“Doctor of Green Speed” to give Keynote at 2018 Golfdom Summit

Thomas A. Nikolai, Ph.D.

Thomas A. Nikolai, Ph.D., Michigan State University, has given hundreds of presentations in his career, spanning four continents, 30 countries, seven Canadian Provinces and 36 states.

This December he will add the honor of Golfdom Summit keynote speaker to his list of speaking accomplishments, joining the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Rees Jones and Rich Lerner.

Nikolai, the associate director of the two-year golf turfgrass management program at Michigan State University, is credited with discovering that lightweight rolling decreases dollar spot and other turfgrass pests. More recently he has initiated mowing/rolling frequency research that maintains consistent green speeds, reduces turfgrass stress and leads to economic saving on golf courses. Nikolai also discovered that mulching deciduous leafs into turfgrass canopies results in fewer broad leaf weeds and he remains a leader in alternative spike research.

Illustration by Larry Kosiba.

The Golfdom Summit, now in its eighth year, will take place Dec. 3-5 at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla. The Golfdom Summit brings together 50 golf course superintendents from around the country with 15 industry suppliers and vendors for three days of meetings, demonstrations and networking.

“It is an honor to have Dr. Nikolai, who is well known throughout the industry for his hard work helping superintendents have the best greens possible, speak at the 2018 Golfdom Summit,” says Seth Jones, editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Golfdom. “We’ve had ‘Ms. 59’ (Annika Sorenstam) and ‘The Open Doctor’ (Rees Jones) speak at the Summit, now we’re thrilled to welcome ‘The Doctor of Green Speed’ to address our esteemed group of superintendent and industry vendors.”

Nikolai is author of the book “The Superintendents Guide to Putting Green Speed” and is world renowned as the Dr. of Green Speed due to the numerous studies he has performed that investigate putting green cultural and mechanical practices.

Nikolai’s keynote speech is sponsored by Nufarm. To learn more about the Golfdom Summit, visit golfdomsummit.com.

Photos provided by Thomas A. Nikolai