Podcasts about Pine Valley

Over a dozen homes have been destroyed by the Forsyth Fire in Washington County around Pine Valley, including 2 homes of firefighters. Greg and Holly get an update on the fire from Candy Stevensen, Public Information Officer with Great Basin Incident Management Team 7, who is now overseeing this fire. 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Mike Blackham, Golf and Politics dives deep into Mike's recent golf adventure through England's elite courses, from his beloved Sunningdale to iconic tracks like Royal St. George's, St. George's Hill, and St. Enodoc. Mike and Rob break down why England's diverse golf scene—featuring both heathland and links courses—might just be the most underrated golf destination on the planet. They discuss the difference between England, Scotland, and Ireland trips, share crazy travel stories (including Rob's 27 hours solo in an English rental car), and explain why London's heathland golf offers Pine Valley-level quality without the usual American price tag. The episode also touches on Japanese golf culture, B-side hidden gem courses, and includes a rapid-fire "10-round split" segment comparing some of the greatest golf courses in the U.S., UK, Japan, and beyond. Mike closes with his dream foursome—featuring Mitt Romney, Steph Curry, and Tiger Woods—and offers insight into the kind of leadership he believes America needs. In This Episode: Recapping 8 days of nonstop golf across England's top courses Why Heathland golf rivals Pine Valley for architecture and pure fun The difference between A-side vs. B-side courses (and why the B-sides often surprise) Tips for planning an affordable golf trip to England that beats Bandon and Pebble How UK golf culture differs from the U.S. in access, conditioning & cost Personal favorites: Sunningdale Old & New, St. George's Hill, Royal St. George's, and more Secret planning tips for Americans building their first UK golf itinerary Get the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/@GolfandPolitics Join the email list to be notified about the latest episodes: https://golfandpolitics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Golf and Politics welcomes Mike Blackham — world traveler, elite golfer, and one of the few people on Earth closing in on completing the World Top 100 golf course list. Mike shares his journey picking up golf in his late 20s and what he's learned about golf culture, club access, and course architecture along the way. From Augusta and Pine Valley to international B-side hidden gems, we dive into the passion (and sacrifice) behind the world top 100 golf quest. The conversation then shifts gears into a wide-ranging and honest debate on the current state of U.S. politics, college sports NIL reforms, the growing national debt crisis, tariffs under Trump 2.0, and whether Congress will ever step up to solve America's fiscal challenges. Key Topics Covered: Mike's pursuit of completing the World Top 100 Golf Courses list The best courses & golf architecture debates: Pine Valley, National Golf Links, Myopia Hunt, Sand Hills Golf culture differences between the U.S., UK, and Asia The impact of NIL on college golf and how it's reshaping recruiting Deep-dive political debate: national debt, tariffs, Trump's economic policies, and Congress's dysfunction The bipartisan frustration with leadership & common sense reform Why leadership is vanishing from both parties as political extremes dominate Get the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/@GolfandPoliticsJoin the email list to be notified about the latest episodes: https://golfandpolitics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smylie Kaufman is joined by Brad Faxon, one of the greatest putters in golf history, to discuss his work with Rory McIlroy over the years. Brad dives into his coaching philosophy, his memorable first session with Rory, and how simple adjustments made a huge difference in Rory's putting.  The duo shares stories from Pine Valley, insights into upcoming major championships, and what makes players like Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas stand out. Get expert takes on the latest in #golf, from #pgatour legends to future stars. Plus, learn how creativity and trust play huge roles in shaping top-tier players like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.

Joe Bronson joins The Mental Golf Show. He's the author of PARdon Me, which was just released and you can get the book, and any of Joe's other books, by clicking here. Topics & Timestamps: (00:00:00) Golf as a Cerebral Activity (00:03:46) Making Golf Simple (00:06:30) Does confidence come from playing experience, or practice? (00:09:14) How has Joe Bronson played almost all of the Top 100 golf courses in the world? (00:16:32) What's more fun: good venue, or competitive round at a so-so venue? (00:18:14) Good venue and bad playing partners? Or bad venue and good playing partners? (00:19:56) Playing Augusta, Pine Valley, and other Super Exclusive Courses (00:21:43) Good and Bad Experiences Under Pressure (00:30:50) The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course - joshnicholsgolf.com/course (00:32:57) How to Increase Your Love of the Game (00:38:21) Joe Helps Josh Maximize Enjoyment of the Game (00:47:02) Get the most out of your time with a Practice Plan - joshnicholsgolf.com/practice (00:49:22) Balance vs. Guilt in Playing Golf (00:53:42) The Most Exclusive Golf Course in the World (01:01:01) What Makes Pasatiempo So Difficult? (01:04:25) Pick One Country to Play Golf In for the Rest Of Your Life (01:06:35) Joseph Bronson, author of PARdon Me -----

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This week in 1993, Kendall arrived in Pine Valley. James discusses her presence! 

This episode is for all the golf course design junkies and enthusiasts as we sat down with golf course designer Tyler Rae. He joined Gary Williams for a deep dive on his career in golf, some of his creative influences, top courses around the world, periods of time in course architecture and much more. He touched on his work at Lookout Mountain and Old Sawmill and talked in depth about Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole and Pine Valley.Rae has played the top 100 courses in the U.S. and 98 of top 100 in the world so his knowledge of great golf courses is amongst the elite and he loves the hidden gem courses of the world. He also listed his top courses in New England from Eastward Ho, Myopia Hunt Club and the Country Club; from Westchester, NY with Winged Foot, Somerset Hills and Mountain Ridge; Long Island with Shinnecock, Maidstone and National Golf Links; the Chicago area with Chicago Golf Club, Shoreacres and Beverly; and finally in the greater Philadelphia area with Pine Valley, Merion and Lancaster.

This is a clip from a 2020 episode. Peter Donahue shares his story of playing Pine Valley in the middle of the night with only a hickory 2 wood!!

On this episode of the Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman welcomes a fellow player-turned-broadcaster, Colt Knost, to the show!Colt and Smylie relive the highlights (and lowlights!) from an incredible trip to Pine Valley, commiserate over their shared post-playing-career struggles with the short game, and discuss the future of the game of golf - from TGL, to LIV, to YouTube.They also relive one of their wildest shared playing experiences at Torrey Pines as we head into this week's PGA TOUR stop at the Farmers Insurance Open. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:12 - Playing for a crowd04:14 - Chipping Techniques07:01 - Pine Valley09:36 - The State of the Game13:12 - The Bubble That Never Bursts22:08 - Thoughts on TGL31:58 - Grass League golf38:09 - Genesis moving from Riviera42:45 - 2016 Farmers Insurance Open experience46:55 - Colt's excitement for Farmers Insurance Open48:05 - WM Phoenix Open Concert Series51:23 - Trevor Immelman and OWGR54:38 - Playing at Whisper Rock56:40 - Colt's Warm-Up Routine58:18 - Handicap Talk

In this special year-in-review episode of Golf and Politics, Matt Parker interviews co-host Rob Ellsworth about his incredible 2024, during which he played 212 rounds of golf across 165 courses in the U.S. and abroad. After overcoming significant health challenges in prior years, Rob embraced a "Year of Yes," taking every opportunity to travel, play, and connect with people through golf. The episode highlights bucket-list courses like Pine Valley, Ballybunion, St. Andrews, and Shadow Creek, along with hidden gems such as Sharon Golf Club. Rob and Matt Parker recount memorable moments, from playing with Hall of Famers Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel to rounds at Michael Jordan's Grove XXIII. They discuss how golf creates lifelong friendships, the balance between luxury and rugged experiences, and the thrill of crossing courses off their bucket lists. This episode also explores how golf intersects with community programs, accessibility, and cherished memories, making it much more than just a game. 7 Key Takeaways: The Year of Yes Transformed Rob's Life and Game: Living life with a mindset of yes first, opens you up to more opportunities and experiences. Bucket List Achievements: Pine Valley, Ballybunion, and St. Andrews: Iconic courses like Pine Valley and the Old Course at St. Andrews provided breathtaking and challenging experiences, while less famous gems added charm and variety. Golf's Role in Building Relationships: Over the year, Rob played with 500 people, from friends to strangers, highlighting golf as a unique way to create deep connections. From Shadow Creek to Sharon Golf Club: Diverse Course Experiences: Rob experienced everything from luxury courses like Shadow Creek to understated gems like Sharon Golf Club, showcasing the full spectrum of the game. Michael Jordan's Grove XXIII Delivers an Unforgettable Experience: Playing at MJ's exclusive course combined world-class golf with a laid-back vibe, including rounds with PGA Tour veterans and an encounter with Jordan himself. Golf Accessibility and Community Impact: Courses like The Park in West Palm Beach demonstrate how great design and strategic pricing can make golf more inclusive and impactful for local communities. Golf is About Memories, Not Just Scores: Beyond the game itself, Rob emphasized the importance of creating memories, whether through trips, friendships, or the simple joy of playing the sport. Get the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJlYfWps6ip7PQvHzniDfw  Listen to the audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/CtYwP8fV  Join the email list to be notified about the latest episodes: https://golfandpolitics.com

Randy Rebold, Event Producer of the Pine Valley Camp Christmas holiday festival, discusses the myriad attractions that attendees will experience at the festival that runs through Sunday, December 22.About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media"Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 18 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local. For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us.Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  About Mission Fed Credit UnionA community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

Sign up for Par 3 Thursdays. A weekly newsletter sharing three great things to check out in golf. - https://bestball.substack.comWe're diving deep into the world of golf with Sean Zak, a fascinating guest and storyteller extraordinaire from GOLF Magazine.Sean joins us to explore his love affair with golf, which led him to a 90-day experience in St. Andrews. We delve into his most memorable experiences playing Pine Valley, his aspirations to conquer Bandon Dunes, and the allure of Cypress Point. Discover Sean's dream foursome infused with family legacy and hear about his ambitious plans to rejuvenate a beloved Wisconsin golf course.But that's just the beginning. Sean shares his insights on the complexities of modern golf storytelling, touches on the pro golf landscape post-LIV Golf, and discusses the stories that led to his book, Searching in St. Andrews. Buy Searching in St. Andrews - https://www.amazon.com/Searching-St-Andrews-Sean-Zak/dp/1637273320Follow Sean Zak:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sean_zak/X - https://x.com/Sean_Zak BestBall Links:•https://BestBall.com•https://linktr.ee/BestBallFriends of BestBall•Holderness & Bourne - https://hbgolf.com - Enter "BESTBALL" for complementary shipping.•Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club - Two Play Special - https://truebluegolf.com•Western Birch Golf Co. - Enter "BESTBALL" in the shipping cart for a free gift with your order - https://westernbirch.com•Atomic Golf - Custom Ball Markers, Divot Repair Tools, & more - https://atomicgolf.clubInterested in becoming a sponsor of The Hole Story Podcast? Email info@bestball.com.

