Dave Wilber gets into the reality of design, renovation, restoration and rehabilitation with golf course architect Mike Young.

With over 40 designs under his belt, Mike Young has been a strong voice in the golf construction and renovation business for a very long time. A great communicator and an outspoken thinker, Mike doesn't suffer fools or pull punches when it comes to telling it like it is. Maybe it is his Georgia roots. Maybe it is just who he is. Perhaps both.

But quiet passion is still passion. And now Mike, along with his son, Ashley, finds himself in the position of owner/operator of golf courses. The hour flew by. Don't miss this very important guest, in a very important time in the history of golf design.

The TurfNet Renovation Report is brought to you by Jacobsen and by Golf Preservations and is only found on TurfNet Radio.

Even if you haven't heard of Jay Blasi, you've probably seen his work. Join Dave Wilber as he interviews Architect Blasi.

From Chambers Bay to Santa Anna Country Club to Sharp Park, Jay Blasi is one of those people who have been involved with bringing interesting design to Modern Golf.

Dave Wilber talks with Blasi about Jay's story, his development as a staff architect with RTJ2, and his transition to independent architect. Some great tips are given for planning and executing renovation and restoration work. 

Yet another great episode with a great member of the construction and renovation community.

Andy O'Haver is the assistant superintendent at Meadowbrook CC outside of Detroit. Meadowbrook is being transformed by architect Andy Staples. It's a gigantic job. 

Andy took the time to talk to Dave Wilber (from his cell phone, in the field) about the role that he plays as an Assistant Super at Meadowbrook. Andy's eye opening experience comes to life in a really good way. And anyone who is going to come anywhere near a golf course renovation project should understand that the team is important. And often the team is led in the trenches by the Sergeant. The leader of the Enlisted Corps. The Assistant.

Dave and Andy have a great conversation. He's candid. And he's got passion. A combination that is hard to beat.

In this episode of The TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Doug DeGrood, past chairman of the grounds committee at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. They discuss the agronomic, financial and environmental benefits and politics involved in approval process for the upcoming fairway and greens regrassing of the famed Donald Ross course.

Presented by

In this episode of The Renovation Report, host Peter McCormick chats with Bradley Klein, architecture editor of Golfweek, about Arnold Palmer and his legacy within the golf industry.

Brad had numerous interactions with Palmer dating back many years.  He recalls some of those anecdotes, including flying in Arnie's plane, and the time they were in Palm Springs and Arnie threw him the keys to his Cadillac, telling Brad to have fun for a few days while he tended to a few things.

With this recording done just a day after Palmer's passing and at the beginning of Ryder Cup week at Hazeltine, it's an apt time to reflect on Palmer's immeasurable impact on golf.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen, host Jon Kiger chats with Ann Kattreh, Director of Parks & Recreation for the city of Edina, Minnesota, and Richard Mandell, ASGCA, about the upcoming renovation of the Braemar Golf Course.

Braemar will be reduced from 27 to 18 holes, with the extra elbow room for the new 18 allowing expanded wetland buffer areas, wider fairways, and larger greens and tee boxes. 

In order to keep maintenance costs in line, only 44 sand bunkers will be created, ground contours will include simple rolls and undulations to enable efficient mowing, and hand work will be minimized.

Mandell discusses his philosophy of tee shot distance equity that intends for golfers of various abilities to play the same club -- not necessarily the same distance -- into a green.

Construction started in October with opening slated for the summer of 2018.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Jon Kiger chats with Graeme Beatt, course manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club (Co.Antrim, Northern Ireland) about renovations in preparation for hosting the 2019 (British) Open... and Graeme's recent visit with Queen Elizabeth at Royal Portrush.

Presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen.

Eight Years. It's a blink of an eye. Thomas Bastis checks in with Dave Wilber 8 years after his world class renovation of The California Golf Club of San Francisco.

Thomas shares his experience in looking back as his old/new golf course matures. It hasn't all been easy. But he's candid about what worked and what didn't work and what he might do again. He also gets firm and fast with some good stories and insights. And being the early adopting tech leader that he is, Thomas speaks about what he's working on. Always keeping it new.

It's an hour of deep conversation and insight with one of the industry greats. 

