Beware of the Headless Horseman! I think I heard the pounding of hooves in the distance as our guest, Jon Heywood, CGCS and I rounded the corner to reveal the stunning view of the Hudson River from the top of the 15th fairway at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. This is a Halloween special and we have a lot in store for you. A dual perspective episode looks back at the USGA’s 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Hear from Jon Heywood, the host superintendent, and my friend and mid-amateur, Jason Bataille, who went all the way to the round of 16 in this international tournament.

The hardest thing to do as a guest on this podcast is to be vulnerable and talk about mistakes. Juan Casiano does just that in the first minutes of this episode. His candor comes as no surprise: Juan is a confident guy and an excellent turf manager. He is also dedicated to maintaining a very low ecological impact by greatly limiting his annual pesticide and fertilizer use.

Enjoy this conversation from the back patio of East Orange Golf Course!

This week we caught up with Dean Piller, longtime superintendent at the beautiful Cordova Bay GC in Victoria, British Columbia. Dean has been on the property since it was built 34 years ago. We discussed the keys to longevity and staying fresh in a long-term position. Dean also dove into the ways he and other Canadian superintendents manage turf in varied climates with very few traditional tools at their disposal. Along with creative management, we tackled conservation efforts at the course and how the ownership supports the management team’s plans. It was a fun conversation that we think you’ll really enjoy.

Are you wondering how to set yourself up for success? Well, the secret is out: it’s all about outlook and attitude! We run through a lot of topics in this podcast, but I love when Vinny Spano shares the thoughtful ways he takes care of his crew at Preakness Valley Golf Course in Wayne, New Jersey. His passion and love for humanity really comes through in this talk.

Our conversation took place on the golf course, and that set the stage for a nice leisurely vibe. Enjoy the great agronomic tips included in this podcast that will benefit every listener. You’ll have a great time dipping into this conversation between two passionate turf guys!

Kevin takes the conversation in a different direction this week by interviewing his oldest son, Mike. He wanted to have this conversation to offer a glimpse into the life of a college athlete and why so few succeed at balancing school with athletics. Mike had a successful college career that led to opportunities off the field and forged a work ethic that will lead to successes in life. It’s not all fun and games though, and we wanted to highlight the challenges of balancing so many things.

We also discussed life as a superintendent’s son and how that’s led to a love of the game as the baseball chapter drew to a close during the COVID era. We hope you enjoy this non-turf discussion with a part of the EarthWorks family.

It is finally football season, and many of us are spending our Sundays in front of the television cheering for our favorite team. So huddle up with us to revisit a few of our past podcasts that featured some of our favorite NFL grounds managers: Travis Hogan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Ryan Bjorn of the New England Patriots, and Tony Leonard of the Philadelphia Eagles. Each talked about their experiences, challenges, and triumphs with managing their respective fields. As is typical of our podcasts, our guests also tossed in some great stories.

Managing an NFL complex may be one of the most difficult jobs in all of turf management. The pressure is intense and the field has to be perfect every game day, even when it is preceded by a major concert or, more chaotic still, a monster jam event! This is a review of three separate podcasts that work well together and include lots of valuable tips.

Kevin Mercer has been in the turf management industry for over two decades and has worked on golf courses, sport fields, schools and universities. He has been a good friend to EarthWorks for much of his professional career and a true steward of the environment. Kevin recently released a new book, Environmental Solutions for Grounds Management, which is available for purchase from Amazon and other book retailers. The book focuses on three areas of grounds management: stormwater management, biodiverse habitats, and carbon fertility and composting. Any grounds or turf manager would benefit from this publication.

Kevin reviews the book section by section and shares with us his insights and motivation for writing the book. Kevin has always had an understanding of the important role that grounds managers play in the impact of the environment in their communities. We talked about the success that his horticultural practices have had on the recruiting of new students at the schools he has managed. His new book is a road map for any grounds manager who is interested in biological soil management and environmental stewardship. Take a listen and pick up a copy of the book, it will give you some practical ideas to improve any turf and grounds management operation.

