In this episode of Frankly Speaking, I have a fascinating chat with Brian Whitlark, western regional agronomist for the USGA Green Section, about factors influencing playability of putting surfaces. On the table for discussion are green firmness, angle of approach from the fairway vs the rough, slope of the green, ball roll distance/green speed, and mower setup.
Whitlark is a certified professional soil scientist and has worked extensively with golf courses facing challenging soil and water
The next few weeks at the Island Golf Club are going to be very busy. Starting with this weekend we have the Captains day and then the weekend after that we have the Open qualifier. Captains day is a member tournament put on by the course and the elected captain of the course. Its a one-day tournament coming up this weekend. It is normally teams of four that are competing for the best score to win great prizes. Its also a great time for members to talk more with one another and a good time for t
The Island Golf Club was founded in 1890, making it one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland. Besides being one of the first twelve golf clubs founded in Ireland, it is the third oldest in the Dublin area. The Syndicate was the name of the group of ten founding fathers of the club. According to the club website, "In September of 1887 four men rowed across the channel which separates the North Dublin village of Malahide from the spur of land to the north known locally as the Island. Their missio
Recently I was asked by a teacher here at Drury University to speak to a class studying the psychology of sustainability. While considering what I would say, I began to question where I came up with my environmental perspective. Turning back the clock in my head my first environmental memory was the early 1970's "Crying Indian" campaign by the Keep America Beautiful Foundation. I can remember getting choked up by this public service announcement. The image of the American Indian broken-hearted b
In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, broadcast live from the Rockbottum Country Club proshop, I explain Momma's newest attempts at Growing the Game: 'Bottum Golf... and Archery Golf, alongside Soccer Golf and Disc Golf. The biggest benefit of 'Bottum Golf? Listen and find out.
In other matters, I ponder whether Snow Moles really exist, or whether it's just more fear-mongering by the scientists from Up North.
Also in this episode, an improved calibration for the Deathmeter: the WSRF Ind
Now that I've had a few weeks to settle in a bit and share my experiences about Ireland, it's time to focus on the golf course. During my short time working at The Island Golf Club near Dublin, I have learned new practices for maintaining a links golf course.
The mission of turf management is a careful balance of providing players the best and most beautiful golf course to play while understanding the environment, terrain and monetary budget set forth by the golf club. For the most part, all
Following up on two previous deep-dive conversations into the role and management of organic matter in fine turf, I once again host Dr. Roch Gaussoin of the University of Nebraska and Dan Dinelli, golf course superintendent at North Shore Country Club in the Chicagoland area.
Listen in we go at it for an hour, winding up with a fascinating discussion about Dan's research into biochar as a component or amendment of golf turf.
As always, smart talk from leading thinkers... presented by Dry
For much of his career in golf, Joel Jackson almost seemed more like a media type than an industry insider.
As director of communications for the Florida GCSA for almost 15 years and editor of its magazine for 25, Jackson was by default the face of the association.
Although his face and name are synonymous with trends relevant to turfgrass managers throughout Florida and the Southeast, many might forget that Jackson had a long career as a superintendent, too.
Jackson's
After settling in these first few weeks it was time to explore Dublin and the surrounding area. First stop was the village of Malahide, which is just across a narrow estuary and very visible from the Island Golf Club. I walked around there all day, visiting the cricket pitches and Malahide Castle. Malahide Castle was built in the 12th century by the Talbots, an English family who had arrived in England during the Norman invasion with William the Conqueror.
Malahide Castle
Mowing the
We are often asked if the character of "Momma" is based on a real person. The answer is yes. My grandmother on my father's side was a fearsome woman known throughout Jackson, Tennessee as "Momma Ida", a broom-swinging matriarch who raised ten kids during the depths of the Great Depression.
