#wednesdaymatchplay

When I lived in SW Florida I connected with @FearTheSkirt on Twitter. She eventually came to visit and we've stayed in touch ever since. She is a member at TPC Sugarloaf and was kind enough to introduce me to Chris Weinhold, the GM at TPC Twin Cities.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText you will learn more about his time at TPC Twin Cities, all of the different positions he’s held, their membership categories and more on the Arnold Palmer design and how Tom Lehman got involved in the project. Chris also talks about the TPC Passport and the 3M Open, a PGA TOUR event taking place at TPC Twin Cities. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Chris on the show. Oh, and he also tells a story about the first time he birdied 17 at TPC Sawgrass. Sure, Chris, I believe you! Let’s tee off.

Later this year Sheryl and I will be boarding a plane for SE Asia. We plan to visit Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. Chatting with my good friend Bill Healey about this trip, he recommended I check out Phokeethra Country Club. Turns out he's there and knows the Golf Manager at Phokeethra, Fabrice Ho. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText you will get an overview of the property, learn more about golf in the GoldenLand, hear about his journey to this location, their caddie program and what sort of continued education is offered for golf managers in this region. We also talk about the food and beverage being offered and if the coronavirus is having an impact on travel. This was an informative episode and I enjoyed having Fabrice on the show. Let's tee off. 

A few months ago Barry Friedman and I were talking about Andrew Johnson. They worked together at Isleworth. Think he has some good stories about Tiger?  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play presented by MemberText you will learn more about his time at Isleworth, his win at the 2005 Cleveland Open, his thoughts on training aids, and what he charges for a golf lesson. Andrew also talks about his relationship with Tyler Duncan, a young up and coming PGA TOUR player. Andrew is originally from Indiana, so we had a lot to talk about! This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Andrew on the show. Let's tee off.

A few weeks ago Grooveit Brush reached out to me on Instagram. We stayed in touch, I ordered a brush and I invited them to be on the show. Come on, it's a brush. What is there to talk about? Actually, a lot!  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText, you will learn more about the brush, where Clint came up with the idea, other uses for the Grooveit Brush, how much it costs, and his time at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. Clint also talks about their relationship with Folds of Honor. This was a really fun conversation and I enjoyed having Clint on the show. Let's tee off.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Patriot Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to benefiting military veterans and their families through its fundraising efforts and mentoring programs.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText you will learn more about the history of this organization, their 1, 2 and 3 day golf schools, their fundraising goals, and their inaugural Patriot Golf School at the Patriot Golf Club in Oklahoma. Ted also talks about his time working with Mr. Jack Nicklaus.

You'll never find me grinding on the range or rolling putts on the practice putting green. I'd rather play. That's why Bob and I get along so well! Bob is the man behind G P S Player's Academy and is focused on doing the work on the golf course, not on the range.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText you will get an overview of G P S, what the PNWPGA Deacon Palmer Award means to him, an introduction to G P S University and how he is taking your game from the range to the golf course. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed learning more about Bob and his teaching philosophy. Does he think Tiger breaks Jack’s record? You'll find out! Let’s tee off.

2nd Swing Golf sells golf clubs, shoes, headcovers, bags, balls, GPS... You name it! Just visit 2ndswing.com to get an idea on the plethora of products they sell. When I lived in Scottsdale, I spent a lot of money at 2nd Swing. Made a little money, too!  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play presented by MemberText, you will learn more about their fitting process, their relationship with The First Tee, PING and Bettinardi Golf, their time in Orlando at the PGA Show and what you can find in the rare and unique items section on their website. Drew also tells me how to make $15! This was a fun episode and I enjoyed learning more about this company. Let's tee off. 

Rob Spellman is the founder and publisher of Golf Aficionado, a digital golf magazine. He and his team travel the world looking for the best golf products, courses and resorts. Golf Aficionado contains content curated for many popular golf destinations around the globe and is available for free at golfaficionadomag.com. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText, you will learn more about his family of writers, their Top 10 list, their mailing list, his Rob's experience in the Home of Golf and a recap of the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Rob on the show. Let's tee off. 

When I play golf, I oftentimes am more excited about the bar or restaurant we are going to after we play than I am about the round itself! That's where Golf Kitchen comes in! Diana DeLucia has built something special here and I've been following along since she launched this brand and it just keeps getting better! On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast presented by MemberText Diana gives us a history of Golf Kitchen, shares some of her favorite recipes, talks about going farm to table and introduces Golf Kitchen Americas. She also shares more on the 2020 Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards. This was a fun, and delicious, episode, and I really enjoyed having Diana on the show. Let's eat!

I've known Bill Healey for many years, and if he recommends a product or service to me, I take note. A few weeks ago he mentioned he was working with Bob Silzer and Vantage Tag Systems. I was eager to learn more, and found a wealth of information on their website. We take GPS for granted, but I wanted to pick Bob's brain about his time in the industry. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play presented by MemberText you will learn more about Bob's history in the business, how GPS technology is helping with pace of play, exactly what a tag is and how clubs are using them, their work in agriculture and more on their RAPTOR rental program. Bob also talks about fleet management and their ability to track low speed automobiles. This was a fun and informative episode and I enjoyed having Bob on the show. Let’s tee off.

