The EarthWorks Podcast

Mike Nowicki is the Director of Agronomy at a famously tough golf course to play and to manage: Victoria National Golf Club outside of Evansville, Indiana. The property was designed by Tom Fazio and built in the late 1990s, with the mandate to make one of the toughest golf courses to play in the world. Most would agree that he accomplished that task. It was built on an old coal mine and much of the property's soil came from deep in the ground. As Mike describes in the podcast, it was not easy to work with. Because the soils were so bad the course started an aggressive top dressing program on fairways, ultimately building a 10-12 inch sand cap which brought its own set of agronomic challenges. Mike has worked on golf courses in “transition zones” like Evansville, Indiana and Richmond, Virginia for most of his career and enjoys the challenge. One of the more interesting points of our conversation was when he shared his stories about how he has had to become creative when it came to building a staff. He has a large contingency of crew from Middle Eastern countries that have proven to be wonderful, although the language barriers were a bit challenging! When listening to Mike, you will get the feeling that he is a “soils” guy and is very intuitive when it comes to getting things done on the course.

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/ 

Ken Kleinedler is a self-proclaimed carbon based soils guy. It might be because his course has been hit by multiple hurricanes over the past few years and the saltwater infiltration has been unreal. Ken has been the superintendent at Collier’s Reserve since March of 2017. Located in Naples Florida, a couple of miles off the Florida coastline, he has seen his fair share of hurricanes. He talked to us about some of the precautions he takes before a storm rolls in: removing irrigation controllers from the property, aerifying prior to the rains, and adding penetrant surfactants to allow the salts to flush through. Collier’s Reserve is an Arthur Hills designed course, built in 1993. It was the first course given the Audubon International Sanctuary distinction, and has since reached the Gold Audubon status. It is clear that Ken and his team are very proud of their environmental work and what it has meant to the club.  When Ken did a renovation, he interviewed other architects but ultimately made the decision to stay with the Arthur Hills group to stay consistent with the original design. Everyone was thrilled with the results. Perhaps the funniest stories of our conversation were the ones Ken told us about his grandfather, who owned a small mom & pop course. His grandfather passed his love and passion for the game onto Ken. Lots of informative and fun stuff here!

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/ 

Beware of the Headless Horseman! I think I heard the pounding of hooves in the distance as our guest, Jon Heywood, CGCS and I rounded the corner to reveal the stunning view of the Hudson River from the top of the 15th fairway at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. This is a Halloween special and we have a lot in store for you. A dual perspective episode looks back at the USGA’s 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Hear from Jon Heywood, the host superintendent, and my friend and mid-amateur, Jason Bataille, who went all the way to the round of 16 in this international tournament.

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 hardest thing to do as a guest on this podcast is to be vulnerable and talk about mistakes. Juan Casiano does just that in the first minutes of this episode. His candor comes as no surprise: Juan is a confident guy and an excellent turf manager. He is also dedicated to maintaining a very low ecological impact by greatly limiting his annual pesticide and fertilizer use. Enjoy this conversation from the back patio of East Orange Golf Course!

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/ 

This week we caught up with Dean Piller, longtime superintendent at the beautiful Cordova Bay GC in Victoria, British Columbia. Dean has been on the property since it was built 34 years ago. We discussed the keys to longevity and staying fresh in a long-term position. Dean also dove into the ways he and other Canadian superintendents manage turf in varied climates with very few traditional tools at their disposal. Along with creative management, we tackled conservation efforts at the course and how the ownership supports the management team’s plans. It was a fun conversation that we think you’ll really 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/ 

Are you wondering how to set yourself up for success? Well, the secret is out: it’s all about outlook and attitude! We run through a lot of topics in this podcast, but I love when Vinny shares the thoughtful ways he takes care of his crew. His passion and love for humanity really comes through in this talk. Our conversation took place on the golf course, and that set the stage for a nice leisurely vibe. Enjoy the great agronomic tips included in this podcast that will benefit every listener. You’ll have a great time dipping into this conversation between two passionate turf guys!

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 takes the conversation in a different direction by interviewing his oldest son, Mike. He wanted to have this conversation to offer a glimpse into the life of a college athlete and why so few succeed at balancing school with athletics. Mike had a successful college career that led to opportunities off the field and forged a work ethic that will lead to successes in life. It’s not all fun and games though, and we wanted to highlight the challenges of balancing so many things. We also discussed life as a superintendent’s son and how that’s led to a love of the game as the baseball chapter drew to a close during the COVID era. We hope you enjoy this non-turf discussion with a part of the EarthWorks family. 

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/

It is finally football season, and many of us are spending our Sundays in front of the television cheering for our favorite team. So huddle up with us to revisit a few of our past podcasts that featured some of our favorite NFL grounds managers: Travis Hogan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Ryan Bjorn of the New England Patriots, and Tony Leonard of the Philadelphia Eagles. Each talked about their experiences, challenges, and triumphs with managing their respective fields. As is typical of our podcasts, our guests also tossed in some great stories. Managing an NFL complex may be one of the most difficult jobs in all of turf management. The pressure is intense and the field has to be perfect every game day, even when it is preceded by a major concert or, more chaotic still, a monster jam event! This is a review of three separate podcasts that work well together and include lots of valuable tips.

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 Mercer has been in the turf management industry for over two decades and has worked on golf courses, sport fields, schools and universities. He has been a good friend to EarthWorks for much of his professional career and a true steward of the environment. Kevin recently released a new book, Environmental Solutions for Grounds Management, which is available for purchase from Amazon and other book retailers. The book focuses on three areas of grounds management: stormwater management, biodiverse habitats, and carbon fertility and composting. Any grounds or turf manager would benefit from this publication. Kevin reviews the book section by section and shares with us his insights and motivation for writing the book. Kevin has always had an understanding of the important role that grounds managers play in the impact of the environment in their communities. We talked about the success that his horticultural practices have had on the recruiting of new students at the schools he has managed. His new book is a road map for any grounds manager who is interested in biological soil management and environmental stewardship. Take a listen and pick up a copy of the book, it will give you some practical ideas to improve any turf and grounds management operation.

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, the EarthWorks Chemist, is a perennial favorite on the podcast. In this episode, we talk about the value of using strong acids to remove soil bicarbonates from the soil surface of a golf green or sports field. Bicarbonates are one of the “first limiting factors” when it comes to growing quality turf. They will restrict the flow of air and water by creating a seal on the soil surface, affecting the proliferation of soil microorganisms. When microbes are restricted in a soil it can become hydrophobic, leading to localized dry spots. A domino effect will then ensue that impacts the plant’s ability to take up nutrients and water. This situation is particularly problematic in western soils, where bicarbonates dominate the irrigation waters. One solution for removing unwanted bicarbonates is the use of strong acids and hydrogen peroxide. Lawrence explains the chemistry of these products in the soil, and discusses some of the limiting factors that their continued use may have on soil biology. As soil biologists we are concerned that these programs can cause a weakness in the biological profile over time, so we discuss solutions to overcome the potential drawbacks. The conversation also turns to the subject of weeds and the story they can tell us about soil chemistry and biology. It is always informative and entertaining when Lawrence joins us, and this is no exception.

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/