Flagstick Podcast

The peak of the golf season has officially arrived for northern players, and this week's episode of the Flagstick Podcast is packed with regional tournament updates and essential strategic advice. Hosts Jeff and Scott catch up on a busy summer schedule, highlighting a massive slate of regional and provincial events including the highly anticipated Flagstick Shootout. Transitioning from the PGA of...

Grab your headphones and pull up a chair; it’s time for a wide-open mailbag episode of the Flagstick Podcast Jeff and Scott kick things off with a rapid-fire breakdown of the latest local golf news. They recap the recent weather issues throwing a wrench into regional course maintenance, share firsthand updates from their own recent rounds, and dive into the electric atmosphere at Trillium Wood for...

Two juicy topics dominates this episode - the new look PGA TOUR for 2028 and the battle by Wyndham Clark to win the U.S. Open. We dig into plenty of narratives from the recently completed U.S. Open, including how Wyndham Clark prevailed for his second major win, overcoming Shinnecock Hills but also many among the crowds who were combative towards him. Did he deserve the win and the abuse, or is th...

In this packed episode, we recap a memorable week at the RBC Canadian Open and look ahead to the year's toughest test in golf: the U.S. Open at historic Shinnecock Hills. First, we dive into the incredible, emotional victory by Bud Cauley at TPC Toronto. After years of grueling recovery from a devastating 2018 car crash, Cauley fired a brilliant final-round 65 to...

On the show this week, we take you behind the scenes of the 2026 Flagstick Academy Series video shoot at Casselview Golf Club. We detail exactly what goes into creating the series, what you can expect from the upcoming content, and how you can use these insights to elevate your game and have more fun on the course. Next, we break down the latest action from the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour, an...

In Episode #173 of the Flagstick Podcast, hosts Jeff and Scott welcome listeners with updates on local golf news and a review of the COBRA PUMA Spring Open at Casselview. After recounting a scary, game-aborting incident during Scott's Sunday round dubbed "a noodle to the noodle," the hosts dive into a nostalgic feature on regional "Ghost Courses." Sparked by a recent magazine delivery, they reflec...

It’s a busy show this week, following the first delivery of a print edition of Flagstick Golf Magazine in six years. We discuss the process of bringing the magazine back to print, the people involved, and the reactions we received following its return. We also share observations from our travels across Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais, where we visited nearly 100 golf facilities during distributi...

In this episode, hosts Jeff Bauder and Scott MacLeod catch up on early-season golf plans, including Jeff's recent visit to the grand opening of Archies Golf TopTracer Range. They also follow up on the heavy listener response to their previous golf etiquette segment, debating whether the responsibility for player education falls on local associations, courses, or peers. The Front Nine shifts focus...

This episode focuses on the idea of respect in golf - how it shows up, and where it may be slipping. The discussion explores a perceived decline in respect at golf courses, whether toward the course itself, player behaviour during rounds, or interactions with staff. The conversation highlights key areas where this issue is emerging and considers why it may be happening at a time when the game is e...

The "opening handshake" and "closing argument" of a golf course serve as the essential narrative bookends that define a player's entire experience. In this episode, we dive into the "opening and closing hole equation" to understand why these specific moments play such a pivotal role in shaping how a course is perceived and how it functions. We examine this premise through the lenses of architectur...

Golf is famously known as a solitary pursuit—a relentless internal monologue between you, your clubs, and the course. But with the Zurich Classic taking center stage on the PGA TOUR this week, we’re shifting the focus from the individual to the collective. In this episode, we dive deep into why the "team game" is becoming the most compelling way to experience golf, from the high-stakes drama of th...

The 2026 Masters is in the books, and the echoes from Augusta National are about more than just the Green Jacket. This week, we dive into a historic week where Rory McIlroy solidified his legacy with a repeat performance, but the conversation off the green was just as loud as the roars on Sunday. The Front 9: We kick things off with a look at the current state of the game—from the frustrating spri...

Welcome to a special edition of the show as we gear up for the 90th edition of The Masters. In this episode, we dive deep into the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, exploring why this tournament holds a "mystical" status unlike any other major in golf. From the pimento cheese sandwiches to the strictly enforced "patron" etiquette, we break down the unique culture that defines the first full we...

