The Golfers Journal Podcast

Nearly 30 years ago, Tom Pashley mailed a box of grass seed and sand to the Pinehurst resort in the hopes of landing an internship. Today, he sits in the president's office at the cradle of American golf. His mission is to steer one of golf's most storied properties into an ambitious future—without losing sight of its roots. On this episode, Pashley sits down with host Casey Bannon at The Cradle during a Broken Tee Society Tour stop to talk about the making of Pinehurst No. 10, how No. 2 will keep testing the best even in the 2047 U.S. Open, and just how many courses the resort might have by then. Get the inside scoop on building a Pinehurst itinerary from the man who knows it best—where to play, what to eat, and why you'll probably start planning your return before you leave.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Today, we're not chasing great. We're chasing all-time, pantheon, tell-your-grandkids-about-it great. But how do you decide who belongs in that rare air? In this episode, author and golf writer Michael Arkush joins Tom Coyne to unpack The Golf 100, his bold new book ranking the game's greatest players. From icons like Jack and Tiger to overlooked names like John Ball and Joyce Wethered, Arkush details the scoring system he created and the questions he wrestled with—like how to compare Old Tom Morris to Tiger, or Mickey Wright to Annika. Arkush also shares some of the book's most surprising stories: a brash teenage U.S. Open champ vanishes into obscurity, a woman leaves the game at her peak (then comes back to duel Bobby Jones) and the time Walter Hagen became a coldblooded killer in the 1919 U.S. Open.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

This is part five of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 5: As its founders begin to decline, the mythology around The Masters only grows strongerThe Masters is paused and Augusta National is forced to become self-sufficient in the wake of World War II. In the 1970s, the club must endure the passing of Bobby Jones and the shocking suicide of Clifford Roberts. But the club and tournament move on, going to untold lengths to preserve their legacies that still reverberate today.⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠

This is part four of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 4: The evolution of the Masters broadcast In the mid-1950s, the Masters innovates by partnering with CBS to broadcast the tournament on national television. As is the case with everything at Augusta, chairman Clifford Roberts has his fingerprints all over it as he works with legendary producer Frank Chirkinian to elevate the commentary, pacing, visuals and commercial load. The modern golf telecast is born.⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part three of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 3: The Augusta National Invitational Tournament is formedBy 1934, Augusta National is struggling to attract new members and raise the necessary funds to execute the club's vision. With this in mind, the first annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament is held, and Clifford Roberts must convince Bobby Jones to play in it. In an effort to boost ticket revenue, the traditional three-day event is stretched to four, and Roberts has some strong opinions on how to improve the fan experience. A ⁠transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part two of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 2: A deep dive into the design and strategy of Augusta National's routingThanks to his renowned designs at Cypress Point and Pasatiempo, Dr. Alister MacKenzie is hired to build Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts a golf course in Augusta, Georgia. The spectacular success of the project means that every hump, bump and contour is scrutinized. But as the course changes to adapt with modern championship golf, not every tweak is immediately embraced. A transcript of this episode can be found here.The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part one of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 1: Clifford Roberts' rise to power at Augusta NationalUntil he met Bobby Jones, Clifford Roberts was a former traveling suit salesman and modest investor who was still grappling with the tragic loss of his mother. Part 1 tells the remarkable story of his unlikely rise to become the first chairman at Augusta National and one of the most feared and influential executives in sports history. A transcript of this episode can be found here.The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

In the mid-1990s, Augusta National approached author David Owen about a book project to preserve the legacy of its founder Clifford Roberts. Owen agreed, under one condition: During his reporting he could play the course as much as he liked. The club allowed it, and Owen's book, The Making of the Masters, has since become one of the definitive histories of the tournament. It chronicles the beginnings, inner-workings and evolutions of Augusta National and The Masters, bringing to light a number of previously unreported facts and stories. In this new five-part TGJ Podcast series, Owen shares several chapters from his seminal book along with stories of his time on the course, painting a rich portrait of the tournament that changed golf forever.The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The reason you struggle with bad habits or anxiety doesn't stem from a lack of willpower—it's likely because you aren't hacking your brain properly. From daily routines to anxious tendencies, many of our behaviors seem beyond our control, but psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Judson Brewer has the answers for finding more agency in our minds. Brewer, the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University's Mindfulness Center and author of The Hunger Habit, The Craving Mind and Unwinding Anxiety, joins Mind Game host Casey Bannon to reveal that willpower isn't the solution. Instead, it's the superpowers of curiosity that can help us understand our brains, manage anxiety, cultivate healthier habits and, perhaps most importantly, make more putts.Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: ⁠https://www.golfersjournal.com/⁠Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: ⁠https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24⁠Find out which Vokey wedges work for you: ⁠https://www.vokey.com/All Mind Game episodes: ⁠https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/podcast/mind-game-podcast/

