61. Jason Sfire on Breaking Barriers in Golf for Adaptive Athletes

In this episode of the GCSAA Podcast, we visit with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS, MG, director of grounds at Des Moines Golf and Country Club who is on the brink of retirement after a hall-of-fame-worthy, 40-year career in golf course management. Rick talks about his start in the industry at a local nine-hole course, some of the technological innovations he's seen, events he has hosted, projects he has undertaken, and accolades and awards he has won. The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

In this episode of the GCSAA Podcast, we sit down with Todd Lowe, a former USGA agronomist who now is part of Envu’s Green Solutions Team. Lowe provides great insights into the El Niño weather pattern that was so nettlesome for golf course superintendents in Florida this past spring and whose effects are still being felt. Lowe shares his personal journey within the golf industry, from early days working with his father to his academic pursuits and various career transitions. He also provides some insight into his role with Envu and the kind of assistance he can provide for turfgrass managers, particularly in the Sunshine State.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

As a part of a partnership between GCM and John Deere, this episode of the GCSAA Podcast celebrates Women's Golf Day 2024 — which runs an entire week this year, May 28-June 4 — with a panel discussion among four women working in turfgrass management about the state of the women-in-turf movement. Devon Carrol, solution development manager with Envu, serves as the guest host for this episode and is joined by Carol Turner, superintendent at Bigwin Island Golf Club in Baysville, Ontario; Andi Meadows, assistant superintendent at TPC San Antonio; and Andrea Salzman, assistant superintendent at Pinehurst No. 2 and The Cradle in Pinehurst, N.C.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

This episode of the GCSAA Podcast features GCSAA’s 87th president, Jeff White, CGCS. Jeff and podcast host Scott Hollister peel back the turf to reveal the meticulous craft of keeping a club like Indian Hills Country Club in pristine condition while navigating the strategic fairways of the GCSAA. Jeff talks about his introduction to the industry, his mentors along the way and his vision for GCSAA. The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

This episode turns the tables on the longtime host of this podcast, Scott Hollister, as he prepares to depart GCSAA after 26 years on the job. Scott offers us a candid look into his long tenure with GCSAA and GCM , from the adrenaline of the 2000 U.S. Open to the solidarity felt during the industry's trials post-9/11. Alongside Howard Richman, Scott reminisces about the serendipitous turns and the cherished camaraderie that have punctuated his journey.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

When life throws a curveball, how do you swing back? In this episode of the GCSAA Podcast, Jason Sfire, an incredible advocate for adaptive athletics, opens up about his journey as an adaptive athlete in golf — a narrative that's as much about his own conquests as it is a beacon for inclusivity and accessibility in sports. In a heartfelt discussion, we navigate Jason's experiences, the insightful methods he's championing for golf course operators to foster welcoming environments for all athletes, and the industry's heartening response, as seen at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.For more information about the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, visit the organization's website. You can learn more about the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Alliance by going here.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

Amy Bockerstette caught the attention of the golf world in 2019 after getting the opportunity to play the famed 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale with professional golfer Gary Woodland during a practice round for the Waste Management Open. On this episode of the GCSAA Podcast — recorded live during the 2024 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix — we set down with Amy and her father Joe to discuss her journey in golf, the I Got This Foundation, ways golf courses can become more accessible to all golfers and Amy's dream foursome.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

On this episode of the GCSAA Podcast, we take a look back at the year that was in 2023 and a look ahead to what's ahead in 2024 with association CEO Rhett Evans.  We review high points from the year that was, including the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando (7:30), Rounds 4 Research (11:30), First Green (20:55) and the Women's Leadership Academy, (30:00) before turning our attention to 2024 and the upcoming Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix (35:25) and Evans' attempt to summit Mt. Everest come May (52:45).The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

This episode of the GCSAA Podcast features another in our occasional "Legends of Turf" series as we sit down with Don Hearn, CGCS Retired. Hearn is the current executive director of the GCSA of New England, but his influence extends well past that role. He spent nearly 40 years as a working superintendent in New England, including a 29-year stay at Weston (Mass.) Golf Club, and served as GCSAA's president in 1987. Our guest host for this episode is Howard Richman, GCM's associate editor.The GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.

This episode of the GCSAA Podcast dives into the wild kingdom that has been Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona, Ariz., this fall with two folks responsible for the care of that property — Director of Agronomy Andy Huber and Assistant Superintendent Emily Casey (@emcaseyturf). The team at Seven Canyons has been dealing with widespread turf damage caused by javelinas, and a video of the damage that Casey shared on social media went viral — the video has been viewed more than 33 million times on X/Twitter — taking the story to an international audience. We talk about life as a social media sensation, the practical challenges created by these wild animals and a massive in-house renovation of the course that has taken place while all this was going on.This episode of the GCSAA Podcast is presented in partnership with Envu.