TurfNet RADIO: Recent Episodes
TurfNet RADIO
TurfNet personalities Frank Rossi, Dave Wilber, Randy Wilson, John Reitman, Jon Kiger and Peter McCormick interview a variety of turfies on a multitude of subjects... or just pontificate upon occasion.
Prior to delving into holiday glimmers, Dave provides a Walter update and Peter anticipates the arrival of his new rescue dog, Kobe, inbound from Georgia. One of Peter's glimmers involved a family horse-drawn sleigh ride experience for Patty's birthday, two days after Christmas.Peter laments a catastrophic moment of stupidity with a home project that cost him dearly.Foodie talk prevails with Dave's first pizza foray with his new Ooni oven while Peter waxes poetic about his marinated tenderloin for Christmas and his better-late-than-never discovery of the virtues of finishing salt, as a result of a gift of a tub of Maldon salt.Paul MacCormack's upcoming Mindful Super Leadership Master Class comes up for discussion, as does a tribute to the late Jim Husting, CGCS, who passed away just before Christmas.
Tony Pioppi chats with Eric Morrison, CGCS at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton, CT, about the seemingly perpetual (since 2009) gradual renovation of the 125 year old Donald Ross designed municipal course located on Long Island Sound. Many of the 100+ bunkers are being renovated for the first time, funded with non-traditional financing within a municipal setting. Plenty at "Royal Shenny" for fans of golf course architecture and history.
In this pre-holiday episode, Dave introduces his new puppy, Walter, named after Walter Woods, venerable course manager at the St. Andrews Links. Peter laments a depressive nosedive since he lost his dog, Frosty... coupled with short day length and the upcoming holidays, both of which can be emotionally problematic for many people. He relates his challenges with Christmas tree stands this year, in particular.Moving on to turf, the talk ranges from Toro's newly introduced autonomous fairway mower all the way back to F-10s, HF-15s and Parkmasters. Dave recalls being considered a rebel when topdressing before aerating, and both Dave and Peter applaud the rising role of equipment managers.Peter waxes poetic about his Ooni pizza oven and the challenges of creating a great dough, along with the social benefits of making pizza for dinner guests... before announcing that he has given up mushroom coffee in protest of Facebook group censorship.
In this special episode of Frankly Speaking highlighting the The First Green program, Frank revisits his conversation with jeff Gullickson, the “Godfather” of the First Green program. The passion that Jeff discusses lays the foundation for the current program managed by Leann Cooper, the Director of First Green And Workforce Development at the GCSAA.Finally Frank catches up with Muhammed Ali, the former GC Superintendent at Morton Golf and now the Parks manager at Southgate Recreation and Park District in Sacramento, CA. Muhammed discusses his background in centuries of farming in Pakistan and bringing the First Green program to Pakistan, where he was able to inspire some local residents and plant the seed for a new generation!
After each experiencing the recent death of a beloved dog, both Dave and Peter look forward to the arrival of new puppies. Glimmers include Peter's hearing from many old friends about his written tribute to Frosty, and a barred owl on a nightime "business trip". They touch on triggers for depression, anger, and the state of social media and YouTube. Lastly, a taste test trial of Everyday Dose mushroom coffee.
The latest TurfNet All Star of Turf is Bill Kreuser, Ph.D., of TurfGrade LLC of Lincoln, Nebraska.Kreuser has a wide range of experience in the turf industry. He is a former golf course superintendent and professor at the University of Nebraska, and along with Doug Soldat, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin, is the founder of TurfGrade LLC.TurfGrade is a multi-platform entity that offers science-based information to turfgrass managers in golf, sports turf, lawn care and sod production.Those offerings include Greenkeeper App, which helps turf managers schedule spray programs; Greenkeeper CIS that creates sprayer maps to guide GPS sprayers; and Greenkeeper University that offers specialized education from many leading university researchers.In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Kreuser discusses his varied background, the evolution of TurfGrade and future plans for the platform.
Frank speaks with Murray Cook, Head of Sports Turf Division at Brightview Sports and a 2025 Inductee into the Virgina Sports Hall of Fame. Murray and Frank discuss three decades of experience, in field construction and renovation for multiple MLB stadiums, Olympic venues, and World Baseball Classic facilities. His expertise spans from the major leagues to emerging baseball markets across Asia and Latin America, where he's helped develop both professional and grassroots facilities. Frank and Murray chat about prep for Field of Dreams, Rickwood Field and Next year at NASCARS Bristol Raceway!
Listen in as Carson Letot, Ph.D., joins TurfNet's John Reitman to discuss his less-than-traditional route from an intern on a golf course to becoming a school teacher to finally being named program coordinator of the USGA Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program.A former TurfNet intern in Ireland, Letot fills us in on how the one-year GAP program works as it helps prepare non-traditional students in the North Carolina Sandhills area for careers in golf turf maintenance. He also addresses how he personalizes it to meet the needs of each participant based on their schedule, needs and previous experience.Finally, Letot talks about how he envisions the program changing in the future to meet the changing needs of those who are enrolled in the program.
Glimmers galore in this somewhat music-themed show. Peter kicks it off with a glimmer about a hand truck and his mother-in-law, while Dave follows up with a nice reach out from Emily Casey about dear, departed Bruce. Stuck in a loneliness funk after being home alone (with two geriatric dogs) for a couple weeks, Peter's day is brightened by a package from an old friend.Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and the unifying joy of live music round out this show.Presented by turfRad.
Frank speaks with Dr. Chas Schmid from Oregon State University on the evolution of his thinking on organic matter and nutrient management from early days meeting in Nebraska, a stint for Chas Ph.D. at Rutgers University and now as part of the thriving OSU Turfgrass Program. An in-depth discussion of modern-day organic matter management with particular reference to the new 5 yr project underway at OSU investigating cultivation and topdressing on Poa annua greens in the PNW is followed by the same throughline from Rutgers to OSU on nutrient management.If you are looking for a deeper understanding of organic and nutrient management, this is the listen for you.
In this episode of Renovation Report Emily Casey, assistant superintendent at Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona, Arizona, talks with Brad Klein about her non-traditional route into the turf business from the corporate world.Casey, who has been chosen to attend next year's BTME conference as part of the Links to Success program, never played golf before moving from the Midwest to Arizona, and discusses learning through on-the-job training and getting valuable renovation experience under superintendent Andy Huber. Casey also discusses how her dog Barley has become the darling of the golf course, the presence of javelinas on the property and the resulting and sudden rise of her social media presence and how it has helped build a new audience of what takes place at Seven Canyons.
In this post-election -- nah -- episode, Dave and Peter share some glimmers, chat about methods for dealing with unwelcome news and limiting the inroads allowed to stressors, talk about sore winners, and dump out the mailbag for comments and feedback. There's a bit of election rehash, the first Lesson from the Bus, and a reaffirmation of why we're doing this.
This episode is a hybridized Podcast/Radio Show starring Mark Hoban, the Jedi Master of golf turf. He forced his way into our studio and demanded we tell the truth about his USGA Metrics Ball methods and results. We managed to trick him into going to lunch early so we could complete the show and slip in a bonus Story Time.
Frank visits with Kayla Kipp, Certified Turfgrass Equipment Manager at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in western Pennsylvania. Kayla takes us through her journey as the daughter of a handyman-Dad to her current leadership role at Nemacolin as well her support of Equipment Managers and Technicians benefiting from her involvement in the GCSAA’s education program. The conversation included a good ole’ deep dive into Reel Theory, her approach to mower set-up and how data informs her decisions. If you are involved in producing golf playing surfaces with reel mowers, you don’t want to miss this episode.
Dave and Peter ponder the passing of Dave's dog Bruce, touch on the US election, debate the value of social media participation, and answer the question of whether Turf Twitter is dead.
Scott Lambert's career in golf began like that of many superintendents — working on a golf course as a summer job.His career shifted onto the fast track after nearly 10 years prepping under William Shirley at Peachtree Golf Club in Brookhaven, Georgia, Lambert ventured 10 miles up the road to Atlanta Country Club, a 1965 William C. Byrd design, where he has been head superintendent since 2019.Although he has been a head superintendent for a short period, Lambert's leadership and professional skills have been recognized by his colleagues, who voted to make him a member of the Georgia GCSA board of directors.In this episode of Rising Stars of Turf, Lambert discusses his start in the business, how he changed majors — and colleges — to pursue his passion and how a decade at Peachtree helped form his outlook on personnel management.
Striking while the iron is hot, Dave and Peter mix it up again with a convo on loneliness at the top and the value of regular face-to-face "safety meetings". Glimmers of the week are shared, as are updates on Bruce and Frosty. Good stuff.Presented by TurfRad.
Frank got the band back together for their annual conversation about the business of golf. Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Golf and Stuart Lindsay of Edgehill Consulting join Frank for a lively chat about the 20 percent growth in golf since the Pandemic, the lower supply of courses, changing golf playing patterns due to remote work and a vibrant economy stimulating the golfing demographic. Always something new to learn about how golf performs as a business.
Dave Wilber and Peter McCormick launch a new unscripted podcast series with an impromptu conversation between two old friends, riffing on Life and Health with a little Turf thrown in for good measure. Topics range from Dave's recent weight loss and new job with turfRad to glimmers, positive energy with aging dogs, food noise, mushroom coffee and the gut microbiome. All good stuff. The first round of hopefully many.
David Webner is winding up a 42 year career in golf turf management, the last almost-25 of which have been as the golf course superintendent at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, Ohio, on the west side of Cleveland. Peter McCormick caught up with David and got some fascinating insight into what makes him tick.
The inimitable Dr. Brandon Horvath from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville joins Frank to chat about his early days growing up playing golf, time with Dr. Joe Vargas, what makes a good candidates for the turfgrass industry, and an elaborate discussion on the analytics of golf and course management. This concludes our interviews of ALL the UT faculty!
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with Dr. Jay McCurdy, Associate Professor and Mississippi State Turfgrass Extension Specialist, about a variety of topics concerning his career that has spanned from farming in TN to working with Dr. Micah Woods in Asia and now as the Mississippi Turfgrass Extension Specialist.Dr. McCurdy has led the USDA Refuge Lawn project that some might say can look like a “grow’d up mess” when the Bermudagrass is actively growing in May. It is clear Dr. McCurdy has a keen sense of his stakeholders in MS and across the US. We are lucky to have him teaching, researching, and extending his knowledge into our industry.
Carrie O'Rourke, founder of COR Golf Fitness, teaches golfers how to increase mobility, balance, speed and power, regardless of age or skill level. In this episode of Renovation Report, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Carrie about the early days of her career in the field of engineering and how she found her passion in helping people enjoy the game of golf more and lead better lives through improved health.Finally, Carrie discusses with Brad how the knowledge she shares with golfers can be beneficial to golf course superintendents in their job on a daily basis.
Carlton Henry was well prepared when he earned his first head superintendent position three years ago at Dedham Country and Polo Club just outside Boston.A native of New York, Henry first prepped at golf courses in his home state, home to the nation’s strictest pesticide regulations. A graduate of the Rutgers turf program, he eventually spent several years working for another Rutgers product, John Zimmers, at both Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh and later the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.As an AIT at Oakmont, Henry was part of a team that oversaw the 2016 U.S. Open and completed many changes and upgrades to the historic Henry Fownes design that is a regular USGA stop. While at Inverness, the historic Donald Ross design underwent significant changes, including an Andrew Green-led restoration and a major tree-management project. During the Covid plagued 2020 golf season, the team at Inverness held an LPGA Tour event with barely a month’s notice.Listen as Carlton discusses how his well-rounded past helped prepare him for his role at Dedham as he ushers the course into the future.
In this episode, old Boof hijacks the radio show and skillfully forces RW to answer questions he has long avoided, like Dad's most guarded turf secret. Storytime features one of Momma's favorite stories, specially adapted to the season we find ourselves in now.
Frank speaks in this episode with PBI-Gordon’s West Research Scientist, Dr. Chrissie Segars. Dr. Segars received a BS at Clemson University, spent a short time as Grad Assistant at LSU “watching Les Miles eating grass”, then an MS and Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University under the tutelage of Dr. Dennis Martin. Short stints in academic life ultimately led to Dr. Segar’s current role exploring Biological Control products as West Research Scientist for PBI-Gordon.This is a lively conversation with a passionate professional committed to educating, encouraging and doing some exploring for the next generation of turfgrass professionals.
Brad Klein talks with Scott Ramsay, CGCS, about his career as a golf course superintendent as well as his new position as an ambassador for U.S. Pitchcare, a consulting service started by a trio of golf course superintendents to help other greenkeepers and sports turf managers find solutions to common turfgrass challenges. Ramsay, the 2006 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year and a past president of the Connecticut GCSA, talks about his career managing a union operation at Yale Golf Club, his decision to retire as a superintendent and what led him to U.S. Pitchcare.Their discussion looks at how the job of a golf course superintendent has changed and the shifting demands placed upon the position, such as environmental and government regulations and challenges, golfer demand, labor issues and sacrifices on family time to name a few.Finally, as new course construction remains slow compared to golf's boom-and-bust era of a generation ago, the discussion includes the focus on restoration projects and the importance of investing in the golf course.
Things get a little touchy at Rockbottum Country Club as all sorts of factors converge to create a divisive, unstable golf course environment. Economic pressures mount, new regulations choke the workflow and another screenager joins the crew, driving Momma to the point of madness. Okay, maybe it's just a short putt.
This episode, with Dr. Becky Bowling, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Tennesee, focuses on the emerging need for working with people when studying and managing turfgrass systems.Dr. Bowling receved her MS at Texas Tech and Ph.D. at University of Georgia with Dr. Gerald Henry. Her research and extension efforts have focused on evaluating and communicating turfgrass best management practices to promote water efficiency, water capture, and water quality in turfgrass systems and related urban greenspaces.
Frank catches up with Jim Croxton, CEO of the British and international Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to discuss their recent visit to join in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Icelandic Greenkeepers Association.Jim is a keen observer and insightful leader of one of the great employee organizations in golf. Lots of fun in this listen and lots to learn about advocating for greenkeeping around the globe!
Kate Torgersen is the owner and founder of Environmental Golf Solutions Australia and now the Torgersen Gilbey partnership, a new company Kate is founding (with Monina Gilbey of Green Gecko Studios) to address emerging needs in golf course environmental stewardship.Frank and Kate speak about the challenges and opportunities for expanding naturalized/native vegetation on your golf course working across staff, members, community groups, government, and anti-golf groups. Kate is a refreshing voice for the golf industry with other leaders such as Brianne Kenny nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship.
Frank has a lively conversation with Brian Stiehler, CGCS MG, the golf course superintendent at Highlands (NC) Country Club and Past President of the Carolinas GCSA.Brian discusses his beginnings in Pennsylvania, his years with the late Dr. George Hamilton at Penn State, and a stint at the Old Course in St. Andrews.The conversation makes its way to his passion for model trains and public service in his local community.
In this episode Frank speaks with Trent Manning, Certified Turfgrass Equipment Manager and host of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast. Trent is the equipment manager at Ansley Golf Club at Settindown Creek in Roswell, Ga, and recipient of the 2022 Edwin Budding Award from the GCSAA, recognizing an equipment manager who has made a significant impact on the golf course and turf industry.This is a far-reaching conversation that reviews the perceptions and stereotypes of the EM position and how real expertise contributes to the success of an operation. Trent clarifies some of the technical aspects of turf equipment and the vital importance of communication for a successful EM.
In this episode, Frank speaks with Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Turfgrass Stress Physiology at Texas A&M, Dr. Manuel Chavarria. Manuel and Frank discuss his progression from Forest Systems in Mexico through his years of study at Texas and brief stint at the former Prairie Turfgrass Research Center in Canada, to his current position at Texas A&M. Manuel and Frank discuss research on salinity stress, pigments and paints and his pioneering effort to provide turfgrass education in Spanish!
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, we pay tribute to Matt Jones, longtime member of Rockbottum, former Golf Course Superintendent, GM, US Army vet and more.In the second half of the show, we experience a rather severe outbreak of gossip, back-biting, name-calling and false witness bearing, which leads to Momma finding a solution to this current social media plague.
The latest TurfNet All Star of Turf is Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, of Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.A graduate of the Rutgers University turfgrass program, Pavonetti has developed a reputation for providing exceptional playing conditions while also being recognized for his efforts at producing an environmentally friendly landscape.In his 17th season at Fairview, Pavonetti previously was superintendent at the Edison Club and the West Point Golf Course at the U.S. Military Academy.In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Pavonetti discusses the importance of his work in government relations and how it benefits the turf industry, his penchant for great golf course photography and the importance of superintendents promoting their efforts while also meeting the exacting standards of a largely New York City membership.
Brad Klein talks with Bob Farren, CGCS, of Pinehurst Resort about his 40-plus-year career at the 10-course property in the North Carolina Sandhills. Their discussion traces the progression of the property in general and specifically the storied history of Pinehurst's famed No. 2 course that was built by Donald Ross a century ago.Pinehurst No. 2 transformed throughout its history as a favorite course of the USGA from its original design to a tree-lined course with narrow fairways to the rustic gem it is today after the restoration by the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.Finally, the discussion includes Pinehurst's role with the USGA, what is next for the property and its role with Sandhills Community College in helping groom the next generation of golf course superintendents.
Brad Klein talks with Bob Farren, CGCS, of Pinehurst Resort about his 40-plus-year career at the 10-course property in the North Carolina Sandhills. Their discussion traces the progression of the property in general and specifically the storied history of Pinehurst's famed No. 2 course that was built by Donald Ross a century ago.Pinehurst No. 2 transformed throughout its history as a favorite course of the USGA from its original design to a tree-lined course with narrow fairways to the rustic gem it is today after the restoration by the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.Finally, the discussion includes Pinehurst's role with the USGA, what is next for the property and its role with Sandhills Community College in helping groom the next generation of golf course superintendents.
Paul Jamrog has returned "home" to oversee the transformation of the former Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, RI, into Met Links, an innovative 9-hole public golf course on a portion of the 90 acre Metacomet property.Jamrog was the golf course superintendent at Metacomet Country Club from 1994 to 2013, when he transitioned into sales. In financial difficulty for some time, Metacomet was purchased for development by Marshall Properties in 2020, with a desire to retain and redesign a portion of the golf course. Robert McNeil ASGCA and the Northeast Golf Company were brought in to spearhead the renovation, and Jamrog was called back to manage the transition. More on that here.In this conversation with Anthony Pioppi, Jamrog reflects on coming back to a very different property from when he left and was away for eight years. He also credits his time in sales with creating within him a greater awareness of the universe of turf care products available to the superitendent today.
Our 11th season of Frankly Speaking begins with a conversation with Professor Ross Braun, one of the great young minds in turfgrass science from Kansas State University. Director of the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center, Ross received his MS and Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science with previous guest Professor Dale Bremer. After Kansas State Ross spent four years as a Research Scholar at Purdue University where he studied the family of fine fescues. Ross does a lot of teaching and is also the author of Decode 6, a blog of the Crop Science Society of America on the role of carbon in agriculture.
Andy Mallick's trajectory as a Rising Star of Turf has been a long one, entailing stops at four golf courses over 14 years before landing his first head superintendent position. Now in his fifth season as superintendent (and 11th overall) at Metedeconk National Golf Club (Jackson, NJ), Mallick had interim stops at Pine Valley Golf Club, Country Club of Darien and Southward Ho Golf Club on Long Island, picking up valuable experience at each one.Mallick credits his girlfriend, Rachel, with grounding his peripatetic instincts and helping him settle down and find a home at Metedeconk. He looks forward to hosting another Korn Ferry Tour event this year and welcoming another Springer Spaniel puppy to their family this week.
In this sensitive and revealing episode of Rockbottum Radio, the entire crew tells it all, aided by literary inspiration from Matt Jones and Peter McCormick... and Momma's Mushroom Truth Serum.Learn what really happened on Ludell's honeymoon and how Rockbottum plans to handle the ball rollback and Golf A.I. Buddy returns from working on Science Interfusional National, an A.I. course, and then RW screws everything up by telling why he's been deliberately provoking the Imperials for 50 years.
Frank sits down with Pamela Sherratt, Turfgrass Specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at THE Ohio State Unniversity. She has a BSc (Honors) in Horticulture from The University of Central Lancashire in England and her MS in Turfgrass Science from The Ohio State University. In April Pam received the 2022-2023 CFAES Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer Award that recognizes her expertise as an educator. Frank and Pam cover a wide range of topics related to training the next generations of turfgrass managers.
TurfNet’s latest All Star of Turf is Steve Ehrbar, CGCS at Panther National Golf Club, a private, single-owner facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.A graduate of the two-year program at Ohio State, Ehrbar has been a legendary fixture in South Florida for years.His career includes stops at Jupiter Hills Golf Club in Tequesta, Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens and Lost Tree in North Palm Beach, the home course of Jack Nicklaus.Ehrbar has been involved in multiple construction projects and his career has been heavily influenced by names like Nicklaus and Pete Dye. In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Steve talks about who and what helped form his career, the importance of leadership and mentoring assistants and team members, the challenges associated with managing a golf course on the edge of Florida’s wetlands as well as labor issues, including how they affect the operation and steps toward solving them.
Our first Rising Star of Turf for 2024 is Jeremiah Mincey, first assistant superintendent at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Georgia. Many might recognize Jeremiah from his activity on TurfTwitter/X and as a recent recipient of a GCI/Aquatrols Super Social Media Award.Jeremiah, 26, graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in business management and then took the certificate program in turfgrass management from the University of Georgia. His first exposure to turf management was when he applied for a student job on the maintenance crew at the Georgia Southern U golf course, under then-superintendent Patrick Reinhardt. From there he interned at Atlanta Athletic Club before moving on to Savannah Quarters.He made a splash on the social media scene with a post asking people to post photos of their favorite golf holes, which generated almost 250 responses. His black Labrador Max is also a frequent subject of his social posts. More recently, he simply asked those more experienced than himself to offer words of guidance to those coming up through the ranks. That yielded a treasure trove of wisdom from over fifty superintendents and others.With an affable, respectful manner, a quick smile and a hearty laugh, Jeremiah is one to watch as his career ascends from here. We are proud to have him as a TurfNet Rising Star of Turf for 2024. Watch or listen, and enjoy the conversation.
Our latest All Star of Turf is Patrick H. Sisk, CGCS, career superintendent, athlete, marathoner, inventor, entrepreneur and family man. Pat guides us through his path from a college transition to early adventures in Colorado and Arizona, then a career that took him from his native coastal Connecticut to 18 years in Milwaukee and recently back to western Massachusetts. It hasn't always been a cakewalk. Early on he fell into substance abuse but clawed his way to sobriety... and has been sober for 36 years.While Pat describes himself as a highly competitive achiever who has always looked for the next mountain to climb, he acknowledges that internal drive and competition can be a blessing and a burden. He values those he has learned from, worked for, worked and served with, mentored and otherwise befriended along the way.Pat invented and brought to market the Green Sweep blower attachment for incorporating topdressing sand with minimal leaf abrasion, which is currently marketed by PrecisionUSA.This All Star of Turf conversation with Peter McCormick ranks as one of the most open, honest and humble discussions we have had. Give it a listen to find out Pat's plans for the next mountain he is getting ready to climb.
Frank sits down with frequent guest and Professor of Weed Science at the University of Tennessee, Jim Brosnan. Jim and Frank cover a wide range of topics that turfgrass managers must be aware of as we confront the lack of new herbicides, the pressure of increasing resistance in weeds, and finish up discussing the recent herbicide restrictions associated with EPA re-registration of Oxadiazon (Ronstar and Andersons Goose and Crabgrass control).
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Marcie Mills of the executive search and consulting firm of Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace about the evolving role of golf course superintendents, matching the right candidate with the proper opportunity and how the best customer experience first depends on delivering the best employee experience. Their discussion includes a review of the skills clubs are looking for in superintendents, the responsibility of head greenkeepers to help tream members develop those skills while inspiring and motivating their teams to maximize the golfer experience.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, learn RW's secret for living a calm and peaceful life on the golf course, regardless of the challenges we face in the years ahead.*Note: This is not your daddy's podcast. It's more like your grandpappy's radio show from 1937.
Frank has a great conversation with old friend and repeat guest John Sorochan, Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science at the University of Tennessee. John has been involved with sports turf since his early days at Michigan State University. He was a key participant with the 1994 World Cup games held in the Pontiac Silverdome where the concept of maintaining grass inside a dome began.Fast forward 30 years later and he is LEADING the effort for the multiple locations and fields in North America to host the World Cup in 2026. For those who like behind the scenes of big events, this is a must listen.