Lawrence Mayhew, the EarthWorks Chemist, is a perennial favorite on the podcast. In this episode, we talk about the value of using strong acids to remove soil bicarbonates from the soil surface of a golf green or sports field.

Bicarbonates are one of the “first limiting factors” when it comes to growing quality turf. They will restrict the flow of air and water by creating a seal on the soil surface, affecting the proliferation of soil microorganisms. When microbes are restricted in a soil it can become hydrophobic, leading to localized dry spots. A domino effect will then ensue that impacts the plant’s ability to take up nutrients and water. This situation is particularly problematic in western soils, where bicarbonates dominate the irrigation waters.

One solution for removing unwanted bicarbonates is the use of strong acids and hydrogen peroxide. Lawrence explains the chemistry of these products in the soil, and discusses some of the limiting factors that their continued use may have on soil biology. As soil biologists we are concerned that these programs can cause a weakness in the biological profile over time, so we discuss solutions to overcome the potential drawbacks.

The conversation also turns to the subject of weeds and the story they can tell us about soil chemistry and biology. It is always informative and entertaining when Lawrence joins us, and this is no exception.

There may not be a busier person in the golf industry than Andy Jorgensen, CGCS, the Director of Community Maintenance Operations at On Top Of The World Communities in Ocala, Florida.  Andy manages over 200 employees, including the golf staff that runs three golf courses and their construction projects, and a landscape staff that takes care of 3600 homes in the community. He is a master of juggling elephants!

Andy talked to us about his career and shared the story of his start in golf. He explained what it takes to manage such a large operation, and how he builds a culture among his staff that encourages them to stay in the organization. Of course there was some agronomy talk, most memorably how he managed the Candler sands that make up most of his property. Over the years, after working composts and carbon based fertilizers into the soil, he has moved from over 10 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per season to 2 lbs.

Andy has now been on site for 20 years. Through all of this, he managed to raise two kids, serve as the President of the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, and stay active in many other extracurricular activities. We were exhausted just listening to all that he juggles!

Paul Skafas has been a fixture in the New England turf market for over 40 years. Today he is semi-retired from his position as Vice President of the Tom Irwin Company, a premier turf distribution partner in New England. Although his day-to-day duties have diminished, he remains involved with industry projects. Of particular note is the Tom Irwin Soils Academy, a highly sought after training program featuring the most up-to-date soil science information available.

Over the years, Paul has been a mentor to many golf course superintendents as well as our own Joel Simmons. He shows a strong passion for soil science and has lectured extensively on the effects of water chemistry on sports turf soils. He has also been instrumental in building leadership programs for the golf and sports turf communities, helping countless turf professionals advance their careers.

It was a thrill to hear Paul talk about his passions. We also took the opportunity to thank Paul for all he has contributed to the industry, and to wish him well as he moves into the next chapter of his life. 

Want to learn how to push your turf so it can handle more stress and usage? Then this podcast is for you! Jerad Minnick from the Maryland SoccerPlex highlights his team's methods to ensure the best playing conditions, no matter how challenging the weather or event schedule. 

Building resilient turf is demanding work, but Jerad insightfully speaks to the fact that we are all ultimately working in the service industry. Stay tuned through the end of this podcast to hear some big news from Jerad!

The EarthWorks Podcast welcomes Mike Clifton, the owner and operator of Chesapeake Grounds. Mike tells the story of how he vertically integrated his business by growing all of the nursery stock Chesapeake Grounds uses for their clients’ properties. With a keen understanding of plant life’s needs, he has developed very knowledgeable methods for managing and nurturing flora.

EarthWorks is a large part of both his potting mix and liquid program. There is a lot to learn from Mike, and his passion really shines through in this interview.

