Must Play - A Golf Podcast

This Journey at Pechanga Golf Course review takes a dive into one of Southern California's premier resort golf destinations. In this week's episode of Must Play, Shawn and T.J. are joined by Soph Kim (IG: https://www.instagram.com/badandbogey.golf/ ) to determine whether Journey at Pechanga Golf Course deserves a spot among the Must Play golf courses in Southern California. Soph joins us t...

Is public golf broken? In this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round, Shawn and T.J. tackle one of the biggest conversations in the golf world right now by breaking down what they believe public golf is getting completely wrong, while also shining a light on what it’s actually doing really well. Over the last few years, public golf courses have become more crowded, more expensive, and harder to access...

If you’ve ever wondered how to properly set up your clubs in your golf bag, what features actually matter in a golf bag, or how PGA Tour caddies help shape the next generation of golf bags, this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round is for you. We’re joined by Brett Robinson, the Global Product Manager for Callaway Golf and OGIO golf bags, to answer some of the most common questions golfers have about...

This episode of Must Play and our Arrowood Golf Course review breaks down one of the more talked-about public tracks in North County San Diego. Shawn and T.J. are joined by Brandon and Jomel from Birdies in the Outfield to take a full look at Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside, CA and decide whether it truly earns Must Play status. We start by getting to know Brandon and Jomel and then we dive stra...

The Grass League is one of the most interesting new formats in golf, and in this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round, we’re breaking down exactly what it is and why it’s starting to get attention from the golf world. We’re joined by Todd Dobson, who covers the Grass League, to talk through the origins of the league, how it came to life, and what makes this high-stakes par-3 format different from tra...

In our Masters tier list episode, we’re doing something a little different; instead of an Augusta National course review or Masters picks, we’re ranking the entire Masters Tournament experience. From the icon pimento cheese sandwiches to Amen Corner, we’re breaking down 20 of the most recognizable Masters traditions, rules, food items, and broadcast quirks and putting them into S through D tiers....

In this episode of Must Play: Level Select, we’re joined by The Salty Golfer (aka Wes) to break down why Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Myrtle Beach continues to be one of the most talked-about golf experiences in the country. Our Caledonia Golf and Fish Club preview takes a deep dive into one of the most iconic layouts in South Carolina and shows why this course continues to pop up in top 100 li...

In this week's Must Play, our Sheep Ranch review is front and center as we take a deep dive into one of the most visually dramatic courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (and the world). This week, Shawn and T.J. are joined by Brian from Harbor Golf to break down the history, their favorite features, and overall experience of playing Sheep Ranch along the Oregon coast. Sheep Ranch has quickly bec...

This week on Must Play: Level Select , we break down Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida, with local resident Heather of SwingScribe, and she pitches us on whether or not we should be adding this well-known Naples course to our list of courses to rate. Heather from SwingScribe joins us not only to talk about Tiburon but also to share the story behind her innovative golf training product designed...

This week on Must Play: Bonus Round, we’re holding ourselves accountable and setting the tee sheet for 2026. First up: the 2025 recap. At the start of last season, we each identified three courses we absolutely had to play. In this episode, we review how that actually went for both of us. Spoiler: it did not go well for T.J. Then comes the main event: the 2026 golf courses. Each of us pitches thre...

This week on Must Play: Bonus Round, we’re diving deep into Payntr Golf shoes with the brand’s Creative Director and Co-Founder, Mike Glancy. You've seen Jason Day or Min Woo Lee wearing them and you've probably heard the name a ton, but you don’t fully know what separates Payntr Golf from other golf footwear brands. This episode will give you a better understanding of the origin story and...

In this episode of Must Play, we’re joined by Austin Tennant, better known as @catchyaaround on Instagram , to help us with our Foothills Golf Club review. Austin joins T.J. & Shawn to discuss why Foothills Golf Club remains one of the more talked-about public courses in the Phoenix area. We cover some of the headlines from the course and what we liked (and disliked) the most. After that, Shaw...

Every great golf season starts with a clear golf goals, and in this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round, we’re setting the tone for 2026 while looking back at what actually happened in 2025. Shawn and T.J. sit down to recap 2025's golf goals. The wins, the misses, and the ones that we forgot even existed, before laying out their official 2026 golf goals. We kick things off with a 2025 recap, rev...