Willy Wilcox had the ball-striking to compete on the PGA Tour, but behind every 300-yard drive was a painful secret—a crippling addiction that caused his career and life to spiral. For years, he turned to painkillers while on the course to combat severe performance anxiety, playing tournament rounds under the weight of Percocet and heroin. In a raw conversation with host Tom Coyne, Wilcox opens up about how the highs of cashing checks on Tour were overshadowed by the dark lows that led him to rehab in 2022. Since embarking on that journey to sobriety, Wilcox has found himself back on Tour, not as a player, but as a caddie. For a pro who didn't carry a yardage book in his playing days, it may seem crazy that he's now making a name for himself on Sungjae Im's bag, but for Wilcox, it's his second chance—not just in golf, but in life.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Not all polos are created equal, and neither are the brands behind them. On the latest TGJ Podcast, Tom Coyne visits Holderness & Bourne HQ in New York to sit down with co-founders Alex Holderness and John Bourne—two Yale grads who traded Wall Street for the Garment District with no prior fashion experience and a relentless drive to make the perfect polo. Alex and John share their advice for turning an idea into a physical product, navigating the golf industry, working with your friends and creating a product that cuts through the noise. Yes: the names stitched on pro shop labels around the world are actual people, and they have a story to tell. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

He left a promising junior golf career to chase the rockstar dream, and it came true. Cam Avery has played bass for Tame Impala for the last decade while also producing solo records and playing alongside big-time acts like Arctic Monkeys. Now Avery is back playing competitive golf and documenting his journey along the way. He joins Mind Game to discuss the grind of the music business, not being able to read sheet music, the Venn diagram of life and golf, and whether or not he'd still WD from that Australian amateur event to go see Oasis. Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24Put the 2025 ProV1 and ProV1x in play: https://www.titleist.com/All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

Enough about LIV and distance rules and slow play. It's time for golf's real burning questions: Why did Happy Gilmore qualify for the Tour after winning an 18-hole local in Waterbury? How did Roy McAvoy backspin a 3-wood off the green into the water? And is Caddyshack really the greatest golf movie of all time? We sit down with author Kyle Bandujo to discuss his book Movies with Balls, in which he and artist Rick Bryson apply true-life sports analysis to fictional sports stories, ranking the best accounts of the games we love. Why is golf so richly depicted in literature yet so rarely captured well on film? Kyle and host Tom Coyne go deep on golf movies and wander into controversial territory (Tom's take: Tin Cup is overrated) as they debate which golf films get it right, and which leave us wishing we'd watched Interstellar again instead.TGJ Podcast is presented by TitleistThe Golfer's Journal is proudly reader-supported since 2017. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

Steven Pressfield spent 20 years writing and pitching books to publishers without success. His breakthrough came in 1995 withThe Legend of Bagger Vance. Five years later, he releasedThe War of Art, a bestseller that introduced the concept of resistance—a mysterious force that hinders us from doing our work and realizing our potential. Whether exploring the greatest golf match that never happened, the nature of creativity, the path to professionalism, or the resilience of the human spirit, Pressfield's work reveals a common thread: he views golf and life as one interconnectedMind Game. In this chat with host Casey Bannon, Pressfield reveals the hidden meaning behind Bagger Vance, how to battle with resistance and what it means to swing your authentic swing.  Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24Put the 2025 ProV1 and ProV1x in play: https://www.titleist.com/All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/catego...

