Turfnet Radio

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Bill Kreuser of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about the current knowledge base about measuring clipping yield, GDD modeling, PGR use and managing for consistent turfgrass growth and optimal turfgrass health. Is the "one-third rule" valid, or completely bogus? What happens at 50%? Where is the optimal interface of mowing height and frequency? How to use clipping yield to guide fertility and PGR use so you're not "driving down the road with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake..." How about collar decline... should we be mowing our collars lower? Spend a few minutes with Frank and Bill for a fascinating conversation about managing turfgrass growth. Presented by Civitas and DryJect.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi talks with golf course architect Ron Forse of Forse Design, Inc., about his renovation of classic (and some modern) golf courses, and the role of the superintendent in a renovation project. What defines a good superintendent during a restoration or renovation project? Hint: He or she is the "hub of the wheel". Tony and Ron wind up chatting about golf course archaeology, including the Seth Raynor-designed Ocean Links course. Presented by Golf Preservations.

In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Josh Saunders, superintendent at the Longue Vue Club in the Pittsburgh area. Saunders laments some of the challenges of hiring staff in his area: hours, weekends, and opioids... his quests for interns and assistants... tapping into new demographics... putting a hard sell on the industry as a career... the lure of tournament golf on a resume... and how agronomy over time yields to management of budget, membership and assistants. Presented by STEC Equipment.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Brian Winka, CSFM, about the benefits of "Bluemuda" vs the "insanity" of the traditional process of overseeding Bermudagrass on sports fields and golf courses in the south and transition zone. Presented by DryJect/Maximus and Civitas/Intelligro.

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, live from somewhere in the TurfNet Zone, the Gang makes a field trip to one of those newfangled bowling alley honky-tonk disco pinball golf places, while attempting to answer the question of how much PGR is required to shrink a green chairman's ego. After a lesson in General George S. Patton tactics, and an interruption from the seniors group playing 2-Man Worst Ball, and before announcing the winner of the Turpentine Corncob Award, the topic of how wrestling fans infested golf galleries is pondered. Rockbottum Analytica, the common sense golf data mining sector of Rockbottum Country Club, finally settles the bentgrass vs 'muda debate before tackling digitoxicity in kids. In Storytime, Randy tells the long suppressed family story of Uncle Jelsik, the first Wilson to work in golf, Stoddard, his talking dog, Broderick the mule, Moby the hog and several other embarrassing moments. Presented by VinylGuard Golf.

In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman has a wide-ranging chat with Matt Shaffer, recently retired from Merion Golf Club, host of the 2013 U.S. Open. Matt's retrospective includes his Penn State education and mentors there... the Latshaw Connection interwoven through his career... pushing the agronomic envelope and living on the edge... the cost of obscurity and value of a pedigree... doors that exceeding expectations will open... having money and resources at your disposal, or not... learning from defeats and charging on to your next victory... how a great club membership makes a huge difference... never holding a grudge. The compensation/aggravation ratio of being a superintendent... the physical toll of hosting a Major... finding work/life balance. Spend 45 minutes with Matt Shaffer, who pulls no punches. A fascinating conversation.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation and previously CEO of the GCSAA. Topics include the rebound of the Tiger Effect and it's influence on the "green grass channel"; getting new golfers to the point of playing well enough that they enjoy the game; making golf more accessible (and user friendly) at every level of facility; altering perceptions of the game among potential new golfers; effects of course design and conditioning on the experience of new golfers... and lots more! Spend a half hour with Frank and Steve and get yourself up to date on where the game is and where it's heading. Presented by Civitas/Intelligro and DryJect.

Armen Suny and Host Dave Wilber turn their thinking amps up to 11 and have a session. And you are invited! From Sand Based Greens to Robotic Mowers. From chaining old rollers near golf shops to perfect biology. And more. When Armen and Dave sit and jam, anything can and usually does happen.  Enjoy this episode as a way to get motivated as the Spring of 2018 is upon us!! The Turfgrass Zealot Project is only on TurfNet.com. And ANYONE can listen!  