When I lived in Naples, I got the chance to network with Robert Bettinardi. Over the years he has built a household name in Bettinardi Golf, and is producing some of the finest putters on the market. To learn more about this illustrious brand, I invited his son Sam to come on the show.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about their putters, their fitting process and what their plans are for the PGA Merchandise Show. Sam also talks about their brand ambassadors, their pricing model and tells the story of the Widow Maker, a custom putter they made for a dear friend of mine living in SW Florida. Sam also talks about the LPGA and PGA TOUR players using their putters.

On this special edition of show I am joined by Mike Hendrix, Vice President, GolfNow Business Services. Mike first appeared on this podcast on March 27, 2019. Today he is back with some exciting breaking news to share with us. I am honored to have Mike with us to discuss Clubhouse Solutions, a business unit at NBC Sports dedicated to member retention and acquisition for private golf and country clubs. Mike talks about this solution, more on the EZLinks Golf acquisition, the Clubhouse Bulletin, ClubBuy and the team making Clubhouse Solutions possible.

We love to travel, and when we do, I always like to play golf. I've had the chance to play courses like Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland and The Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda. But booking a golf trip takes more than just showing up. You need to know what airline to fly, where to stay, where to play and where to wine and dine. That's where Forecaddie comes in. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Tom talks about Forecaddie, a website he built to help golfers book golf trips to popular destinations in Canada, Ireland, Scotland and the United States. Tom uses his free time to do all the research for you, is providing relevant content on a blog and looking to add even more destinations in 2020. Tom is passionate about this stuff and is working hard to help us at home plan the perfect golf getaways. He also drinks craft beer and shares his thoughts on the Himalayas Putting Course at St Andrews. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Tom on the show. Let's

A few weeks ago I found L.A.B. Golf on Twitter. I didn't know much about them, but after visiting their website and reading more on these putters, I just had to have them on the show! I reached out and connected with Sam Hahn. After this episode, I think Sam and I became best friends!  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about where L.A.B. Golf started, their new website and mailing list, more on the Press Grip, their logo and Sam's bar. Yep. Same owns a bar! He also talks about their fitting process and their return policy.

Le Ann Finger is the Senior Director of Tournaments and Championships at the Arizona Golf Association. She is also a PGA Master Professional and is the president of Women in the Golf Industry. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about the AGA, the benefits offered to members, her journey to becoming a PGA Master Professional, her thoughts on Topgolf and her relationship with Suzy Whaley, the first female President of the PGA of America. We also talk about her favorite golf courses AND her favorite restaurants in Scottsdale/Phoenix. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Le Ann on the show. Let's tee off.

Needless to say, Ryan Dailey is focused on growing the game of golf. On January 9, 2015, I interviewed Ryan and his business partner Matt Reagan on my YouTube show the Friday Foursome. At the time, they were promoting iGrow Golf. Ryan is still focused on growing the game and is putting all of his heart and soul into Operation 36 Golf. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast Ryan talks about the project, the team that is making it all possible, their plans for the PGA Merchandise Show in January and a goal of introducing the game of golf to 1 million people by 2025. He also talks about their new Junior Golf Development model. This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Ryan on the show. Let's tee off.

Sean Fairholm writes for Global Golf Post, a publication delivering golf news, information and insightful commentary to serious golfers worldwide. There are a lot of golf publications out there, but Global Golf Post is one of the best and is one of my favorite places to digest content.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about Sean's content, his travel schedule, his writing process and his time at NC State University. He also talks about Global Golf Post + and if he thinks Topgolf is helping grow the game. He doesn't have one yet, but I hope to get Sean blogging in 2020! Does he think Tiger will break Jack’s record? You'll find out! This was a really fun episode and I enjoyed having Sean on the show. Let's tee off.

The Spirit International features the world's best amateur men and women golfers as they represent their respective country in team and individual competitions. Led by Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Team France won the event in 2019. Patricia is more than a coach… She is a former LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour player, a major champion and coaches with Martin Hall at Ibis Golf & Country Club.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about her illustrious playing career, her thoughts on Whispering Pines Golf Club. her time spent with Corby Robertson, how she helped her team prepare for The Spirit International and what this victory means to her. Does she think Tiger will break Jack's record? You'll find out! This was a fun episode and I enjoyed having Patricia on the show. Let's tee off.

Ralph Dunning started Dunning Golf in Hawaii and has turned this apparel company into a household name. They are a small company but have PGA TOUR players like Jason Dufner and Kevin Kisner wearing the product. Remember when Mike Weir won The Masters? He was wearing Dunning! The company also has a great relationship with Troon and Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, a place near and dear to me.  On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play you will meet Chris Frame, brand manager, and learn more about the company, their social media strategy, their connection to Maui Jim and their plans for the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. Chris also talks about their new alignment stick and the branding possibilities with such a simple product. This was a fun episode and I enjoyed learning more about this brand. Let's jump into it. Or, as my good friend Chuck likes to say, let's tee off.

There are a lot of great golf movies out there, but what caddies? These men and women work hard and we know very little about them. Until now. "Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk," presented by Gravitas Ventures, narrated by Bill Murray, explores the bond between golfer and caddie, one of the world's oldest professions. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast you will learn more about the production and distribution of this film from Michael Murphy, president, Gravitas Ventures. He talks about the courses they visited, what makes a good caddie, how and where this film has been distributed and what sort of projects they are working on next. Did you know Michael was a caddie at the club he is now a member? This was a fun episode and I enjoyed learning more about life as a caddie.