Mary Kate Morrissey is seeing green. You might think playing Elphaba in the stage production of Wicked seven times a week would leave little time for golf, but Mary Kate (or MK to her friends) is more golf mad than most Broadway leads. Whether it be weekly indoor lessons or trips to warmer golf locales, golf has cast a real-life spell over the most famous witch in town. In this conversation with fellow Philadelphian Tom Coyne, MK discusses how her Mom pulled her into the game, how she manages a grueling performance schedule, and exactly how long it takes to turn green in the makeup chair (less time than it takes a Tour pro to finish a par-five). If you've forgotten what you love about this game, MK's newfound passion for golf will remind you why it's indeed a pastime worth singing about. Presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

Twenty years ago, Nick Kokonas had one of the best meals of his life. Instead of giving compliments to the chef, he offered to open a restaurant with him—something Kokonas had no experience in. That restaurant became Alinea, a paradigm-shifting dining experience that would win three Michelin stars and best restaurant in America in its first year. Since then, Kokonas has opened another Michelin-star restaurant, created an app that revolutionized dining reservations, self-published several books, sold his stake in Alinea and played a ton of golf with interesting people. On this episode of Mind Game, Kokonas discusses his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, his decision-making matrix, his recipe for taking risk, and what he would do to reenergize the PGA Tour. Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Put the 2025 ProV1 and ProV1x in play: https://www.titleist.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

It's not often you hear a 44-year-old major champion say that this will be their best year ever, but Adam Scott has always done things his own way. In a candid and insightful conversation with host Tom Coyne, the man with the perfect golf swing reveals that he gave up chasing perfection a long time ago. He also tells some classic stories, like how he used to be “intimidated” by Butch Harmon, the LPGA player he tries to emulate when his swing gets out of sync, and what Steve Williams told him just before he holed the winning putt at the 2013 Masters. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Whether it's Kobe, Michael or Tiger, it always comes back to the fundamentals. That is according to J.A. Adande, the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode of Mind Game, Adande is joined by his former student Casey Bannon to discuss Adande's remarkable 30-year media career and what he's learned from covering the greats along the way. What drove Kobe? How was Kobe different than MJ? Will we ever know the real Tiger? Find answers to those questions, plus Adande's memories of a paradigm-shifting conversation with Bill Russell in a golf cart and Justin Leonard's 1999 Ryder Cup putt below. Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Experience the new Titleist GT Driver: https://www.titleist.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

For the past six years, members of The Golfer's Journal—known as the Broken Tee Society—have traveled the world to play world-class golf together. More than just a series of events, the Tour has become a cornerstone of our community, fostering lasting friendships and unforgettable experiences on some of the most iconic courses in the world. Yesterday, TGJ Editor Tom Coyne and Brand Manager Casey Bannon unveiled the 2025 schedule in front of a live audience of over 500 members in our private Discord community. From legendary privates to hidden gems to exotic stay & plays, the 2025 calendar promises adventure, camaraderie, and a celebration of the game we all love. Here's a look at where the Tour is headed in 2025 and how you can take part. All events are exclusive to Broken Tee Society members. Become a member here to start registering for these events: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  Special thanks to our 2025 BTS Tour sponsors: Golden Road Brewery, Titleist, Club Glove, AG1, BMW and Footjoy

Recently, TGJ Editor Tom Coyne was joined by longtime friend (and Sullivan County GC co-owner) Bill Murray for an epic Southeast road trip. The pair started in Charleston, SC, made their way to Old Barnwell in Aiken, then cruised down for two days at Ohoopee Match Club in Georgia. Of course, when one of the finest deadpan comic actors of all time is in the passenger seat, you tend to make a few pit stops. All the world's a stage, and local gas stations and a Piggly Wiggly become settings for Bill's brand of curious, good-natured fun. It's a leisurely drive, with discussions ranging from the 1960s film phenomenon that saved the Coyne family's cinema business to Bill's recent Scotland-to-West Palm-to-San Diego golf bender and much more.  The Golfer's Journal is proudly reader-supported since 2017. Subscribe here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠ The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist 

The body is not a machine, nor a temple. It is an infinitely complex and unique system, and according to Dr. Ralph Esposito, Head of Nutrition at Athletic Greens, it's one we know less about than we think. Dr. Ralph is a naturopathic physician and gut health expert, and he joins host Casey Bannon to discuss the science behind whole-body wellness. Rather than broad-spectrum advice, Dr. Ralph offers approachable insights into how your body works. This information-rich chat touches on the significance of sleep, the dangers in some diet trends, the proper way to fuel your brain and body and much more. Plus, you'll learn the science-backed reason that your favorite Tour pros are munching on the same food at the same point in every round. Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Gift the #1 Ball in Golf: https://www.titleist.com/ Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

