The Back of the Range

My guest on this episode is Andy Pope.  He's a full-time member of the Korn Ferry Tour and is looking to make the jump to the PGA Tour in 2021.  Great stories and insight from the former Atlantic-10 conference champion from Xaiver University.  He's qualified for FOUR U.S. Opens.....and in this episode we learn how he did it! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscri...

My guest on this episode is Segundo Oliva Pinto.  While many might remember him for the misfortune that fell upon him during the 2020 U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes, there is so much more to Segundo.  How does a kid from Cordoba, Argentina make his way to Wilmington, North Carolina and then to Arkansas?  You'll find out during this long-awaited episode. New Merch IN STOCK!  Avail...

We kick things off in 2021 with Chris Gotterup from Rutgers University.  Chris is the reigning Big 10 Player of the Year and had outstanding finished at the Maridoe and South Beach Amateurs.  He's a Jersey Guy through and through, little rough around the edges, and a perfect opening guest to 2021!   New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of the Rang...

My guest on the final episode of 2020 is Cole Hammer from the University of Texas.  In this episode, Cole and I talk about a tumultous year of golf and we dive into the last 10 days of his 2020 golf season that were made up of two distinctive events:  The Walker Cup Practice Session at Bay Hill and his dominant performance at the South Beach International in Miami.  New Merch IN STO...

My guest on this episode is Julian Perico from the Arkansas Razorbacks men's golf team.   He led his team as freshman and was the  only Razorback to go 3-0 in match play to lead Arkansas to the SEC Championship.  Fantastic conversation with one of the best amateurs in the country. New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Appl...

My guest on this episode is William Holcomb V.  There is nobody quite like William.  After winning medalist at the 2020 Maridoe Amateur, we spoke about his golf, faith....and yes, duck hunting.  This episode is one for the ages! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SPOTIFY! Also Subscribe in YouTube , &...

My guest on this episode is the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion, Bob Royak.  Another incredible senior amateur out of the state of Georgia that had an EPIC season last year.  Georgia Senior Match Play Champion.  Georgia Senior Amateur Champion.  We chatted about all things senior amateur golf and Bob provide some great tips on how to get the most out of your game! New Merch I...

Kicking off the week with my conversation with one of the heroes of the East West Matches. Patrick Christovich secured a vital 1/2 point on the 18th hole of singles to propel the West Team to victory. We spoke all things East West Matches and Maridoe Golf Club on this special episode of The Back of the Range Golf Podcast! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of...

My guest on this episode is the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion, Sean Knapp.  The Pennsylvania veteran has played in over 50 USGA Championships in his storied amateur career.  He shared some incredible stories about Tiger, Arnie, and even our last guest....Nathan Smith!  One of the best episodes you'll ever hear at The Back of the Range! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sal...

My guest on this episode is Nathan Smith from Pittsburgh, PA.  He's the youngest U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion in history.  He's also won the most US Mid-Amateurs in history with FOUR.  He's played in three Walker Cups....and his final match as a player in 2013, that final win....was the clincher for the Americans at National Golf Links.  He's won the West Penn Amateur four consecu...

My guest on this episode is the 2015 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Champion, Lauren Greenlief!  The Virginia native just picked up a win at the inaugural AGA Women's Amateur in South Florida and is targeting a spot on the 2021 Curtis Cup team.  Great chat with one of the best mid-ams in the women's game! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of the Range Sub...

My guest on this episode is Aman Gupta from Oklahoma State University.   Aman had a great run at Bandon Dunes, it all started with a 64 in the first round of the stroke play session....which on its own is beyond impressive.  But considering the fact that Aman was the last man in the field, flew out to Bandon without a guaranteed spot in the all-exempt field....and only learned that he wo...

What an incredible U.S. Open!  Had a chance to catch up with the only amateur to make the cut!  John and I talked about his special week and lessons that he will take back to FSU as he prepares to close out his collegiate career.  Always fun catching up with John! New Merch IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE. Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SP...

