June 18, 2025
As dawn breaks and you reach for a few more minutes of sleep, the grounds crew at Palatine Hills Golf Course is already in motion. Long before the first tee time, they’ve had their coffee and hit the greens—raking bunkers, cutting fairways, changing cups, and ensuring everything is ready.
Leading the team is Golf Course Superintendent Billy Sharp, who brings over 20 years of experience to the turf—10 of them right here at Palatine Hills. Working alongside him is Assistant Superintendent Mike Airoldi, a seasoned veteran with over 30 years in the field, including the past three at Palatine Hills.
“I enjoy being outside and I like the game of golf, so I decided to make a career of it,” Sharp said. He was introduced to the occupation by a childhood friend’s father who was the Golf Course Superintendent at a course in his hometown. Sharp said the best part of his job is that every day is a different challenge.
“Mother Nature can be one of the most challenging aspects of the job,” he said. You have to roll with the punches.” From historic floods in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to dry spells and everything in between, the crew is trained to show the course at its best. Sometimes that means for some important visitors, as well as loyal locals who call the course home.
Palatine Hills is hosting the Women’s US Amateur on June 25 and in past years hosted the US Women’s Open Qualifier and the Women’s Senior US Open Qualifier. “We dial things up a notch when hosting and really hone in on the details,” Sharp explained.
“Dan Hotchkin, the Head Golf Pro, has a good relationship with Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) but the Association also has to enjoy the playing conditions to pick your course, so Dan and I have a good partnership,” he said.
The grounds crew is a tight-knit, diverse team that spans generations: a father-son duo, a father and son-in-law, a retired school administrator, and a former Mazda mechanic are just a few of the faces behind the scenes. “We do a lot of the same tasks every day, but we try to change things up and rotate jobs to keep everyone fresh and engaged,” Sharp said. “The crew takes pride in their work and the course conditions definitely reflect that.”
The colorful flower beds you see around the course are the work of the District’s Parks Department, led by Superintendent Amy Vito. Her team’s dedication to beautifying the grounds adds vibrant color and visual appeal that doesn’t go unnoticed by guests.
“She is very passionate about her work, and we get lots of compliments. We are always willing to help each other out and share resources, and that makes for a great working relationship,” Sharp added.
Although still involved with dailly operations, as Superintendent, he is now responsible for planning long-term for the course’s future which includes equipment replacement and infrastructure improvements. Some recent projects included the Irrigation Pump Station replacement. The station’s job is to pump water to every hole on the golf course with miles of underground piping. The station includes a central control system and remote monitoring features. A new fountain at the course’s signature hole number seven, was another recent achievement. Pond diffusers were also installed to improve water quality and aesthetics.
So, the next time you’re enjoying the pristine sights and sounds on the golf course, take a moment to appreciate the crew who made it all possible—often before the sun even rises.
