This month on Superintendent Radio Network

How long does it take for a new job — and for golf course maintenance professionals, a new maintenance facility — to feel like home? At least for Kayla Kipp, the answer is a little less than three years. Now in her third at Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, the veteran equipment manager is more comfortable in the shop. Communication with the team is a big reason why. “What they need is what I’m here for,” she told Rick Woelfel during the most recent episode of the Wonderful Women of Golf podcast. “The more we can communicate, the better. I know a lot of times they’re in and out the door saying, ‘I need this for tomorrow,’ or ‘I need this in 10 minutes.’ Sometimes, it’s a little stressful but (things will work out) as long as we keep that communication channel open.”

Publisher + editor-in-chief Guy Cipriano and I traveled so much this summer — nearly three dozen golf course visits between us from Memorial Day to Labor Day — that we had trouble finding time to record new episodes of Greens with Envy. In an effort to catch up and share some great stories, we squeezed in two this month: The first about a trio of courses in Florida, Kentucky and Michigan, the second about an octet of courses across the Pacific Northwest. “We have had a lot going on in our work and personal lives,” Guy said, “but we are finally back together in the studio.” After more than 60 episodes, Greens with Envy is still fun, because golf is supposed to be fun … right?

Early episodes of Beyond the Page featured a series of shorter conversations. The podcast has changed shape a little bit since those first efforts, but that original structure still works from time to time, and I turned to it for the most recent episode, which features in-person chats with three fantastic turf pros: Sean Reehoorn of Aldarra Golf Club in in Sammamish, Washington; Steve Kealy of Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Washington; and Brian Koffler of Waverley Country Club in Portland. Among the topics discussed: Shifting from superintendent to general manager (at least for a season), the lasting legacy of the First Green program, and … bears. “We think we have three resident bear that live within the area,” Reehoorn said. “I haven’t seen any cubs this year. They might come in later. Every once in a while, yeah, you might run into a bear early in the morning. If you haven’t had a cup of coffee, you don’t need one, because you’re ready. You’re good to go.”

If you want the best stories and the richest details, you often need to talk with people during or immediately after whatever major life experience you’re discussing. Guy couldn’t quite do that for the second episode in our fun new Golf Construction Conversations series. No, he had to settle for talking with Pine Lake (Michigan) Country Club director of agronomy Terry Poley one week after the course reopened. “I had a vision, I had to sell it to the membership, and I had a lot of good people around me,” Poley said. “It was kind of a long journey to get to where we actually broke ground. I guess we were on the 10-year plan, but it worked out.” This is a great listen — and essential if you might have a project in your own future.

What does it take to reach — and, more important, remain — at the highest level of your professional industry? Robert Smith would know. He’s been the equipment manager at Merion Golf Club for the last 16 years. “This place will work you hard, man,” he told Trent Manning on the most recent episode of Reel Turf Techs. “It’s such a good time, though, here. It’s hustle and bustle. Days go by quick and you kind of lose track of time, that’s for sure. You got to be on top of your toes.” Smith started working in the industry very early: His father was a golf cart mechanic and his mother was a pro shop employee, and they would often bring him to the course rather than hire a babysitter. He started raking bunkers when he was 9, and worked at a local course throughout high school as part of a hybrid program. “I was at the right place at the right time and things just fell in the right spots for me,” he said. 

Another month of Superintendent Radio Network podcasts wrapped up with two architects on Episode 98 of Tartan Talks: Stephen Kay and Scot Sherman, who joined Guy to dive into tree management. Among the highlights from the episode (and their decades of experience): “I would hope that in 50 years they don’t get on a binge of planting trees again,” Kay said. “I don’t think the industry knew in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s when they were planting trees how it was going to hurt the golf courses agronomically.” Trees are “a very big part of what we do,” Sherman added. “Over the last 30 years, I have learned from some very smart people on how to deal with trees.”

Matt LaWell is Golf Course Industry’s managing editor.