TurfNet Podcasts

The Set-Up Man | Frankly Speaking with Kerry Haigh

In this episode Frank, talks with Kerry Haigh, chief championship officer of the PGA of America, about his nearly four-decade career in championship golf. Haig traces his path from a working-class upbringing in Doncaster, England, through early tournament jobs with the PGA of Great Britain and the LPGA, to eventually building out the PGA of America's championship operations from scratch. He explains his philosophy on course setup: highlighting a course's natural features rather than manufacturing artificial difficulty, keeping goals aligned with superintendents, and avoiding excessive rough that removes player skill rather than testing it. The conversation also covers new venues like PGA Frisco in Texas, the growing influence of team captains on Ryder Cup course setup, and crowd behavior challenges at Bethpage. Throughout, Haigh reflects on how data, media scrutiny and player driving distances throughout the duration of his career have transformed the way championship courses are prepared.

Cultivating careers | Beyond the Green with Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee

In this episode of TurfNet's Beyond the Greens, Dr. Brandon Horvath from the University of Tennessee discusses his career trajectory from pharmacy studies at Butler University to agronomy at Ohio State, his experiences studying under Dr. Joe Vargas at Michigan State, and his role in growing the turfgrass program at Tennessee. The conversation covers the strategic recruitment efforts used to increase student enrollment and the program's unique academic calendar that facilitates long-term internships, including international opportunities. Dr. Horvath also shares insights on the impact of artificial intelligence and autonomous technology, such as drones and robotic mowers, on the turf industry, emphasizing the importance of being a 'human in the loop' when using these tools.

The Curious Leader | Frankly Speaking with Adam Zubek, CCM, AGS

Frank caught up with Adam Zubek, the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara. Adam’s career began in golf course agronomy and included leadership positions at some of Canada’s leading clubs. Adam reflects on his transition from superintendent to club executive and why communication, curiosity, and the ability to influence people became central to his leadership style. We discuss building teams around talented people, learning from mentors and colleagues, and creating a culture where department leaders trust and support one another rather than operate in silos. Adam also shares his perspective on the importance of good governance, clear roles, and giving capable people the autonomy to do their jobs. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about career growth, self-awareness, and what it takes to lead people successfully across an increasingly complex golf operation.

Renovation Report | Anthony Pioppi with Dennis Hurley

This TurfNet Renovation Report episode features host Anthony Pioppi interviewing Dennis Hurley about his career and the evolution of golf course drainage. Hurley recounts his journey from a Kentucky upbringing and golf scholarship at Louisiana State University into insurance, chemical distribution, and ultimately founding his drainage company in 1985. A key turning point was his adaptation of a construction material into what became the “waffle drain” (marketed as Turf Drain), which he helped popularize nationwide despite early business setbacks and industry skepticism. Hurley also discusses broader trends shaping modern golf course management. There is increasing pressure from owners, players and revenue demands to keep courses open and playable even after heavy rain, unlike in past decades when closures were more accepted. This has driven demand for more advanced and intensive drainage systems, though tensions sometimes arise with architects who prioritize aesthetics over functionality. Hurley concludes that while perfect drainage is impossible, the goal today is to minimize downtime and maintain consistent playing conditions in an industry with far less tolerance for weather-related interruptions.

The economics of club leadership | Renovation Report - Brad Klein with Kurt Kuebler and Tom Wallace

In this TurfNet Renovation Report podcast episode, host Brad Klein interviews Kurt Kuebler and Tom Wallace from KK&W consulting firm about the critical relationship between leadership and golf course excellence. The discussion explores how successful golf courses require strong leadership not just from superintendents, but coordinated efforts between general managers, golf professionals, and board governance. The guests emphasize that modern superintendents need skills beyond agronomy — they must be effective communicators, financial managers, and team builders who can educate boards and members about necessary investments. The conversation covers the evolution of golf course budgets, with renovation costs now reaching $25-30 million at high-end facilities, and the importance of proper dues structures to support quality operations. They discuss how clubs are increasingly focusing on dues revenue rather than outside events, and touch on innovative food and beverage models like Monterey Peninsula's cost-plus approach. Throughout, Kuebler and Wallace stress that great golf courses result from collaborative leadership teams that can build trust, communicate effectively, and make sound business decisions together.

