Herons Glen Golf & Country Club, located in the Fort Myers area of Florida, is a high-traffic public facility with over 55,000 rounds of golf played annually. That alone is a big responsibility for any golf course superintendent—but add in 1,300 homes around the property, all of which rely on the course's irrigation system, and the job becomes even more complex. That’s the daily reality for Tim Kortanek.

We met Tim last year at a Soil First Academy event at John Reilly’s property on Longboat Key. Since then, he’s become a strong advocate for biological soil management. His results speak volumes: a significant reduction in ligneous organic matter buildup, fewer aerifications needed, and organic matter that now works for him—not against him. On a course with his level of play, eliminating even a few closures for aerification is a major win.

Tim also reports a noticeable drop in nematode damage and significantly lower nematode counts since he began feeding his soil. Like any successful superintendent, Tim has fostered a strong team culture. He recently secured additional budget for a renovation project that included upgraded drainage and irrigation. He also persuaded management to hire retirees as part-time morning crew—offering free golf as an incentive.

This interview is full of valuable insights that any turf manager can learn from.

If you're looking to learn a methodical, consistent—and surprisingly peaceful—approach to turf management, this episode is for you. Dave Wood gets the job done with a smile, and his turf and landscape management program at Stockton University has earned international recognition. After hosting Brazil’s CR Flamengo—one of the world’s most popular sports franchises—Stockton is now a sought-after training base for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

You'll enjoy meeting Dave and hearing the key tips and insights he shares on growing cool-season turf, warm-season turf and flowers.

In this episode, Charlie Aubry, Director of Agronomy at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, discusses his early career, East Lake’s renovation, and year-round preparation for the Tour Championship.

He shares insights on turfgrass choices, design considerations, community involvement, and what makes the course’s conditioning world-class — plus some personal favorites in a lightning round.

On this episode of the EarthWorks Podcast, step back into the early days of the United States. We visit Liberty Hall Museum in Union, New Jersey, adjacent to Kean University and once home to a founding family, including a signer of the Constitution and the first elected governor of New Jersey.

Kayla Doyle, Curator of Archives, sets the stage with historical context before Megan Couch, Assistant Director of Grounds, and Jeff Eckert, Director of Buildings and Grounds, join us for a lively discussion about the museum’s beautiful plants and grounds. From heirloom varieties to special garden features, they share what makes this historic farm so unique.

A successful flower program is measured by the number of new blooms that emerge throughout the season. Take a cue from Liberty Hall Museum’s fertilization strategy in Union, New Jersey, to maximize the initial bloom and keep pushing new buds all summer long. Their program uses EarthWorks Myco Replenish 3-3-3, Replenish 5-4-5, and consistent applications of Sea3, both as a root zone drench and a foliar spray.

Armen Suny returns to the podcast, and once again delivers valuable insights that are essential listening for anyone in the golf industry. In this episode, Armen dives into current hiring trends and what clubs are truly looking for in today’s superintendents. He emphasizes the growing importance of leadership and why it's critical for professionals, especially those early in their careers, to invest in leadership training now.

We also explore the increasing demand for full time and part time maintenance staff, a shift that's impacting the availability of trained seasonal labor. Armen offers a thoughtful look at how this trend is shaping the future workforce of golf course management. The conversation kicks off with a fascinating comparison between major championship setups from 40 years ago and today, highlighting the evolution in buildouts and course recovery strategies—areas where Armen’s championship experience shines through.

Whether you're a seasoned superintendent or an up and coming assistant, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and industry perspective. Armen Suny never disappoints and this interview is no exception.

In this episode, Kirk Castner takes us through his journey from a sports-focused upbringing to a career in turf and agronomy. He shares how he transitioned from fieldwork to sales at EarthWorks, all while juggling work, family life, and earning two master’s degrees. The conversation explores the inner workings of product manufacturing, supply chain challenges—including the surprising ripple effects of bird flu—and the evolving landscape of organic demand and carbon-based construction. Kirk also weighs in on the economic pressures shaping the industry today. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire lightning round, offering a dynamic glimpse into Kirk’s experiences and insights.

Biological soil management isn’t just theory—it’s real, and every now and then, we meet someone who proves it in remarkable ways. At a recent EarthWorks Academy in Greenville, South Carolina, we had the pleasure of meeting Zac Ramey, a young golf course superintendent with a powerful success story.

Zac introduced himself to Joel Simmons and shared how he transformed the soil profile at the Country Club of Spartanburg, where he serves as Director of Agronomy. When he took the role seven years ago, he inherited what we call a "thatch cake"—a soil profile with ten compacted layers of thatch, each topped with topdressing. It's the kind of photo that draws laughs or groans in our classes, but for Zac, it was all too familiar.

