At Turf Geeks, golf course management is not just another service we offer. It is part of who we are. Before Turf Geeks was a lawn care company serving the Kansas City metro, it was a dream built on a deep love for turfgrass, long hours on golf courses, and a passion for making properties better one detail at a time. Golf courses are where our story started, and they still hold a special place in our hearts today.
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Hi, I’m Jason Clarkson, owner and Chief Turf Geek. I’ve been obsessed with turfgrass since I was 14 years old. My journey started in high school when I got my first job at a local golf course. I instantly fell in love with turfgrass. My parents thought I was crazy, but I knew there was something special about it.
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I worked on golf courses and athletic fields during high school, and I still remember when I tried out for the football team. My coach pulled me aside and said, “Jason, you’re not meant to play football — you’re meant to take care of our turf.” He was right.
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From that point on, I knew turfgrass was not just a job. It was my calling.
That passion led me to Kansas City, where I attended Longview Community College and earned my degree in Turfgrass Management. From there, I worked my way through the golf course world and had the opportunity to serve in some incredible roles, including:
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Irrigation Technician – Longview Lake Golf Course, Kansas City, Missouri
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Assistant Superintendent – The Club at Porto Cima, Lake of the Ozarks
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Superintendent – Lebanon Country Club, Lebanon, Missouri
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Superintendent – The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake of the Ozarks
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Along the way, I learned from some of the best in the business, including my mentor Paul Naudet, who helped shape the way I see turf, leadership, and what it really takes to build something special.
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The MariMack Story
In late August of 2024, MariMack Golf Course went through something incredibly difficult. Their superintendent suffered a stroke, and suddenly they were in a position where they needed help.
They needed a plan.
They needed leadership.
They needed someone who understood turf and could step in during a hard moment.
That is when they called my mentor, Paul Naudet.
Paul told them, “I have a guy who is starting his business, and I think he would be a great fit for you guys.”
That call changed a lot.
I met with Andrew Palmer and Craig Porter at MariMack Golf Complex, and together we built a plan. We did not walk in pretending everything would change overnight. We knew it would take structure, consistency, cultural practices, and buy-in from the team. So we went to work.
That plan became the foundation of the same 5-step process we still believe in today.
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We started with the basics:
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better cultural practices
better mowing strategy
proper fertilizer timing
improved weed control
and a plan for long-term improvement
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I told Andrew, “Give me until Halloween.”
That conversation happened in late August.
By Halloween, we had made major progress.
Was it perfect? No.
Was it moving in the right direction? Absolutely.
And today, when we look at MariMack Golf Course, we are proud of how far it has come. We are not sitting here saying it is 100% perfect, because turf is always a work in progress. But we are dialed in, we have momentum, and I would say we are about 80% of the way to where we want it to be.
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That is what Turf Geeks is all about.
We are not about hype.
We are about progress.
We are about building a plan, sticking with it, and helping a property become what it is capable of becoming.
Why Turf Geeks for Golf Course Management?
Managing turf at a high level takes more than simply mowing and applying fertilizer. It takes timing, observation, cultural practices, leadership, and a clear plan.
That is where Turf Geeks comes in.
We help golf courses by focusing on the full picture:
Turf health
Soil and fertility planning
Weed prevention and control
Playability and appearance
Seasonal strategy
Team development and accountability
We believe great turf starts with a strong foundation and a team that understands the why behind the work.
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