TurfNet RADIO

Frankly Speaking this episode with Rick Slattery, the 30+ year golf course superintendent at Locust Hill Country Club outside of Rochester, NY. Rick was a 2015 GCSAA Environmental Leaders in Golf Award recipient in the private club category. Under Rick's leadership the club was also recognized by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation as an environmental leader. Much of Rick's environmental focus has been on water management and in a year when water is on everyone's mind -- too much or not enough -- this is a timely chat with another leading thinker... and always, Frankly Speaking!

In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, host Jon Kiger chats with BASF Technical Specialist Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz at a recent BASF Turf Research & Solutions Seminar held at Druid Hills Golf Club in the Atlanta area.

Topics include differing strategies for managing Pythium and other diseases on both bentgrass and ultradwarf Bermudagrass in the South.

In this episode of The Ladder, John Reitman caught up with Mike O'Keeffe, program manager of Ohio State's international internship program, while at the 2016 OSU Turfgrass Field Day.  They chatted about the value of an overseas internship in a tight job market.

Andy O'Haver is the assistant superintendent at Meadowbrook CC outside of Detroit. Meadowbrook is being transformed by architect Andy Staples. It's a gigantic job. 

Andy took the time to talk to Dave Wilber (from his cell phone, in the field) about the role that he plays as an Assistant Super at Meadowbrook. Andy's eye opening experience comes to life in a really good way. And anyone who is going to come anywhere near a golf course renovation project should understand that the team is important. And often the team is led in the trenches by The Seargents. The leaders of the Enlisted Corps. The Assistant.

Dave and Andy have a great conversation. He's candid. And he's got passion. A combination that is hard to beat.

As part of our ongoing Syngenta Welcomes Back Golf multi-media series, Jon Kiger chats with native Brazilian Rick Holanda about his recent stint as superintendent at SantaPaziena Golf Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Holanda emigrated from Brazil to the Philadelphia area in 1989 as an aspiring fashion photographer, and took a job on the crew at Merion Golf Club under Dick Bator. Rick was hooked on golf turf management, and went on to superintendent positions at Aronimink Golf Club, Chestnut Ridge CC in Maryland, Rancho La Quinta Country Club in California, and then Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. After Shadow Creek he went to Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, CA to be closer to his two daughters. The job at SouthPazienza beckoned, so he returned to Brazil for three years before coming back to the States recently to take over at Scottsdale National Golf Club.

As part of our ongoing Syngenta Welcomes Back Golf multimedia blog series, Jon Kiger chats with Alex Miceli, group publisher of Golfweek, about the stature of the Olympics within the golf industry and the players to watch in Rio.

In this Syngenta Welcomes Back Olympic Golf audiocast, John Reitman chats with Golfweek architecture editor Bradley Klein about the Gil Hanse-designed Olympic Golf Course in Rio.

In this episode of the BASF Pin Sheet, Jon Kiger chats with long-time BASF Southeast Sales Representative -- and industry icon -- Willie Pennington. Jon and Willie cover a broad range of subjects, from Mother Nature to bent-to-Bermuda conversions, changes in levels of turf inputs over the years... and Willie's penchant for deep sea tuna fishing vacations!

Even if you haven't heard of Jay Blasi, you've probably seen his work. Join Dave Wilber as he interviews Architect Blasi.

From Chambers Bay to Santa Anna Country Club to Sharp Park, Jay Blasi is one of those people who have been involved with bringing interesting design to Modern Golf.

Dave Wilber talks with Blasi about Jay's story, his development as a staff architect with RTJ2, and his transition to independent architect. Some great tips are given for planning and executing renovation and restoration work. 

Yet another great episode with a great member of the construction and renovation community.

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Sarah Glenn Jackson, graduate of Texas Tech and now assistant superintendent at Plantation Golf Club in Frisco, Texas. Frank first became aware of Sarah via Brian Cloud's blog post and immediately knew her experiences as a female assistant in a vastly male industry would make for good conversation.  So here they are!