Talking Turf

Katelynn Hogenson, IGA COO, visits the podcast to chat about her experience as a Rules Official at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, which included some priceless memories on the grounds of and around Augusta National Golf Club. Simply surreal...

Clive's Jordan Weber joins the podcast to discuss his recent success on a worldwide professional golf tour, the NEXT Golf Tour. Enough success to earn him a spot in a handful of Challenge Tour starts and one on the DP World Tour events in Europe - what a deal!?

Tyler Johnson, of Mason City, joins the podcast to chat about his latest venture that he can't keep in stock – Toddler Golf Bags. Johnson, the 2019 IGA Match Play Champion, and his Charlie Golf Co. has taken on a life of their own. Sit back and listen to how it all started.

Spencer Groessl and Jeff Webb join the podcast to the speak about the Evans Scholars Foundation and their caddie program that is in place at a few IGA member clubs around the state and those that are starting one this year! It's exciting times ahead for sure with this program in the state of Iowa. As background, the Western Golf Association promotes the use of youth caddies and supports the Evans Scholars Foundation's efforts to award full tuition and housing college scholarships, now at the University of Iowa, to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means.

Molly Biggs and Thomas Gould, both with ties to Iowa, stop by the podcast to kick off 2024. Both were interns in 2023 with the USGA's Green Section and were excited to share their experiences from that chapter of their lives. You might even hear a couple stories about recent Greenside guest, Zach Nicoludis - USGA!

Reilly Smidt, former P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern with the IGA, joins the podcast to chat about his love for golf and the architecture that goes along with it. Smidt has had the fortune of playing several great facilities recently and shares with the listeners what that has been like and what to look for when you are out playing one of your favorite spots!

Brian Hickey, of Palmer Hills Golf Course, and Paul Miller, of Paul Miller Design, Inc., join the podcast to share some exciting news and things still in the works for the course in Bettendorf. If you haven't visited Palmer Hill GC recently, we're willing to bet you'll want to in 2024 after listening to this episode!

Zach Nicoludis, Regional Director, Central Region, joins the podcast to speak on and about the USGA's Green Section and his journey in the turfgrass business along the way. Working on a golf course during high school inspired Zach to pursue a degree in turfgrass science at Penn State University. Upon completing his degree, he worked as an assistant superintendent at St. Clair Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., French Creek Golf Club in Elverson, Pa., and Bidermann Golf Course in Wilmington, Del. Zach went on to become the South Course Superintendent at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Del., where he spent four years before joining the USGA Green Section.

Collin Foster, a 2011 Herman Sani Scholar, joins the podcast to bring us up to speed on what's he been up to since his days at Waukee High School and then on to Ames to play golf for the Cyclones. An Elite 89 Award winners while in college, Foster recalls the days of junior golf, making the transition to college and a much higher level of golf and making the most of his time on and off the golf course. Foster also discusses balancing his lifestyle then and now with being Type 1 Diabetic.

Hogan Hansen, winner of the 74th Herman Sani Tournament joins the podcast to chat about his recent win, growing as a player and the ups and downs of being a golfer in college. Don't miss interviews with recent champions at the 45th Iowa Senior Amateur too – Ben Peters (Senior Division) and Tom Norton (Super Senior Division) as they drop by as well!