My final guest of U.S. Open week is Michael O'Keefe, the actor that played Danny Noonan in Caddyshack!  We spoke about his two days on the bag at the U.S. Open caddying for Danny Balin and what it was liked to bring his iconic character back to Winged Foot 40 YEARS after the movie was released. Richie's Gift GOFUNDME - Fundraiser for Winged Foot Caddies New Towels are IN STOCK!  Availabl...

It's U.S. Open week at Winged Foot and it's an honor to welcome the 1974 U.S. Open Champion, Hale Irwin to The Back of the Range!  A very special thanks to the Irwin Family and Swingwell Labs for making the episode a reality.  Swingwell Lab's products are designed to link mind and body, while elevating overall well-being and day-to-day performance in the office, on the course, or whereve...

My guest on this episode is the legendary golf instructor, Butch Harmon.  We spoke about his start in the game spending time with his father, Claude Harmon, at Winged Foot and his friend Ben Hogan!  We spoke Tiger and Phil and everything in between.  And we recorded the episode on August 28th which is Butch's birthday....and MY BIRTHDAY!  Fun fact! Butch Harmon School of Golf N...

Special Bonus Episode!  Had the chance to catch up with 2019 U.S. Amateur Finalist, John Augenstein.  John played a practice round on Tuesday with Tiger and JT.....so his day was CLEARLY better than all of ours.  Great insights into Winged Foot and he sounds very confident heading into Thursday's opening round!   New Towels are IN STOCK!  Available for sale HERE.   Su...

Special Bonus Episode!  Had the chance to catch up with 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion, Lukas Michel, as he prepares for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.  We talked about his practice rounds with Adam Scott and Patrick Cantlay and what it is like as a first-timer at a major championship.  Not scripted or edited.....we're just Winging It! LINKS Lukas Michel - Instagram New Towels are IN...

Kicking off U.S. Open week with a very special episode!  My guest is Dan Hicks from NBC Sports.  He will be back calling the action at Winged Foot for NBC alongside Paul Azinger at Winged Foot, his home course!  Dan shared some great stories and his thoughts on who might be able to survive Winged Foot and walk away with the championship. LINKS Dan Hicks - NBC Golf New Towels are IN...

My guest on this episode is Buddy Alexander.   Alexander won the 1986 U.S. Amateur Championship and served as the men’s golf coach at the University of Florida for 27 seasons. He won the 1991 Florida State Amateur and has competed in over 40 United State Golf Association championships.  Tons of great stories about the Walker Cup, the Masters, and his "commandments" that he instilled in h...

My guest on this episode is Brandon Wu!  Brandon just punched his ticket to the 2020 U.S. Open by winning the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.  We caught up and talked about life as a professional and how he keeps busy off the golf course.  Always a fascinating and thoughtful guest to have at The Back of the Range! LINKS Brandon Wu - Korn Ferry Tour Project Smile - A group of Stanford...

My guest on this epsiode is Parker Coody, part of that young nucleus on the Texas Longhorns golf team that includes his twin brother Pierceson, Travis Vick, Will Thomson, and Cole Hammer.  The final tournament of the collegiate season, before it was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, was the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas.  USC won the team title, but Parker Coody came...

My guest on this episode is the 2020 U.S. Amateur Finalist, Ollie Osborne.  Easily one of the funniest guests in the history of the podcast.  We talked about his magical week at Bandon Dunes that will provide him with exemptions into the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2021.  We also talked about his place on the SMU golf team and why he'll never have to pay for a brownie sundae ever a...

After I recap my experience at the 2020 U.S. Amateur, my guest on this episode is the 2020 California State Amateur Champion, Joey Vrzich.  This episode was recorded before the U.S. Amateur, so you'll hear me asking Joey to talk about Bandon Dunes, how the course would suit his game, and also we spoke about the fact that he was one of SEVEN members of the Pepperdine team that would be making...

My guest on this special episode is the 2020 U.S. Amateur Champion, Tyler Strafaci.  We caught up just a few days after his dramatic victory over Ollie Osborne at Bandon Dunes.  We spoke about Tyler's incredible summer season, the challenges around playing a U.S. Amateur during the coronavirus pandemic, and some behind-the-scenes details that found him leaving the state of Oregon with th...