Links for Life

Breaking 100 is one of the most rewarding milestones in golf, and it is closer than most people think. In this episode, Tommy walks through five practical tips covering scoring strategy, practice habits, course management, and mindset that will help you get there faster. Whether you are stuck at 105 or hovering right on the edge, these are the adjustments that actually move the needle. What You'll...

If you want to lower your scores quickly, putting is the fastest way to do it. Most golfers lose strokes on the green for one simple reason, they don’t have a clear plan. In this video, we walk through 5 simple strategies you can start using immediately to reduce 3 putts, improve your distance control, and become a more confident putter. If you can control your speed and eliminate wasted strokes o...

Loren Roberts is one of the most decorated players in Champions Tour history, with eight PGA Tour wins and 13 more on the senior circuit, and Tommy Thompson sat down with him for one of the most personal conversations Links for Life has ever had. Loren walks through his unlikely path to the tour, the 1994 US Open playoff against Ernie Els that still sticks with him, and the faith commitment that r...

In this episode, Tommy sits down with Kris Lynch, founder of Golf Yourself Healthy and host of the Golf Yourself Happy podcast, for one of the most personal conversations Links for Life has hosted. Kris shares the story of his son Innes, who was born still in February 2023, and how that loss became the inspiration behind a platform helping golfers use the game as a path to mental and emotional hea...

Tommy sits down with Wally Armstrong, who spent ten years on the PGA Tour, tied for fifth at his rookie Masters, and went on to help start both Links Players and College Golf Fellowship. Wally walks through the full arc of his life, from caddying for Gary Player to writing The Mulligan with Ken Blanchard to the moment in 2004 that finally taught him how to walk with Jesus instead of working for hi...

Anger might be the single most universal struggle in golf, and most of us are carrying more of it than we realize. In this episode Tommy digs into where golf anger actually comes from, why the way we handle it on the course is probably the same way we handle it everywhere else, and what you can actually do about it before it steals another round. Honest, practical, and a lot more useful than just...

Tommy sits down with PGA Tour winner Robert Wrenn, who played in the 1988 Masters after winning the 1987 Buick Open by seven strokes, to share what it was actually like to experience Augusta National from inside the ropes. Robert co-led the tournament after round one, shot the low round of the day, and was later paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round, and he holds nothing back. This is the k...

Why does the Masters feel different from every other sporting event? For many people who have attended the tournament at Augusta National, the experience exceeds even the highest expectations. The course is immaculate, the atmosphere is calm, and the hospitality feels intentional in ways that are rare in modern sports. In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy Thompson sits down with author John Sa...

Many golfers start playing because the game is fun. But over time something shifts. Golf becomes work. The scorecard becomes the focus. And the joy that originally drew us to the game slowly fades. In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy sits down with  Mia Sundstrom , CEO of the  National Institute for Play , to explore how the science of play can reshape the way we approach gol...

What does golf coaching actually look like? In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with golf coach Brian Coleman to talk about the difference between lessons and coaching, why most golfers plateau, and what long term improvement really requires. Brian shares his journey from aviation to golf, why he left a stable career to pursue coaching, and how he structures development with a new s...

Pressure is something every golfer faces, but learning how to handle it is what separates average rounds from your best ones. In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy sits down with  Robert Wrenn , former PGA Tour winner and 1987 Buick Open champion, to talk honestly about what pressure really is and how to play better when it shows up. Drawing from 16 years on the PGA Tour, Robert exp...

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy is joined again by Joel Suggs for a deep conversation on ego, pride, identity, and humility. Together, they explore how the words we use, the identities we claim, and the expectations we carry quietly shape our experience on the golf course and in life. This episode isn’t about swing mechanics. It’s about learning to accept facts, release false identities,...

How do you pursue improvement in golf without letting expectations steal the joy of playing? In this episode of Links for Life, Joe and Tommy explore the tension between wanting to grow and actually enjoying the game. They unpack the difference between goals and expectations, process and outcome, and how pressure slowly replaces joy when performance becomes the focus. A powerful conversation on le...

How do you play a smart round of golf while still pushing your game forward? In this episode of  Links for Life , host  Tommy Thompson  reflects on a frustrating short-game moment and the question it raised, how do you accept the game you have today while still building the game you want? The conversation explores the tension every golfer feels, playing safe to protect your score ve...

In this episode of  Links for Life , the hosts explore what golfers can learn by simply paying attention to professional golfers and how those lessons translate far beyond the scorecard. From unrushed routines to emotional control and focused decision making, the conversation highlights how the best players approach the game with intention, discipline, and self awareness. Rather than copying...

In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson sits down with  Maggie Will , a three time LPGA Tour winner, to talk about what excellence actually costs in golf and in life. Maggie shares her story of discovering golf at a young age, committing to the discipline required to reach the highest level, and learning how excellence evolves across different seasons. The conversation explores...

First tee jitters are a shared experience for golfers at every level, yet many players don’t understand why they happen or how to handle them. In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy Thompson and Joe Wise explore the reality of first tee nerves, why they show up even in casual rounds, and why trying to eliminate them often makes things worse. Through personal stories—from casual rounds to...

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Jose Alvarez joins  Links for Life  to reflect on his journey from pitching for the Atlanta Braves to competing in elite events like the Pro Rivals Open and serving in golf ministry through Links Players International. After a 16 year professional baseball career, including multiple seasons in the MLB, Jose shares what success taught him and what it c...

In this episode, Tommy and Joe walk through a wide range of golf games—both team-based and solo—that make golf more fun while also sharpening your skills. From classics like  Nassau, Wolf, Skins and Bingo Bango Bongo  to creative solo formats like  forward-tee rounds, back-tee rounds and reverse scrambles , these games help sharpen strategy, create pressure, practice smarter, and br...

In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy and Joe break down one of the simplest but most powerful frameworks for playing better golf: the four-box cycle of  Think ,  Play ,  Memory , and Refresh . Adapted from the book  Be a Player  by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott (Vision54), the framework turns every shot into a repeatable rhythm that helps golfers manage emotions...

In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy and Joe unpack one of the most surprising realities in golf:  most golfers never actually get better . Handicaps stay the same for years, even decades — not because people aren’t trying, but because most golfers don’t know  how  to practice in ways that lead to real improvement. This episode dives deep into the art of  practicing...

In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy and Joe share their biggest takeaways from attending the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Watching legends like Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, and Freddie Jacobson up close offered a masterclass in calm focus, emotional control, and smart play. They discuss how the pros manage pressure, recover from mistakes, and approach every shot with intention—lesso...

In this episode of  Links for Life , host  Tommy Thompson  sits down with  Pete Hiskey , a lifelong golfer, ministry leader, and passionate advocate for connecting faith and golf. Pete shares his multi-generational story in the game, from his family’s deep ties to the PGA Tour and his 24-year career with Ping Golf, to his calling to serve what he calls his  “nation” —the g...

In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy sits down with golf professional  Justin Beard , Director of Golf at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, to talk about  raising a junior golfer  and keeping the game fun along the way. Justin shares his journey in golf, his experience parenting a talented junior player, and the lessons he’s learned about confidence, humility, and perspective...

This special Links for Life episode captures the energy of the HOPE Golf Classic at the Federal Club in Virginia. Host Tommy Thompson and co-host Pete Bowell welcome players and friends including Stuart Holt, John Atkinson, Steven McCarthy, Parker Thompson, and Isaac Nunn for memorable stories and reflections on golf and life. From miraculous chip-ins to hilarious mis-hits, listeners will hear how...