We're back this week on Chasin' Birdies with a fresh one. Patty Maroon sits down with us as we dive into a wide variety of topics. Opening up the episode, after our 7-minute banter intro, we get into some golf talk out the gate, with Mr. Maroon sportin' a nice Pine Valley cap. The conversation bleeds into the NHL world, and we hear some stories of his time in St. Louis, Tampa, and now Chicago. With his down-to-earth personality, it's fun to hear stories about the Stanley Cup and his quest for a 4th cup in a row..wtf. Pelican Golf Club in Tampa is a spot we're lucky to play. We tell some stories about times at Pelican and hear about the experience Patty had playing Augusta AND Pine Valley in the same year…the Brad Faxon story is epic. Bet that doesn't happen too often. We turn over the episode to round out some more banter and small talk about pretty much anything. We touch on the rowdy fight in Scottsdale with Biz Nasty and what the hell that was all about. We end the episode with our standard tap-in segment, where we ask Patty 5 questions that demand his quick response. Tune in, share, like, or dislike. The choice is yours, but we think you'll like this one. Key Links:Visit redvanly.com for great golf apparel now repped by Chasin' Birdies. Stay tuned for more info on winning custom headcovers from WinstonCollection.comOur Tap-in segment is sponsored by Bettinardi GolfPartners with Nemacolin Resort. -----Follow Chasin' Birdies on Instagram @chasin_birdies.Chasin' Birdies is hosted by Ryan Bashour and Jonathan Pepe. Produced by Simpler Media.

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. 

GOLF Magazine came out with their annual top 100 courses in the United States list this week. We will discuss many of the courses and ask the question... would Augusta National be in the top 10 if it wasn't for the Masters? Pine Valley again is number one on this years list and we will talk about what sets it apart. A pair of Minnesota courses made the list with both Interlachen and White Bear Yacht Club in the top 100. We take a deep dive into which courses we think are overrated and which are underrated. We will talk a little pro golf as well this week as both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour are winding down their fall seasons and there are tour cards on the line. Subscribe to the Break80 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly golf content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Built To Hunt Podcast, we dive deep into Utah's deer management strategy with special guest Dax Mangus, a key member and local biologist of Utah's deer management committee. As Utah battles with declining deer populations, factors like habitat improvement, hunting regulations, and public opinion shape the current management plan. Dax sheds light on the 100,000-acre+ habitat restoration initiative, the impact of energy development on deer populations, and the vital role GPS collar studies play in tracking deer health and behavior. We also discuss the importance of balancing a healthy buck-to-doe ratio, changes to weapon allocation, and the unique four-point restriction system in Pine Valley. How does Utah's approach compare to other states, and are these measures enough to ensure a sustainable deer population? Dax shares insights on how public surveys influence season structures and the challenges in shifting season dates. Join us as we explore the complex intersection of conservation, hunting satisfaction, and policy in Utah's deer management efforts.   Host: Austin Atkinson Co-Host: Deziree Lambert Interviewing: Dax Mangus Episode Photo Credit: 30 Wide Photography https://www.instagram.com/30widephotography/   Podcast Partners: Western Hunt Expo: https://huntexpo.com/ GEAR FOOL: https://www.gearfool.com/ Use Code BUILTTOHUNT for 10% OFF in Our GEAR FOOL Store Today!   Get Connected: Subscribe to HUNTIN' FOOL on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@huntinfool_official Become a HUNTIN' FOOL Member here: https://www.huntinfool.com/join Download The HUNTIN' FOOL App: https://www.huntinfool.com/app   Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: /huntinfoolofficial Instagram:  /huntinfool_official/

Summary Hosts Matt Parker and Rob Elsworth recap their unforgettable time at Ballybunion, one of Ireland's most renowned golf courses. They explore the evolution of Ballybunion from its early days as a modest nine-hole course to its transformation into a world-class championship venue, delving into the redesign of the Cashen course by Tom Watson and its challenges amid iconic scenery. The episode is rich with stories about camaraderie, Irish golf culture, and memorable moments that define a true golf trip. Matt and Rob reflect on the unique experience of playing on storied Irish links, the community spirit found on these courses, and how golf fosters friendships that go beyond the game. Takeaways Ballybunion's Transformation into a World-Class Course: From nine humble holes to a prestigious championship course, Ballybunion's growth is a testament to its enduring appeal. Tom Watson's Influence on the Cashen Course: Watson's redesign enhanced the course's challenge and character, making it both beautiful and tough to conquer. Irish Golf Culture vs. American Golf: Irish golf emphasizes community and tradition, offering a unique perspective compared to the exclusive nature of American courses. Ballybunion's Natural Challenge: Unpredictable coastal winds make Ballybunion a constant test, where each round feels like a new adventure. Memorable Friendships Forged on the Course: Golf trips like these strengthen bonds, creating friendships and stories that are cherished for years. Historical Figures and Legends at Ballybunion: The course has hosted icons like Tom Watson, Bill Clinton, and Jack Nicklaus, enriching its legacy and appeal. Prioritize Experiences Over Gear: Invest in memorable trips rather than the latest clubs—you'll remember the experience long after the gear is outdated. Prepare for the Elements: Ireland's weather can be extreme, so come ready for rain, wind, and sunshine—all within a single round. The Ransome Cup: A historic match between Ballybunion and Pine Valley celebrates the camaraderie between these storied clubs. Ballybunion's Unique Layout for Match Play: The course's rugged design makes it ideal for match play, where the spirit of competition shines through on every hole. Get the full video version: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJlYfWps6ip7PQvHzniDfw  Listen to the audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/CtYwP8fV  Join the email list to be notified about the latest episodes: https://golfandpolitics.com

In this episode of Leadership on the Links, we explore the inspiring career journey of Alan FitzGerald, a golf course superintendent whose path has taken him from the emerald shores of Ireland to some of the world's top golf courses. Alan shares his experiences growing up around golf courses, his early career at Mount Juliet resort, and his education at Penn State and Loch Lomond. His six-year tenure at Pine Valley and 19 years at Ledgerock prepared him for his current role at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, where he continues to innovate and lead in the field of golf course management. Continuing Education and Innovation Alan's commitment to lifelong learning has been a cornerstone of his success. Earning his Master Greenkeeper certification stands as a key milestone in his career, symbolizing not just his expertise but his dedication to staying ahead in an ever-evolving industry. This pursuit of excellence has driven him to embrace new tools and techniques that continually push the boundaries of golf course management. One standout example is his early adoption of drone spraying technology. Recognizing the potential of drones, Alan integrated this cutting-edge tool to enhance precision and efficiency in maintaining course conditions. By leveraging technology to streamline operations, he has set a new standard for innovation in the industry. Beyond specific tools, Alan emphasizes the importance of staying on top of industry trends. Whether implementing the latest agronomic techniques or exploring new methods for sustainable course management, his proactive approach ensures that he and his team remain leaders in their field. Innovative Staffing Solutions A forward thinker in staffing as well, Alan has found creative ways to address labor challenges while maintaining high standards on the course. His use of the H2B visa program has allowed him to bring in skilled international workers during peak seasons, a strategy that ensures quality and consistency in course management. At the same time, he has also tapped into the experience of retired staff, whose mentorship and practical knowledge have proven invaluable to his team's success. Alan doesn't just rely on conventional methods to recruit and train staff. He is also a strong advocate of the First Green program, an initiative by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), which provides students with hands-on learning opportunities in environmental stewardship and golf course management. Through this program, Alan inspires the next generation of golf course professionals, while strengthening ties between the golf community and the public. Industry Engagement and Community Impact Alan's involvement with The First Green program exemplifies his broader vision for the industry. By integrating students into the operations of his course, he fosters a deeper understanding of the environmental practices and career opportunities within golf course management. The program not only serves as a valuable educational tool, but also enhances public relations, showing how golf courses contribute positively to the community. By engaging with the next generation of professionals and creating these meaningful connections, Alan helps bridge the gap between golf course operations and the broader community. His work in this area positions golf courses as community assets, showcasing their role in environmental stewardship and local engagement. Alan FitzGerald's career is a testament to the power of innovation, education, and community engagement. His dedication to adopting new technologies, developing sustainable staffing solutions, and inspiring the next generation continues to set him apart in the industry. As he moves forward in his role at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Alan's forward-thinking approach ensures that he will remain a leader in golf course management for years to come. Soundbytes: "I think that was part of it, but it was a bit deflating for a while. Over the last 18 months, I applied for several jobs that I thought I could interview for, but I didn't get any." 17:07-18:00 “On the flip side, I was pleasantly surprised by a few things. For example, at LedgeRock, where I built everything from scratch, I thought implementing agronomic practices would be much harder. But, to my surprise, it's been going well so far.” 25:23-25:30 Quotes: "I think the interviews before I've tried to say the right things or do the right things, and I really wasn't myself. In this process, I was myself and in doing that, I took the pressure off myself somewhat." "I think it's great to see younger kids getting excited about the First Green program. However, engaging teenagers has been more challenging than I expected. To keep them interested, it needs to be more than just educational; it must also be challenging and engaging."  "Although our total payroll is close to 40, we only have around 25 staff members here each day. The flexibility in scheduling has been excellent, with up to 16 to 18 people working on weekend mornings. Overall, the setup has worked really well for us." “Leaving a long-term, comfortable position can be challenging, but exploring new opportunities can lead to personal and professional growth.” “Continuously pursuing education and adopting new technologies can help you stay ahead of the curve and improve efficiency.” Links Mentioned in This Episode: Tyler Bloom Consulting: https://tylerbloomconsulting.com/ The First Green - https://www.thefirstgreen.org/ Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangfitzgerald/  

In the latest episode of Leadership on the Links, we were thrilled to host Eric Schultz, whose career journey and industry insights provide valuable lessons for golf professionals and enthusiasts alike. Eric Schultz's journey and insights provide a wealth of inspiration for anyone in the golf industry. His emphasis on relationships, empathy, and collaboration, combined with his personal anecdotes, make for a compelling and insightful episode. From Humble Beginnings to Prestigious Clubs Eric Schultz's career path is a testament to the unexpected twists that can lead to success. Growing up in Buffalo, NY, with no prior golfing background, Eric initially ventured into various sales and teaching roles. It wasn't until he discovered his passion for the golf industry that his career truly took off. Eric shared how he navigated his way through the golf world, including stints at renowned clubs like Pine Valley, and ultimately found his role as the Director of Golf at Colleton River Club in South Carolina. Eric described his pursuit of a role at Pine Valley where he wasn't actively pursuing the opportunity, but was recommended by the head pro at his club in Florida who had worked at Pine Valley previously. The interview process was informal - he was just told to wear a tie and if he got the job, he'd be the only one interviewing. Pine Valley saw something they liked in him despite his lack of experience.  His story is a reminder that sometimes, the journey to our true calling is filled with diverse experiences that shape who we become. Eric's transition from a non-golfing background to a leadership role in the golf industry illustrates how passion and perseverance can pave the way to achieving one's career aspirations. The Power of Relationships in Golf One of the standout themes from our conversation with Eric was the importance of building and nurturing relationships within the golf industry. Eric emphasized that strong, authentic connections with everyone from superintendents to assistants are crucial for success. At Colleton River Club, Eric has worked diligently to create a warm, supportive environment. He believes in developing his team members and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, even if they eventually move on to new opportunities. This approach not only enhances team morale but also contributes to a positive and collaborative work atmosphere. Eric focuses on consistency and routines like high performers do. He gives a lot of autonomy to his assistants to make decisions and fail, as long as they learn from it. He tries to understand their goals and enable them to move up in their careers, whether in golf or outside of it. Handling Challenging Course Conditions In a thought-provoking segment, Tyler presented a scenario where members were pressing the superintendent about less-than-ideal course conditions. Eric's advice for handling such situations was grounded in empathy and open communication. He highlighted the importance of understanding the concerns of all stakeholders and working collaboratively to address issues. Eric recommended a problem-solving approach that involves both the golf and agronomy teams, ensuring that solutions are effective and mutually agreeable.  Identify the source of the issues through open communication between golf and agronomy leaders. Clearly explain the reasons behind the problems to members. Develop an action plan and get member buy-in. Invest time to have in-person conversations to turn members into supporters. Soundbytes: "You've got a network of people that you can call on, you have this fraternity of people that you just want to be with and the best of the people that like yourself, you get jazzed up to talk to you you hang up the phone inspired to go to the next thing." 10:37-11:00 "The best professionals inherently have some of the softer skills early on. We can train the hard skills. The best that we hire have the ability to smile and have good soft skills, even if their hard skills are still developing." 33:22-3:50 "The movers and shakers all know each other one way or another. It's all interconnected. The power of three: even if you impact one person, they know three others, and so on. The networking power in this industry is profound." 42:50 - 43:05 Quotes: "Whether I was inspired to stay in it because I kept moving to the next spot, the responsibilities became more, and I spent time with people who I loved and with I loved." "I think there's a lot of laziness around leadership and maybe part of the problem why we have a shortage or went through a period of shortage and people getting enrolled is because we weren't doing a good job encouraging people and nurturing talent." "Building relationships is about finding common ground. Ask about their family, where they went to school. Spending time around the golf shop, asking for a golf lesson, and engaging in the game helps in building better relationships." "The best superintendents and people on the agronomy side that I've seen that network with the golf professionals have some ability to play and fast forward that and say, you know, what does a general Saturday look like? Well, it's mow and go. Well, what does mow and go turn into mow and play with the nine hole, you know, the nine o'clock game and you did that once a month." Links Mentioned in This Episode: Tyler Bloom Consulting: https://tylerbloomconsulting.com/ Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schultz-3b687443/I

