Show Notes

Show Summary

In Season 2, Episode 2 of The LowDowns Podcast, Brent welcomes Phil Helmn, Master Greenkeeper, educator with the Bernhard Academy, lecturer at Myerscough College, author, and lifelong turf professional. Recorded live at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, this international conversation follows Phil’s journey from growing up around golf, to becoming a greenkeeper, completing multiple grow-ins around the world, earning Master Greenkeeper status, and eventually stepping into a powerful second act as a teacher, writer, and leadership voice in the turf industry.

Phil shares the story behind his first book, The Power of People, which grew out of leadership coursework and reflection during the COVID period, and then dives into his new release, The Power of You. While his first book focused on building teams, this new book turns the lens back toward the leader. It explores resilience, self-awareness, mental toughness, reflection, and how leaders can better look after themselves while carrying the weight of responsibility.

The episode also highlights Phil’s work with the Bernhard Academy, including its interactive leadership and communication training for greenkeepers, superintendents, and turf teams around the world. Brent and Phil discuss why learning about people can be even more difficult than learning about grass, why passion matters, and why the best leaders need to keep developing themselves.

This is a warm, funny, thoughtful conversation between two friends across the Atlantic, built around leadership, purpose, education, and the next chapter of a life lived in turf.

Key Takeaways

• Phil’s Career Came Full Circle — From growing up around golf to becoming a Master Greenkeeper, leading turf teams, working across multiple performance turf environments, and now teaching at Myerscough College, Phil’s career has evolved into a true second act.
• The Power of People Started During COVID — Phil’s first book grew out of leadership coursework, reflection, and a need to stay mentally engaged during a difficult period. What began as dissertations became a leadership manual for building teams.
• The Power of You Focuses on the Leader — Phil’s new book shifts from team building to self-leadership, helping leaders handle pressure, responsibility, resilience, decision-making, and those quiet moments when the weight of leadership feels heavy.
• Passion Has to Be Protected — Phil makes a powerful point: "When the fun stops, stop". If you enjoy what you do, passion shows naturally. If you don’t, it may be time to reflect on what truly drives you.
• Leadership Training Must Be Interactive — Through the Bernhard Academy, Phil emphasizes practical, engaging, people-focused education that helps turf teams understand communication, personality styles, empathy, and team dynamics.
• The Turf Industry Is Global — Whether in the U.S. or UK, greenkeepers and superintendents face many of the same challenges with people, communication, confidence, stress, and leadership.
• This Is a Second-Act Story — Phil’s journey shows that a successful first career chapter can become the foundation for an even more meaningful second one.

Call to Listen

If you are looking for an episode about leadership, passion, personal growth, and what the next chapter of a turf career can look like, this conversation with Phil Helmn delivers. It is insightful, vulnerable, funny, and full of perspective from someone who has lived the greenkeeping profession from nearly every angle.