Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Corder.
Hi Austin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Greenskeeper Lawns was born from years of experience in the agronomics of the golf industry, rooted in a deep passion for sports, sports fields, and turfgrass.
My journey began with a strong interest in turf management, leading me to study at The Ohio State University. After completing my education, I started my career as an intern at Hyde Park Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, I was challenged to master mowing greens, operate various golf course maintenance equipment, and understand the math and science behind turf treatments.
This internship paved the way for my first role as an assistant superintendent at Serrano Country Club, just outside the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Sacramento, California. Known for its exclusive membership and breathtaking views, Serrano was where I stepped into a managerial role. I learned to lead a team, operate advanced equipment like tank sprayers, and manage fertilization programs.
In Sacramento, I met my wife, Mariah, who became my biggest supporter and best friend. Her confidence in me pushed me to aim higher, encouraging me to seek out greater opportunities. With her support, I found a job listing for an assistant superintendent position at TPC San Antonio in Texas. Accepting the offer meant uprooting our lives and moving across the country. For me, it was familiar territory, but for Mariah, a Sacramento native, leaving her family and friends was a significant sacrifice. Her trust and support in my career were profound, and I’ll always be grateful for her decision to move with me.
At TPC San Antonio, I was exposed to an elevated level of agronomics, professionalism, and professional golf tournaments. The facility boasted two distinct golf courses: the Canyons, a summer course with Bermuda grass that went dormant in winter, and the Oaks, a tournament course overseeded with perennial ryegrass and Poa trivialis for the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open in early April. This event shaped our entire year, attracting big-name golfers and national media attention. We also hosted smaller events, including member gatherings, UTSA college tournaments, and Korn Ferry Tour events. TPC San Antonio’s meticulously maintained greens, known for their true roll, made it the premier venue for professional golf events in the area.
During my time at TPC San Antonio, I built valuable career relationships. I had the privilege of working under Roby Robertson, the Director of Agronomy, affectionately known as “The Turf God.” Roby, who previously served as Director of Agronomy at Craig Ranch (host of the Byron Nelson tournament) and TPC Scottsdale (host of the Waste Management Tournament), hired me and gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I also traveled to assist with other PGA Tour events, including the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, and the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois. Each morning before play and evening after, I conducted greens data analysis, measuring putting speed, firmness, and moisture content across all 18 greens. These tests were critical to ensuring optimal tournament playability and directly influenced course setup decisions.
My immediate supervisor, Patrick Parkins, became my greatest mentor. Now the Director of Agronomy at TPC Vegas, Patrick took the time to teach me and help me grow in the competitive golf industry. Our team of five assistant superintendents, managed a crew of 40 operators and about 170 acres of pristine turfgrass. We were eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible. We all aspired to become Directors of Agronomy at a TPC course, but those positions rarely opened up.
Mariah and I married during this time, but my 50–70-hour workweeks left little room to start a family. I grew impatient waiting for a promotion, feeling I had mastered the agronomics of my role. I craved exposure to higher-level responsibilities like budgeting, a larger leadership role, and involvement in equipment leasing, but those opportunities remained out of reach. Meanwhile, I met two assistants who sparked a new career path idea for me. One had run his own weed control and fertilization business before joining TPC, while the other, a former superintendent displaced by a hurricane in St. Charles, Louisiana, planned to start a similar business after taking a pay cut to join our team. Their stories inspired me to rethink my goal of becoming a Director of Agronomy.
With Mariah’s unwavering support, I decided to pursue a weed control and fertilization business. This path offered the freedom to choose our location, settle down, and start a family without uprooting our lives again. While still at TPC San Antonio, we began laying the groundwork for Greenskeeper Lawns. I connected with another mentor, Jason Creel, who ran two lawncare businesses and offered sessions to teach aspiring entrepreneurs. Jason guided me through equipment selection, client acquisition, and weed control techniques unfamiliar to me from golf course work. My golf industry experience made adapting to this new venture seamless, as many of the chemicals and fertilizers I used were similar to those on golf courses.
Mariah and I became co-owners, building Greenskeeper Lawns as a team. Over dinners, we filled binders with ideas, slogans, and the business name. We secured licenses, created marketing content, a website, and poured our hearts into the vision. When the time came, we left TPC San Antonio and moved to North Dallas to launch Greenskeeper Lawns in Little Elm and Frisco.
Over the past four years, we’ve grown to love our community, made lifelong friends, and found a spiritual home at Elevate Life Church, which fills us with positivity and encouragement. Most importantly, our business has given us the time and stability to welcome two beautiful children, Jackson and Presley June, into our lives.
