Meet the keeper of Sandpines’ greens! For every time you compliment the course’s play, David is who we have to thank!
“My journey to Oregon began in 1985 when I left the bustling San Francisco Bay Area to attend Oregon State University (Go Beavers!). Little did I know that this decision would shape not only my professional life but also my deep passion for golf.
Golf has been my constant companion for as long as I can remember. Since 1989, I’ve maintained a single-digit handicap, and the game has always been at the heart of everything I do. While finishing my studies at OSU, I worked part-time as a golf shop attendant and greenkeeper at Trysting Tree Golf Club. This hands-on experience in golf course maintenance only deepened my love for the sport and planted the seeds (pun intended) for what would become my career.
After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, I made my way to Portland, where I got married, started a family, and continued to pursue my golf dreams by playing in amateur events all over Oregon. I spent 10 years in sales and sales management, gaining valuable experience that would serve me in future roles. However, as my daughters were growing up in the late 1990s, I felt the pull to return to my true passion: golf.
In 2000, with my daughters still quite young, I returned to Oregon State University to pursue a Post-Baccalaureate Bachelor of Science degree in Turf and Landscape Management. It was a pivotal decision that allowed me to merge my love for the game with my professional aspirations. By 2002, I had earned my second degree and was ready to take the next step in my career.
I accepted the Assistant Superintendent position at Trysting Tree, the same golf course where I had worked during my college days. At the same time, our family grew with the birth of my son. I had the opportunity to help Trysting Tree host a US Open qualifier in 2004, and I was incredibly proud of the excellent playing surfaces we were able to present for that prestigious event. The very next day, I received an offer to work at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, where I helped maintain the Meadow Course until 2011.
After a brief stint managing a landscape company, I returned to golf course maintenance, taking on roles at Tetherow (2014-2017) and Pronghorn (2017-2021). Each stop along the way helped me hone my skills and build a deeper understanding of the intricacies of turf management and course conditioning. Finally, in March 2021, I took on the role of Golf Course Superintendent at Florence Golf Links on the central Oregon coast.
Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by a simple goal: to create the best playing conditions possible. As both a turf manager and a golfer, I want to make golf courses that I’d love to play on—greens that are smooth and consistent, fairways and approaches that are firm with plenty of roll, and rough that provides a challenge. While it hasn’t always been easy, we’re getting closer to achieving those ideal conditions at Florence Golf Links. As we continue to improve the rough and bunkers, I find myself even more eager to play golf this year, as I can truly see the fruits of our labor coming together.
Family has always been central to my life. My children grew up in Central Oregon, all of them graduating from Bend Senior High School. Erin, now 27, is a real estate agent with Sotheby’s in Bend. Kylee, 25, is in the biotech industry in San Diego. And my youngest, Alexander, at 21, is currently a junior in Engineering at Oregon State University—he’s following in my footsteps, although his passion seems to lie in a different field.
Looking back on the years since I first arrived in Oregon, it’s clear that my journey has been shaped by a combination of passion, family, and a relentless drive to create great golf experiences. With each year that passes, I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to be doing what I love and to have shared this journey with my family. Whether it’s on the golf course or in the turf management world, my passion for the game and for helping others enjoy it remains as strong as ever.
When I’m not on the course making sure your green pace is the best it can be, you can find me on the hunt for the best food Florence has to offer, checking out the local competition, building memories with friends and family, or traveling to find warmer/drier climates—especially during winter. 😉
I’m excited for my next chapter, filled with more golf, more improvements to Florence Golf Links, and more memories with family – mine & yours!”
David Roath
Superintendent