Rick Tegtmeier has been grooming fairways in Iowa for over 45 years. In 1973 – at only 14 years of age – Tegtmeier began on the grounds crew at Rockford Country Club in Rockford, Iowa. At 17, he was named superintendent. At age 20, he took the head position at Urbandale Golf & Country Club where he remained for two years. After spending a year at Hinsdale Golf Club in Illinois, he joined the staff at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in 1983 as the superintendent of the North course. In 1989 he left Des Moines Golf and Country Club to take the head superintendent position at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids. He remained there until 2006, when he returned to the Des Moines Golf and Country Club as the Director of Grounds.

Tegtmeier was honored by TurfNet as National Superintendent of the Year in 2017.

• He is one of only 80 people worldwide to currently have the designation of Master Greenkeeper, which he obtained in 2015.
• In 2017 Des Moines Golf & Country Club played host to the LPGA’s Solheim Cup matches.
• Tegtmeier oversaw four years of renovations to the 36 holes at DMGCC, as the club did extensive work on nine holes each year. Under Tegtmeier’s guidance, the work was completed on schedule and the club provided a pristine playing surface for the best female golfers from the U.S. and Europe.
• He served on the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association board from 1992-1996, including as President in 1995.
• Since 2016 he has served on the Board of Trustees of the Iowa Turfgrass Institute.
• He was a member of the USGA’s Green Section committee from 2010-2015.
• From 1996 to 2004 he served on eight different Golf Course Superintendents Association of America committees or task forces.