In this episode of The Ladder, host John Reitman chats with Jordan Kitchen, assistant superintendent at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario. Jordan relates his experiences with launching a new company and product while obtaining an MBA and working full time to boot. Surprisingly, he finds the benefits of the MBA program to be as much in personal introspection and development as in broadening his business skills. Presented by STEC Equipment.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Chava McKeel, Bob Helland and Michael Lee of the GCSAA Government Affairs staff about current issues trending on national, regional and local legislative agendas. Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Matt Powell about the soon to be opened Brian Silva renovation of the Seth Raynor layout at Dedham Country and Polo Club in the metro Boston area.

In this episode of Living Legends, presented by the Nufarm Insider, host John Reitman chats with Dr, Karl Danneberger of Ohio State about his knack for engaging an audience, telling stories, his love of the game of golf, a bit about the challenges facing people entering the industry, and his special off-topic interest...

The Rockbottum Gang goes for ice cream while their Milleminial Golfer Study is revealed.  After finding out how to prevent Old Man Smell, listen in on the first ever Rockbottum Board Meeting. There's a big accident out on the course, and then Ludell catches RW on tape under the effects of Truth Serum. Presented by VinylGuard Golf.

In this episode of The Ladder, presented by STEC Equipment, host John Reitman chats with Carlos Arraya of Bellerive Country Club about his career path, team building at Bellerive through Pillar Management, and fostering staff development through one-on-one "weeklies". Carlos also discusses the benefit of giving up some management control to others and letting them make decisions. "It's amazing how much we can get done, and how much it improves everyone’s work/life balance."

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Ted Horton, CGCS, legendary superintendent at Winged Foot and Westchester Country Club as well as VP of Resource Management at Pebble Beach, and board member of Audubon International. Now living in California, Ted is is currently a Sr. Consulting Superintendent for Brightview, specializing in environmental stewardship; golf course safety, security and risk management; tournament preparations; turfgrass agronomics and the administrative functions of large property maintenance. In this "Ted" talk, Frank and Ted chat about the advent of lightweight mowing on fairways back in the mid-'80s, including the economic adjustments and agronomic benefits incurred. Much of the discussion centers around current and future water use on golf courses. Frankly Speaking is presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Art DeGaetano of Cornell University about the underlying science of climate change. Dr. DeGaetano is a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University and Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) at Cornell. Art's PhD in climatology and horticulture from Rutgers uniquely positions him to understand and explain climate influences on man-made and biological systems. A fascinating discussion without spin, pivoting or fake anything. The real skinny on climate change, brought to you by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.

In this audiocast, the gang in the Rockbottum pro shop discuss Bad Member Discipline (especially Norbert Tuchus)... UFOs beaming up night watermen... Global Cooling... Global Warming... Golf Business Projections and... Storytime. Plus, Ludell gives us his online dating secrets (no, not FarmersOnly.com), starting with dead malls and ice cream truck jingles. Presented by VinylGuard.

In this Frankly Speaking PopUp Podcast, host Frank Rossi chats with TurfNet's Jon Kiger about the recent TurfNet Members' Trip to Scotland, the upcoming trip to BTME/Harrogate in England (where space is still available), and the TurfNet Members' Trip back to Ireland next October. Presented by DryJect and Civitas.

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, direct from the TurfNet Zone, Randy Wilson gives us some Christmas tips from Rockbottum, including: dealing with kids at Christmasspeeding up play (hint: "Fill 'em, sod 'em, mow 'em")making golf affordable and fundoing something with the "r" word PLUS: Skeletal Golf Predictions and Projections! Randy finishes up with a golf course Christmas story in Storytime.

A great friend of TurfNet, Jerry Coldiron, needs to be remembered as the wonderful amazing man that he was. Peter McCormick, Founder and Maestro of TurfNet and Dave Wilber, The Turfgrass Zealot, take time to talk about the passing of a great friend and Turfhead. To so many, Jerry was a light of positive infulence and his untimely and unexpected passing will leave a huge hole in the industry. We speak candidly about what relationships mean and how the relationships that last are formed and maintained. And we tell some good stories about a good guy. If you didn't know Jerry, you will know him. And if you knew Jerry, you will know him better.   Please note: A tribute site is under development at http://jerrycoldironembracelife.us. The fund set up in Jerry's memory (while a foundation is being established) can be found at https://givehope.com/Jerry-Coldiron-Embrace-Life. Please consider a donation.