Although nearly everyone agreed the Mache family had had it coming, evidence at the scene convinced the sheriff that Kelsay Porter had ambushed them in cold blood, and the jury sentenced him to swing for it. But the neighbors characterized the whole affair as a railroad job. (Pine Valley, Union and Baker County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1711c.kelsey-porter-vigilante-killings-470.html)

In a modest ranch home on Pine Valley Road, a young woman named Melinda Snyder has packed up almost all of her belongings in boxes and is getting ready to move out, looking forward to a bright future. The only thing standing in the way is a man who has become slowly obsessed with her: a real estate agent named Ed Cronell. He has the key to the home's lockbox and on the night of January 23rd, 1990, he'll use it to commit a crime that the residents of Rock Hill still remember to this day.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of GOLF's Subpar Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by NBC's Smylie Kaufman. The host of 'Happy Hour' talks his dream guest, his on course coverage of this year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and witnessing Rickie Fowler's recent hole-in-one at Pine Valley. -- We are excited to share our listener offer from Ship Sticks, who gets you from your front door to “fore” easier than ever. They'll pick up your golf clubs from your home or office and deliver them on time, guaranteed, to golf destinations anywhere, in and outside the U.S. No more airport headaches, no more lugging heavy bags. Just easy, stress-free travel for golfers like you. Ship Sticks. Because golf is hard enough. Use code SUBPAR or visit www.shipsticks.com/subpar to learn more and take 20% off your shipment. -- Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt5ESUx6omMUsMoEKvMTzlA Shop The Birdie Juice Collection: https://fairwayjockey.com/collections/birdie-juice Follow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golf_subpar/?hl=en Follow Twitter: https://twitter.com/golf_subpar?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

My guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is Evan Beck from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  After winning the Coleman Invitational and the George C. Thomas at LACC, he is 2/3 of the way to the Mid-Am Triple Crown...with the Crump Cup at Pine Valley still to come at the end of September.  Fair to say, Evan Beck is the best mid-amateur in the county and perhaps the world......not named Stewart Hagestad. Evan Beck - InstagramElite Amateur Golf Series - Official WebsiteThe Back of the Range - All Access The Back of the Range Collection at Imperial SportsCOUPON CODE: BOTR15 for 15% your entire purchase!Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SPOTIFY!Also Subscribe in YouTube,   Google Play , Overcast, Stitcher  Follow on Social Media! Email us:   ben@thebackoftherange.comWebsite: www.thebackoftherange.com  Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

We celebrated Mother's Day with real life husband and wife duo, Jordi and Kaitlin Vilasuso.Jordi and Kaitlin are the parents of three beautiful girls, Riley (11), Everly (7) and almost six-month old Lucy, who was hospitalized back in January with RSV. We will hear what Mother's Day is like in the Vilasuso household from these very busy parents and what they each learned from their own moms.24 years ago this August, Jordi made his debut as Tony Santos on Guiding Light winning a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003 for Outstanding Younger Actor. Jordi will look back on his time working in Springfield, Pine Valley, Salem, and Genoa City. He will also tell us about the new digital drama series, The Blvd which he stars in alongside Vincent Irizarry and Adam Huss.Listen to this episode to catch up with Jordi and Kaitlin Vilasuso just in time for Mother's Day.

This week, Nick and Mark are flying solo, every chance this could go pear-shaped. No time to worry about that, cos Mark has info on the Golf Digest Top 100 that he wasn't aware of last week, and he feels sheds further light on the rankings. If you haven't heard our bonus pod with the head honcho of the Top 100, Steve Keipert, worth checking out. Mark asks Nick to outline if he were doing what Steve does, what parameters would he use. Nick agrees with Steve that a criteria is important, and he talks through what his criteria might be.Nick and Mark discuss Pine Valley. Nick has never played it, but has heard it described as a 'beast'. Mark gives Nick homework to watch the drone flyover video, it's fantastic, check it out here. You might recall last week, Mark was going to play Cathedral, however the trip was cancelled due to heavy fog. Instead, he played Peninsula Kingswood South, and gives a review of the course. Short version. He loved it.Nick and Mark discuss Rory McIlroy's win at Quail Hollow, a fantastic performance from the superstar. Nick shares his mixed memories of that course.Mark gives an Australian Open update, which is that there is none. No state, no course, nothing locked in, state governments being frustrating. We discuss how much it would cost to ensure it's not an Australian Open 'light'. And Mark says whilst it's a big golf story, how long until it becomes a big sports story in this country. Nick and Mark discuss where it could/should be.Mark poses his 'everyday playability' question to Nick and wants him to choose between Tara Iti or Royal Melbourne West. Nick asks for some time to consider, he'll answer at the end of the pod. And controversy in the PING global results when Nick suggests he has found a music piece to rival the intro we use. We'll play it at the end of the pod today, or see the video here. If you have played Cottesloe recently, Nick and Mark want your feedback on how the house plays with the trees removed. Better? Worse? Top 5 from Mark on things he loves about Rory. Most are great, one is ridiculous. Nick adds 2 things he'd like Rory to change. And Mark then reveals a juicy rumour he's heard about the Strategic Sports Groups PGA investment.We wrap the show with a masterclass from Nick on hitting a flyer effectively.A huge thanks to our Talk Birdie partners:PING, they'll help you play your best, you can see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;the new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store ;& the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Subscribe to never miss a Talk Birdie To Me ep. And we'd love you to share the pod with a friend. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major Season is upon us! Today, we dive into the captivating world of Hollywood Golf Club. Nestled in Monmouth County, this top-ranked golf course boasts a storied history, originally designed by Walter Travis in 1917 and meticulously restored to its former glory by Tom Doak in 2014.   Join us as Bryan Dougherty, Director of Instruction at Hollywood GC, guides us through all 18 holes, offering a sneak peek into what awaits players at the upcoming NJSGA 4-Ball Championship.   Plus, stay tuned as we spill the beans on exciting changes coming to the podcast, dish out on Rickie Fowler's epic Hole in One at Pine Valley, discuss the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco and more!  #GolfingInTheGardenState #golfaddict #Podcast #PineValley #Hollywood #Golf #Golfer #Golfing

It's a TSS Double Feature! First, Smylie Kaufman is joined by Justin Thomas - ahead of their trip to Pine Valley - to discuss his recent caddie change, Scottie Scheffler's dominance, and looking forward to the PGA Championship in his hometown of Louisville at Valhalla. Then, Smylie joins Charlie Hulme from the Philadelphia airport to recap the PV trip - starting with Rickie Fowler's ace at the third hole! 02:43 Welcome back to Justin Thomas, our first recurring guest!03:25 Justin tells a great Kevin Kisner story from this past weekend in Hilton Head07:59 JT & SK preview the Pine Valley trip they're about to embark on10:12 Justin discusses his first few weeks with Matt Minister as his new caddie11:25 JT discusses the mental hurdles he's faced this year13:22 What is Justin working on right now15:52 Does JT leaderboard watch during tournaments?17:53 Discussing Scottie Scheffler's consistency off the tee19:10 Emphasis on putting work the past few years20:21 Competing with Scottie Scheffler + the art of winning25:38 Playing the PGA Championship at home in Louisville27:02 Impressions of Valhalla ahead of PGA Championship28:27 What would JT say is his most impressive win?30:45 Which event will Justin play next?

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Joe is the founder and managing partner of Ironhawk Financial, specializing in insurance and wealth preservation. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Dr. Ron Martinelli is a nationally renowned forensic criminologist, law enforcement expert and a Certified Medical Investigator. He is qualified as a subject matter expert on law enforcement, corrections and public safety practices in Federal and States' Courts. His practice is well-rounded to include federal/state law enforcement/corrections criminal and civil cases, premises liability and security practices cases, prosecution and criminal defense cases, and death investigations cases. GUEST 3 OVERVIEW: Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.

We have a jam-packed episode this week featuring Artrel Foster, Fred Dupre, Harry Mayes, and Harry Donahue! All of our guests give their thoughts on what makes The Masters and Augusta so special, who they think will play well enough to win this weekend, and what their meal would be for the Champions Dinner Artrel Foster and Colin were teammates at Temple and now Artrel is an avid golfer and fan of the game. Fred Dupre is Colin's father-in-law who was an All-American golfer at LSU, 7-year pro golfer, and a former Pro at Pine Valley. Harry Mayes is an avid golfer, host of the Swing it and Ding it podcast, and long-time Philly Sports Talk Radio Host. Harry Donahue hosts Inside Golf, Temple athletics ring of honor member, KYW New Radio legend, and big-time golfer. Notforlongmedia.com Thank you to our sponsors! Arnicare by Boiron - Voironusa.com The Original Fudge Kitchen - Fudgekitchens.com Wealth Advisory Services - WealthAdvisoryServices.com SEAT GEEK - $20 OFF! PROMO CODE: COLINTHOMPSON Actions Over Words https://actionsoverwordsapparel.com/

Christopher Kennedy Lawford (March 29, 1955 – September 4, 2018) was an American author, actor, and activist. He was a member of the prominent Kennedy family, and son of English actor Peter Lawford and Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford, who was a sister of President John F. Kennedy. He played Charlie Brent was born Phillip Charles Tyler in Pine Valley, the first great-grandson of the town's most venerable of families. In truth, this Tyler boy was a Brent. Tara Tyler had slept with her high school sweetheart, Phil Brent, before he left for Vietnam. Chuck Tyler decided to marry Tara and raise the child as his own, in all the laps of luxury that only a Tyler could bestow.

Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of All My Children's “Greg” & “Jenny” with “Greg” himself, Laurence Lau as he sit down for an interview in The Locher RoomLaurence began his television career with appearances on such primetime classics as Happy Days, Eight is Enough and The Waltons. More recently, he's appeared on Blue Bloods, Elementary, Law & Order, JAG and Frasier to name a few.He made his debut as Greg Nelson in 1981 and remained in Pine Valley until 1986. In addition to his role as Greg, Laurence played Jamie Frame on Another World, Sam Rappaport on One Life to Live and Brian Wheatley on As the World Turns. Laurence just finished writing a book, called Running Naked. He is also in post-production on a short film he wrote and produced called the Long Walk Home.Don't miss the chance to catch up with Laurence as we look back on the 40th wedding anniversary of Greg & Jenny right here in The Locher Room.

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Gerard Filitti is Senior Counsel at The Lawfare Project. He joined The Lawfare Project after working as a litigator in private practice for over 15 years, including at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Osen LLC. He has broad experience in commercial and complex litigation across a wide variety of practice areas, in both state and federal courts. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.

Are you ready to discover the sun-kissed greens and perfect drives of Florida's most exciting new addition to the golfing world? Dive into the splendid fairways at Cabot Citrus Farms, a tropical golf paradise that's swiftly capturing the hearts of golf enthusiasts everywhere. Named the 'Best New Golf Course,' this gem in Brooksville isn't just making waves; it's setting a new standard for golfing excellence. From the elegant layout mirroring the grandeur of historical courses to the innovative use of citrus-themed markers, Cabot Citrus Farms promises an experience as refreshing as a Floridian creamsicle beer from a local brewery. Follow us as we journey through this golfing haven in our podcast, where lush fairways, the sparkle of TrackMan-assisted drives, and the taste of victory await you! #CabotCitrusFarms #BestNewFloridaGolfCourse #GolfParadise

GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Cheryl Chumley is the Online Opinion Editor at The Washington Times. For more information, visit: https://www.cherylchumley.com. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center. GUEST 3 OVERVIEW: Drew Thomas Allen, author of America's Last Stand: Will You Vote to Save or Destroy America in 2024, is the VP of client development at Publius PR, a premiere communications firm, where Allen has worked as a publicist for many of the biggest names in politics: Peter Navarro, Dr. Naomi Wolf, Dr. Ben Carson, Alan Dershowitz, and Kari Lake, to name a few. In addition to running PR Campaigns for some of the most recognizable names in politics, Allen is a widely published columnist and host of the popular Drew Allen Show podcast. Allen is an in-demand political analyst, who has appeared on Newsmax, GB News, and on radio stations across the country.

//The Wire Weekly Rollup//February 4-10, 2024//-----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Red Sea/HOA: This week conflict escalated in the form of more substantial attacks, increased U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, and allegedly newly fielded weapons systems. Throughout the week, CENTCOM confirmed U.S. forces regularly engaged Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) that were allegedly being staged for an attack. No additional details were provided regarding this alleged newly-fielded weapons system. On Tuesday, Houthi forces continued their attacks on commercial shipping, targeting two cargo vessels. The M/V STAR NASIA was targeted by several cruise missiles which impacted near the ship causing minor damage. The M/V MORNING TIDE was also targeted with three cruise missiles unsuccessfully.Middle East: The situation in Gaza, having deteriorated significantly over the past few weeks, has become increasingly more serious following the increase of tensions between Israel and Egypt. These tensions come as Israeli rhetoric increasingly indicates imminent operations in the Philadelphi corridor, on the Egyptian border. Thursday afternoon, Israeli sources announced the commencement of operations in Rafah, ordering the evacuation of the city in advance of the invasion. Similarly in the north, large military “exercises” near the Lebanese border have also exacerbated the situation, and possibly could be an indication of a widening conflict. In response, Egypt has deployed multiple battalions from the 4th Armored Division (of the 3rd Field Army) to the border region.Europe: Farmer protests continue as before. Including now well over two dozen nations, protests and demonstrations remain highly variable in different locations. In Spain and France, demonstrations are quite kinetic, with police largely not effective in reducing the impact of protesters actions.Switzerland: A 32-year-old Iranian asylum applicant armed with an ax held 15 people hostage on a train in Yverdon Wednesday night. After several hours of negotiation, the assailant was shot by police breaching the train. No hostages were injured during the ordeal.-HomeFront-CA: Early Wednesday morning a USMC CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went missing in transit from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. SAR efforts were challenging due to weather conditions and the rugged terrain in the vicinity of the aircraft's last reported position. Thursday, rescue teams located the crash site in Pine Valley, and recovered the remains of all 5 crew members. No further details have been provided on the cause or exact location of the crash.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In 2024, a “red line” issued by an Arab state doesn't mean too much, but the Egyptian response to the situation in Rafah will largely be dependent on Israel's actions. Egyptian forces already have deployed a few dozen tanks to the border region, but there are few indications that Egypt seeks to initiate conflict, despite previous claims. However, as the US has dispatched the CIA director to conduct yet another visit to Egypt, the arrival of the harbinger of nothing good is likely to increase tensions as intended.A complicating factor is the characterization of the tensions between Israel and the Arab world. For instance, on the face, relations with all Arab states suffered due to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. However, behind the scenes (and away from the rhetoric), many Arab states have taken efforts to aid Israel. For instance, a joint project between Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE includes the creation of an overland trade route to allow shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea trade route, and allow for the delivery of cargo to Israel. Over the past few days (and very quietly), cargo vessels have been observed leaving Port Said in Egypt, and delivering 

One person was hospitalized and six people were displaced after a house fire broke out in Chula Vista this morning. The five Marines who died in the military crash near Pine Valley earlier this week have been identified. An investigation into the crash is underway. This is the final weekend the Mountain View center will be opened for flood victims, the city will open a virtual assistance center next week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

//The Wire//1900Z February 8, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: USMC HELICOPTER FOUND IN CALIFORNIA, NO SURVIVORS REPORTED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The U.S. conducted multiple airstrikes in Baghdad overnight, targeting senior leadership of local Kataib Hezbollah brigades. This is a continuation of the sporadic strikes that have been conducted in the region since the attack on the US Tower 22 base in Jordan.Far East: Taiwanese and American tensions with China have escalated following the quiet announcement that the U.S. will permanently station Special Forces troops at observation posts on the islands of Kinmen and Matsu. These troops will be supporting the Taiwanese 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion.Europe: Widespread protests continue as before. In Spain, demonstrators have begun blocking distribution centers for grocery store chains affiliated with the climate agenda. This follows protesters in France using agricultural equipment to dig up the pavement in grocery store parking lots that have pledged support for climate policies.-HomeFront-CA: The search has concluded for TIGER11, the CH-53E that went down early yesterday morning. Rescue teams have located the crash site in Pine Valley, and have begun recovering the remains of all 5 crew members. No further details have been provided on the cause or exact location of the crash.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Despite much thought to the contrary, Taiwan is not merely one island many miles off the coast of mainland China. Taiwan has claimed several of the very small islands immediately off the coast of the mainland. For instance, Kinmen Island is located in the heart of Weitou Bay, which is host to a major Chinese logistics hub and the nearby city of Xiamen. The Mashan Observation Post (where US Forces are stationed) is literally two miles from the Chinese mainland. For reference, Ellis Island is about a mile from Manhattan. Though this observation post has been operational for many years (as a propaganda broadcast station), the public admittance of a permanent US presence will likely lead to increased tensions in the region.Analyst: S2A1//END REPORT//

The military has confirmed five Marines are dead after their helicopter crashed in a remote area near Pine Valley late Tuesday night. Governor Newsom has requested a major disaster declaration from President Biden to help San Diego recover from the recent storms. The temporary shelter in Balboa Park for flood victims is closing today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's show, Cheryl Chumley discusses a recent opinion piece on Anthony Fauci. GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Cheryl Chumley is the host of the Bold&Blunt Podcast at the Washington Times. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Troy Miller is the President and CEO of NRB (National Religious Broadcasters). GUEST 3 OVERVIEW: Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District, which includes the cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.

Send us a Text Message.Xiaoyao discovers an ancient and enigmatic inscription in a hidden alcove of the monastery, and learns the difficult technique of stone rubbing.The fat monk and the boatman instruct him in the art of duàn jù: "breaking the sentences" for pieces of writing that have no punctuation and look utterly incomprehensible. (See the transcript for the original piece in Chinese).Later, the Abbot joins them as they parse through the text written by the Pine Vally Daoist, and the fat monk finally learns his lesson.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and helped police with their enquiries in Amarillo, Texas.FAN MAIL is. a new feature now available to leave feedback on episodes, love or hate them. Look for the button in the top ribbon when you click on “Episodes.”Visit the Fat Monk Website: https://thefatmonk.net/for pdfs of all recorded chapters and a few more, as well as other bits of interest on Daoism, Buddhism and Neidan, with an emphasis (but not a limitation) on pre-twentieth century authors such as Huang Yuanji and Li Daochun.If you would like to support the production costs of this podcast, you may do so at Ko-fi. Check out the wonderful Flora Carbo and her music:https://floracarbo.com/

My guest on this episode is Joe Deraney from Belden, MS.  Joe wrapped up a successful 2023 by winning the Devil's Elbow Invitational in the Dominican Republic last month which earned him a spot in next year's 2024 Corales Championship on the PGA Tour.  We spoke about how he sets goals as one of the best mid-ams in the country and how he prepared to compete each year at Pine Valley and Seminole. Joe Deraney - Instagram The Story Within - The 2022 U.S. Amateur Documentary - Available Now on YouTube! The Back of the Range Collection at Imperial SportsCOUPON CODE: BOTR15 for 15% your entire purchase!Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SPOTIFY!Also Subscribe in YouTube,   Google Play , Overcast, Stitcher  Follow on Social Media! Email us:   ben@thebackoftherange.comWebsite: www.thebackoftherange.com  Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