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Illinois-based golf course architect Michael Benkusky of Michael J. Benkusky Golf Course Architecture about his start in golf course design and why some consider it the best profession in the golf industry.Benkusky also discusses how his business is one of relationships and the importance of designing golf courses that are fun yet also offer strategic challenges throughout.Finally, they discuss the camaraderie that exists between architects even in the face of competition for winning design and restoration projects.
Frank Speaks with Dr. Evan Mascitti of Infinite Athlete about his career, MS and Ph.D. at Penn State University, that has led him to be one of the leading thinkers in the study of baseball “dirt”. His pathway had mentors from WI, his role as Manager of Grounds for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and all fostered a keen interest -- bordering on an obsession -- “with the dirt”.You are not going to believe how complex the “dirt” is. Evan’s current position with Infinite Athlete is responsible for testing NFL playing surfaces and provides some insight into the issues and balancing field safety and performance.
A New York Wiseguy and a Philly Punk walk into a Caddyshack with “ginned-up mobsters”… Frank sits down with the inimitable John Reilly, Director of Agronomy at The Resort at Longboat Key and discusses John’s thinking on managing resort golf in an environmentally sensitive area and why he will sometimes discuss the Kreb’s Cycle.John’s pioneering work on the use of data and his interest in sharing and learning and failing and growing are a model for modern professionals in the golf turf industry. As always, this is a fun listen!
Frank catches up with Charles Goode (@GoodeTurf), the Southeastern Sales Lead for GreenSight, a provider of digital cloud-based services for turfgrass professionals to manage all aspects of their operation, from mowing and remote sensing to soil monitoring and staff planning. Charles spent his career in the turfgrass industry from landscape and sod to golf and sports fields. A graduate of NC State and Penn State, Charles has been actively promoting the use of autonomous mowers in the turfgrass industry. This is a fun conversation getting to know a young professional!
In this episode, RW reveals one of the key methods behind the success of Rockbottum CC: the proper use of the New Year's Resolution. Also, Buddy gets "tooken" and Ludell, Willy and Momma form a posse to rescue Buddy.
Anthony Pioppi chats with Dane Wilson, golf course superintendent at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, IA, about the ongoing restoration of the 1922 Langford & Moreau design. Tyler Rae is the architect of the restoration.
In this month's Storytime, learn about the Christmas Miracle that led RW and familty to leave the nomadic military life and transition to the nomadic golf life. Also, we cover a few current news items in golf and maybe some non-golf stuff.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with Dr. Sara Stricker, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Guelph Turfgrass Institute in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.Sara and Frank chat about the people that support the education and research at one of the historically significant turfgrass science programs in the world. Sara expounds upon her wealth of experience in plant pathology, teaching and research that has shaped her perspective on her current role communicating science to the public and to the industry the GTI has so effectively served for over 30 years.
Bradley S. Klein talks with Nick Mazzella about consulting on golf course projects, including renovation projects as well as new construction jobs spurred by the resurgent golf economy. The discussion includes the increased need for a project manager as projects increase in complexity due to the many facets of each job.
In this episode Franks speaks with Amy Fouty, CSFM with The Motz Group as a Natural Grass Field Consultant. She was formerly at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, but before that in the golf industry. Amy speaks with great candor and professionalism about her career path, working in very high profile situations, and dealing with coaches and administrators. She shares her experience working with her mentors and building a network that helped her face some big challenges. She has learned the power of cooperating internally with your team and externally with administrators.
Fred Taylor, CGCS, retired in early October, 2023, after a 43-year stint working exclusively at Mankato Golf Club in his hometown of Mankato, Minnesota. Fred followed in the "bootsteps" of Boots Fuller in 1992, becoming who would wind up as only the third superintendent at MGC in almost 100 years.Fred takes credit for all that goes wrong and give his staff credit for all that is right on the golf course. He has over the years served as a buffer between the staff and club membership,"running interference" for his staff and allowing them to do their jobs unhindered by the inevitable politics of private club operations.Listen in as Fred, a long-time TurfNet member, recounts some of the highlights of his career and the enjoyment he has gotten from it. Fred will also be honored this December by the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association with their Distinguished Service Award.
In this episode Vice President of Hanse Design Jim Wagner has a chat with Frank about the creative process in designing golf courses. Jim and Frank discuss how the renewed excitement for golf, climate change and a good owner are all impacting golf course architecture.
Sam Moynihan took over the reins at Detroit Golf Club this spring just 90 days prior to hosting the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Soon thereafter vandals painted two greens with Roundup as a "welcome" present. The challenge for Sam was on.A graduate of West Virginia Univiersity with a degree in agriculture, Sam kicked off his turf career with a stint at Muirfield Village Golf Club, first under Paul B Latshaw and then Chad Mark. He then moved over to Caves Valley Golf Club for the next five years as first assistant, including hosting the BMW Championship in 2021.Listen in as Sam relates his stressful first months at DGC, repairing the two vandalized greens and hosting a successful RMC event. Find out what Sam can't do without on the golf course, while we take a peek at his rrelationship with his wife Emily since getting married at Muirfield Village.
In this episode, RW hands out the coveted Rockbottum Major Award for the best TurfNet Forum Topic ever. Momma has a lively discussion with a government official who mistakenly believes Social Security is an "Entitlement" while helping him realize the folks north of Richmond need to improve their listening skills. Also, RW explains how to achieve positivity on the golf course by being positive, not just sounding positive.
James Morgan was fresh out of Lake City Community College (now Florida Gateway College) and a summer/part-time stint at the Country Club of Orlando when he followed CCO superintendent Kasey Kauff to build Trinity Forest in Dallas. Morgan started as an assistant and was promoted to superintendent during his 5+ year stay at the Coore/Crenshaw layout. That Coore/Crenshaw connection led him to being selected to grow in Wicker Point Golf Club on Lake Martin, the first new golf construction in Alabama since 2004.Wicker Point opened for play last week, culminating Morgan's efforts since he arrived there in March, 2021. In this conversation with Peter McCormick, James relates how his experiences and connections (including Green Start Academy) led him to this point in his career and as a TurfNet Rising Star of Turf.
Rob Munro is finishing up his third season at Cabot Cliffs in Inverness, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the #1 rated golf course in Canada. Rob landed there with a turf degree from Olds College in Alberta and Poa-and-bentgrass experience at Capilano Golf & Country Club on Vancouver Island, BC. This winter he will travel to New Zealand to satisfy both his yearning for travel and to also put another bullet in his agronomic holster. Have a listen and see why Lee Strutt, Director of Agronomy at Cabot Cape Breton, described Rob as "a leading superintendent of the future for all the right reasons."
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf course architect Dan Hixson on his career in the Pacific Northwest. Hixson's career started as a golf pro, from competing on mini tours to attempting to qualify for the PGA Tour. With a nose for good golf course design, he studied golf course design and eventually shifted his career to that of a golf course architect. After 23 years in the business, he has built a reputation for restoring and designing courses throughout the Oregon and Washington on time and on budget.
Our latest All Star of Turf is Jason Haines, whom many in the industry will remember for his high profile social media presence (as @PenderSuper) that suddenly went dark several years ago. As the golf course superintendent at Pender Harbour Golf Club and later Sunshine Coast Golf Club in British Columbia, Jason developed (by necessity) a low-input, minimalist turf maintenance strategy that he shared and brainstormed with his Twitter following of 8,000+ before deciding to step away from social media entirely. In the interim he was invited to speak at turf conferences in the US, Canada and internationally.In April of 2023 Jason made the leap from British Columbia 3000 miles east to take over the reins at Cabot Links on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Along with Cabot Cliffs and a newer 10-hole short course, Cabot Links is part of Cabot Cape Breton and is ranked #35 on the World Top 100 golf courses. Cabot Cliffs is ranked #1 in Canada.In this fascinating conversation with Peter McCormick, Jason recounts the reasoning behind the advent of his minimalist turf maintenance programs, explains his departure from social media, and the positive move east to Cabot Cape Breton for him and his family. He uses the term "awesome" quite a bit in the conversation.
Lara Arias, golf course superintendent at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, speaks with Frank about her career and what led to her current position. She explains in one of the five languages she speaks how she grew as a professional both in the US and then returning to Europe. Lara has worked on crews at RTJ in VA, TPC Scottsdale, Congressional, and Quail Hollow and developed her expertise in tournament golf that she applied at Le Golf National in 2018 for the last Ryder Cup on Euro soil. She is ready for the challenge of hosting the 2023 Ryder Cup and as a member of the team that will host the event in 2025 at Bethpage in NY we are all rooting for her!
Frank is joined by his old friend, mentor, colleague and gourmet eating buddy Professor Bruce Branham from the University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana. Bruce is a chemist by his original academic training and has conducted, been involved, and reviewed many important studies focused on understanding Nitrogen and its use in turfgrass systems. Frank does all he can do to keep up with Bruce’s depth of knowledge in this area. This is the closest we’ll get to a Master Class on Nitrogen.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, a serious discussion breaks out amidst the usual goofiness, pointing out how golf is about to enter The Fourth Turning. The Rockbottum gang attempts to prepare for the onset of anti-logic perpetrated upon golf by the Rad-Greens and other irrational, oxygen-starved attention seekers.
Join us for the brilliance of Ludell, Momma, Willy and Boof as they duel with a carpetbagger from out west somewhere.
The founder of the First Green Program, Jeff Gullickson, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Kalispel Golf and Country Club (Spokane, WA) joins Frankly Speaking to discuss how a simple idea and a love of the game of golf led to the ground breaking program, now being practiced around the world! Jeff provides some excellent insight from the formation of the idea to the current excitement around using golf courses as STEM education tools, working with FFA and promoting local golf programs to make courses more accessible. Jeff is someone who has always walked the walk when it comes to educating people on golf course management and environmental stewardship.
Dr. Brian Schwartz joins Frankly Speaking to discuss the challenges and opportunities of Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass breeding at the Tifton, GA Experiment Station. Frank and Brian discuss the history of the station and the giants (Drs. Burton and Hanna) he has replaced. This is an excellent primer to understanding the modern Bermudagrasses and Zoysiagrasses that are available as well the strengths that they bring to the market. A must listen for warm season grass growers, but also great information for anyone in the golf turf industry.
Josh Lewis joins this episode of Frankly Speaking to discuss his career and the challenges and opportunities he has had from his early days at Bandon Dunes to Chambers Bay and now in Project Management as a partner in Gradoville and Hertzing Management Group. Josh reflects on his journey to becoming a golf course superintendent and the many relationships he has had and has nurtured along the way. Of course, homage is paid to Professor Tom Cook at Oregon State University who views his student as his measure of success, certainly Josh would be counted among them.
Anthony Pioppi chats with Jeff Sexton, CGCS, about the recently opened 10-1/2 month campus-wide renovation of Evansville (IN) Country Club. ECC brought in Beau Welling Design for the architecture and Heritage Links as the construction contractor.
Sexton said the membership at ECC was patient and understanding throughout the project, and is ecstatic with the results. The golf course reopened on Memorial Day, with a new driving range and short-game area opening July 1.
Jeff touts the contributions of his assistant and equipment manager in helping keep him and the project in line and on task. He also talks about the value of his Twitter account in documenting and communicating the progress of the project, while also serving as an outreach and marketing tool to the general public in the greater Evansville area.
Dr. Stan Kostka joins Frank on this episode of Frankly Speaking to explore the important and timely topic of water repellent soils, the use of surfactants and the potential role of surfactants on critical soil water and rooting relationships. Stan and Frank discuss different surfactant chemistries and their potential use to mitigate localized dry spots, enhance seed establishment and manage certain soil borne diseases and insects. This is a classic “deep dive” (no pun intended) into soil water management with one of the worlds leading experts.
A long-awaited conversation with Frank and his old friend and mentor Brad Klein. Brad and Frank talk about their relationship dating back to GolfWeek's Superintendent News, caddying for Bernhard Langer, translating complicated science to golfers and a variety of opinions on golf course architecture and what it has been like to speak truth to power.
Brad takes on living and dead golf architects, challenges our conventional wisdom about the golf industry , best ways to help superintendents work with PGA pros and shares his thoughts on golf’s biggest challenges. No opinions here.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Josh Smith, the golf course superintendent of Orinda CC in Northern CA. As usual, Frank and Josh cover a lot of ground from his early days in golf course construction and having his paintings commissioned by the likes of Weiskopf and Doak, to his current role as GC Superintendent and the founding and operation of Flag Bag Inc., specializing in custom golf bags made from used golf flags.Josh might be one of the most interesting people in golf course management. This is a good listen!
In this episode, the Rockbottum CC gang gets tangled up in AI golf, but Momma figures out how to neutralize the situation.
Frank has a conversation with Tyler Bloom about the current and future labor issues facing the golf industry. Tyler outlines the value of investing in recruiting and retaining talent at every level of your organization. As usual Frank and Tyler cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, but still have time to talk about the impact of automation and technology on the workforce of tomorrow. Always an interesting conversation.
In this episode, Willy and the gang struggle to complete the radio show while running the golf course and finally just give up and go straight to Storytime for a tale about an Alphabetic Turf Consultationist . . . who hated Rockbottum CC.
Frank had a chance to catch up with an old friend and renowned turfgrass scientist Dr. Roch Gaussoin on the eve of his recent USGA Green Section Award. Roch and Frank catch up about his storied career that led to him receiving the USGA award.The conversation eventually leads to some fascinating information about organic matter testing and development, precision agriculture and the field of turfgrass science at the national and international level.
Frank reconnects with Paul MacCormack, The Mindful Superintendent, to reflect on 10 years of mindfulness practice and living life in a more intentional way. Frank and Paul discuss unlearning, and letting things go as means for offering yourself permission to be present and be human. This wonderful conversation ranges from vulnerability and failure, to how to navigate the path out of the pandemic using mindfulness skills with practice. Paul ends the program guiding us through some box breathing. Take a minute and give this one a listen!
In this episode, Ludell is accused of embarrassing behavior at BIGGA, Boof tries to win a women's golf tournament and RW discusses modern tournament cup-changing methods.Presented by DryJect
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Matthew Staffieri of MAS Golf Construction (Hopkinton, MA) about building a successful golf course construction business from scratch. Staffieri graduated from UCONN with a degree in agronomy and then worked at The Country Club for the 1999 Ryder Cup, where he became intrigued with the idea of shifting careers from golf course maintenance to construction. Teaming up with golf course architects is part of the process.
So who graduates from UMass in 1971 with a BS in Plant and Soil Science, takes an assistant job at a very private/secretive 500 acre facility on the NY/CT border, gets promoted to superintendent three months later, grows in a new back nine... and then stays for 51 years? We'll tell you who: Mike Maffei, CGCS, recently retired golf course superintendent at Morefar in Brewster, NY.Google "Morefar" and you won't come up with much. "A lot of newcomers to Brewster don't even know it's there," quipped Maffei. "We keep a low profile." Only two months into retirement, Maffei still says "we" rather than "them". 51-year habits are hard to break.This is a fascinating story of managing a corporation-owned property that intentionally flew under the radar, and existed solely for the entertainment of corporate guests. "I think we had 350 rounds on 9 holes the first year I was here," Mike recalled. "That grew to maybe 7,000 in our heyday in the late '80s/early '90s, but settled down to the 2500 or so we do today."Mike Maffei is also known for his association activities, serving in virtually all offices and on most committees of the MetGCSA, Hudson Valley GCSA and the New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA). He was instrumental in organizing a Turfgrass Advocacy Lobby Day for state legislators in Albany, which continues today. He is continuing with his committee activities while in retirement. Watch or listen.
In this episode, Frank has an in-depth conversation with Dr. Adam Thoms at Iowa State University about his research on soil management for putting surfaces, use of waste products like amino acids, and other potential biostimulants effects on golf turfgrass performance. Expect some deep dives on how amino acids and glycerin from bio-diesel can improve turfgrass performance. Dr. Thoms is exploring some fascinating nutrient and biostimulant compounds. This is a great listen for a general overview!
Our latest All Star of Turf is Michael Morris, CGCS, 36-year Director of Buildings and Grounds at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, Michigan. A native of Frankfort, Mike is one of the few golf course property managers who has spent his entire career at one course, in his hometown. He is also a rarity in obtaining a BA and MS in English and film studies at Michigan State before realizing that life on the golf course spoke to him more than a future in academia.He is known internationally for his work with Dr. Thom Nikolai in quantifying the effects of lightweight rolling and other greens maintenance practices on ball roll distance and putting green consistency. They took that a step further by correlating that data with golfer satisfaction in order to determine the ideal or proper green speed range for a particular golfing clientele. Together, Mike and Thom presented seminars for GCSAA for over 10 years, around the world.Mike also researched the effects of cutting unit sharpness and adjustment on putting green health and presentation, co-presenting a 5-day QOC Week webinar series for TurfNet back in 2014. He has also presented several webinars and podcasts over the years with John Reitman and Frank Rossi.Some sage wisdom from an astute, thoughtful and courteous career superintendent. We are pleased to recognize his contributions to the industry.
In this episode, RW gets tangled up in AI when he tries to use Chat-GBB to write the radio show and that failure results in a spirited rant aimed at those we entrusted with getting out the water conservation message.Just as the way forward is revealed, Count Noomskool of the World Globalar Golf Forum arrives and waves huge sums of money at Momma, in order to subjugate Rockbottum CC's verboten individualist attitude.
Frank has an in-depth chat with GCSAA’s Director of Government Affairs, and the smartest person in Lawrence, KS, Chava McKeel. Frank and Chava explore the new Memoradum of Understanding between the GCSAA and the EPA, what it means for members, the industry and how it could unlock opportunities for increasing recognition of the value of golf courses as green space. They even manage to get in some conversation on labor issues and communicating to all golf courses about the value of BMPs. Don’t miss a minute of this chat!
In this episode of Renovation Report, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with former superintendent Tom Feller, general manager at Cedar Rapids Country Club in Iowa.A superintendent at Cedar Rapids for nearly 20 years, Feller discusses overseeing a Ron Prichard-led restoration of the 1915 Donald Ross classic, outlasting a half-dozen general managers before finally filling the role himself and the importance of having the right people in place in every phase of the operation.
In this first "It's not just about growing grass" segment of TurfNet All Stars of Turf, we recognize Scott Dodson, CGCS, and John Taylor. Both career superintendents but perhaps better known as the founders of the Golf Course Hockey Challenge, an annual 2-day/4-game tournament that attracted as many as 16 teams of hockey playing superintendents, assistants and suppliers over a 25+ year run.Dodson has been at the Park Country Club in Williamsville (Buffalo) NY for 30 years. Taylor is the property manager at the Grand Niagara Golf Club near Niagara Falls, Ontario.TurfNet fielded a team in the Hockey Challenge for 22 years, providing offseason fun and friendships for many who wore the Team TurfNet jersey. Peter McCormick reminisces with Dodson and Taylor about the memorable exploits, characters and shenanigans that emerged from the event.
Jordon Bowling found his calling into turfgrass management a little later than most, at 22 with a six-month old son to boot. His brother-in-law, Chad Kuzawa, was an NC State turf grad making the rounds of some clubs in the southeast and convinced Jordon to visit from his home in Michigan and shadow him for a couple of days. That set things in motion.He enrolled in the turf management program at Wayne Community College in NC and worked at Wedgewood GC, then Country Club of Virginia, Carolina Country Club and Wade Hampton Golf Club before signing on as the first assistant at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, NC.Jordon tells us about his journey to date, his experiences and mentors, and what hopefully lies ahead for him. Complete disclosure: Chad Kuzawa is an agronomist for EarthWorks (one of our sponsors) and recommended Jordon, among others. That's OK... he qualifies as a Rising Star in our book.
Chad Allen, finishing up his first year as golf course superintendent at the Club at Chatham Hills near Indianapolis, IN, has a unique background and training as a substance abuse and addiction counselor prior to shifting to turf management. A recent attendee of both Green Start and the Syngenta Business Institute, Chad employs a "bottom up" management style that centers on listening to and engaging his staff in the processes of managing the golf course.
Dr. John Dempsey speaks with Frank in this episode of Frankly Speaking focusing on how plant defenses can be activated using certain products and what that defense activation means. Enjoy some lively Irish banter from Dr. Dempsey about his career and our usual deep-dive segment where we endeavor to understand how plants defend themselves against stress and pest.As a special treat we highlight the BTME Trade Show and Continue to Learn Conference in Harrogate, UK (the northwest of England) with special guest Sami Strutt and Deb Burnett. All of us would love to see you there!
Frank chats with regular guest Brian Whitlark, Senior Consulting Agronomist for the USGA’s West Region about getting ready for Desert Golf Season. How did the overseeding go and with more folks staying around in the summer months, how is transition been the last few years? Of course, no conversation would be complete with discussion of water use in the West. Specifically, how a recent collection of seminars is bringing golf industry and water purveyors together to develop a sustainable plan moving forward.
Jared Viarengo of Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania, bucked a trend early in his career by also becoming general manager at the club in eastern Pennsylvania. Since then, Viarengo's role has expanded as the club's director of grounds and director of club operations. In this broadcast, Viarengo discusses how his career started in the field of psychology and how he eventually returned his roots on the golf course, where he had worked during summers since high school.He also talks about those who helped him forge his career and his role mentoring others. Finally, Viarengo talks about how the industry has changed in recent years and how newfound issues are affecting the turf business.
Frank catches up with longtime colleague Professor Jim Baird of UC-Riverside. Frank and Jim discuss a career path that led from a youthful interest in golf and course care to his current role as the lone turfgrass scientist in the UC system. Jim speaks frankly about water, overseeding, product evaluations and the Bermudagrass breeding program that is beginning to show promise in reducing water use and maintaining winter color. You don’t want to miss some of the details Jim shares on what it takes to “Defend Turfgrass in the Desert Southwest”!
Frank sat down recently with the Montgomery County Revenue Authorities Director of Agronomy, Jon Lobenstine to discuss his career development, experiences overseeing 9 golf courses, creating an inclusive culture, as well as robots, GPS sprayers, organic matter and even vineyard management! In typical, “Frankly Speaking-style”, these two cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time!
In this episode of Renovation Report, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with superintendent-turned-consultant Josh Lewis of Gradoville-Hertzing Management Group about the state of the industry in California. Lewis, who worked as a superintendent in Washington and California, also discusses the scope and escalating cost of restoration projects in California and other hot-button issues there, including the cost of and access to adequate water resources in California.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, former USGA Green Section agronomist and now independent consultant Dave Oatis chats with Anthony Pioppi about things clubs should consider prior to embarking on a restoration or major renovation project.
Our latest Rising Star of Turf is J. Richard Brown, newly minted golf course superintendent at Florence (SC) Country Club. Richard got the nod for the Florence job after ten years "apprenticeship" in the South Carolina golf market, starting with five years at various courses in Myrtle Beach before becoming the senior assistant at Orangeburg Country Club, where he remained for the ensuing five years.
Richard participated in one of our Assistant Situation roundtable conversations earlier this year, indicating that he was ready for a head superintendent job but just waiting for the right opportunity to open up. In the meantime, he felt he was being compensated fairly, had a good work/life balance for himself, wife and young son, and didn't want to hopscotch around taking other assistant positions for the sake of a small increment in pay.
In this conversation with Peter McCormick, Richard recounts the recent process of procuring the unadvertised opening at Florence Country Club and what the experience has been like for him so far. Watch or listen!
Some career superintendents make their marks by hosting major tournaments or pushing the agronomic envelope, while others quietly go about their business of growing great grass while also navigating the potholes and pitfalls that invariably spring up over time. John Carlone, CGCS, has done that over 37 years as a golf course superintendent at two clubs in one of the toughest markets in the industry: Long Island, NY.
Fresh out of the University of Rhode Island (where he had a notable roommate, Frank Rossi), Carlone went to work for Scott Niven at the Stanwich Club in 1983 before taking over the reins at Middle Bay Country Club in 1985. He stayed there until 1996 when he left for Meadow Brook Club on the north shore of Long Island, where he has been ever since.
In this conversation with Peter McCormick, Carlone offers hard-earned lessons about family, dedication, staff, club politics, humility, swallowing one's pride when needed and "not mailing it in". A fascinating chat with a good friend of TurfNet for many years and our latest All Star of Turf.