Determined to restore his greens, Zac implemented aggressive aerification combined with a carbon-based fertility program. “When I got there, I was applying over six pounds of nitrogen per year on my greens,” he recalled. He also described the frustratingly slow recovery of aerification holes and the initial pushback from club members. But Zac held his ground, and over two years, he began to see real change. The layers broke up, the soil profile improved, and the playing surface became firmer and more resilient.

This episode is one of our favorites—an inspiring conversation about the transformative power of soil biology and the persistence of a superintendent committed to doing things right. Thank you, Zac, for sharing your journey. This is a story every turf manager should hear.

Ryan Kuster of Ag Enterprise joins Kevin for an in-depth conversation on the future of sprayer technology. Together, they unpack the mechanics, precision, and innovation driving the evolution of modern turf sprayers. Ryan shares real-world insights and highlights some of Ag Enterprise’s most unique custom projects, offering a firsthand look at how cutting-edge technology is enhancing application accuracy and operational efficiency.

From GPS integration to data-driven systems, this episode is essential listening for turf professionals looking to stay ahead in the rapidly advancing world of application technology.

John Reilly joins us to delve into the evolving topic of organic matter in golf greens. There’s been considerable discussion across the industry about how to best test organic matter, with new methods like the OM 2, 4, 6 tests gaining traction. Our key question for John was: Do these tests differentiate between beneficial and harmful organic matter?

Anyone familiar with John knows he’s one of the most data-driven superintendents in the business. He’s been collecting and analyzing data on this very topic, and his insights are reshaping how we think about greens management. John has become a strong proponent of injecting sand and carbon amendments into the greens profile, and he’s seeing measurable improvements in organic matter quality as a result.

Interestingly, he’s moved away from traditional light topdressing on his greens. Since discontinuing that practice, he’s tracked a noticeable improvement in member scoring — another data point reinforcing his approach.

John is a true innovator in the turf industry. He’s always asking the tough questions, unafraid to challenge the status quo or pivot when the data suggests a better path forward. In this conversation, you’ll hear his passion for learning and discovery, both on his own courses and on others he consults with across the Florida market using his injection system.

This is a must-listen for every golf course superintendent looking to stay ahead of the curve.

We're coming to you this week from the hallowed athletic fields of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Our guest, Jeremy Tredway—Director of Athletic Fields and Grounds at LSU—shares what it takes to manage 18 intensely active acres. A standout example: Alex Box Stadium, home to LSU Baseball, hosts an incredible 350 events each year.

Jeremy dives into the challenges of maintaining overseeded ryegrass on Celebration Bermudagrass amid the region’s hot, humid climate. We're heading straight into the heart of SEC athletics in this episode—enjoy!

The first rounds of the PGA Championship begin on May 15th, but the preparation to make it all happen started well over a year ago. That’s something Keith Wood, Director of Green and Grounds at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, knows all too well. He’s been at Quail Hollow for 10 years and has hosted a tournament every year, including the 2017 PGA Championship.

We talked about what it takes to set up an event of this scale—from the agronomy and course preparation to the massive physical buildout, the coordination of volunteer staff, and ensuring that all necessary equipment is on-site exactly when it’s needed. Keith emphasized the importance of keeping volunteers well-fed and noted an interesting trend: energy drinks have become more essential than coffee!

He’s had great success bringing back former employees—now working across the industry—as volunteers. “Quail has always been a family, and I love that our former team members want to come back to help out,” Keith shared. It’s also a huge advantage to have people on-site who already know the property. Volunteers, both men and women, are coming from all over the country, and Keith is excited to showcase true “Quail hospitality.”

It was a fantastic conversation, full of insights into the behind-the-scenes setup of one of golf’s greatest events.

Kevin Hicks interviews Zach Bauer, CGCS, and Dan Frederiksen, offering a compelling glimpse into the minds of two next-generation superintendents with distinct approaches. Dan champions data-driven precision, employing advanced sensors and analytics to inform his decisions. In contrast, Zach relies on intuition, experience, and real-time observation to guide his turf management.

Though their philosophies differ, both are united by a shared commitment to excellence, adaptability, and using the tools that best suit their unique operations. Their conversation showcases how today’s superintendents thoughtfully blend tradition with technology, tailoring their methods to meet the evolving demands of the turfgrass industry. It’s a masterclass in professional diversity and innovation. 

