Talking GolfGetaways: Your Golf Getaways Podcast

A short drive from Augusta, GA is the quaint, beautiful town of Aiken, SC, known for its iconic horse businesses of breeding, training, and showing. It's also home to one of the truly great, historic golf courses in the Southeast, Aiken Golf Course, which in the past couple of years has gone from "Hidden Gem" to "Must Play" for anyone who loves the game., One week after playing, and being enthralled once again by, AGC, Mitch (and Darin and Kris) are joined by AGC owner Jim McNair, Jr., who, along with his father Jim, Sr. before him, have shepherded this affordable, welcoming, and challenging municipal course for 65+ years, and are finally getting the recognition for a lifetime of passion and service to the golf community they so richly deserve.  Jim shares the history of his beloved golf course, which dates back to 1912, as well as his father's involvement which began in 1959. He discusses the various challenges and iterations of AGC, leading up to the late '90s and his decision to completely "reawaken" the course, a journey that continues with Jim at the helm on a daily basis. He also shares his involvement with the First Tee and USC Aiken in designing a short-course and pracitce facility wonder, the Chalk Mine 9, a legacy project that serves not only First Tee kids and the USC Aiken golf team, but the AIken community as well.

Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch, Kris McEwen and podcast friend Joe Sas talk about planning return trips to Gamble Sands, the skyrocketing Pacific Northwest golf destination where David McLay Kidd's new Scarecrow course opens Aug. 1.

The final Talking GolfGetaways podcast of 2024 is a most inspirational one, as Mitch, Darin and Kris connect with Isaiah Mwesige, CEO of the Afriyea Golf Academy in Uganda. It's a wonderful hour spent with someone who's life story is one of turning a heartbreaking beginning into a passionate, dedicated life of service, spreading the joy and lessons of golf to thousands of children and their parents across Uganda and beyond. Isaiah also talks about a new and exciting endeavor, Visit Uganda Golf & Safari, that will offer golfers an ultimate GolfGetaway to "The Pearl of Africa." Truly an unforgettable podcast. 

Darin, Mitch and Kris hit all the hotspots — from the Pacific Northwest (Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay, Bandon Dunes and more) to a Michigan buddies trip plus a very cool experience in Pinehurst with two future stars of the game — in this hourlong Summer Recap episode of Talking GolfGetaways that covers courses, food, friendship and all kinds of fun.

On this episode of Talking GolfGetaways, Mitch, Darin and Kris talk with Robbie Wooten, golf and destination marketer extraordinaire, about his relationship with Mike Strantz, with incredible stories about the architect and his courses, including Tobacco Road and Tot Hill.

Looking for a value option for your next buddy trip? “Talking GolfGetaways” discusses Tucson, Arizona as a place to save a few bucks and find some great golf and gambling when the weather turns warm each year. Plus: An update on Grass Clippings night golf in Scottsdale; an unbelievable golf house in Flagstaff; and an unforgettable trip to Black Jack's Crossing on the Texas-Mexico border. 

Longtime GolfTripExperts team member (and prolific list-maker) Eric Hart joins “Talking GolfGetaways” to discuss his latest project — transitioning from the golf-content world to running Wild Marsh Golf Club in Minnesota. Eric, Mitch, Darin and Kris discuss the rewards and challenges of golf operations in this episode with a unique “behind the scenes” insight into what it takes to create and sustain a successful, affordable golf experience. 

Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch, Vic Williams and Brian Oar (golf photographer extraordinaire - drink) reunite for the first time in 10 years to visit one of the true under-the-radar golf destinations in the United States — St. George, Utah (with a stop in Mesquite, Nevada along the way). From the brand-new megaresort at Black Desert to the 27 holes (and amazing condo) at Sand Hollow to the David McLay Kidd-reimagined Entrada to the video-game-fever of Wolf Creek, this foursome of longtime friends (along with an appearance from producer extraordinaire Kris McEwen) discuss the ins and outs of creating a high-desert buddies trip in one of the most picturesque inland settings you'll find anywhere. 