Signals of a changing climate are everywhere, from more intense storms to more frequent droughts. The basis of this change lies in carbon emissions and the solution potentially lies in sequestering the carbon into our soils. Grasses are perfect vehicles for this process.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi speaks with Drs. Claire Phillips of the USDA-ARS and Alec Kowaleski of Oregon State University about their review paper on Carbon Sequestration in Turf and the role turfgrass management plays in emitting carbon.
Rockbottum Radio presents our annual Halloween broadcast, with not one, but three spooky golf stories. These stories are full of scary messages and at least one real good golf course management tip, so send out the crew, close the office door and settle in for some golf trauma as only Rockbottum CC can share.
Frank has another in-depth conversation with a turfgrass breeder, this time Dr. Melodee Fraser, Director of Research Eastern Division for Pure Seed Testing. During the conversation In the TZ, grasses are challenged by heat, drought, excess rainfall and by default lots of foliar and root pathogens. Dr. Fraser outlines the process and lets all us inside the strategy that leading scientists are using to develop the next generation of grasses. A “dramatic” episode.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Michael Osley, CGCS, about his relocation from a 20-year stint in Colorado to take over the resurrection of St. Joseph Bay Golf Club in the crook of the Florida Panhandle. Challenges abounded, including significant course damage and losing his family's home to Hurricane Michael within months of relocating.
Sean Tully of the Meadow Club in Fairfax, California, has made a name for himself as a fan and ultimately an expert on classic-era golf course architecture, particularly Alister MacKenzie designs.
The Meadow Club, where Tully is director of grounds maintenance, is in fact the first course in North America designed by MacKenzie and one of several in Northern California. Tully's expertise in the field has resulted in many opportunities to speak at other golf courses in the region, often to educate members about the history of their own respective clubs.
In this broadcast, he discusses his affinity for classic-era architecture and how it started. He also discusses more current issues, such as the challenges brought on by recurrent drought conditions that have plagued the West for the past generation and the omni-present labor-shortage situation.
In this episode of Me Maintenance, Peter McCormick chats with Zach Bauer, golf course superintendent at the Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colorado, just southeast of Denver. Zach had gone into this year on the heels of myriad construction/renovation projects (both golf course and clubhouse) with depleted groundwater, very dry soils and dessicated turf. Coupled with the short staffing and increased play prevalent within the industry, he started waving the white flag of desperation on Twitter as early as May 4.
With the encouragement of his wife, Karen, Zach made a point of taking time for himself and spending one day a week fly fishing on nearby streams.
Zach tells us about his agronomic and emotional struggles this year and how taking time for himself and his family has helped right the ship. Watch the video or listen to the podcast.
Frank is joined again in this episode with golf business expert Jim Koppenhaver from Pellucid Inc., leaders in golf business data science and analytics to discuss the “covid-dend", i.e., the persistent gains golf has made since the pandemic.
Frank and Jim also discuss how golf can manage the coming recession and what data from previous recessions tell us about how we might handle this one.
In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein about the positive attributes of links golf and why links golf is, in Rubenstein's view, the best golf. They also diiscuss their mutual affection for Royal Dornochourse and how European golf's acceptance of brown conditions is much more conducive to long-term sustainability and even can result in improved playing conditions.
They also discuss how the golf course in Europe often has a central role in the town and can be a resource for families who do not necessarily play golf, but still use it for recreational purposes.
In this episode of Me Maintenance, Peter McCormick chats with Stuart Butler, host of HWOM the Podcast and newly minted Head Greenkeeper at Westgate and Birchington Golf Club on the southeast coast of England.
Leaving a 20-odd year stint as a senior greenkeeper at Royal St. Georges Golf Club and with it the type of work/life balance that many in the industry crave, Stu took over a job that until recently he thought he'd never want. Just six weeks in, Stu says it’s the best decision he has ever made in his professional career.
"I will certainly have less time with my family and more pressure but I’m loving work again. It’s a test but in a good way."
One could argue golf fairway grassing has the largest impact on resource consumption due to the amount of intensely managed land. Large applications of fertilizer, pesticides and water are consumed in our finest operations across the country on fairways.
Frank speaks with Professor Eric Watkins of the University of Minnesota on how grass type impacts management and ultimate performance.
For more than 30 years, David Fruchte has been superintendent at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the site of this year's U.S. Women's Open, which once was owned by LPGA legend Peggy Kirk Bell. A graduate of the turfgrass program at Purdue, Fruchte learned the trade from the legendary David Stone at the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since 1990, Pine Needles has become the epitome of resort golf in the highly competitive North Carolina Sandhills region.
In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Fruchte discusses what it takes to enjoy such a lengthy career at the same property that included being the four-time host superintendent of the U.S. Women's Open, including this year's event. Fruchte also talks about what it was like working for Bell, an LPGA legend and pioneer in instruction and introducing the game to thousands of women.
Fruchte also opens up about the challenges of post-pandemic golf that includes record rates of play and historic labor challenges.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Rockbottum CC's latest hire prefers to work from home, inflation takes a toll on course operations, and RW shifts his customer emphasis from thrifty golfers to the elite class. A run-in with royalty leads RW to wonder how we got here.
Frank speaks with Professor Chase Straw at Texas A & M about precision irrigation management by understanding soils, distribution issues, and digital irrigation management using remote sensing and soil moisture sensing. Dr. Shaw discusses a range of topics that confront the golf turf industry and how the right data used with a well-designed irrigation system by an experienced and progressive superintendent is path forward.
Stick around to the very end when Frank provides a personal perspective on water use in the golf industry.
In this episode Frank Speaks with Paul Roche, irrigation industry veteran and now president of Golf Water of Wake Forest, NC. Frank has known Paul since the mid-1990’s during Paul’s time with a Rochester-based irrigation distributor and eventually as co-author of the definitive irrigation textbook Golf Course Irrigation: Environmental Design and Management Practices.
Frank and Paul discuss a variety of topics related to the most effective irrigation design, operation, and maintenance. A lively discussion ensues around run times, distribution and the best use of the latest technology that leads to water use efficiency. “Are we using the technology in our irrigation systems like driving a Ferrari in first gear?”
In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with golf course superintendent Nick Peinovich of Eau Claire Golf and Country Club in Wisconsin, about a recent renovation of the course near Minnesota's Twin Cities that was designed by Tom Vardon, the lesser-known brother of British golf great Harry Vardon.
Peinovich discusses how a member audit of the golf course just a few months after he was promoted from assistant to head superintendent progressed from a discussion to a bunker renovation to a full-blown restoration by architect Kevin Norby without closing Eau Claire for play.
Anthony Pioppi chats dream career moves and all things Seth Raynor with Alex Beson-Crone, the superintendent at Blue Mound G&CC in Wauwatosa, WI.
Alex grew up in the Milwaukee area and worked up to the assistant postition at Erin Hills, but his life-long dream job was Blue Mound. When the superintendent position opened up there, he made the jump to the Seth Raynor-designed course. His team has been making improvements over the last few years including rebuilding bunkers and massive tree removal while focusing on firm and fast agronomics.
The USGA Mid-Am is at Erin Hills next year and Blue Mound is the site for stroke play, so the layout will be on display on TV.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, our “water guy” Mike Huck, President of Irrigation and Turf Services, chats with Frank about the past, present and future of water. The conversation ranges from “all water is local” and the classic movie “Chinatown” to the obstacles and opportunities for conservation. Will there be a “free market” for water and where will golf fall out in the allocations?
To be sure this is not simply a conversation for golf west of the Mississippi River, but as drought impacts various areas all over the country, these conversations will be relevant.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW pulls a highly classified but long-buried StoryTime out of the vault. It's the kind of story where everyone involved is no longer around to object.
In this special episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank is joined by four top turfgrass diagnosticians from across the USA. Our Northeast correspondent Rich Buckley from Rutgers University, From the ACC we have Lee Butler at NC State, from the Midwest I chat with Kurt Hockenmeyer from UW Madison, and Emily Braithwaite from Oregon State University in the PNW.
These experts provide insights into Spring diseases, insects and nematode issues. Discussion from Pythium root rot and summer patch to Spring dead spot and Ascochyta leaf spot. It’s a plethora of pests and stresses!
The big question on the turf industry's mind after the epic 2016 Ryder Cup Matches at Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, MN) was, "Where's (senior assistant superintendent) Ryan Moy gonna go?" Turns out the answer was one just about nobody expected: Head Groundskeeper for the Minnesota United Football Club at the still under-construction Allianz Field in St. Paul and their training grounds in Blaine, MN.
Once Ryan settled in there he was followed by former Hazeltine interns Mitch Ronning and Peter Braun to form the core of the MNUFC groundskeeping team. We at TurfNet got to know Peter when he was the 2014 TurfNet Intern in Ireland, working at the Mount Juliet Resort.
TurfNet salutes Ryan, Mitch and Peter as Rising Stars of Turf for both their excellent past work in golf course maintenance but also their future in sports turf. This chat with Peter McCormick gives a fascinating glimpse into the career transition from a major golf event for Ryan, the culture shift from golf to sports turf, and the experiences they've had during their years with MNUFC at Allianz Field.
Presented by Earthworks and DryJect.
For parts of four decades, Ralph Kepple has been the caretaker for the historic home course of the late Bobby Jones. A graduate of Ohio State, Kepple was named superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in 1992 and since 2018 has been the club’s director of agronomy. During that time, East Lake has been synonymous with the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship for 21 years.
In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Kepple talks about the keys to career longevity and some of the changes that have occurred at East Lake during its time as the the final stop on the Tour schedule. Chief among those changes have been a conversion from bentgrass putting surfaces to ultradwarf Bermudagrass following a brutally hot summer leading up to the 2007 tournament and the infamous reversing of the nines on the Donald Ross design in advance of the 2016 event, as well as an upcoming restoration project by architect Andrew Green.
Although East Lake occupies an important place in the game's history, it also plays an important role off the golf course through the work of the East Lake Foundation, the goal of which is to help revitalize one of Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods.
In this episode of Me Maintenance, Peter McCormick chats with Steve Cook, CGCS MG, Director of Grounds at Medinah Country Club in Chicagoland, about his life-changing experience climbing Ama Dablam, a 22,000' Himalayan peak in Nepal in 2016. Integral to the project was a fund-raising effort for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, for which Steve raised $35,000.
From the three years of mental preparation and physical training to the month-long trek and ascent itself, Steve recounts his motivations, personal desires, triumphs and satisfactions, mistakes made and lessons learned along with his changed worldview and perspective about life and the golf industry.
A fascinating conversation withan individual who is always climbing higher in life.
In this episode, we reveal how to get nitrogen, along with a short demonstration of the perfect job interview and included is an extremely in-depth segment of Unfiltered News. Storytime is a conflagration of Homeowners hit by Balls and if you stay to the very end, you will be rewarded with information that might save your turf from thinning like my hair.
Frank Speaks at length with Professor William (Billy) Crow from the University of Florida about all things nematodes. How they work as a species? Where we find them? How to sample them? How do you know if you have a nematode problem? And what are the long-term effects of nematicide use?
Billy speaks Frankly about nematicide use in warm season turf and the challenges we face as an industry with managing plant parasitic nematodes and sustaining the many beneficial nematodes and arthropods vital to the soil food web. Billy’s efforts to improve sampling and diagnosis of plant parasitic nematodes has made the UF Nematode Lab an important resource for the turfgrass industry.
In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with golf course architect Nathan Crace of Watermark Golf in Magee, Mississippi, about how his diverse experience in the golf business has helped shape his career.
A native of Indiana and a graduate of Mississippi State University, Crace talks about his background that includes working construction for his father, club management and working with college golf teams across Mississippi have influenced his work as an architect and how he considers economics and sustainability when designing and renovating some of the top layouts around the Southeast.
Tyler Bloom, former golf course superintendent and current workforce development, recruiting and training specialist and entrepreneur, offers his insight into how the golf course industry, chapters, clubs and superintendents can best navigate the current shortage of assistant superintendent candidates.
For more than 15 years, Mark Hoban has built a career of promoting a sustainable and minimalist approach of managing golf course turf at Rivermont Golf Club in Johns Creek, Georgia. At age 67, he insists he is only getting started.
Hoban, who prepped under Palmer Maples at the nearby Standard Club, uses biologicals, homemade compost tea and other organic nutrients to promote healthy turf and soils that require very little fungicides and are naturally resistant to disease pressure.
Through the use of several species of native grasses he has eliminated 30 acres of irrigated turf. Those native areas attract wildlife and he manages bees with the recent addition of an on-site apiary.
Hoban first became interested in sustainability while working for Maples and has further developed his practices largely through research conducted in the agricultural industry.
Hoban's work was brought into the public eye in 2014 through Randy Wilson's video series "Chasing Rivermont" that appeared on TurfNetTV. His work has since won acclaim at the state and national level, and Hoban says none of what he has accomplished would have been possible without the support of Rivermont owner Chris Cupit.
Frank Rossi speaks with Professor Jim Brosnan of the University of Tennessee on the rising concerns of herbicide resistant annual bluegrass and the national project attempting to understand this elusive plant.
Frank and Jim revive Resistance Radio and go deep on the nature of herbicide resistance and the multiple strategies plants develop to elude routine herbicide applications. Jim wonders why weed control is not approached like diseases and insects managed in turf.
The conversation expands to include other difficult-to-control weeds such as goosegrass, nutsedge and crabgrass. This is one of those episodes we will listen to in 10 years and wonder why we didn’t pay attention this critical issue sooner. As Jim so aptly quotes a leading researcher, “the answer to herbicide resistance is not going to come from a jug”.
Jess Atmore, golf course superintendent at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in Cobble Hill, British Columbia, grew up on a golf course but took a non-traditional route to becoming a superintendent. With a recent need to fill an assistant position, he took another non-traditional route to hiring one. In another departure from the norm, he also manages his staff like a hockey team.
Tyler Guy, golf course superintendent at Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club near Chattanooga, TN, joins Peter McCormick to add his take on "Work/Life Balance" to the ongoing "Assistant Situation" conversation. After speaking in generalities for about half an hour, Tyler went on a tear so we cut right to that.
Jaime Matthews spent 13 years as an assistant superintendent before burnout and family responsibilities dictated a change. He has been with Bartlett Tree Experts for two years now and loves the change... but still keeps his eye on the turf industry. "We use a lot of the same products but I now look up instead of down at the turf."
The Assistant Situation conversation continues with "three old bald guys", Kevin Ross, Rick Tegtmeier and (almost bald) Peter McCormick. Both career superintendents and industry veterans, Kevin and Rick discuss points made in previous roundtables and add their own from their experience climbing the career ladder and managing staffs and budgets.
Big welcome to our newest sponsor, Frost Inc. Spray Technology Products!.
Each year the University of Wisconsin-Madison Turfgrass Pathology Program and the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab evaluate over 100 snow mold control products at multiple locations throughout the Northern Great Lakes Region. The man behind that research is Kurt Hockemeyer, the Director of the Diagnostic Lab. He sat down with Frank for a conversation about predicting, controlling and recovering from the variety of snow molds that afflict golf turf systems. You’ll be surprised to hear his take on not treating at all, use of pigments, and asks, “do we really need three active ingredients?”
Peter McCormick goes 1:1 with Jordan Kitchen, golf course superintendent at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.
The second in a series of roundtable discussions on "the Assistant Situation": a dearth of applicants for open assistant superintendent positions, a lack of upward mobility for existing assistants, and a life/work/compensation imbalance within the industry.
In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with Larry Hirsh of Golf Property Analysts of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, about the current economics of the golf business. Hirsh, who entered the business of golf course real estate to fill a void, discusses the golf course as a real estate investment, club politics and how every club can benefit from analyzing its current position from facility, cultural, economic and market perspectives.
Presented by Golf Preservations, The Andersons, and Capillary Bunkers.
In response to a furor of sorts on Twitter after comments made by Steve Cook, CGCS MG, of Medinah Country Club, were posted, we decided to host a series of roundtable discussions to dig further into the topic. This is the full version of the discussion.
In response to a furor of sorts on Twitter after comments made by Steve Cook, CGCS MG, of Medinah Country Club, were posted, we decided to host a series of roundtable discussions to dig further into the topic. This is the condensed version of the discussion.
Frank speaks with long-time colleague and professor at the UW-Madison, Doug Soldat. Doug and Frank have a 15-year history of chatting about all sorts of plant and soil science topics from early days at Cornell, GCSAA Seminars, regional webinars, aas well as previous episodes of this fine podcast.
Doug and Frank take up some “organic matters” of the soil concerning nutrient and water management, and the soon-to-be-released USGA standards for organic matter testing. Lively conversation ensues discussing “chasing fake numbers”, establishing meaningful comparisons to expected water use rates, and why managing growth and organic matter will directly improve playability. Consider this another installment of “what Doug and Frank think this year”.
To say Nate McKinniss is on the career fast track would be an understatement of almost immeasurable proportions.
McKinniss, 27, is the golf course superintendent at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, where Job 1 is keeping the course what he called “Golden Bear ready.” That's a nod to Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course, has a home there and is the host of its biggest event, the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament. McKinniss has worked at the club in suburban Columbus since he graduated from The Ohio State University's four-year turfgrass management program in 2017.
He was promoted into the position of golf course superintendent by Muirfield director of grounds Chad Mark late in 2020.
“I started in 2017 here as an intern, and you talk about how fast things get moving, and usually how it’s been taking a longer amount of time for people, it goes to show that the program that you Chad has getting people on the fast track to that next step, and the people that were in that position before me, four people within four years, have gone on to become superintendents, I think that says a lot about Chad and the program that’s here developing guys,” McKinniss said.
McKinniss accepted a job offer from Mark in 2017 when the latter was superintendent at Inverness Club in Toledo. Between the time the offer was made and graduation day in Columbus, Mark moved on to his dream job, managing Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield.
As a student at Ohio State, McKinniss once voiced a career goal of buying a popular daily fee course in his hometown of Findlay, Ohio. Since graduation, his focus has shifted to preparing for one of the PGA Tour’s premier events and making sure the course is ready every day for its most famous member.
“It’s all about being Golden Bear ready.”
Steve Cook has had a career laced with high profile tournaments, including two U.S. Amateurs, a Ryder Cup, and a PGA Championship while at Oakland Hills, and a BMW Championship in 2019 at Medinah Country Club. Yet to him, a career should be more about contribution than achievement.
He has mentored and graduated many assistants onto their own successful superintendent careers, and takes great pride and satisfaction in the ongoing relationships with them. His primary criterion for hiring an assistant is character. "I owe it to the rest of the team to not bring in someone who isn't a good fit," Cook said. "I look for good people. The other stuff they can learn."
Cook has a knack for boiling the seemingly complex down to the simple, whether it's writing a blog or orchestrating a management plan. "What we do as superintendents really isn't that complicated," he said. "I think we tend to overcomplicate it at times."
Why are there so many open positions for assistants? "Because of the self-inflicted damage we've done to ourselves as an industry over the past two or three decades," according to Cook.
This is a fascinating conversation with one who gets it. Gets the job and life away from it. Who else do you know who had climbed a 22,000 ft mountain in Nepal? Listen and learn.
Mike Lecavalier has been the golf course superintendent at the Kanawaki Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec for 17 years. For 13 of those years, and quite a few prior, he had a serious alcohol problem. Almost four years ago he looked himself in the mirror and admitted to himself that he needed help, and turned to friends, then AA, and ultimately the gym and a personal trainer.
Here is his story.
Peter McCormick visits with Paul B. Hurst, husband of Kristi, father of Nicholas, Madison and Molli, dogfather of Lyla, man of many hats, guitar-playing half of MidLife acoustic duo, instructor in the multi-part So, You Want to Be a Sales Guy video series, honoree of a 2021 TurfNet Jerry Coldiron Positivity Award, and arguably the Most Interesting Man in Turf.
They chat about a recent Tweet of Paul's and how the social media success of his and Kristi's singing and "nitwittery" on Twitter over the past two years have meant to them, and his business. Check it out.
In this episode Frank speaks with Cornell University alumnus, former president of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation and current president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Jason Straka.
After a quick wander through his formative years Jason and Frank take up practical course construction issues, working with golf course superintendents, affordable golf, and the minefield that can be mass media.
Jason speaks candidly about what is fair criticism of golf but also where we are excelling environmentally. Ending with an interesting conversation about access and addressing the length of courses by changing the golf ball.
If you are a golf geek, you will love this chat.
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Stephen Miles of The Preserve Golf Club, which is part of the Palace Casino Resort complex in Vancleave, Mississippi. Miles discusses the current state of the resort golf business on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the success of a recent bunker renovation project.
Anthony Pioppi chats with John McDonald II, vice president of McDonald & Sons Golf Course Builders of Jessup, MD, and newly elected president of the Golf Course Builders Association of America.
The conversation runs the gamut between current health of the build/renovation side of the golf course business, the bid or handshake process of procuring renovation work, and the new tools and technology that have impacted golf course builders... some of which might surprise you!
Frank speaks with Dr. Larry Stowell in this episode about his career path as the son of a California Dept of Agriculture professional, through having to get kicked out of the University of Arizona “'cause I loved it so much” and competing for a job his partner Dr. Wendy Gelernter was recruited for!
This pioneer in data-driven management is always asking questions and seeking the best science to help golf course superintendents be more efficient and effective in achieving their performance goals. What could be a better aspiration! A lovely chat worthy of a good listen.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank catches up with Penn State University Professor John Kaminski in between John’s presentations to golf course superintendents. In his usual candor, John walks us through his early years, wanting to crush everyone’s turf program, and the nature of “we are”.
Some technical topics arise during the conversation regarding thatch collapse and a new Pythium species being researched in John’s lab. There is even talk of the new Diagnostic Lab John is launching. Not too bad for a Penn State Guy!
Presented by DryJect and Plant Food Company.
Anthony Pioppi chats with Doug Larson, golf course superintendent at The Shore Club in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, about his 35+ year career from superintendent to sales and back to superintendent, and the ongoing renovation work spearheaded by Tyler Rae, golf course architect.
Larson describes the bunker work as "economical but with a big impact". Listen in to find out how they're doing it.
Presented by Golf Preservations, The Andersons and Capillary Bunkers.
This is Rockbottum Radio, "What They Don't Want You To Know in '22".
In this New Year's Day episode, we offer a couple of Skeletal Golf Predictions for 2022, some in-depth analysis, a few strategies to deal with what's coming and... Cletus uncovers the most dangerous thing golf has faced in decades.
In Storytime, RW confesses the worst thing he ever did on a golf course, mostly because everybody involved has passed on, or can't remember, or maybe the Statue of Lamentations has run out.
Once again presented by DryJect, the most brilliant method for greens management ever invented.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with longtime friend and turfgrass researcher, consultant, and all-around great guy Mark Mahady. Mark has spent almost 40 years in the turfgrass industry, from some humble golf maintenance shop floor-waxing skills to one of the most sought-after turfgrass consultants/researchers in the Western US.
Mark and Frank speak on a wide range of topics from turfgrass management in the late 1970’s in California, through the 1980’s and the Chemlawn research group. Much of the chat turns to annual bluegrass management and how far we have come as an industry out west. Mark and Frank end up by paying homage to the many innovative superintendents who have contributed to improving annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass management in CA.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with two young leaders in the golf turf industry: Leasha Schwab, the golf course superintendent of Pheasant Run Golf Club in Sharon, Ontario, and Christopher Reverie, golf course superintendent at Allentown Municipal Golf Course, Allentown, PA.
These young leaders have distinguished themselves in unique ways. Individually they are making a difference in the lives of both aspiring and existing golf course professionals. It’s not always easy, and it usually means working more than the next person, but it seems leading is in their DNA.
Spend the morning with Rockbottum as we endure a visit from the Empire and a couple of VIPs, we touch on the latest news for superintendents, try a couple of product evaluations (The Heavy Blanket) and we reveal the axioms that provide the foundation of Rockbottum Philosophy.
In Storytime, there are two stories and several lessons: We expose the current golfer complaint and how to fix it, along with Cruella and The Christmas Day After.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of Renovation Report sponsored by Capillary Bunkers, The Andersons and Golf Preservations, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Matt Pringle, Ph.D., managing director of the USGA Green Section, about the history and role of the Green Section. In his second year heading the century-old Green Section, Pringle discusses the changing role of the Section in the face of changing technology and economic challenges, including new options that Pringle described as "data-driven decision-support tools". Klein and Pringle also discuss the Green Section's plans and subsequent pullback on the USGA's job-search initiative.
In this episode of The TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Peter Brooks, CGCS, superintendent at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida since 1987, about the ABCs of fairway regrassing in South Florida.
