Syngenta Growing Golf

About Syngenta Growing Golf

Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta is a podcast dedicated to the success and sustainability of golf course businesses worldwide. Through insightful interviews, we speak to industry leaders, sustainability experts and superintendents about the challenges and real-world solutions and innovations shaping the future of golf. Whether you’re a golf course owner, club manager, greenkeeper or industry professional, listen in and learn from the best in the game. Syngenta is a global leader in turfcare innovation, sustainability and digital solutions, and a trusted partner to golf courses worldwide.

Publisher

Syngenta Golf

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Feb 2023

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Episode 32 | Why Golf Can't Afford to Lose Its Public Courses with Mark Mungeam

   Welcome to Syngenta Golf's Changing the Business of Golf podcast. In this episode, host Gary Firkins sits down with Mark Mungeam, golf course architect at Mungeam Golf Design and President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). A lifelong passion for sustainability, nature and wildlife conservation sits at the core of Mark's design approach – a commitment that began at the age of 18 and continues to define his work. Mark's path into golf course architecture began on the maintenance crew. Working as a greenkeeper while at college, he became involved in the redesign of the course he was looking after – the start of a career that has since included the renovation of Olympia Fields' North Course ahead of the 2003 U.S. Open. Having grown up playing public golf, he now does much of his work on public courses, giving him a first-hand view of the pressures they face and what's at stake for the future of the game if they disappear. In this conversation, Mark shares his three changes for the business of golf: 1. Develop more alternative-length, low-cost public golf courses – As affordable, public courses close, golf is losing the places where beginners start. Mark explains how municipalities and clubs can replace them, pointing to the 9-hole course he designed at Lyman Orchards as a successful, financially sustainable model. 2. Grow a more diverse customer base through community programs – Golf needs to do more to welcome players from ethnic minority backgrounds. Mark explains why a positive first introduction is critical, and why each club needs a facilitator who makes newcomers feel comfortable. 3. Educate players on the true cost of perfect course conditions – Rising maintenance standards are putting superintendents under pressure. Mark makes the case for balancing good conditions with sustainability, and calls for superintendents to lead that conversation with customers. If you’re looking to manage rising expectations, strengthen your facility's role in the community and build a model that's financially sustainable for the long term, this episode is essential watching. ___ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 About Mark Mungeam 05:30 Change #1: Develop more alternative-length, low-cost public golf courses 13:01 Change #2: Grow a more diverse customer base through community programs 18:43 Change #3: Educate players on the unsustainable cost of perfect course conditions ___ Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries. To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com ___ Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media: X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/syngenta-turf-landscape

2. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Episode 31 | Growing Together: Renee Geyer on Mentorship, Technology, and the Future of Turf

   Welcome back to Syngenta Golf's Changing the Business of Golf podcast. In this episode, host Gary Firkins sits down with Renee Geyer, Superintendent at Canterwood Golf & Country Club, Washington. Renee was drawn to the outdoors from an early age. She found her way into turfgrass management almost by instinct, chasing a career that let her work with her hands and stay close to nature. She picked up her first golf club at age 12, introduced to the game by her godfather, and that spark grew into a lifelong career in the industry. In this conversation, Renee shares her three changes for the business of golf: 1. Engage and mentor the next generation of turf – Renee explains the actions superintendents can take to encourage and guide young professionals, and how initiatives like Leading Turf Together are helping drive that change. 2. Make agronomy technology more accessible – Renee wants to see more superintendents make full use of data and platforms, and for companies to help make this possible by supporting their education and making these tools accessible to all. 3. Create more opportunities for sharing knowledge – Renee points to the importance of local networks as a vital opportunity for superintendents and turf professionals to come together and share practical insights. She wants to see more get involved to help the industry grow together. If you're looking to build a stronger mentorship culture, close the technology gap on your team, and get more value from your local turf network, this episode is essential listening. Timestamps: 00:20 Introduction to Renee Geyer 04:55 Change 1: Superintendents to engage the next generation of turf professionals 13:00 Change 2: Making agronomy technology easy to access and user-friendly 21:18 Change 3: Create more opportunities for the sharing of knowledge across local and regional turf networks

3. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Episode 30 | How Data is Transforming Golf Course Management with the USGA's Matt Pringle

   In this episode of Changing the Business of Golf, host Gary Firkins sits down with Matt Pringle, Managing Director of the USGA Green Section and one of the most influential voices shaping the future of golf course management. With a foundation in mechanical engineering, Matt has spent his career bridging innovation and the game – from inventing the pendulum test for spring effect in drivers to developing the USGA TruFirm turf firmness measurement system, now the standard at USGA championships, PGA TOUR events, and major championships worldwide. In 2019, Matt turned his full attention to the USGA Green Section, where he's driving a fundamental shift in how the industry thinks about golf course science, sustainability, and the people behind it. In this conversation, Matt shares the three changes that he believes will help rethink how golf courses are led, measured, and sustained for generations to come: 1️⃣ Outcome-driven decision making – Superintendents must move beyond habit and tradition, using data to focus on what actually drives course performance and business results. 2️⃣ A seat at the leadership table – The golf course is a club's single most valuable asset. According to Matt, the professionals who steward it belong at the decision-making table. 3️⃣ Building the next generation of turf talent – The industry faces a real labour shortage. Matt makes the case for why superintendents need to become champions for their profession, and how to do it. If you’re looking to adopt smarter course management, stronger leadership, and a sustainable talent pipeline, this episode is essential watching. ___ Timestamps: 00:00 About Matt Pringle 08:05 Change #1: Become more focused on outcomes 16:41 Change #2: Make superintendents part of the leadership team 22:57 Change #3: Increase awareness of careers in turf ___ Welcome to Changing the Business of Golf by Syngenta, your go-to source for expert insights, innovative solutions, and sustainable practices in the turf management and landscape industries. To discover new insights and hear inspirational stories from those making a difference in the golf industry, visit http://www.syngentagolf.com ___ Comment, engage and share your views with us via social media: X - https://x.com/Syngenta_Turf LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/syngenta-turf-landscape

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

50

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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