It’s awards season on Must Play, and we’re closing out 2025 by celebrating the Must Play golf courses that defined our year (and lumping in 2024). In the final episode of 2025, Shawn and T.J . debut the inaugural 2025 Must Play Awards (also known as The Musties) honoring the best golf courses that stood out across our episodes in each respective ranking factor on the Must Play Test. If this is you...

In this episode of Must Play, we’re giving you a full Papago Golf Club Review to see where it really belongs among the best Phoenix golf courses. Shawn & T.J. welcomed back recurring guest Mike Dressor to break down the headlines surrounding Papago Golf Club, explore its history in the Phoenix golf scene, and figure out where it truly belongs among the best Phoenix golf courses. If you’re plan...

If you’re shopping for golf gifts this year — or you are the golfer trying to casually drop some hints to your significant other, this episode has you fully covered. Shawn & T.J. each put together their own curated list of five items they’d love to unwrap this Christmas, giving you ten total ideas across gear, apparel, accessories, training tools, and fun upgrades for the golfer in your life....

In this episode of Bonus Round, we’re diving deep into golf exercise, mobility, and performance with Dr. Nima Enayati from TeeItUpPT in San Diego, CA . Nima joins us to talk about his background, his Titleist Performance Institute certification, and why he believes not just the golf offseason is the perfect time for golfers to get screened to prevent something from going wrong. We break down the e...

In this episode of Must Play: Level Select, we dive into a full Bellair Golf Park review with none other than Mariah Swigart — better known online as Ms Swag Golf. Mariah joins us to share how golf became a huge part of her life, how she became a teacher, and why Bellair has become one of her go-to golf spots in Arizona. From the vibe of the facility to the energy of the community around it, she b...

In this episode of Must Play, we deliver our Phoenician Golf Club Review, one of the most talked-about resort courses in Arizona. We’re joined by golf photographer Brian Oar, who shares how he got his start behind the lens, his experiences shooting world-class courses, and what makes The Phoenician such a unique stop in the desert. We dive into everything that defines a great golf experience from...

Trying to plan the ultimate San Diego golf trip? We’ve got you covered. In this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round, we sat down with Noly from Happy Hour Golf Club to design three dream itineraries for anyone looking to tee it up at some of San Diego's best golf Courses. Each itinerary is a little different — whether you’re chasing bucket-list rounds, hidden gems, or the best value plays in the San...

We’re diving into Northwood Golf Club, one of California’s most unique nine-hole tracks, with none other than Monterey Golf Guy himself, Derek Thomas. In this episode of the Must Play: Level Select, Derek joins Shawn and T.J. to talk about his golf life in Monterey, the community he’s built through the Twilight Social Club, and his pitch for why Northwood deserves the Must Play label. Designed by...

Looking for a first-hand Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course review? In this episode of the Must Play Podcast, Shawn and T.J. are joined by Kevin Sarreal (  @SurrealGolf  ) to break down one of San Diego’s classic resort courses. Whether you’re planning a golf trip, curious about the course history, or just love hearing golfers debate architecture and strategy, this review has you covered. We dive int...

The Ryder Cup is headed to Bethpage Black in 2025, and we’ve got headlines, history, trivia, and even a wager to go along with breaking it all down. In this episode of Must Play: Bonus Round , we’re joined by our friend Nish Agarwal from the Top 100 in 10 Podcast to break down the biggest storylines heading into the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course . With Nish repping Team Europe and us pul...

In Episode 31 of Must Play: Bonus Round, we’re not breaking down a specific golf course this time. Instead, we’re diving into what really makes a course stand out: the golf course amenities. We’re talking the little things that make a big difference. The icy cold towels. The grass range with unlimited Pro V1s. The carts with speakers and built-in phone chargers. The snack shacks that serve tacos i...

In Episode 30 of Must Play: Level Select, we’re heading to Boston to preview William J Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park—a muni with more golf-related history than you can even imagine and a layout that still holds up over a hundred years later. This place is old-school in all the best ways. Tree-lined holes. Sneaky doglegs. Greens that don’t need to be flashy to punch you in the mouth. And it’s...