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:
Outcome-driven decision making – Superintendents must move beyond habit and tradition, using data to focus on what actually drives course performance and business results.
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.
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.
Watch on YouTube: Changing the Business of Golf with Matt Pringle
Listen on Spotify: Changing the Business of Golf with Matt Pringle
Listen on Apple Podcast: Changing the Business of Golf with Matt Pringle
Useful Links:
- Connect with Matt Pringle on LinkedIn
- Changing the Business of Golf podcast
- Why golf businesses seed superintendents at the leadership table
Through Syngenta’s GreenCast Connect platform, turf management professionals can create a personalised dashboard for a range of data driven solutions that help track and predict critical agronomic decisions. The platform provides access to Spiio sensor data and is the home for a range of tools that enable precision turf agronomy.
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