Exceeding expectations, not your budget

Rafael Barajas’ passion for golf course maintenance began as a teenager when he followed in his brother's footsteps and became a grounds team member at a private golf course in Thousand Oaks, CA. By the young age of twenty, he secured the position of Golf Course Superintendent at Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach, CA. Lacking formal education in turfgrass maintenance and agronomy, he invested the next six years in professional development courses and seminars, becoming a Certified Golf Course Superintendent in 1990. In 2002, Barajas graduated with a certificate in turfgrass management from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and has spent the last 40+ years maintaining diverse golf courses across the United States and serving as a global industry leader.

After holding progressive positions at prestigious clubs early in his career, in 1995, he became the Golf Course Superintendent and eventually the Director of Agronomy at Hacienda Golf Club, a private equity club in Southern California. He remained there for twenty-one years, utilizing the knowledge he gained from the industry’s best early in his career to help him excel in all aspects of golf maintenance operations, including turf, business, and personnel management. Next, he transitioned to the east coast of Florida in 2015 to serve in the distinct position of Director of Agronomy at Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club, another private equity club, located in Boca Raton, FL where he remained until 2022. Since then, Barajas has served the community of Laredo, TX as the Director of Agronomy at the Laredo Country Club.

Barajas’ commitment to the golf course maintenance industry led to extensive leadership roles in national and regional professional associations. He has been a proud member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) for more than thirty-eight years and a Certified Golf Course Superintendent for the past thirty. His strong industry involvement and desire to give back led him to serve on the GCSAA Board of Directors for ten years, and in 2019, he was elected to serve as the organization’s 83rd President. Previously, Barajas served as the President of the Golf Course Superintendents of Southern California and California Golf Course Superintendents Association

As an avid golfer, Barajas has the keen ability to view golf courses from a player’s perspective which helps him address golf course issues and make sound and prompt recommendations. He also enjoys serving the U.S. and Mexico golf markets through his own company distributing golf course equipment and products. Both have been extremely valuable in his ongoing success managing courses as well as providing extensive consulting in the U.S., Mexico, and Spain. Most importantly, Barajas is a committed family man. He has been happily married to his wife Yolanda for more than thirty-eight years, and they have four children, Veronica, Daniel, Rafael Jr., and Marco Antonio.