Episodes

Jan 30

Frank speaks with Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis, Professor of Turfgrass Breeding & Genetics at North Carolina State University about her career progression from Peanuts and Tobacco to Turfgrass breeding. Dr. Milla-Lewis discusses how her study of these other crops has informed her process to produce improved turfgrass varieties through the “breeding pipeline”. She elaborates on the challenges that the Transition Zone will be facing as the climate continues to change and how breeders will collaborate nationally to address our most pressing challenges.

Jan 30

It's been a few weeks since the last episode, but life has a habit of intervening and sometimes throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Peter and Dave offer some health updates and an introduction to Kobe, Peter's new dog recently rehomed from Georgia. Topics include Paul MacCormack's current Mindful Superintendent Leadership series and a new turfRad Advisory Guild that Dave has formed to help guide future development of the turfRad soil moisture management system. Dave talks about using ChatGPT with some of his music gear, and that leads to a broader conversation about AI and the future of resumes and job applications in the era of AI.

Jan 31

In this special Tag Team event, Peter and Dave check in with the brain trust at FireFly Automatix, manufacturers of the AMP L-100 autonomous fairway mower first seen at the Black Desert Championship PGA event in October. Steve Aposhian, co-founder and CTO, and Mark LeBlanc, lead designer of the AMP mower, provide some fascinating insight into the company history and design and development of the AMP mower.

Feb 5

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Willy and the gang attend mandatory Anger Management training. Then, in a special Storytime segment, Willy tells the rarely told tale of the time a golf course crew was forcibly recruited into fighting a wildfire threatening the course.

Mar 10

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, we offer our top two secrets for protecting time off. Also, a brilliant Chuck Barber quote supporting our position is ripped from the TurfNet Forum and tossed about with little concern for any digital collateral damage.

May 14

Scott Bordner, director of agronomy at the Union League of Philadelphia, discusses the organization's roots as a patriotic entity founded to support President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, and its transformation to a three-course club. He also talks about the trajectory of his career that includes working as an assistant under Matt Shaffer at Merion Golf Club and a long tenure as superintendent at historic Chicago Golf Club. Finally, Bordner talks about his efforts to help solve golf turf's labor challenges by helping raise funds to offset the cost of college for potential turfgrass majors and organizing educational training events for those already working in golf.

Jul 17

In this episode of the Renovation Report presented by Capillary Flow and Golf Preservations, Richard Mandell of Richard Mandell Golf Architecture, speaks with Brad Klein about his approach to golf course design as well as the specifics about some of his most recent restoration and original design projects. Mandell, whose experience has a linear connection to Donald Ross, talks about the elements (such as color, form, scale, shape, space and texture) and principles (balance, contrast, proportion, unity and variety) of golf course design and how each is applied to specific parts of the golf course. In this discussion, Mandell goes in depth about his restoration work at drainage-plagued courses in Minnesota and Florida and how his design helps each naturally move water off the property. Finally, he discusses his plans for a new heathland-style golf course in North Carolina that will include removing and replacing all bunkers on the course with grass hollows.

Jul 17

Frank dives deep into warm and cool season turfgrass disease management with Dr. Jim Kerns Professor and Extension Specialist of Turfgrass Pathology and Department Extension Leader in Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University, where he also co-directs the Turfgrass Center for Environmental Research and Education. Frank and Jim discuss origins of Smith-Kerns model and then go underground for an intense discussion of Pythium root rot and the “patch” disease Take-All and Summer Patch. Jim addresses the new findings and discusses insights from molecular techniques that is enhancing control programs.

Jan 21

In this episode of the Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations, Chad Goetz, senior design associate with Nicklaus Design, talks with John Reitman about a recent restoration of the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona. Goetz talks about the history of this Nicklaus Signature Course that was the original site of The Tradition on the PGA Champions Tour, and the thought process that led to this restoration. Goetz also discusses some of the historic design features of the layout, the work that went into retaining them and turf choices then went into the restoration.

