097 | From Valhalla to the Field: How John Ballard Traded the Fairways for a New Career Path

From Leadership on the Links by Tyler Bloom

April 2, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 97

About this episode

John Ballard shares his journey from a top golf superintendent to a new career path, discussing identity and networking.

BOOK A STRATEGY CALL 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: How John climbed from assistant to superintendent at 22 and the mentality that carried him…

People in this episode

Host: Tyler Bloom

Guest: John Ballard

Topics covered

career transitions
golf industry
networking
superintendent roles
identity

Keywords

golf
career change
superintendent
networking
Valhalla
COVID
PGA Championship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Valhalla Golf Club, Simplot Turf and Horticulture

Places: Audubon Country Club, University of Louisville