TurfNet Podcasts

John "Trey" Rogers, Ph.D., of Michigan State University joins Frank to talk about a career spent shaping both playing surfaces and the people who manage them.

Rogers traces his path from civil engineering student to turf researcher at Penn State, where a lucky mistake in the machine shop gave the industry the 2.25-kilogram Clegg hammer still used today.

He shares what nearly four decades of teaching at MSU have taught him about students, and why their passion for the work hasn't changed, even as the technology in their hands has.

Rogers also looks back on growing grass inside the Pontiac Silverdome for the 1994 World Cup and reuniting with former student John Sorochan, Ph.D., of the University of Tennessee to deliver sod-on-plastic fields across 16 stadiums for this year's World Cup. With more than 1,100 graduates now running golf courses and sports fields around the world, Rogers' legacy is as much about people as it is about grass.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi interviews golf course architect Jim Nagle of Nagle Design Works.

The discussion focuses on Nagle's work developing a master plan for Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

Nagle explores how the evolution of modern player athleticism and driving distance affects course design, specifically regarding the balance between maintaining historic character—such as the club's iconic tree-lined fairways—and the need for strategic challenges like bunker repositioning and green modifications.

They also discuss the impact of tree varieties on turf health and Nagle's professional transition from working under Ron Forse to launching his own design firm.

In this episode Frank, talks with Kerry Haigh, chief championship officer of the PGA of America, about his nearly four-decade career in championship golf.

Haig traces his path from a working-class upbringing in Doncaster, England, through early tournament jobs with the PGA of Great Britain and the LPGA, to eventually building out the PGA of America's championship operations from scratch.

He explains his philosophy on course setup: highlighting a course's natural features rather than manufacturing artificial difficulty, keeping goals aligned with superintendents, and avoiding excessive rough that removes player skill rather than testing it. The conversation also covers new venues like PGA Frisco in Texas, the growing influence of team captains on Ryder Cup course setup, and crowd behavior challenges at Bethpage.

Throughout, Haigh reflects on how data, media scrutiny and player driving distances throughout the duration of his career have transformed the way championship courses are prepared.

Frank caught up with Adam Zubek, the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara. Adam’s career began in golf course agronomy and included leadership positions at some of Canada’s leading clubs. Adam reflects on his transition from superintendent to club executive and why communication, curiosity, and the ability to influence people became central to his leadership style. We discuss building teams around talented people, learning from mentors and colleagues, and creating a culture where department leaders trust and support one another rather than operate in silos. Adam also shares his perspective on the importance of good governance, clear roles, and giving capable people the autonomy to do their jobs. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about career growth, self-awareness, and what it takes to lead people successfully across an increasingly complex golf operation.