Jan 9

In this episode Frank speaks with Dr. Michael J. Goatley Jr., Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech. His contributions to sports turf management and turfgrass science have earned him numerous honors, including the 2023 PGMS Gold Medal Award and election as an American Society of Agronomy Fellow in 2018. Dr. Goatley and Frank do their best to not sound like the OG Muppets, covering topics such as nutrient management and training the next generation of turf professionals.

Jan 6

In this episode, we forecast what lies ahead for golf operations in 2025. As with all Rockbottum CC intel briefings, it's in code, discernible only by a certain IQ level. (Not too high, not too low.) In a bonus segment, Ludell gets to the bottum of this whole mysterious drone issue.

Jan 6

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.

Dec 24, 2024

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.

Dec 21, 2024

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.

Dec 19, 2024

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!

Dec 10, 2024

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.

Dec 9, 2024

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.

Dec 6, 2024

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!

Nov 26, 2024

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.

Nov 24, 2024

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.

Nov 21, 2024

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.

Nov 15, 2024

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.

Nov 13, 2024

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.

Nov 11, 2024

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.

Nov 7, 2024

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.

Nov 5, 2024

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.

Oct 29, 2024

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.

Oct 28, 2024

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.

Oct 24, 2024

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.

Oct 20, 2024

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.

Oct 17, 2024

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.

Oct 10, 2024

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!

Oct 2, 2024

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.

Sep 26, 2024

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.

Sep 11, 2024

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.

Sep 10, 2024

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.

Jul 31, 2024

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.

Jul 30, 2024

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.

Jul 26, 2024

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.

Jul 11, 2024

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!

Jun 20, 2024

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.

Jun 13, 2024

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.

May 30, 2024

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.

May 16, 2024

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!

May 10, 2024

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.

Apr 18, 2024

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.

Apr 15, 2024

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.

Feb 27, 2024

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.

Feb 24, 2024

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.

Feb 16, 2024

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.

Feb 12, 2024

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.

Oct 26, 2023

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.

Oct 15, 2023

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.

Sep 29, 2023

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.

Sep 29, 2023

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.

Sep 14, 2023

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."

Sep 10, 2023

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.

Feb 26, 2023

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.

Feb 19, 2023

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.

Jan 30, 2023

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.

Jan 26, 2023

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.

Jan 18, 2023

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.

Dec 12, 2022

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.

Nov 3, 2022

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!

Oct 27, 2022

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.

Oct 4, 2022

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.

Sep 20, 2022

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.

Sep 10, 2022

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."

Aug 25, 2022

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.

May 28, 2022

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.

May 25, 2022

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.

May 19, 2022

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.

Apr 20, 2022

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.

Apr 2, 2022

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.

Mar 27, 2022

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.

Mar 23, 2022

Peter McCormick goes 1:1 with Jordan Kitchen, golf course superintendent at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.

Mar 17, 2022

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.

Mar 14, 2022

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.

Mar 14, 2022

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.

Mar 10, 2022

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.”

Mar 10, 2022

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.

Feb 26, 2022

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.

Feb 26, 2022

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.

Mar 20, 2019

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.

Dec 4, 2017

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.

Nov 1, 2017

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.

Feb 21, 2016

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.

Feb 17, 2016

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.

Dec 22, 2015

The story of how TurfNet.com came to be comes to life as Dave Wilber interviews founder and creator, Peter McCormick. In a day and age when new things that actually work are rare, Peter McCormick talks about how TurfNet came to be. It's a great story in thinking way outside the box. It also shows what not worrying about what everyone else is doing can do for creativity. If you haven't heard Peter's entire story, this podcast will give you the 411 on one of the most influential people in the Turfgrass Business today. The Turfgrass Zealot Project is sponsored by Klingstone, proven bunker performance for over 15 years. www.klingstone.com

Aug 1, 2015

Frankly Speaking with Paul MacCormack, Golf Course Supt. and General Manager of Fox Meadow Golf Club on Prince Edward Island about being intentional about pacing yourself during the season. The aggressive pace of the growing seasons can be stressful, especially in the North at this time and the South during the January to March period when your course is most actively used and judged. Tips on how to find a peaceful spot, even if it is at 5am before anyone arrives will be offered!

