Granite State Golfers

This episode features the First Tee New Hampshire. I speak with executive director, Chris Sargent, and lead coach, Jim Blalock. We cover the origins of the First Tee program and how transformative the program is for kids and the values it teaches them. I love the passion Chris and Jim bring to their work!  Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. If you are in the market for a golf membershi...

This episode features the return of Harvin Groft. If you missed his first appearance, check out Ep. 19. Harvin is fresh off a decisive win in the NH Mid-Am last week. We discuss that victory, his mindset through the event, and his decision to put a new putter in the bag. We also talk about some other wins he had this summer and the injury that sidelined him for a good chunk of last season.  Thanks...

This episode features one of the most decorated athletes in New Hampshire history, Jane Blalock. After winning a few NH am titles, she turned pro and won rookie of the year honors in 1969. Jane would go on to win 27 times on the LGPA tour and make a staggering 299 CONSECUTIVE cuts! Wow. We talked about her early years in golf at Portsmouth Country Club and her passion for teaching women the game....

This episode features Jim Sheerin who was the head pro for 40 years at Abenaqui Country Club in Rye. Jim talks about the evolution of Abenaqui during that time and we talk about Jim's passion for teaching golf, growing the game and getting kids into golf. We also discuss his playing career which includes multiple wins and Monday qualifying for three US Senior Opens. Jim is a member of the NH Golf...

This episode features Amy Dickison who just won the women's mid-am at Nashua Country Club. I talk with Amy about her early years in golf, including being the captain of the boy's high school golf team. We also talk about her amateur career and playing in tournaments in CT, MA and NH. In addition to winning the mid-am, she also won the Players Invitational earlier this year at Baker Hill. During th...

This brief episode features the return of Rob Henley who just won the men's state am last week at Concord Country Club. Rob takes us through the long week (9 rounds!) and he talks about the ups and downs of the final 36 hole match. By winning the state am, Rob gets to play in the US Am at Hazeltine next month. When Rob was last on the show (Ep.33), we talked about his love of hot dogs on the cours...

Ep.45 features 17 year old Josiah Hakala who is from New Ipswich, NH. He is playing some tremendous golf this summer. We talk about his big win in Texas last week capturing the PGA Boys High School Golf National Invitational. Josiah also talks about his goal of turning professional and his busy tournament schedule for the rest of the summer which includes playing in the US Junior Amateur at Oaklan...

In this brief episode (7 mins), we check back in with Carys who just won the New England Women's Amateur. We talk about that victory, which college she will be attending and playing golf at and what other tournaments she is playing in this summer. If you missed my prior conversations with Carys, check out episodes 16 and 28. This is the third time she has been on the show - the most of any guest. ...

This episode features Nick McLaughlin who just captured his third Seacoast Am title last weekend. Nick grew up in New Castle and went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Virginia. We talk about some of the people he played with in college (Scottie Scheffler!) and his decision to turn pro and his decision to regain his amateur status. Nick shares great insights into the game and how fic...

Damon Salo, the guest from our last episode, returns to the show with his brother, Cam, to talk about their win last week at Owl's Nest capturing the NHGA 36 hole 4ball tournament. We talk about their heater in the morning, firing a 62 and then their slow start to begin their second 18. Damon and Cam walk us through the playoff that led to victory. Thank you for listening and enjoy the show! Thank...

This episode features Damon Salo who is fresh off a victory, winning the Players Invitational last weekend at Baker Hill. We talk about the win and we also discuss his stacked high school team (3 championships) and playing the Shattuck. Damon also discusses his collegiate career, his brief stint turning pro and which tournaments he is focused on this year.  Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the...

This episode features Mark Baldwin who grew up in the Laconia area and had a very successful junior career capturing three consecutive state junior titles. He went on to play at the University of Notre Dame and turned professional after he graduated. He captured his first win as a professional in 2006, winning the NH Open. Since then, he has played on a number of tours around the world and has pla...

