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.

___

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

___

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

___

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.

___

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

___

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

___

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

X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf

LinkedIn - / syngenta-turf-landscape

Welcome to the Changing the Business of Golf podcast. In this episode, Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), joins host Gary Firkins to share his vision for the future of golf.

Named among the top 25 most powerful people in golf by Golf.Inc Magazine, Jay leads the golf industry’s trade association and initiatives, supporting over 4,000 golf course businesses across the United States.

Throughout the 30-minute conversation, Jay outlines the key changes he believes will open the game to more people and strengthen the long-term growth of the industry, including:

- Why partnering with Parks & Recreation associations is the key to attracting more players to the game.

- How connecting green grass golf with off-course golf entertainment can fuel the industry’s growth.

- How golf course businesses can speak up and share their environmental success story to change the public’s perception.

Plus, Jay reveals his BONUS change, where he shares how golf courses can leverage the power of technology while maintaining control of customer relationships.

Which of Jay’s changes do you believe could have the biggest impact? Let us know in the comments ⬇️

___

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:26 Jay’s Golf Origin Story

04:59 Change #1: Fish Where the Fish Are

12:58 Change #2: Connect Off-Course Golf & Green Grass Golf

21:31 Change #3: Tell Golf’s Good News Environmental Story

29:27 BONUS Change

___

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

___

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

Join host Gary Firkins and Sandy Reid, Director of Greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust, in this episode of the Changing the Business of Golf Podcast. With over three decades of experience, including managing the historic 150th Open Championship, Sandy shares valuable insights into how the industry can build a sustainable future.

Join host Gary Firkins and Sandy Reid, Director of Greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust, in this episode of the Changing the Business of Golf Podcast. With over three decades of experience, including managing the historic 150th Open Championship, Sandy shares valuable insights into how the industry can build a sustainable future.

Learn how the Home of Golf is leading the way in sustainable practices and discover actionable strategies for golf courses to attract the next generation of greenkeepers. Sandy discusses initiatives such as working with local schools and apprenticeships, which help to highlight the importance of the greenkeeper's role on a golf course and address the industry's labor shortages.

He also shares valuable insights into the automation technology his team has embraced across their seven courses, providing practical advice on how greenkeepers with limited budgets can implement innovative solutions to improve turf performance.

In 25 minutes, find out…

- How to better attract young people into greenkeeping

- How embracing innovation and automation can reduce costs while enhancing turf performance.

- Why the industry needs to ‘think big’ with sustainability

Tune in to explore how the the business of golf can build its sustainable future today.

___

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

___

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

In this episode of the Changing the Business of Golf Podcast, host Gary Firkins is joined by Beth Guertal, Ph.D, Project Director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) at Kansas State University.

From growing up on her childhood family farm to becoming one of the leading researchers in the turfgrass field with more than three decades of expertise, Beth reveals the ways in which golf course businesses can demonstrate their true value to the environment and reshape the perception of the sport’s sustainability.

In this insightful conversation, Gary and Beth explore…

- How golf courses can position themselves as value-added ecosystems

- The importance of continuous professional development for industry professionals

- Communicating golf’s true environmental sustainability story.

___

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

___

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 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 are joined by Keith Wood, Director of Greens and Grounds at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Keith speaks with us in the run up to hosting the 2025 PGA Championship, the second time the club has hosted the event. He tells us about the immense efforts required from his crew and volunteers to ready the course, and the important role team culture plays.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Keith outlines his three changes to host Gary Firkins, including:

- How he believes creating an inclusive team culture is key to success

- Highlighting the importance of urban golf course green spaces

- Why there is a pressing need to invest more to attract and retain turf professionals

Welcome back to Syngenta’s Changing the Business of Golf podcast, now with a new name and refreshed format. Each episode, we speak to industry leaders, sustainability experts and superintendents to identify three actionable changes to shape golf’s future.

In this episode, Greg Nathan, President & CEO of the National Golf Foundation (NGF), sits down with host Gary Firkins to discuss the critical changes golf clubs and courses can make to boost customer retention and reposition golf as a more accessible, growth-oriented sport, backed by NGF’s groundbreaking data.

In 35 minutes, you’ll learn:

- How and why golf businesses should sell golf like any other product

- Radical Hospitality: A proven framework to increase retention

- The ROI of free 10-minute golf lessons – converting casual interest into committed players.

Plus, a BONUS change, where Greg reveals the one question golf club staff should be asking to help attract and retain customers.

