In this episode of Changing the Business of Golf, host Gary Firkins sits down with Matt Pringle, Managing Director of the USGA Green Section and one of the most influential voices shaping the future of golf course management.

With a foundation in mechanical engineering, Matt has spent his career bridging innovation and the game – from inventing the pendulum test for spring effect in drivers to developing the USGA TruFirm turf firmness measurement system, now the standard at USGA championships, PGA TOUR events, and major championships worldwide.

In 2019, Matt turned his full attention to the USGA Green Section, where he's driving a fundamental shift in how the industry thinks about golf course science, sustainability, and the people behind it.

In this conversation, Matt shares the three changes that he believes will help rethink how golf courses are led, measured, and sustained for generations to come:

1️⃣ Outcome-driven decision making – Superintendents must move beyond habit and tradition, using data to focus on what actually drives course performance and business results.

2️⃣ A seat at the leadership table – The golf course is a club's single most valuable asset. According to Matt, the professionals who steward it belong at the decision-making table.

3️⃣ Building the next generation of turf talent – The industry faces a real labour shortage. Matt makes the case for why superintendents need to become champions for their profession, and how to do it.

If you’re looking to adopt smarter course management, stronger leadership, and a sustainable talent pipeline, this episode is essential watching.

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Timestamps:

00:00 About Matt Pringle

08:05 Change #1: Become more focused on outcomes

16:41 Change #2: Make superintendents part of the leadership team

22:57 Change #3: Increase awareness of careers in turf

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Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries.

To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Welcome back to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

In this special edition, host Gary Firkins is joined by three of the industry's leading sustainability experts, fresh from a landmark Syngenta-hosted discussion at the Golf Business Technology Conference in Belfast.

Joining Gary in this episode:

- Simon Elsworth – Global Head of Professional Solutions, Syngenta

- Gina Rizzi – President, Radius Sports Group

- Jonathan Smith – Founder, GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf

Together, they work through the good, the difficult and the different, taking an honest look at where golf's sustainability journey currently stands and mapping out a clear path forward for the industry. Best Management Practices are already delivering measurable environmental results, digital tools for sustainable course management are more accessible than ever — golf is doing the sustainability work, but does it need to do more to communicate it?

In this episode, you'll discover how golf can close the gap between the work it's doing and the story it's telling, and what the panel believe needs to change for the industry to take control of its own sustainable future.

This is a conversation every golf course business needs to hear.

Welcome to Syngenta Golf’s Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

In this episode, host Gary Firkins is joined by Dr. Thomas Nikolai, popularly known as the "Doctor of Green Speed." Thom is a Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist at Michigan State University, specializing in putting green mechanical and cultural practices. He earned his nickname through groundbreaking research into the relationship between turfgrass health, maintenance practices, and golfer satisfaction.

Thom is a pioneer of the industry, best known for his discovery that lightweight rolling actually decreases dollar spot and other pests - a finding that challenged decades of conventional wisdom. In this wide-ranging discussion, Thom shares his unconventional journey from a "troubled youth" working in factories to becoming a leading global voice in turf science.

He shares his three changes for the business of golf:

* Implement best management practice in water conservation

* Introduce robotics into greens maintenance

* Stay ahead of regulation through innovation

Timestamps

00:20 Introduction to Dr. Thomas Nikolai

01:00 Thom’s journey: From factory worker to the "Doctor of Green Speed"

03:33 Change 1: Implement best management practice in water conservation

13:40 Change 2: Introduce robotics into greens maintenance

27:55 Change 3: Stay ahead of regulation through innovation

31:40 The "Leaf Mulching" discovery: How tree leaves could become the next natural herbicide

38:40 Why golf is leading the charge in environmental concerns

About Dr. Thomas Nikolai:

Beyond his academic work at Michigan State University, Thom is the author of The Superintendent's Guide to Controlling Putting Green Speed and is the creator and host of the long-running GCSAA Turfgrass Talk Show.

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Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries.

To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media:

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Welcome to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast from Syngenta Golf.

In this episode, host Gary Firkins sits down with Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International – a leading non-profit dedicated to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in golf.