Feb 15

In this 11th round of Wilber and McCormick Unscripted, Dave and Peter reflect on their last podcast with the folks from Firefly Automatix. Dave recounts his overall positive experience at the recent GCSAA CTS in San Diego, commenting that it was a generally happy crowd of attendees. They also touch on the rapid advancements in the industry displayed at the show, including new autonomous mowers, remote sensing, data crunching and drone technology. The conversation shifts to personal anecdotes, including updates about mental health and reflections on communication changes over the years. The episode concludes with discussions on data privacy, upcoming surgeries, and the importance of friendship.

Feb 18

Mar 9

Frank wraps up the 11th season of Frankly Speaking with Finger Lakes native Russ Myers, Director of Agronomics for Hanse Golf Course Design. Russ’s illustrious career has humble beginnings as a coach’s son attending SUNY Cobleskill before moving onto Augusta National, Card Sound, LA CC and two stints at Southern Hills. This is one of the most candid conversations ever on Frankly Speaking, describing a career of networking and high-profile golf course construction and maintenance intersecting with all the modern giants of the golf course industry. A one of kind conversation with a one of kind professional -- a great end to our season!

Mar 9

Frank gets a chance to catch up with Dr. Michael Bekken, a research scientist at Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) conducting research on sustainable resource management with particular emphasis on turfgrass management. Michael and Frank discuss third party environmental review programs such as Audubon, GEO, E-Par and gathering data from the golf industry on detailed energy, fertilizer, water, and pesticide use. Michael expounds on how we as an industry will begin to understand a strong framework for golf course sustainability.

Mar 18

TurfGeeks and TechnoNerds gather round as Dave and Peter chat with Derek Houtz, co-founder and CEO of TerraRad Tech, mother ship of turfRad, the turf soil moisture sensing and mapping application and sponsor of this podcast. Derek walks us through his education at Colorado State/Boulder in aerospace engineering to how he wound up in Zurich, Switzerland working on remote sensing applications on glaciers for the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. Listen in as Derek ties his work in glaciology to his younger days caddying on golf courses in Colorado and the development of turfRad. Listen in to check out the rest of the story.

Mar 20

Anthony Pioppi chats with Tom Mcavoy, CGCS, about the upcoming 27-hole Brian Silva renovation of Old Westbury Golf & Country Club in Old Westbury, NY.

Mar 27

Our guest this episode is Chris Hyman, the Equipment Manager at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Victor, NY about 15 miles southeast of Rochester. Chris is a longtime member of the turfgrass industry working in agronomics, sales, service/support, and now equipment manager - wrenching! He’s worked with many of the colors of iron we find in golf and sports turf and is currently a EMCP Level 2 in the equipment managers certification program on his way to be a fully CTEM. This a classic equipment deep dive we’ve come to expect when an EM comes on Frankly Speaking.

Mar 27

Justin Sims, CGCS, has been director of grounds and facilities at The Alotian Club in Roland, Arkansas for 13 years. He prepped for a position as a head superintendent at some of the country's premier facilities, including The Olympic Club in San Francisco under Pat Finlen and Augusta National Golf Club under Marsh Benson and Brad Owen. While he climbed the career ladder, he learned the value of working varied climates where he had the opportunity to manage both warm- and cool-season turf. He has imparted that wisdom on aspiring superintendents, convincing them that a diverse work experience opens the door to more career opportunities. He also discusses the importance of mentoring the next generation of golf course superintendents, his dream foursome and why he is a Michael Jordan fan.

