Soil Scout launches Grandmasters program

Soil Scout has launched the Grandmasters Program, the first international recognition dedicated to the professionals whose mastery of the rootzone has quietly shaped the modern game.

For more than a century, the turf industry has focused on visible performance — firm fairways, smooth greens, fast surfaces. Yet real expertise has always lived underground, in the decisions about oxygen, moisture and rootzone behavior that determine how turf performs long before a player steps onto it. Until now, that expertise has rarely been acknowledged.

The Grandmasters Program changes this by celebrating the individuals whose work, philosophy, consistency and mentorship have elevated playing conditions across continents. This is not a product announcement; it is a long overdue recognition of the people who have advanced the profession — often without the visibility their impact deserves.

While Soil Scout provides the real-time rootzone data that supports modern decision-making, including the world’s only wireless oxygen measurement, the Grandmasters Program places the focus firmly on the professionals who turn knowledge and experience into world-class surfaces.

The Grandmasters founding class:

Janne Lehto (Finland)

Master Greenkeeper, CGCS -- Course manager, Hirsala Golf
One of only 38 people worldwide to hold both the Master Greenkeeper and Certified Golf Course Superintendent credential, Janne is known for pioneering sustainable, long-horizon course management in the demanding Nordic climate, where oxygen availability, winter survival and resource efficiency define performance. His approach has helped shape modern thinking around rootzone management and long-term resilience in cold-climate turf. His guidance and mentorship have influenced an entire new generation of Nordic turf professionals.

Rodney McKeown (Singapore)

Senior Golf Course Superintendent

McKeown is internationally recognized for his ability to deliver world-class playing conditions in some of the most challenging tropical environments in
global golf. His agronomic philosophy has been shaped by years of preparing tournament-level surfaces in extreme heat, humidity and rapid climate shifts — including at one of Asia’s most awarded and internationally televised golf venues. This experience has helped raise performance expectations across Southeast Asia and redefine what elite tropical turf management requires. His leadership and mentorship continue to influence teams throughout the region

Andrew Northeim (United States)

Senior Head Groundskeeper — Columbus Crew (OHPC)

Northeim is a leading figure in the evolution of American sports turf. As senior head groundskeeper for the Columbus Crew at the Ohio Health Performance Center, he has helped elevate MLS training fields' surface standards during a period of rapid growth for the sport. Andrew combines advanced agronomy with data-driven field management and new technology, while his collaborative approach and mentorship have supported emerging groundskeepers across North America.

Brent Downs (United States)

Master Greenkeeper, CGCS — Director of agronomy,
Otter Creek Golf Course

Downs is a Master Greenkeeper and Certified Golf Course Superintendent whose influence extends far beyond individual facilities. With over two decades of leadership in agronomy, superintendent development and data-informed field management, Downs has helped shape modern turf practices across the United States. His mentorship, training work and analytical approach have made him one of the most trusted and recognizable voices in American turf management.

A global platform for expertise, mentorship and the future of turf

The Grandmasters Program offers rare insight into the philosophies, field-tested practices and mentorship approaches of four widely respected professionals. Each Grandmaster brings not only technical expertise but a demonstrated commitment to guiding, teaching and elevating others within the industry.

Through shared discussions, interviews, mentoring sessions and ongoing collaboration, the initiative creates a platform where the industry’s most experienced voices can help shape future standards and actively support the next generation of turf managers. Mentorship is not an element — it is the program’s foundation.