The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf

In this episode, we talk with Ambassador member David Marcucilli, design coordinator at Nicklaus Design. David, who has a degree in agronomy and turfgrass management, is in a role where he’s the course designer’s eyes and ears onsite and essentially the boots on the ground during the creation of a golf course. Hear David’s takes on golf course design, insight on how golf courses come to be, and a...

On this episode, Matt welcomes Donnie Darr, his former college golf coach at University of Akron. Donnie is now the assistant golf coach at Oklahoma State University, the alma mater of tour pros Victor Hovland, Matt Wolff, and Rickie Fowler. Take a listen to Donnie’s insights on pro golf, his recent battle with cancer, life of a coach of an elite collegiate golf team. Donnie Darr on Twitter https:...

In this episode, we talk with Craig Haltom, who is directly respsonsible for amazing golf experiences as an architect, golf designer, and leader of a golf management company. Without Craig, the world may never have known such NewClub favorites as Sand Valley, Lawsonia, Lac La Belle, and Welter’s Folly. Craig Haltom online https://www.craighaltom.com/

In this episode of our Member Series, we talk with Huge Galdones, food photographer for some of the top chefs and restaurants in the country. Take a listen to hear Huge's golf journey, pandemic life with his kids, and how he got into food photography. Huge Galdones on social media https://www.instagram.com/galdophoto/ https://twitter.com/hugegaldones

In this episode, we talk with Ryan French, Twitter's maven of “Monday Q Info” and mini-tour life, about golf coming back to the Midwest, life as a caddie on various mini tours, and the backstory on how he founded Monday Q Info. Ryan French | Monday Q Info https://www.mondayq.com/mini-tours https://twitter.com/acaseofthegolf1

This week in our Member Series, we catch up with our farthest-from-home Ambassador, Patrick Scoville. Living in Kenya, Africa, Patrick tells us what life and golf is like overseas. Patrick Scoville on social media https://www.twitter.com/pRoJeCtPaT16 https://www.instagram.com/projectpatspx

In this episode, we talk to Michael Bamberger, senior writer at Sports Illustrated, GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com, and storied author of To The Linksland, The Green Road Home, The Swinger, The Second Life Of Tiger Woods, and more. Take a listen to hear Michael’s soulful and simpler approach to the game. Michael Bamberger on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Bamberger/e/B001JP9LUK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_...

In this episode in our member series, we chat with John Williams, an Ambassador member from Colorado. Enjoy a refreshing conversation with John about the soul of the game, caddying at Winged Foot, golfing alone in Scotland, why he needed brain surgery, and his pursuit of a Master’s degree at St. Andrews. John Williams on social media https://www.twitter.com/@jpwski07 https://www.instagram.com/john...

On this episode, we welcome Zac Blair, a PGA tour professional and founder of the Buck Club. Take a listen and hear Zac give us an update on life in Utah, family life, and of course, golf. The Buck Club https://thebuck.club/ https://www.instagram.com/thebuckclub https://twitter.com/thebuckclub Zac Blair https://www.instagram.com/zachary_blair https://twitter.com/z_blair

In this member series episode, we talk with Brendan O’Neill, who is lifelong golfer, a Chicago NCGS member, and a police officer for the city of Hammond in Indiana. Take a listen to hear Brendan talk about his day job as a police officer, his love for cigars, Cuba, and Ireland.

In this episode, we catch up with Carson Solien, the head golf professional at Oak Park Country Club. Carson, preceded by names like Masters winner Horton Smith and Illinois Golf Hall of Famer Errie Ball at OPCC, tells us how he gutted his way on to a D-1 golf team, how he became a PGA pro, and how he’s staying active in golf during this pandemic.

Fashion, 21-year old Rory, good guy Geoff Ogilvy, slow-play Jason Day, and Tiger's band-aid swing... PJ Malik, statistician at FOX Sports & PGA Tour Radio, returns during what would have been Masters week to talk about the 2011 Masters where Charl Schwartzel would emerge from a pressure-packed final round to win.