In this podcast with Joel Simmons and Marshall Evans, Josh Fleisher talks about the renovations at Addison Reserve CC (a premier country club in the southeastern corner of Florida) to move from Bermuda grass to Platinum Paspalum.

Originally from Virginia, Josh’s first real turf experience was in Richmond, which is one of the toughest places to grow bentgrass. He moved to Florida in pursuit of further training that he knew he needed for his career growth. That was where he implemented a unique strategy for establishing his greens: rolling the sprigs into the greens mix. This technique was new to Josh, but it turned out to be very successful.

Things got interesting at his new job quickly, as his first season of reconstruction was met with an El Niño weather pattern that affected the growth in plants. But Josh handled it like a true professional, successfully communicating with members and keeping everyone happy while the project moved forward. A lot of good information in this conversation, and as always, a few laughs!

Rick Krok is the Director of Project Coordination & Estimation at LaBar Golf Irrigation. He is recognized as a leading expert in golf course irrigation installation, and he also happens to be one of the first people to ever spread an EarthWorks granular product on a golf course.

Rick has been a good friend of EarthWorks for almost our entire 36 years of business. We look back and laugh at the times he had to spread our first generation of Replenish 5-4-5, back before it was prilled, and his days of being completely coated in chicken manure dust!

But rest assured, we also made sure to put his expertise to good use. We discussed where the irrigation industry is today, new technologies, and the newest software which is making irrigation so much more efficient. We also discussed how superintendents are selling their clubs on the idea of upgrading their older systems. A very informative and funny conversation not to be missed!

This week we invited Lawrence Mayhew, our EarthWorks chemist, to discuss the third leg of the three-legged stool: the one that focuses on soil biology. Lawrence helps us better understand how sodium works in the plant and ways we can buffer excess sodium using soil biology. He explains his thought process when he helped us formulate our newest liquid product and rising star, KVantage.

“Sodium can work like high blood pressure in the plant” according to Lawrence, and excesses will lead to sodium-induced wilt stress. Many sources of irrigation waters in the turf industry are very high in sodium, and the constant flush through the soil profile causes plant and soil issues. Lawrence talked us through ways we can offset these problems with biological buffering, backed up as always by a deep well of research.

Sodium can work like high blood pressure in the plant...” ~ Lawrence Mayhew

This podcast is a follow up to our earlier conversations with Bill McKibben. Bill is the author of The Art of Balancing Soils, and when it comes to this particular art, he is undeniably a true master. He talked about the importance of soil chemistry and how it can affect soil physics.

Kevin Hicks is joined by agronomist and author, Bill McKibben to take a deeper dive into soil testing. When Kevin reviews soil tests with clients, there are questions that pop up that make him say, “I need to ask Bill about that.” After compiling some questions he invited Bill back on the podcast to share the answers. The value of Saturated Paste Tests in sand based systems was only one of many topics discussed. We encourage you to reach out to Kevin if you have questions you can’t find the answers to so we can get it on the next podcast.

Over the years Bill has been a tremendous resource to the EarthWorks team, and has written several books on agronomy, including his latest book, A Grower’s Guide for Balancing Soils. 

Joel Simmons and Jack Higgins share their midsummer 2024 thoughts, including participating in some great golf tournaments. More importantly they share a few ideas on how to fight your way through some horrible weather conditions and how to recover from the resulting harm to turf quality.

Joel and Jack had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs while creating this podcast, and also cover a lot of valuable ground when it comes to getting through the rest of this very hot season.

After 25 years working with Ron Forse, of Forse Design Inc, and becoming quite the expert on architect William Flynn golf course designs, Jim Nagle, ASGCA, has ventured out on his own. It was no surprise that within 24 hours of starting Nagle Design Works the phone started ringing.

Jim is a good friend to the golf course superintendent, and we talked about the importance of that relationship when it comes to a new design project.

What a thrill to meet Jim at the Women’s Open and to bring this conversation to you.