Retirement 101 | The EW Podcast — Joel Simmons with Peter McCormick, founder of TurfNet

Peter McCormick, founder of TurfNet, joins Joel Simmons for a candid conversation about retirement after more than three decades serving the golf course industry. Rather than focusing solely on finances, Peter shares the emotional transition of stepping away from a career that defined much of his life, the importance of completely disconnecting from work, and the unexpected relief that comes from simplifying life. The discussion covers practical retirement planning, including maximizing retirement contributions, understanding Social Security, working with financial advisors, downsizing possessions, avoiding debt, and preparing financially long before retirement arrives. Peter explains how thoughtful planning gave him confidence that retirement could be something to enjoy rather than fear. Beyond finances, Joel and Peter explore the psychological side of retirement, staying physically active, maintaining purpose, volunteering, mental health, and the value of letting go of possessions and responsibilities that no longer serve you. Peter also reflects on the meaningful relationships he built throughout his career and the touching retirement tribute organized by his family and industry friends. Whether you're just starting your career or beginning to think about life after work, this episode offers honest advice about preparing for retirement while also reminding us that success isn't measured only by money, but by health, relationships, and living a life with purpose.

From civil engineering to golf course design | Renovation Report with Matt Schiffer

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Brad Klein interviews golf architect Matt Schiffer about his career path from civil engineering to golf course design. Schiffer discusses his transition into the profession through a master's degree in Scotland and his subsequent work with various design offices. The conversation covers the importance of sustainable golf design, his work with the Golf Environment Organization, and how golf courses can act as biological assets. Schiffer shares insights on successful renovations, such as his work at Dearborn Country Club and Carlisle Barracks, emphasizing the need for efficient bunker patterns and courses that are accessible to a wide range of skill levels. He also explores industry trends including the rise of shorter, non-traditional courses and the increasing investment in irrigation infrastructure.

With Them, Not To Them | Frankly Speaking with Ross Niewola

Frank caught up with Ross Niewola, consulting agronomist based in Washington serving the Pacific Northwest for the United States Golf Association. Frank and Ross discuss his career aspiration of being an agronomist after working all across the continental United States. Lots of good chatter about communication with golfers and staff, having course care happen in cooperation with golfers not just what happens to them, and preparing and working on championships. Ross brings a wealth of experience in discussions about water and using data. The PNW is in good hands.

Be seen, make it the norm | Frankly Speaking with Lucy Selleck

Reinventing Bear Lakes | Beyond the Green — Scot Sherman, Love Golf Design

How mentorship and education are shaping the future of turf | Frankly Speaking with Carson Nesbella, Ph.D.

Frank had a chance to catch up with his former graduate student Dr. Carson Nesbella, whose path has taken him from golf course crews and high school ag classrooms to Penn State, the USGA Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program, and now Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. They talk about Carson’s roots in turfgrass and agricultural education, his Cornell work using environmentally responsible golf courses as living classrooms, the growth of ag education and FFA, the National Turfgrass Science Invitational, First Tee, workforce development, adult learning, and why the future of golf course labor may depend as much on teaching and mentorship as agronomy.

From floppy disks to smart phones | Renovation Report - Anthony Pioppi with Ken Mangum

This episode of TurfNet Renovation Report features an in-depth conversation with Ken Mangum, former director of golf courses at Atlanta Athletic Club and current vice president of strategic growth for Bladerunner Farms. The discussion covers major trends in golf course renovations driven by increased golf ball distance, forcing courses to relocate bunkers. Mangum shares his experience managing major championships and dealing with a catastrophic fungicide contamination that killed greens at multiple courses. The conversation explores innovative approaches like single-height-of-cut courses using zoysia grass, which reduces water usage and maintenance costs. Mangum discusses advanced grass breeding developments including new bentgrasses, ultradwarf Bermudas, and zoysia varieties for greens, emphasizing the importance of selecting grasses that provide year-round playability while reducing inputs. He also touches on his transition from superintendent to consultant and the evolution of golf course technology from early irrigation computers with floppy disks to modern smartphone-controlled systems.

The study of stress | Frankly Speaking with Emily Holm, Ph.D.

