Turfnet Radio

Frank speaks with long-time colleague and professor at the UW-Madison, Doug Soldat. Doug and Frank have a 15-year history of chatting about all sorts of plant and soil science topics from early days at Cornell, GCSAA Seminars, regional webinars, aas well as previous episodes of this fine podcast. Doug and Frank take up some “organic matters” of the soil concerning nutrient and water management, and the soon-to-be-released USGA standards for organic matter testing. Lively conversation ensues discussing “chasing fake numbers”, establishing meaningful comparisons to expected water use rates, and why managing growth and organic matter will directly improve playability. Consider this another installment of “what Doug and Frank think this year”.

To say Nate McKinniss is on the career fast track would be an understatement of almost immeasurable proportions. McKinniss, 27, is the golf course superintendent at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, where Job 1 is keeping the course what he called “Golden Bear ready.” That's a nod to Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course, has a home there and is the host of its biggest event, the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament. McKinniss has worked at the club in suburban Columbus since he graduated from The Ohio State University's four-year turfgrass management program in 2017. He was promoted into the position of golf course superintendent by Muirfield director of grounds Chad Mark late in 2020. “I started in 2017 here as an intern, and you talk about how fast things get moving, and usually how it’s been taking a longer amount of time for people, it goes to show that the program that you Chad has getting people on the fast track to that next step, and the people that were in that position before me, four peop

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

Mike Lecavalier has been the golf course superintendent at the Kanawaki Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec for 17 years. For 13 of those years, and quite a few prior, he had a serious alcohol problem. Almost four years ago he looked himself in the mirror and admitted to himself that he needed help, and turned to friends, then AA, and ultimately the gym and a personal trainer. Here is his story.

Peter McCormick visits with Paul B. Hurst, husband of Kristi, father of Nicholas, Madison and Molli, dogfather of Lyla, man of many hats, guitar-playing half of MidLife acoustic duo, instructor in the multi-part So, You Want to Be a Sales Guy video series, honoree of a 2021 TurfNet Jerry Coldiron Positivity Award, and arguably the Most Interesting Man in Turf. They chat about a recent Tweet of Paul's and how the social media success of his and Kristi's singing and "nitwittery" on Twitter over the past two years have meant to them, and his business. Check it out.

In this episode Frank speaks with Cornell University alumnus, former president of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation and current president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Jason Straka. After a quick wander through his formative years Jason and Frank take up practical course construction issues, working with golf course superintendents, affordable golf, and the minefield that can be mass media. Jason speaks candidly about what is fair criticism of golf but also where we are excelling environmentally. Ending with an interesting conversation about access and addressing the length of courses by changing the golf ball. If you are a golf geek, you will love this chat.

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Stephen Miles of The Preserve Golf Club, which is part of the Palace Casino Resort complex in Vancleave, Mississippi. Miles discusses the current state of the resort golf business on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the success of a recent bunker renovation project.

Anthony Pioppi chats with John McDonald II, vice president of McDonald & Sons Golf Course Builders of Jessup, MD, and newly elected president of the Golf Course Builders Association of America. The conversation runs the gamut between current health of the build/renovation side of the golf course business, the bid or handshake process of procuring renovation work, and the new tools and technology that have impacted golf course builders... some of which might surprise you!

Frank speaks with Dr. Larry Stowell in this episode about his career path as the son of a California Dept of Agriculture professional, through having to get kicked out of UC-Riverside “cause I loved it so much” and competing for a job his partner Dr. Wendy Gelernter was recruited for! This pioneer in data-driven management is always asking questions and seeking the best science to help golf course superintendents be more efficient and effective in achieving their performance goals. What could be a better aspiration! A lovely chat worthy of a good listen.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank catches up with Penn State University Professor John Kaminski in between John’s presentations to golf course superintendents. In his usual candor, John walks us through his early years, wanting to crush everyone’s turf program, and the nature of “we are”. Some technical topics arise during the conversation regarding thatch collapse and a new Pythium species being researched in John’s lab. There is even talk of the new Diagnostic Lab John is launching. Not too bad for a Penn State Guy! Presented by DryJect and Plant Food Company.

Anthony Pioppi chats with Doug Larson, golf course superintendent at The Shore Club in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, about his 35+ year career from superintendent to sales and back to superintendent, and the ongoing renovation work spearheaded by Tyler Rae, golf course architect. Larson describes the bunker work as "economical but with a big impact". Listen in to find out how they're doing it. Presented by Golf Preservations, The Andersons and Capillary Bunkers.

