USGA Green Section Podcast

Dan Meersman on Autonomous Mowers, Leadership and More | Ep. 37

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.

Standardizing Organic Matter Testing With Dr. Roch Gaussoin | Ep. 36

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.

When in Rome: Ryder Cup Course Prep With Lara Arias | Ep. 35

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!

How Much Light Does Grass Need? | Ep. 34

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!

James Bledge, A Greenkeeper’s Journey to The Open Championship | Ep. 33

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.

Cross-Country Course Conditions and U.S. Open Preparations | Ep. 32

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.

Weeds, Robots and More With Dr. Scott McElroy | Ep. 31

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.

Sustainability Through Science With Dr. Cole Thompson | Ep. 30

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?

Setting a Course for Paradise: Building Cabot St. Lucia | Ep. 29

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.

Putting Green Data Collection 101 With Chris Tritabaugh | Ep. 28

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.