Turfnet Radio

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.

Anthony Pioppi chats with hands-on golf course architect and shaper Kye Goalby.

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.