The 19th Hole: Chris Sheffield

Chris Sheffield

Superintendent — Lagoon Park GC, Montgomery, Ala.

Chris, after 18 holes, drinks are on me. What are you having?

Tequila and Sprite. Any tequila — I’m not picky.

Tell me about Lagoon Park GC.

Everything is original, it’s 47-year-old ultradwarfs. Besides that, everything is bermuda. It’s in Montgomery, in the middle of the city. We spend a lot of time trying to manage the trees to get the greens better. We’re managed by Troon Golf; it’s been a joy to work with them. And we get after it every day. 

How did you find your way into the industry?

I went to Auburn University, and I started working at a course called Grand National. I was studying accounting and about to graduate, and I was like, “I don’t want to sit at a desk all day.” So I switched to the turf program because I enjoyed what I was doing. And I’ve worked my way up from there.

You said you went to Auburn, so what are your teams? You’re an Auburn fan?

Total opposite — I’m an Alabama fan. I grew up an Alabama fan. I went to Auburn for engineering, and I was going to transfer to Alabama with my buddy, but I started dating this girl my freshman year … now she’s my wife, so it all worked out!

Do you have kids? What does the family do for fun?

Yes, we have a 2 1/2-year-old daughter. She likes going to the beach. I don’t care for the beach — in the summertime, I don’t want to go sit in the hot, I’ve already been doing that! I’m big into deer hunting, fishing, golfing … anything outdoors.  

What are your favorite tools to get the job done?

We have a regular TDR, I love that to make the greens good. That’s a life saver in the summer. We have a lot of nematode pressure, and (Envu’s) Indemnify has helped us a lot. And we’ve gotten into some robotic mowers from Kress, mainly for the clubhouse area. That’s an area we never have to mow now, and that helps a lot. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few great crews in my time here. Without them, a lot of the stuff we do would not be possible without their hard work and dedication.

What’s your most memorable moment in golf?

My hole-in-one at Stillwaters GC. I was by myself. I knew it was close; when I got up to the green, I didn’t see the ball … I thought to myself, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’ I walk up there, and it’s in the hole. I just looked around, and I’m like, ‘No witnesses … of course.’ Still, it was one of my best moments.

What’s the best thing about being in this industry?

You get to meet all these superintendents, all these vendors. You get to travel around and play some nice courses. Growing grass and being outside, there’s nothing really better. 

As interviewed by Seth Jones, Dec. 11, 2025.