The EarthWorks Podcast

Meet Tony Girardi who has been the Golf Course Superintendent at Rockrimmon Country Club in Connecticut for 26 years. Tony talks about a few tough years on the course and how he changed his agronomic approach to keep the course healthy.

Join us for a conversation with the “Cape Crusader” Matthew Crowther, the recipient of the GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship. We talk about what this award means to him and what he has done over his long career to positive effect his environment.

In my opinion, real progress is made when we reevaluate standards and norms that are outdated or simply misinformed. Our guest Jerad Minnick is shifting the paradigm in the world of athletic field maintenance. As he says, “Grass can take more!” Listen to his drive to reform maintenance practices in order to prove to the public and local sports communities that real grass fields are the best option...

Join us for a conversation with Mr. Jeff Broadbelt of the Dryject Corporation. We talk about of his years of experience as a golf course superintendent, how he helped Architech Gill Hanse get his start and of course the aerification system Dryject.

This weeks interview with Juan Casiano really goes head first into two aspects that I love to discuss: The importance of accessible and high quality public golf, and providing high quality golf while in an environmentally and fiscally responsible way. Juan displays some of his tactics in this discussion, and has a good time ripping it up with me!

Tune into this week’s EarthWorks podcast to hear Dave Wilber of Wilber Turf and Soil Services talk about many of the renovation and construction tips and tricks he’s picked up with the consulting business he began almost 30 years ago. We talk about green construction, sands, water, and the future of the industry. It was a fun talk that should provide lots of nuggets for your next renovation projec...

Steve gets specific about the preparations for the 2020 US Open. He also recounts many of the positions he’s had in his career leading up to his current job as the Director of Golf Courses at Winged Foot Golf Club. He was a gracious guest to the EarthWorks podcast. You’ll enjoy this conversation with one of the greats in our industry.

Justin Woodland; an ‘out of the box’ superintendent This week we’re pleased to have Mr. Justin Woodland on the podcast. Justin is the superintendent at The Barn Golf Club in Pleasant View, UT. In addition to running the family-owned golf course where his father is the pro and many family members pitch in to run the 60 year old facility, he is the owner of Airgronomics, LLC. Airgronomics is a full...

An Organic Pioneer Mark Nuzum is a pioneer in the organic fertilizer business and has been our business partner here at EarthWorks for over 25 years. Mark and I talk about what goes on to get a quality organic fertilizer into a bag so that you can easily spread it on your property. It is not as easy as you think but a fascinating conversation.

Talking golf and golf course construction with Jeff Bradley of Coore & Crenshaw as he visits the group at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas. Jeff joins us alongside Kasey Kauff and Tony Bevelo of Trinity Forest and shares some great stories on golf course construction and his travels through the years. Join us a for some laughs as we get to know these guys in this casual roundtable discussion.

How do they change out that field so fast? Join us for a visit with Mr. Chad Price from Carolina Green the company that have been building athletic fields and growing sod for some of the biggest sporting events in the country for years. Chad will talk about how they move into an NFL stadium and replace the entire playing surface days before a big game. Interesting conversation for any turf grower.

There is no better personification of “deeper respect” than today’s guest, Jay Lo Monaco, he’s class act. He’s also an innovator that is willing to take chances for what he believes! Listen to our conversation to learn how Jay did away with the tired old lawn care model of quick-fixes that induce larger problems for an approach that works with nature not against it.

Dave Wilber is one of the predominant agronomists/consultants in the turf industry. His career has included golf course construction, superintendent and Brookside Consultant. We talk about how Dave got into the business all the way through construction and how with just a little amending you can save years of hard work.

We’re excited to have Rick Tegtmeier from Des Moines Golf & CC on the podcast this week. Rick has been the Certified Golf Course Superintendent and Master Greenkeeper at DMGCC for the last 20 years. In our discussion, we talk about renovation work to all 4 nines of the prestigious 36 hole Pete Dye designed course that sits on 450 acres in Des Moines, IA. The renovation work culminated in the hosti...

The Thanksgiving Podcast! The Agronomy team at EarthWorks shares a few moments sharing what we are grateful for this time and year. Theres a bunch of laughs and a lot of good stories and information that can help anyone in the turf industry.

Pasatiempo Golf Club was Alister McKenzie’s favorite course and where he lived much of his life. Golf Course Superintendent, Justin Mandon, talks about this beautiful property, some if its history and most importantly the issues and solutions that the club devised to deal with very expensive and very low quality irrigation water. A lot to learn here.

Mike Kozak has been a mentor to some of the best superintendents in our business. He has built golf courses and managed them both as a Superintendent and as a General Manager across the western United States. He gives us some insight on how to find and mentor good young superintendents that can be of help to anyone one managing a turf facility. Mike is now enjoying retirement traveling the country...

We’ve got a really great perspective for you this week on the excellent state of the golf business from Luke Knutson at Rockville Links Club in Nassau County New York. I also have a great time learning out Luke and architect Jim Urbina have restored the 100A property to be an “ocean of short grass and strategic bunkers” that is a new adventure for the golfer each round!

Streamsong Resort Golf Courses were all built on an old phosphorous mine where the rock phosphate was stripped from the soil of years of extraction leaving superintendent with Rusty Mercer with very little to work with. Rusty talks about building back the soil on this vast property along with the differences of three of the top modern architects use to build the Streamsong Resort golf courses.

Todd Bohn, Director of Agronomy at Big Cedar Golf, has one of the biggest jobs in the industry. He manages five world class golf courses at one of the greatest golf destinations in the country. We talk about the vision that owner Johny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, brought to this spectactular property in the Ozark mountains, construction and some of the best achitechs in the business.

Have you wondered what greenkeeping is like on the other side of the Atlantic? Hear about the day in the work life of my buddy Gavin Neil. We recount some stories from my time at St. Andrews Links and also get some stories of the important greenkeeping practices on the Links. http://blog.standrews.com/2019/06/28/101st-us-pga-championship-a-greenkeeping-grand-slam/

Tom Breiner, former Golf Course Superintendent at Fiddlers Elbow Country Club and I have a bunch of laughs reminiscing over getting started in the business. Tom was one of my most important mentors in the business and we share stories of how a soil really works, our discoveries as to how the business was but mostly just have fun which is how the business should be!

Agronomy in 2020 as seen across the country. The EarthWorks team of Regional Agronomists from all corners of the country talk about a strange year in the turf business. Insights from west to east including weather, staffing and some solutions to agronomic challenges. The EarthWorks team talks to turf managers every day and shares their struggles and give some interesting observations.

Matthew Wharton is a Master Greenskeeper, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at the Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, NC and many of your know him from his extensive social media presence. Now you can meet Matthew and get to know him a little better.

This week we step back a bit from the heady topics of soil chemistry to talk to Thomas Bastis and his role as a PGA Tour Agronomist. Thomas has been in the golf industry for a long time and has lots of stories to share. We discussed construction, his career change from superintendent to Tour Agronomist a few years ago, and even had a discussion about the state of the industry and opportunities dur...