The Doctor and the Super v3 – the science and implementation of championship conditions

Micah Woods is the CEO of PACE Turf. After earning his BSc from Oregon State University in 1998, he worked as a golf course superintendent in China and Japan before studying with Frank Rossi at Cornell University, where he completed a PhD in horticulture in 2006. His research on turfgrass nutrition and soil nutrient analysis, spanning grasses and soils across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, led to our development of the MLSN guidelines, which apply to turf in all climate zones, or as he puts it, “any grass, anywhere.” He is also chief scientist of the Asian Turfgrass Center, which he founded in 2006. Since 2009 he has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Micah keeps his eyes on the ground, studying turfgrass wherever he is, and that hands-on approach shows in writing, presentations, and teaching praised for their accessible, engaging, and practical style. He has given keynote and educational presentations at conferences around the world, and is the author of more than two hundred articles in publications ranging from GOLF Magazine to Soil Science, along with books including A Short Grammar of greenkeeping, One Bucket at a Time, and a Japanese-language book on turfgrass science and greenkeeping with a title that translates as 'Micah's Time "The BOOK."'

 

Since 2013, Chris Tritabaugh has been the Golf Course Superintendent at Hazeltine National Golf Club in
Chaska, Minnesota. During Chris’ tenure, Hazeltine has hosted the 2016 Ryder Cup, the 2019 Women’s
PGA Championship, and the 2024 United States Amateur. This summer, Hazeltine will host the 2026
Women’s PGA, then begin planning for their second Ryder Cup in 2029.
In 2024 and 2025, Chris oversaw the construction and grow-in of a brand new 10-hole short course, new
putting green, and a substantial expansion of Hazeltine’s grounds.
With over 19 years as a Golf Course Superintendent, Chris has dedicated himself to creating and
perfecting an enjoyable, engaging, and inspiring workplace culture.
Chris graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2001. He and his wife, Lindsay, have three children:
Olive (17), Penelope (15), and Edwin (6).