Who says you can't go home again?

Tom Lynch never actually left Auburn, but he has been away from Highland Golf Club for nearly 14 years. Not anymore.

Lynch, who served as Highland's golf course superintendent from 1980-1993, returned to his previous position in early January.

“It's back to where I started,” a pleased Lynch said.

“There's been a lot of changes, a lot of improvements. The equipment has changed. The barn I built is still here. It's kind of like deja vu.”

Lynch left to become part owner and superintendent at the former Auburn Golf and Country Club. After 12 years, the club was bought by new owners.

It was then that Lynch took an interest in returning to Highland.

With the former superintendent leaving, Lynch was informed of the opening, had a sit down talk with the club's board of directors, and was rehired.

Lynch is joined by assistant superintendent Ash Gough, who has worked in the industry since 1999. It is Gough's second year at Highland.

It is the goal of the new maintenance team to make course improvements and build off the work of the previous superintendent, Mike Loberg.

“I've got some ideas,” Lynch said. “We're going to talk with the board of directors, make some improvements and decide on what we want to do. We're working forward.”

During Loberg's tenure, the front-side bunkers and tee boxes were replaced. Lynch plans to focus much of his attention on the back-side bunkers and rebuilding some of the greens.

And with all the new technology at his disposal, Lynch will have more time to dedicate to the course itself.

“When I was here before, I was basically the mechanic and superintendent,” he said. “The equipment nowadays is so much more sophisticated. We were still dragging around hoses. Now, there's a computerized irrigation system. It allows me to concentrate more on improvements that can be made.”

Lynch, a golfer himself, knows what is expected of a quality golf course. In fact, he's a former club champion at Highland so his history with the course isn't just behind the scenes.

“It's important for a superintendent to be on the course,” Lynch said. “I've been playing since I was 12 years old. I know what to expect in terms of playability. That's an advantage.”

The Highland board of directors is thrilled to have this new maintenance staff in place and expects big things. Lynch has a vision, and is heavily influenced by the people who play his course.

Lynch knows what Highland golfers expect and he's prepared to give it to them.

“It's a golfer's club,” he said. “It's for people who like playing golf. The members like doing certain things and expect certain things. We're here to make them feel like they're at home.”