This episode of Frankly Speaking returns to the Western US with Dr. Gwen Stahkne of Walla Walla Community College, WA and long-time Washington State Turfgrass Extension Specialist, and Brianne Kenny, an Environmental Scientist at Troon Golf, based in Arizona.
Gwen has a long career that began in the Midwest working with some legends in turfgrass science, Drs. Beard, Turgeon and Shearman. Well trained and outspoken, Gwen established and maintained educational resources for the PNW for the last 40 years. We got a chance to explore those years.
Bri Kenny started waiting tables at a Troon property during her MS program in Environmental Science. She was able to tour the course during onboarding and knew that was the place for her. Nothing quite like hearing the hope and promise of a new generation of scientists and turf professionals. Bri sees golf in a broader context that we could all learn from.
Golf in the desert and in the mountains offer unique experiences in dramatically visual arid environments. This episode of Frankly Speaking focuses on these unique management systems with experts in agronomy and pest management.
Brian Whitlark, USGA Green Section Senior Agronomist in the Southwest and Adam VanDyke, owner and lead scientist at Professional Turf Solutions based in Utah.
Brian and Frank speak frankly about managing desert golf courses in some of the last remaining areas in the US that winter overseed. Overseeding strategies, surface preparation, the Ryegrass Management System and of course water are big topics.
Adam and Frank turn to pests and stress in the mountains. Lots of persistent challenges, emerging pests and managing turf in the mountains when abnormal becomes the new normal with warmer temperatures and less snow.
As usual Frank is able to cover a lot of ground in a short time!
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW finally reveals all of his Skeletal Golf secrets for great greens (Bent or UD) along with the backstory explaining why they were kept secret.
The Mad Golf Prophet offers up his Last Prediction ever and confesses how he knew this supply line dislocation was coming.
Finally, a Halloween tale for Storytime that is too spooky, even for Rockbottum.
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf course architect Kevin Norby about the perceived glamour vs. the reality of designing golf courses throughout the country and around the world. They also discuss some of Kevin's past work and ongoing projects and the role of the architect in making golf courses easier for the superintendent to maintain, especially in times of increased labor and budget challenges.
This expansive Frankly Speaking episode is filled with Science, Economics, and Formula 1. Frank begins with Professor Michelle DaCosta from the University of Massachusetts on her career and winter injury research. You’ll be surprised to learn what a new USDA multi-million-dollar research program will be studying in the next few years.
Frank then turns to long time contributor Jim Koppenhaver, from Pellucid Golf, answering the question, “are we holding onto gains in golf realized in 2020, during 2021?” But the better topic is Jim’s advice for how to put that money back into the most important resource, the golf course.
The show wraps up with a “catch-up” chat with Chris Tritabaugh. Frank and Chris discuss the season in review, what makes a good irrigation system, Formula 1, and taking good care of yourself during some challenging times.
Some Love for Labor!
Frank speaks unusually Frankly with Tyler Bloom, a former golf course superintendent currently specializing in workforce development. A far-reaching conversation about the woes, wins and opportunities that lie ahead for the labor needs in the golf and sports turf industries. Aligning labor and business goals in a golf course operation requires some progressive thinking. Tyler provides some useful tips.
Frank ends the episode checking in with the official SE Diagnostician of the Frankly Speaking Podcast, Lee Butler at NC State University. Frank-Lee speaking about above and below ground issues from the growing season and how to prep for next year’s disease pressure now!
In this episode, Frank Speaks with Pete Cookingham, recently retired director of the Turfgrass Information File based at Michigan State University. Pete reviews the history of the database and the unique nature of managing a topic specific database, like turfgrass science. His lifetime commitment is celebrated every time we use the information and he continually receives donations of information by the pallet!
Frank also chats with Dr. Casey Reynolds, Executive Director of Turfgrass Producers Inc (TPI) about the soon to be voted on Sod Checkoff program. Casey outlines the research and marketing program currently underway with TPI and the startling amount of money that this program could generate. $14 million!
In this episode of Renovation Report, sponsored by The Andersons, Capillary Bunkers and Golf Preservations, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., sits down with golf course architect and restoration specialist Andrew Green about his reputation for taking historic golf courses back in time after years of change. Green, who says his goal is as simple as doing good work with good people, talks specifically about projects such as Scioto Country Club and Inverness Club, site of this year's Solheim Cup matches.
In this episode, RW and the gang deliver an emergency warning about an Army Worm invasion, reveal our progress in golf course robot evaluations, discuss the big change coming in golf and explain why those folks at The Masters need a wall.
In "Storytime" we tell about our favorite time on the golf course.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode, Frank Speaks with Dr. Leah Brilman about the breeding and development of creeping bentgrass, mixtures and blends, and the current state of the turfgrass seed industry from the recent weather patterns to long term supplies. “We'd better get used to paying more for seed”.
Frank then speaks with Emily Braithwaite from Oregon State University about the impact of the heat in the PNW and how “bentgrass is taking over the research farm”.
Frank wraps up the episode with the Mindful Superintendent, Paul MacCormack, discussing how to take care of yourself when short-staffed, and maintaining a healthy relationship with making mistakes.
Inness, a King-Collins design-build project condensing the old Rondout Golf Club from 18 to 9 new holes, opened in June with Anthony Minniti at the helm. It wasn't easy.
Minniti came over from The Creek and Shinnecock Hills to grow in and polish the new resort course Accord, NY, in the upper Hudson Valley between the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains. Weather, short staffing and lots of clay and rock stood in the way.
Anthony Pioppi chats with Minniti about the challenges and the accomplishments at Inness.
In this episode Frank takes a deep dive into spray application technology with Ken Rost of Frost Inc. They cover the gamut from where we are today in turfgrass spray application technology to where we will be tomorrow! Frank then welcomes Derek Settle back to his former role with the Chicago District Golf Association, “My first job was my best job”. Frank and Derek chat about his return, some of the changes he’s seen and what’s the stress and pest situation in 2021. Frank closes the show highlighting more good work in the golf industry with an update on the Wee-One Foundation, with Executive Director Luke Cella.
In this episode of the Renovation Report, sponsored by The Andersons, Capillary Bunkers and Golf Preservations, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks wiith golf course architect Drew Rogers about his time working with his mentor, Arthur Hills, running his own golf course design firm, JDR Design Group, and the transformation of the business from original design to primarily one of restoration and renovation in the face of golf industry contraction.
In this episode Frank chats with Rich Buckley, Director of Diagnostic Services at Rutgers University Plant Diagnostic Lab, about the wet and stress of the growing season in the North. Wet soils, steamy air and soon more heat. Frank and Rich unravel the panoply of fungal problems golf course superintendents are facing.
The episode also highlights the wonderful work of Paula Wienert at Bridge 127 that is connecting many in the golf industry to needs of foster care parents and kids. Any little bit helps and golf has stepped up big time! Learn more from this passionate leader and how you can help.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW reveals an important secret to leadership success, while Jelsik gets a rough mower stuck in the lake and Boof loses his radio. Cletus is forced to put those nasty water jugs back out, Ludell makes his illegal mushroom burgers again and the beer cart driver quits.
Momma inspects the bunkhouse and the winner of The Turpentine Corncob is announced. Just a normal day at Rockbottum CC.
Presented by DryJect.
Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf industry analyst J.J. Keegan. Keegan, who has authored several books, including "The Winning Playbook for Golf Courses" in 2020, is one of the golf industry's leading consultants. He and Brad discuss the business of golf as it relates to golf course superintendents, the role of superintendents in driving the business model and what every greenkeeper needs to know about the economics of today's golf industry.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Franks sits down with Dr. James Hempfling, Field Development Scientist for Bayer Crop Sciences to discuss Anthracnose and dollar spot research at Rutgers, transition from academic to industry science, and his passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the golf turf industry. They even get to chat about his musical roots, interests, and the value of a hobby when you are involved in an immersive profession like academics or golf turf management.
Lots to like here and more to learn!
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Brad Klein chats with 41-year veteran superintendent Peter Bly of Brooklawn Country Club (Fairfield, CT), host site of the 2021 US Senior Women's Open.
Presented by Golf Preservations, The Andersons and Capillary Bunkers.
In this episode Frank returns to the airwaves to chat with Mike Morris, Golf Course and Property Manager at Crystal Downs Country Club, a classic Alistair MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell course in Frankfort, Michigan. Crystal Downs is thought to have been a motivation for Mackenzie’s work with Bobby Jones on his next project, Augusta National. Mike also has been a pioneer in data driven management, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”.
Frank end’s the episode chatting with Professor Lee Miller of the University of Missouri about the early 2021 season and philosophically managing turfgrass stress and disease.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW discusses working for corporations and the increasing complexities of lengthy supply line disruptions in modern times.
Ludell returns from the future to explain how Gen Z solved the problem of professional politicians... and reveals what golf can expect from corporate water tech.
In Storytime, RW tells the tale of his first encounter with corporate indentured servitude: Woolworth's.
This episode of Frankly Speaking begins with a trip Down Under to discuss golf turf management in Australia with John Neylan, longtime agronomist. Frank and John cover a wide range of topics from Poa annua and herbicide resistance to putting green construction and the glorious golf on the sandbelt near Melbourne. John’s long history with annual bluegrass and experience with growing grass in arid and Mediterranean climates provides excellent insight no matter where you grow grass. There is even some discussion of organic matter management based on Claude Crockford’s method used at the Royal Melbourne.
Frank is joined in the second half of the episode by Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Golf to discuss the 2020 season, the start to 2021, and how to use climate and participation data to identify the opportunities to sustain the COVID-bump!
In this episode of "Frank-Lee Speaking", Steve Rabideau of Winged Foot reflects on a career, restoring a couple of classic golf courses and hosting a one-of-kind US Open. The conversation is about construction management, persistence, and managing expectations of a demanding membership and a loyal and dedicated crew. “Nothing prepares you for this.”
Frank also visits with Lee Butler of NC State University discussing issues facing golf course superintendents in the southeast US. Frank and Lee also review the 2020 season in the diagnostic lab that receives samples from around the country. How many were related to a pathogen? Listen to find out.
Presented by Civitas, DryJect and Plant Food Company.
This episode of Rockbottum Radio features another typical day at The Rock, as Cletus realizes why he should wear PPE when spraying, Momma learns how to give legal performance appraisals, Jelsik Muldoon remote applies for a job and famous TurfNetter Charlie Fultz helps remote-write a segment on Emotional Golf Support Animals.
When the crew discusses walk-striping the rough for TV at the TPC, Momma demands RW break his silence and postulate on the matter through Storytime.
RW tells the story of his Dad and The Great Trickle Down... which could have been avoided.
Presented by DryJect.
Frank Rossi connects with fellow Cornell University alum Gil Hanse to discuss his approach to golf course design and the importance of the three-legged stool to effective golf architecture.
Gil discusses the balance of maintenance and playability and how short grass provides hope for the average golfer and a challenging dilemma for the low handicap.
They even get to discuss the music playing in the headphones of the world’s most popular architect! He’s a Dead Head!
New Theme music by Tucker Rossi.
Big thanx for many years of using Grazing in the Grass written by Philemon Hou and performed by South African trumpeteer Hugh Masakela.
As the story goes, “When Masekela was recording an album in 1968, he needed one more song to fill it out. The record company suggested a tune called "Mr. Bull #5" that Masekela had heard on the radio while growing up in Africa.
Philemon Hou, an actor and singer who was visiting the studio that day, came up with a new melody for the song which became the instrumental hit Grazing in the Grass.” It was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 53 years ago.
Put on your snorkel or scuba gear and get ready for a deep dive into wetting agents with Glen Obear from Exacto Inc. The lack of uniform regulation and labelling standards has created significant confusion in fully connecting the science to the practice of using wetting agents for soil water management.
Frank and Glen discuss the latest thinking from leading turfgrass soil scientists to make sense of labelling and efficacy data. Hold your breath to learn about the interaction of soil type and wetting agent use, as well knowing when to hold the water and when to drain it!
Presented by DryJect, Civitas Turf and Plant Food Company.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Momma and RW take calls from famous golf course superintendents like Steve Huffstutler, Matt Crowther, Mark Hoban and several others known only by their code names: Mongo, Fred, and the golf pro from Burnt Run CC.
In the process we learn about how a trail cam caught the bearing-grease-on-the-doorknob shop trickster.
Also, Momma warns the industry about the rash of course robberies and explains exactly how to stop it.
Presented by DryJect.
Frank Rossi returns in 2021 with his old friend Dan Dinelli and former Professional Golfer Carl Schimenti chatting about managing course firmness to adjust playability and traffic tolerance. Frank and Dan explore managing for firmness and how shot angles into and onto the putting surface can be understood. Carl Schimenti and Frank discuss the analytics of course management for playability, traffic management and why some putting surfaces are perceived as bumpy. A 40-minute deep dive in to firmness and playability!
Presented by Civitas Turf, DryJect and Plant Food Company.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW tries to deliver the news amidst financial confusion triggered by Ludell practicing Modern Monetary Theory and nationwide post-ED (electile dysfunction).
The gang tries to strategerize ways to keep TN intellectual property from being stolen... again, while Momma ferrets out a spy with a Kansas accent on the crew.
In a change of pace, RW offers up some film and book reviews to help us all survive the stay at home lifestyle. Films for TurfNet Villagers to watch include The Vast of Night(low budget but brilliant, sci-fi set in the '50s, Amazon Prime), Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen, 2011, with a time travel twist, Netflix) and Wind River(2017, adventure mystery set in Wyoming, Roku). Books on RW's nightstand include Winterkill (1984, Craig Lesley). Warning, it's real literature. Suggest checking your local bookstore or library before ordering from the A-word.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Mike Manthey, superintendent at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville, MN about the recent renovation of the Seth Raynor design. Led by architect Jim Urbina, the project was started and completed in 2020 under Covid-19 safety protocols.
For more history of the project, check out https://golf.com/travel/seth-raynor-map-found-midland-hills/
In this Christmas 2020 episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW and the gang go in depth on several of their ideas for dealing with the golf surge, from the good to the bad to the ugly.
Momma develops her best ever method for dealing with golfer complaints and then for Storytime, RW tells about the mysterious Coach Zontek (not the one you might think...).
Happy Holidays from Rockbottum Country Club, and here's to a MUCH better 2021!
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host John Reitman chats with Chris Cochran, Senior Design Associate of Nicklaus Design, about the American Dunes Golf Club project in Grand Haven, MI.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW and the Rockbottum gang discuss Great Leaps Forward (GLFs) in Golf, along with a few Great Leaps Backward. They also present the Rockbottum CC Frying Pan for Excellence in Skeletal Golf Theory Award to the winner.
In Storytime, Willy tells about the time an evil golf pro made a great leap backward with a little help from a teenager who shall remain nameless.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Jon Kiger chats with Scott LesChander, superintendent at Terrace Park Country Club near Cincinnati, about the ongoing renovation work and irrigation system upgrade.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
Ken Benoit's Connect to Protect Tour concludes on this episode of the Turfgrass Hotline. Ken completed his 3400 mile, 36 day journey across the US by dipping his bike into the Pacific Ocean. Frank and Ken review the high- and lowlights of the journey and the work that lies ahead to actually adopt BMPs across the country, not just talk about and publish them!
Ken’s journey has been celebrated by many in the golf industry and it's clear he has found that personal and professional compass he sought a few months ago!
In this episode, RW explains why Rivermont GC is the Model for the future of golf... Ludell recalls the worst GCS tyrant ever... and the gang discusses what makes the best face masks. Before he takes us along for a trip to the dermatologist, RW tells how to be a legendary golf architect.
Also, just before heading out to early vote, the pro shop tunes into a mysterious broadcast from RW's long forgotten Altered Ego, Ydnar, who offers a solution to the chaos of 2020.
Presented by DryJect.
Frank catches up with Ken Benoit twice in this extended episode of the Turfgrass Hotline highlighting the Connect to Protect tour. Ken’s logged over 1800 miles and another 6 miles straight up and he is still in the great plains! Before he heads across the Continental Divide he has tells us about a few Golf Course Supts. in the Great State of Nebraska!
There are some heartwarming moments and gut-wrenching frustration on the road. Ken faces a lot of adversity and continues to see that the diversity across the US can be a strength not a weakness. Keep abreast of the journey at ecoturfconsulting.com.
In this edition of TurfNet University, sponsored by Brandt, Todd Hicks of the turfgrass pathology department at Ohio State University discusses some of the issues that he and colleague Joe Rimelspach are hearing from golf course superintendents. This includes disease issues like dollar spot and anthracnose as well as other challenges associated with stress from traffic, a lot of play and a summer that has been very hot and dry. He also discusses some of the challenges to helping superintendents while being prohibited from traveling to golf courses around the state due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Connect to Protect Tour pedals on with Ken Benoit on ride day 13 (total day 15) and closing in on 1300 miles as he puts his leg up for a few days in IA with Tim Gravert. BMPs of water use reduction and pollinators are highlighted on these course visits and just as much learning going on internally for Ken as a “niggle” turned to a “bark” from his Achilles tendon.
Adjustments to the pedaling stroke are being made, new and old friendships made and renewed, and a positive journey hopes to continue into Nebraska. In fact, Ken’s looking for a course visit in the Cornhusker State! Join Ken as he enters the great grasslands of the US at ecoturfconsulting.com.
This week the Hotline is in heart of the transition zone with Professor Lee Miller at the University of Missouri. Root diseases are dominating the pest scene and extremes of moisture (wet and dry) that expose weaknesses in rootzones as saturated black layer or persistent localized dryspot.
Lee suggests seeding to help recover from summer stress woes and discusses the value of selecting good varieties for the transition zone and for him why Perennial Ryegrass is considered the “quick and the dead” of turfgrasses!
As usual a lot of above- and below-ground information gets covered in 15 minutes! Even a shout out to the Carolina Show, expected to promote nationwide education this Fall.
We are on the road again this week with Ken Benoit and the Connect to Protect Tour. We caught up with Ken In OH with some aches and pains, some bumps in the road, and more Best Golf Course Management Practices focused on Environmental Stewardship.
Ken’s is 1000 miles into the journey across the country and has already visited iconic venues in OH, IL and soon IA. Superintendent are intentionally reducing water use, fertilizer use and pesticide use, not because they have to but because it’s the right thing to do.
And some of the car drivers in OH might learn about the “right thing to do” when it comes to bikes on the road! “I’m just a guy on a bike, trying to get to Oregon,” says Ken. Listen to learn more!
This week the Turfgrass Hotline. is tracking the Connect to Protect Tour, a 3000 mile bike journey by my friend, Ken Benoit, CGCS. Ken is the President and Founder of EcoTurf Consulting and a long time golf course superintendent conditioning golf courses for 25 years.
Ken, an avid and experienced cyclist, is riding 3000 miles in 30 days with 40 lbs of gear on the Connect to Protect Tour, highlighting best management practices for water quality protection across the US. His goal is "to raise awareness within the golf industry of the importance for golf course facilities to adopt BMPs and to demonstrate, to people outside the golf community, golf’s dedication to preserving and protecting water quality, pollinators and wildlife habitat."
For Ken this is as much a personal journey as a professional one.
We recorded this interview on Monday August 17, right before Ken headed from State College to Westerville, OH, a 112 mile ride.
Follow Ken's travels on his YouTube channel (Eco Turf Consulting) Twitter feed (@ecoturfconsult) and Instagram (@eco.turf.consulting).
In this episode, RW and gang deal with "News Depression" and how to fix it, as well as "Skin Cancer and The GCS"... and our solution. Rockbottum tackles questionable turf lab results and the best way to cure them, and studies an important survey that affects the golf course crew.
Also, they discuss spoiled tour players, the impact of social media on our jobs, and then go in-depth on the current golf boom and how to sustain it.
Presented by DryJect.
The August Editions of the Turfgrass Hotline starts with Rich Buckley of Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab, and the “Ugly” situation many in the northeast are facing with the “cumulative effects” of summer stress, ideal fungal conditions and already weakened turf.
Recognizing the tools available for control and the data used to predict pests, golf course superintendents have good short term options. But for the widespread turf loss, it might be time for more resistant varieties.
As usual, a quick 15 min trip through the troubles of growing grass in the Northeast!
Recorded August 12, 2020.
Frank Rossi takes the hotline on the road to Nebraska to chat with Professor Bill Kreuser about his growth management work with mowing heights, nitrogen rate and PGR program impacts on performance.
Just in time for the virtual field day this week. Be sure to take look and listen.
Recorded August 7, 2020.
Frank Hale, Ph.D., entomologist at the University of Tennessee, talks about turfgrass insect pests that are common and native to warm- and cool-season turf in Tennessee, and also shares management tips. Hale, who is based at the university's Soil, Plant and Pest Center in Nashville, also discusses how changing climate conditions have affected pest migration, the threat of invasive species and the importance of daily scouting on golf courses to minimize damage and inputs.
Frank Rossi chats again with UW-Madison Badger Turfgrass Pathologist Paul Koch about the onslaught of disease issues facing midwestern superintendents, an alarming outbreak of annual bluegrass weevil, and what lies ahead for those sustaining annual bluegrass in the face of summer patch and anthracnose issues!
This is this is the best 18 minutes you will spend learning this week!
Annual bluegrass remains a blessing and curse to the golf turf industry. Professor Shawn Askew, Weed Scientist Extraordinaire from The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, has been studying the impact of annual bluegrass on trueness of a putting surface, as well as being expert on the use of PoaCure (Methiolzolin) for annual bluegrass control in creeping bentgrass.
As an extra treat, Shawn is an accomplished “grass rapper” so be sure to listen all the way to the end. You don’t want to miss it!
In this July 21, 2020 episode of Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi makes his monthly visit with Lee Butler, Director of Diagnostic Services at NC State as he’s driving to the mountains of North Carolina! A lively discussion of Take-All Root Rot, a complex of root pathogens attacking Ultra-Dwarf Bermudagrass. It’s been pretty good bentgrass and bermudagrass weather, Lee tells us, but there are problems ahead with heat building and plentiful moisture. You don’t want to miss the warning at the end!
Presented by DryJect, Civitas and Plant Food Company.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi speaks with Angelica Carmen, Sustainability Specialist at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, IL. Angelica works with golf course supt. Chris Flick and directs Fairway Farms, a farm to table experience at one of the world’s great public golf courses! Frank and Angelica discuss establishing a small urban farm among 4 four golf courses and using the land to promote environmental stewardship and food production. There are plenty of tips for you to see how a farm to table experience might be just the thing in a Post-COVID world!
Presented by DryJect, Civitas/Intelligro and Plant Food Company.
In this more serious episode from Rockbottum Country Club, Randy and the gang share their experience in golf course renovations and resurrections. In Storytime, they tell about one of their most successful reno projects ever.
Cletus solves the coronavirus mask shortage problem; visiting "Science Boy, Ph.D." tests a new technique for killing sting 'todes, and Willy gets thrown in timeout for fighting amongst himself.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Turfgrass Hotline Northeast, Frank Rossi and Rich Buckley discuss the onset of summer stress, anthracnose, root diseases and how to build resiliency into your playing surfaces. As Frank and Rich “make do with what they got”, the rest of us get to enjoy another lively conversation regarding the pest and stress turf managers are facing in the northeast!
Recorded July 7, 2020. Presented by DryJect, Civitas and Plant Food Company.
In this episode of Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi and Lee Butler chat about a warm, wet start to the season during the COVID lockdown, and how both warm- and cool-season grasses struggle with rooting issues from nematodes to take-all! A lively discussion about Asco-whatta? Leaf spot and brown patch in tall fescue.
It’s a great day in the Carolinas! Recorded June 23, 2020.
Presented by DryJect, Intelligro/Civitas and Plant Food Company.
The roller coaster that is the Spring season in the Midwest did not disappoint. In fact, the BEST snow mold year, says Dr. Paul Koch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison... and now summer patch samples, Pythium root issues in areas that are very wet (like Iowa), and using dollar spot model to justify new fairway grasses. Whew! Lot of ground covered with this Badger!
Recorded June 23, 2020.
Presented by DryJect, Intelligro/Civitas and Plant Food Company.
Ohio State professor Karl Danneberger, Ph.D., shares his experience with the Covid-19 virus. Karl was diagnosed with virus in March, spent a month in the hospital at OSU. He talks with us about pre-existing conditions that made him more vulnerable to the disease, his experiences on a ventilator, going through rehab, dealing with some residual health issues since being released from the hospital, the strength of his family, what it was like to finally see his wife after being apart for a month and his newfound appreciation for the Whopper sandwich.