I am continuing with the process of releasing some of the large amount of notes that I've filed away over the years that pertain to personal growth. As I mentioned, I am not building any podcasts specifically around any of these ideas. I am just putting them out to you without any particular format so you can take them in one at a time and see if they do anything for you.           One thing I didn't mention is that some of these are not just ideas, they are actually notes that I've taken with the idea to possibly construct a short story around. It's something that I learned from the gifted American Literature professor that I was fortunate to have in my senior year of college, prize winning author Kermit Moyer.           Kert told me that for the most part, he wrote like a jazz musician who was improvising a piece. He said he never knew where the writing would take him. He would just get started and soon the work would begin to take shape, almost on its own. He authored many of his writings in that way. The idea caught my fancy, and although I do a lot more planning than that, the technique is something that I do love to play around with.             So, we're going to begin today's podcast with a quick story about something that happened to me about fifteen or twenty years ago. I have a working title for this working story, but to be honest, I'm not sure that the story is going to go much farther than here. The title is, “You Know It When You See It.”           As I mentioned in a few episodes in the past, I've been playing golf for many, many years and I am really, really bad at it. Trust me. I'm not being modest or humble about it. The truth is that I was horrible when I first started playing around with it and I am every bit as horrible now as I was twenty-five years ago. I do enjoy playing. I've learned a lot about it and a lot from it. But I'm just plain bad at it.           Comedian Larry David says he's in the same boat and he once put it this way. “You really have to have a knack for this game and the truth is, I'm knackless.”           Don't worry. This story isn't really about golf at all. It's more about the recognition of mastery. So, here's what happened.           We live in a condominium on Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and there is a golf driving range about two miles away that is called “Longknockers.” I used to go over there about twice a week to hit some balls. Because my schedule is usually pretty flexible, I would go over on weekdays in the early afternoon, when the place was basically empty.           Like most driving ranges, it is a huge, open field and being in the park, there is a large line of trees on one side. I would generally go all the way over near this line of trees so I could be in the shade as I was hitting.           One afternoon, I went over there as usual and as I was walking over to my secluded spot near the trees, I was surprised to see that someone was sitting in a chair, right behind the area where I usually played from. There was never anybody there and I always had it to myself, so I was mildly perturbed. Anyway as I walked closer, I could see that this guy wasn't just sitting in the chair, he was actually sprawled across it. As I got a little closer, I could see that he seemed to be unconscious. I didn't want to disturb him, but I did want to hit my bucket of balls from my spot, so I set up about ten yards in front of him. From that vantage point, I could see a few empty bottles on the grass around his chair.  I'm not sure exactly what had been in them, but they looked like booze bottles and the general smell of the place gave a clear confirmation. I started to hit a few balls in the direction of this huge tree that was off in the distance. I had been told it was about 210 yards away. I would always hit towards the tree and even with my driver, I would consider myself lucky to be able to reach it. If you know anything about golf, you know that if you consider yourself lucky to be able to hit your driver 210 yards, you're not what they call a “big hitter.” So, I kept hitting and the guy was still passed out on the chair behind me. Finally, after I hit a shot I heard him say, “You're not replicatin' your practice swing.” I turned around and looked at him. He was sitting up a little and was a little more conscious than he had been before. “What the hell are you takin' a practice swing for if you're not going to at least try to replicate it. Complete waste of time.” I knew he was right, but I also knew that it wouldn't be a stretch to categorize my interest in golf with that phrase. Complete waste of time wouldn't be an inaccurate summation of all the hours I had spent in my life hitting golf balls. Mark Twain once said that golf was a good walk spoiled, which never bothered me much because I usually took a cart.   “You want a lesson?” he asked me. My first thought was, “My God, why would I want a lesson from this guy. He looked like he'd be lucky if he could stand up. “I teach all the best players around here. I teach at Merion, Pine Valley, Commonwealth National.” That last name caught my attention becasue my closest friend belonged to Commonwealth. “Oh yeah?” I asked. “How much?” “Forty bucks,” he answered. “I only got twenty,” I said. “Good enough,” he responded. He got up and kind of staggered over to me. He looked in my bag. “Oh, you got a new Bubble Burner,” he said. Taylor Made, a major golf company had just come out with a new driver called the Bubble Burner. It was a big sensation and my wife had surprised me with one for my birthday a little earlier. It was an incredibly sweet gesture on her part because the truth is, at my level play, buying me a fake putter for miniature golf would have been a far more appropriate use of money.   “I haven't seen one of these in person yet,” the alleged teacher said. “You mind if I hit a few? He asked. “No, not at all. Go ahead,” I responded. Now I'm not nearly a good enough writer to describe what happened next.  He pulled the club out of my bag and the second he had the club in his hands, my perception of him immediately changed. I could tell just by the way he casually held the club in his hands that this guy really knew his stuff. He teed up a ball, and with a very slow and easy, and obviously perfect swing, with no recognizable source of power whatsoever, he hit a ball over the tree in the distance. And I mean well over the tree, like over 250 yards in the air. For a hacker like me, whenever you see someone hit a ball like that, you are basically stunned, which I was. He hit about five balls in a row. Each one went way over the tree and he deliberately bent a couple of shots to the right, which in golf is called a “fade.” And then a few over to the left, called a “draw.” I was in a transformed state just watching him. I'm not sure I was even breathing. He handed me back the club and said, “I don't really like what they've done with this. I couldn't really control it.” I could barely move. He started giving me a lesson and honestly, I don't really remember what he taught me. I do remember that the way he had me swing the club was very different from the way I had been doing it. We had a nice time together and as we were about to say goodbye to each other, he looked at me sideways and said, “Let me ask you something.” He was still pretty inebriated. “If I hadn't shown you what I showed you today, what would you have been practicing?” “I don't know,” I responded, “I guess my same..” “Your same old freaking bullshot,” he growled back at me, like a drill sergeant.  Of course those weren't his exact words, but you get the point. Later that day, I called my friend who belonged to Commonwealth and he knew exactly who this guy was because he was well known to the top players as the best player in the entire Philadelphia area. He could have made the pro tour but he had a serious problem with alcohol and was never able to kick it. A couple of years later, they found him dead in a flop house. So why did I tell you this story? Well, simply because it taught me two very critical lessons that ultimately had to do with personal growth. The first one is, you know that you are in the presence of the master of a craft as soon as you see them perform. This can be about anything, sports, cards, chess, knitting, you name it. You can be around a lot of people who are good, but when you're with a true master, you know it when you see it. With this guy, whose first name was Billy, he was dead drunk when I first met him and he could have said a million things to me. When he took the club in his hands, I could tell he had skill, but I still had my doubts. But as soon as he started hitting the ball, constantly putting it well over the tree in the distance that I could barely reach, all my doubt immediately vanished and I was in that state in that famous Bruno Mars song when he sang, “Don't believe me, just watch.” The last thing that he said to me was deeply meaningful as well. If I hadn't run into a teacher who could point out my errors and show me the way to a better swing, even though I would be doing something that I would call practicing, all I would really be doing is my same old freaking bullshot. And by the way, with golf as with most skills, nothing beats having a real live teacher giving you instruction. God knows I have a million books and tapes on golf and they really haven't done me much good. One good teacher is worth its weight in gold. Now, it's easy to know when you're exposed to transformative information about golf because your score eventually starts to improve. With personal growth, if you have access to good information and especially if you have a good teacher, your inner world starts to improve. As our consciousness begins to evolve and expand, there is a natural sense of harmonic well being that starts to come over you, and all the better angels of your nature start to show up. Well, I haven't really examined this little anecdote in several years and it's always a lot of fun and a little enlightening whenever I do. It was just a quirky little lesson about life that came to me unexpectedly on a golf driving range, delivered by a lovable rapscallion of a character who could have easily come straight out of the Twilight Zone. It's the kind of thing that often happens when you're lucky enough to be able to tune into it. So that will be it for this episode. As always, keep your eyes, mind and heart opened, and let's get together in the next one.    

Curiosity is a super power and it's what drives everything we are doing here at Did I tell you... Lost ball marker, great podcast. Albi loses his prized ball marker earlier in the day but ends the day with three new buddies that solve his ball marker woes once and for all.   Albi and Panda catch-up with the founders of the hottest new golf gift launching this holiday season... Marker Locker. They share how through their own creative inspiration, they were able to develop the concept, design, refine, and launch all within less than a 12 month period.  It's not only a remarkable story, it's also inspiring to anyone who is driven to create. 3 new spirit animals join the shed:Honey Badger, Kangeroo #2, GOAT (KID) DITYAMA also launches the first of many contests... this one is for the hard to get Marker Lockers!  We are giving away 6 of these initially. Listen to the podcast for the secret word provided during the podcast for an easy way to multiply your chances to win. https://gleam.io/e90QE/dityamafm-giveawayAlbi learns the hard way that these guys are damn good putters, good sticks over all, and also learns more importantly...  great dudes who share the passion for golf. This episode has a little bit for everyone: 00:00:29 "People call me Albi"00:07:23 Lost ball marker, great podcast.The timestamp in the podcast where it starts to say "Creating a unique golf accessory" is 00:13:22. Creating a unique golf accessory.00:15:48 Ball markers as collectible items.00:23:55. Think outside the box.00:24:12 The podcast discusses a golf challenge.00:29:48. Can a human swallow a golf ball 00:37:12 Reverse sandbaggers are controversial.00:39:19 Importance of honesty in golf.00:50:07 Predicting animal battles is entertaining.01:00:05 Albi Brain /  random questions.01:05:10 Life is full of unexpected moments.01:09:12 Golf cart etiquette is important.01:18:26 John Daly 01:24:08 Swing aids require active use.

