By John RittenhouseLuverne’s Mike Kunkel opted for a career change more than two decades ago when he was slapped in the face with a dose of reality.Members of the Luverne Country Club should be thankful he did.He decided his career choice after graduating from Adrian High School in 1978 wasn’t his cup of tea, so Kunkel landed a job working on the LCC grounds in 1980.One-quarter of a century later, Kunkel still is a member of the LCC staff. As superintendent of the course for the past 19 years, it’s Kunkel’s labor, with help from his capable staff, that makes the course one of southwest Minnesota’s best."I really enjoy it," Kunkel said of his position at the LCC. "It’s fun. I started here in May of 1980, and I took over as head (superintendent) in 1986. I’ve been here ever since."While LCC members are aware this is Kunkel’s 25th year at the course, the superintendent is treating it like any other year.He takes his work seriously, and a day rarely passes when he’s not on the job."I usually put in 60 hours per week at this time of year. I start between 5 and 5:30 a.m., and I’m usually done around 3 (p.m.). Sometimes I come back in the evenings and do some mowing," he said.A 60-hour work week is taxing, but Kunkel said it’s better than the career he considered after his high school days at AHS.Kunkel went to technical school in Willmar in pursuit of a career in autobody work. His older brother had a shop in Adrian, and Kunkel worked there as a high school student. The plan was to go back and work with his brother after college, but that’s when fate intervened."My brother started to get spots on his lungs (a hazard of the occupation). He offered me the business, but I said I’m not doing this anymore."With the help of a connection, Kunkel started working at the LCC in May of 1980."Pete Banck, who was from Adrian, was a member of the grounds committee at the time. He said he had a job for me over in Luverne, and I took it," Kunkel said. "I got lucky."Although the pay wasn’t great (Kunkel said he was making less than $4 per hour when he started), the position turned into a valuable learning experience. Working under then head groundskeeper Alvin Hecht, Kunkel learned the fundamentals of a job he has held for 25 years.When Hecht stepped down from the top spot in 1986, the LCC had a capable replacement in Kunkel, who received the 2001 Superintendent of the Year Award from the South Dakota Superintendents’ Association."Things have changed a lot since then," Kunkel admitted."Alvin showed me how to do it all, and I did it. You can’t do it like that anymore because you need a special license to do the fertilizing."While it’s up to Kunkel to lay the chemicals down on the course, he gets plenty of help from his three-person staff. His daughter, Amy. 21, who will be a senior at Winona State College this fall, and neighbor Dusty Smeins are full-time workers. Adam Kindt works on a part-time basis."Every day when I go to work, I make up a list of things that need to be done. The kids can go look at the list and know what to do without having to come and ask me," Kunkel said.The task list is a demanding one that changes from day to day.Kunkel said the greens need to be mowed on a daily basis, with the tee boxes needing to be trimmed every other day. The fairways are cut four times each week, and the rough is tamed twice a week. When the list is complete, there’s always extra trimming around the grounds to keep the help hopping.The superintendent must be an inspiring mentor. Nine former crew members who worked under Kunkel in the past went on to study the trade in college, and six are currently working in the field at different courses, which is something Kunkel takes pride in.Kunkel has had offers to work as superintendent at other courses, but he remains at the LCC because he said he’s treated right.The day will come when he decides to step down from his position, but not until his children, Amy and Curt, 24, a junior in graduate school at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, are out of school. However, Kunkel hopes to remain connected to the LCC or another golf course when that time arrives."If they allow it, I’ll probably keep at it at least five more years," he said."When I do retire (as the LCC superintendent), I still would like to work there. Just put me on a mower, and I’ll work five days a week. Then I’ll go camping on the weekends."