In this Turfgrass Hotline Transition Zone Edition, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Lee Miller of the University of Missouri about cool weather issues on zoysiagrass, Pythium root rot, and dollar spot pressure.
Recorded June 16, 2020.
In this episode of the Turfgrass Hotline Pacific Northwest, Frank Rossi chats with the newly minted Dr. Clint Mattox of Oregon State University. Among the overall growing season update, topics include the always present microdochium patch, yellow patch, anthracnose, Poa annua, fine fescue and cultivation research from the lone research center in the PNW!
Recorded June 16, 2020.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW changes things up and leads off with Storytime, telling about the time he led a protest movement to overthrow a high school cafeteria.
Then, as Anti-Golf occupies Rockbottum CC, turning it into a free "People's Park", chaos is averted as Ludell defuses the situation with a brilliant strategy that involves golf, mushrooms and common sense.
RW explains his solution for fixin' all this turmoil, in the midst of a big manhunt for Cletus, who supposedly made off with Romina Satchel's unmentionables.
Presented by DryJect.
In this first episode of the (Northeast US Edition) Turfgrass Hotline for 2020, Frank Rossi chats with Rich Buckley, Director of the Diagnostic Clinic at Rutgers University. Rich and Frank discuss the impact of early growth regulation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic on plant stress and pathogens. Snippets on Pythium root rot, annual bluegrass weevil larval damage and using predictive models for dollar spot management programs that are less reliant on fungicides. Rich and Frank cover a lot of ground in less than 15 min! Recorded June 8, 2020.
Presented by DryJect, Intelligro/Civitas, and Plant Food Company
The current pandemic has invigorated public interest in being out in green space and golfers anxious to get back out and play. In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi and Parker Anderson of Greener Golf explore the science behind our desire for being on the golf course, the conflict with the public regarding community use of the space, and returning to golf. He has a mindfulness chat with Paul MacCormack as things begin to open up, and a new book review segment with Chris Tritabaugh chatting about Minnesota native Thomas Friedman’s Thank You for Being Late.
Presented by DryJect,Civitas and Plant Food Company.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, direct from deep in the TurfNet Zone, Willy preaches the power of positive energy in the face of the negative vibrations emanating from... well, just about everywhere these days. Multi-tasking while preaching, Willy also must deal with troublesome golfers, weakening infrastructure, another Mushroom Burger Day, and allegations of poison on the Food and Beer cart.
During the hallucinogenic bliss of Shroom Burger Day, the truth behind what happened to Hector is accidentally revealed.
Willy shares tips to help us endure an economic adjustment with a positive outlook, and then unleashes one of the great Storytime features, "Uncle Whip and the Packard".
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Dean Sparks, golf course superintendent at Davenport (IA) Country Club about the ongoing improvements being performed in-house under the annual guidance of architects Ron Forse and Jim Nagle.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this first episode of Frankly Speaking for 2020, Frank Rossi chats with Jim Koppenhaver (Pellucid Consulting), Stuart Lindsay (Edgehill Golf Advisors), Jamie Robb (superintendent at Marine Drive Golf Club, N Vancouver, BC), and Craig Cochran (supt at Van Patten Golf Club, Albany-area, NY) about the impact of COVID-19 now and moving forward on the golf economy, the game and golf course operations from the dining room to putting surfaces.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode, Randy explains why Rockbottum Radio is more like an Old Timey radio show from 1940 than a modern podcast with serious interview segments. It's entertainment with a goofy perspective and an occasional subliminal message. The job of the golf course superintendent has gotten more serious over the years, and sometimes it helps to have a more relaxed if even twisted view of this industry. You know, with a few laughs... now more than ever.
Among the shenigans going on at Rockbottum CC, the closed course gets slammed with golfers, setting a record for play, forcing them to figure out a way to charge money while maintaining social distance distance.
Boof gets electrocuted by his wife, Momma has to use her drones to maintain order on the course and they have to refuse to accept hundert dollar bills because they have some kind of chip in them.
In Storytime, Willy tells another of those stories from '72 that probably should have remained in the vault, but has an important message in there somewhere.
Enjoy the listen... and the break from the serious.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Scott Bordner, who recently moved from Chicago Golf Club to a rebuild project of the old Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton, New Jersey, near Atlantic City. Renamed Union League National Golf Club, the original Hurdzan/Fry design is being redone by Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
Join Dave Wilber and Kevin Hicks as they talk about what the Corona Virus means to looking at our world going forward.
Kevin Hicks is the Western Regional Agronomist for Earthworks. He's also been a golf course superintendent and understands very well what times of change mean in our business. Kevin recently tweeted a short video talking about his thoughts about preparing for change and difficult times. It was a from the heart masterpice. You can see it here.
Dave asked Kevin to go more into depth about that video. What came from that was a sharing of wisdom and knowledge from two dedicated professionals who are old friends and have seen a thing or two. While this is indeed an unpresidented time in our history, much can be developed by looking at the past and seeing how to apply those lessons, while moving forward.
Thank you for listening to one of the most important podcasts ever to be presented on TurfNet Radio.
How are you as turfgrass managers handling the trying time of the Coronavirus? Some ideas from Dave Wilber.
There is no question that the coronavirus is affecting all of our lives. Dave shares some advice of his own and others about what golf course superintendents and other turf managers are and should be doing.
White it is true that we have so many things to worry about concerning a worldwide health issue, the jobs that keep us employed are also of great importance. Some perspective on Leadership and Agronomy and Self-Care are a good thing.
Follow Dave on Twitter @turfgrasszealot.
Jake Mendoza, superintendent at historic Detroit Golf Club discusses how working for a few legendary superintendents help shape his career and prepare him for his current position. He also discusses following another legend who logged more than 50 years on the job at Detroit, inheriting the PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic and how new challenges, such as labor issues, affect daily maintenance practices on 36 holes that were designed by Donald Ross and at a club where Ross's brother was president for three decades.
Dave Wilber interviews Peter Kessler, long time host and driving force of The Golf Channel.
The Turfgrass Zealot project starts his year 2020 season with a bang! Peter Kessler, known as perhaps the greatest interviewer in Golf Media history joins Dave Wilber for a fun and unique conversation. Peter talks about his love of the game and those in the game. And provides some facinating stories. Wrestling with Arnie? Yes. It's here. Peter also talks about what Golf Course Superintendents and Greenkeeping mean to him.
Enjoy this conversation with two dedicated and unique, if not outright savants. Only on TurfNet.com!
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Rob Collins of King Collins Golf Course Design, one of the new generation of "movers and shapers" bringing fresh thought to golf course design and construction.
King Collins is the firm behind Sweetens Cove, Signal Mountain and The Buck Club, and is currently reworking the old Rondout Country Club in Accord, NY, a renovated 12-hole public track in Jackson, MI, and the new Landmand project in Nebraska.
Presented by Golf Course Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, the brilliance fairly gushes forth from the inhabitants of Rockbottum, with advice, observations and rants on everything from Skeletal Golf Theory to concussions, low budget superintendent relaxation techniques, fake waterfalls, what happened when the Mayor's wife picked a fight with Momma... and why playing your own golf course is not playing golf. It's something else. Finally, beware the red-circled tree for man-relief.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, presented by DryJect, Randy reveals his proven method for upgrading your BS filter. Then, Fester N. Boyle, the former green chair at Stinkin' Pond CC drops by to offer Momma some suggestions on golf maintenance.
Ludell sells golf insurance and extended golf swing warranties before getting in real trouble when he joins Buddy in a special yoga class at the gym, while Randy goes on about how to use Crowd Wisdom to see the future of golf.
In Storytime, RW tells about how he and brother Mike became golf course rocket scientists and managed to lower the surrounding property values.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Peter Dernoeden reflects on his academic, research and extension career in turfgrass pathology from Colorado and Rhode Island to Maryland, and his six degrees of separation from so many notable personalities in the turf industry.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In this holiday episode of Rockbottum Radio, among zero-environmental impact mowers and white-lightning eggnog, it's the annual Christmas dinner for the crew and a twisted attempt at caroling ("In the fairway we can build a snowman..."). Aint Feemy runs over a slow-play golfer with her cart for calling her a Boomer. And, for Storytime, RW tells about his most memorable Christmas (1977, after two seasons as an assistant superintendent), when he also discovered Clarence the angel and Mr. Potter.
As his gift to all of us, RW suggests that in this time of division, anger and irrational reactions, we should consider the influence we have over friends and family, and how much impact our behavior has on our crew. Ask yourself this: will my effect next year be positive or negative?
RW and the Gang also welcome their new sponsor, DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dan Dinelli relates what he has learned from his recent conversion from Poa annua on native soil greens to bentgrass on sand-based greens at North Shore Country Club near Chicago.
A fresh look at behavior and management of organic matter and biomass in sand-based systems, down to the single-particle level. A fascinating discussion!
Frankly Speaking is presented by Civitas/Intelligro and DryJect.
Carlton Henry, assistant superintendent at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, talks in this episode of The Ladder about the compressed schedule of the restoration of this Donald Ross classic golf course to make it relevant for today's game. He also talks about the compressed schedule to restore one of Ross's personal favorites so that it was ready to host this year's U.S. Junior Amateur, as well as preparations for the 2021 Solheim Cup in Toledo. Finally, he talks about learning the business of being a golf course superintendent from John Zimmers, the role he and fellow assistant Ryan Kaczor play in budgeting and communicating with members on a day-to-day basis.
In this episode of Living Legends sponsored by Nufarm and Wiedenman, Jim Husting, recently retired from Woodbridge Golf and Country Club in California, talks about how the job of the golf course superintendent has changed since the 1980s, the challenges associated with finding and retaining labor in today's golf market, his role in government relations and how it helped the golf industry on the local level in California, why he enjoys teaching turf and horticulture at San Joaquin Delta Community College after retirement.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, broadcasting from deep in the TurfNet Zone, Momma cooks up Himalayan Possum Stew and has to call in an expert pathologist... Aint Feemy picks the range and doesn't feel a thing... and an important golf corporation exec gets trapped by the Robot Commode in Rockbottum's new high-tech restroom.
Baffled with BS: During Willy's intellectual segment, Buddy rounds up a road trip posse to hunt down the TurfTruthers, a gang of dry-gulchin', bulltwit slingin' yayhoos just trying to fit in with the cool kids and avenge years of wedgies and toilet swirlies. Momma says it best: Never trust a twitter who won't give you his real name.
In this episode of The Ladder, Ryan Kaczor, assistant superintendent at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, discusses working for superintendents like John Zimmers, both at Inverness and Oakmont, and Steve Cook at Oakland Hills, and how those experiences are helping him prepare for his first crack at being a head superintendent. A graduate of Michigan State, Ryan also talks about the recent restoration at Inverness, one of Donald Ross’s favorite designs, and how contemporary architect Andrew Green brought the 1918 classic back to its roots. Ryan also talks about how the challenges involved with completing the restoration just ahead of this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, and efforts under way to bring the 2021 Solheim Cup to northwestern Ohio.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Jeff Johnson, golf course superintendent at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, about their 2018 strip-and-seed regrassing project that opened earlier this year.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr John Sorochan of the University of Tennessee about the latest research in measurement and testing technology for management of sports turf surface performance and safety.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Jim Brosnan of the University of Tennessee about the effect of weather trends in application decision making and weed species shiftefficacy (and herbicide resistance) of Poa annua control programsthe ongoing four-year, $5.7 million project among 15 universities to assess the national-scale herbicide-resistance epidemic in annual bluegrass in managed turfgrass systems the involvement and position of universities and extension on the recent glyphosate debacle. Presented by DryJect and Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW seeks to avoid offensive discourse by installing a special Podcast Offensive Warning Device (POWD), which emits a BS alert when anything potentially offensive is emitted.
The screen-free gang at Rockbottum CC receives the worst-ever Social Credit Score, forcing Momma to retain a Social Engineering Expert -- Horton Pantslow -- to bring Rockbottum CC into the modern era. A mandatory staff meeting after lunch ensues.
The first lesson of Horton's seminar focused on working smarter not harder, raising the bar and seeing the course with new eyes while taking the course to the next level and doing more with less. The Rockbottum SCS is pushed into negative territory as a result.
The meeting winds up with a serious discussion about Growing the Game and Global Worming...
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Karl Guillard of UConn about nitrogen behavior in the soil and current thinking on late season nitrogen application and water protection, mineralization rates, organic matter accumulation... and more.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas Turf Defense.
Dick Gray of PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, talks about the art of greenkeeping and career longevity in this episode of Living Legends. The 2016 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year, Gray also discusses the importance of coaching and training his staff and how a superintendent only can be as successful as the rest of his team. Other topics include how people like Pete Dye and activities including snook fishing and "wrasslin" in high school and college have shaped his career as a greenkeeper.
In this episode of the Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with Clint Mattox of Oregon State about turf conditions and management strategies as summer winds down in the Pacific Northwest.
Recorded September 5, 2019.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro | Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW reveals who is poaching our assistants, equipment techs and crew members, while explaining how to defeat the Mole People with careful use of the TurfNet Jobs board.
In "Storytime" he tells about the time the Mole People almost got him.
Also, Boof gets into it with Aint Feemy about her yoga pants, the gang provides a few tips to help determine whether your course is operating under Skeletal parameters or has just hit Rockbottum, and the Anti-Golf protest leader returns in his new role as local college golf coach.
For your listening pleasure...
David Dore-Smith, golf course superintendent at Copperleaf Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Florida, discusses his career plan, including a transition from a desire to become a landscape architect to golf course superintendent. He also discusses why it was important for him to leave his native Australia to pursue his dream, how an internship program at Ohio State University helped him realize his dream and what he has learned along the way from the likes of fellow Aussie Greg Norman and others. He shares tips for aspiring golf course superintendents to set themselves apart from their contemporaries as they climb the career ladder.
With the 2019 NFL football season upon us, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Andy McNitt of Penn State about recent advancements and technologies in sports field system management including measurement of field characteristics -- firmness, surface stability, traction, etc. All important, as 20% of football injuries remain field-related.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this podcast for the TurfNet multimedia Women in Turf series, Jon Kiger chats with Tracey Maddison, head of membership at BIGGA, about the challenge of getting more females involved in golf course maintenance.
Presented by Foley.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. David McCall, assistant professor of turfgrass pathology at Virginia Tech. Topics of discussion include McCall's research on turfgrass pathology in the transition zone, his work with drones and remote sensing, and GPS-guided spray application.
Follow David on Twitter at @VTTurfPath.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas Turf Defense.
Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Clark Throssell about his circuitous career from his Montana roots through Penn State to Kansas State, GCSAA, Purdue and Lebanon Turf to hanging out his own shingle with Turfgrass R & D, Inc., in Billings, Montana.
Along the way, Throssell served as director of research for GCSAA; research committees of the USGA, O. J Noer Foundation and Crop Science Society of America, and technical resource for the Peaks and Prairies GCSA.
Along the way, Frank and Clark chat about data collection and management, water use and other challenges facing superintendents today.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas/Intelligro.
Lianne Larson has been superintendent at White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts for 23 years. In this episode of Women in Turf, sponsored by Foley, she talks about her career in the golf business, how she got started and who helped her develop her career along the way. Lianne also discusses what the business was like for women more than two decades ago and how it has changed during that time. Finally, Lianne offers advice for other women in the industry and those who might consider it as a career option.
Rockbottum Radio is back from summer hiatus with a primer on how to get the big money as a big-time superintendent (and all the stress and pressure that goes with it). Be careful what you wish for!
Randy waxes nostalgic about the days when golf course maintenance was relaxed, laid back and without the negative energy prevalent today.
And in Storytime, Dad made the big time and what they learned during the short time they were there.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Jim Barrett of James Barrett Associates, noted golf course irrigation designer and consultant.
It could be argued that nobody in the golf business knows more about irrigation than Jim Barrett, who started designing irrigation systems back in 1972 for Robert Trent Jones before starting his own shop in 1984. There are also few in the industry more respected.
Irrigation designers fly well under the radar that puts golf course architects in the spotlight, but the job they do is no less critical to a well-functioning golf course operation.
Listen in as Jim tells us his story and discusses the state of golf course irrigation today and into the future.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Tad King of King Collins Golf Course Design. King explains how he morphed from shaper and builder into a golf course designer, and relates some of the challenges and rewards of working on projects around the world.
Presented by The Andersons and Golf Preservations.
In this episode of the TurfNet Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Lee Miller of the University of Missouri about prevention, appearance and control of early Pythium root disease... which is not a fungus, he emphasizes. With the very wet conditions this year in many parts of the country, "...all you need for Pythum to get a grip is a pond for it to swim in." He notes that preventative control applications as early as April may be necessary under these conditions.
Another topic is winterkill of Zoysia which was particularly bad this past winter in the transition zone. "Dead Zoysiagrass stays dead. It doesn't come back."
Brown Patch and other foliar diseases, particularly of tall fescue, have also been particularly severe this year.
They wind up the conversation with etiolation of bentgrass, a bacteria that loves hot weather and appears to have a relationship with Primo use.
Recent "Bentgrass Bonking": primarily physiological decline due to organic matter holding water and "boiling roots", sometimes from the bottom of the rootzone up.
Presented by Civitas Turf Defense and DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with the always "frank" Rich Buckley of the Rutgers Diagnostic Lab about what he's seeing in the lab and what he's attributing it to: disease or abiotic stresses.
Presented by Intelligro/Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of TurfNet Turfgrass Hotline with Frank Rossi, Steve McDonald of Turfgrass Disease Solutions updates us on the turf disease and cultural conditions of the mid-Atlantic area for August, 2019.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp and Stuart Lindsay of Edge Hill Golf Advisors. Jim is a frequent guest on Frankly Speaking, offering his refreshingly contrarian (some would say brutally realistic) view of the golf industry. Stuart Lindsay, a first-time guest, has 45 years of broad experience in golf management and measurement.
The group reviews the impact of the abysmal 2018 weather on industry performance, how golf participation metrics are now including off-course activity like TopGolf and golf simulators, and the approach to growing the game by making it fun.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
A year ago, Mathieu LeCompte became a first-time head superintendent when he accepted the job at Royal New Kent Golf Club in Providence Forge, Virginia, a Mike Strantz design that had become one of the many courses that had closed through the years. LeCompte talks with John Reitman about reviving the course from the ground up, including borrowing equipment from superintendents at nearby golf courses and hiring a completely new crew from the ground up.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Art DeGaetano of Cornell University about the 2018 National Climate Assessment Report and its impact on the golf industry.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In his second season at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, Steve Cook chats with host John Reitman about lessons learned through a long career spanning some of the top courses throughout the Midwest. Steve talks about tournament prep for high-level events like this year's BMW Championship at Medinah and the 2004 Ryder Cup Matches at Oakland Hills in Michigan and his time volunteering for the 2017 Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.
Steve also talks about the life lessons he's learned as a superintendent and while climbing mountains around the world, like Ama Dablam in the Himalayas in 2015 and how hanging from a 22,000-foot summit has helped him finally strike a balance between work and life.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Drew White, new superintendent at The Riverton Country Club in Cinnaminson, NJ, about the Donald Ross restoration project White started one week after he was hired this spring.
Follow along on the Riverton CC Agronomy Twitter feed as the project progresses
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of TurfNet Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with Rich Buckley of the Rutgers Diagnostic Lab about problems, patterns and trends he is seeing in the lab from samples sent in across the country.
Recorded June 11, 2019.
Presented by Civitas Turf Defense and DryJect.
Andy Magnasco, superintendent at Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, California, discusses his path to becoming a golf courese superintendent, those who helped him along the way and what he has done to create value in his position and set himself apart from others. This includes initiatives that are not necessarily related to golf, such as keeping bees, growing grapes for wine and lavender for personal care products that help create interest in the property among golfers and non-golfers alike.
In this episode of Living Legends, Bob Zoller of Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California discusses his long career that started before the July 4, 1976 bicentennial in one of the country's top golf destinations.
He also discusses golf turf management as a family legacy as well as some of the challenges facing superintendents around the Monterey Peninsula, including drought and water issues. He also talks about the importance of mentoring others and the many superintendents who came up through the ranks working for him. He concludes by discussing his passion for vintage American muscle cars, including a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette.
In this episode of The TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Eric Johnson, director of agronomy at Chambers Bay, about the recent regrassing of greens from fescue to Poa annua sod.
Presented by Golf Preservations -- the greens drainage specialists -- and The Andersons Plant Nutrient Group.
In this episode of the Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with Clint Mattox (@mattoxgolf), graduate research assistant at Oregon State Univ, about the past winter and current springtime turf conditions in the Pacific Northwest... and what to expect as Spring morphs into Summer.
Recorded May 3, 2019.
Timely Seasonal Snippets brought to you by DryJect and Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode of the Turfgrass Hotline, Frank Rossi chats with Rich Buckley, director of the Plant Diagnostic Lab and Nematode Detection Service at Rutgers. Topics include pink snow mold, Pythium root rot, anthracnose and surprises that may happen in cool weather when unexpected.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Ben McGraw of Penn State University on the latest research, control methodology, new larvicide products, adulticide resistance information and BMPs in ABW management.
Presented by Civitas Turf Defense and DryJect.
In this tale from The Greens of Wrath on Rockbottum Radio, young Randy relates the story from Burnt Run CC, circa 1971 when he employed certain hallucinogenic tactics to get his night waterman job back.
Presented by Vinylguard Golf.
In this April 5, 2019 session of Turfgrass Hotline on TurfNet RADIO, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Jim Kerns of NCSU about how southern turf is shaping up for the 2019 season.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas Turf Defense.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report -- presented by The Andersons and Golf Preservations -- host Anthony Pioppi chats with golf course architect Brian Silva.
Starting with Silva's "Lego-esque" career path from Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass (AS in turf management, BS in landscape architecture plus graduate work) to instructor at Lake City Community College, to doing site visits with the USGA Green Section and on to working with noted New England golf course architect Geoffrey Cornish, and ultimately his own firm, Brian Silva Design of Dover, NH.
According to the humorous and self-deprecating Silva, "I should be somebody by now with my background."
Spend an hour or so with Tony and Brian as they discuss some common sense but often overlooked aspects of golf course architecture and how it affects maintenance and playability.
In this episode of Living Legends, George Thompson, CGCS, talks about his lengthy career on the golf course as a superintendent. Topics of discussion include career mentors, including Joe Troll, Ph.D., at his alma mater - the University of Massachusetts, and how management standards and golfer demands have changed through the years.
He also talks about his current role mentoring the next generation of golf course superintendents as an educator at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Conrad Pannkuk, assistant superintendent at Wynstone Golf Club in North Barrington, talks about his career, the benefits of participating in Nufarm's EXCEL career-development program for assistant superintendents and what his club is doing to address the labor crisis facing the golf turf maintenance industry.
In this special episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with four influencers in the golf turf industry about how they manage their lives, health and careers through purposeful mindfulness. Frank's guests include Peter McCormick, founder of TurfNetDavid Kuypers, Syngenta CanadaPaul MacCormack, Fox Meadow Golf & Country ClubChris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club Spend an hour and learn how to turn off the noise, focus and prioritize.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, direct from Rockbottum Country Club, Randy offers another piece of Skeletal Golf Theory, Storytime, the official nominations for the Turpentine Corncob Award, a PSA about self improvement, how they intend to launch the TurfNet Wildlife calendar, Booferd falls in a bunker and can't get out, an emergency meeting of the Mystic Order of Greenkeepers, and Bertram Mooler, the Alphabet's Special Investigator and Golf Industry Censor arrives unannounced.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Canadian golf course architect Jeff Mingay. Topics include other Canadian architects (famous or not, modern or classic), hoops to jump through to work in the US, favorite golf course designs of some little-known architects.
Presented by Golf Preservations and The Andersons.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. John Sorochan of the University of Tennessee about various factors -- especially mechanical -- that affect putting green performance. HOC, frequency of clip, mowing/rolling frequency, bedknife position and attitude, topdressing,and more.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. This experience led him to Michigan State University where he earned his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science in 2002. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT), where he also serves as the Co-Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman talks with Ron Freking, superintendent at Devou Golf and Event Center in Covington, Kentucky, about a career in public golf and how that might be appealing to future superintendents in the current golf economy.
Freking was a mechanic in the Air Force when he went to work for his father, who at the time was a golf course superintendent. Today, 30 years later, he continues to maintain one of the hilliest and busiest golf courses in the Cincinnati area.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Parker Anderson, research scientist at the University of Minnesota. Anderson is the facilitator of the Science of the Green Initiative, a research partnership between the USGA and the University of Minnesota that focuses on developing research and innovation strategies which address sustainability challenges facing the golf industry and promote and implement best practices leading to a sustainable future for the industry.