In the world of City Clubs, Jeff McFadden is well known and well-respected. As the CEO of the Union League of Philadelphia he has developed a national reputation as a club leader. Ask GM's who know him and they use adjectives to describe him like "Brilliant", "Visionary" and "remarkable." In this episode, Jeff shares his involvement in transforming the Union League from a club in financial trouble generating about $7 million in annual revenue to a club that does about 100 million annually. He also shares his perspective on breaking away from old financial models and how to engage new, younger members with long-time club personalities. Is now the time to double down and invest in your club? Listen to Jeff's thoughts on that topic as well.  Noteworthy Moments: Jeff talks about making the leap to the Union League - 3:45 Park it! The Union League buys a parking garage - 9:07 Building your granddaughter's club - 13:21 Thinking differently about the financial future and the "right way to run a railroad" - 15:25 Change management and getting the right people on the bus - 19:03 The city club and more. Building an investment portfolio - 25:52 How Jeff views appealing to different member demographics - 35:06 Is this the time to invest in your club? - 39:28 Episode Summary: For club leaders who feel stuck in the "same old, same old" Jeff provides a fresh take on some long time issues. He also offers some insightful thoughts around managing the issue of engaging younger new members while keeping long time members excited about the club. As the General Manager, now CEO of the Union League of Philadelphia, Jeff is gone from managing day to day operations of a city club to running a $100 million business. If you're someone hoping to create this kind of growth at your club and this type of career track for yourself, you'll appreciate Jeff McFadden's Perspective Let's Connect If you find Crushing Club Marketing helpful please share it with a friend and be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast. Also, find more information on private club marketing services from StoryTeller, check out our website here. If you'd like to connect with Ed Heil on LinkedIn, feel free to send a request! Transcript Ed Heil: [00:00:00] You're listening to Crush and Club Marketing, a podcast for progressive club leaders looking to increase their club's revenue. Time for Change begins right now. In the world of city clubs. Jeff McFadden is well-known and well-respected as the CEO of the Union League of Philadelphia. He's developed a national reputation as a club leader, as GM's who know him and these adjectives to describe him like brilliant, visionary and remarkable. In this episode of Crushing Club Marketing, I catch up with Jeff to learn more about his involvement in building the Union League from a club in financial trouble to a club that does about 100 million in revenue annually. He calls it accidental brilliance, but there's more to it than that. [00:00:44][44.7] Ed Heil: [00:00:46] Your name has come up in so many conversations regarding just what a strong leader and visionary you are and in the work you've done at the Union League. And I know that it's difficult to talk about yourself in that way. But there was a quote that I read from Jason Straka from the Frye Straka, a global golf course design firm and Jason Straka, said Union League CEO Jeff McFadden is one of the most respected general managers associated with the golf business. He's credited with vastly expanding the Union League's social and business opportunities, knowing that many of their members on a vacation home down on the Jersey Shore and or vacation there quite a bit. Jeff saw an opportunity for a second golf facility, and obviously this is referring to one of the the golf clubs that the union now owns. But when you hear those kind of accolades, and that, what goes through your mind. [00:01:46][60.0] Jeff McFadden: [00:01:47] Well, first of all, what goes through my mind is I pay Jason, which is a good thing. And that's probably why he had those nice accolades about us. But when he and Dana Frye did at Union League, National is just over the top. It's the Disney World of golf. It's spectacular. Over the last year, 27 holes. And now we're proud. I'm very proud of what I did. I think a lot of what we've done over the last 25 years was accidental brilliance through really just perseverance, hard work, you know, trying to get the right strategy and then keeping your head down and, you know, working through what you could do and keeping a smile on your face to, you know, that's. [00:02:27][40.1] Ed Heil: [00:02:27] Yeah, well, you make it sound simple and, you know, I guess when it comes second, nature probably feels simpler. Although I know it's not always been super easy, as is. Most jobs are when you're there that long. But 25 years, you know, that's a long run. And your first two jobs in you know as I think GM and both both jobs five years and three years which is pretty typical, right. I mean, is that do I have that right? Help me out with that. [00:02:56][28.7] Jeff McFadden: [00:02:56] Yeah. No, When I graduated the hotel school at Cornell, I went to the Cosmos Club as food and beverage manager, got promoted to assistant GM clubhouse manager. And then my first GM job is in Denver, Colorado, at the University Club, which I never thought I'd move back to the East Coast from Colorado. But I did. Yeah, right. When I got headhunted to go to the Union League at at age 30. So good times. [00:03:20][24.1] Ed Heil: [00:03:21] Guess, you know, at age 30. What did the Union League see in you at that age, especially looking back now? I mean, what's it like looking back now and, you know, knowing what you were like then? I mean, what do you think they saw in you that time? [00:03:34][12.4] Jeff McFadden: [00:03:34] Well, I think in in reality, I think I was the fifth person they offered the job, too. So, you know. [00:03:40][5.2] Ed Heil: [00:03:40] You sort of you I wish I got I got a vet that won out. But yeah. [00:03:44][3.5] Jeff McFadden: [00:03:45] You know, right place, right time, situation. It just worked out well. The league was struggling in the late eighties, 1990s, as Philadelphia was struggling quite a bit before Ed Rendell, who was a gregarious mayor, wind up becoming governor of Pennsylvania. Just a terrific leader, inspirational type of person. So, you know, when I was young enough, probably dumb enough and not experienced enough to know what I was getting into. And the the more senior statement statements in the club industry probably looked at the league and said, I don't want to touch it. Right. It's it had sort of had terminal cancer. At the time it wasn't bankrupt, but it was very close to bankrupt. But I saw that it had great bones as well. It had a great foundation. You know, at 30, you think you can change the world? I think I've done well in changing the league. And it was just being again at the right place at the right time for the right situation. And we made a bad decision or a mistake. We were young enough to outhustle the mistake or the bad decision. Right. [00:04:57][71.7] Ed Heil: [00:04:57] That's interesting. So what has made you successful for so many years? I mean, if you just take the years alone, that's an incredible achievement in in the private club space to be at one place for 25 years. What do you think has made you successful in that role? [00:05:13][15.8] Jeff McFadden: [00:05:13] Well, I think the way we acquired and operate the club as sort of, you know, being an innovative type organization. Now, when I did my independent study at Cornell, I studied close to 5000 city clubs throughout the world. It was from the 15 person City Club to the to the club that had 5000. And you needed three things. You needed to have parking, you needed to know, because I gave members assurance coming in from the suburbs that they had a place to park. As you get older, you have more net worth to spend. You get a little worried about where you're going to park. The data showed that that was a huge part of being a successful city club. Yeah. So we bought a parking garage right when I got there, and then we just doubled our revenues in in less than one year. While the number two thing at the greatest city clubs in the world shared was they never sold their land and built the site skyscraper and put their club at the top of the building because eventually the I guess after the data shows after three days that you went away and then the elevator became a barrier to entry, there were a few clubs in New York, Manhattan and Tokyo that buck that trend. Windows on the World, that was a public restaurant. There was a small private club component of Windows on the World. But truly, if you were successful, members had to walk into your club, right? So the league had that as well. And then you need overnight rooms. You have all the expenses running a club, marketing, administration, engineering, you name it. If you add some overnight rooms to the equation, the profitability or the surplus that they could throw off departmentally, you know, $0.60, $0.70 on the dollar really were work well. So I was able to. Run those three things when I first got there and then reinvest into the club with incredible dining business centers, cigar bar, you know, fitness centers, that sort of thing. And so for if I look at my 25 years, the first ten or 15 was taking that incredible foundation that the league was all about. Investing in that. Growing, growing the institution. And then after ten or 15 years, we use the profitability or the surplus that was gained to really have a longer strategic plan that we entitled "Building Your Granddaughter's Club". Yeah. And and that was you know, that was sort of a light bulb moment, like, okay, are we just going to be the greatest 1965 club in 2005? Right. Or, you know, in in 2025, were we going to be what your granddaughter and great granddaughter are going to want in a private club? You know how to how do they socialize? How do they use it? You know, we started asking ourselves all those questions. [00:08:13][179.3] Ed Heil: [00:08:13] I love that. I want to come back to that next, but if we just step back to you being 30 years old, when you took that job and, you know, you come in and, you know, buying the parking structure and then you started, it sounds like, you know, in the first ten years, there's a lot of innovation and things moving forward. And I know that some of the games that will pay attention to our conversation, they're younger. There's definitely a trend towards a lot of younger jobs or it seems that there is. How did you get their trust, at that you know, I mean, and what was the mindset of the board? Were they just like, hey, we've done our homework, We know Jeff's the right guy, let him go do it. But, you know, there are a lot of clubs out there who are like, Yeah, we'll get him in there, but we'll just tell him what to do. I mean, how do you know what I mean? How do you get in there and earn their trust and really go like that? [00:09:06][52.7] Jeff McFadden: [00:09:07] So and is fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time, as I said, because of their how they were struggling financially. But with that said, you can't go in and change the world overnight. You need to start small, you need to show a small victory and then capitalize on each of those victories. You know, as they say, having, you know, having, you know, one bite at a time, you know, you just that's way you have to do it. I think we we had, you know, coming in in 1998 on the heels with Ed Rendell being the mayor of the Republican National Convention, was held in Philadelphia in 2000. We had a tradition as a Republican club. So that was really, you know, helped us springboard into reinvesting in our facilities. But I convinced them to do little things, that the garage was a big thing. But we had already started putting new carpeting, new wallpaper, you know, one dining room at a time, hiring younger, more robust, enthusiastic, vibrant servers and studying what people wanted on food menus and that and so forth. And we just basically started with one dining room and then did another dining room and then did a bar and then bought the parking garage. And the parking garage was, was a struggle. We it was a first assessment we had at the league in 50 years. We did not have a lot of support for it. Yeah. So we, we did wind up getting about 67%, 68% in favor of it. Yeah. And, and I figure just a quick story. I was very transparent because I was I was very young at that time. So I shared everything. I still and I still am as transparent as they come. I just don't lead with my chin. Right. What's actually going on in things? [00:11:01][113.7] Ed Heil: [00:11:01] I gotta remember that. [00:11:01][0.6] Jeff McFadden: [00:11:02] Yeah. You know, it makes talking so much or sharing so much as being transparent. I know that's not necessarily people want to be let right. Need to be led and you want to be transparent in everything you do. You just don't need to tell everybody everything every minute of the day. Right? [00:11:19][17.4] Ed Heil: [00:11:20] Right. Yeah. No doubt. [00:11:21][1.1] Jeff McFadden: [00:11:21] With social media and, you know, it just seems that's what the next generation is doing. Right. So we were we were we were trying to figure out we needed to do an assessment. It was very was it very much about $2,000 a member. And we you know, they were hemming and hawing about paying that. And and one member said, could I get my money back at a town hall meeting? And I said, Mr. Grossman, you are absolutely brilliant. That's a great idea. We're going to make your assessment refundable. All you have to do is propose a new member. And it was like a light bulb went off and we ran with that. You had actually proposed two members you got $1,000 back for your first member, 1000 for your second. I love it. This is back in 1999. And basically all the naysayers and we still had it still 30 to 33% of the people voted against it. I would say to them, I said, you don't have any friends or colleagues or business people that you could propose to become a member of the league to help us out, to make sure, you know. And that was on top of all the importance of parking, obviously. Right. And then we were about a $7 million operation. We bought the parking garage. And I think the next year after it opened, we were 21, $22 million operations. Wow. Doubled, tripled what we were doing. And all it is is take the you know, the folks from the mainline or from South Jersey who are uncomfortable coming into an urban environment. Yeah, we just assured that they had parking. Right. We just said we have valet parking. It's right next to the club. [00:12:59][97.8] Ed Heil: [00:12:59] Yeah. Safety and convenience. [00:13:00][1.1] Jeff McFadden: [00:13:01] Yeah. [00:13:01][0.0] Ed Heil: [00:13:02] Exact easiest things. [00:13:02][0.8] Jeff McFadden: [00:13:03] Wow. So and so. I rode that pony for a long time,Ed, the parking garage. You know, work magic for me for the next ten years. [00:13:11][8.5] Ed Heil: [00:13:11] Yeah, no doubt. I love that. Let's talk about building your granddaughter's club. When did you come up? When did you, like, come up with that phrase that I love that I read that one of the articles. [00:13:20][8.6] Jeff McFadden: [00:13:21] Yeah. It just, you know, obviously being a men's club for so long, over 125 years of the men's club, we allowed women in 1986. The idea is there's there's so much connotation in that phrase granddaughter building your granddaughters time, meaning that we're becoming progressive more, you know, more forward thinking, more inclusive. And I also got everyone thinking not about themselves, but about the next generation and the generation after them. So I think that's almost more important than than the gender identification of saying building your granddaughters club the to show and to get the culture of our members to think that yes, we've been here 162 years, we're going to be here another hundred and 62 years. Let me not get tied up in minutia of today, but think about tomorrow and you see this and golf clubs and country clubs where they fight over a new irrigation system, you know, an 80 year old to say, hey, I don't want to pay for the new irrigation system. I'm not going to be here. Right, right, right. And you say to that person, well, you're not paying for the new irrigation system, you're paying for the irrigation system you consumed over the last 30 years. Right. And and and that's the sort of the mindset that we started to and now people are like they're proud when we build we have built into their views a capital do structure but they're proud with the the advancements that we have made, the investments that we've made and they don't they don't think of it as for them. They think, Wow, my granddaughter and my grandson are going to love this place. And it's just a little nuance, a little change. [00:15:05][104.6] Ed Heil: [00:15:06] But I've not heard people position it like that. What has been your overall philosophy, you know, and how do you share that as far as like keeping people thinking forward? Like, is there an overarching sort of, I don't know, almost like value or belief that you have that you sort of, you know, live by that way? [00:15:24][18.3] Jeff McFadden: [00:15:25] That's a it's a great question. Yeah. I think it's it's always thinking about the future. And I and I and I tell members and a lot of clubs do not do this. We have $54 million in debt, which people are like, Oh, oh, that's a lot of money. And then I don't know. And we also have $20 million in the bank, right? And if we had saved a dollar per member per month since our inception in 1862, yeah, we'd have $1,000,000,000 in the bank. And when you tell stories like that to members and you know it resonates and it gets to them that, you know, you're you're not just here to enjoy the club, but you are a steward of the club. You are a steward of the institution. You know, you need to think of it in that capacity. And for 100 years, clubs never did. Right? Right. They matter of fact, to this day, your investment income of a 501c7 is taxable. So I'm trying to tell people that they need to start a foundation to do a charitable set aside for their foundation. Do you know, do well by doing good in your community and people? Some of the greatest clubs. And I'll say, Jeff, we don't have any investments, we don't have any investment yet. I said, What do you mean? You're Aronomik, you're Marion Golf, you're Pine Valley, you don't have investment income. Like now we don't have any debt, We don't have any savings. We live hand to mouth, right? And then we assess for when we want to build something. I said, I just don't think that's the right way to run the railroad. I think, you know, you you boil the frog slowly, you add capital dues monthly into your regular dues, and you always plan for the future. You don't you don't pay off your mortgage without saying without saving for your kids college education. Right. It's right. It's not rocket science. [00:17:26][121.7] Ed Heil: [00:17:27] Yeah, well, but why don't more ask why is it so commonsense? You But I mean, so many clubs operate exactly how you just explain it. [00:17:35][7.3] Jeff McFadden: [00:17:35] Because they let emotion get in the way. You know, they bail They they you know, we're all self-serving, though, don't get me wrong. I'm self-serving as well. But, you know, if you don't have the mentality that you're part of a greater good. You know, you can easily get into. You know? You know, what are we spending today and how can I have the best results and the best experience at the least cost and. And group think happens, very quickly, you know, great leaders, you know, can change culture quickly and then you can get into the abyss quickly as well. In that group thinking and psychology of pricing, whether it's dues or golf fees, food and beverage, menu prices, whatever is important to understand because people want value, right? They still want value, and yet they're going to do that. And we're trying you know, we're trying to ride the wave, tap into a new way of thinking, a new way to run finances and hopefully don't take off. [00:18:37][61.9] Ed Heil: [00:18:38] And I mean, what you're saying just makes so much sense. But let me throw a wrinkle in on this where it's like a lot of times people will join committees of clubs, they'll join boards and clubs because they have something they have an agenda that they are pushing, right. And they want to get one. I get that. I'll make sure this gets done. How do you how have you been able to manage that? Because that's like that's such a reality that people struggle with. [00:19:03][24.8] Jeff McFadden: [00:19:03] Well, that takes investment, believe it or not. And here's the investment. The answer is yes. Now ask me the question, says a club professional. You have to have the ability to take no off