The TurfNet Renovation Report is sponsored by Golf Preservations and by Jacobsen and is only on TurfNet Radio.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Peter McCormick chats with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS MG, about the recently completed four-year, 36-hole renovation project at Des Moines Golf & Country Club. A humorous anecdote about architect Pete Dye... mistakes made and lessons learned... tips for dealing with architects, working with contractors and how to get the best from in-house staff... Rick lays it all out for us. Whether you're embarking on a renovation project or might be some day in the future, there's something for everyone to file away and put to use.

The Renovation Report is presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report -- presented by Jacobsen and Golf Preservations --  Jon Kiger chats with Chris Monti, senior design associate with  Bobby Weed Golf Design about the recent practice facility renovation at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, FL.

The new facility features a 10,000 square-foot putting green with subtle contours, a chipping green with generous surrounds to allow for a variety of shots and a bunker green with four bunkers of varying sizes. The project also includes an enlarged main tee area on the range, with a two-bay academy building planned for the future.

New, updated turfgrass varieties were used, as was a synthetic revetted bunker product.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Jon Kiger chats with golf course architect Forrest Richardson about the 2017 renovation and re-invention of the Short Course at Mountain Shadows (and resort) located near Scottsdale in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

The original golf course at Mountain Shadows was designed and built in 1961 by Arthur Jack Snyder. Course architect Forrest Richardson, one of Snyder’s students, completely redesigned the course to be a true par-3 with an eye toward retaining the fun for golfers, maintaining the diversity of golf holes, controlling pace of play, and containing maintenance costs while increasing the revenue potential of the facility.

With 18 holes ranging from 200 yards to 75 yards, the footprint of the Short Course at Mountain Shadows was reduced from the original 40 acres to 33 acres, with only 13.5 acres of managed turf. The reclaimed seven acres were converted to residential purposes which made the entire project attractive and successful financially.

The 17.5 hole, the Forrest Wager -- named after Richardson -- is a par 2 golf hole where the object is to play against your opponents in similar fashion to the golf game Bingo Bango Bongo. One point is awarded for the closest to the hole on the first shot played, another for the first player to hole out and a third point for the lowest score.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, presented by Golf Preservations and Jacobsen, host Jon Kiger chats with Butch Sheffield, long-time superintendent at North Ridge Country Club about the recent practice facility renovation there.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Matt Powell about the soon to be opened Brian Silva renovation of the Seth Raynor layout at Dedham Country and Polo Club in the metro Boston area.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi talks with golf course architect Ron Forse of Forse Design, Inc., about his renovation of classic (and some modern) golf courses, and the role of the superintendent in a renovation project.

What defines a good superintendent during a restoration or renovation project? Hint: He or she is the "hub of the wheel".

Tony and Ron wind up chatting about golf course archaeology, including the Seth Raynor-designed Ocean Links course.

Presented by Golf Preservations.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Michael Vessely about the 2016 renovation of the long-fallow William Langford/Theodore Moreau 9-hole golf course at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana.

Vessely, now golf course superintendent at Culver Academies, explains how the "Picasso was discovered in their attic" and Bobby Weed and Chris Monti brought in to spearhead a complete recovery/restoration project. And there's a Dye connection as well!

Listen in as Tony and Mike dig into how the Langford/Moreau classic was brought back to life as a rustic, classic early 20th Century golf course with 2018 conditioning.

Presented by Golf Preservations, offering golf course drainage and full renovation services.

In this episode of the TurfNet Renovation Report, host Anthony Pioppi chats with Scott Ramsay, CGCS, about the ongoing restoration of the Seth Raynor-designed classic at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Ramsay has been at Yale since 2003 and was the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year in 2006. Working for an academic institution, he occasionally claims the tongue-in-cheek title of "Director of the Department of Applied Botany" at Yale.

The "renovation of the renovation" at Yale -- a complete renovation was finished up in 2003 -- focuses on reclaiming lost green area and tree removal. The Yale course in the middle of a 450 urban forest owned by the university.

Ramsay quips that "we don't measure greens here in square feet... we measure them in acres". He relies on a 1934 aerial map along with poking a lot of holes to find the gravel choker layer that Raynor liked to use. Once the original green outline is determined, he uses the "scalp and pray" method to bring the turf to green height.

He also discusses his new 15,000 sq ft plug nursery in which he has cultivated the mix of German bents, velvets, Penncross and Poa that match the original turf on the golf course.

Spend a half hour or so with Tony and Scott! Good conversation!

Presented by Golf Preservations, the greens drainage specialists and full service restoration/renovation contractors.