Jack Higgins and Joel Simmons, two passionate agronomists, sat down and shot the breeze on some of their favorite topics. First up was the cold, wet spring that many areas of the country are battling—and one superintendent’s struggle to get his Zoysia grass to green up in the chilly conditions.

The conversation turned to rhizophagy, a fascinating and increasingly popular subject in the regenerative agriculture world. Rhizophagy refers to a symbiotic relationship between soil microbes and plant roots, where microbes enter the plant, deliver nutrients, and are then released back into the soil to begin the cycle again.

Next, they dove into soil humification in sports turf and how more and more turf managers are recognizing the importance of biological soil management.

When Jack and Joel get together, the conversation is always lively, entertaining, and packed with insights.

What a treat it was to walk and talk with Olee on what might be the most beautiful lawn in America. There are U.S. Open golf courses that would envy his uninterrupted, three-acre pure stand of turf-type tall fescue, mowed at a pristine 3.25 inches.

As we strolled, Olee shared stories about soil building and broke down his annual fertilizer plan. He keeps it simple, stays consistent—and the results are out of this world!

Lawrence Mayhew, chemist extraordinaire, is back by popular demand! This time, we explored how microbiology helps buffer toxin buildup in soil, with a strong focus on managing sodium through the soil’s microbial biome. As expected, humic substances took center stage in our discussion with a world-renowned expert in the field. Lawrence broke down the physical and biological damage sodium can inflict on soil, reinforcing EarthWorks' long-held belief that sodium and bicarbonates are the first major obstacles to healthy soil and plants. We also dove into his latest R&D efforts and the products he believes will help turf managers combat sodium more effectively. A conversation with Lawrence is always insightful, sometimes reflective, and even a little humorous!

Golf course superintendents and sports field managers often dream of landing a great job as a grounds manager at a top school close to home. Tom Barry has been living that dream for over 12 years as the grounds manager at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut.

Greens Farms Academy is a private PreK-12 school situated just off the Long Island Sound. Its 45-acre campus includes gardens, turf, athletic fields, and naturalized areas—all managed by Tom and his four-person crew. They maintain two artificial sports fields and four natural grass fields to support a busy athletic program. Managing artificial fields presents unique challenges, and Tom shared some of his experiences navigating them.

A strong advocate of Biological Soil Management, Tom also teaches turf and horticulture at a local community college. On campus, he transforms the school grounds into a hands-on learning environment for students. With strict pesticide restrictions and limited resources, weed management remains one of his biggest challenges.

This year marks Greens Farms Academy’s centennial celebration. As our conversation wrapped up, we shifted from turf to tunes — Tom, an accomplished guitarist, just added a new guitar to his collection and plays whenever he can!

Kevin Cooper spent over 25 years as a golf course superintendent in Kentucky, Ohio, and Houston, Texas, where the weather was tough and growing grass was a challenge. A technical and data-driven professional, he holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, which positioned him well for his current role as a digital sales specialist at Syngenta.

His position is a new one at the company, and he is one of only four specialists—all former turf managers—who have helped launch Syngenta’s GreenCast Connect program. This platform integrates local weather data with information from on-course sensors, consolidating everything into a single app that can be easily managed from a smartphone.

“The industry is changing, and technology is taking over,” Kevin explains. Golf course superintendents are increasingly discussing the need for “tech managers” to oversee data streams, robotic equipment, and drones. As the industry evolves, staying up to date with new technology will provide turf managers with valuable data to make more informed decisions. And as Kevin noted in the podcast, “This is going to allow for a much better work-life balance.”

This week’s EarthWorks Podcast features a lively conversation between EarthWorks agronomists Kevin Hicks and Joel Simmons. As always, they covered a lot of ground, focusing on key takeaways from this year’s trade shows and the latest industry buzz.

With the season ramping up, staying informed on emerging trends is essential. The discussion begins with how carbon-based fertility is reshaping the industry—from major synthetic fertilizer companies to new entrants in the market. Kevin noted that at a recent local chapter trade show, he was struck by the number of companies showcasing carbon-based products. It's important to remember that carbon inputs nourish soil microbes, not just the plants themselves.

The conversation then shifts to another major industry evolution: technology. New advancements like robotic mowers and innovative moisture meters are changing the game. Soon, superintendents will be able to drive over their courses, measure soil moisture, and seamlessly integrate that data with irrigation systems—potentially saving millions of gallons of water at a time when water costs are soaring.

With 25 years of experience as a superintendent, Kevin offers valuable insight into these trends. This episode is packed with practical ideas that any turf manager can apply.