USGA Green Section Podcast (United States Golf Association)

Scioto Country Club is about to undergo a large-scale course renovation. Superintendent Bob Becker gives us detailed insight into the plans and what to expect when the work is complete.

Catch our latest podcast to learn more about DEACON™ – what it can do, how it works, and how it can help you improve playing conditions and resource management at your course.

In our latest podcast episode, USGA agronomists from across the country discuss strategies they’re seeing and recommending that can help courses withstand hot weather and heavy play.

Learn about the latest research and techniques to reduce the risk of winter injury with Dr. Mike Richardson on warm-season grasses (0:00-29:00) and Dr. Kevin Frank on cool-season turf (29:00-End).

Interest in autonomous mowing on golf courses continues to grow as technology advances and labor issues remain a serious challenge for many superintendents. Learn more about how autonomous mowers are performing on golf courses in our conversation with Bjarni Hannesson, course manager at Ness Golf Club in Iceland, and Erwan Le Cocq, head greenkeeper and robot technology specialist from Winston Golf Resort in Germany.

The Green Section Podcast will be published throughout the year as we speak with USGA agronomists, superintendents, researchers, and industry stakeholders about important maintenance topics and the latest trends in the turfgrass industry.

Learn how Dr. Doug Soldat, USGA agronomist Brian Whitlark, and others are developing a standardized and improved way to measure putting green organic matter.

Listen as USGA CEO Mike Whan talks about his experiences in course maintenance (he got electrocuted), the big issues facing golf courses and how he wants the USGA to help.

Our latest podcast is an update on course care issues around the country from our USGA agronomists. Topics include pests, labor challenges and the high cost of products.

On this podcast, we talk about the art and science of tee design with golf course architect Andy Staples. Location, sizing, construction, and dealing with stigmas about tees are all covered.

In the first episode of our new Green Section podcast, we discuss the benefits of data collection in golf course maintenance with Jared Nemitz, director of golf course and grounds at the Ford Field & River Club and Paul Jacobs, USGA agronomist in the Central Region.

To say that Paul R. Latshaw is one of the most accomplished and influential golf course superintendents of all time would not be an overstatement. He is the only superintendent in history to host all three U.S. majors, he’s been a mentor to countless industry leaders, and he changed how courses are prepared for championship golf. Oakmont, Augusta National, Congressional, Riviera, Winged Foot and others benefited from his innovative and energetic approach to greenkeeping. We are thrilled to share our conversation with this giant of the golf course maintenance industry as he reflects on a remarkable career.

Subscribe to the Green Section Record and more at : https://gsshop.usga.org/education

Are frequent aeration and topdressing only needed because turf growth isn’t being properly managed? What maintenance practices aren’t worth the time, effort and money – and what should you being doing more of? In our new podcast episode, Dr. Micah Woods answers these tough questions in a fast-paced, informative conversation. He also shared his thoughts on what role zoysiagrass might play in golf’s future and why focusing on playability instead of just agronomy can lead to more success. It’s a great discussion with one of the sharpest minds in turf.

Buckle up for a cross-country road trip as we catch up on the latest trends in each region with USGA Agronomists. We’ll recap 2023 so far, discuss organic matter and the GS3, then preview the U.S. Open at LACC.

Our new episode features Course No. 2 superintendent John Jeffreys on U.S. Open prep and Audrey Moriarty of the Tufts Archives on Pinehurst’s 130-year legacy of golf and course maintenance.

Dr. Jim Brosnan gives his perspective on all things Poa annua, with a focus on the Southeast, as superintendents continue their battle with one of turf’s most problematic weeds.

Related Articles:

• Poa annua: There Wasn't Any Until There Was
• The Pros and Cons of Poa annua
• Poa annua Control on Greens

In our new episode, Dr. Micah Woods returns for a lively discussion on a wide range of topics, including how to properly perform soil nutrient testing and how using MLSN can improve fertility programs. We also talk about the water requirements of different grasses and explore how superintendents may contribute to their own Poa annua and dollar spot problems. From tracking topdressing amounts to getting turf research into practice, Dr. Woods shares his insights on many important issues and offers real solutions for superintendents.

On our latest podcast episode Todd Voss, COO at the Double Eagle Club, talks about making the jump from superintendent to his current role and Dave Johnson, director of grounds at The Country Club, gives an update on U.S. Open prep.

