In this episode, Joel Simmons joins Tyler Bloom on the Leadership on the Links podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of Biological Soil Management, leadership, mentorship, and the future of the golf course industry. Joel shares the story of how EarthWorks was founded, his transition from Penn State Extension to recruiting and eventually launching EarthWorks with Jerry Brunetti, and the challenges of introducing carbon-based fertility in an industry that initially resisted the concept.
The discussion explores why healthy soils create healthier turf with less effort, how today’s superintendents have embraced carbon-based programs, and why soil testing remains the foundation of successful agronomy. Joel also discusses the impact of new technologies including AI, autonomous equipment, and data-driven agronomic recommendations while emphasizing that strong fundamentals will always matter more than gadgets.
Tyler and Joel also dive into recruiting, mentorship, work-life balance, and what separates great golf course superintendents from average ones. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, discovering rather than simply being taught, and building careers through strong mentors and professional networks.