She did this alone, except for her broom, because her husband fell down dead from stress. They were sharecroppers in those days and apparently, operating an agricultural facility owned by someone
As I am going on week 2 in Ireland, I first want express my appreciation to all who helped get me here. The dream of working in Ireland at the Island Golf Club began mid-summer 2016 with Chris Tritabaugh, my boss at Hazeltine. Chris introduced me to Mike O'Keeffe from Ohio State who, in turn, put me in contact with Jon Kiger of TurfNet who ultimately put me in touch with Island Club superintendent Dave Edmondson. The hard work of these four men was fundamental in aligning me for this opportunity
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, I had a great, far-ranging chat with plant pathologist extraordinaire Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University.
We kicked off with the history, creation and evolution of BMPs for managing patch diseases and anthracnose in turf and segued into programmatic approaches to control, intertwining of micronutrients and cultural practices, solid vs hollow tine aerification, self-inflicted issues, topdressing, nitrogen... and the real possibility -- with strict adhe
My name is Martin "Marty" Richardson and I am this year's TurfNet student intern. Minnesota born and bred, I just finished my first year in the two-year Golf Course Grounds Management AAS program at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota. The program has just eight students but all graduates say it is phenomenal. As a smaller school it doesn't have the many clubs and activities you'd expect at a larger college, but I've been fortunate to play intramural hockey at St. Cloud State since I li
In this latest story on Rockbottum Radio -- broadcasting from deep in the TurfNet Zone -- private greenkeeper Willy Wilson embarks on a quest to help the missing golf pro's wife find him amidst allegations of corporate takeovers, meddling GMs, just-back-from-Augusta green chairmen, and... the new regional superintendent.
Presented by VinylGuard and their new hi-vis driving range yardage markers.
From time to time, we delve into the greater world of technology in this blog. There is an enormous amount of tech and platforms available out there; I certainly don't pretend to have an understanding of even a small percentage of what's available today. But I do know what seems to work best, and easiest, for most of us in our industry and in my daily experience working for many of you and what the knowledge level tends to be.
That said, here are five things you totally should be doin
There's a disturbing junior golf trend out there and I'm only now finding out about it. It was probably hidden in the frantic flurry of golf growth initiatives, so us curmudgeons wouldn't post it on Turfy-Leaks.
Yesterday, the growing tragedy of the "Daddy Caddie" was related to me by my brother Mike, an actual eyewitness of this weirdness. Mike's background is important to this story, so I'll give you the short version: Long time veteran golf course superintendent, US Army Ranger, skill
Best management practices (BMP) provide superintendents with critical tools needed to maintain golf courses to the satisfaction of golfers and owners while complying with local, state and federal regulations.
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, I chat with Dr. Bryan Unruh, Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Associate Center Director at the University of Florida, IFAS, West Florida Research and Education Center, about his role spearheading the nationwide initiative creating BMPs for
Sustainable landscaping isnt about mowers that burn liquid propane, efficient irrigation systems, compost teas, or even native plants. While all of these efforts, and others like them, are steps along a continuum moving towards sustainability, they will all ultimately fall short of the goal of real sustainability. Sustainability is not a superficial strategy that can be implemented by taking a few small steps. Sustainability is a complex web of interactions that reflect the ability of man and na
When you write a blog with a certain theme you are constantly on the lookout for inspiration. No matter where you are or what you are doing, a thought or idea can sneak up and whisper to you. If you are mindful enough to create some space that day, you tune in and pay attention.
Such was this past Saturday as I was driving home from dropping off my youngest daughter Clara at dance class. The radio was tuned into a CBC show called "My Playlist." It's essentially an hour long show where famous
I heard that interview question three times. It somehow implied that I was seeking employment consisting only of walking around with a clipboard, wearing Armani and spending all day in meetings.
The first time, I was young and still possessed of blind optimism yet to be removed by the reality grinder . . . so I eagerly nodded in the affirmative. The second time, I had no such delusions, but I reluctantly assured the despot that I was indeed, a WS.
The third time? I replied, "I don
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, I had an opportunity to chat with Michael Lee, government affairs manager at GCSAA, and Bob Helland, GCSAA director of congressional and federal affairs, about the upcoming National Golf Day on Capitol Hill (April 24-26), and other advocacy initiatives that GCSAA is involved with on behalf of the game of golf.
Smart talk from leading thinkers, and always frankly speaking.