It's a feat that needs no introduction. As we approach the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods' four-major run from the 2000 US Open through the 2001 Masters, a new book from former Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine editor Kevin Cook unearths never-before-seen nuggets from this historic stretch. Cook joins host Tom Coyne to discuss The Tiger Slam, Cook's moment-by-moment chronicle that features interviews with Stevie Williams, Mark O'Meara, Butch Harmon and many others. They relive the indelible images of the Slam, including Tiger's landslide victory at Pebble and his nailbiting duel with Bob May at Valhalla, but the true treasures lie in details that have remained hidden until now. You'll learn what Tiger said to Phil walking off 13 tee at Augusta, why his team nearly scuttled his “Sportsman of the Year” dinner at the last minute, and which major Tiger played using only one tee. (Hint: It was the same one in which a nude exotic dancer paraded across the 18th green. Try finding that on a YouTube rewatch.) Kevin Cook is a former senior editor of Sports Illustrated and former editor in chief of Golf Magazine. In addition to a long career in the sports periodicals industry, Kevin has also published a number of books, the most well-known of which is Tommy's Honor, chronicling the fascinating life of Young Tom Morris during golf's early years in and around St Andrews. Cook's newest book, The Tiger Slam: The Inside Story of the Greatest Golf Ever Played details Tiger's unforgettable four-major stretch from the 2000 US Open to the 2001 Masters. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. 

On Christmas Day in 2018, American endurance athlete Colin O'Brady woke up in a tent, by himself, in the middle of Antarctica. He hadn't seen another human being in 50 days. He hitched up his sled, fell into a flow state bordering on hallucination, and walked 77 miles without stopping to become the first person to cross Antarctica on foot and unassisted. Since achieving this feat, O'Brady has set 11 world records, completed the Explorers Grand Slam, written several books and unlocked the secrets to pushing past limits. The author of The 12-Hour Walk sits down with Mind Game host Casey Bannon to debrief on a life spent overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, starting with the freak 2007 burn accident in Thailand that threatened to take away his ability to walk at the age of 22. A tale-filled discussion highlights the immense value of self-belief, how incremental gains undergird massive achievements and the quiet secret behind some of the endurance community's biggest winners. Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Gift the #1 Ball in Golf: https://www.titleist.com/ Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

It's a sibling rivalry—with a Top 100 twist. As we head into the season of family gatherings, allow us to introduce Scottish brothers Callum, Fergus, and Liam Younger, who, at 24, 21, and 20 years of age, have already risen to assistant superintendent positions at Pine Valley, Fishers Island and Tara Iti. The three brothers join host Tom Coyne live from Hay Harbor Club on Fishers Island to share their serendipitous story and pull back the curtain on a few of the world's greatest golf courses. How did they get where they are today? Which club grows the best watermelon on Earth? And which local pest can be found ripping “divot-sized chunks” from fairways in search of the juicy insects beneath? All this and more is revealed in a wide-ranging conversation highlighting the values of getting your hands dirty and taking pride in your work. If you've ever cut a cup, laid an irrigation line or looked back fondly over a laser-straight mow line, this pod's for you. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. 

If you know ball, have a teenage daughter or have seen a commercial in the last six months, then Jason Kelce needs no introduction. He's currently one of the most famous people on Earth, and arguably one the most likable. But there's a lot more than meets the eye with the 13-year NFL veteran and media personality. Behind the shirtless dancing, beer-chugging and howling laughter is a serious, thoughtful and creative version of Jason Kelce who plays multiple instruments, feels like an underdog, and really wants to break 80. We get to know all these sides on the Season 2 premiere of Mind Game.  Get 10 free AG1travel packs when you subscribe: https://drinkag1.com/event/bts24 Experience the new Titleist GT Driver: https://www.titleist.com/ Subscribe to The Golfer's Journal: https://www.golfersjournal.com/ All Mind Game episodes: https://www.golfersjournal.com/category/mind-game-podcast/

You likely know longtime Hollywood actor Ed Burns for his turn as Richard Reiben in Saving Private Ryan. Since breaking through with his independent 1995 film The Brothers McMullen, Burns has found success both in front of and behind the camera. But after falling hard for golf during the pandemic, Burns has started to see the world, and his creative outlets, through the lens of the game. In this episode, recorded live from Sullivan County GC, Ed takes host Tom Coyne through the genesis and filming of Finnegan's Foursome, his upcoming Irish golf film shot partially around Carne Golf Links in Belmullet, and digs into his new novel A Kid From Marlboro Road. It's a rare peek behind the curtain at the creative process, as host and guest trade tales from the writer's room to the film set, and Burns relates how scattering his mother's ashes inspired a film about a family both bound and broken by golf. And if you're one of those viewers who scoff at shoddily edited golf sequences, you're in luck—Burns is right there with you. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