the table. Not that you can say yes to everything, but a lot of people get into committees and committee services because they haven't been satisfied by the team or by the professional folks they weren't listened to. More often than not, it's not one or the other, right? It's not, you know, should we have sesame seeds on our bun or should we not have sesame seeds on it? But by the way, I've had that conversation at the board level, which is idiotic. You know, you have to believe the right thing. So love it, right? We always tell folks, don't waste your time getting on a committee, because the answer is yes. What do you need? What do you want? We're here for you. And I train everyone never to say no. Even if you know it's impossible. You always say, Let me figure it out. Let me see if I can get back to you and come up with a couple of solutions that may not get you all the way to yes, but takes no off the table. Sure. The other thing we do with committees, which I think is brilliant and I thought it because I stole it from the Missouri Athletic Club and it's worked really well, is that we don't allow anyone to serve on a committee unless they have proposed successfully proposed amendment. Interesting. So one of the things you have, I mean, if you get in a very domineering type member who wants to get on committees and has very strong opinions about something. Nine times out of ten, they have not proposed a member because they usually have a bombastic attitude or they're so aggressive. Nobody wants you know, they're just they're a bull in a china shop. And so we put that qualification in that you have to successfully propose the member to serve on a committee. You need to answer a whole bunch of questions, fill out an application and send us your CV, which is another high hurdle to get over. And then we limit our committees just to 3 to 5 people with two professionals. So the total committee will be 5 to 7 and the two professionals have a vote and we only put on committees those who have an expertise and whatever the committee is doing, you know, which drives me nuts when you have the dentist, you know, as chair of the Green committee, you know, and the gardening and all of a sudden he's an expert on agronomy. [00:21:35][151.7] Ed Heil: [00:21:36] Right, Right. [00:21:36][0.4] Jeff McFadden: [00:21:36] Yeah, right. So we'll have that. Instead. We'll have the person that owns the garden center. Right? That's the excuse me. That's the national alert. We were talking about getting a. You know, we want to make sure. So on our food and beverage committees, we have restaurateurs, we have hotel people, we have staffing h.r. Directors who staff for hotels. So we we're pretty smart. We try to put the right people in the right, in the right position. We try to push decision making down to the subcommittee level as best we can. And then quite frankly, the answer is yes. And it defuzes a lot of that tension that you have between members. And then if you couple that with a capital dues at party or regular dues, you don't have to ask for assessments where you could get the tennis racket players fighting against the golfers and the golfers fighting against the wine, people on the wine, people fighting gets the fitness people and the older folks fighting against the younger folks who have kids. And you're putting money into child care and baby pools and that sort of thing. Yeah. So by building the capital into it, into the, you know, you hopefully can trigger projects that are the right decision at the right time. I have a woman right now who is a member, I love her to death, you know, a part of our ten year master plan. We have we are not going to build a outdoor family pool at one of our locations until 2029. And she looked at me and she goes, Jeff, I have an eight year old, ten year old and 12 year old building in 2018. 2019 is not going to serve me a purpose, right? Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, you know, so I have to understand that I have rationalized that over. [00:23:26][110.4] Ed Heil: [00:23:27] The course of the last. Gosh, what since you've been there in the last 25 years, you've the club has purchased restaurants and golf clubs, and for a city club you don't hear city clubs doing that often. What, what was behind this and what is behind it? And is this just part of the mission and what you see going forward, you know, for years to come? [00:23:49][22.2] Jeff McFadden: [00:23:50] So we were studying city clubs for a while and you know, back in 1967, we served 2500 lunches a day. Right? It was it was, if you remember, the old movie Trading Places with Eddie Murphy. That was the Union League, right? It was Mortimer and Randolph. Duke and Duke. Yeah. And so lunch was losing. You know, the urban downtown environments were changing, becoming much more residential. The younger kids were moving in and we started to think long term, how is your granddaughter going to use the club versus your grandfather? And we and we just we really started to just think and do some studying about trends and and thought patterns. And it really dawned on us that these younger generation wanted more experiences. Right? They didn't they didn't do the same thing over and over and over. Their grandfather would dine at the same table, you know, every Saturday night, 50 weekends a year, right at Philly Country Club and sort of have the same menu item. Their grandfather had five friends. Their granddaughter now has 500 friends. Right. So the way he or she socializes in a club is totally different than the grandfather, though you typically would find the grandfather on the board making decisions. Right? [00:25:10][80.2] Ed Heil: [00:25:10] Right. Totally. [00:25:11][0.4] Jeff McFadden: [00:25:12] We had to kind of think through that. And they and then we thought, you know, the granddaughter only eats out at her favorite restaurant three or four times a year where the grandfather again, a 50 times that is her, right? Yeah. At their favorite restaurant, you know, And then they saying that the granddaughter wants a condo in Manhattan and a condo in Manhattan Beach and it has more of a lock and load mentality, experience driven versus a $10 million house. You know, we're in Grosse Pointe with ten bedrooms on ten acres, and the next generation just doesn't want that. [00:25:51][39.2] Ed Heil: [00:25:52] For sure. [00:25:52][0.2] Jeff McFadden: [00:25:52] So we started to to to to think about what could the league become and we started to think a lifestyle club. So can we get them in? It's not just a city social lunch club, but it could be more of a lifestyle club offering more experiences, more amenities. At the same time, we realized that because we had increased our revenues by so much with the parking garage and some of the smaller investments we've made, we realized scale was important. So not only was the next generation changing how they wanted to use the the club and socialize within a club environment, we realized scale is important because clubs have just gotten downright expensive to operate 100, 125 years ago, in the golden age of private clubs, immigration was inexpensive, labor was cheap. There was no environmental laws. There was no. Health care. So you. You know. Tom, Dick, Harry, Sally could start a club back in the early 19th century or 20th century and be very well and be very successful at it. If you look at Detroit or Boston, Westchester, New York, Philadelphia, there are a lot of clubs that were started from 1890 to 1920, the Golden Age. And so that that hit us like like, like a sledgehammer. We needed to increase our top line because our expenses were more were very high. But we also started small. I don't want to anybody think we had this grand strategy or, you know, we have three country clubs now. We'll soon have 81 holes of golf, two independent restaurants that are members only that are really cool, tony type restaurants that you you can't eat in unless you're a member. But it didn't start that. It was very slow. As you said, I've been there 25 years. And people say, Jeff, what you've done to the league overnight is incredible. Like time. It's been like the Bataan Death March in some respects, though, obviously we respect veterans and everyone who gave their life for this country. You know, a quick story about our first acquisition was this little 100 seat restaurant in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, a block from the beach called the Bungalow. And it was just truly accidental brilliance and luck. And we started very small in branching out from from Center City, Philadelphia. I was down staying down the shore with a board member of the league. My wife and I were staying there and we were playing golf. It was July when Philadelphia was just completely empty because everybody goes down to the shore. And I figured that out. You know, I didn't realize it at the time. I figured out shortly after this new swanky hotel called the Reeds, it was just built in on the harbor of Stone of Stone Harbor. So the board members, let's go over, have a drink. After topside went over their back deck overlooking the water with all the boats. And I run into like 20 members. I'm like, Oh, Mr. Turner. Mr. Smith. Oh, man. It was like, Oh, and it was great. Brand new. They put like, you know, 80 million into this place and it was fantastic. They said to Jules, my wife, I said the next night before we go to dinner, let me, let's, let's go show you the reeds and we go back to The Reeds, back to the back bar on the deck overlooking the harbor. And I run into like 20 more members that were magnificent. The numbers are around on Friday, and I'm like, Wow, A light bulb went off. Yeah, where everybody's at. And so we quickly did some data analytics realize that over 65% of our members spent two or more weeks at the Jersey Shore. We then did some zipcode analysis. We found that most of the wealth was moving from Atlantic County, which is home of Atlantic City, little north of Cape May, down to Cape May County, the Avalon Stone Harbor, Cape May area, Ocean City area. Yeah. And we bought a $600,000 restaurant that was in a fire sale because there was a tax lien on it, put about another 600,000 in. So it was a million to investment. And it just took off. We had we had it. And it not only took off as a great place to eat because you can't get into a restaurant down there. Plus, you as a restaurateur, you wouldn't start a restaurant there because the season is so short. So it was a real conundrum. You couldn't get. There were enough restaurants seats from July 4th through Labor Day. But you couldn't make enough money as a restaurant tour to open a restaurant because there was only a ten week season. Right? We had 500 net new members join the league because of the bungalow. [00:30:56][303.8] Ed Heil: [00:30:57] Wow. [00:30:57][0.0] Jeff McFadden: [00:30:58] So what I said and then with an equity focus group, the whole bunch of them, we found out that they they loved the Union League in Center City, Philadelphia, but they just didn't get there enough to use it. But now you couple the bungalow down the shore in a marketplace, you can't go out to eat because you can't get a reservation and all of that, except I'm willing to join the league, pay dues because you have Center city. And the Bungalow brought us to buying Torresdale buying Sand Barrens which became Union league National. Buying the Ace Golf Club and Chubb Conference Center and buying the guardhouse in Gladwin. So we just kind of over the next ten years, kept adding properties that grew our membership, our net membership. And if you think about layering that onto the thought process that your your grandchildren are going to have 500 friends. And you need scale because clubs are expensive. It just started to click win, win, win win, Right. You know, and and and these cranky old small clubs that the kids don't want to belong to. They all want to belong to the league now. And we just changed our strategic plan to be called from 28 to 88. And that the concept is not only are we a great club, but we want to be a great club that you're a member of for six years. Yeah. So we get you we get you in Center City when you move in after university in college, we keep you when you move out and have kids. And when your parents die, you inherit the house down the shore. We have we have two properties down there to keep you until you're 88. Wow. That's the concept. [00:32:45][106.8] Ed Heil: [00:32:46] That it's remarkable. I mean, and so far, no regrets. [00:32:50][3.2] Jeff McFadden: [00:32:50] No, no regrets. It's just it's a it's not fun for me or not as rewarding for me as much as when you operate one location. You know, I got into hospitality, pealing potatoes at the age of ten and sort of never look back on it when I talk at universities across the country. So how did you decide to get into hospitality? Well, I never did. I just started working and just never stopped working. Right. I just I didn't I didn't conscientious like, think I was going to stay in hospitality. The one regret, though, is that, you know, we have 1200 employees now. We're over 100 million in annual revenue. I miss the satisfaction of day to day operations and people. Jeff, you have the greatest life. You know, you're not responsible. But yeah, but you don't realize, you know, it's the intrinsic value you get from. [00:33:44][53.8] Ed Heil: [00:33:46] That intimacy. [00:33:46][0.2] Jeff McFadden: [00:33:46] Location. Right? And one one. So I miss that. [00:33:50][3.1] Ed Heil: [00:33:50] Yeah, for sure. Interesting. What a machine, though. It's amazing. I got to call you on this show because you've used the term accidental brilliance and luck in a somewhat different spot here. At some point, it's no longer an accident, and it's probably not luck either. But what I'm wondering is, you know, 28 to 88, you know, that is something that I think that a lot of clubs would aspire to be, you know, to say or to to be able to pull off. And yet it's also very difficult for whatever reason, you know, for the reasons you've talked about as far as like appeasing the, you know, just two different generations or maybe three different generations in many cases, for people who are listening to this podcast who are like, you know, you don't have as well. Yeah, well, McFadden has this or he's done that or, you know, somebody who knows you have to. It starts with a vision. It starts with a belief. It starts with great membership, obviously, and, and visionary people. But for people that are listening, that are struggling with how to how to make changes to their club, to appeal to a younger membership, but also engage their aging membership. What what do you say to them? [00:35:05][75.0] Jeff McFadden: [00:35:06] Well, you got to figure out how to bring those two groups together, right? If you want people to live longer, you've got to surround them with younger people. Right. And that's the easy part. The hard part is getting the young folks to value older folks. So we look at multiple activities that an eight year old and now being very, what your eight year old can do that, an 80 year old. So that's them. But things like bowling. Right. I mean, as silly as that is, it's a thing that a young person can do. An old person do pickleball. Young person can do and an old person can do. Yeah. You know. Lectures and education. Social programs are real important to bring in those young, young people. Go. I try not to think of serving a younger market. I'm serving an older market. I'm serving a club market and try to bring the two generations of three generations together and then keep things lighthearted and fun. The crankiest old guy, you know, will respond with the young folks surrounded around them in an enjoyable environment. You know, cranky, cranky old club members make more cranky old club members. So you have to just stop that cycle, right? You got to you got to put everybody together and try to get them to enjoy each other's company in light hearted activities that everybody can do. You also have to be, as I say, you can't be all things to all people, but you have to offer enough niches at your club to satisfy multiple generations, right? You need to have. You need to be adding pickle at the same time. You're putting Padel in, you know. You need to have a resort style pool. You know, at the same time, you need an Olympic or half Olympic lane pool. So people in their seventies can stay limber and flexible. So it's not one or the other. The answer more, more often than not, is both. [00:37:12][126.4] Ed Heil: [00:37:13] You kind of create like a win win in that environment. I mean, is that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It just that is one of those those challenges I think so many people are perplexed with is the do I have to make a decision of one over the other instead of saying, is there a way that you can actually kind of make both parties happy? But like you said, you're never going to please everyone all the time. We all know that, too. [00:37:41][28.0] Jeff McFadden: [00:37:42] Right. Yeah. And that's the hard part. But with the manager, you know, one of the one of the things that I always tell tell members or other managers is, is I never write a member newsletter. You never see my face in our newsletter. I am not, you know, I hope I'm the like the little I am little short and fat, my wizard behind the curtain. I want I want other I want other folks and basically the president of the club to take all the glory, to be the mouthpiece and so forth. So I think being are 25 years and part of my success of being here 25 years is that I'm not front and center. I am I'm sort of front and center on the professional side, but certainly not on the membership side. You'll never I have never written a column and newsletter. I never write an email from from the CEO or from the general manager. It's always from the president or or from a department head or from a vice president or standing committee chair. You'll never see anything from myself to the membership. [00:38:46][63.5] Ed Heil: [00:38:46] Awesome. Well, last question for you. With so many clubs doing so well, is this I'm going to ask you a question. I probably feel like I know what you can say, but is this the time to really say, let's invest? Is this the time to take some chances? Is this a time with clubs healthier maybe than they were for sure before the pandemic, to maybe look at some things and making changes and having a little more courage? Or is it, what's your general mindset, especially for those clubs that maybe aren't as healthy and those that are, you know, really trying to figure out how best to take advantage of this time? That is better than it was before the pandemic? [00:39:27][40.7] Jeff McFadden: [00:39:28] I think the time is right to create the right strategy of constant improvement. I don't think it's the right time to do major, major improvements unless you desperately need it. You know, sometimes you just need to knock a clubhouse down to rebuild it because you're going to spend, you know, good money after bad money, so to speak. But I do think the strategy at all private clubs needs to be we are going to have constant improvement over the next ten, 15, 20 years. We're going to continue to change and adapt and better our product. If you spent if your budget over ten years was $100 million, but that's obviously ridiculous to say your budget was 10 million over ten years. If you spent all that 10 million in year one by year three, your members would say, What are you doing for me now? Right. So I think good leadership will put a strategy in that recognize this is the best of times or one of the best. And it's important for us to realize that we need to have constant improvement. And that's the right strategy. So don't give them it's like your kids. Don't give them everything right out of the bat, you know? Give it to him a little at a time. Keep them excited. You know, don't. If you're going to build some paddle courts, you know, don't build paddle, pickle, padel, hydro, clay courts all in the same year. Now you say, Well, Jeff, it might be easier. Well, do the master plan and then, you know. Dole it out a little bit at a time. Keep people excited about, you know, make sure you have something going on for multiple generations, you know, for the old folks, the middle folks, the young folks. I don't think clubs because we always relied on assessments every 10 to 12 years to do major projects. I think if we get in that we should be constantly improving each and every year and share that with them. And I think you'll keep members and members will enjoy your club so much more. [00:41:33][124.9] Ed Heil: [00:41:34] Jeff, thanks so much. It's so much fun talking to you today and hearing your perspective on what you've done in the industry in general. [00:41:40][6.5] Jeff McFadden: [00:41:41] I appreciate that. You're doing a great job. Thanks for having me on. [00:41:43][2.6]