Parker was a team member in the construction of “The Loop” at Forest Dunes, an innovative Tom Doak-designed reversible 18-hole golf course located in Michigan. Additionally, Parker is an experienced beekeeper and pollinator advocate, teacher, and sustainability consultant.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with professor Gerald Henry of the University of Georgia about precision turf management, spatial variability, mapping soils and soil moisture, fairway playability and sportsfield safety.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman talks with Sean Reehoorn, superintendent at Aldarra Golf Club in Sammamish, Washington about how important it is to be ready for whatever curveball life throws at you.
Reehoorn was the assistant at Aldarra Golf Club under Paul Colleran when his friend and mentor died in 2014 after battling brain cancer. Reehoorn emerged from an open call for a new superintendent to take over as the new head greenkeeper at this Tom Fazio design near Seattle.
Time for the last and final "Rockbottum Prophecies for the Next Decade of Golf". This is required listening for all those with a stake in the future of golf. Also... ANTIGOLF protesters show up to riot and protest at Rockbottum CC...The gang figures out what's been digging up #13 green and organizes a posse of vigilantes to hunt it down,Momma handles a customer complaint in a new way andBooferd resists Third Wave Feminism by telling Momma that dishwashing is woman's work. Finally, Ludell installs a new hi-tech customer service facility in the clubhouse. Presented by Vinylguard Golf.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with legendary turf pathologist Dr. Joe Vargas of Michigan State University about his 50 year career as a plant pathologist, teacher, and muckraker. Never one to shy away from controversy or "rocking the boat", Joe Vargas is perhaps the original "outside the box" thinker... and having recently received his 50-year service pin from Michigan State, is still at it today
Always ready to drop the gloves with both colleagues and conventional thinking, Joe Vargas is one of a kind. Flamboyant, aggressive and grating to some, he is always entertaining. There is nobody with a better grasp of both the history and current state of turfgrass management.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Mike Huck, principal of Irrigation & Turfgrass Services (Orange County, CA) during the recent California wildfires. What is the cause of the wildfires? Why so many fires? For one, the Santa Ana winds that blow hot and steady for weeks on end. Secondly, increased density of trees sharing reduced levels of precipitation. Snowpack, drought, insect activity all enter into it.
Using historical data, some of these fires could have been mapped in advance. And how does the government factor in?
Listen in as Frank and Mike hash it out. Sponsored by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Mike Fidanza of the Penn State University Berks Campus joins Dr. Frank Rossi for a wide-ranging chat for a retrospective on 2018 -- lots of rain, humidity, disease -- and a look ahead to 2019 and research in the pipeline.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, the usual cast of idiots, oafs and varlets keep interrupting Randy as he tries to pass along his proven techniques to skirt The Matrix and suppress the stress-inducing Noise in our lives.
Spend a few minutes listening to Randy pontificate at his finest... and maybe you'll find the shoe fits a little bit.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Kelly Shumate, director of agronomy at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, WV.
Only two weeks before the 2016 PGA Greenbrier Classic was scheduled to be played, the entire state of West Virginia was ravaged by 11" of rain in five hours, and resultant flash flooding.
The golf courses at The Greenbrier were covered with mud and silt, and there was standing water everywhere. Greens were destroyed, and the sand in the bunkers washed away by the rushing waters.
Beyond that, several maintenance team members lost their homes, and nearly all were affected.
Listen to Anthony and Kelly chat about the recovery and restoration process.
Recorded in September, 2018
Recorded shortly after the PGA Championship at Bellerive, Frank chats with Lee Miller, PhD, associate professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri about the wacky seasons of 2018, starting with three snow events and then 90 degree temps in May, in St. Louis.
"We can grow any type of grass we want here in Missouri," quipped Lee Miller. "We just can't grow any of them very well."
Both warm- and cool-season grasses were subjected to weather extremes for which they were not acclimated. Heat, cold, rain, humidity, and drought were all encountered at one point or another.
They talk roots, irrigation with wetting agents and fungicide efficacy, irrigation audits, moist blankets from humidity, black layer, the Polar Vortex and NTEP trials, increased disease susceptibility in warm season grasses grown farther north, and a whole bunch more.
Listen in... a fascinating conversation.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank visits with Dr. Paul Koch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Listen in as Frank and Paul review the challenges and pitfalls of the 2018 season, including fungicide efficacy, predictive modeling and interval adjustment.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with Steve Ehrbar, superintendent at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, FL, about his career path from deep Ohio roots to several locations around southern Florida, and working for Jim Loke and Jack Nicklaus.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Jesus Romero, assistant superintendent at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL, about how to best manage an Hispanic workforce.
Among other things... Gain their trustLet them know you are not going to take advantage of themMake them all feel importantLet them know there are opportunities to succeedListen to them; ask for their opinions and ideasGain their heads and their hearts Presented by STEC Equipment.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio -- rated IM for Immature Audiences Only -- the Pro shop gets raided by the Empire's Praetorian Guard, Willy visits with Buddy at the Turf Care shop, and Momma takes the gang to the feed store, leaving Old Booferd in charge of the golf course... and Momma's good Scotch.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
Join Kevin Ross of On Course Turf and Dave Wilber of The Turfgrass Zealot Project for a Jam Session like no other!
Call it experimental or explorational or just plan fun. Kevin and Dave sit down for a session. And no topic is off limits. With more than 60 years of combined experience in direct hands on agronomy life, there is bound to be some wisdom. And good chops to hear.
This session includes riffs around Tiger Woods, Anxiety and Depression, Clipping Volume and more.
The mics and recorders are on you get to enjoy The Jam.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Chris Zugel, CGCS, golf course superintendent of the Straits course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI.
Chris relates his experience working both for the Kohler Company and at a famous resort course that has hosted various championship events, including the 2004, 2010 and 2015 PGA Championships and the 2007 U.S. Senior Open. It is also the future site of the 2020 Ryder Cup.
The Pete Dye-designed Straits course is stretched along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, shares 500 acres of rough with the Irish Course at Whistling Straits, and has over 1000 bunkers on the Straits course alone.
Spend some time with Frank and Chris to get a glimpse of managing a high end golf course facility in a challenging location.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, live from Rockbottum Country Club, an emergency occurs when Sheriff Sanders is spotted playing the back nine, naked. Wait, everyone on the back nine is throwing their clothes off and rolling on the ground or jumping in the pool! Must be those mushroom cheeseburgers at the turn. But Momma has gone to the store to get more.
Willy talks with Brutus, Ludell’s dog who specializes in goose control, about maybe taking care of the chickens too.
Augusta TV conditions at Rockbottum? Not on a "dirt greens and crabgrass fairways" budget, Momma advises.
And in Storytime, "A Dark Family Secret Revealed". Randy revisits Mystery Valley Golf Course in Redan, GA, where Dad worked as superintendent but the golf pro thought he was in charge...
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Dr. Dale Bigelow of Purdue University about rootzones, including the latest research and thinking on...
maintaining optimal soil moisture on new greens, older greens, California greens
the value of vacuum extraction devices (likeon new versus older greens…
vacuum extraction vs oxygenating via reverse operation; regional differences
surface fans, and
soil biology.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Pete Bachman, superintendent at San Jose Country Club for the past two years. Pete describes his experiences managing a golf course in Silicon Valley, gathering experience at Pebble Beach and Winged Foot, what he learned (and didn't learn) at Penn State, and the value of a month in Mexico.
Presented by STEC Equipment.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with professor Dale Bremer of Kansas State University.
A native of Nebraska, Bremer grew up on a farm with an interest in meteorology and wound up with an undergraduate degree in agronomy (emphasis in tallgrass prairie rather than turf) and later a PhD in Micrometeorology.
A "non-turf guy", Bremer's expertise is in micrometeorology related to turfgrass ecosystems including water conservation, turfgrass environmental stress, and exchanges of greenhouse gases between turfgrass and the atmosphere... including off-gassing of nitrous oxide from a nitrogen fertilizer application.
How concerned should the turfgrass industry be with the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere via nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas that traps heat and destroys ozone?
What can turf managers do to mitigate or minimize this? Hint: Polymer-coating can reduce nitrous oxide release by 20%, compared to straight urea.
Can fertilizing rates be reduced on lawns, amenity turf, and fairway turf (we're not talking putting greens here)?
How can irrigation be managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen fertilizer?
All this and more in this fascinating chat between Drs. Rossi and Bremer, presented by DryJect and Civitas.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Len Curtin, superintendent at the city-owned George Wright Golf Course, a 1932 Donald Ross course in Boston.
The task of bringing the busy course up to current standards within the fiscal and labor constraints of a city-owned facility has been a rewarding challenge for Curtin, superintendent there since 2004.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, the gang exposes the truth behind the GMO controversy... the most important Rockbottum tip ever... aerial marshals... robot bunker rakes... laser holographic tee markers, and why three preachers beat up Buddy.
Also, Brian Nettz calls in from California under an assumed name, Spaulding Bass.
In Storytime, we provide a look inside the mind of golfers.
Golfparasites.com? Tweetarrhea?
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Zach Reineking, superintendent at Erin Hills Golf Club about how the club came to host the 2017 US Open and what it was like to host it as a golf course superintendent... including the hangover that follows.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with Dr. Al Turgeon, retired professor emeritus of turfgrass management at The Pennsylvania State University.
Turgeon learned a work ethic early on in his father's restaurant and then developed a love of the outdoors and turfgrass by working for his uncle, Bruno Vadala, at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, NY.
A stint in VietNam as an Army helicopter pilot gave him a new perspective on life and he turned his attention to teaching.
One of his more recent accomplishments before his 2011 retirement was spearheading the development of Penn State's World Campus distance learning program.
Presented by the Nufarm Insider.
From when he first started caddying at Muirfield Village while in high school, Phil Shoemaker has spent most of his career within a stone's throw of Jack Nicklaus. In this episode of Living Legends, host John Reitman chats with Phil about his first stint at Desert Highlands in 1982 through moves to the Loxahatchie Club in Jupiter, Florida, TPC Scottsdale and back to Desert Highlands in 1999... where he remains today.
Phil attributes much of his career success to luck and timing... being in the right place at the right time, knowing what you want and being willing to embrace change when the opportunity presents itself.
Spend a half hour with Phil Shoemaker and John Reitman.
Presented by the Nufarm Insider.
In this episode of The TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Doug DeGrood, past chairman of the grounds committee at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. They discuss the pros, cons and politics involved in the upcoming fairway and greens regrassing of the famed Donald Ross course.
Presented by Golf Preservations, greens drainage and total renovation services.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with David Bataller, Director of Golf Operations at PGA Catalunya Resort near Barcelona, Spain.
An admittedly bad student who was "fired from high school", David went on to high school and riding BMX bikes in Kansas before embarking on his career at PGA Catalunya. After serving as golf course superintendent for 15 years, he was recently promoted to Director of Golf Operations. David quips that he has never been fired from a golf course.
PGA Catalunya is a GEO-certified (Golf Environment Organization) property. Listen in as Frank and David discuss it, along with David's trials with hydrogen peroxide to dissolve surface organic matter.
Broadcasting from our mountain cabin as we take a break from golf for some trout fishing, we sit around the campfire and learn why Momma decided to ban tobacco at Rockbottum CC (Something terrible happened at the US Open)
Also, Brandy Chablis, noted turf expert, gets nominated for the Angry Elf Trophy, Ludell explains Toxic Masculinities and TurfNet cyclist Ty Magner wins the National Championship.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Scott Ramsay, CGCS, about the ongoing restoration of the Seth Raynor-designed classic at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Ramsay has been at Yale since 2003 and was the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year in 2006. Working for an academic institution, he occasionally claims the tongue-in-cheek title of "Director of the Department of Applied Botany" at Yale.
The "renovation of the renovation" at Yale -- a complete renovation was finished up in 2003 -- focuses on reclaiming lost green area and tree removal. The Yale course in the middle of a 450 urban forest owned by the university.
Ramsay quips that "we don't measure greens here in square feet... we measure them in acres". He relies on a 1934 aerial map along with poking a lot of holes to find the gravel choker layer that Raynor liked to use. Once the original green outline is determined, he uses the "scalp and pray" method to bring the turf to green height.
He also discusses his new 15,000 sq ft plug nursery in which he has cultivated the mix of German bents, velvets, Penncross and Poa that match the original turf on the golf course.
Spend a half hour or so with Tony and Scott! Good conversation!
Presented by Golf Preservations, the greens drainage specialists and full service restoration/renovation contractors.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi chats again with Jim Wagner of the Hanse Design Group, this time about his current project working with Paul B. Latshaw (again) at the East Course of Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, PA.
How critical is the golf course superintendent in a renovation project? Wagner says that the ultimate success of a project can be predicted by gauging the enthusiasm level of the superintendent, and that often depends on their inclusion in early conversations and later in the decision-making processes.
How can superintendents leverage the current and continuing influx of investment money into golf course renovation projects? Listen and find out.
The "Howard Stern of TurfNet?" Really?
Presented by Civitas/Intelligro and DryJect.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with Bob Farren, director of golf course maintenance at the Pinehurst Resort. With nine courses, seven superintendents and up to 250 full and part-time staff, management of the Pinehurst courses seems a daunting task, but one which Farren takes in stride.
Spend a half hour learning about how one of the most visible people in golf turf management became so, starting with his family involvement growing up in West Virginia and moving along to mentoring and developing an army of former assistants.
Farren weighs in on how the industry and superintendent responsibilities have changed over the years, and if he were King for a Day, what he would do to "fix" golf. For one, he would start by eliminating out of bounds from the game.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Randy explores Skeletal Golf Theory (SGT) and why it's important (think "Contingency Plan").
Also, Rockbottum gets a corporate makeover, the truth about collecting and weighing clippings, and that "new" spray out there.
Finally, a consultant story, the winner of the Turpentine Corncob Award, and in Storytime, a tale from the days when golf courses were closed on Mondays.
Be sure to check out this jam-packed podcast and catch up with all the latest Reality Philosophy, Business Genius and other cut-through-the-smoke-and-mirrors Common Sense from Rockbottum Country Club... where stark reality reigns.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Michael Vessely about the 2016 renovation of the long-fallow William Langford/Theodore Moreau 9-hole golf course at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana.
Vessely, now golf course superintendent at Culver Academies, explains how the "Picasso was discovered in their attic" and Bobby Weed and Chris Monti brought in to spearhead a complete recovery/restoration project. And there's a Dye connection as well!
Listen in as Tony and Mike dig into how the Langford/Moreau classic was brought back to life as a rustic, classic early 20th Century golf course with 2018 conditioning.
Presented by Golf Preservations, offering golf course drainage and full renovation services.
In yet another fascinating discussion, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp, about the current state of the golf industry. In an era of "flat is the new 'up'", 2017 was a "solid sideways" for golf. Some metrics are indicating that the slide of recent years is abating somewhat.
Spend 45 minutes for a better understanding of where golf is and where it can go... both good and bad.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Bill Kreuser of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about the current knowledge base about measuring clipping yield, GDD modeling, PGR use and managing for consistent turfgrass growth and optimal turfgrass health.
Is the "one-third rule" valid, or completely bogus? What happens at 50%? Where is the optimal interface of mowing height and frequency? How to use clipping yield to guide fertility and PGR use so you're not "driving down the road with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake..."
How about collar decline... should we be mowing our collars lower?
Spend a few minutes with Frank and Bill for a fascinating conversation about managing turfgrass growth.
Presented by Civitas and DryJect.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi talks with golf course architect Ron Forse of Forse Design, Inc., about his renovation of classic (and some modern) golf courses, and the role of the superintendent in a renovation project.
What defines a good superintendent during a restoration or renovation project? Hint: He or she is the "hub of the wheel".
Tony and Ron wind up chatting about golf course archaeology, including the Seth Raynor-designed Ocean Links course.
Presented by Golf Preservations.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Josh Saunders, superintendent at the Longue Vue Club in the Pittsburgh area. Saunders laments some of the challenges of hiring staff in his area: hours, weekends, and opioids... his quests for interns and assistants... tapping into new demographics... putting a hard sell on the industry as a career... the lure of tournament golf on a resume... and how agronomy over time yields to management of budget, membership and assistants.
Presented by STEC Equipment.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Brian Winka, CSFM, about the benefits of "Bluemuda" vs the "insanity" of the traditional process of overseeding Bermudagrass on sports fields and golf courses in the south and transition zone.
Presented by DryJect/Maximus and Civitas/Intelligro.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, live from somewhere in the TurfNet Zone, the Gang makes a field trip to one of those newfangled bowling alley honky-tonk disco pinball golf places, while attempting to answer the question of how much PGR is required to shrink a green chairman's ego.
After a lesson in General George S. Patton tactics, and an interruption from the seniors group playing 2-Man Worst Ball, and before announcing the winner of the Turpentine Corncob Award, the topic of how wrestling fans infested golf galleries is pondered.
Rockbottum Analytica, the common sense golf data mining sector of Rockbottum Country Club, finally settles the bentgrass vs 'muda debate before tackling digitoxicity in kids.
In Storytime, Randy tells the long suppressed family story of Uncle Jelsik, the first Wilson to work in golf, Stoddard, his talking dog, Broderick the mule, Moby the hog and several other embarrassing moments.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman has a wide-ranging chat with Matt Shaffer, recently retired from Merion Golf Club, host of the 2013 U.S. Open.
Matt's retrospective includes his Penn State education and mentors there... the Latshaw Connection interwoven through his career... pushing the agronomic envelope and living on the edge... the cost of obscurity and value of a pedigree... doors that exceeding expectations will open... having money and resources at your disposal, or not... learning from defeats and charging on to your next victory... how a great club membership makes a huge difference... never holding a grudge.
The compensation/aggravation ratio of being a superintendent... the physical toll of hosting a Major... finding work/life balance.
Spend 45 minutes with Matt Shaffer, who pulls no punches. A fascinating conversation.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation and previously CEO of the GCSAA. Topics include the rebound of the Tiger Effect and it's influence on the "green grass channel"; getting new golfers to the point of playing well enough that they enjoy the game; making golf more accessible (and user friendly) at every level of facility; altering perceptions of the game among potential new golfers; effects of course design and conditioning on the experience of new golfers... and lots more!
Spend a half hour with Frank and Steve and get yourself up to date on where the game is and where it's heading.
Presented by Civitas/Intelligro and DryJect.
Armen Suny and Host Dave Wilber turn their thinking amps up to 11 and have a session. And you are invited!
From Sand Based Greens to Robotic Mowers. From chaining old rollers near golf shops to perfect biology. And more. When Armen and Dave sit and jam, anything can and usually does happen.
Enjoy this episode as a way to get motivated as the Spring of 2018 is upon us!!
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on TurfNet.com. And ANYONE can listen!
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Jordan Kitchen, assistant superintendent at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario. Jordan relates his experiences with launching a new company and product while obtaining an MBA and working full time to boot. Surprisingly, he finds the benefits of the MBA program to be as much in personal introspection and development as in broadening his business skills.
Presented by STEC Equipment.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Chava McKeel, Bob Helland and Michael Lee of the GCSAA Government Affairs staff about current issues trending on national, regional and local legislative agendas.
Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Matt Powell about the soon to be opened Brian Silva renovation of the Seth Raynor layout at Dedham Country and Polo Club in the metro Boston area.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with Dr, Karl Danneberger of Ohio State about his knack for engaging an audience, telling stories, his love of the game of golf, a bit about the challenges facing people entering the industry, and his special off-topic interest...
The Rockbottum Gang goes for ice cream while their Milleminial Golfer Study is revealed. After finding out how to prevent Old Man Smell, listen in on the first ever Rockbottum Board Meeting. There's a big accident out on the course, and then Ludell catches RW on tape under the effects of Truth Serum.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of The Ladder, presented by STEC Equipment, host John Reitman chats with Carlos Arraya of Bellerive Country Club about his career path, team building at Bellerive through Pillar Management, and fostering staff development through one-on-one "weeklies".
Carlos also discusses the benefit of giving up some management control to others and letting them make decisions. "It's amazing how much we can get done, and how much it improves everyone’s work/life balance."
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Ted Horton, CGCS, legendary superintendent at Winged Foot and Westchester Country Club as well as VP of Resource Management at Pebble Beach, and board member of Audubon International. Now living in California, Ted is is currently a Sr. Consulting Superintendent for Brightview, specializing in environmental stewardship; golf course safety, security and risk management; tournament preparations; turfgrass agronomics and the administrative functions of large property maintenance.
In this "Ted" talk, Frank and Ted chat about the advent of lightweight mowing on fairways back in the mid-'80s, including the economic adjustments and agronomic benefits incurred.
Much of the discussion centers around current and future water use on golf courses.
Frankly Speaking is presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Art DeGaetano of Cornell University about the underlying science of climate change. Dr. DeGaetano is a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University and Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) at Cornell.
Art's PhD in climatology and horticulture from Rutgers uniquely positions him to understand and explain climate influences on man-made and biological systems. A fascinating discussion without spin, pivoting or fake anything.
The real skinny on climate change, brought to you by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.
In this audiocast, the gang in the Rockbottum pro shop discuss Bad Member Discipline (especially Norbert Tuchus)... UFOs beaming up night watermen... Global Cooling... Global Warming... Golf Business Projections and... Storytime.
Plus, Ludell gives us his online dating secrets (no, not FarmersOnly.com), starting with dead malls and ice cream truck jingles.
Presented by VinylGuard.
In this Frankly Speaking PopUp Podcast, host Frank Rossi chats with TurfNet's Jon Kiger about the recent TurfNet Members' Trip to Scotland, the upcoming trip to BTME/Harrogate in England (where space is still available), and the TurfNet Members' Trip back to Ireland next October.
Presented by DryJect and Civitas.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, direct from the TurfNet Zone, Randy Wilson gives us some Christmas tips from Rockbottum, including: dealing with kids at Christmasspeeding up play (hint: "Fill 'em, sod 'em, mow 'em")making golf affordable and fundoing something with the "r" word PLUS: Skeletal Golf Predictions and Projections!
Randy finishes up with a golf course Christmas story in Storytime.
A great friend of TurfNet, Jerry Coldiron, needs to be remembered as the wonderful amazing man that he was.
Peter McCormick, Founder and Maestro of TurfNet and Dave Wilber, The Turfgrass Zealot, take time to talk about the passing of a great friend and Turfhead. To so many, Jerry was a light of positive infulence and his untimely and unexpected passing will leave a huge hole in the industry.
We speak candidly about what relationships mean and how the relationships that last are formed and maintained. And we tell some good stories about a good guy.
If you didn't know Jerry, you will know him. And if you knew Jerry, you will know him better.
Please note: A tribute site is under development at http://jerrycoldironembracelife.us. The fund set up in Jerry's memory (while a foundation is being established) can be found at https://givehope.com/Jerry-Coldiron-Embrace-Life. Please consider a donation.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Jared Weight, assistant superintendent at Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, OH, about his career path, working with Paul B. Latshaw and Chad Mark, and golf course conditioning in Pittsburgh... among others.
Presented by STEC Equipment.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Randy Wilson chats (seriously) with envelope-pusher Mark Hoban, superintendent at Rivermont Golf Club in John's Creek, GA. One of the true "mad scientists" of the golf course maintenance world, Mark always has new research going on with always a holistic view of soil/plant management.
Mark fills us in on his current delvings into biochar, compost extracts (as opposed to compost tea... which he explains the difference), new applications for the Air2G2 machine, an untraditional take on beekeeping, and growing mushrooms for the club restaurant.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen, host Jon Kiger chats with Butch Sheffield, long-time superintendent at North Ridge Country Club about the recent practice facility renovation there.
In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with David Stone, recently retired superintendent at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN. Stone had been at The Honors Course since construction in 1982 (that's 35 years for anyone counting) and until his retirement was the only superintendent The Honors Course had ever known.
Spend a half hour getting to know David and gain from his wisdom garnered over his career as a golf course superintendent.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, host Frank Rossi of Cornell University chats with Mike Huck of Irrigation and Turf Services in Orange County, CA, one of the foremost experts in water availability, usage, regulation and what it all means for the golf course industry.
Frank and Mike chat about the end of the California drought, trends in overseeding, painting and turf reduction; costs of treating vs transporting water; use of hand-held vs in-ground soil moisture sensors, among other topics.
