In this episode, Frank Speaks with Dr. Leah Brilman about the breeding and development of creeping bentgrass, mixtures and blends, and the current state of the turfgrass seed industry from the recent weather patterns to long term supplies. “We'd better get used to paying more for seed”.

Frank then speaks with Emily Braithwaite from Oregon State University about the impact of the heat in the PNW and how “bentgrass is taking over the research farm”.

Frank wraps up the episode with the Mindful Superintendent, Paul MacCormack, discussing how to take care of yourself when short-staffed, and maintaining a healthy relationship with making mistakes.

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In this episode Frank takes a deep dive into spray application technology with Ken Rost of Frost Inc. They cover the gamut from where we are today in turfgrass spray application technology to where we will be tomorrow! Frank then welcomes Derek Settle back to his former role with the Chicago District Golf Association, “My first job was my best job”. Frank and Derek chat about his return, some of the changes he’s seen and what’s the stress and pest situation in 2021. Frank closes the show highlighting more good work in the golf industry with an update on the Wee-One Foundation, with Executive Director Luke Cella.

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In this episode Frank chats with Rich Buckley, Director of Diagnostic Services at Rutgers University Plant Diagnostic Lab, about the wet and stress of the growing season in the North. Wet soils, steamy air and soon more heat. Frank and Rich unravel the panoply of fungal problems golf course superintendents are facing.

The episode also highlights the wonderful work of Paula Wienert at Bridge 127 that is connecting many in the golf industry to needs of foster care parents and kids. Any little bit helps and golf has stepped up big time! Learn more from this passionate leader and how you can help.

Presented by DryJect, Civitas and Plant Food Company.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Franks sits down with Dr. James Hempfling, Field Development Scientist for Bayer Crop Sciences to discuss Anthracnose and dollar spot research at Rutgers, transition from academic to industry science, and his passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the golf turf industry. They even get to chat about his musical roots, interests, and the value of a hobby when you are involved in an immersive profession like academics or golf turf management.

Lots to like here and more to learn!

Presented by DryJect, Civitas and Plant Food Company.

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He's BAAAACK!  In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank chats with Mike Morris, Golf Course and Property Manager at Crystal Downs Country Club, a classic Alistair MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell course in Frankfort, Michigan. Crystal Downs is thought to have been a motivation for Mackenzie’s work with Bobby Jones on his next project, Augusta National. Mike also has been a pioneer in data driven management, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”.

Frank end’s the episode chatting with Professor Lee Miller of the University of Missouri about the early 2021 season and philosophically managing turfgrass stress and disease.

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This episode of Frankly Speaking begins with a trip Down Under to discuss golf turf management in Australia with John Neylan, longtime agronomist. Frank and John cover a wide range of topics from Poa annua and herbicide resistance to putting green construction and the glorious golf on the sandbelt near Melbourne.

John’s long history with annual bluegrass and experience with growing grass in arid and Mediterranean climates provides excellent insight no matter where you grow grass. There is even some discussion of organic matter management based on Claude Crockford’s method used at the Royal Melbourne.

Frank is joined in the second half of the episode by Jim Koppenhaver of Pellucid Golf to discuss the 2020 season, the start to 2021, and how to use climate and participation data to identify the opportunities to sustain the COVID-bump!

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In this episode of "Frank-Lee Speaking", Steve Rabideau of Winged Foot reflects on a career, restoring a couple of classic golf courses and hosting a one-of-kind US Open. The conversation is about construction management, persistence, and managing expectations of a demanding membership and a loyal and dedicated crew. “Nothing prepares you for this.”

Frank also visits with Lee Butler of NC State University discussing issues facing golf course superintendents in the southeast US. Frank and Lee also review the 2020 season in the diagnostic lab that receives samples from around the country. How many were related to a pathogen? Listen to find out.

Presented by Civitas, DryJect and Plant Food Company.

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Frank Rossi connects with fellow Cornell University alum Gil Hanse to discuss his approach to golf course design and the importance of the three-legged stool to effective golf architecture.

Gil discusses the balance of maintenance and playability and how short grass provides hope for the average golfer and a challenging dilemma for the low handicap.

They even get to discuss the music playing in the headphones of the world’s most popular architect! He’s a Dead Head!

New Theme music by Tucker Rossi.

Big thanx for many years of using Grazing in the Grass written by Philemon Hou and performed by South African trumpeter Hugh Masakela.