Christine has spent her entire career in the non-profit and environmental world. Now, with golf experiencing a significant boom and a new generation of players entering the game, she sees an opportunity to reshape how the industry thinks, talks and invests in sustainability – not as a compliance exercise, but as a genuine driver of business growth.

Christine shares the three changes she believes every golf business can make today, including:

- Why sustainability must be built into every part of a golf business – from course operations and F&B to staffing and culture – and why a dedicated sustainability point person could be the most impactful hire a club makes.

- How creating partnerships with non-traditional partners and proactive storytelling through marketing and social media is a major opportunity for golf course businesses.

- Why third-party validation is no longer optional, providing golf courses with credibility and resilience when it counts.

Is your golf course business ready for the future? Learn how to get ahead of the curve with sustainable practices that drive business growth and long-term stability.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

06:25 Change #1: Build sustainability into every operational decision

13:55 Change #2: Create partnerships with non-traditional partners

23:57 Change #3: Seek third-party validation

Welcome to Syngenta Golf’s Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

In this episode, host Gary Firkins is joined by Rhett Evans, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). For more than 15 years, Rhett has led the association’s 22,000 members in elevating the voice of superintendents across the industry, advancing environmental progress and helping facilities strengthen their bottom line.

Drawing on Rhett’s extensive industry experience, the conversation explores why golf course businesses would benefit from superintendents having a seat at the table in operational, financial and strategic decisions.

Evans discusses how elevating the superintendent into higher leadership roles would lead to better playing conditions, smarter investment decisions and stronger alignment across golf organizations.

Throughout the episode, Rhett shares his three changes for the business of golf:

- Fully integrate the superintendent into the leadership of every golf business

- Embrace Best Management Practices as a core business strategy

- Build more accessible and affordable green-grass golf experiences

Watch now to discover why putting the individuals at the heart of golf courses is crucial to improving a facility’s long-term business sustainability.

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Timestamps:

00:21 About Rhett Evans and the GCSAA

02:31 Fully integrate the superintendent into the leadership of every golf business

08:50 Embrace Best Management Practices as a core business strategy

16:53 Build more accessible and affordable green-grass golf experiences

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Welcome to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast from Syngenta Golf.

Each episode, we speak to industry leaders, sustainability experts and superintendents to identify three actionable changes to shape golf’s future.

In this episode, we’re joined by Renate Roeleveld, CEO of the Golf Course Association Europe (GCAE). Renate’s journey into the game has been far from traditional — first picking up a golf club at the same time she entered the industry. Now as CEO of the GCAE and a golf course owner herself, Renate brings a unique perspective on what needs to change to ensure a sustainable future for golf.

Across this 30-minute conversation, Renate shares the key shifts she believes will create a more inclusive, positive and profitable golf industry, including:

- Why golf club managers must start thinking like new golfers — from flexible membership models to facilitating spaces where people can connect through the game

- Why increasing the number of women in leadership roles isn’t about diversity targets, but better decision-making and long-term business success

- Why golf needs to do more to challenge outdated perceptions and present itself as a fun, social and accessible experience

Watch now to hear practical insights for golf club leaders looking to better understand their customers, strengthen their communities, and future-proof their businesses.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:10 Change #1: Adapt to Changing Customers

11:02 Change #2: More Women in Leadership Positions

20:58 Change #3: Change the Image of Golf

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Welcome to another episode of Syngenta Golf’s Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

In this episode, host Gary Firkins is joined by Henry DeLozier, Principal at GGA Partners, to explore a key question for today’s industry: what does a well-run golf club really look like?

Drawing on Henry’s vast experience across golf club leadership, strategy, and industry insight, this conversation looks at why many clubs still make investment decisions without a clear, long-term plan - often driven by assumption rather than insight - and why understanding members and anticipating change are now critical for success.

The episode also focuses on two major opportunities shaping the future of golf: the growth of women’s golf and environmental sustainability. From creating more inclusive clubs to recognising the role of superintendents as environmental stewards, the discussion highlights how clubs can take advantage of these opportunities for long-term business profitability.