Mar 28

In this episode of the Renovation Report, golf course architect Tyler Rae of Tyler Rae Design talks about his route into architecture that began with years of experience working on a golf course maintenance crew. The discussion proceeds to include starting a design firm in the midst of a recession with no work on the horizon, and how he built a career on a well-rounded architect who knows his way around earth-moving equipment as well as he does a set of blueprints. The conversation finally turns to how the creative process takes over with the end result being how the final product does not always look like what he presented on paper and how to have that discussion with a club's stakeholders.

Mar 31

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.

Mar 31

In Round #13 of Wilber and McCormick Unscripted, the conversation delves into personal growth and health challenges, including an upcoming knee replacement surgery for Dave and "third time's the charm" for Peter's journey into ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The conversation segues into synchronicities of connection with friends, and music as a source of joy, community and hope. Peter's surprise introduction to the music of Jacob Collier and Rockin'1000 serves as a source of inspiration and connection, illustrating the power of music in healing.

Apr 2

Josh Smith took an unconventional route to Orinda Country Club in Orinda, California, where he has been superintendent for the past decade. A competitive golfer at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, the Oregon native worked as an aspiring golf course architect before finally getting into golf course maintenance. It was while working at the California Golf Club of San Francisco when he attended the two-year program at Rutgers University, which provided him with the skills needed to become a head superintendent. Smith also has interesting side hustles that include painting golf course portraits and co-ownership in a company the fashions carry bags for golfers from flags.

Apr 10

Frank got a chance to catch up with Andy Magnasco, Director of Golf Course Maintenance and Grounds at Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel Valley, CA about his career development and how he arrived in his current role - a second stint at the Ranch. We discussed the many and varied projects from Bentgrass putting surfaces on the golf course to fire prevention for land management and yoga platforms that enhance the guest experience. Andy is among the most thoughtful turfgrass professionals I have had the opportunity to chat with and listening to this podcast will likely inspire others to take on the many challenges that are offered at any golf course!

Apr 10

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, Willy is forced to wear a Mindfulness Monitoring Device if he wants to retain his life insurance. After exposure to several thousand watts of Mindfulness, Willy delivers a solution to the Resort Workforce Dilemma, a problem that continues to agitate Golf Course Superintendents. In Storytime, Willy tells the tale that reveals why he became so goofy.

Apr 24

In Round 14 of Wilber & McCormick, Tag Team Unscripted, Dave relates his progress (and challenges) with getting used to a new knee. Peter finally had occasion to get on an airplane for a family wedding, and enjoyed the niceties of sitting up front in the "fat seats". After comparing notes on (in Peter’s case, not watching) The Masters, the guys dig into some new turf technology in the form of the Ecorobotix AI-based precision sprayer. They wind up with a chat about a recent X thread on work/life balance and changing culture in the workplace.

May 1

May 23

In this episode of the Renovation Report presented by Capillary Flow and Golf Preservations, Justin Mandon, superintendent at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California, discusses a 2023-24 restoration of greens and bunkers focused on recapturing as closely as possible Alister Mackenzie's original intent when he designed the course on the north side of Monterey Bay in 1929. Mandon talks about the club's history from its opening and how it served as an inspiration for Bobby Jones to hire Mackenzie, who lived in a home on the 14th fairway, to design Augusta National Golf Club. The discussion includes digging down several inches on each green to find the original contours, how the project helped reclaim numerous pinnable locations that had been lost over time and restoring bunkers to their original design (and numbers) thanks to aerial photography.

May 30

Frank chats with Chris Haspell, founder and president of Chris Haspell and Associates. Based in the UK, Chris specializes in golf course and sports turf consulting focused on end-to-end project management, construction and shaping services, grassing and grow-in expertise working with some of the biggest names in golf course architecture. Chris was involved in the 1990s with the Danish Golf Union and was one of the “Sons of Golf” in Denmark when pesticides were banned for use. Chris developed his construction skills on projects from Castle Stuart to Les Bourdes in France, he took some time out of his schedule to sit down and chat about his career and managing fescue golf courses.

