Extra Inputs
As I am working to chart the path forward for the GK GC and share my own original content, I find myself keeping close tabs on the storytellers and stories within the greater golf landscape. Should I happen to find content that aligns with our mission of promoting greenkeepers and the greenkeeping experience I will occasionally share them here under the headline Extra Inputs.
Turf Today Podcast with Andy Johnson (Ep. 73)- Episode Link (apple)
I will go ahead and assume that if you are interested in a golf club devoted to the world of greenkeeping you have some familiarity with the Turf Today podcast. Adam and Brian are consistently putting out conversations aimed to better the global turf community. This particular episode featured a guest host in Phil Cuffarre (Oakland Hills CC) with Andy Johnson, Founder of Fried Egg Golf, as the main attraction. I found this interview particularly of note as it offered a bit of a different perspective from Andy as he comes from more of a golf media perspective with an emphasis in golf architecture versus the usual (and often entertaining) superintendent stories and struggles. Big part of the GK GC is connecting with greenkeepers at all levels and backgrounds while also finding a connection with golfer’s everywhere. This conversations nailed a few themes that I have used as motivation for the GK GC and found it worth sharing.
Notable Quotes:
“…And to me what was kind of crazy, and I think is starting to change is like, these are people (superintendents) with master’s degrees in science that work at a golf course. These are the most educated people at the golf course!”
“What I think about with regards to agronomy , why I’m interested in it is that I know I like having conversations with superintendents about this stuff is going to, it just helps me raise my IQ as a golfer.”
“ …Thats the thing that opened my eyes to how important the connection of turf and architecture was…. I love competitive golf. But what we got our name built off of (Fried Egg) really was like the architecture stuff and the architecture stuff led me into kind of like doing a lot of stuff around maintenance because the more you learn about architecture the more you realize like architecture isn’t shit without good maintenance. ”
Authors note: I must confess something about that last quote; it has come up in a few discussions I have had over the past year or so and was at one point eloquently said by my own super: “I don’t get why there is so much over the top love for some of these architects. Their work is only as good as the guy who is currently taking care of it.”
There are a ton of quotes I could pull from this podcast but it can get a little lost out of context. If you find this mildly interesting I highly encourage you to give it a listen.
BONUS Content:
Andy and The Fried Egg are running a series called All Grass Is Local and it is truly great stuff. The latest episode just dropped and its worth a watch:
Extra Bonus:
Turf Today Podcast with Casey Kea (Ep. 64)- Episode Link (apple)
A great conversation with Casey Kea who seems to embody a part of my vision with what I hope to do with the GK GC. I really felt this line in particular:
"I Golf. I am addict of the course, if I’m not cutting grass I’m there hitting a golf ball. It’s my happy place. It is, and the one thing I would say is that I have done in that regard is that a lot of us in the industry do not want to linger around the golf course that long or get distracted while playing with your buddies, I have played a lot more golf by myself. Just getting in the right headspace, going out and enjoying nature and slowing things down a bit. Golf is my go to for mental health. Which I understand is not a go to for many people.”
Links Diary Film- Cutting Pins
If you have not checked out The Links Diary yet you should. Some might call it The Golfer’s Journal of the UK, and that may be a fair reference but they are doing something special. It still has an intimate feel, like a good band playing the club scene and you know they will be in arenas soon enough. I personally love the links golf culture and the Links Diary does a tremendous job of sharing it. Anyway, they did a little feature on Stewart Fotheringham, the head greenkeeper at Shiskine and if it does not make you want to get over there, play his course and share a few drinks with him in his shop then this might not be the golf club for you.
"I suppose I like to think of myself as an artist and Shiskine is my canvas."- Stewart Fotheringham
Also of note, the Links Diary is now shipping to addresses in the US. If you like modern golf media and authentic stories I would highly recommend a subscription. The Links Diary
BONUS Content:
One more good video from the maintenance shop:
The Golfer’s Journal Podcast Episode 177- Brothers In Turf- Episode Link (Apple)
Callum, Fergus and Liam Younger join Golfer’s Journal Editor and acclaimed author Tom Coyne for a fun conversation about how the three of them have all arrived at Assistant Superintendent positions at the likes of Pine Valley, Fishers Island and Tara Iti. These guys seem to have great perspective on the game and the work. It is a fun conversation that brings life as a greenkeeper into the bigger more mainstream golf current.
Final Thoughts:
There is one more quote from the Andy Johnson interview that is worth sharing:
“I got a great piece of advice from a friend of mine who had started a company and he said, you know you could just talk about starting this (Fried Egg Golf) for six months and try and make it perfect and the idea perfect, or you could just start today. So that night I went home and wrote a newsletter and we were off and going. That was the start".
This would have been very helpful for me to hear about a year ago. And odds are many of you are reading this by clicking the link from the first newsletter. Much has gone into just getting to this point. And I have learned much along the way, but there is still a long way to go. I hope you join in for the long haul.
All opinions and links shared here are my own and have not been paid for. If someone does want to pay me for them I am open to entertaining offers. As I am plotting the course ahead for 2025 and beyond the GK GC will be creating original content and sharing stories that aims to show the good people (and dogs) in the greenkeeping world, their experiences and connection to the game of golf. If you have ideas, stories to share or want to get involved, feel free to reach out at greenkeeper@gkgc.org. I will continue to share relevant content from other sources that support the GK GC’s mission. Work early, play late and enjoy!