Throughout the episode, Henry reveals his three changes for every golf club leader and board members:

- Make smarter, evidence-led investment decisions

- Accelerate the growth of women’s golf, the industry’s $35b opportunity

- Recognize the importance of environmental sustainability and empower golf superintendents to take the lead in sharing golf’s story to the public.

Watch now to discover the decisions your golf course business can make today to ensure long-term sustainability.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:03 Change #1: Make better investment decisions

14:11 Change #2: Accelerate the growth in women’s golf

20:50 Change #3: Recognize the importance of environmental sustainability

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Welcome to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast from Syngenta Golf. Each episode, we speak to industry leaders, sustainability experts and superintendents to identify three actionable changes to shape golf’s future.

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike O’Keeffe, Program Manager at the Ohio State University International Intern Program (TOP). Mike shares insights from his decades of experience connecting turf professionals around the world, including the story behind OSU’s long-standing partnership with Syngenta and the success stories that have come from it.

In a conversation with host Gary Firkins, Mike outlines his three changes for the future of the turf industry:

- Bring more young people into the industry - tackling the labour crisis through education, inspiration and better storytelling.

- Give your turf team education and experience - how investing in people builds stronger teams and reputations.

- Embrace next-generation technology - why adapting to rapid innovation is key to golf’s ongoing success.

Watch now to discover how your golf course business can help the next generation shape the future of the golf industry.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:42 Change #1: Bring more young people into the industry

14:30 Change #2: Give your turf team education and experience

21:33 Change #3: Embrace next generation technology

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Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries.

To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media:

X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/syngenta-turf-landscape

Welcome back to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast.

In this episode, host Gary Firkins is joined by Dr. Stacy Stellflug, Associate Professor at the University of Montana-Bozeman, and Kee Dunning, Clinical Professional Counselor based in Billings, Montana. Both specialize in mental health and wellbeing and have supported superintendents and course leaders for a number of years.

In 2021, Syngenta’s mental health survey revealed that more than 60% of greenkeepers and superintendents had experienced increased work-related mental health challenges since the start of the pandemic.

Following a particularly demanding few years for turf professionals, Stacy and Kee reveal why stress, isolation and stigma continue to affect so many within the profession, sharing stories and advice on what golf clubs can do to create safer, healthier workplaces.

In this conversation, they outline three essential changes every golf business can make:

- Recognize the importance of mental health and the impact it has on performance and wellbeing

- Create a safe space to talk by listening, supporting, and building the right culture within the workspace

- Communicate better through Kee’s six concepts of communication

Tune in to learn how your golf business can build a culture that supports mental health, strengthens leadership, and helps every team member thrive.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:23 About Stacy and Kee and their work in the golf industry

05:10 Change #1: Recognize the importance of Mental Health

12:30 Change #2: Create a Safe Space to Talk about Mental Health

22:59 Change #3: Communicate Better

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Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries.

To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media:

X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/syngenta-turf-landscape

Welcome to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast. In this episode, host Gary Firkins is joined by Ed Pettit, Managing Director at Carr Golf Services. A former PGA Professional turned golf business leader, Ed draws on more than two decades of experience to share his practical strategies for building long-term business success in golf.

Ed reveals findings from a survey, conducted by Carr Golf Services, which showed that while 90% of golfers believe the course is the most important part of their experience, only 22% were satisfied with year-round course conditioning.

In this conversation, Ed outlines three critical changes that every golf club needs to consider today, including:

Why prioritizing the conditioning your golf course is the key driver of revenue growth

How clubs of all sizes can use data to improve decision making and course performance

What golf clubs must do to meet future regulation challenges and ensure long-term business sustainability

Tune in to learn how your golf business can prepare and adapt for the future.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:22 About Ed and Carr Golf Services

05:20 Change #1: Prioritize Your Golf Course

11:35 Change #2: Use Data to Inform Your Decision Making

16:33 Change #3: Prepare for the Future

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Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries.

To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media:

X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf

LinkedIn - / syngenta-turf-landscape