As the story goes, “When Masekela was recording an album in 1968, he needed one more song to fill it out. The record company suggested a tune called "Mr. Bull #5" that Masekela had heard on the radio while growing up in Africa.

Philemon Hou, an actor and singer who was visiting the studio that day, came up with a new melody for the song which became the instrumental hit Grazing in the Grass.” It was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 53 years ago.

Put on your snorkel or scuba gear and get ready for a deep dive into wetting agents with Glen Obear from Exacto Inc. The lack of uniform regulation and labelling standards has created significant confusion in fully connecting the science to the practice of using wetting agents for soil water management.

Frank and Glen discuss the latest thinking from leading turfgrass soil scientists to make sense of labelling and efficacy data. Hold your breath to learn about the interaction of soil type and wetting agent use, as well knowing when to hold the water and when to drain it!

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Frank Rossi returns in 2021 with his old friend Dan Dinelli and former Professional Golfer Carl Schimenti chatting about managing course firmness to adjust playability and traffic tolerance.

Frank and Dan explore managing for firmness and how shot angles into and onto the putting surface can be understood.

Carl Schimenti and Frank discuss the analytics of course management for playability, traffic management and why some putting surfaces are perceived as bumpy.

A 40-minute deep dive into firmness and playability!

Presented by Civitas Turf, DryJect and Plant Food Company.

Annual bluegrass remains a blessing and curse to the golf turf industry. Professor Shawn Askew, Weed Scientist Extraordinaire from The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, has been studying the impact of annual bluegrass on trueness of a putting surface, as well as being expert on the use of PoaCure (Methiolzolin) for annual bluegrass control in creeping bentgrass.

As an extra treat, Shawn is an accomplished “grass rapper” so be sure to listen all the way to the end. You don’t want to miss it!

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dr. Frank Rossi speaks with Angelica Carmen, Sustainability Specialist at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, IL. Angelica works with golf course supt. Chris Flick and directs Fairway Farms, a farm to table experience at one of the world’s great public golf courses! Frank and Angelica discuss establishing a small urban farm among 4 four golf courses and using the land to promote environmental stewardship and food production. There are plenty of tips for you to see how a farm to table experience might be just the thing in a Post-COVID world!

Presented by DryJect, Civitas/Intelligro and Plant Food Company.

The current pandemic has invigorated public interest in being out in green space and golfers anxious to get back out and play. In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi and Parker Anderson of Greener Golf explore the science behind our desire for being on the golf course, the conflict with the public regarding community use of the space, and returning to golf.

Frank has a mindfulness chat with Paul MacCormack as things begin to open up, and a new book review segment with Chris Tritabaugh chatting about Minnesota native Thomas Friedman’s Thank You for Being Late.

Presented by DryJect, Civitas, Plant Food Company and the Greenkeeper App.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Peter Dernoeden reflects on his academic, research and extension career in turfgrass pathology from Colorado and Rhode Island to Maryland, and his six degrees of separation from so many notable personalities in the turf industry ranging from Noel Jackson to John Kaminski.

Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Dan Dinelli relates what he has learned from his recent conversion from Poa annua on native soil greens to bentgrass on sand-based greens at North Shore Country Club near Chicago.

A fresh look at behavior and management of organic matter and biomass in sand-based systems, down to the single-particle level. A fascinating discussion!

Presented by DryJect and Civitas/Intelligro.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Jim Brosnan of the University of Tennessee about

• the effect of weather trends in application decision making and weed species shift
• efficacy (and herbicide resistance) of Poa annua control programs
• the ongoing four-year, $5.7 million project among 15 universities to assess the national-scale herbicide-resistance epidemic in annual bluegrass in managed turfgrass systems 
• the involvement and position of universities and extension on the recent glyphosate debacle.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. Karl Guillard of the University of Connecticut about nitrogen behavior in the soil and current thinking on late season nitrogen application and water protection, mineralization rates, organic matter accumulation... and more.

Presented by DryJect and Civitas Turf Defense.

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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Frank Rossi chats with Dr. David McCall, assistant professor of turfgrass pathology at Virginia Tech. Topics of discussion include McCall's research on turfgrass pathology in the transition zone, his work with drones and remote sensing, and GPS-guided spray application.

Follow Dr. McCall on Twitter at @VTTurfPath.

Presented by DryJect and Intelligro/Civitas Turf Defense.

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