They wind up with what we have learned from the drought, what we should be doing, and what we can expect as it pertains to the future of the golf industry.
Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of The Ladder, presented by STEC Equipment, host John Reitman chats with Anthony Williams, CGCS, of TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas in Irving, TX. The conversation revolves around the role of the assistant superintendent and how it has changed dramatically over the past twenty years.
A former TurfNet Superintendent of the Year, Anthony joined TPC Four Seasons after a 30-year career with Marriott Hotels, where he received Marriott's highest honor – the J.W. Marriott Award of Excellence. Anthony was responsible for 36 holes of golf at the Stone Mountain Golf Club and was also the arborist for 3,200 acres of Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA.
He is an accomplished speaker and writer, and also a 9th degree black belt in martial arts.
In this episode of Rockbottom Radio Off the Leash (or is it "Off the Rails"?), Randy discusses his experiences with flood recovery and correction recommendations; crow deterrents; the greatest golf course maintenance stuff; and Rudy, a member of the Golf Course Dog Hall of Fame.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Al Turgeon, professor emeritus at Penn State University, about his career evolvement from the golf course to Viet Nam and through academia, with a brief stint in industry in between his various academic stops around the country.
Take this whirlwind tour as Frank and Al reminisce about all the big names in the history of turfgrass science, many of whom rubbed elbows at some point with Drs. Turgeon and Rossi.
Our apologies for some technical glitches/interference during portions of Dr. Turgeon's side of the conversation.
Presented by Dryject.
In this episode of Living Legends: Where are they now? host John Reitman chats with career superintendent, mentor-to-many and current "international agronomy consultant", Dick Bator.
Bator's superintendent career included stops at Pine Valley, Merion and Oakmont. Over those years he mentored -- some may say 'tormented' -- many assistants who went on to careers as head superintendents.
He shares with us some of what made him tick, and advice for today. Some takeaways: I hired good people, but pushed them and taught them survival tacticsKnow the importance of detail workLearn to delegateWork in the trenches; I always didKnow where you’re weak; hire people to fill those gapsDon’t mess up your personal life like I did. Too many divorces (3). Personal and family life is more important than the job. Biggest disappointment of my life.Always seek out help; never stop learningToday, I learn from every superintendent that I do consulting work for; and many are former assistants.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, from deep in the TurfNet Zone, Randy and Ludell take to the airwaves to clear the air and set the record straight on many pressing issues of the day, including personal stimpmeters, golf insurance, special VIP parking, public school prison camps, quitting social media, and... solutions to course clutter.
Presented by VinylGuard.
Host John Reitman chats with Dane Wilson, superintendent at Medinah #2 near Chicago, about his internships, career goals, development of his own personal golf course management strategies, and wisdom instilled by his father, Mark Wilson, former superintendent at Valhalla Golf Club and host superintendent of many professional tournaments and events.
"My father always told me, 'you can only do better than what your father did…'" - Dane Wilson
In another captivating discussion on TurfNet's Frankly Speaking audiocast series, host Frank Rossi chats with Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp about the current state of the golf industry, including: reduction and absorption in golf facilities and businesses that serve themcomparisons with retail and restaurant industries that are also cyclical industrieswarning signs for superintendents that a facility might be in financial troublethe change in golf's consumer base and requirements, including digital technologynon-green grass business opportunities — do they lead to green-grass opportunities for golf facilities?TopGolf and virtual golf: good for the green-grass sector of golf?Should guidelines replace rules to increase the fun factor of golfgetting new golfers to the point of involvement that will make them stick as players and customersgrowing the game by drilling deeper into the pool of "older white guys with money" who aren’t golfers. Spend 45 minutes for a better understanding of where golf is and where it can go... both good and bad.
In this episode of the Pin Sheet, presented by BASF, Jeff Vannoy of BASF updates us on the history, uses and best practices for utilizing turf colorants.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Jon Kiger chats with golf course architect Forrest Richardson about the 2017 renovation and re-invention of the Short Course at Mountain Shadows (and resort) located near Scottsdale in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
The original golf course at Mountain Shadows was designed and built in 1961 by Arthur Jack Snyder. Course architect Forrest Richardson, one of Snyder’s students, completely redesigned the course to be a true par-3 with an eye toward retaining the fun for golfers, maintaining the diversity of golf holes, controlling pace of play, and containing maintenance costs while increasing the revenue potential of the facility.
With 18 holes ranging from 200 yards to 75 yards, the footprint of the Short Course at Mountain Shadows was reduced from the original 40 acres to 33 acres, with only 13.5 acres of managed turf. The reclaimed seven acres were converted to residential purposes which made the entire project attractive and successful financially.
The 17.5 hole, the Forrest Wager -- named after Richardson -- is a par 2 golf hole where the object is to play against your opponents in similar fashion to the golf game Bingo Bango Bongo. One point is awarded for the closest to the hole on the first shot played, another for the first player to hole out and a third point for the lowest score.
In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet (recorded July 20, 2017), host Jon Kiger chats with Kyle Miller of BASF about the current state of heat and humidity around the country and what superintendents should be aware and wary of to get through this period unscathed.
Why is The Open Championship of Golf required watching, listening and study for Turfheads? Dave Wilber explains.
Do you know that The Open was once an event set aside for Greenkeepers, Clubmakers and Caddies?
What are the key features of Royal Birkdale, host of the 146th year that this event has been played?
How does the weather and the grasses play into who will win and who will lose?
Dave wilber gives his empassioned opinion about the Soul Surfing that is Links Golf. And why events played on The Links are so special. Because in oder to understand the game's past and present, you have to have some Open Championship intelligence.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on TurfNet Radio and is hosted by TurfNet.com.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking -- Resistance Radio, Summer Edition -- Frank Rossi of Cornell University relates New England sports to turf management with entomologist Dr. Ben McGraw of Penn State University and weed scientist Dr Jim Brosnan of the University of Tennessee.
Topics include data-driven precision weed management, synchronicity of adult pest populations, fraise mowing for weed management via seed bank reduction, and the effect of insect control methods on pollinators.
Smart talk from leading thinkers, only on Frankly Speaking on TurfNet Radio. Presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, host John Reitman caught up with BASF's Kyle Miller at the Southeastern Turfgrass Research Center Field Day on June 28 in Lexington, KY.
Kyle updates us on concerns of golf course superintendents regarding plant stress in mid-summer, and explains the mode of action of BASF's Intrinsic product line.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, direct from Rockbottum Country Club proshop, Momma demonstrates her proven techniques for handling sales reps; the health inspector visits; a no-cart shotgun start for the old-timers; Ludell innovates something; and in Storytime, that Demonized Cow During Construction, #337.
Presented by VinylGuard. Oh, and Buddy just finished VinylGuarding everything in sight at the driving range!
In this audio interview for TurfNet On Tour/TurfNet Radio live from the Irish Open, host Jon Kiger chats with Robert Hemphill, who represents the third of four generations of greenkeepers to be employed at Portstewart Golf Club, home of the 2017 Irish Open. Robert’s, father, uncle, grandfather and now son Jonathan all worked at Portstewart.
Robert discusses the Hemphill/Portstewart “family tree” and explains ways of maintaining the course that seem primitive by today’s standards. He shares his insights into the evolution of greenkeeping and even explains that rabbit trapping was a way to protect the course while providing food to families in the area and additional income for themselves.
"I was as happy as any man ever could be, working there… it was a pleasant, wonderful job.
"...the men spent the winter hand-weeding the greens. On Saturday morning we would go around with a wheelbarrow and collect the weeds, then roll the greens with a roller before the people came out."
"...the ball would have been jumping all over the place but nobody complained… everyone was just happy."
Presented by AlgaeGreen, IVI Sandtrapper and Tru-Turf.
The backing track, Escaldarium/The Greenkeeper by Northern Ireland traditional band Connla, used by permission.
Live from the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland where TurfNet has a volunteer contigent, Jon Kiger chats with Eugene Hennessy, greenkeeping consultant with the European Tour, about the preparations at Portstewart in advance of the Irish Open.
A spring that started out mild in Ireland soon turned unseasonably cold and Eugene discusses the concerns and ultimate outcome on the turf at Portstewart Golf Club. HIs course visits in advance of tournament week served as helpful checkpoints and progress reports to Bernard Findlay and the staff and members of Portstewart Golf Club.
Presented by IVI Sandtrapper, Tru-Turf rollers and OGT/AlgaeGreen.
During a stop at Lahinch prior to the Irish Open, Jon Kiger chats with Pat Geaney of Geaney & O'Neill, Ltd, distributors of Tru-Turf and other turf maintenance machinery. Geaney relates his background transitioning from a heavy diesel mechanic in the late 1960s to servicing and ultimately selling professional turf equipment and retail consumer mowers. He emphasizes that service is still a hallmark of his business, from both customer relations and profitability standpoints. The diversification of his business has enabled him to weather the vagaries of the Irish economy amidst various downturns.
Pat also discusses the success Irish superintendents have enjoyed from incorporating turf rollers into their management schemes, and wraps it up with a synopsis of the state of the golf economy in Ireland.
Presented by IVI Sandtrapper, AlgaeGreen and Tru-Turf.
You don't know Justin Woodland. Ok, maybe you do. But you probably don't. And guess what? You need to know him. Here is your chance.
Justin is one of those people that I think should be required meeting if you are going to understand the reality of the business of golf and of Greenkeeping itself. He's got the "It" factor that I look for and yet, will probably never see what so many think is "the spotlight". Justin is doing it his way. And he's now got a fire to help others learn. A grass roots mentality. Please pardon the pun.
I've been saving this interview for just the right time. This is it.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on TurfNet Radio.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report -- presented by Jacobsen and Golf Preservations -- Jon Kiger chats with Chris Monti, senior design associate with Bobby Weed Golf Design about the recent practice facility renovation at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, FL.
The new facility features a 10,000 square-foot putting green with subtle contours, a chipping green with generous surrounds to allow for a variety of shots and a bunker green with four bunkers of varying sizes. The project also includes an enlarged main tee area on the range, with a two-bay academy building planned for the future.
New, updated turfgrass varieties were used, as was a synthetic revetted bunker product.
In this episode of The Ladder, presented by STEC Equipment, John Reitman chats with Sam MacKenzie, CGCS, director of grounds at Olympia Fields Country Club, about his career path over the 38 years he has been in turf management.
MacKenzie, the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year in 2008, reflects on people who have influenced him and the value in being exposed to different points of view in both turf maintenance and people management... as well as the current state of the industry as a career choice.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking on TurfNet RADIO, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Brian Whitlark, western regional agronomist for the USGA Green Section, about factors influencing playability of putting surfaces. On the table for discussion are green firmness, angle of approach from the fairway vs the rough, slope of the green, ball roll distance/green speed, and mower setup.
Whitlark is a certified professional soil scientist and has worked extensively with golf courses facing challenging soil and water conditions. Since joining the Green Section, Whitlark has conducted applied research in a variety of areas, including mitigating saline and sodic soils, evaluating practices to produce quality putting surfaces, exploring the pros and cons of using turf colorants and optimizing mower setup. He has written extensively for practitioners in the areas of soil, water and soil test interpretation.
Whitlark is a graduate of the University of Arizona at Tucson, where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, with an emphasis in turfgrass science.
As always, smart talk from leading thinkers, presented by DryJect.
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, broadcast live from the Rockbottum proshop, Randy explains Momma's newest attempt at Growing the Game: 'Bottum Golf... and Archery Golf, alongside Soccer Golf and Disc Golf. The biggest benefit of 'Bottum Golf? Listen and find out.
In other matters, Randy ponders whether Snow Molds really exist, or whether it's just more fear-mongering by the scientists from Up North.
Randy also suggests an improved calibration for the Deathmeter: the WSRF Index. "'Cause ball roll don't have nothin' to do with speed, measuring the Won't Stop Rolling Factor makes a lot more sense."
Lastly, in the popular Storytime segment, Randy explains what was really in Mountain Harvey's lunch bag.
Presented by VinylGuard Golf.
Following up on two previous deep-dive conversations into the role and management of organic matter in fine turf, Dr. Frank Rossi again hosts Dr. Roch Gaussoin of the University of Nebraska and Dan Dinelli, golf course superintendent at North Shore Country Club in the Chicagoland area.
Listen in as these three go at it for an hour, winding up with a fascinating discussion about Dan's research into biochar as a component or amendment of golf turf.
As always, smart talk from leading thinkers... presented by DryJect and DryJect Maximus.
In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, host Jon Kiger chats with Jeff Vannoy, Sr. Product Manager for BASF Turf. Topics include planning for (starting at EOP the previous fall), causal agents, and avoiding and/or minimizing summer stress on fine turf.
Jeff also explains the popular BASF Holiday Spray program which provides a template for superintendents to control summertime diseases with spray applications around the three major US summer holidays: Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University about the history, creation and evolution of BMPs for managing patch diseases and anthracnose in turf. Programmatic approaches to control, intertwining of micronutrients and cultural practices, solid vs hollow tine aerification, self-inflicted issues, topdressing, nitrogen... and the real possibility -- with strict adherence to established BMPs -- of moving toward a scouting-based curative program for anthracnose management.
Frank and Bruce also talk about the upcoming 13th International Turfgrass Research Conference to be held July 16-21 in New Brunswick, NJ.
Presented by DryJect.
In this latest story on Rockbottum Radio -- broadcasting from deep in the TurfNet Zone -- private greenkeeper Willy Wilson embarks on a quest to help the missing golf pro's wife find him amidst allegations of corporate takeovers, meddling GMs, just-back-from-Augusta green chairmen, and... the new regional superintendent.
Presented by VinylGuard and their new hi-vis driving range yardage markers.
Best management practices (BMP) provide superintendents with critical tools needed to maintain golf courses to the satisfaction of golfers and owners while complying with local, state and federal regulations. In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Bryan Unruh, Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Associate Center Director at the University of Florida, IFAS, West Florida Research and Education Center, about his role spearheading the nationwide initiative creating BMPs for all aspects of golf course management... from water quality, nutrient management, pesticide use and IPM, pollinator protection and energy management.
Listeners will leave with a better understanding of the important role of BMPs, and how they can get involved in BMP creation and implementation in their local area.
As always, smart talk from leading thinkers... presented by DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Michael Lee, government affairs manager at GCSAA, and Bob Helland, GCSAA director of congressional and federal affairs, about the upcoming National Golf Day on Capitol Hill (April 24-26), and other advocacy initiatives that GCSAA is involved with on behalf of the game of golf.
Smart talk from leading thinkers, and always frankly speaking.
Innovation. It's one of the great and wonderful words in our business. Join Dave Wilber as he chats with Kevin Hicks, Super at Coeur d'Alene Golf Club about thinking ahead.
How's your strategy for looking at new ways to do the same old, same old? Or does it get old at all?
A great interview with one of the most forward thinking supers in our business.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is hosted by Dave Wilber and is only on TurfNet.com.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Sean Sullivan of Briarwood Golf Club in Billings, MT, about his experience with skin cancer, and concerns that all superintendents should have about it. Types of skin cancer, genetic susceptibility, diagnosis, treatments and precautions... including references to "core removal" and PGRs.
Frankly Speaking is presented by DryJect and Maximus by Dryject.
On this Rockbottum Radio audiocast, Randy drops in behind the scenes at Rockbottum Country Club to investigate a missing golf cart and a stuck trackhoe... gets an earful from Ludell about his difficulties being objectified by women... and changing cups on a day other than Friday. Then, Storytime.
Check out Randy's new book, The Greens of Wrath, available in softcover and Kindle versions, at Amazon.com.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, join Frank Rossi of Cornell University as he chats with Michael Stachowicz, former golf course superintendent now agronomist with the National Park Service. Topics range from job transition to sand-based systems, turf selection and getting the seed you want, politics and turf damage prevention. Smart talk from leading thinkers, presented by DryJect.
In this episode of the Pin Sheet, presented by BASF, host Peter McCormick chats with Jeff Vannoy, Senior Product Manager at BASF, about the challenges of controlling dollar spot. Jeff updates us on new chemistries and recommended spray programs for dollar spot, including BASF's Start Early, Stay on Course, Finish Strong program.
More information on the Start Early... program can be found here.
Join Dave Wilber and Thomas Bastis as they talk about Education and Giving Back.
As Winter heads out and the season is upon most superintendents, Dave and Thomas take a moment to get some perspective on why it rocks to share information.
A simple and yet not always used concept.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on TurfNet Radio.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, host Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Penn State entomologist Dr. Ben McGraw and weed specialist Dr. Jim Brosnan from the University of Tennessee about pesticide resistance, ABW surveys with surprising results, old vs new chemistries, weed susceptibility testing, UT's new herbicide selection tool, and the upcoming Poa Day at UT to be broadcast via Facebook Live. Not to mention New England sports, banjo playing and beer drinking!
Smart talk from leading thinkers... presented by DryJect.
In this latest episode on Rockbottum Radio, Randy and Ludell take calls and argue about green speeds, the Alphabets, golf architecture of the future, quick couplers, water savings and the absolute best/greatest/bestest new 'muda for the south.
Oh yeah, and using common sense to stabilize golf. That.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Tom Zoller, longtime superintendent and now Managing Director at Tehàma Golf Club (owned by Clint Eastwood) in Carmel, CA. Zoller relates his experiences growing up and through the ranks of the greenkeeping profession.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Peter McCormick chats with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS MG, about the recently completed four-year, 36-hole renovation project at Des Moines Golf & Country Club. A humorous anecdote about architect Pete Dye... mistakes made and lessons learned... tips for dealing with architects, working with contractors and how to get the best from in-house staff... Rick lays it all out for us. Whether you're embarking on a renovation project or might be some day in the future, there's something for everyone to file away and put to use.
The Renovation Report is presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen.
In this episode of The Pin Sheet, host Jon Kiger chats with Kyle Miller, senior technical specialist at BASF, about the recent Golf Industry Show, his observations on the state of the industry, and the potential effects of early season warmth being experienced by much of the country.
Presented by BASF.
Dr. Frank Rossi speaks frankly this episode with Dr. Ben Wherley of Texas A & M University on the influence of deficit irrigaiton on turf growth and performance. Professor Wherley also teaches a GCSAA seminar on Preparing and Managing Turf through water shortages. This seminar enlightens many on the issues surrounding water and the impact of shortages on management decisions. Smart talk from leading thinkers--Frankly Speaking.
In this first episode of Rockbottum Radio -- live from deep in the TurfNet Zone -- your host Randy Wilson goes Point | Counterpoint with Ludell Hogwaller on the topic of the Millennial Workforce Problem... and what to do about it. Topics on the table include turfgrass education, The Tritabaugh Effect, hybrid staff positions and the modern housing dilemma.
Brought to you by VinylGuard Golf and Macrosorb Technologies.
Jon Kiger chats with Jeff Vannoy, BASF Sr. Product Manager, Turf, about BASF's new products, updates and activities planned for the upcoming GIS2017 in Orlando.
The theme of the BASF booth (#3033) is "Championship Conditions". A panel discussion with John Zimmers of Oakmont Country Club and a presentation by Mark Kuhns of Baltusrol Golf Club highlight the schedule.
In this episode of Living Legends, Where Are They Now, host John Reitman chats with Joe Alonzi, CGCS, who retired in 2014 after 22 years at the storied Westchester Country Club. A superintendent for over 40 years, Alonzi is well known for having mentored many assistants who went on to successful head superintendent jobs in their own right.
Straddling the villages of Harrison and Rye, just north of New York City, Westchester Country Club is on the top shelf of golf course superintendent jobs. It boasts 36 holes designed by Walter Travis, a nine-hole executive course, and a history that rivals just about any other club in the country. It was a PGA Tour site for more than 30 years, and past members include names like Johnny Carson and Jackie Gleason.
With a hotel, an Olympic-sized saltwater pool, squash and tennis facilities, more than 6 miles of roads and a beach club located 5 miles away from the main clubhouse, Westchester is more like a small city than a mere country club.
Living Legends is presented by Nufarm. Check out the Nufarm Insider for the latest news from Nufarm.
John Reitman chats with Kyle Miller of BASF about the challenges December has brought so far, while also looking back on the past season and ahead to the next.
Eight Years. It's a blink of an eye. Thomas Bastis checks in with Dave Wilber 8 years after his world class renovation of The California Golf Club of San Francisco.
Thomas shares his experience in looking back as his old/new golf course matures. It hasn't all been easy. But he's candid about what worked and what didn't work and what he might do again. He also gets firm and fast with some good stories and insights. And being the early adopting tech leader that he is, Thomas speaks about what he's working on. Always keeping it new.
It's an hour of deep conversation and insight with one of the industry greats.
The TurfNet Renovation Report is sponsored by Golf Preservations and by Jacobsen and is only on TurfNet Radio.
In this first audiocast in our Living Legends series on retired superintendents who made a difference, John Reitman chats with Ted Horton about his days at Winged Foot, Westchester CC and Pebble Beach... and the impact he had across the industry.
Presented by Nufarm. Visit NufarmInsider.com to get all the latest information on golf course management products from Nufarm.
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Jon Kiger chats with Graeme Beatt, course manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club (Co.Antrim, Northern Ireland) about renovations in preparation for hosting the 2019 (British) Open... and Graeme's recent visit with Queen Elizabeth at Royal Portrush.
Presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Joe Roberts, plant pathologist at the University of Maryland. Hot topics include bacterial etiolation and decline and their relation to environmental and agronomic stresses, and the new Turfgrass Microbiome project that Dr. Roberts is participating in. The Turf Microbiome project will identify and study communities of microorganisms that live within and on the plant that may be related to functions in turfgrass health.
As always, smart talk from leading thinkers... and only on TurfNetRADIO.
John Reitman chats with Justin Sims, golf course superintendent at The Alotian Club in Roland, AR, about Justin's career path (from college to East Coast Sod in NJ, The Club at Cordillera in CO, The Olympic Club in CA, Victoria National Golf Club in IN, Augusta National Golf Club and finally to Alotian) -- and his quest for varying experiences along the way.
Recorded at the recdntNorthern California Golf Association's Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp.
Presented by Penn State World Campus.
Join Dave Wilber and Kevin Ross as they riff about Turf, Jobs, The Ryder Cup and many other things.
As Kevin plans his retirement from Country Club of The Rockies, he has a lot of insight into what it means to advance in career and in life. His understanding of a complicated situation is unique.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on Turfnet Radio!
In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen, host Jon Kiger chats with Ann Kattreh, Director of Parks & Recreation for the city of Edina, Minnesota, and Richard Mandell, ASGCA, about the upcoming renovation of the Braemar Golf Course.
Braemar will be reduced from 27 to 18 holes, with the extra elbow room for the new 18 allowing expanded wetland buffer areas, wider fairways, and larger greens and tee boxes.
In order to keep maintenance costs in line, only 44 sand bunkers will be created, ground contours will include simple rolls and undulations to enable efficient mowing, and hand work will be minimized.
Mandell discusses his philosophy of tee shot distance equity that intends for golfers of various abilities to play the same club -- not necessarily the same distance -- into a green.
Construction started in October with opening slated for the summer of 2018.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dan Dinelli, CGCS, at North Shore CC in Chicagoland and recipient of the GCSAA"s Presidential Award for Environmental Stewardship about his sustained committment to research and innovation. The successes and frustrations with golfer expectations, organic management and his current research on rootzones and OM accumulation. Smart talk from leading thinkers in the golf turf industry.
Presented by Turf Screen and DryJect.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Paul Vincelli of the University of Kentucky about the state of turf research in general and plant pathology in particular; looking outside the turf industry for inspiration and innovation that can be applied to turf; enhancing public knowledge about climate change; and the state of genetic engineering research.
As always, frank talk from leading thinkers in the turf industy. Sponsored by DryJect and Turf Screen.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chatted with Gavin Dickson, newly promoted superintendent at Tehàma Golf Club in Carmel, CA, while at the recent Northern California Golf Association Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp. Topics include when it's time to move on from one position to the next, decision factors involved in making the next career moves, and interviewing tips for securing the job you want.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Chris Tritabaugh, golf course superintendent at Hazeltine National Golf Club, about his agronomic preparation and humanistic hopes for the Ryder Cup. The wide-ranging and particularly open and honest -- in the Tritabaugh tradition -- conversation ranges from the community and atmosphere Chris crafted by invitation in the maintenance staff headquarters... to his active use of social media throughout the event... to the agronomics of topdressing strategies, use of ammonium sulfate as a primary N source, iron sulfate as a "heat sink" in late fall and early spring... to the "heron shit" incident... to his mantra of "work calmly from the top down and have fun".
