He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in turfgrass pathology from Michigan State University. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in agronomy with a minor in plant pathology. He has worked at several championship golf courses and conducts research in the area of turfgrass disease epidemiology that enables turfgrass managers to maintain healthier turfgrass stands with fewer chemical inputs. He is also currently engaged in research that blends the playing of the game with managing the surfaces that the game is played on. He has given over 200 presentations, and published numerous articles about his work.