It's isolation time! We're going to miss this year's Masters dearly, but thankfully we can reminisce about the 1998 Masters with Jack making an epic run, Duval and Freddie battling it out, and O'Meara clinching the tournament with an unforgettable birdie putt on 18.

In this episode, we chat with Phil Arouca, the 2011 Illinois Open Champion, former pro, and NewClub member, at a setting unlike most others -- the Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook. Phil is a member of CCC and a now-expert at the game of sweeping and sliding on ice. Take a listen to Phil talk about two of his favorite things -- curling and golf.

Bob Peele, a successful Chicagoan, avid golfer, and lifelong friend of Mike Keiser is one of the "retail golfers" featured in the book, Dream Golf: The Making Of Bandon Dunes, playing an important role as one of Keiser's "informal brain trust of counselors and advisers" during the building of the now-famous golf destination. NewClub Golf Society | https://www.newclub.golf

Dr. Joe Parent, friend of the society and author of Zen Golf: Mastering The Mental Game, helps us get through these uncertain times through mindfulness, breath, and meditation. Take a listen to a thoughtful conversation on how to stay obsessed with golf and navigate a pandemic. Zen Golf | https://www.zengolf.com/ NewClub Golf Society | https://www.newclub.golf

Just a conversation between two lifelong buddies about golf, favorite golf holes, Grand Theft Auto, and Mountain Dew. NewClub Chief Ambassador, founder of Squares To Circles, math professor at University of Georgia, and one of the brightest minds in golf, Kevin Moore joins us on the Bag Drop.

This week, we enjoyed a meet up of general managers, PGA members, and club presidents for a conversation around the evolving golf landscape in Chicagoland and recorded a special live podcast with an esteemed group of Chicago's top club operators for an insightful panel discussion. Thank you to Christie Paich, Don Pieper, Todd Marsh, and Nathan Perry for generously sharing your wealth of experience...

In this episode, we talk with Marcus Yado, PGA, owner of My Chicago Golf, about how he got into the game and some of his golf experiences at Sand Valley and Bandon Dunes. My Chicago Golf is one of the top spots in Chicago for lessons, club fittings, and indoor golf simulators. We're also happy to announce that Marcus now offers a special coaching/lessons/simulator package just for NewClub members.

In our last season of the Bag Drop, we uncovered the untold stories from the PGA pros, superintendents, architects, and operators who make it possible for us to play the game we all love. To kick off our new season, we turn the mic to our members and Ambassadors to show you how the community itself might be the best part of golf. Our first episode is with our 2019 champion, John Ballou.

Joining us this week is Keith Rhebb, the designer and builder behind Winter Park 9, the new short course at Forest Dunes, Cabot Cliffs, and Streamsong red course. Keith was kind enough to show a few NewClub members his 10-hole short course at Forest Dunes right after he shaped it, just before the grass started growing. Enjoy our conversation about his projects, his life in golf, and his thoughts o...

Our conversation with Matt Fonner -- head PGA professional at Glen Flora Country Club -- may have happened in early April, but we fondly remember the start of the season, the Masters, and the excitement of NewClub’s official second year. We didn’t get sunny and 80 degree weather as early as we hoped, but take a listen to a little Spring throwback episode with one of our favorite people in the indu...

Lee Stone, co-architect of Champion Hill, joins us on the Bag Drop to tell his story how he went from growing fruit and Christmas Trees to building one of the finest courses in Northern Michigan.

Day job? Technology sales. Passion? Building backyard golf that might be one of the most unique and ambitious courses in the world. Ben Hotaling, who is the guy behind Some Guy’s Backyard, joins us on the Bag Drop.

Andy Johnson, founder of The Fried Egg and long-drive champion at the Sunrise Stableford, was kind enough to join our tournament at Ravisloe Country Club and join The Bag Drop for a live podcast after the round.