Wil Mayo joins the Talking GolfGetaways team for a special episode discussing the Rams Hill golf experience in the Southern California desert, plus the views and night sky, House on the Hill luxury lodging (with all-night golf simulator included), future of the project, cookies, tacos and more. Meanwhile, co-host Darin Bunch ends the episode with two unrelated stories — his on-again, off-again hopes to attend The Masters and “truck full of beer” that will make you want to buy a raffle ticket at your next charity tournament. 

Brian Benitz joins Mitch, Darin and Kris to talk about his new Arizona golf project — Grass Clippings — which has gone viral in many ways for its night-play lighted greens and all-around fun, adding a new twist to golf travel in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. 

Get behind-the-scenes insight into the ultimate golf road trip as Patrick Koenig joins Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch fresh off his latest — and record-breaking — cross-country Recreational Golf Vehicle journey. 

Mitch, Darin and Kris unpack their summertime visit to Sand Valley Golf Resort, featuring everything from “grillmaster” dinners, a first look at The Lido and a love for the vibe, people and amazing variety of experiences throughout the Wisconsin property

After 180-plus podcasts and a cavalcade of stars, Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch are hanging up their mics (for now). Join them for some final reflection — and thanks to the many amazing places and wonderful people who have scripted their golf-travel journey.

It's a family affair on the latest “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast as Kiley Nakagawa and his amazing kids — 10-year-old Blake and 12-year-old Khloe — join Mitch and Darin to discuss how the game of golf is taking them the new places every week, both literally and figuratively.

Golfer, traveler, and author Jim Hartsell joins “Talking GolfGetaways' for a wide-ranging discussion on his love for the lesser-known golf of Scotland and the history of Sweetens Cove.

Golf nomad and roving photographer Matt Cardis joins Talking GolfGetaways to talk about life on the road during the pandemic, capturing the soul of the game in pictures, exploring the golf world and beyond — including his annual monthlong residency at Rams Hill Golf Club in Southern California.

As the highly anticipated 43rd playing of the Ryder Cup approaches, to be played over the visually stunning, wildly imaginative and (especially if there's a fair amount of wind) testing Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis., there may be no one more qualified to share insights and thoughts on the course and the upcoming competition than Mark the Caddie (full name withheld to protect the mystery of his ever-growing Twitter @caddietales fan popularity). Mark joins host Mitch Laurance and co-producer Kris McEwen (Darin Bunch grinding away on his growing media-consulting empire) for a lively, fun and incredibly informative edition of Talking GolfGetaways.

Mitch Laurance and producer Kris McEwen (Darin Bunch being on assignment) welcome Dr. Bern Bernacki, President of the Golf Heritage Society, for a second visit to the show. Bernacki offers a wealth of knowledge not only about the Society's upcoming 50th Anniversary National Convention but about classic golf courses around the country that are open for public play.

On this episode of Talking GolfGetaways, hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch and Producer Kris McEwen talk to Duane Horton, President of McLemore and of Scenic Land Company, its developer, to get the behind-the-scenes details of what went into McLemore's success.

For the third time on Talking GolfGetaways, hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch and Producer Kris McEwen have that opportunity, as author Tom Coyne joins the trio again (go to Episodes 129/130 for earlier podcasts) to discuss his newly-launched, highly-anticipated “A Course Called America”, following his previous best sellers “A Course Called Ireland” and “A Course Called Scotland”, both of which are must-reads for the passionate, traveling golfer. In this engaging episode, Tom (we can call him Tom here due to his valued friendship) offers insights and details on his latest journey, a monumental undertaking that covered “50 States and Five Thousand Fairways”.

In the eyes of many golfers, Tom Coyne has seen it all. Or at least most of it. As the author of the best-selling “A Course Called” series, Coyne has lugged his clubs throughout Ireland and Scotland in pursuit of the game’s secrets. And now he’s working on the mind-boggling cross-country itinerary for his latest book, “A Course Called America,” which “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch discussed with him in Episode 129. Coyne returned to the podcast in Episode 130 so he can tackle our Emergency 9 questionnaire, highlighting his favorite courses, resorts and destinations while discussing lessons learned through his golf travels.