Jun 3

In this episode of Wilber and McCormick, Dave and Peter discuss their experiences with life, health, and the turf industry while navigating personal challenges. Dave shares an update on his knee surgery recovery, highlighting the progress he's made and the pain he's managing. They also touch on the importance of socializing dogs, the value of training with e-collars, and the logistics of sensor deployment in turf management. The conversation shifts to cooking, particularly pizza-making, where they share techniques and personal anecdotes. The episode concludes with reflections on the turf industry and the role of technology in its advancement.

Jun 12

Frank catches up with Gunnar Håkansson who serves as the General Secretary and CEO of the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF), the governing body for golf in Sweden that was founded in 1904 and currently oversees 500 golf clubs with over 500,000 individual members. He has been actively involved in leading the federation through a period of significant change and modernization, including efforts to promote inclusivity and accessibility in Swedish golf. Håkansson has been prominent in making decisive leadership decisions for Swedish golf, including the federation's 2022 decision to sever ties with Henrik Stenson following his move to LIV Golf, citing concerns about role model standards for junior golfers. Frank and Gunnar catch up almost 20 years since Frank spent 6 months supporting the Swedish Golf Federation and the concept of “too much grass”.

Jun 26

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.

Jun 26

In this episode of Rising Stars of Turf, the spotlight is on Moe Robinson, arguably one of the most recognizable personalities in golf turf management today. Originally from Ontario and now residing in British Columbia, Moe recently tied the knot with Paul Robertson, longtime golf course superintendent at Victoria Golf Club. They are planning a larger ceremony -- to be officiated by Dave Wilber -- in the fall in back in Ontario with family and friends. She reflects on her journey in a male-dominated industry, highlighting the support from her mentors and her transition to a customer support role with Dave Wilber at TurfRad. Despite initial hesitations, Moe has embraced technology in turf management and is excited about her future contributions to the field. Throughout her journey, she emphasizes the importance of kindness, donuts and enjoyment in life. Moving forward, Moe will be taking on an additional role as contract on-camera personality for TurfNet.

Jun 26

Frank catches up with Mike 0’Keeffe who serves as Program Manager for The Ohio Program (TOP), Ohio State University's renowned international turfgrass internship program, a position he has held since 1990. A graduate of Warrenstown College in Ireland, Mike originally participated in the program himself as an intern from 1986-1988 before joining the staff. Under his leadership, TOP has become a globally recognized program that places 120+ international interns annually on some of the world's finest golf courses, helping young turfgrass professionals gain invaluable hands-on experience in the United States. Frank and Mike chat about the programs background, Mike’s passion for psychology and the secret to Ohio programs success—the people!

Jul 2

Jul 25

Aug 1

Life has intervened once again between Tag Team sessions as Dave has a second new bionic knee while Peter has emergency surgery and plunges into a sudden life-stage house move. Dave is excited about officiating at Moe Robinson and Paul Robertson's wedding in Toronto in September, while also mourning the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne. Dave recounts his activities with turfRad, and they discuss the recent podcast interview between Moe Robinson and Cutler Robinson, noting that Cutler spent 37 years in turf management with his only positions being golf course superintendent. The discussion winds up with a conversation about surrounding yourself with smart people, and the question of pursuing a Masters degree in plant physiology, psychology or an MBA?

Aug 28

Aug 28

In this episode of Rising Stars of Turf, Mark Lyon, the golf course superintendent of Teton Pines Resort and Country Club in Jackson Hole, WY, shares his unconventional journey into turfgrass management, which began at Michigan State University. After struggling with large class sizes, he found his passion through hands-on experiences in parks and recreation, leading to internships that solidified his love for the field. Mark emphasizes the importance of passion and networking in his career, recounting memorable wildlife encounters and the seasonal rhythms of golf course management. He balances his professional responsibilities with winter activities like skiing and family time, while also discussing innovative snow management techniques. Mark's story highlights the unique blend of nature and community in his work.

