Talking GolfGetaways: Your Golf Getaways Podcast

“Talking GolfGetaways” friend Michael Beard and his wife Carol recount an epic journey to play the best of Australia and New Zealand over the course of a month earlier this year and offer highlights, tips and ideas for working with a tour operator to build your ultimate golf getaway.

We take a break from whiskey talk with Journeyman Distillery’s Bill Welter long enough to get his answers to our famed “Emergency 9” questions, which include highlights of his golfing life (and actually residency) in Scotland, growing up in Indiana, unforgettable golf in southern Michigan and an epic story about a bogey-free round at famed Pine Valley.

Journeyman Distillery owner Bill Welter visits “Talking GolfGetaways” to give us an overview of how life’s journey led him into the spirits business — and how the game of golf has led him to some of the greatest places on the planet, including St. Andrews and Tasmania, among others.

Co-hosts Mitch and Darin recount a recent visit Down Under with tips on what you should know before leaving for Australia, bucket-list courses you must visit (Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne, Barnbougle Dunes, Cape Wickham) and a few under-the-radar finds you’ll never forget (like Ratho Farm).

Two Scotland favorites plus two Canadian up-and-comers make the list when Bandon Dunes Director of Golf Jeff Simonds joins the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast for his Emergency 9 golf-travel answers. Plus, an unforgettable Chicago steak and shoes that make your feet feel heavenly.

We’re talking socks, boxer shorts, meatloaf, Guinness ice cream floats, Puerto Rico lodging, Bandon Dunes and the Badger State all on this Emergency 9 episode of “Talking GolfGetaways” with guest Ryan Heiman, creator of iGolfReviews.

In another hilarious episode with our friend Akbar Chisti, the founder of Seamus Golf can’t stop talking about Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, California, plus offers up his other candid answers to our Emergency 9 golf-travel quiz, including why he loves great showers (making him a kindred spirit to co-host Darin Bunch).

Global Golf Post’s Ron Green Jr. returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” with answers and insight into our Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire from his years of covering and, more importantly, playing the game. Highlights include Royal Dornoch, Northern Ireland and Maui’s Kapalua and more.

In one of the funnier “Talking GolfGetaways” episodes ever, Augusta Golf Show’s John Patrick joins Mitch and Darin for an Emergency 9 like no other with nods to Pebble Beach, Whistler, Pinehurst’s Holly Inn and the classic Palmetto Golf Club, where the game dates back to 1892.

Masters Week guest Cameron Wiebe, general manager at Champions Retreat outside Augusta, Georgia, returns to take on the famed “Talking GolfGetaways” Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire, discussing everywhere from Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes to Cabo’s Diamante.

It’s that time of year — and no better way to kick off Buddy Trip Season than with a discussion of the alternate formats co-host Darin Bunch is deploying on a visit to North Carolina’s Tobacco Road, the creative golf course from the mind of visionary architect Mike Strantz.

Jason Connery, director of the new “Tommy’s Honour” film (and son of actor Sean Connery) returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” to tackle the Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire with answers on everything from the Old Course at St. Andrews to New Zealand bucket-listers and a surprise favorite golf experience in Oceanside, California.

Two of golf’s most revered figures — Young Tom and Old Tom Morris — are brought to life in “Tommy’s Honour,” the new film directed by Jason Connery who joins hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch for a discussion about their impact on the game, re-creating a vintage version of the Old Course at St. Andrews and how “Tommy” paved the way for modern professional athletes.

As one of our game’s gifted journalists, Global Golf Post’s Ron Green Jr. (who also often appears on SiriusXM PGATour Radio and the Golf Channel) has spent a his award-winning career covering golf — and some of his fondest memories center on The Masters and Augusta National. In this episode of the “Talking Golf Getaways” podcast, Green joins hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch to talk about this...

Journalist Ryan Ballengee, creator of Golf News Net, joins “Talking GolfGetaways” for a Masters Week episode that includes remembrances of Tiger Woods’ historic win in 1997 (and a funny Steve Williams story from another Tiger run in 2011) plus thoughts on pimento cheese alternatives, first-timer impressions and perks you might not expect at Augusta National.

What’s Masters Week like for a journalist and broadcaster who has covered the event for 33 years? John Patrick, host of the Augusta Golf Show, joins Mitch and Darin for a wide-ranging conversation about what makes “The National” so wonderful, including a personal story about Jack Nicklaus’ historic sixth green jacket victory in 1986.

Get ready for The Masters (and some Masters-related bucket-list travel) with Cameron Wiebe, general manager of Champions Retreat — a private club about 30 minutes northwest of famed Augusta National. With 27 holes of golf designed by three of golf’s biggest names (Nicklaus, Palmer and Player) plus first-class service and accommodations, hear why Champions Retreat is the perfect high-end home base...

Recorded live (sort of) from one of the Lofts at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch wrap up Bandon Week with a recap of our recent visit, including an instant classic story about one player two-putting from one inch, plus all the food, golf and festivities that make Bandon Dunes Golf Resort the best pure golf destination in the United States.

Frequent (and favorite) guest Shane Bacon — journalist, broadcaster and all-around great guy — adds his insight to our Bandon Week series by recapping his bachelor party buddy trip and all the golf and hijinks he and his friends experienced during a week on the Oregon Coast.

Akbar Chisti, the founder of Seamus Golf, joins “Talking GolfGetaways” for our third of five Bandon Week episodes — this one focusing on Akbar’s history with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and his “insider tips” for things not to miss on any links-golf buddy trip to the Oregon coast.

The second of our Bandon Week episodes features Ryan Heiman of iGolfReviews.com talking about the Preserve, Punchbowl, “Secret Things” and some of his other “9 Reasons” he wants to return to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort as often as possible.

We launch our All-Things-Bandon five-episode series with Jeff Simonds, a man who has worked his way up through the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort hierarchy and offers his insider knowledge and love of links golf with hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch on “Talking GolfGetaways” — the perfect opening episode for Bandon Week.

After a great Scotland Week episode about Trump Turnberry and more, Golf Tips editor Vic Williams returns to tackle the Emergency 9 questionnaire, highlighting his favorites from the world of golf travel, including Oregon’s Bandon Dunes, Arizona’s Enchantment Resort, Idaho’s Circling Raven and New Mexico’s Black Mesa.

Friend of the podcast Shane Bacon brings his humor and insight to this Emergency 9 episode of “Talking GolfGetaways” with mentions of everything from the obvious (Scotland’s Old Course and Oregon’s Bandon Dunes) to the lesser-known (Pine Dunes in East Texas) with stops at Nebraska, Australia and New Zealand in between — and perhaps the best cold-weather apparel suggestion you’ll ever hear.

“Claret Dreams” author Tim Alpaugh returns for an Emergency 9 followup to Scotland Week with his answers to the “Talking GolfGetaways” golf-travel questionnaire, including a love for Alister MacKenzie’s courses, a few more Scotland favorites — and an unforgettable peanut butter, jelly and bacon sandwich.