TurfNet RADIO

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf course architect Dan Hixson on his career in the Pacific Northwest. Hixson's career started as a golf pro, from competing on mini tours to attempting to qualify for the PGA Tour. With a nose for good golf course design, he studied golf course design and eventually shifted his career to that of a golf course architect. After 23 years in the business, he has built a reputation for restoring and designing courses throughout the Oregon and Washington on time and on budget.

Our latest All Star of Turf is Jason Haines, whom many in the industry will remember for his high profile social media presence (as @PenderSuper) that suddenly went dark several years ago. As the golf course superintendent at Pender Harbour Golf Club and later Sunshine Coast Golf Club in British Columbia, Jason developed (by necessity) a low-input, minimalist turf maintenance strategy that he shared and brainstormed with his Twitter following of 8,000+ before deciding to step away from social media entirely. In the interim he was invited to speak at turf conferences in the US, Canada and internationally.

In April of 2023 Jason made the leap from British Columbia 3000 miles east to take over the reins at Cabot Links on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Along with Cabot Cliffs and a newer 10-hole short course, Cabot Links is part of Cabot Cape Breton and is ranked #35 on the World Top 100 golf courses. Cabot Cliffs is ranked #1 in Canada.

In this fascinating conversation with Peter McCormick, Jason recounts the reasoning behind the advent of his minimalist turf maintenance programs, explains his departure from social media, and the positive move east to Cabot Cape Breton for him and his family. He uses the term "awesome" quite a bit in the conversation.

Lara Arias, golf course superintendent at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, speaks with Frank about her career and what led to her current position. She explains in one of the five languages she speaks how she grew as a professional both in the US and then returning to Europe. Lara has worked on crews at RTJ in VA, TPC Scottsdale, Congressional, and Quail Hollow and developed her expertise in tournament golf that she applied at Le Golf National in 2018 for the last Ryder Cup on Euro soil. She is ready for the challenge of hosting the 2023 Ryder Cup and as a member of the team that will host the event in 2025 at Bethpage in NY we are all rooting for her!

Frank is joined by his old friend, mentor, colleague and gourmet eating buddy Professor Bruce Branham from the University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana. Bruce is a chemist by his original academic training and has conducted, been involved, and reviewed many important studies focused on understanding Nitrogen and its use in turfgrass systems. Frank does all he can do to keep up with Bruce’s depth of knowledge in this area. This is the closest we’ll get to a Master Class on Nitrogen.

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, a serious discussion breaks out amidst the usual goofiness, pointing out how golf is about to enter The Fourth Turning.  The Rockbottum gang attempts to prepare for the onset of anti-logic perpetrated upon golf by the Rad-Greens and other irrational, oxygen-starved attention seekers.

Join us for the brilliance of Ludell, Momma, Willy and Boof as they duel with a carpetbagger from out west somewhere.

The founder of the First Green Program, Jeff Gullickson, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Kalispel Golf and Country Club (Spokane, WA) joins Frankly Speaking to discuss how a simple idea and a love of the game of golf led to the ground breaking program, now being practiced around the world! Jeff provides some excellent insight from the formation of the idea to the current excitement around using golf courses as STEM education tools, working with FFA and promoting local golf programs to make courses more accessible. Jeff is someone who has always walked the walk when it comes to educating people on golf course management and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Brian Schwartz joins Frankly Speaking to discuss the challenges and opportunities of Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass breeding at the Tifton, GA  Experiment Station. Frank and Brian discuss the history of the station and the giants  (Drs. Burton and Hanna) he has replaced. This is an excellent primer to understanding the modern Bermudagrasses and Zoysiagrasses that are available as well the strengths that they bring to the market. A must listen for warm season grass growers, but also great information for anyone in the golf turf industry.

Josh Lewis joins this episode of Frankly Speaking to discuss his career and the challenges and opportunities he has had from his early days at Bandon Dunes to Chambers Bay and now in Project Management as a partner in Gradoville and Hertzing Management Group. Josh reflects on his journey to becoming a golf course superintendent and the many relationships he has had and has nurtured along the way. Of course, homage is paid to Professor Tom Cook at Oregon State University who views his student as his measure of success, certainly Josh would be counted among them.

Anthony Pioppi chats with Jeff Sexton, CGCS, about the recently opened 10-1/2 month campus-wide renovation of Evansville (IN) Country Club. ECC brought in Beau Welling Design for the architecture and Heritage Links as the construction contractor.

Sexton said the membership at ECC was patient and understanding throughout the project, and is ecstatic with the results. The golf course reopened on Memorial Day, with a new driving range and short-game area opening July 1.

Jeff touts the contributions of his assistant and equipment manager in helping keep him and the project in line and on task. He also talks about the value of his Twitter account in documenting and communicating the progress of the project, while also serving as an outreach and marketing tool to the general public in the greater Evansville area.

Dr. Stan Kostka joins Frank on this episode of Frankly Speaking to explore the important and timely topic of water repellent soils, the use of surfactants and the potential role of surfactants on critical soil water and rooting relationships. Stan and Frank discuss different surfactant chemistries and their potential use to mitigate localized dry spots, enhance seed establishment and manage certain soil borne diseases and insects. This is a classic “deep dive” (no pun intended) into soil water management with one of the worlds leading experts.