The EarthWorks Podcast

Back on the EarthWorks Podcast, we’re joined by our friend John Reilly from Longboat Key Club in Sarasota, Florida. John is one of the most innovative golf course superintendents in the industry, using technology to enhance what he calls the “art of greenskeeping.”

We dive into how data collection strengthens his natural intuition on the golf course, helping him make more confident decisions. John shares how he uses the GS3 Ball to manage firm conditions, focusing less on speed and more on surface smoothness and true ball roll.

This conversation takes place during his Member-Guest tournament, a high-pressure time for any superintendent. But John had full confidence in his greens, backed by both his data and real-time feedback from members.

He also discusses his unique approach to soil management. Rather than traditional topdressing, John injects sand into his greens and builds organic matter using the principles of Biological Soil Management. The result is firm, consistent playing conditions that meet both his standards and his members’ expectations.

As always, it’s a great conversation with John, packed with valuable insights for anyone growing grass. Enjoy!

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

Life as an EarthWorks Agronomist means living on the road. The early season is packed with trade shows and Soil First Academies across the country, connecting with turf managers from golf, sports turf, lawn care, and hydro-seeding.

So far, we’ve delivered over 30 Soil First Academies this season alone.

In this episode, Jack Higgins and Joel Simmons hit the road to Buffalo for a talk with our distributor partner, Weaver Turf. The podcast unfolds in real time, starting in the car on the way to Newark Airport, continuing through the terminal, and wrapping up late at night after a well-earned stop for Buffalo wings and a couple of Guinness.

Along the way, it’s pure EarthWorks: conversations on turf, weather, microbiology, construction, and getting ready for spring. There’s plenty of industry insight, a lot of laughs, and the kind of honest, unscripted energy that only comes from a long day on the road.

If you’re gearing up for the season, this one’s worth the ride.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

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

The Lehigh Country Club grounds crew is a vibe. We always say great turf starts with the soil, but great teams start with the right attitude. A positive, friendly, and welcoming culture goes a long way, and that’s something the new Golf Course Superintendent at Lehigh, Jim Lanza, clearly understands.

In this episode, two Lehigh guys talk shop, covering the club’s new irrigation system, aerification strategies, and early spring course setup. The setting is stunning, and if you watch on YouTube you might even catch a few flyovers from some iconic birds, including a Bald Eagle.

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 proud to share our 300th podcast episode. Nearly six years in, we’re grateful for every listener and guest who has made this podcast a meaningful part of the turf community. To mark the occasion, this milestone episode brings together three hosts and three special guests, each offering a unique story from across the game.

First, our friend John Reilly, the Turf Monkey at Longboat Key Resort in Sarasota, Florida, introduces us to “Dirty Old Tom,” whom we met at the GCSAA Conference in Orlando. In a lively and entertaining segment, we revisit the legacy of Tom Morris, widely recognized as the grandfather of golf course greenkeeping. Beyond his four Open Championships, Morris was a pioneer who helped establish The Open, built clubs and golf balls, designed courses, introduced sand topdressing, and was the first to groom bunkers for play. It’s a fun and fitting nod to the roots of our profession.

Next, Kevin sits down with Tom Walker to unpack the remarkable 2018 renovation of the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s floating green. To prevent the iconic green from sinking, the team reduced its weight from 5.5 million to 4.5 million pounds. The project required moving the green three miles across the lake, removing hundreds of cubic yards of soil, adding foam for buoyancy, restoring the original design, updating irrigation, and re-sodding before winter. Complex, costly, and carefully executed, the renovation preserved one of golf’s most recognizable features.

Finally, Jack interviews John Chassard with a preview of the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic at Lehigh Country Club, featuring a field of 78 PGA TOUR Champions players. They discuss course conditions heading into September, tournament preparations, hospitality build-out, and the rebuild of the 11th green using Penn Poa to restore playability and performance. Proceeds from the event will benefit local charities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions, including Valley Youth House and the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Three hosts. Three guests. One milestone episode celebrating the past, present, and future of turf and golf.

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 welcome Dr. Mike Fidanza from Penn State University, a globally recognized authority on fairy ring in turf. Our conversation digs into how this fungus establishes itself in the soil and why the traditional explanations only tell part of the story.

For years, fairy ring was blamed solely on decomposing organic matter. While that plays a role, Dr. Fidanza explains why the issue runs deeper. He challenges the idea that carbon-based fertility causes fairy ring and instead points to the complexity of the soil biome and microbial interactions.

Much of his current research focuses on how soil biology, moisture management, and drought stress influence the development and severity of the disease. He recently explored these themes in Golf Course Industry in his article, The Interactions of Plant Soil Microbes Under Drought Stress.

A key takeaway from our discussion is that fairy ring often thrives where biological processes are not fully supported. When nitrification slows and ammonium lingers, fungi can take advantage of that imbalance. Healthy biological activity helps keep nutrient cycling moving and reduces the conditions that favor disease.

This conversation reinforces what we’ve long discussed: managing turf challenges starts below the surface. Soil biology, carbon availability, and balanced nutrient cycling all play a critical role in creating resilient turf systems.

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 time of year never fails to inspire. The sun starts climbing higher, soil temperatures begin to wake up, and the first hints of green remind us why we love this work.

