TurfNet RADIO

Dave Wilber and Peter McCormick launch a new unscripted podcast series with an impromptu conversation between two old friends, riffing on Life and Health with a little Turf thrown in for good measure. Topics range from Dave's recent weight loss and new job with turfRad to glimmers, positive energy with aging dogs, food noise, mushroom coffee and the gut microbiome. All good stuff. The first round of hopefully many.

David Webner is winding up a 42 year career in golf turf management, the last almost-25 of which have been as the golf course superintendent at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, Ohio, on the west side of Cleveland. Peter McCormick caught up with David and got some fascinating insight into what makes him tick.

The inimitable Dr. Brandon Horvath from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville joins Frank to chat about his early days growing up playing golf, time with Dr. Joe Vargas, what makes a good candidates for the turfgrass industry, and  an elaborate discussion on the analytics of golf and course management. This concludes our interviews of ALL the UT faculty!

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank speaks with Dr. Jay McCurdy, Associate Professor and Mississippi State Turfgrass Extension Specialist, about a variety of topics concerning his career that has spanned from farming in TN to working with Dr. Micah Woods in Asia and now as the Mississippi Turfgrass Extension Specialist.

Dr. McCurdy has led the USDA Refuge Lawn project that some might say can look like a “grow’d up mess” when the Bermudagrass is actively growing in May. It is clear Dr. McCurdy has a keen sense of his stakeholders in MS and across the US. We are lucky to have him teaching, researching, and extending his knowledge into our industry.

Carrie O'Rourke, founder of COR Golf Fitness, teaches golfers how to increase mobility, balance, speed and power, regardless of age or skill level. In this episode of Renovation Report, Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with Carrie about the early days of her career in the field of engineering and how she found her passion in helping people enjoy the game of golf more and lead better lives through improved health.

Finally, Carrie discusses with Brad how the knowledge she shares with golfers can be beneficial to golf course superintendents in their job on a daily basis.

Carlton Henry was well prepared when he earned his first head superintendent position three years ago at Dedham Country and Polo Club just outside Boston.

A native of New York, Henry first prepped at golf courses in his home state, home to the nation’s strictest pesticide regulations. A graduate of the Rutgers turf program, he eventually spent several years working for another Rutgers product, John Zimmers, at both Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh and later the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

As an AIT at Oakmont, Henry was part of a team that oversaw the 2016 U.S. Open and completed many changes and upgrades to the historic Henry Fownes design that is a regular USGA stop. 

While at Inverness, the historic Donald Ross design underwent significant changes, including an Andrew Green-led restoration and a major tree-management project. During the Covid plagued 2020 golf season, the team at Inverness held an LPGA Tour event with barely a month’s notice.

Listen as Carlton discusses how his well-rounded past helped prepare him for his role at Dedham as he ushers the course into the future.

In this episode, old Boof hijacks the radio show and skillfully forces RW to answer questions he has long avoided, like Dad's most guarded turf secret. Storytime features one of Momma's favorite stories, specially adapted to the season we find ourselves in now.

Frank speaks in this episode with PBI-Gordon’s West Research Scientist, Dr. Chrissie Segars. Dr. Segars received a BS at Clemson University, spent a short time as Grad Assistant at LSU “watching Les Miles eating grass”, then an MS and Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University under the tutelage of Dr. Dennis Martin. Short stints in academic life ultimately led to Dr. Segar’s current role exploring Biological Control products as West Research Scientist for PBI-Gordon.

This is a lively conversation with a passionate professional committed to educating, encouraging and doing some exploring for the next generation of turfgrass professionals.

Brad Klein talks with Scott Ramsay, CGCS, about his career as a golf course superintendent as well as his new position as an ambassador for U.S. Pitchcare, a consulting service started by a trio of golf course superintendents to help other greenkeepers and sports turf managers find solutions to common turfgrass challenges. 

Ramsay, the 2006 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year and a past president of the Connecticut GCSA, talks about his career managing a union operation at Yale Golf Club, his decision to retire as a superintendent and what led him to U.S. Pitchcare.

Their discussion looks at how the job of a golf course superintendent has changed and the shifting demands placed upon the position, such as environmental and government regulations and challenges, golfer demand, labor issues and sacrifices on family time to name a few.

Finally, as new course construction remains slow compared to golf's boom-and-bust era of a generation ago, the discussion includes the focus on restoration projects and the importance of investing in the golf course.

Things get a little touchy at Rockbottum Country Club as all sorts of factors converge to create a divisive, unstable golf course environment. Economic pressures mount, new regulations choke the workflow and another screenager joins the crew, driving Momma to the point of madness. Okay, maybe it's just a short putt.