Renovation Report | Bradley S. Klein with Barry Jordan

“OK, it’s my fault” | Frankly Speaking with Tom Doak

Frank catches up with the fellow Cornellian Tom Doak, golf course architect, author, critic, etc. to explore and reflect upon a life and career in golf. Early motivations and interests combined with exposure to golf, inspired Tom to get his first byline in Golf Digest at 18 and eventually his seminal work “The Anatomy of a Golf Course”, selling better than ever as you will learn and strongly influencing golf course design and maintenance around the world, such as “wider” courses, more land, ergo, Tom laughingly says "Ok, “It’s my fault”. If you are a golf architecture enthusiast, this ones for you.

Beyond the Green | Mitch Rupert, Bloom Golf Partners

This episode of Beyond the Green features Mitch Rupert, communications manager for Bloom Golf Partners, discussing his career transition from sports journalism to the golf industry recruitment business. Rupert explains how his interviewing and people skills from journalism translated well to recruiting for golf course positions, particularly at the superintendent and management levels. He shares insights about the hiring process, common interview mistakes candidates make, and offers advice for job seekers in the turf industry. The conversation covers Bloom Golf Partners' growth from placing entry-level positions to focusing on executive searches, the challenges facing the golf industry including course closures and talent pipeline issues, and the emergence of non-traditional candidates entering the field. Rupert emphasizes the importance of preparation, mentorship and finding candidates with the right attitude and eagerness to learn, even if they lack traditional turf management backgrounds.

According to Alan . . . | Frankly Speaking with Alan Fitzgerald, CGCS, MG

Frank has a wide-ranging conversation with Alan Fitzgerald, CGCS, MG, superintendent at Rehoboth Beach Country Club along the coast of Delaware. They cover his origin story and like Richard Hayden got his start with Aiden O'Hara at Mt Juliet. Working at Pine Valley, Building LedgeRock Country Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, and now stewarding a 100-year-old golf course impacted by saltwater. They wrap up discussing building a team that delivers the high-quality conditions through mentoring the next generation of turf professionals.

Transforming Golf Gourse Mowing | Frankly Speaking with Eric Aston

Frank catches up with the Eric Aston, vice president of technology at Firefly Automatix based in Salt Lake City. Frank explores Eric's long interest in automation since his days at University of Utah Engineering. Development of the automated sod harvester and the early concepts and thinking behind the AMP 100” automated fairway mower. Eric and Frank cover a lot of ground concerning sensing, productivity, and adoption of this transformative technology. How the mower was initially thought to be a better fit for sports fields and sod farms, until golf got their hands on it. Now it's all golf all the time, just keeping up with demand. This is a great success story of a company driven by innovation.

Beyond the Green | John Sorochan, Ph.D.

John Sorochan, Ph.D., distinguished professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee, discusses his eight-year collaboration with FIFA to prepare playing surfaces for the 2026 World Cup across North America. The conversation covers how Sorochan established his relationship with FIFA through Alan Ferguson, the challenges of managing 16 different stadiums across varied climates from Mexico City to Seattle to New York and Boston, and the innovative research being conducted. Key topics include converting synthetic turf stadiums to natural grass using hybrid reinforcement technology, growing sod on plastic for better transplant success, and ensuring uniform playing conditions across venues using different grass types - Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass for cooler climates, and hybrid Bermudagrass for warmer regions. Sorochan also describes the FIFA-funded research facility at the University of Tennessee that simulates dome stadium conditions and the development of the flex testing device to measure field uniformity. The interview highlights the scientific approach FIFA is taking to field management and the growth of the turfgrass research program at the University of Tennessee from humble beginnings to a world-class operation.

Rockbottum Radio: Cheating your mind

As we continue to de-evolve into a race of computer-assisted meat bags, cheating our minds by not reading and writing, a new force much worse than AGI looms over the glitchy horizon: The Quantum computer chip. Cheating, the result of a lazy mind, is rampant, and it has been going on for decades. What's different now is the ease of which we can deny the cheating, even when it is so blatant that it requires face-to-lens lying on a massive scale. But, it's not too late to turn this around. We can take a hard look at the cheating, especially in our everyday activities, sports and work and entertainment. All we have to do is reboot our brains by reading a a few books. I've even included a suggestion.