TurfNet Podcasts

John "Trey" Rogers, Ph.D., of Michigan State University joins Frank to talk about a career spent shaping both playing surfaces and the people who manage them.

Rogers traces his path from civil engineering student to turf researcher at Penn State, where a lucky mistake in the machine shop gave the industry the 2.25-kilogram Clegg hammer still used today.

He shares what nearly four decades of teaching at MSU have taught him about students, and why their passion for the work hasn't changed, even as the technology in their hands has.

Rogers also...

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi interviews golf course architect Jim Nagle of Nagle Design Works.

The discussion focuses on Nagle's work developing a master plan for Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

Nagle explores how the evolution of modern player athleticism and driving distance affects course design, specifically regarding the balance between maintaining historic character—such as the club's iconic tree-lined fairways—and the need for strategic challenges like bunker repositioning and green modifications.

They also discuss the impact of tree varieties on turf health and Nagle's prof...

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...

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...

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 pers...

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...

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 $25-3...

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...

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...

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.

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 te...

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...

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 architect...

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...

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.

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 al...

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...

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...

Frank chats with Adam Moeller, President of Moeller Consulting and Director of North America Turfgrass. Adam traces a practical path through golf course management, starting with his Wisconsin roots—where short seasons and demanding conditions shape a no-nonsense, performance-driven mindset. That foundation carries into his time with the USGA, where exposure to broader datasets and standardized evaluation methods sharpened his ability to connect research with real-world decision-making and ask better, more relevant questions.

Now working in agronomic consulting, product testing, safety, and new construction specifications, Adam operates at the intersection of science and application. A central theme is...

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...

Frank catches up with Richard Hayden to discuss all things designing, constructing, establishing and managing sports turf around the world. Highlighted recently by his work with the Wrexham AFC and Ryan Reynolds. Beyond that we cover his time at STRI, hybrid grass construction, sports turf in Ukraine, Horse Track Fraise Mowing, FIFA guidelines, etc.

Richard is one of the most recognized sports pitch consultants in the world. In 2024, Richard completed his 700th sports infrastructure project across 58 countries, with experience spanning FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO stadium pitches. Uniquely qualified in both agronomy and civil engineering, he...

Paul Carter, CGCS has been a very busy man. He is superintendent at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Director of Agronomy for the nine-course Tennessee Golf Trail, and recently began his one-year term as president of the GCSAA in its centennial year.

In this inaugural episode of Beyond the Green, sponsored by Molasses Kings, Carter talks about his role and responsibilities as president of the association, how — and why — he became involved in representing his colleagues in Tennessee and nationwide, and who is to "blame" for that decision.

Finally, Carter talk...

This interview features twin brothers John and Jim Colo, both golf course superintendents in Florida, discussing their parallel careers in turf management. John works at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens while Jim is at Naples National Golf Club.

Both started their careers in their native Ohio before attending Rutgers for turf education and completing internships at Castle Pines. They share insights about their mentors Steve Ehrbar and Jim Loke, and discuss the challenges of managing golf courses in South Florida's climate.

The conversation covers labor recruitment and retention strategies, with both emphasizing the importance...

In this TurfNet Renovation Report, Anthony Pioppi interviews Donnie Beck, superintendent at Fishers Island Club, about their major irrigation system renovation. Beck, the fifth superintendent in the course's 100-year history, discusses the unique challenges of maintaining a links-style golf course located seven miles off the Connecticut coast but belonging to New York. The course faces increasing saltwater flooding, now occurring 6-7 times per year compared to once or twice when Beck started in 1994. The new Rain Bird irrigation system, designed by Paul Roche and installed by Tanto, replaced a partial system from the 1990s and includes innovative long-range rotors...

Frank speaks with Marco Schiavon, assistant professor at UF's Fort Lauderdale Research Center, discusses water conservation in turfgrass.

Trained in Italy, New Mexico, and California, Schiavon now researches recycled wastewater irrigation in South Florida, finding that turf intercepts most nutrients but over-irrigation causes leaching — making water management more important than fertilizer blackout periods. He's also exploring turfgrass soil microbiome, where the field lags decades behind agriculture.

On grasses, Schiavon calls Tiftuf Bermuda a gold standard for water conservation and says St. Augustine water needs are overestimated. His top advice: Fix irrigation system efficiency first, then la...

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Bradley Klein sits down with veteran golf course architect Andy Staples. Their discussion focuses on the changes of contemporary golf course design to focus on playability, ease of maintenance and long-term sustainability in the face of shifts in pesticide and fertilizer use and the rising costs of and access to water.

The discussion also includes a look into the relationship between architects and superintendents, escalating renovation budgets, advances in drainage and bunker technology, and the influence of social media and modern golf media on member awareness.

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In this special season 13 premiere episode of Frankly Speaking, the tables are turned as Paul MacCormack, the mindful superintendent and general manager of Fox Meadow Golf Club, interviews longtime host Frank Rossi. The conversation explores Frank's journey in the turfgrass industry, from his early curiosity-driven nature to his career in academia and research. They discuss the evolution of science in turfgrass management, the importance of unlearning harmful work habits like the grind mentality, and Frank's personal experiences with vulnerability and life challenges. The discussion touches on Frank's recent transition to becoming a grandfather and how it's shifted his perspective...

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, host Frank Rossi interviews Professor Scott McElroy from Auburn University about the evolution and future of robotic mowing in turf management. McElroy shares his journey from theater and communication studies to becoming a respected weed scientist and turf management expert. The conversation explores his early skepticism about robotic mowers when he first encountered them in Italy in 2016, working with the University of Pisa group, to becoming a leading advocate for autonomous mowing technology. McElroy discusses the different categories of automated mowers, from fully autonomous small units to semi-autonomous large systems like Firefly technology...