This episode features Ken Hamel who has been the pro at three different NH courses and is currently the head pro at Stonebridge in Goffstown. I have known Ken for quite some time and as you will hear, he has a deep passion for the game and loves coaching and getting people to love golf. We talk about his early years in golf, his transition from being a plumber to a PGA Professional and his plans f...

This episode features Pat Pelletier. Pat grew up in Lebanon, NH and started playing as a kid and quickly got the bug for competitive golf, playing in junior tournaments. He played on a high school team that seems like was stacked with a bunch of players. I talk with Pat about his collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, his decision to turn pro and eventually regaining his amateur stat...

We kickoff Season 3 with John Clark, superintendent at Rochester Country Club. John has spent his entire career at Rochester. We talk about the scope of responsibilities in being a superintendent, how the work has changed over the years, why he likes the fall season, the value of tree thinning, and how research and innovation is changing the job. John loves his work, loves to learn, and takes grea...

We wrap up this year with Scott Hacker. Scott played successfully on some mini tours and for the past dozen years or so has been a golf instructor. This is a longer episode. Part 1 covers his early years in golf and his progression into professional golf. Part 2 covers the mental approach to golf. As we head into the off season in New Hampshire, I thought it might be helpful to get some insights f...

This episode features Paul Tessier who has been the head pro at Bald Peak for 31 years. I got the pleasure of playing Bald Peak this fall for the first time and meeting Paul - I knew right away I wanted him on the podcast. We talk about his journey from growing up in Niagara Falls to joining the plumbers and steamfitters union to interning at some nice courses in Florida. Paul also shares the stor...

This episode features Laura Shanahan Rowe who has had a remarkable career as an amateur and a professional. She is the long-time golf instructor at the Sagamore Golf Center. We discuss her late start in golf but how quickly she got the bug and how fast she started competing and winning. Laura talks about her 2 NH state am titles and winning the 2001 USGA Mid Am. We also discuss her 326 yard long d...

Fresh off a decisive win at the NH Mid-Am last week, I talk with Rob Henley. We talk about his win at Rochester CC and we discuss his strong finishes in some other big tournaments this summer. We talk about his time playing golf for Coach Parker at Dartmouth, what's in the bag, why hole 12 at Lake Sunapee is so hard and how hot dogs have become part of Rob's brand.  Following my talk with Rob, I s...

Story time! This was a fun one. This episode features Rich Parker who has a decorated golf career as a player and as a coach. He competed in the 1990 US Open and the 2010 US Senior Open and won numerous tournaments throughout New England, including three NH Opens. Since 2005, he has been the coach of the Dartmouth men's golf team. Rich is a great storyteller and shares many great tales of his golf...

This episode wraps up the summer Neighboring State Project where I talk to some of the top golfers in VT and ME. I speak with Hailey Katona who recently captured the Vermont state am title. Hailey grew up in Canada and started playing and competing at a young age. We talk about some of her big wins in Canada, her collegiate career and her golf plans once she graduates.  Hailey was candid about the...

The Neighboring State Project continues. This episode features Erin Holmes who just captured her first Maine state am title.  We talk about her mindset going into the tournament and for the final round when she had a big lead. I talked with Erin about her early years in golf and her time playing golf at Bucknell.  She talks about what is in her bag and why she went back to her high school putter....

This is another episode in the Neighboring State Project where I talk with top golfers in VT and ME. This episode features Caleb Manuel who will be a senior at the University of Georgia and just won his third straight Maine men's state am title. He started winning tournaments early, capturing a club championship at age 13. We discuss his collegiate career, his plans for golf after college and play...

This episode features Carys Fennessy who returns to the show to discuss her recent win capturing the NH women's state am title (by 15 shots!). (I talked to Carys last fall - see Ep. 16). We talk about the state am and she tells us about other tournaments she has played in this summer, her college search process and the new 7 wood in the bag. Thanks for listening and sharing the show with your frie...

This episode features Jack Pepin who just won the men's NH state am championship. The state am is a long week of golf. Two days of stroke play to set the 64 person match play field. Jack made it all the way through including a 37 hole final. We talk about when he started playing golf, what he wants to do with golf after college and we dig into his semifinal and final match. Thanks for listening an...