Catch our conversation with Dr. John Kaminski from Penn State about winter injury, disease control and labor issues, and get an update on U.S. Open prep from Dave Johnson at Brookline.

Dr. Cole Thompson, director of research at the USGA, joins us for a special Earth Day episode to discuss the research program he leads and all the ways golf courses benefit the environment.

Related Articles:

• Golf Courses Benefit People And Wildlife
• Golf, USGA Green Section Doing Their Part to Make Game Environmentally Friendly
• What Is a Golf Course?

In this episode of our fairway regrassing series, we learn about going from bermudagrass to zoysia with no-till sprigging from Brian Powell, director of golf course management at Old Chatham.

• Old Chatham Golf Club to host 2026 U.S. Girls’ Junior
• Fairway Conversion From Bermudagrass To Zoysiagrass
• The Ins And Outs Of Zoysiagrass Fairway Management

What does a century of Green Section research look like? Two of the brightest minds in turf reflect on their journeys directing the USGA’s turf and environmental research program and share how superintendents can put all that research into practice.

In our new episode we chat with Richard Forsyth, director of golf courses at Royal Melbourne, about the unique way they manage organic matter in their bentgrass greens, and much more!

Troy Flanagan, director of golf course maintenance at The Olympic Club, discusses the upcoming renovation of the Lake Course, his perspective on hosting USGA championships and more.

Related Episodes:

• Marissa Mar on the Upcoming Gil Hanse Renovation at The Olympic Club
• US Women’s Open Preparations with Shannon Rouillard and Troy Flanagan

In our new episode, 2025 Green Section Award recipient Rod Lingle reflects on a long and accomplished career as a superintendent, his inventions, leading the ultradwarf revolution and more!

The focus of the golf world is in Rome this week at the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. We spoke with Lara Arias, the host course superintendent, about her career in course maintenance, hosting the Ryder Cup, growing grass in Italy, and more!

In our new podcast, we chat with two of this year’s Green Section interns, Elisabeth Kitchin and Manuel Salado. They talk about their careers in turf, experiences in the program and more. Links: Green Section Internship Program. Apply today!

Our latest podcast takes you on a trip to the Caribbean as we talk with Damon Di Giorgio, superintendent at Cabot St. Lucia, about the ups and downs of building a golf course in paradise.

In our latest episode, we cross the pond to chat with James Bledge, links manager at Royal Liverpool. He detailed the agronomics of links golf, prepping for a major and his experience on greenkeeping in the UK.

Our summer abroad wraps up in England as we welcome Sunningdale’s Jamie Wilson and George Pitts to the podcast for a chat about heathland golf, course prep and history at the Curtis Cup.

Catch our conversation with Chris Tritabaugh, golf course superintendent at Hazeltine, to learn how he approaches putting green data collection and how he uses that data to make decisions.

The University of California, Riverside, Turf Breeding Program has been hard at work developing improved warm-season grasses and finding solutions to the issues facing golf courses in California and throughout the Southwest. In our new podcast episode, Dr. Jim Baird discusses how their new bermudagrass releases can help golf courses save water and improve conditions year round. We also chat about which bermudagrass traits are being targeted for future improvement, where kikuyugrass could find a niche in golf, the current water situation out West, and much more!

On our latest podcast, we discuss successful communication strategies for today’s superintendent with Ross Miller, golf course superintendent at the Country Club of Detroit.

In our new podcast, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how two leaders and their teams work together to deliver an exceptional golf experience at one of America’s great golf clubs.

Dr. Scott McElroy, professor at Auburn University, joins us to chat about several topics including robot mowers, Poa annua and goosegrass, data and his work in Italy.

Marissa Mar, green committee chair at the Olympic Club, joins us to share her perspective on the upcoming Gil Hanse renovation of the Lake Course, building a consensus on course projects and her experience as green chair at one of the top courses in the world.

Are you ready for some football? In this special episode, we catch up with the Kansas City Chiefs' director of turf management, Travis Hogan, for an inside look at what it takes to manage a field for the NFL.

Menlo Country Club superintendent Chris Eckstrom talks about making the switch to hybrid bermudagrass fairways and how it has the course well positioned for the future.