___

Useful Links:

National Golf Foundation: https://www.ngf.org/

Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide: https://www.syngentagolf.com/sites/g/files/kgtney646/files/media/document/2023/02/08/Golf%20%2B%20Social%20Media%20The%20Great%20Divide.pdf

Follow our guest:

Connect with Greg Nathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-nathan-6381239/

___

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

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

In the latest episode of the Growing Golf podcast, we welcome Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.

Jonathan’s journey in golf began at a young age, where he experienced firsthand how the game could positively impact mental, physical, and social well-being. After later earning a degree in Geography and Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews, Jonathan’s commitment to golf’s sustainability mission took root.

Today, Jonathan and the GEO Foundation are one of the only global organisations solely dedicated to the mission to inspire, support and reward credible sustainability action and to strengthen and promote golf’s social and environmental value.

Jonathan believes golf courses have a unique role in promoting nature restoration, improving resource efficiency, cutting carbon emissions, and creating social value. He calls on golf clubs to act now, warning that failure to do so could threaten long-term success.

"You've got to go out there and tell people what you're doing, what your commitments are, what your actions are and what results you're generating," says Smith.

Speaking to host Gary Firkins, Smith also addresses the perception that sustainability is costly for many clubs. He notes that by tapping into GEO Foundation's free OnCourse program, they can find a range of no-cost, low-cost and cost-saving solutions to get started.

He also highlights potential for grant funding or public and private partnerships if clubs can align their sustainability goals with those of their community.

"The biggest success we see with clubs is where they make sustainability integral to their overall decision-making," he added.

Tune in to learn more about Jonathan’s journey into the industry, and how golf clubs can successfully balance the needs of people, planet and profit.

___

Useful links:

GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf: https://sustainable.golf/

Golf & Social Media: Sustainability: https://www.syngentagolf.com/sites/g/files/kgtney646/files/media/document/2023/06/27/Golf%2BSocial%20Media%20Sustainability%20%281%29_0.pdf

Follow our guest:

Connect with Jonathan Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-smith-52408414/

Welcome to Syngenta Golf, 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

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

In this episode of the Growing Golf podcast, host Gary Firkins sits down with John Clarkin, founder of international agronomy consultancy, Turfgrass.

With a career spanning five decades, John has established a strong reputation as one of Europe’s leading golf course development and management advisors, blending his lifelong passion for golf with a commitment to environmental stewardship.

The pair explore the delicate balance between maintaining the environmental and economic sustainability of golf courses, highlighting the importance of preserving quality while ensuring long-term viability.

John also highlights the critical turf challenges facing the industry today, and how working with organisations such as GEO can help clubs promote the environmental benefits of golf.

Elsewhere, John shares compelling stories from recent high-profile projects, including how Turfgrass has transformed Adare Manor into an environmentally sustainable Ryder Cup venue, and the innovative water management systems at Italy’s prestigious Castiglion del Bosco.

Throughout the episode, John reflects on his personal journey in the golf industry, his deep-rooted passion for sustainable development, and the exciting future of Turfgrass.

___

Useful Links:

Turfgrass: https://www.turfgrass.golf/

Golf & Social Media: Sustainability: https://www.syngentagolf.com/golf-ind...

GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf: https://sustainable.golf/

Follow our guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-clarkin-8544a419/

Welcome to Syngenta Golf, 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

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

In this episode, we welcome Bri Kenny, Manager of Environmental Science at Troon Golf, to the show. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Bri is a Biologist and Naturalist, and a leading voice on golf and sustainability.

Host Gary Firkins sits down with Bri to explore the meaning of sustainability in today's world and discuss whether the sport of golf can truly embrace sustainable practices.

Bri shares a personal story about her first experience on a golf course, an eye-opening moment that challenged her previously negative perceptions about the sport.

The conversation also delves into the pressing issue of water scarcity in Arizona and the impact it has on golf courses in the region.

Plus, Bri highlights the importance of the Arizona Alliance for Golf, a coalition dedicated to educating the public on the socio-economic and environmental benefits that golf courses bring to local communities. The alliance advocates for the continued growth of the game while promoting environmental awareness throughout the state.

Tune in to learn how golf can be part of a sustainable future and what steps are being taken to balance the needs of the environment, people and business.

___

Useful links

Troon Golf: https://www.troon.com/

Arizona Alliance for Golf: https://azallianceforgolf.org/

Golf & Social Media: Sustainability: https://www.syngentagolf.com/golf-industry-reports

Follow our guest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bri-kenny-5a4a4647/

Twitter / X: https://x.com/biolobrie

Welcome to Syngenta Golf, 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

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