Biological soil management isn’t just theory—it’s real, and every now and then, we meet someone who proves it in remarkable ways. At a recent EarthWorks Academy in Greenville, South Carolina, we had the pleasure of meeting Zac Ramey, a young golf course superintendent with a powerful success story.

Zac introduced himself to Joel Simmons and shared how he transformed the soil profile at the Country Club of Spartanburg, where he serves as Director of Agronomy. When he took the role seven years ago, he inherited what we call a "thatch cake"—a soil profile with ten compacted layers of thatch, each topped with topdressing. It's the kind of photo that draws laughs or groans in our classes, but for Zac, it was all too familiar.

Determined to restore his greens, Zac implemented aggressive aerification combined with a carbon-based fertility program. “When I got there, I was applying over six pounds of nitrogen per year on my greens,” he recalled. He also described the frustratingly slow recovery of aerification holes and the initial pushback from club members. But Zac held his ground, and over two years, he began to see real change. The layers broke up, the soil profile improved, and the playing surface became firmer and more resilient.

This episode is one of our favorites—an inspiring conversation about the transformative power of soil biology and the persistence of a superintendent committed to doing things right. Thank you, Zac, for sharing your journey. This is a story every turf manager should hear.


Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Ryan Kuster of Ag Enterprise joins Kevin for an in-depth conversation on the future of sprayer technology. Together, they unpack the mechanics, precision, and innovation driving the evolution of modern turf sprayers. Ryan shares real-world insights and highlights some of Ag Enterprise’s most unique custom projects, offering a firsthand look at how cutting-edge technology is enhancing application accuracy and operational efficiency. From GPS integration to data-driven systems, this episode is essential listening for turf professionals looking to stay ahead in the rapidly advancing world of application technology.

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

John Reilly joins us to delve into the evolving topic of organic matter in golf greens. There’s been considerable discussion across the industry about how to best test organic matter, with new methods like the OM 2, 4, 6 tests gaining traction. Our key question for John was: Do these tests differentiate between beneficial and harmful organic matter?

Anyone familiar with John knows he’s one of the most data-driven superintendents in the business. He’s been collecting and analyzing data on this very topic, and his insights are reshaping how we think about greens management. John has become a strong proponent of injecting sand and carbon amendments into the greens profile, and he’s seeing measurable improvements in organic matter quality as a result.

Interestingly, he’s moved away from traditional light topdressing on his greens. Since discontinuing that practice, he’s tracked a noticeable improvement in member scoring—another data point reinforcing his approach.

John is a true innovator in the turf industry. He’s always asking the tough questions, unafraid to challenge the status quo or pivot when the data suggests a better path forward. In this conversation, you’ll hear his passion for learning and discovery, both on his own courses and on others he consults with across the Florida market using his injection system.

This is a must-listen for every golf course superintendent looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

We're coming to you from the hallowed athletic fields of LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our guest, Jeremy Tredway—Director of Athletic Fields and Grounds at LSU—shares what it takes to manage 18 intensely active acres. A standout example: Alex Box Stadium, home to LSU Baseball, hosts an incredible 350 events each year. Jeremy dives into the challenges of maintaining overseeded ryegrass on Celebration Bermudagrass amid the region’s hot, humid climate. We're heading straight into the heart of SEC athletics in this episode—enjoy!

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

The first rounds of the PGA Championship begin on May 15th, but the preparation to make it all happen started well over a year ago. That’s something Keith Wood, Director of Green and Grounds at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, knows all too well. He’s been at Quail Hollow for 10 years and has hosted a tournament every year, including the 2017 PGA Championship.

We talked about what it takes to set up an event of this scale—from the agronomy and course preparation to the massive physical buildout, the coordination of volunteer staff, and ensuring that all necessary equipment is on-site exactly when it’s needed. Keith emphasized the importance of keeping volunteers well-fed and noted an interesting trend: energy drinks have become more essential than coffee!

He’s had great success bringing back former employees—now working across the industry—as volunteers. “Quail has always been a family, and I love that our former team members want to come back to help out,” Keith shared. It’s also a huge advantage to have people on-site who already know the property. Volunteers, both men and women, are coming from all over the country, and Keith is excited to showcase true “Quail hospitality.”

It was a fantastic conversation, full of insights into the behind-the-scenes setup of one of golf’s greatest events.


Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Kevin interviews Zach Bauer, CGCS, and Dan Frederiksen, offering a compelling glimpse into the minds of two next-generation superintendents with distinct approaches. Dan champions data-driven precision, employing advanced sensors and analytics to inform his decisions. In contrast, Zach relies on intuition, experience, and real-time observation to guide his turf management.

Though their philosophies differ, both are united by a shared commitment to excellence, adaptability, and using the tools that best suit their unique operations. Their conversation showcases how today’s superintendents thoughtfully blend tradition with technology, tailoring their methods to meet the evolving demands of the turfgrass industry. It’s a masterclass in professional diversity and innovation. 

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Jack Higgins and Joel Simmons, two passionate agronomists, sat down and shot the breeze on some of their favorite topics. First up was the cold, wet spring that many areas of the country are battling—and one superintendent’s struggle to get his Zoysia grass to green up in the chilly conditions.

The conversation turned to rhizophagy, a fascinating and increasingly popular subject in the regenerative agriculture world. Rhizophagy refers to a symbiotic relationship between soil microbes and plant roots, where microbes enter the plant, deliver nutrients, and are then released back into the soil to begin the cycle again.

Next, they dove into soil humification in sports turf and how more and more turf managers are recognizing the importance of biological soil management.

When Jack and Joel get together, the conversation is always lively, entertaining, and packed with insights.

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

What a treat it was to walk and talk with Olee on what might be the most beautiful lawn in America. There are U.S. Open golf courses that would envy his uninterrupted, three-acre pure stand of turf-type tall fescue, mowed at a pristine 3.25 inches. As we strolled, Olee shared stories about soil building and broke down his annual fertilizer plan. He keeps it simple, stays consistent—and the results are out of this world!

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Lawrence Mayhew, chemist extraordinaire, is back by popular demand! This time, we explored how microbiology helps buffer toxin buildup in soil, with a strong focus on managing sodium through the soil’s microbial biome. As expected, humic substances took center stage in our discussion with a world-renowned expert in the field. Lawrence broke down the physical and biological damage sodium can inflict on soil, reinforcing EarthWorks' long-held belief that sodium and bicarbonates are the first major obstacles to healthy soil and plants. We also dove into his latest R&D efforts and the products he believes will help turf managers combat sodium more effectively. A conversation with Lawrence is always insightful, sometimes reflective, and even a little humorous!

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Golf course superintendents and sports field managers often dream of landing a great job as a grounds manager at a top school close to home. Tom Barry has been living that dream for over 12 years as the grounds manager at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut.

Greens Farms Academy is a private PreK-12 school situated just off the Long Island Sound. Its 45-acre campus includes gardens, turf, athletic fields, and naturalized areas—all managed by Tom and his four-person crew. They maintain two artificial sports fields and four natural grass fields to support a busy athletic program. Managing artificial fields presents unique challenges, and Tom shared some of his experiences navigating them.

A strong advocate of Biological Soil Management, Tom also teaches turf and horticulture at a local community college. On campus, he transforms the school grounds into a hands-on learning environment for students. With strict pesticide restrictions and limited resources, weed management remains one of his biggest challenges.

This year marks Greens Farms Academy’s centennial celebration. As our conversation wrapped up, we shifted from turf to tunes—Tom, an accomplished guitarist, just added a new guitar to his collection and plays whenever he can!

Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com
Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/
2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/