Related Articles: 

• Pulverize Your Way To Hybrid Bermudagrass Fairways
• Converting Fairways To Bermudagrass In Northern California
• Converting to Bermudagrass Fairways
• Fairway Regrassing — Can You Afford Not To?

Catch our conversation with David Bermudez, director of agronomy at Del Rio CC, about the motivation and process involved in converting their fairways from common to hybrid bermudagrass.

In the third part of our fairway regrassing series Knollwood Club superintendent Drew Barnett takes us through converting a mixed stand of cool-season turf to an improved creeping bentgrass.

• Successful Fairway Regrassing Starts With Proper Planning

Are you ready for winter? In our new podcast, Dr. Paul Koch from the University of Wisconsin discusses the WinterTurf project and strategies for getting turf through the cold weather ahead.

Related Article(s): 

Be a Part of the WinterTurf Project 

Paul Koch, Ph.D. – The Koch Lab 

Our 50th episode features a conversation with Chad Allen on how data collection leads to consistently great greens at Chatham Hills and we have an intro to the GS3 from our own Brian Powell.

From robot mowers to education and leadership, Dan Meersman is a pioneer in the golf course maintenance industry. In our latest episode, we caught up with the third-generation superintendent to discuss how his role has evolved at The Philadelphia Cricket Club and the fleet of robots he has helping him maintain three golf courses and various other turf areas around the facility. He’s been very happy with his robot mowers so far and sees even more promise on the horizon.

Women in turf volunteering at the U.S. Women’s Open is becoming an annual event. Golf course superintendent Jill Seymour joins us to share her experiences with this growing tradition.

Have you ever wondered about the best way to sample for organic matter in your greens? How many samples should you take? How deep should they be? Grass on or off? What’s the right amount of organic matter for your course? In our latest podcast episode, we talk with University of Nebraska professor and 2023 USGA Green Section Award recipient Dr. Roch Gaussoin for some answers to these and other sampling questions. He’s been working on a collaborative project to standardize putting green organic matter testing with USGA agronomists and researchers around the country.

We talk with Dr. Matt Elmore from Rutgers University about the timing, products and practices needed to control golf course weeds like goosegrass, crabgrass, kyllinga and more.

USGA CEO Mike Whan joins us to talk about his first U.S. Open as CEO, his vision for what makes a good U.S. Open test, and the new E.J. Marshall platter that was awarded to the host superintendent for being an outstanding partner in agronomy and course preparation.

Tanner Coffman is the man behind the turf and tech at TGL, the new simulator golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods. In this episode, he covers the maintenance of both the real and artificial turf as well as all the technology it takes to make it happen.

In the final episode of our series with Dave Johnson, director of grounds at The Country Club, we’ll discuss how things are shaping up on the course heading into the U.S. Open.

In the first part of our multi-episode series on fairway regrassing, we’re joined by John Hoyle, CGCS, superintendent at Corning Country Club in New York. John takes us through the multi-year process of converting fairways to a newer bentgrass variety with improved playability and reduced inputs.

Related Articles:

• Bentgrass Fairway Conversion Improves Playability And Reduces Inputs
• Successful Fairway Regrassing Starts With Proper Planning
• Fairway Regrassing — Can You Afford Not To?

In our new podcast episode, Dr. Ben Wherley from Texas A&M sheds some light on the issue of shade and its impact on turf. We cover how light is measured, how much light different grasses need to grow well, tips for dealing with shade, new research on this topic and more!

In our new podcast episode, we’re joined by Lee Butler from the NC State Turf Diagnostics Lab to learn about the latest turf pathology trends, tips on sampling for and managing disease, and much more.

In our new episode, Dr. David Huff of Penn State shares the challenges of developing and releasing high-quality Poa annua seed, how he succeeded, why Poa often gets a bad rap, and much more.

In our first episode of 2024, USGA agronomist Chris Neff discusses what’s been happening in the Southeast this winter, his role in the Green Section and tips to get the year off to a great start. 

Related Article(s): 

Southeast Regional Updates in the Green Section Record  

Chris Neff Joins the Green Section as an East Region Agronomist 

In our new podcast, we talk with Chris Tritabaugh about data collection, innovation, and how focusing on surface performance and golfer satisfaction leads to great greens at Hazeltine.

Todd Raisch, superintendent at Ridgewood Country Club, gives us an insider’s view into the famed golf course and his preparations for the 2022 U.S. Amateur.