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097 | From Valhalla to the Field: How John Ballard Traded the Fairways for a New Career Path
Description
Summary
In this episode of Leadership on the Links, we sit down with John Ballard, a 27-year golf industry veteran and former Superintendent at Valhalla Golf Club, to talk about one of the most underexplored topics in the turf profession: what happens when you decide to walk away from a top-100 club and start over.
John shares his remarkable career story, from landing his first superintendent role at just 22 years old at Audubon Country Club, to managing cool-season transitions at the University of Louisville, to leading the grounds operation at Valhalla through COVID, a historic Zoysia renovation, and the 2024 PGA Championship. But what makes this episode truly special is what came after Valhalla: his candid reflection on identity, career transitions, and his move into a new role as Key Account Manager at Simplot Turf and Horticulture.
Whether you're a superintendent eyeing your next move, an assistant trying to build your network, or someone navigating a career crossroads, this episode is packed with perspective you can act on today.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
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How John climbed from assistant to superintendent at 22 and the mentality that carried him through every step of his career.
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Why he believes your network is the single most powerful tool in landing your next opportunity, and how he has intentionally built it over 27 years.
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What it was really like to navigate Valhalla through COVID, staffing shortages, and a complete fairway and tee renovation, and why patience in building the right team made all the difference.
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The importance of engaging assistants and AITs in leadership decisions, green committee exposure, and member interactions, and why more superintendents should be doing this.
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What the job search actually looks like when you leave a high-profile role: the nerves, the strategy, and the mindset shifts required to stay focused.
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How John is discovering an entirely new side of the turf industry through his role at Simplot, and why superintendents may be limiting themselves by thinking there's only one path.
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The honest conversation about professional identity: what happens when your job title is how others define you, and why separating the two matters.
Links & Resources
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John Ballard: john.ballard@simplot.com | Twitter/X: @jballard1