TurfNet RADIO

In this episode, Frank has an in-depth conversation with Dr. Adam Thoms at Iowa State University about his research on soil management for putting surfaces, use of waste products like amino acids, and other potential biostimulants effects on golf turfgrass performance. Expect some deep dives on how amino acids and glycerin from bio-diesel can improve turfgrass performance. Dr. Thoms is exploring some fascinating nutrient and biostimulant compounds. This is a great listen for a general overview!

Our latest All Star of Turf is Michael Morris, CGCS, 36-year Director of Buildings and Grounds at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, Michigan. A native of Frankfort,  Mike is one of the few golf course property managers who has spent his entire career at one course, in his hometown. He is also a rarity in obtaining a BA and MS in English and film studies at Michigan State before realizing that life on the golf course spoke to him more than a future in academia.

He is known internationally for his work with Dr. Thom Nikolai in quantifying the effects of lightweight rolling and other greens maintenance practices on ball roll distance and putting green consistency.  They took that a step further by correlating that data with golfer satisfaction in order to determine the ideal or proper green speed range for a particular golfing clientele. Together, Mike and Thom presented seminars for GCSAA for over 10 years, around the world.

Mike also researched the effects of cutting unit sharpness and adjustment on putting green health and presentation, co-presenting a 5-day  QOC Week webinar series for TurfNet back in 2014. He has also presented several webinars and podcasts over the years with John Reitman and Frank Rossi.

Some sage wisdom from an astute, thoughtful and courteous career superintendent. We are pleased to recognize his contributions to the industry.

In this episode, RW gets tangled up in AI when he tries to use Chat-GBB to write the radio show and that failure results in a spirited rant aimed at those we entrusted with getting out the water conservation message.

Just as the way forward is revealed, Count Noomskool of the World Globalar Golf Forum arrives and waves huge sums of money at Momma, in order to subjugate Rockbottum CC's verboten individualist attitude.

Frank has an in-depth chat with GCSAA’s Director of Government Affairs, and the smartest person in Lawrence, KS, Chava McKeel. Frank and Chava explore the new Memoradum of Understanding between the GCSAA and the EPA, what it means for members, the industry and how it could unlock opportunities for increasing recognition of the value of golf courses as green space. They even manage to get in some conversation on labor issues and communicating to all golf courses about the value of BMPs.  Don’t miss a minute of this chat!

In this episode of Renovation Report, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with former superintendent Tom Feller, general manager at Cedar Rapids Country Club in Iowa.

A superintendent at Cedar Rapids for nearly 20 years, Feller discusses overseeing a Ron Prichard-led restoration of the 1915 Donald Ross classic, outlasting a half-dozen general managers before finally filling the role himself and the importance of having the right people in place in every phase of the operation.

In this first "It's not just about growing grass" segment of TurfNet All Stars of Turf, we recognize Scott Dodson, CGCS, and John Taylor. Both career superintendents but perhaps better known as the founders of the Golf Course Hockey Challenge, an annual 2-day/4-game tournament that attracted as many as 16 teams of hockey playing superintendents, assistants and suppliers over a 25+ year run.

Dodson has been at the Park Country Club in Williamsville (Buffalo) NY for 30 years. Taylor is the property manager at the Grand Niagara Golf Club near Niagara Falls, Ontario.

TurfNet fielded a team in the Hockey Challenge for 22 years, providing offseason fun and friendships for many who wore the Team TurfNet jersey. Peter McCormick reminisces with Dodson and Taylor about the memorable exploits, characters and shenanigans that emerged from the event.

Jordon Bowling found his calling into turfgrass management a little later than most, at 22 with a six-month old son to boot. His brother-in-law, Chad Kuzawa, was an NC State turf grad making the rounds of some clubs in the southeast and convinced Jordon to visit from his home in Michigan and shadow him for a couple of days. That set things in motion.

He enrolled in the turf management program at Wayne Community College in NC and worked at Wedgewood GC, then Country Club of Virginia, Carolina Country Club and Wade Hampton Golf Club before signing on as the first assistant at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, NC.

Jordon tells us about his journey to date, his experiences and mentors, and what hopefully lies ahead for him. Complete disclosure: Chad Kuzawa is an agronomist for EarthWorks (one of our sponsors) and recommended Jordon, among others. That's OK... he qualifies as a Rising Star in our book.

Chad Allen, finishing up his first year as golf course superintendent at the Club at Chatham Hills near Indianapolis, IN, has a unique background and training as a substance abuse and addiction counselor prior to shifting to turf management. A recent attendee of both Green Start and the Syngenta Business Institute, Chad employs a "bottom up" management style that centers on listening to and engaging his staff in the processes of managing the golf course.

Dr. John Dempsey speaks with Frank in this episode of Frankly Speaking focusing on how plant defenses can be activated using certain products and what that defense activation means. Enjoy some lively Irish banter from Dr. Dempsey about his career and our usual deep-dive segment where we endeavor to understand how plants defend themselves against stress and pest.

As a special treat we highlight the BTME Trade Show and Continue to Learn Conference in Harrogate, UK (the northwest of England) with special guest Sami Strutt and Deb Burnett.  All of us would love to see you there!

Frank chats with regular guest Brian Whitlark, Senior Consulting Agronomist for the USGA’s West Region about getting ready for Desert Golf Season. How did the overseeding go and with more folks staying around in the summer months, how is transition been the last few years? Of course, no conversation would be complete with discussion of water use in the West. Specifically, how a recent collection of seminars is bringing golf industry and water purveyors together to develop a sustainable plan moving forward.