Granite State Golfers

(Neighboring State Series Ep. 1) In this episode, we talk with one of the top golfers in Vermont, Bryson Richards, who just won his second Vermont state am title. Most states are holding their state am titles this month and I thought it would be interesting to check in on the action in some of our neighboring states and meet some of their top golfers. This is Bryson’s second state am title. We tal...

This episode features Jamie Ferullo who is fresh off a big win at the Seacoast Am which always attracts a really good field. We talk about this childhood playing hockey and golf and we dig into the tournament and how he managed his nerves and the course coming down the stretch. Thanks for listening and sharing the show with your friends. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Happy US Open week. I am all in on Rickie Fowler. This episode features Mark Stevens and Joe Bowker who teamed up earlier this week and won the NHGA 4 ball championship at Owl's Nest. (I also played in the event but was never a threat!). I talk with Mark and Joe about their earliest golf memories and how quickly they both got addicted to the game. We discuss their win this week, how they approache...

This episode features Jeremy Duhamel who is fresh off a win this past weekend at Baker Hill in the NHGA Players Invitational. We discuss his play over the weekend and the importance of smart target selection. We also talk about what is in his bag and how dominant his Bow High School golf team was. Jeremy did well in last fall's Mid-Am and I think we will be seeing his name more and more on the lea...

This episode features Josh Beer who tells us the story of Hooper Golf Course (Walpole, NH) and why it has become one of the top-ranked 9 hole courses in the country. Josh grew up near the course and worked with many other community members a few years ago to purchase the course and revitalize it. We talk about the routing and what makes it so special. I hope you enjoy the conversation and thanks f...

This episode features a real special guest - golf journalist (and NH native!) Chantel McCabe. It was a real treat to talk with her! We discuss her time at UNH, her path in journalism and how she fell in love with golf. In her story, I think you will hear many parallels to the game of golf including the importance of hard work, persistence and the role of confidence. Thanks for listening and enjoy...

Ep. 20 features Dana Harrity, one of the most accomplished and decorated golfers in New Hampshire history. She has won 16 state am championships over a 32 year period and has competed in 30 USGA events. We discuss some of her wins, her love of competition and the credit she gives her husband, Peter (see Ep. 13), for making her a better golfer. Thanks for listening and sharing the podcast with your...

I was excited to talk with Harvin. We both play at The Oaks and when I first joined there I kept hearing things about what a great player he is and as you will hear, what a nice and thoughtful person he is. We discuss his early years in junior golf and his time playing on the Penn State team. We then talk about his time away from golf and what it was like to pick up a club again. We talked about s...

Season two kicks off with Brian Diamond, PGA Teaching Professional. Brian works at Willowcreek Golf Academy at Atkinson Country Club. He has had a fascinating career working in the golf industry which you will hear about. Brian talks about his passion for teaching golf and gives some tips on what we can be doing in the off-season.  Thanks for listening and sharing the podcast with your friends.  S...

This episode features Jim Cilley who just won his second straight player of the year award given out by the NH Golf Association. Jim was my guest on episode 4. We discuss his successful 2022 season along with the ups and downs of his final round at the NH Mid-Am last month. He also shares what he will be working on in the off season as we approach winter. Thanks for listening and sharing with your...

Ep. 16 features Carys Fennessy who is a sophomore in high school and just won her second straight girls individual high school championship (while hitting all 18 greens in the final round! What??!!). We talk about that win (and others) and we discuss a scary injury she suffered while attending the US Open this past June at The Country Club. We also discuss her plans post high school and what's in...

My very first guest, James Pleat, is back on the show. James captured his third NH Mid-Am Championship this week at Owls' Nest. We spend most of the time talking about the final round and how we approached some of the holes coming down the stretch.  Thank you for sharing the podcast with your friends and family. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0  

This episode features Danny Arvanitis who is well-known in the NH golf community. When we spoke, he was fresh off his win capturing the NH Senior Championship. This win meant a lot to him as you will hear. We cover some of his other big wins and we discuss why he carries two putters. Danny is also the coach to The Derryfield School's golf team. And we bonded over our love for Bandon Dunes. I hope...