You've likely never heard of Warren Stephens—or his magnificent and critically acclaimed Arkansas golf retreat—and that's by design. Recently, host Tom Coyne accepted a rare invite from Stephens to The Alotian Club, perhaps the quietest club ever to crack America's top 100. The golf is eye-popping, with 18 rollercoaster holes slashed through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, but the family behind it is where the real stories lie. You'll meet Stephens, club founder and chairman of one of the nation's largest privately held investment banks. You'll hear tales from his father Jackson, a former chairman of Augusta National who presided over perhaps the most successful IPO in American history. And you'll learn how the family is giving back to the game with the Stephens Cup, a collegiate tournament hitting a few small, out-of-the-way locations like Shoreacres, PGA Frisco and, yes, the Alotian Club. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. 

 In 1989, IMG agent Hughes Norton showed up at Earl Woods' front door. Tiger was 12—but Norton could see the future. He would go on to become Tiger's first agent, inking the future legend to record-setting deals with Nike and Titleist before he hit one ball as a pro. But, as you'll hear in Norton's new sit-down with host Tom Coyne, all that fame and fortune came at a heavy price. In this interview, Norton pulls back the curtain to reveal the soaring highs and stomach-churning lows from his 35+ years as one of golf's premier agents. Fleshing out tales from his new memoir, Rainmaker, Norton offers blow-by-blow accounts of previously unseen Tiger moments, sheds new light on Greg Norman's decades-long grudges, offers an inside look at the birth of IMG and reflects on how history may just judge Arnold Palmer as the game's true moral compass. The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Titleist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

During college in 1979, Tommy Hyland ran across a basic blackjack strategy book. Nearly a half century later, he is the kingpin of the world's longest-lasting and most successful professional blackjack team, and one of the seven original members of the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Hyland's gaming isn't limited to the table, however—he is a longtime competitive amateur golfer within the Philadelphia section, and has qualified for five USGA championships. Hyland brings host Tom Coyne on a wild ride through his 50-plus years in gambling, including the highs (cleaning Vegas out during a 1982 prizefight) and lows (losing six figures in one night—without visiting a casino). Plus, Hyland elucidates the parallels between professional gambling and amateur golf, details his unlikely Lucas Glover US Open windfall, and duels Coyne in a live hand of blackjack, which was only going to end one way. The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by⁠⁠⁠⁠  @titleist ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Jon Sherman has developed a career, and a +2 handicap index, out of teaching boring golf. As the strategic mind behind Practical Golf, Sherman has parlayed his common-sense lessons into a series of bestselling books and PGA Tour coaching gigs. We recently sat down with him for a BTS member-exclusive video series designed to elevate our members' on-course decision making. But as Bobby Jones noted, golf and tournament golf are two very different things. In this new interview, host Casey Bannon chats with Sherman about his new book, The Foundations of Winning Golf, which focuses on the fundamentals of succeeding under pressure. The two spent time discussing strategies for leaning into tournament nerves, the value of putting your game on display and the alternative ways that Mackenzie Hughes defines success, among other insights. Tune in and start racking up Ws. Watch Jon Sherman's six-part master class: https://glfrsj.nl/PBG The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by⁠⁠⁠  @titleist ⁠⁠⁠ 

Northern Ireland was a different place when Scotsman Kevan Whitson took the Royal County Down head professional job in 1992. The country was still enmeshed in the Troubles, golf travel hadn't yet boomed, and the club saw 1,500 visitor rounds a year. But Old Tom's layout at this low-key members' club strung along the Irish Sea has always been world-class, and RCD now rightfully claims its place as perhaps the greatest links in the world, as well as a fixture on every golfer's bucket list. Host Tom Coyne sat down with Whitson to walk through the changes he's overseen in his 30 years at the club, the balancing act between providing an elite visitor experience and serving the club's membership, and his memories of hosting everyone from Jack and Arnie to Rory and Rickie. Plus, Whitson offers a few points of advice for anyone gearing up to take on the 2024 Irish Open host venue, and lays out how Royal County Down may just be golf's answer to Emily Post, with every hole teaching players to mind their manners. The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by⁠⁠  @titleist ⁠⁠ 