Sep 18

Sep 18

In this episode Frank visits with Professor Ming Yi Chou, Turfgrass Pathologist at Rutgers University, former sommelier, and expert microbial molecular biologist. He earned his B.Sc. from National Taiwan University, M.Sc. from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon, and Ph.D. in Horticultural Biology from Cornell University, followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Michigan State University. His research explores plant–soil–microbiome interactions, develops disease-prediction models and diagnostic tools, and directs one of the nation’s largest turfgrass fungicide evaluation programs. Widely recognized for his contributions to science and extension, Dr. Chou received the 2024–2025 Merle V. Adams Award for outstanding achievement as an assistant extension faculty member.

Oct 1

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf course architect Stephen Kay of Kay Golf Course Design about their friendship that dates almost 40 years, and how it intersects with the changing face of municipal golf in the United States. In this discussion, sponsored by Golf Preservations and CapillaryFlow, Key discusses how and why the majority of the design and renovation jobs have changed from mostly private to about 70 percent municipal projects. The discussion includes how many municipalities have changed the way they view their golf course properties, and how golfers who patronize them are more savvy about the game and course conditioning than in the past. Finally, the discussion addresses the importance of regular communication with superintendents and local officials during municipal design and renovation projects for numerous reasons, that include building a course that can accommodate beginners without alienating low-handicap players, as well as differences in how private and municipal properties are maintained. For example, areas around tees must be larger because they are subject to excess wear and because triplex mowers are used to maintain them. The area around greens must also be larger to give boom sprayers room to turn.

Oct 2

Frank had a chance to chat with Rhett Evans, the CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Rhett and Frank discuss the path to his current role and the challenges and rewards of running large organizations and municipalities. Specifically, Frank and Rhett get a chance to dive into the GCSAA organizational efforts with partners and membership and how he established his “voice” for the golf turf industry. Eventually, the discussion of high-performance athletic endeavors including multiple Ironman events and his recent ascension to the peak of Mount Everest. A rare glimpse behind the sciences with inimitable Rhett Evans.

Oct 22

In this episode of the Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations and CapillaryFlow, Brandon Johnson talks about his entry into the game playing as a child and how that led eventually to a successful career as a golf course architect. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Johnson also earned a master's degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University. Johnson discusses how his time as a student at NC State prepared him for continuing his education at Harvard, and how postgraduate studies in the Ivy League provided unique experiences that he probably would not have been exposed to otherwise. Some of those experiences include working at the PGA Tour Design School, being the lead architect for the First Tee program and study-abroad opportunities in locations such as England, France, Italy and Switzerland and how each helped form his career that includes learning under Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.

Oct 31

Frank catches up with F. Dan Dinelli, recent inductee to the the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame and third generation golf course superintendent at North Shore Country Club in Chicagoland. Dan and Frank catch up on the putting surfaces that were renovated in 2017 to a creeping bentgrass blend and an innovative root zone mix with 33 ingredients! Dan and Frank review the complex nature or plant and microbe interactions that have led to a better understanding of root zone dynamics in sand based root zones. Hold your breath as this one is a deep dive. Big congrats to Dan on being a HOFer.

Nov 21

This episode features Dr. Wendell Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science at the University of Arkansas, discussing his research on turfgrass disease management, particularly spring dead spot control. The conversation covers his educational background at NC State and Virginia Tech, where he worked on fungicide fate and movement in soil profiles. Dr. Hutchens explains that effective spring dead spot management requires immediate watering-in of fungicides within 30 minutes of application to move products into the root zone where pathogens are active. He details how GPS-guided sprayers combined with drone mapping can reduce fungicide usage by 40-65% while maintaining control efficacy by targeting only affected areas. The discussion also explores cultural management practices like thatch reduction, nutrition management with manganese and nitrogen sources, and the economic impact of the disease on golf courses. Additionally, they examine the USGA's GS3 ball technology for measuring putting green quality, including smoothness and trueness metrics, and how surface disruptions from aerification and foot traffic affect ball roll for extended periods.