This episode features Peter Harrity who has an accomplished golfing career in New Hampshire and owns two courses in the state, Candia Woods and my home course, The Oaks. We discuss his early years in golf, memories of his wins and what it has been like to operate golf courses in recent years with the surge in demand. I hope you enjoy the conversation and am always grateful when you share the podca...

This episode features Ryan Kohler who is fresh off a big win this month and has a rare and remarkable golf story. You need to hear it! I really enjoyed talking with Ryan and learning about how he approaches his game. He will look to defend his title at the mid-am in early October. I hope you enjoy the conversation and please pass it along to your friends! Thank you.  Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is...

Tara Watt (Ep. 2) returns to the show to catch up on her big victory this week, capturing her third consecutive NH women's mid-am championship. She shares some great insights about the final round (overcoming a bad hole) -- advice all golfers need to hear!  Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Julianna Megan won the state am last week at Concord Country Club at age 17. As a rising senior at Pinkerton Academy, Julianna has recorded some big tournament wins. We discuss her final few holes of the state am, a recent tournament she played in at Pinehurst, how she is approaching her college search process and why her 60 degree wedge is her favorite club in the bag. I really enjoyed talking wi...

With the men's and women's state ams now complete, we talk to Matt Schmidt, the executive director of the NH Golf Association. We talk about all that goes into organizing these big state tournaments. We also cover his journey into golf administration, the growth of golf over the past few years and what the NHGA is working on for the coming years. Enjoy the show!  Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is lice...

At age 11, Lauren captured her first of SEVEN straight NH girls junior championships. A state record. She went on to win a couple NH state ams and now plays for the University of Louisville. Lauren has also faced considerable adversity and we start the conversation about some of her recent medical challenges. Her story is inspiring and I hope you enjoy the conversation.  Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa...

This episode features Nashua, NH native Brandon Gillis who won the 119th NH State Am last Saturday (July 16). Brandon made it to the finals last year and returned to the finals this year after facing a challenging field through match play. We discuss the victory as well as his time playing golf at Wake Forest (with some names you might know!) and URI. He shares what clubs he is currently playing a...

Phil Pleat is the most decorated male golfer in NH history, with over 20 statewide wins. We cover his early years of golf in Portland, Maine as well as his early years competing in NH golf tournaments. Phil offers some great tips and insights for golfers who are looking at playing competitive golf. It was an honor to speak with Phil and I hope you enjoy the conversation. We recorded this a few day...

This episode features Bob Mielcarz who is a true legend in New Hampshire golf. He has won the state am more than any other male golfer - NINE times spanning four decades (and he has won the club championship at Concord TWENTY times.) Wow. I've had the good fortune of knowing Bob about 15 years and it was getting to hear some of his stories that sparked the idea for Granite State Golfers. I hope yo...

This episode features Jim Cilley who was NH Golf Association's 2021 Player of the Year. He has won many tournaments including the NH Mid Am and NH State Am. Born and raised in the Lakes Region, Jim has a great recall for the names of people who helped him along the way. Jim was a lot of fun to talk with and I hope you enjoy it! 

Ep. 3 features Craig Steckowych, known by many in the NH golf community as Steck. He has had a remarkable golf career, missing only two cuts in 30 years of the NH Am. We covered his early years of playing golf at Derryfield (and biking with his golf bag) to the tournament win he is most proud of and his love of competition. I hope you enjoy it. 

Episode two features Tara Watt who is the two-time defending champion of the NH mid-am. We cover her early years in golf, which NH golf course she loves the most, what's in her bag and some of her big tournament wins. Tara also provides us with some great advice! I hope you enjoy the conversation.