If you know, you know: It's Poosh! If that's gibberish to you, pop in those earbuds and meet Micah Pueschel, frontman of reggae band Iration, published contributor in TGJ No. 29 and humble golf nerd well aware of the “insane” run he's on. Before helping to lead Iration from a college bar band to a world-touring festival headliner, Pueschel grew up at a now-defunct nine-hole muni near his home on the Big Island of Hawaii. As he tells host Tom Coyne from the Iration tour bus outside Columbus, golf took a back seat for many years, but safe to say that the bug is back in a big way. Pueschel expands on his abiding love for Soule Park and its unpretentious SoCal character, runs down his eye-popping list of courses played this year, and opens up about his experiences with “the most nerve-wracking thing in the world.” Hint: it's not playing shows.  The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by⁠  @titleist ⁠ 

Last week, TGJ became one of the first media outlets to visit ⁠TGL's performance lab⁠ (which is different from the SoFi Center where competition will be held) in West Palm Beach, FL and preview the first of roughly 30 new digital golf holes designed specifically for league competition starting in January 2025. Managing Editor Travis Hill sat down with golf course architect Beau Welling, one of three designers behind the development of what Tiger and Rory are hoping will become an entirely new style of golf.  So how were the courses designed? ⁠How does one play a hole?⁠ Will they play out of real fairway grass? How does this spinning green work? And will Tiger and Rory's ambitious new venture actually catch on? All these questions and more are answered on TGJ Podcast 169.  The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by  @titleist  

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  George Solich, the youngest of five brothers from a lower-middle class family in Colorado Springs, grew up a caddie. A few decades later he has become a business titan, having developed and sold three successful companies in the energy sector. And to hear him tell it, everything leads back to golf. Today, Solich is the President and Chairman of Castle Pines Golf Club outside Denver, and on the eve of the PGA Tour's return to this epic Jack Nicklaus design for the BMW Championship, host Tom Coyne sits down with Solich to learn how and why he brought pro golf back to Castle Pines after a lengthy absence. They also discuss the pivotal role that golf and caddying has played in Solich's life—from his first loops at 13, to becoming an Evans Scholar, to giving back through his Solich Caddie and Leadership Program and the Western Golf Association. Solich's story is a case study in the life-shaping power of the game, and one any golf fan will appreciate

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  Garrett Hilbert is one of the six founding members of Dude Perfect—a group of college friends that have parlayed dorm-room trick shots into a content empire that includes 60 million YouTube subscribers.  In this conversation with host Tom Coyne, Hilbert delves into the origins of Dude Perfect, how they've managed to build a massive audience around a demographic of 5-15 year olds, and how they've used it to introduce the next generation to golf. They also discuss how new content ideas come about, like Rory McIlroy's world-record for most 300 yard drives and the longest putt ever made with a hot dog.   And then there's Augusta National video heard around the golf world in which Dude Perfect and Bryson DeChambeau kicked soccer balls and threw footballs down Amen Corner. Hilbert peels back the curtain to reveal how that video got approved, the criticism they received from the golf world and why they felt it was important for kids to see it.  There's no sport that Dude Perfect hasn't touched, but it's clear from this episode that golf plays a special role in Hilbert's life. Here are the receipts to prove it.

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  As half of the team behind legendary far-flung layouts like Cabot St. Lucia, Te Arai in New Zealand and Tasmania's Barnbougle Lost Farm, Bill Coore has spent his career crisscrossing the globe. He's built epic golf at every stop—but not even Coore can conceive of 18 holes at the South Pole. Earlier this year, host Tom Coyne sat down with Coore at Bandon's 25th anniversary celebration to discuss not just his builds in Bandon, but his recent travels to Antarctica and Patagonia. Whales and sea lions make an appearance, as does a plane with a steel-plated underbelly (and a custom penguin paint job) capable of negotiating gravel runways. Seeing this alien continent through the eyes of a seasoned traveler is illuminating—and frightening, as Coore details in his harrowing experience of nearly being blown clean off a mountain in the Patagonian wilderness. If you're wondering what golf architects do in their spare time, tune in.