Check it out.
In this double session of Frank Chats, Frank Rossi discusses Pink Snow Mold/Microdochium patch research with Clint Mattox, PhD candidate at Oregon State University, and also chats with Dr. Doug Soldat of University of Wisconsin/Madison about potassium nutrition.
Smart talk from leading thinkers and always Frankly Speaking.
Just days after the Ryder Cup was held at Hazeltine National Golf Club, asst supt Ryan Moy chatted with host Peter McCormick about his experience working for Chris Tritabaugh in the years, months and weeks leading up to staging the Ryder Cup event. Topics range from making the volunteers feel welcome, a few agronomic strategies, fun with coyote decoys and a pink hat, and what's next for Ryan Moy.
John Reitman chats with Golfweek architecture editor Bradley Klein about the changes at Hazeltine for the Ryder Cup, and also some of the between-the-lines nuances of the Ryder Cup competition.
Live from Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, TurfNet's Jon Kiger chats with Golfweek Group Publisher Alex Miceli about the upcoming Ryder Cup competion, the competitive advantages of each team, and how the golf course and facilities at Hazeltine are suited for a match play event like the Ryder Cup.
Dave Wilber talks with Hazeltine National's Golf Course Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh about Ryder Cup preparations.
Chris was kind enough to give some time to join Dave Wilber for a conversation about his last preparations for the 2016 Ryder Cup. A special guy and a special episode and a special event.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is brought to you by Klingstone, proven bunker performance for over 15 years.
In this episode of The Renovation Report, host Peter McCormick chats with Bradley Klein, architecture editor of Golfweek, about Arnold Palmer and his legacy within the golf industry.
Brad had numerous interactions with Palmer dating back many years. He recalls some of those anecdotes, including flying in Arnie's plane, and the time they were in Palm Springs and Arnie threw him the keys to his Cadillac, telling Brad to have fun for a few days while he tended to a few things.
With this recording done just a day after Palmer's passing and at the beginning of Ryder Cup week at Hazeltine, it's an apt time to reflect on Palmer's immeasurable impact on golf.
In this episode of The Ladder, presented by Penn State World Campus, Scott Bender, CGCS, director of engineering and grounds at Marriott's Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington, KY, discusses his keys to career success... ranging from finding a mentor to personal habits and hygiene, learning how to speak well, and always putting on a professional appearance. Hosted by John Reitman of TurfNet.
In this episode of The BASF Pin Sheet, TurfNet's Jon Kiger chats with BASF Sr. Technical Specialist Kyle Miller about the recent summer season in the north and mid-Atlantic regions, and what to think about to properly prepare for fall and winter.
This episode I speak frankly with David Kuypers, head of Lawn and Garden for Syngenta Canada and former golf course superintendent, Penn State Alum (won't hold that against him), and instructor in the Guelph Turf Institute. David and I will discuss career transitions, Canadian Pesticide Regulation and Stormwater Capture project he worked on while at the Cutten Club in Guelph. Smart talk from leading thinkers and always Frankly Speaking.
Ike Stephens is a legend. His YouTube videos about Trucking and the Trucking Lifestyle are known as some of the most unique on the internet.
Join Dave Wilber as he gets to know Ike Stephens. You may not think of Ike as a "turfhead", but the more he speaks, the more you realize that trucking and turfgrass management have a lot in common. And in a day and age where long hours and hard work aren't always understood, both Trucking and Turfgrass Management share a certain knowledge. And that knowledge is about getting the job done and having fun doing it.
Ike shares his creative side in making videos, loving music and getting truckers together for social events.
Ike has a very successful YouTube channel and is getting lots of notice. You can check him out here.
Dont miss one of the more unique guests we have ever had on the podcast. You may never know, Ike could be one of the next reality TV Stars!
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven Bunker Performance for over 15 Years.
Frankly Speaking this episode with Rick Slattery, the 30+ year golf course superintendent at Locust Hill Country Club outside of Rochester, NY. Rick was a 2015 GCSAA Environmental Leaders in Golf Award recipient in the private club category. Under Rick's leadership the club was also recognized by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation as an environmental leader. Much of Rick's environmental focus has been on water management and in a year when water is on everyone's mind -- too much or not enough -- this is a timely chat with another leading thinker... and always, Frankly Speaking!
In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, host Jon Kiger chats with BASF Technical Specialist Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz at a recent BASF Turf Research & Solutions Seminar held at Druid Hills Golf Club in the Atlanta area.
Topics include differing strategies for managing Pythium and other diseases on both bentgrass and ultradwarf Bermudagrass in the South.
In this episode of The Ladder, John Reitman caught up with Mike O'Keeffe, program manager of Ohio State's international internship program, while at the 2016 OSU Turfgrass Field Day. They chatted about the value of an overseas internship in a tight job market.
Andy O'Haver is the assistant superintendent at Meadowbrook CC outside of Detroit. Meadowbrook is being transformed by architect Andy Staples. It's a gigantic job.
Andy took the time to talk to Dave Wilber (from his cell phone, in the field) about the role that he plays as an Assistant Super at Meadowbrook. Andy's eye opening experience comes to life in a really good way. And anyone who is going to come anywhere near a golf course renovation project should understand that the team is important. And often the team is led in the trenches by The Seargents. The leaders of the Enlisted Corps. The Assistant.
Dave and Andy have a great conversation. He's candid. And he's got passion. A combination that is hard to beat.
As part of our ongoing Syngenta Welcomes Back Golf multi-media series, Jon Kiger chats with native Brazilian Rick Holanda about his recent stint as superintendent at SantaPaziena Golf Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Holanda emigrated from Brazil to the Philadelphia area in 1989 as an aspiring fashion photographer, and took a job on the crew at Merion Golf Club under Dick Bator. Rick was hooked on golf turf management, and went on to superintendent positions at Aronimink Golf Club, Chestnut Ridge CC in Maryland, Rancho La Quinta Country Club in California, and then Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. After Shadow Creek he went to Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, CA to be closer to his two daughters. The job at SouthPazienza beckoned, so he returned to Brazil for three years before coming back to the States recently to take over at Scottsdale National Golf Club.
As part of our ongoing Syngenta Welcomes Back Golf multimedia blog series, Jon Kiger chats with Alex Miceli, group publisher of Golfweek, about the stature of the Olympics within the golf industry and the players to watch in Rio.
In this Syngenta Welcomes Back Olympic Golf audiocast, John Reitman chats with Golfweek architecture editor Bradley Klein about the Gil Hanse-designed Olympic Golf Course in Rio.
In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, Jon Kiger chats with long-time BASF Southeast Sales Representative -- and industry icon -- Willie Pennington. Jon and Willie cover a broad range of subjects, from Mother Nature to bent-to-Bermuda conversions, changes in levels of turf inputs over the years... and Willie's penchant for deep sea tuna fishing vacations!
Even if you haven't heard of Jay Blasi, you've probably seen his work. Join Dave Wilber as he interviews Architect Blasi.
From Chambers Bay to Santa Anna Country Club to Sharp Park, Jay Blasi is one of those people who have been involved with bringing interesting design to Modern Golf.
Dave Wilber talks with Blasi about Jay's story, his development as a staff architect with RTJ2, and his transition to independent architect. Some great tips are given for planning and executing renovation and restoration work.
Yet another great episode with a great member of the construction and renovation community.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Sarah Glenn Jackson, graduate of Texas Tech and now assistant superintendent at Plantation Golf Club in Frisco, Texas. Frank first became aware of Sarah via Brian Cloud's blog post and immediately knew her experiences as a female assistant in a vastly male industry would make for good conversation. So here they are!
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Dr. Pat Vittum of the University of Massachusetts about two "winter" programs offered by UMass/Amherst: the bi-annual 12-day Green School (coming up in October) and the six-week Winter Short Course for turf managers offered in January/February of 2017.
Find out how this type of program (among others) can springboard your career in turf management.
Presented by Penn State World Campus.
Join Hector Velazquez and myself as go deep into the world of Hector and Hector's Shop!
Do you know Hector? You should. He's breaking ground in an often forgotten, overlooked and misunderstood world. The world of the golf course equipment fleet is not only huge, it is a place where a ton of money gets spent. And wasted.
Hector and I talk about whats what in his world. From his background to his travels as a teacher, his life as an educator and of course his job as a father and husband.
I had such a great time with Hector. He's a brother. And a Turfhead. And an important figure in our business. Thanks for listening!
To learn nore about Hector Velazquez go here.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven bunker performance for more than 15 years.
In this episode of The BASF Pin Sheet, Kyle Miller of BASF updates us on conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region as of mid-June, 2016. Hosted by Jon Kiger.
Frankly speaking this episode with field agronomist extraordinaire Steve McDonald, owner/operator of Turfgrass Disease Solutions in Eastern PA. Frank and Steve chat about the growing season of 2016 so far for the tough Mid Atlantic growing conditions. Also expect some of the latest thinking on annual bluegrass weevil management, summer disease prevention and managing native rough areas.
Recorded June 13, 2016.
Presented by DryJect, DryJect Maximus and Turf Screen by TurfMax.
On this episode of The Ladder, presented by Penn State World Campus, John Reitman chats with Dr. Amy Wallis of the Wake Forest University School of Business about how superintendents can adapt their leadership skills to those staff members older and younger than themselves.
Frank's guest for this episode of Frankly Speaking is Chris Tritabaugh, golf course superintendent at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Frank and Chris speak frankly about Chris's career path, management approach and the various responsibilities in the run up to the 2016 Ryder Cup to be held this September at Hazeltine. As always expect smart talk from leading thinkers in the turf industry.
By request!! Dave Wilber covers one of his most popular blog posts. A great update on being an Excellent Assistant or Intern
One of the most popular blog posts I have ever done in podcast form. Kind of cool. Third kind of cool, actually. Take a few min to listen to this just in case you need a refresher. Works for Young Turfies or for those responsible for them. Being an excellent Assistant or Intern isn't always just about agronomy. It comes down to character and working with the team around you.
Because one day, being a leader will mean understanding these principles.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven bunker performace for over 15 years.
In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Laurie Bland, golf course superintendent at Miami Springs Golf Course in Miami Springs, Florida, about her decision to pursue a career as a golf course superintendent and the challenges she faced as a female in an extremely male-dominated field.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with Brian Youell, 36-year superintendent at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia.
Brian, a recipient of the Canadian Supt. Association Superintendent of the Year in 2012 and a Master Greenkeeper will Speak Frankly about his traumatic brain injury from being hit by a golf ball in 2010, and the challenges he faces in the Pacific Northwest of Canada with 65,000 rounds annually.
As always, "Smart Talk from Leading Thinkers in the Golf Turf Industry".
Dave Wilber gets into the reality of design, renovation, restoration and rehabilitation with golf course architect Mike Young.
With over 40 designs under his belt, Mike Young has been a strong voice in the golf construction and renovation business for a very long time. A great communicator and an outspoken thinker, Mike doesn't suffer fools or pull punches when it comes to telling it like it is. Maybe it is his Georgia roots. Maybe it is just who he is. Perhaps both.
But quiet passion is still passion. And now Mike, along with his son, Ashley, finds himself in the position of owner/operator of golf courses. The hour flew by. Don't miss this very important guest, in a very important time in the history of golf design.
The TurfNet Renovation Report is brought to you by Jacobsen and by Golf Preservations and is only found on TurfNet Radio.
Episode 23 of The TZP brings us chats with Kevin Hicks, GCS at The Coeur D'Alene Golf Resort and TurfNet's Jon Kiger taking about TurfNet's participation in The Irish Open at The K Club.
Kevin Hicks is ssuch a good guy. I reached out to him on the off chance that he could do a short interview and he stepped right up the the plate. He's a great guy, an old friend and a proud father. We get to know a little more about him and talk about my adventure into the bowels of the famous Floating Green.
Jon Kiger joins me to talk about TurfNet's involvement in The Irish Open. Jon is leading a group of folks to volunteer for Course Manager, Gerry Byrne. And you can hear Jon talk about how this all came to be and how you can follow the whole thing on TurfNet.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is brought to you by Klingstone. Proven Bunker Performance. http://www.klingstone.com
In this episode of the TurfNet Pin Sheet, host Jon Kiger speaks with Jen Browning and Corbett Schnatmeyer of BASF about what they see, hear and feel in the western states about the golf course maintenance industry in late April/early May.
I'm calling this episode "The Epic Episode". Epic Monologue. Epic Guest. Epic Length. Epic!! (and no, I don't mind over-using the word Epic)
Jim Ferrin, CGCS is one of those people that I think everyone should know. I'm biased. I've known him since 1990. When we were just young guys coming up in the business. Jim has excelled. He's a great turf manager. A great people manager. A student of Golf, Agronomy and Life. He's won a ton of awards including the coveted Leo Feser award from GCSAA. He's served in just about every possible way to make our business better.We have an epic conversation. We always do. Because no one can melt my brain like Jim.
I also happened to turn on my microphone and record and Epic Rant. One of those things that I've been trying to write for years and finally the words came to me. So I pulled the starter rope and pressed record. Result, a word strimming session, a buzz cut of one of the things I think is most wrong with our business and why that thinking promotes lack of innovation.
It's a feature length episode. Epic length. But I didn't want to cut it up into little pieces. Like an epic drink, it needs to be taken in one big awesome gulp. Or a series of small drinks at your own speed. But I couldn't and wouldn't cut it up. That's just not fair.
You can reach Jim Ferrin at ferrinj@scrca.org
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven Bunker performance for over 15 years. www.klingstone.com
Aubrey McCormick is a great player, great person and champion of sustainability. Don't miss her refreshing take on the world of golf.
Join Dave Wilber and Aubrey Mc Cormick as they talk about The Big Break, Sustainable and Green Golf, Golf's Future and a ton of other things. You may not know Aubrey. You may know her as a player. But you are going to get to know someone who could very likely help shape our world by being a Thought Leader. And leading in thought these days means thinking. Not just "outside the box", but actually getting ideas and passion to mesh. Without a doubt this will turn out to be one of the most important interviews I have ever had the opportunity to participate in.
To learn more about Aubrey, check out her twitter feed @amacgolf, see her season of The Big Break (Atlantis) here or check out her company Impact360 here.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is brought to you by Klingstone. Proven Bunker Performace for over 15 years. www.klingstone.com
Episode 20 of the TZP has Dave Wilber and Kevin Ross of Country Club of the Rockies doing an amazing jam session!
From Turf to Beer to Grilling to phases like "Boom Bah Baaaa", this episode has it all. Long time friends and co-conspirators, Kevin and Dave have history and passion. Makes for fun conversation and even wisdom! And while there is always fun, there is also some serious interesting conversation. Not to mention the agronomy of high altitude turfgrass management.
Take some time to get to know an amazing turfgrass professional, Mr. Kevin Ross.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is presented by Klingstone, Proven Bunker Performance for over 15 Years. www.klingstone.com
In this episode of The Ladder, Jason VanBuskirk of Stow Acres Country Club in Massachusetts talks with John Reitman about his total immersion in management of a 36-hole golf course, and how the integration of technology has allowed him to keep a grip on a large property and staf. Presented by Penn State World Campus.
Speaking Frankly this episode with Kevin Morris, president of the National Turfgrass Foundation and responsible for the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program; and Geoff Rinehart, the coordinator of the Grass Roots Initiative Exhibit at the National Arboretum in Washington DC. Frank and the guys discuss the NTF, NTEP, and the role the Grass Roots Exhibit plays in helping the American public understand the value of turf in our society.
Smart Talk from Leading Thinkers in the Turf Industry-and always Speaking Frankly!
Presented by DryJect/Maximus and Turf Screen.
In this BASF Pin Sheet update, host Jon Kiger chats with Kyle Miller, BASF Sr. Technical Specialist about scheduling dollar spot applications. With his thumb on the pulse of the industry, Kyle also relates his take on the outlook for the golf industry in 2016.
Kyle Miller has been with BASF for 27 years, and is based out of Chesterfield, Virginia.
In this episode we Speak Frankly once again with Jim Koppenhaver, president and founder of Pellucid Golf. The lively conversation includes the recent Wall Street Journal article citing NGF executive Joe Beditz, the PGA Junior League Golf and Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, and Jim's new venture with three other partners the Internet Golf Course Database and how superintendents can help inlfuence ratings! Smart talk from leading thinkers and always Speaking Frankly!
Irrigation can be a lot of things. But in a renovation and restoration situation, it can often be the most expensive and most complicated part of a project. But with the right focus and some good decision making, irrigation work doesn't have to be a nightmare.
Irrigation designer Larry Rodgers has had a great career. Working with over 680 facilities, he's seen it all. From the very top end to places no one has ever heard of, Larry has combined his love for irrigation, golf, travel and superintendents. The result has been a recipe for making a real impact on the turfgrass professional stage.
In this interview, Larry chats with host Dave Wilber about how to look at a system redesign. Where are the big cost factors? What are the pitfalls of technology? How can you better sell irrigation updates?
For more info on Larry Rodgers and the Larry Rodgers Design Group, go here.
For more info on Samson Bailey's recent difficult story (mentioned in the intro), go here.
The Renovation Report is only on TurfNet Radio and is sponsored by Jacobsen and by Golf Preservations.
In the continuing saga of water management we are again Speaking Frankly with Mike Huck of Irrigation and Turf Services in CA. Frank and Mike continue a conversation they started last year about what we are learning from the California drought and how all golf turf managers can be better water managers as a result.
Frankly Speaking is presented by DryJect and Maximus by DryJect.
In this episode of The Ladder, host Peter McCormick chats with John Taylor, property manager and golf course supt at Grand Niagara Golf Club in Niagara Falls, Ontario, about the schedule change that enables them to provide better course conditioning on the premium-priced weekend days.. while giving each of the full-time staff members at Grand Niagara two consecutive days off every week.
They also discuss the annual Golf Course Hockey Challenge event, the brainchild of Taylor and Scott Dodson, CGCS, of the Park Country Club of Buffalo. The tournament, for superintendents, assistants and suppliers, has been held in the Niagara Falls area each January for the past 22 years, TurfNet has fielded a team there for the past 18 years.
The Ladder is presented by Penn State World Campus.
Join Dave Wilber as he does some deep diving with Golf Course Architect, Andy Staples. From Bluegrass to Holiday Inn Express. Nothing is off limits.
Thoughtful and Thankful are the theme words for this episode of the TZP!
Thoughtful ideas about golf design, resource management, work life balance and many other things. Thankful for listeners, thinkers and new ideas in the golf business today. Andy Staples has a wonderful perspective on things. He's got that focus and drive that make him interesting and unique. The hour zooms by with some great conversation.
You can learn more about Andy Staples and his design firm here.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven Bunker Performance for more than 15 Years. For more information, click here.
Jason Haines is one of an emerging class of Superintendent who is making environmental and financial difference with his Agronomy. His strongly scientific, minimalist approach isn't just because of his rather remote situation. It's because he's done the study about what is best for his facility and in turn his community.
Of the episodes I have done so far, this is certainly one of my very favorite discussions. Jason's style is not to hold back, which has endeared him to some people and has made others raise a watchful eye. I'm pretty sure that he isn't worried about what others have to think of him. He's doing his best. Case in point, his March 6th Blog post about grubs, ravens and thatch.
I invite you to listen to this with an open mind. Forget some of the things that you think you know and see how a fresh approach has really made a difference... potentially keeping a small community's golf facility from being a loss.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone. Proven Bunker performance for over 15 years. No one else can say that. http://www.klingstone.com
To read more about Jason Haines, follow his blog at: http://www.turfhacker.com
On this episode of The Ladder, Fred Gehrisch, CGCS, of Highlands Falls Country Club (Highlands, NC) discusses with host John Reitman how he gets great results from his job listings and interview process when hiring an assistant superintendent.
The Ladder podcast series on TurfNetRADIO is presented by Penn State World Campus.
What makes for a great experience for an assistant working for a golf course superintendent? Jimmy Pierson, head assistant superintendent at the Meadow Brook Club on Long Island, chats with Peter McCormick about his experiences with various superintendents and their divergent management styles over his six-year career. Jimmy wraps it up with "Please don't EVER do this ____ to me again" and "Please do this ____ to me EVERY DAY!".
The Ladder is presented by Penn State World Campus.
What makes for a great experience for an assistant working for a golf course superintendent? Jimmy Pierson, head assistant superintendent at the Meadow Brook Club on Long Island, chats with Peter McCormick about his experiences with various superintendents and their divergent management styles over his six-year career. Jimmy wraps it up with "Please don't EVER do this ____ to me again" and "Please do this ____ to me EVERY DAY!".
The Ladder is presented by Penn State World Campus.
Join Dave Wilber as he talks about his impressions of GIS 2016 and his experience in San Diego. Peter McCormick also stops in.
If you were there or not, there's always more info to be had concerning the Golf Industry's most important event. Dave takes you on a journey with his mind's eye and he recaps what was good and what was not so good. No punches pulled.
And a special guest! TurfNet's Founder and Maestro, Peter McCormick drops by for a quick chat that turns into some real deep stuff about his perspective on the show. As always, Peter is interesting and candid.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is brought to you by Klingstone. visit www.klingstone.com for more info.
And for more info on Dave WIlber, visit www.turfgrasszealot.com
The proverbial "60-hour work week" has been identified as one of the factors responsible for the decline in numbers of people entering the golf turf industry. Peter McCormick, host for this show, chats with Mark Fuller, CGCS, of the Connecticut Golf Club about his staff scheduling and how he avoids working his staff beyond an average of 48 hours each week... and why.
The Ladder is presented by Penn State World Campus.
Join Dave Wilber as he talks with Samson Bailey of Golf Preservations and learns about the amazing things that this company is doing for Golf!
Samson Bailey is Owner, CEO and Visonary of Golf Preservations. For a decade, his company has been installing drainage and working with renovation and restoration at some of America's finest golf facilities. Samson talks about how he got started, how he looks at often challenging work and how he believes in doing it right.
In addition to all he is doing, Samson has leased the 9-hole Mddlesboro Country Club in Middlesboro, KY. One of America's oldest golf facilities, Middlesboro was approaching being yet another failed golf facility. Samson has stepped up to the tee to restore this facility to playable condition. Creating recreation and jobs for his community, this story shows that great people can make a real difference for struggling golf courses.
The TurfNet Renovation Report is brought to you by Jacobsen and by Golf Preservations.
In this first episode of The Ladder, our new podcast series aimed at those climbing the career ladder as well as those at the top who are charged with managing a labor force of Millennials.
TurfNet's John Reitman chats with Dan Meersman, director of grounds at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, about how he leverages the tech-savvy of his staff while meeting their need for a better work/life balance than many in this industry are used to.
Meersman was also a previous TurfNet Superintendent of the Year award winner, in 2012.
The Ladder is presented by Penn State World Campus, offering high-quality online turfgrass degrees and certificates.
Join me in another great chat with Paul MacCormack, GM/supt at Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and author of The Mindful Superintendent blog on TurfNet.com.
We too often get caught up in the whirlwind of life and let that dust storm grind us down. Being mindful of those and all around you can help all of us keep one foot on the ground.
Frankly Speaking is brought to you by DryJect, 21st Century Aeration.
Join Frank in this episode Speaking Frankly with Doug Bechtel and Tara Donadio from Audubon International about the changes going on the last few years at AI. The development of programs beyond golf and the the role Audubon and other environmental programs can play in supporting the "greener" side of golf turf management. Progressive talk from intelligent professionals and always Frankly Speaking!
In this episode Frank speaks with Chava McKeel, Director of Government Relations, and Bob Helland, Director of Congressional and Federal Affairs from the GCSAA about what's going on in Washington DC that golf course superintendents should be aware of... from WOTUS to who will be the new POTUS.
Join the smartest people working for the golf business and responsible environmental policy. Progressive talk from leading thinkers in the turfgrass industry and always Speaking Frankly!
Frankly Speaking is brought to you by DryJect and Maximus Aeration by DryJect.
Join Frank as he is joined by Adam Charles, Golf Course Superintendent of The Preserve at Verdae Green. Adam has taken a unique approach to managing labor with a progressive approach to managing a large riparian zone that weaves through the golf course. By accomodating this important environmental area, he is creating habitat, reducing labor costs, and speeding play-A Triple Bottom Line- or some might look and see a big patch of weeds. Progressive talk from leading thinkers in the turfgrass industry and always Speaking Frankly!
Join Frank in the first episode of 2016 as he Speaks Frankly with Dr. Kimberly Erusha, managing Director of the USGA's Green Section.