Kevin announces his retirement as a video host for TurfNet after nearly 20 years, producing over 200 videos during that time. He reflects on how he got started when Peter McCormick asked him to create a video about an irrigation test stand, with help from his son Nick who was studying video production. Kevin expresses gratitude to his son, sponsors including Tanto Irrigation, superintendents and industry professionals who appeared as guests, Peter McCormick, and viewers who supported his work over the years. He signs off from his OnCourse video series and TurfNet TV, marking the end of an era for the turf management community.

In this One on One episode of OnCourse, Kevin chats with Nate Jordan, president of NTJ Turf LLC, about his transition from golf course superintendent to owning a golf course renovation and construction company. Nate explains how his passion for construction projects led him to start his own business four years ago, with the company slogan 'Do it well, do it once.' He shares insights about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, including the importance of patience and persistence during slow periods.

Nate highlights that bunker renovations have been a major focus, with the company installing nearly 500,000 square feet of bunker work since becoming certified. He also mentions their work on drainage solutions and short game facility renovations.

For superintendents considering renovation projects, Nate emphasizes the importance of early planning, recommending at least one year for smaller projects and two to four years for major capital improvements. The conversation winds up with Nate reflecting on how the business has allowed his family to travel extensively while homeschooling their son, and provides contact information for those interested in their services.

In this No Turf Talk edition of On Course, Kevin shares his experience building a custom DIY seat table for his solo road trip to Alaska. He explains the construction process using simple materials like 2x4 legs and pine board, positioned to extend the center console and provide easy access to travel essentials. The table features a rubberized top to prevent sliding and creates hidden storage underneath.

Kevin details the measuring techniques, construction challenges, and practical benefits of the design, noting it was one of his best trip preparations and continues to be useful for everyday driving.

In the video, Kevin Ross introduces dormant seeding, a technique that allows seeds to enter a protected state during winter, enabling them to germinate earlier in spring. This method has shown significant success, particularly in a Colorado fairway where bentgrass germinated impressively despite low soil temperatures. The video highlights that dormant seeding is effective for all cool season species and is best performed after the final mowings of the year. 

(originally posted 10/2020)

In this video, Kevin Ross discusses the essential preparations for the winterization of irrigation systems, affectionately known as Blowout. He emphasizes the importance of thorough system checks and running the system multiple times before the blowout to ensure optimal performance. Key tips include maintaining a maximum pressure of fifty PSI, following specific procedures with quick couplers, and shutting down the system a day in advance. He also highlights the need for ear protection due to noise levels and suggests providing food and drinks to boost staff morale. Finally, he encourages gathering the team post-blowout to address any unresolved issues.

Kevin is a big fan of color coding to enhance efficiency and minimize mistakes around the golf course, particularly with irrigation system components like valve and quick coupler boxes. 

In this quick tip edition of OnCourse, Kevin highlights the importance of proper labeling for irrigation systems on golf courses. With irrigation systems being a significant investment, meticulous care is essential. Kevin emphasizes the effectiveness of simple tags for isolation valves and the use of branding irons for labeling valve boxes. He also recommends custom labels from aftermarket companies for clarity and organization.

The calendar says summertime, and we all know what that means. Turf stress is on its way. I've got a tip that can help identify turf stress that I'm guessing most of you may know. But the important thing about this tip is to make sure you educate your entire staff about it because the more eyes and knowledge, the better.

As summer approaches, it's crucial for turf management professionals to prioritize safety for themselves and their staff. In this video, Kevin emphasizes four key strategies: staying hydrated with water and electrolyte mixes, wearing protective gear like wide-brim hats and wrap-around sunglasses, and applying high-quality sunscreen with an SPF of 35 or higher. These simple yet effective measures can significantly enhance workdays during the hot months.

Kevin digs into the archives to dust off one of his most popular videos, his recipe for crock pot steel cut oatmeal. Set on a timer prepared the night before, this hot and nutritious breakfast will be ready in the morning to jumpstart your day. What are steel cut oats? Watch to find out!

In this episode of On Course, Kevin shares valuable weather monitoring tips specifically for golf courses, highlighting the importance of having multiple rain gauges. Drawing from thirty years of experience in managing large golf courses, Kevin illustrates how terrain can significantly affect weather patterns, using examples from courses in Maine and Colorado. The discussion emphasizes the dramatic rainfall differences observed at various locations on a course, reinforcing the need for accurate weather data. The episode also features a recommendation for the Stratus rain gauge, available for a relatively low cost, to aid in effective golf course management.

Slipping and falling on the ice or snow can lead to some pretty serious injuries. Supplying individual staff members with their own footwear traction devices, or at minimum, making them available for use, can be a smart thing to do.

Kevin chats with Brian Boll, golf course superintendent at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN, about the recent Andrew Green renovation and their development of a project management microsite they dubbed The Renovation Hub. The Hub served as a central information source for the team, featuring historical blueprints and photographs to aid in restoring the course's original styling, QR codes for equipment, contact information for all relevant personnel, and even an emergency manual. Brian reflects on the Hub's potential for improvement and encourages others to adopt similar technology.

Kevin shares a fun activity that he did with his staff back in the day: Weigh In, Weigh Out. Constantly amazed at how much weight his staff members would lose over the course of a season, Kevin had them (voluntarily) weigh in at the start of the season and then weigh out at the end. The results were nothing short of amazing, making for a lot of fun and a healthier staff.

Presented by Tanto Irrigation and turfRad.

In this episode of On Course, Kevin warns of an uptick in the vole population cycle as evidenced by unusual in-season vole damage and activity witnessed by himself, other superintendents and landscapers across the country.

Thanks once again to Tanto Irrigation for their longtime sponsorship, and welcome to turfRad as our newest, additional sponsor of On Course!