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  An 11-year career in the NFL might be one of the least interesting things Dhani Jones has ever done. From a near-death experience while fishing in India to hunting dwarf alligators in the night in Gabon to trying different sports around the world on his TV series Dhani Tackles The Globe, Jones has seen and done it all. The former hard-hitting linebacker joins his regular playing partner Tom Coyne on the TGJ Podcast to discuss the importance of saying “yes,” staying curious, and why he considers golf “the ultimate explanation of life.”

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist  Remember Edoardo Molinari? 2005 US Am winner, Ryder Cupper, and brother of Francesco? Well, he qualified into this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst and recently added a few new titles to his resume: Chief Data Strategist for Arccos and 2025 Ryder Cup Vice Captain for Team Europe. Having reinvented himself as a golf data wizard, Molinari joins host Tom Coyne to unpack his proprietary modeling service that Viktor Hovland, Matthew Fitzpatrick and the rest of the European Ryder Cup squad used to thrash the US team last September, plus his thoughts on Pinehurst, his "politically incorrect" opinions on golf in Italy and his shockingly fast round at Bethpage recently.  While “Dodo” offers player-specific insights to his stable of golfers (which now stretches to some three dozen across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and beyond), this conversation is chock-full of nuggets for the everyday golfer. If you subscribe to axioms like “keep it below the hole” and “find the right side of the fairway,” get ready to challenge your thinking. 

The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ The New York Times calls Billy Collins America's most popular living poet. The Golfer's Journal calls him a fine golfer as well, and a lover of all things Irish. When it comes to his poetry, Collins says, “I have one reader in mind, someone who is in the room with me, and who I'm talking to, and I want to make sure I don't talk too fast, or too glibly.” In this conversation with Tom Coyne following a week-long stay at Donegal's Rosapenna, Collins doesn't talk too fast or glibly as he describes the magic of Ireland's northwest, and for the first time shares a freshly-penned tribute to links golf. TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist 

Watch the latest TGJ Film here. Save 20% on Club Glove by becoming a member. Though at first glance it may read as a third-line act at Lollapalooza, golf architecture diehards know the Cavemen as the unsung heroes who have helped Jim Wagner, along with his partner Gil Hanse, rise to their position as one of the finest design-build firms in the game. Wagner joins fellow Philly native Tom Coyne to offer an inside look at his firm's process, and the collection of globe-trotting, earth-moving shapers responsible for masterpieces from Ohoopee to Ladera and beyond. Also on the docket: Delco talk, the long-awaited Cobbs Creek renovation, and a future project Wagner calls “Cruden Bay in Texas.” 

Read the written version of this episode here⁠.  50 years ago, Trevino, Nicklaus, and Richard Nixon (???) got tangled up at Tanglewood Park Golf Course in North Carolina during a PGA Championship that has since been lost to history. In this episode, eminent golf writer Jim Moriarty refreshes our memory of an all-time major that everyone, including its protagonists, can't seem to remember. The Golfer's Journal is made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ TGJ Podcast is presented by Titleist 

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠⁠ Watch a new TGJ Film about Cabot Citrus Farms here. The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. At 12 years old, Ben Cowan-Dewar built a golf hole on his family's farm east of Toronto. By the time he graduated college, he owned a golf tour operator running trips in 20 countries. At 24, he set out to build the best course in Canada. 12 later, he had the top two. Now, with Cabot St. Lucia online and Cabot Citrus Farms welcoming guests to a new breed of Florida destination golf, Cowan-Dewar sits down to discuss his journey, and the hallmarks of the Cabot brand he's helped to build. Entrepreneurs, dreamers and golf junkies alike will find common ground in Cowan-Dewar's tales, which include his foolproof advice on decision making, why he said no to Mike Keiser when every instinct told him to say yes, and the inside story behind the trademark ding at the bottom of every Cabot cup.