The azaleas are blooming, the pimento cheese is being prepped, and the most prestigious week in golf is finally upon us. In this episode of the podcast, Jeff and Scott tackle the 2026 Masters, getting the hype train started a week early. We’re covering everything from the historic "charges" of the past to the high-stakes storylines of the present. On This Week's Show: The Legends of Augusta: We lo...

Dust off the headcovers and tighten your chin straps—this week, we’re traveling from the bargain bin to the "Bear Trap." Following a nostalgic visit to an old-school golf shop, Jeff and Scott take a trip down memory lane to discuss the "Golden Era" of golf equipment. From the legendary PING Eye2s and Ben Hogan Persimmons to the "duds" and defunct brands like Nickent and Founders Club, we discuss t...

Is it a major? Does it even matter? This week, we dive deep into the crown jewel of the PGA Tour: The Players Championship. Hosted at the unforgiving TPC Sawgrass, this tournament is more than just a massive paycheck—it’s a career-defining gauntlet that the world’s best players crave and fear in equal measure. In this episode, we trace the tournament's evolution from its 1974 debut to its status a...

Outdoor golf season is almost here, and this episode is packed with the kinds of questions only golfers ask when they can finally see grass again. The hosts kick things off by catching up on the local scene, including a sold-out 2026 Flagstick Open, before diving headfirst into a wide-ranging Front Nine fueled by listener curiosity and plenty of strong opinions. The conversation spans everything f...

As Flagstick approaches its official 30th Anniversary this May, we look back to where it all began—30 years ago at the Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo, when Jeff first revealed plans for a regional golf publication that didn’t yet exist. In this special episode, Scott interviews Jeff about the leap from working in media to launching his own magazine, the risks of exhibiting without a product, and why Fl...

This week, we take a different path. Instead of breaking down tour storylines and leaderboard drama, we shift the focus to something that matters far beyond a single season — junior athlete development. As parents and coaches involved in both golf and hockey, we’ve seen firsthand how the principles that shape young athletes on the links and in the rinks are remarkably similar. Drawing from our own...

Balancing a look at current circumstances with a nod to the past, in this episode we examine how our own values, desires, and biases shape our perception of professional golfers—and the “characters” they inhabit within the sport’s unfolding drama. While we naturally gravitate toward milestones like Rory McIlroy’s quest for the Career Grand Slam or Scottie Scheffler’s era of dominance, the ongoing...

This episode of the podcast opens with an engaging “Front Nine” discussion tackling several timely topics in the game. Jeff and Scott explore why a player like Justin Rose can still compete—and even excel—at age 45, highlighting how golf is one of the rare sports where experience, patience, and mental composure can outweigh raw athleticism. They also reflect on the end of an era for the Henderson...

Is it even a fair fight anymore? As of January 2026, Scottie Scheffler has officially moved from "great" to "historic." With a dominant win at the 2026 American Express, Scheffler has reached the 20-win milestone in just 151 starts—joining only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the players to hit 20 wins and 4 majors before the age of 30. In this episode, we break down the surgical precision of the...

In Episode 156, Jeff and Scott break down everything happening as the golf industry gathers in Orlando for the PGA Show, with a strong focus on the biggest equipment launches and trends heading into the 2026 season. The show opens with industry and community updates, including registration details for the 2026 Flagstick Open Amateur Championship, highlights from the Sony Open in Hawaii—where Chris...

The 2026 golf season kicks off with a bombshell. In this episode, we break down the shocking news that Brooks Koepka is officially back on the PGA TOUR. We discuss his official statement, his return at the Farmers Insurance Open, and his candid admission about the "nervous energy" and mending broken bridges in the locker room. We also dive into the mechanics of the newly minted "Returning Member P...

The golf world is heading into one of its most fascinating seasons in years, and we’re breaking it all down. In this episode, we look ahead to 2026’s biggest trends and storylines, starting with our own backyard — including the Flagstick Open, the Flagstick.com Shootout, the possibility of a third signature event, and even the potential return of the print edition of Flagstick as we approach our 3...