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In this episode of Frankly Speaking, host Frank Rossi interviews Professor Scott McElroy from Auburn University about the evolution and future of robotic mowing in turf management. McElroy shares his journey from theater and communication studies to becoming a respected weed scientist and turf management expert. The conversation explores his early skepticism about robotic mowers when he first encountered them in Italy in 2016, working with the University of Pisa group, to becoming a leading advocate for autonomous mowing technology. McElroy discusses the different categories of automated mowers, from fully autonomous small units to semi-autonomous large systems like Firefly technology. He provides practical insights on deployment strategies, emphasizing that slopes and hills offer the quickest return on investment, sometimes paying for themselves in just seven to eight weeks. The discussion covers technical aspects including network coverage requirements, setup challenges, and the importance of proper expectations when implementing robotic systems. McElroy also addresses how increased mowing frequency from autonomous systems improves turf quality and density while potentially changing fertilization and maintenance practices. The conversation concludes with predictions about industry adoption, suggesting 2027 as a potential tipping point for widespread robotic mower implementation, and the shift from mechanical to electrical engineering skills needed in turf management.

Frank Rossi interviews David Pierce, president of Stellar Golf Advisors and former USGA research director, about his groundbreaking research on golf course playability and golfer experience. Pierce shares his unique journey from chemical engineering at Dow Chemical to golf research, explaining how his engineering background translated perfectly to systematic golf research methodologies. The conversation centers on Pierce's development of a playability index system that categorizes golf courses from introductory to formidable based on obstacles rather than just distance, stripping out length considerations to focus on hazards, bunkers, and course forgiveness factors. Pierce reveals concerning data showing that roughly half of male golfers and three-quarters of female golfers regularly play courses too long for their skill level, despite knowing they're doing so. He discusses the psychology behind tee selection, the importance of appropriate challenge versus frustration, and how forced carries particularly impact golfer retention. The discussion covers practical applications for superintendents and PGA professionals, including hole location strategies, the benefits of firm playing conditions, and the critical relationship between course setup and golfer satisfaction. Pierce emphasizes that while golf gained a million net golfers during COVID, five million still left the game, highlighting the ongoing need to improve the golf experience to retain players long-term.

This interview features twin brothers John and Jim Colo, both golf course superintendents in Florida, discussing their parallel careers in turf management. John works at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens while Jim is at Naples National Golf Club. Both started their careers in their native Ohio before attending Rutgers for turf education and completing internships at Castle Pines. They share insights about their mentors Steve Ehrbar and Jim Loke, and discuss the challenges of managing golf courses in South Florida's climate. The conversation covers labor recruitment and retention strategies, with both emphasizing the importance of treating crew members well through competitive wages, benefits, and hands-on leadership. They maintain daily communication about work challenges and solutions, supporting each other's professional growth. The interview also touches on how the golf industry has evolved over their 30-plus year careers, from early financial struggles to current leadership roles managing multi-million dollar operations.

In this episode of Rising Stars of Turf, Tony Springmann shares his unique journey from Notre Dame football player to superintendent at Wicker Point Golf Club in Alabama. Springmann discusses how he discovered golf late in college after his football career ended and worked his way up through courses like Trinity Forest, Oakland Hills, and others. He explains the challenges of managing a new Coore and Crenshaw-designed course that opened in 2023, including extensive drainage work in Alabama's red clay and maintaining wall-to-wall Zeon zoysia with firm playing conditions. Springman emphasizes his management philosophy of cross-training all staff members, his passion for golf history and architecture, and how his Notre Dame education taught him to think critically. He also discusses the importance of mentorship, team building, and maintaining high standards while creating a supportive work environment for his assistants.

Frank Rossi interviews Ken Rost, founder and CEO of Frost Spray Technologies, about the evolution and adoption of GPS guided precision spraying systems in golf course and turf management. They discuss the barriers to technology adoption, including early reliability issues with GPS systems and the advantages of the Novotel satellite system that Frost uses. Ken explains how their partnership with Greenkeeper App has simplified map creation and enabled superintendents to have better control over their spray applications. The conversation covers variable rate applications, productivity improvements, and the emerging role of drone spraying technology for hard-to-reach areas like native grass zones. Ken shares insights from recent research presentations with Wendell Hutchens and Dave McCall on spring dead spot mapping, demonstrating 80-85% reductions in chemical use through targeted applications. The discussion also touches on licensing requirements for drone applications and the potential for automation in spray technology, with Ken teasing new developments to be unveiled at GIS in Orlando.

