owned golf course in North Branch, Minnesota. One of his father’s close friends was the superintendent.
“The stars kind of aligned one year where he needed some summer help at the golf course and I was looking for a summer job,” Savage said. “I gave it a shot.”
Savage instantly fell in love and chose to study environmental horticulture with an emphasis in turfgrass management at the University of Minnesota after two years of community college. He learned about things such as how to seed and prepare plots, how to mow, data collection and greenhouse work.
In 2003 Savage joined the GCSAA. He says he did it mainly to get access to their job board and internships, and it has opened so many doors since.
“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career,” Savage said.
During his junior year, Savage took a summer internship at Aspen Glen Club in Carbondale, Colorado, and enjoyed what he calls an “awe-inspiring summer.”
In the summer of 2005, Savage took another internship, this time at Cherry Hills Country Club, the site of that year’s U.S. Women’s Open. There, Savage began to truly appreciate the roles of the superintendent and staff.
“When someone gives you the keys to the car, they give you the golf course, you have to make it the best it can be for golfers, for wildlife in the area, whatever it might be,” Savage said. “It’s a huge responsibility to make the golf course an asset to the surrounding community.”
Savage became a sponge, asking the superintendent questions whenever he could.
“I was amazed how approachable they were but I’ve realized that’s how they got to where they are in the industry,” he said. “No matter what you achieve in the industry, don’t let it get to your head. Do whatever you can to help those in the industry.”
In 2016, Savage started government affairs work, volunteering for the Grassroots Ambassador Program, which connects superintendents and members of Congress, and took on a mentorship role in 2018.
In 2018, Savage got his first superintendent job at Broken Tee Golf Course in Englewood, Colorado. Being the boss came with new responsibilities, but Savage loved the learning process.
“A golf course is this living, breathing thing,” Savage said. “I hope I work in this industry for a long time and I know I’ll never stop learning.”
In March 2020, Savage moved to CommonGround Golf Course. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Savage and CommonGround did whatever they could, like elevators on pins, pool noodles and other pandemic golf staples.
Savage will continue to do whatever needs to be done in both his superintendent and government affairs work, regardless of recognition. This tells you everything you need to know about Savage, according to Michael Lee, the GCSAA’s senior manager of government affairs.
“He’s not in it for personal accolades whatsoever,” Lee said. “He does it because he believes in the golf industry and all the benefits golf courses provide communities. He wants to give back to the industry in that way.”
Everett Munez