Dec 4

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW and gang discuss the best time of year on the golf course and share a couple of tips from the Rockbottum Country Club vault that could help modern golf course superintendents survive an increasingly sensitive golf environment. Stick around for Ludell's announcement of the new online degree program from Rockbottum Country Club.

Dec 4

In this episode of the Rising Stars of Turf, sponsored by Earthworks and DryJect, Jorge Mendoza of Green River Golf Club in Corona, California, talks about his lofty career aspirations and his efforts to give back to the profession. A second-generation greenkeeper, Mendoza discusses the need to market himself and his accomplishments as he strives to achieve an industry leadership role beyond Green River. He also talks about what he to promote the game to area youth and introducing turf maintenance as a potential career path. With the golf course straddling three Southern California counties, Mendoza talks about the difficulty and challenges that can come with working with government agencies from three counties on a single project and how the needs and requirements of each might be in conflict with the others.

Dec 10

Dave and Peter are back in the saddle after a three-month hiatus, mostly due to Peter's life-stage paring down, rehoming and restructuring of his life. The lesson there is, just like doing major surgery to a golf green, to do it when you're healthy and can do it. All this leads to Peter's announcement of his pending retirement at the end of January. Dave and Peter reflect on the myriad ways that TurfNet has changed the industry over the past 32 years, from community building to jobs, used equipment, education... and touch on some of the "agents of change" who have been a part of it for a long time.

Dec 10

Frank Rossi interviews Ken Rost, founder and CEO of Frost Spray Technologies, about the evolution and adoption of GPS guided precision spraying systems in golf course and turf management. They discuss the barriers to technology adoption, including early reliability issues with GPS systems and the advantages of the Novotel satellite system that Frost uses. Ken explains how their partnership with Greenkeeper App has simplified map creation and enabled superintendents to have better control over their spray applications. The conversation covers variable rate applications, productivity improvements, and the emerging role of drone spraying technology for hard-to-reach areas like native grass zones. Ken shares insights from recent research presentations with Wendell Hutchens and Dave McCall on spring dead spot mapping, demonstrating 80-85% reductions in chemical use through targeted applications. The discussion also touches on licensing requirements for drone applications and the potential for automation in spray technology, with Ken teasing new developments to be unveiled at GIS in Orlando.

4d ago

This interview features twin brothers John and Jim Colo, both golf course superintendents in Florida, discussing their parallel careers in turf management. John works at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens while Jim is at Naples National Golf Club. Both started their careers in their native Ohio before attending Rutgers for turf education and completing internships at Castle Pines. They share insights about their mentors Steve Ehrbar and Jim Loke, and discuss the challenges of managing golf courses in South Florida's climate. The conversation covers labor recruitment and retention strategies, with both emphasizing the importance of treating crew members well through competitive wages, benefits, and hands-on leadership. They maintain daily communication about work challenges and solutions, supporting each other's professional growth. The interview also touches on how the golf industry has evolved over their 30-plus year careers, from early financial struggles to current leadership roles managing multi-million dollar operations.

4d ago

In this episode of Rising Stars of Turf, Tony Springmann shares his unique journey from Notre Dame football player to superintendent at Wicker Point Golf Club in Alabama. Springmann discusses how he discovered golf late in college after his football career ended and worked his way up through courses like Trinity Forest, Oakland Hills, and others. He explains the challenges of managing a new Coore and Crenshaw-designed course that opened in 2023, including extensive drainage work in Alabama's red clay and maintaining wall-to-wall Zeon zoysia with firm playing conditions. Springman emphasizes his management philosophy of cross-training all staff members, his passion for golf history and architecture, and how his Notre Dame education taught him to think critically. He also discusses the importance of mentorship, team building, and maintaining high standards while creating a supportive work environment for his assistants.

4d ago