Moose tries to remember life before Pine Valley. Trouble in TGL Paradise? The Course of Course with Harry Mayes/WW Technology Championship thoughts and more.Thank you to our Sponsors: DraftKings Sportsbook, Mall Chevrolet, Comcast Business, Rita's Water IceGambling Problem? Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY),If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in NH/OR/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply.Odds Boost: Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. +1000 Odds Boost Token valid only on a pre-tournament bet on any golfer to win a PGA tournament. Max $10 bet. Token expires 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. Promotional offer period ends 09/30/2023 at 11:59:59 PM ET. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/golfterms. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).

With temps finally in the double-digits, Las Vegans have so many more options for camping nearby: We can pitch our tents under the starry desert skies without burning to a crisp. Today, host (and noted indoors enthusiast) Dayvid Figler gets expert camping advice from Bertha Gutierrez, Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation. She shares her favorite nearby campsites, organized by level (from glamper to survivalist), and includes some great insider tips along the way, too — like where to find the best pie on the way to Utah! We're on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Here are links to Bertha's picks: LEVEL 1 CAMPING Meadview, AZ RV camping Things to do around Meadview:  Arizona Joshua Tree Forest South Cove, Lake Mead National Recreation Area Skywalk at Grand Canyon West LEVEL 2 CAMPING Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge at Upper Pahranagat Lake Free. First come, first serve campsites with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACaCBSeKerpbuNkw7 Pine Valley Recreation Area in Pine Valley, UT Reservation required for a fee Campsites, vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables.  Stop by Veyo Pies on the way there and back! LEVEL 3 CAMPING Be forewarned: No toilets, no visitor services, no cell phone signal, no stores, no picnic tables, etc. so bring plenty of food and water! Gold Butte National Monument Basin and Range National Monument Avi Kwa Ame National Monument Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back this week on Chasin' Birdies with a very close friend of the Pod. You've heard us talk about Steve numerous times on the show, and we are stoked to have him join us. As always, we're all about people chasin' birdies in life, and Steve has done just that.We open up with Steve giving us a run down on his entry into the golf world. From leaving college early to being a hip-hop artist (true story), to catching a break with Bridgestone, and finally working for Nike, he tells us his story. This doesn't come without several laughs, though. The story transitions over to his gig now with Linksoul. If you're a golfer or in golf, clearly you've heard of Linksoul. Steve got the nod to join Linksoul and now has grown to oversee sales across the US. We talk about the products Linksoul puts out, and Steve gives us a look at what the product will look like moving forward. Steve carries an 8 handicap, so naturally, we get some laughs from him on the course. We turn the episode over to some golf talk and tell some stories about us playing golf with Steve. We touch on stories from Pine Valley to Pronghorn, and they come with many laughs. Bash tells the story of Steve and his 8-iron. The 8-iron story is gold. We end the episode with our standard Tap-In segment where we ask Steve some questions that demand his quick response. Tune in to this week's episode..we know you'll enjoy it. Key Links:Visit hbgolf.com for great golf apparel now repped by Chasin' Birdies. Stay tuned for more info on winning custom headcovers from WinstonCollection.comOur Tap-in segment is sponsored by Bettinardi GolfPartners with Nemacolin Resort. -----Follow Chasin' Birdies on Instagram @chasin_birdies.Chasin' Birdies is hosted by Ryan Bashour and Jonathan Pepe. Produced by Simpler Media.

Stop what your doing and check this out!!! We have a wild episode this week!! Mike was fortunate enough to play Pine Valley, while Ryan took a 10 day golf trip to Ireland. So the fellas are recapping both experiences!!! Our guest to is the Chairman of Carne Golf Links in Ireland, Gerry Maguire. Gerry has an incredible story and insight into the history of the course and the town of Belmullet. He was featured on the "Tourist Sauce" video from the No Laying Up Podcast and in the Tom Coyne book "A Course Called Ireland." An excellent episode, so get your popcorn ready and enjoy!!! ---------------------- Support for the Show: All County Exteriors - https://allcountyexteriors.com/ Check out our merch here: https://flukeapparelco.com/products/the-drop-polo-limited-edition Follow & Subscribe: Spotify: The DROP Podcast Apple Podcasts: The DROP Podcast Instagram: (@)TheDROP_Pod YouTube: The DROP Golf Podcast Twitter: (@)TheDROP_Pod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mike-puorro6/support

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is made possible by Member support. If you'd like to support the show, please consider becoming a TGJ Member: https://glfrsj.nl/Memberships Bernard Darwin didn't invent golf writing. But as TGJ contributor and philosophy professor Matt Chominski tells us, he was the first to prove it could be a career. Chominski and host Tom Coyne are your guides through Darwin's singular golf life, with timeless tales about Pine Valley, Bobby Jones, the inaugural Walker Cup, and his famed grandfather Charles (yes, that one).