TurfNet RADIO

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi chats with Michael Osley, CGCS, about his relocation from a 20-year stint in Colorado to take over the resurrection of St. Joseph Bay Golf Club in the crook of the Florida Panhandle. Challenges abounded, including significant course damage and losing his family's home to Hurricane Michael within months of relocating.

Sean Tully of the Meadow Club in Fairfax, California, has made a name for himself as a fan and ultimately an expert on classic-era golf course architecture, particularly Alister MacKenzie designs.

The Meadow Club, where Tully is director of grounds maintenance, is in fact the first course in North America designed by MacKenzie and one of several in Northern California. Tully's expertise in the field has resulted in many opportunities to speak at other golf courses in the region, often to educate members about the history of their own respective clubs.

In this broadcast, he discusses his affinity for classic-era architecture and how it started. He also discusses more current issues, such as the challenges brought on by recurrent drought conditions that have plagued the West for the past generation and the omni-present labor-shortage situation.

In this episode of Me Maintenance, Peter McCormick chats with Zach Bauer, golf course superintendent at the Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colorado, just southeast of Denver. Zach had gone into this year on the heels of myriad construction/renovation projects (both golf course and clubhouse) with depleted groundwater, very dry soils and dessicated turf. Coupled with the short staffing and increased play prevalent within the industry, he started waving the white flag of desperation on Twitter as early as May 4.

With the encouragement of his wife, Karen, Zach made a point of taking time for himself and spending one day a week fly fishing on nearby streams.

Zach tells us about his agronomic and emotional struggles this year and how taking time for himself and his family has helped right the ship. Watch the video or listen to the podcast.

Frank is joined again in this episode with golf business expert Jim Koppenhaver from Pellucid Inc., leaders in golf business data science and analytics to discuss the “covid-dend", i.e., the persistent gains golf has made since the pandemic.

Frank and Jim also discuss how golf can manage the coming recession and what data from previous recessions tell us about how we might handle this one.

Frank is joined again in this episode with golf business expert Jim Koppenhaver from Pellucid Inc., leaders in golf business data science and analytics to discuss the “covid-dend", i.e., the persistent gains golf has made since the pandemic.

Frank and Jim also discuss how golf can manage the coming recession and what data from previous recessions tell us about how we might handle this one.

In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein about the positive attributes of links golf and why links golf is, in Rubenstein's view, the best golf. They also diiscuss their mutual affection for Royal Dornochourse and how European golf's acceptance of brown conditions is much more conducive to long-term sustainability and even can result in improved playing conditions.

They also discuss how the golf course in Europe often has a central role in the town and can be a resource for families who do not necessarily play golf, but still use it for recreational purposes.

In this episode of Renovation Report, Brad Klein talks with Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein about the positive attributes of links golf and why links golf is, in Rubenstein's view, the best golf. They also diiscuss their mutual affection for Royal Dornochourse and how European golf's acceptance of brown conditions is much more conducive to long-term sustainability and even can result in improved playing conditions.

They also discuss how the golf course in Europe often has a central role in the town and can be a resource for families who do not necessarily play golf, but still use it for recreational purposes.

In this episode of Me Maintenance, Peter McCormick chats with Stuart Butler, host of HWOM the Podcast and newly minted Head Greenkeeper at Westgate and Birchington Golf Club on the southeast coast of England.

Leaving a 20-odd year stint as a senior greenkeeper at Royal St. Georges Golf Club and with it the type of work/life balance that many in the industry crave, Stu took over a job that until recently he thought he'd never want. Just six weeks in, Stu says it’s the best decision he has ever made in his professional career.

"I will certainly have less time with my family and more pressure but I’m loving work again. It’s a test but in a good way."

One could argue golf fairway grassing has the largest impact on resource consumption due to the amount of intensely managed land. Large applications of fertilizer, pesticides and water are consumed in our finest operations across the country on fairways.

Frank speaks with Professor Eric Watkins of the University of Minnesota on how grass type impacts management and ultimate performance.

For more than 30 years, David Fruchte has been superintendent at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the site of this year's U.S. Women's Open, which once was owned by LPGA legend Peggy Kirk Bell. A graduate of the turfgrass program at Purdue, Fruchte learned the trade from the legendary David Stone at the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since 1990, Pine Needles has become the epitome of resort golf in the highly competitive North Carolina Sandhills region.

 

In this episode of All Stars of Turf, Fruchte discusses what it takes to enjoy such a lengthy career at the same property that included being the four-time host superintendent of the U.S. Women's Open, including this year's event. Fruchte also talks about what it was like working for Bell, an LPGA legend and pioneer in instruction and introducing the game to thousands of women.

 

Fruchte also opens up about the challenges of post-pandemic golf that includes record rates of play and historic labor challenges.