Greenskeeper Lawns gained early recognition by offering winter turf coloring, a technique inspired by golf course practices, which helped us build a wide customer base. We developed a robust 7-step weed control and fertilization program at a competitive level with larger rival companies like Gecko Green and TruGreen. Many customers still switch from their current provider to Greenskeeper Lawns for our exceptional customer service and visible results. We’ve since expanded to include fungicide and insecticide programs, mowing, landscape maintenance, and even Christmas light installation—a fun and successful addition. With close to 100 five-star Google reviews, our reputation has grown and our google profile has began to gain traction. This has allowed us to serve areas from Keller to Plano, McKinney to Pilot Point, and Celina.
In 2024, we were named the highest-rated landscaping business in Little Elm through Quality Business Awards, and in 2025, we were awarded Best of Frisco for Landscaping and Lawncare through Star Local Media. While we’re not the largest in the area, our results and personal approach have set us apart in a competitive market. We remain committed to delivering the best for every yard we service, maintaining control over quality as we grow.
Looking ahead, Mariah and I aim to continue doing our best, helping our clients, and supporting others starting their own ventures. Greenskeeper Lawns is more than a business—it’s a testament to our partnership, faith, and dedication to building a meaningful life in North Dallas. We strive for greatness and our most valuable intention is to help other’s no matter how big the challenge, turning every lawn into a golf course quality lawn.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road to success is smooth. As our Pastor, Keith Craft, says, “Choose your hard.” The struggles we faced starting our lawncare business differ from those we encounter today, but the key to success is persevering through challenges as they arise.
Initially, we grappled with creating a unique business model that stood out from larger, well-known competitors. Our solution was to use golf course-quality chemicals and fertilizers to transform customers’ lawns into lush, golf course-like landscapes. Obtaining the necessary licensing was another hurdle, requiring long days and nights of study to become a state-approved commercial pesticide and herbicide applicator in Texas.
Adapting to North Dallas’s clay soil, which lacks the effective drainage of USGA-designed golf courses, posed a significant challenge. Monsoon thunderstorms often lead to water pooling, killing grass in low-lying areas. Learning turfgrass growth patterns in poorly drained conditions was a steep learning curve, unlike the well-draining golf courses I was accustomed to. Additionally, managing new weeds and implementing grass types suited for shaded areas, where Bermuda struggled, required extensive trial and error.
Hiring and retaining employees remains an ongoing challenge, as the intense Texas heat can quickly exhaust even the most motivated technicians. Building customer trust with our seven-step weed control and fertilization program is another hurdle, as lawn transformations take time. Clear communication has been vital in helping customers understand the process, and over time, our long-term clients have come to trust our approach.
Managing budgets as an entrepreneur, without prior experience during my time with TPC has been a significant challenge. The costs of chemicals, fertilizers, mowing equipment, and even seasonal items like Christmas lights are substantial. Navigating these expenses on a commercial scale, particularly with rising product costs in the current economy, has been a steep learning curve. Effective budget management requires careful planning and prioritization to balance these high-cost necessities.
Equipment maintenance frequently disrupts our daily operations more than anticipated. Lawn mowers, string trimmers, edgers, and backpack blowers experience frequent breakdowns, and tank sprayers often malfunction or clog unexpectedly. With equipment logging 40 to 50 hours weekly, proactive routine maintenance is critical. However, troubleshooting and repairing these machines often involves trial and error, replacing parts one at a time until functionality is restored. This process demands adaptability, as each day brings unpredictable challenges.
Marketing our services in the densely populated North Dallas area, where 80% of residents likely need lawncare, is more challenging than anticipated. Competing with well-known companies makes it difficult to gain traction, as many expect quick results without understanding the complexity of lawn transformation. However, our expertise, competitive pricing, and commitment to quality set us apart. With our Google profile gaining momentum, we’re optimistic about building greater visibility and trust in the near future.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Greenskeeper Lawns will always be excepting new clients. As we continue to grow, densify our routes, and expand outwards, our program will gain more experience and improve during this time. We will never settle for average. Not a day goes by that Mariah and I do not make adjustments for improvement.
How do you think about happiness?
My pursuit of happiness has been realized through building a successful business and nurturing a loving family. Coming home each day to warm hugs from my wife and children brings me immense joy. The highlight of my day is when my toddler runs to me, shouting, “Daddy’s home, Daddy’s home!”
As a family, we find great fulfillment and happiness in attending church on Sundays and participating in extracurricular church activities. These gatherings connect us with like-minded families who share our faith, providing encouragement and support. We attribute our success to God and strive to inspire each other to be our best selves. This outlook to do good for others has become a growing motivational force behind our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greenskeeperlawnsllc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/greenskeeperlawns
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/greenskeeperlawns
