The golf course superintendent, resident historian and former ski instructor at Sun Valley Resort in south central Idaho all have something in common: they’re all titles held by Ken Zimmerman, who, for the last 30 years, has been tending the greens at the growing course.
Sun Valley bills itself as America’s first destination resort. It first attracted visitors largely because of its skiing, but golf has become more popular throughout the years, especially when it opened its second nine holes, designed by George Von Elm, in 1962. Robert Trent Jones Jr. renovated the holes in 1978 and 1979.
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In 1939, Zimmerman, then 13, started as a caddy at the three-year-old resort’s golf course. Like many employees do, he moved over to work at the resort’s ski slopes in the winter starting in 1946. He stayed with the ski school as an instructor for 20 years, meeting some of the celebrities who came to ski at the resort. He doesn’t name any names.
Zimmerman became the golf course superintendent in 1973. He learned the trade simply from being on the course and attending local seminars, says Doyle Corbett, director of golf at Sun Valley. Most of Zimmerman’s skills have come from on-the-job training, and the duties clearly have changed throughout the years. What was once a heavily manual job has become less labor intensive because of automatic irrigation systems, machines that move dirt and mowers that no longer require a Jeep to pull them, as they did decades ago, Zimmerman says.
Yet with all the labor-saving equipment, superintendents still work with the same amount of people it seems, Zimmerman says. This could be because golfers have higher standards now than ever. Green speeds were never such a big deal as they are now, he says. Also, the traffic has been increasing on the course. About 22,000 rounds are played during its season from May to October.
Just as Zimmerman has seen the evolution of the game throughout the years, several of his colleagues also have been at the resort to witness it. The longevity doesn’t surprise Jack Sibbach, the director of sales, marketing and public relations, who has been at the resort in different capacities since 1978, taking his current role in 1994.
“It’s usually unheard of for people to be working into their 80s, but it’s part of the lifestyle,” Sibbach says, referring to resort towns. “We’ve got a long tenure in management.”
The loyalty doesn’t stop with management. At least six of Zimmerman’s 26 crew members have been on staff for a long time. Many of them work at the resort year-round, switching to jobs on the slopes for the winter.
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Zimmerman’s agreeable personality also helps with crew retention, Corbett says, adding that Kenny – as he’s known – is well-organized and easy to get along with.
“We’ve always seen eye to eye,” he says.
Zimmerman finds the work rewarding.
“It’s a pleasant thing; you see change and improvement,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate here to have exceptionally fine people without really having to find them. It’s just a nice atmosphere.”
Zimmerman unofficially acts as the resort archivist too.
“We can always call him up to ID people in old photos,” Corbett says.
Zimmerman has been around to help with renovations and construction, including the new Donald J. Knott-designed nine-hole course, built by Landscapes Unlimited, which will open for the 2008 season. Also on tap for 2008 is a new clubhouse and outdoor symphony pavilion. A second set of holes are slated to open in 2009.
Zimmerman figures the time will come when he will step down, but as long as he’s healthy and content in the position, he’s staying put.
“This is my home,” he says.