Dave and Peter are back in the saddle after a three-month hiatus, mostly due to Peter's life-stage paring down, rehoming and restructuring of his life. The lesson there is, just like doing major surgery to a golf green, to do it when you're healthy and can do it. All this leads to Peter's announcement of his pending retirement at the end of January. Dave and Peter reflect on the myriad ways that TurfNet has changed the industry over the past 32 years, from community building to jobs, used equipment, education... and touch on some of the "agents of change" who have been a part of it for a long time.

In this episode of the Rising Stars of Turf, sponsored by Earthworks and DryJect, Jorge Mendoza of Green River Golf Club in Corona, California, talks about his lofty career aspirations and his efforts to give back to the profession. A second-generation greenkeeper, Mendoza discusses the need to market himself and his accomplishments as he strives to achieve an industry leadership role beyond Green River. He also talks about what he to promote the game to area youth and introducing turf maintenance as a potential career path. With the golf course straddling three Southern California counties, Mendoza talks about the difficulty and challenges that can come with working with government agencies from three counties on a single project and how the needs and requirements of each might be in conflict with the others.

In this episode of Rockbottum Radio, RW and gang discuss the best time of year on the golf course and share a couple of tips from the Rockbottum Country Club vault that could help modern golf course superintendents survive an increasingly sensitive golf environment. Stick around for Ludell's announcement of the new online degree program from Rockbottum Country Club.

This episode features Dr. Wendell Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science at the University of Arkansas, discussing his research on turfgrass disease management, particularly spring dead spot control. The conversation covers his educational background at NC State and Virginia Tech, where he worked on fungicide fate and movement in soil profiles. Dr. Hutchens explains that effective spring dead spot management requires immediate watering-in of fungicides within 30 minutes of application to move products into the root zone where pathogens are active. He details how GPS-guided sprayers combined with drone mapping can reduce fungicide usage by 40-65% while maintaining control efficacy by targeting only affected areas. The discussion also explores cultural management practices like thatch reduction, nutrition management with manganese and nitrogen sources, and the economic impact of the disease on golf courses. Additionally, they examine the USGA's GS3 ball technology for measuring putting green quality, including smoothness and trueness metrics, and how surface disruptions from aerification and foot traffic affect ball roll for extended periods.

Frank catches up with F. Dan Dinelli, recent inductee to the the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame and third generation golf course superintendent at North Shore Country Club in Chicagoland. Dan and Frank catch up on the putting surfaces that were renovated in 2017 to a creeping bentgrass blend and an innovative root zone mix with 33 ingredients! Dan and Frank review the complex nature or plant and microbe interactions that have led to a better understanding of root zone dynamics in sand based root zones. Hold your breath as this one is a deep dive. Big congrats to Dan on being a HOFer.

In this episode of the Renovation Report, sponsored by Golf Preservations and CapillaryFlow, Brandon Johnson talks about his entry into the game playing as a child and how that led eventually to a successful career as a golf course architect. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Johnson also earned a master's degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University. Johnson discusses how his time as a student at NC State prepared him for continuing his education at Harvard, and how postgraduate studies in the Ivy League provided unique experiences that he probably would not have been exposed to otherwise. Some of those experiences include working at the PGA Tour Design School, being the lead architect for the First Tee program and study-abroad opportunities in locations such as England, France, Italy and Switzerland and how each helped form his career that includes learning under Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.

Frank had a chance to chat with Rhett Evans, the CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Rhett and Frank discuss the path to his current role and the challenges and rewards of running large organizations and municipalities. Specifically, Frank and Rhett get a chance to dive into the GCSAA organizational efforts with partners and membership and how he established his “voice” for the golf turf industry. Eventually, the discussion of high-performance athletic endeavors including multiple Ironman events and his recent ascension to the peak of Mount Everest. A rare glimpse behind the sciences with inimitable Rhett Evans.

Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., talks with golf course architect Stephen Kay of Kay Golf Course Design about their friendship that dates almost 40 years, and how it intersects with the changing face of municipal golf in the United States. In this discussion, sponsored by Golf Preservations and CapillaryFlow, Key discusses how and why the majority of the design and renovation jobs have changed from mostly private to about 70 percent municipal projects. The discussion includes how many municipalities have changed the way they view their golf course properties, and how golfers who patronize them are more savvy about the game and course conditioning than in the past. Finally, the discussion addresses the importance of regular communication with superintendents and local officials during municipal design and renovation projects for numerous reasons, that include building a course that can accommodate beginners without alienating low-handicap players, as well as differences in how private and municipal properties are maintained. For example, areas around tees must be larger because they are subject to excess wear and because triplex mowers are used to maintain them. The area around greens must also be larger to give boom sprayers room to turn.