Guest Ben Grehan joins co-host Mitch Laurance (going it solo while Darin Bunch travels cross-country) and producer Kris McEwen for a wide-ranging discussion on the benefits (and occasional pitfalls) of social media, the success of Twitter’s #GolfChat forum, Ben’s recent blog concerning a viral journey gone haywire in New Hampshire, the upcoming Greaver Cup III in Myrtle Beach, and hitting practice balls off the balcony of Saddam Hussein’s palace.

Hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch welcome Malcolm Scovil, founder of the Imagine Golf app, to discuss his early path from North Carolina to Scotland to San Francisco en route to helping all of us become better golfers through the power of the mind.

Mexican golf-course designer Águstin Pizá joins the “Talking GolfGetaways” team for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about the architect’s origins, working for big names in the business, and rethinking golf projects both now and for the future.

Golf course designer (and friend of the podcast) Dan Hixson returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” to discuss his newest project opening this summer in Roseburg, Oregon — and why he and co-host Darin Bunch are still in search of a name. Photo courtesy Dan Hixson

Golf course designer Keith Rhebb (http://www.rhebbgolfdesign.com/) , whose fingerprints are on some of the game’s biggest projects, joins the podcast to discuss everything from Cape Breton Island to Forest Dunes to the forthcoming Cabot Saint Lucia. You can follow Keith on Instagram (https://instagram.com/keithrhebb?igshid=1unkbqt0wdpv) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/keithrhebb?s=21) @KeithRhebb. Photo courtesy Keith Rhebb.

“Talking GolfGetaways” co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch welcome a new member of the team — Kris McEwen — who will pull double duty in 2021 as both producer of our podcast in addition to hosting his successful “Golf Origin Stories” podcast.

“Talking GolfGetaways” co-host Mitch Laurance details his latest golf trip — an amazing find in Atlanta on the course that bears the name of the legendary Bobby Jones, where golf history is rich but the future-forward facility is drawing raves in so many ways both on and off the (very creative) fairways and greens.

Digital-media expert Samantha Marks joins “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch for a fun conversation about her path to Golf Channel (and beyond) plus a recent road trip that included Sweetens Cove and The Troubadour, a Discovery Land property that wows guests with unforgettable amenities.

“Talking GolfGetaways” co-host Mitch Laurance dives into a wide-ranging conversation with friend and all-around good guy Chris Mascaro, host of his own “Next on the Tee” podcast. Everything from early interviews that launched Mascaro’s trajectory to favorite places to play (and a bit about the new Course at McLemore, one of Chris’ sponsors) finds its way into a fun conversation with one of our favorite champions of the game of golf.

“Talking GolfGetaways” co-hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance detail Darin’s recent five-round visit playing Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, discussing everything from the creative Coore-Crenshaw routing and stunning visuals to unexpected treats at the comfort station, plus how the Oregon destination is welcoming guests during the pandemic.

“Talking GolfGetaways” co-host Mitch Laurance recounts his recent summer golf getaway with friends to Glade Springs Resort in West Virginia, where the lodging, food and customer service were stellar and the Tom Clark-designed Stonehaven golf course vaulted onto his list of favorites worldwide.

Jay Revell – author of “The Nine Virtues of Golf” – returns for a followup to Episode 156 in which he dives into the “Talking GolfGetaways” Emergency 9 with answers that cover everything from Streamsong Resort to Cypress Point to Scotland to his home Capital City Country Club. Along the way, he also gives a shoutout to a couple different shoe companies and all kinds of food and drink, from milkshakes to ribeyes to risotto.

Co-host Mitch Laurance spends an hour with golf designer and renovator Bobby Weed talking about how Pete Dye impacted a career that led to high-profile golf courses with superstar names attached (like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan) plus tournament venues such as TPC River Highlands, where the PGA Tour tees it up for the Travelers Championship.