This is Rockbottum Radio, "What They Don't Want You To Know in '22". In this New Year's Day episode, we offer a couple of Skeletal Golf Predictions for 2022, some in-depth analysis, a few strategies to deal with what's coming and... Cletus uncovers the most dangerous thing golf has faced in decades. In Storytime, RW confesses the worst thing he ever did on a golf course, mostly because everybody involved has passed on, or can't remember, or maybe the Statue of Lamentations has run out. Once again presented by DryJect, the most brilliant method for greens management ever invented.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with longtime friend and turfgrass researcher, consultant, and all-around great guy Mark Mahady. Mark has spent almost 40 years in the turfgrass industry, from some humble golf maintenance shop floor-waxing skills to one of the most sought-after turfgrass consultants/researchers in the Western US. Mark and Frank speak on a wide range of topics from turfgrass management in the late 1970’s in California, through the 1980’s and the Chemlawn research group. Much of the chat turns to annual bluegrass management and how far we have come as an industry out west. Mark and Frank end up by paying homage to the many innovative superintendents who have contributed to improving annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass management in CA.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with two young leaders in the golf turf industry: Leasha Schwab, the golf course superintendent of Pheasant Run Golf Club in Sharon, Ontario, and Christopher Reverie, golf course superintendent at Allentown Municipal Golf Course, Allentown, PA. These young leaders have distinguished themselves in unique ways. Individually they are making a difference in the lives of both aspiring and existing golf course professionals. It’s not always easy, and it usually means working more than the next person, but it seems leading is in their DNA.

Spend the morning with Rockbottum as we endure a visit from the Empire and a couple of VIPs, we touch on the latest news for superintendents, try a couple of product evaluations (The Heavy Blanket) and we reveal the axioms that provide the foundation of Rockbottum Philosophy. In Storytime, there are two stories and several lessons:  We expose the current golfer complaint and how to fix it, along with Cruella and The Christmas Day After. Presented by DryJect.

In this episode of Renovation Report sponsored by Capillary Bunkers, The Andersons and Golf Preservations, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Matt Pringle, Ph.D., managing director of the USGA Green Section, about the history and role of the Green Section. In his second year heading the century-old Green Section, Pringle discusses the changing role of the Section in the face of changing technology and economic challenges, including new options that Pringle described as "data-driven decision-support tools". Klein and Pringle also discuss the Green Section's plans and subsequent pullback on the USGA's job-search initiative.  

In this episode of The TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Peter Brooks, CGCS, superintendent at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida since 1987, about the ABCs of fairway regrassing in South Florida.

This episode of Frankly Speaking returns to the Western US with Dr. Gwen Stahkne of Walla Walla Community College, WA and long-time Washington State Turfgrass Extension Specialist, and Brianne Kenny, an Environmental Scientist at Troon Golf, based in Arizona. Gwen has a long career that began in the Midwest working with some legends in turfgrass science, Drs. Beard, Turgeon and Shearman. Well trained and outspoken, Gwen established and maintained educational resources for the PNW for the last 40 years. We got a chance to explore those years. Bri Kenny started waiting tables at a Troon property during her MS program in Environmental Science. She was able to tour the course during onboarding and knew that was the place for her. Nothing quite like hearing the hope and promise of a new generation of scientists and turf professionals. Bri sees golf in a broader context that we could all learn from.

Golf in the desert and in the mountains offer unique experiences in dramatically visual arid environments. This episode of Frankly Speaking focuses on these unique management systems with experts in agronomy and pest management. Brian Whitlark, USGA Green Section Senior Agronomist in the Southwest and Adam VanDyke, owner and lead scientist at Professional Turf Solutions based in Utah. Brian and Frank speak frankly about managing desert golf courses in some of the last remaining areas in the US that winter overseed. Overseeding strategies, surface preparation, the Ryegrass Management System and of course water are big topics. Adam and Frank turn to pests and stress in the mountains. Lots of persistent challenges, emerging pests and managing turf in the mountains when abnormal becomes the new normal with warmer temperatures and less snow. As usual Frank is able to cover a lot of ground in a short time!

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW finally reveals all of his Skeletal Golf secrets for great greens (Bent or UD) along with the backstory explaining why they were kept secret. The Mad Golf Prophet offers up his Last Prediction ever and confesses how he knew this supply line dislocation was coming. Finally, a Halloween tale for Storytime that is too spooky, even for Rockbottum.