USGA Green Section Podcast

Green Section director of agronomy Chris Hartwiger joined us to discuss best practices for collecting putting green data like speed, soil moisture, clipping yield, organic matter and more.

With Merion Golf Club hosting the 2026 U.S. Amateur, director of grounds Paul B. Latshaw joins us to talk championship prep, leadership, his father’s legacy, and much more.

What does it take to prepare Royal Birkdale for The Open Championship? Course manager Sean McLean and agronomist Adam Newton from The R&A joined our podcast to discuss the nuances of maintaining a links course, the ins and outs of revetted bunkers, the ecological benefits of the native dunes around Royal Birkdale, how data collection informs course setup, and much more.

How often should you soil test? What’s the best way to interpret results? Should testing alone guide fertilizer decisions? Dr. Doug Soldat answers these and many other important questions.

With the 2026 U.S. Open just a few weeks away, Shinnecock Hills superintendent Jon Jennings joins our podcast to talk about maintaining one of the most iconic venues in golf. From managing Poa annua greens in a windy environment to the vast native areas and dramatic bunkers, Jon shares what it takes to produce exceptional playing conditions on a truly unique property. We also talked about the planning and teamwork required to host the U.S. Open, what it’s like working in an area where you are surrounded by great golf courses, and his upcoming retirement after more than 40 years working in golf course maintenance. It’s a packed episode!