Golf scribe Jay Revell joins the podcast for the first of two episodes focusing on the heart and soul of the game that led to the writing of his new book “The Nine Virtues of Golf.” Plus, hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance talk about an affordable Las Vegas favorite course, a new green-reading product that is perfect for golf travelers and Golf Trip Experts’ upcoming trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Could the new Quicksands short course at Gamble Sands be the coolest 14 holes you’ll ever play? We talk with golf architect David McLay Kidd about the creativity and effort behind the resort’s newest attraction expected to open for preview play in September 2020. Plus: An update on DMK’s project in the Bahamas’ Abacos Islands.

How does a $28 golf experience stack up against a $495 day trip? Hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance dive into a compare-and-contrast discussion about two recent golf trips on opposite sides of the country with two dramatically different price points: Pebble Beach Golf Links and Cheraw State Park Golf Course.

In the long overdue Part 2 of our interview with Dan Hixson, co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch speak with the golf architect about his creative 27-green, double-course “reversible” routing at Silvies Valley Ranch in Eastern Oregon. Hixson also talks about his anticipation of playing the Tom Doak’s similar concept “The Loop” at Forest Dunes, and dives into what he thinks makes a golf hole truly great.

He’s been to all the countries. And he loves golf. That’s what makes Lee Abbamonte the perfect guest for “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast. Hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch talk about everything from Afghanistan to Scotland to Bandon Dunes to what’s still on Lee’s bucket list (turns out he hasn’t played all the courses … yet) in this fun (and sometimes a little profane) interview with a New Yorker who has a truly fascinating life story.

Hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch talk about everywhere from Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes to Erin Hills and Whistling Straits as they explore what factors make a golf getaway “too expensive” — and how that question might just be unanswerable since each traveler brings his or her own perspective to different price points across the country and worldwide.

“Doctor Bern” joins co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch for a wide-ranging discussion about the Golf Heritage Society and how his love for the game fuels an obsession with antique clubs and collectibles. As his title suggest, Bernacki is also a medical doctor, so he offers a health-care provider’s perspective on the coronavirus as it relates to opening golf courses.

In the longest podcast in the history of podcasts, “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance welcome longtime golf scribe and editor Vic Williams for a conversation on all things golf, lodging and food in the Lake Tahoe area — after the threesome dive into a variety of Coronavirus-related news and updates, including a new course being built in Mitch’s backyard.

If you want to dive straight in to the Tahoe-Truckee-Carson Valley portion of our two-hour podcast with longtime golf writer and editor (and Reno resident) Vic Williams, we’ve got you covered with this shorter version of the conversation between Williams and “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance on everything from a Coore-Crenshaw “hidden” gem (if there is such a thing) to golf-travel options that range from affordable to ultra-luxurious.

“Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance dive into all things Coronavirus, in a supersized episode that talks about companies and individuals who are making a different in troubling times, plus commiserates with travelers about how the pandemic has put our golf plans on hold (rightly so) for now.

Podcast host Mitch Laurance and his wife, Hall of Fame pool legend Ewa, recap a recent visit to Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area, full of golf, food and other fun (glass-blowing, anyone?) in a supersized episode highlighting everything from Kiva Dunes to the Safari Club at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.

Friend of the podcast Bruce Sitka joins Mitch and Darin for a golf-travel conversation about a few of our favorite Florida and Wisconsin hotspots, plus a rundown of where to golf when you’re headed to Long Island, home to some of the premier private clubs in the country (and a public gem you don’t want to miss).

Hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch take a detour from their beloved single-malt Scotch whisky to talk beer — lots of beer — with travel journalist Tom Bedell, who specializes in hops and barley along with fairways and greens. In this episode, Bedell travels everywhere from the Craft Beer Trail of Northern Alabama to the sunny shores of San Diego with suggestions for the best spots to mix his two favorite pastimes.