This is part five of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 5: As its founders begin to decline, the mythology around The Masters only grows stronger The Masters is paused and Augusta National is forced to become self-sufficient in the wake of World War II. In the 1970s, the club must endure the passing of Bobby Jones and the shocking suicide of Clifford Roberts. But the club and tournament move on, going to untold lengths to preserve their legacies that still reverberate today. A transcript of this episode can be found here. The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part four of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 4: The evolution of the Masters broadcast  In the mid-1950s, the Masters innovates by partnering with CBS to broadcast the tournament on national television. As is the case with everything at Augusta, chairman Clifford Roberts has his fingerprints all over it as he works with legendary producer Frank Chirkinian to elevate the commentary, pacing, visuals and commercial load. The modern golf telecast is born. A transcript of this episode can be found here. The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part three of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 3: The Augusta National Invitational Tournament is formed By 1934, Augusta National is struggling to attract new members and raise the necessary funds to execute the club's vision. With this in mind, the first annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament is held, and Clifford Roberts must convince Bobby Jones to play in it. In an effort to boost ticket revenue, the traditional three-day event is stretched to four, and Roberts has some strong opinions on how to improve the fan experience.  A transcript of this episode can be found here. The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part two of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 2: A deep dive into the design and strategy of Augusta National's routing Thanks to his renowned designs at Cypress Point and Pasatiempo, Dr. Alister MacKenzie is hired to build Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts a golf course in Augusta, Georgia. The spectacular success of the project means that every hump, bump and contour is scrutinized. But as the course changes to adapt with modern championship golf, not every tweak is immediately embraced. A transcript of this episode can be found here: https://glfrsj.nl/MOTM2 The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part one of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 1: Clifford Roberts' rise to power at Augusta National Until he met Bobby Jones, Clifford Roberts was a former traveling suit salesman and modest investor who was still grappling with the tragic loss of his mother. Part 1 tells the remarkable story of his unlikely rise to become the first chairman at Augusta National and one of the most feared and influential executives in sports history.  A transcript of this episode can be found here: https://glfrsj.nl/MOTM1 The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

In the mid-1990s, Augusta National approached author David Owen about a book project to preserve the legacy of its founder Clifford Roberts. Owen agreed, under one condition: During his reporting he could play the course as much as he liked. The club allowed it, and Owen's book, The Making of the Masters, has since become one of the definitive histories of the tournament. It chronicles the beginnings, inner-workings and evolutions of Augusta National and The Masters, bringing to light a number of previously unreported facts and stories. In this new five-part TGJ Podcast series, Owen shares several chapters from his seminal book along with stories of his time on the course, painting a rich portrait of the tournament that changed golf forever. The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠ The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. The unlikeliest adventure in TGJ No. 27 saw Nashville-based singer-songwriter Ben Rector and The Atlantic writer Charlie Warzel travel to Branson, Missouri, for three days of golf, rodeo theater, and tire-sized pancakes. Now they're back to break it all down. Join Ben and Charlie as they relive their exploration of “Ned Flanders' Vegas,” shining equal light on the brilliance of Coore+Crenshaw's Ozarks National and a breakfast variety show that Rector says was “better than it had any right to be.” Fun is still king on the Ozark Plateau, and as you'll hear, it's the earnest pursuit of this uncomplicated goal that unlocks Branson's magic. Charlie Warzel: https://twitter.com/cwarzel Ben Rector: https://www.benrectormusic.com/

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist What was it like to be there when Bradley Keegan got the Ryder Cup news? What were players saying behind closed doors after the June 6th announcement? What was really going on in the Ryder Cup team rooms? Executive producer Chad Mumm returns to The Golfer's Journal podcast to preview the drama and storylines from the upcoming season of the Netflix hit series, “Full Swing.”  In this episode, Mumm joins host Tom Coyne to discuss the unexpected success of Full Swing season 1 and the reaction from players, fans, and critics. Season 2 was quickly greenlit and Mumm and his team were back on the fairways, but this time on a far bigger scale. With the Ryder Cup looming and Captain's picks to be made, Full Swing goes international this season with a new narrative approach.  Want more insights and longer storylines that carry from one episode to the next? It sounds like season 2 is set to deliver. Want to see more of Brooks Koepka? You won't, and Mumm explains why. In this conversation about life inside the ropes, Mumm tells us not just what to watch for, but describes what it's like for a golf junkie to live alongside the world's best players, capturing their every move and emotion as one of the wildest years in pro golf history unfolds.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist You might have noticed that Jason Day looks a little different these days. That's thanks in large part to Stephen Malbon's booming lifestyle and apparel company. Based in Southern California, Malbon Golf has unflinchingly merged the cultures of skate, surf, snowboard and hip hop into golf style. He recently sat down in L.A. with TGJ's Casey Bannon to discuss how re-connecting with the game changed his life, misconceptions about him in the golf industry, what he thinks of Tiger's new look and the crucial difference between baggy pants and straight-leg chinos.  Casey Bannon: https://www.instagram.com/caseyfbannon/ Malbon Golf: https://malbongolf.com/