This week we’re joined by our friend Olee Poole, known by many as the Fescue Freak, to walk through the fertilizer program behind his exceptional three-acre fescue lawn outside of Charlotte. Olee relies exclusively on EarthWorks products and keeps his approach refreshingly simple. With just four core products, he feeds everything on his property, from fescue to thuja, tomatoes to blueberries.

In this episode, Olee shares his exact fertilizer schedule, why he trusts carbon-based fertility, and how a soil-first program delivers consistent performance across turf and landscape plants.
EarthWorks has been leading the conversation on Biological Soil Management for nearly 40 years, and this discussion highlights how simple, biology-driven programs can produce outstanding results.

We’re wishing you a beautiful spring and look forward to working with you this season.

EarthWorks For Home Products:

EarthWorks For Home Sea3 Soil Conditioner

EarthWorks for Home ProteinPlus Liquid Fertilizer (14-0-5) Gal

EarthWorks for Home Replenish Fertilizer (8-2-2) 25lb Bag

EarthWorks for Home Replenish Fertilizer (3-3-3) 25lb Bag

EarthWorks has returned from a fantastic week in Orlando at the GCSAA Trade Show and Conference, and by every measure, it was a tremendous success. On Wednesday afternoon, we welcomed friends from across the industry to our booth for cocktails. The space was packed from start to finish, and venue staff told us the EarthWorks gathering was the largest event on the show floor.

Throughout the week, we spent valuable time with our distributor partners aligning goals for the year ahead while also connecting with countless turfgrass managers to answer questions, exchange ideas, and simply catch up. Those conversations remain the highlight of the show for our team. Reconnecting with longtime colleagues, some relationships spanning decades, and hearing both professional successes and personal updates is always deeply rewarding.

One noticeable trend this year was the number of new companies entering the “organic” space. To us, this signals that EarthWorks’ nearly 40-year commitment to biological soil management continues to influence the industry in meaningful ways. We repeatedly heard from clients that EarthWorks has risen to the forefront of the carbon-based fertility movement, with more companies embracing a soil-first philosophy.

As we shared stories from the week, the team also discussed opportunities to refine our approach for next year. And while there may be one notable exception, most of us are already looking forward to gathering again in New Orleans.

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 returns for a wide-ranging conversation that blends chemistry, physics, and biology with a few surprises along the way. Beyond being a world-class chemist and humate specialist, he shares stories from his past as a motorcycle racer and glass artist, proving great science often comes from creative minds.

This episode takes a deep dive into amino acids: how they are produced, how they function within the plant, and why so much of the industry conversation is driven by hype rather than complete science. Lawrence explains how properly formulated amino acids can help reduce nitrogen inputs, improve efficiency, and support plants under stress.

We also explore the real role of carbon in fertility programs. Too many products remain plant-focused instead of feeding the soil microbes that drive nutrient availability. By mimicking natural photosynthetic exudates, EarthWorks liquid technologies help create bioavailability in the root zone, even in the challenging environments of golf courses and sports fields.

As always, Lawrence delivers a thoughtful and engaging look at how plants truly function and what it takes to build healthier, more resilient turf.

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/

Podcasting in the turf industry continues to gain momentum, and one of the standout successes is Turf Talk, hosted by Florida golf course superintendents Rob Uzar and Ty Robb. The show is broadcast live, which brings a unique set of challenges, from managing technology to handling unexpected guests or off-the-cuff moments. Rob and Ty embrace those challenges with quick thinking and humor, creating a loose, engaging format that makes the show as entertaining as it is informative.

Turf Talk evolved organically from Ty’s early days hosting live turf conversations on Twitter (now X), where he would talk turf in the evenings and fellow grass growers would gradually jump in. One of the more memorable stories from our interview involved those early broadcasts starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. Just as Rob and Ty were ready to wrap up, turf managers from the West Coast would join, turning what was meant to be a one-hour show into a marathon that stretched well past East Coast bedtimes. Both hosts also reflected on their beginnings in turf management as teenagers, discovering a passion for the industry early on. Today, they continue to give back through the First Green program at their local high school, opening up their time and golf courses to help the next generation of turf managers explore the industry firsthand.

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/

In this episode, Kevin Hicks sits down with Jared Doerfler, founder of Hanna Golf Company, to explore his path from college golfer to launching a boutique, U.S.-based CNC-milled putter brand in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Jared shares how a background in manufacturing and a turning point in his personal life pushed him to leave a corporate VP role and bet on building something of his own within the game of golf.

Jared walks through the hands-on realities of putter manufacturing, from teaching himself CNC machining to producing just six putters a day with a small team and two Haas mills. He explains why sound and feel are central to Hanna Golf’s design philosophy, how customization plays a key role in their process, and why staying focused on putters allows the company to maintain quality and intention over rapid scale.

The conversation broadens to the state of the golf industry, touching on the post-COVID participation boom, domestic manufacturing challenges, and the growing influence of direct-to-consumer brands and storytelling through social media. Jared also discusses building an engaged audience through his Perfect Putt newsletter and the long-term value of supporting American manufacturing.

Kevin and Jared close by reflecting on the future of golf, from junior and female participation to evolving attitudes around course maintenance and culture. They explore how less rigid maintenance standards, par-3 courses, and entertainment-driven golf experiences are reshaping the game while still honoring its traditional roots.

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/