We are happy to announce that Ross Niewola is joining the Green Section as an agronomist in our West Region, where he will be working closely with courses in the northwest United States. Ross brings a wealth of experience to his new role after over 15 years of working in golf course maintenance. Most recently, Ross was the golf course superintendent at Walla Walla Country Club in Washington.

Originally from Virginia, Ross is a proud Eagle Scout and attributes his love for the outdoors to that upbringing. He was advised early on that to be the best possible agronomist, he should get as many types of experiences as possible – and he took that advice to heart! Ross has lived and worked in Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey, Washington, and Northern and Southern California. He has worked with both warm- and cool-season grasses and at both public and private facilities. Throughout his career, Ross has worked at and/or hosted 13 tournaments for the PGA Tour, the LPGA and the USGA, and has achieved Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) status from the GCSAA.

A Penn State graduate with a degree in turfgrass management, Ross has continued his education at multiple conferences and application-only events like the Syngenta Business Institute and the Green Start Academy. He credits much of his success to mentors he has had – Chris Dalhamer at Pebble Beach, Shawn Emerson at Desert Mountain and Stu Rowland at The Madison Club, who have all had a profound impact on his personal and professional growth.

Ross resides in Walla Walla, Washington, with his (now-retired) border collie, Dash. Outside of work, he loves anything related to the outdoors including hiking, fly fishing, surfing and golfing. With his extensive experience, passion for agronomy and commitment to helping others create the best possible course conditions, Ross will be a great resource for golf courses in the West.