The DROP Podcast

This week on The DROP Podcast, we welcome New Jersey native Chris Powers, Senior Writer for Golf Digest and co-host of The Loop podcast. From his early days caddying at Rockaway River Country Club to becoming one of the most-read voices in modern golf media, Chris brings a rare blend of humor, honesty, and sharp storytelling to the sport. His journey from Denville fairways to the national spotligh...

Winter is officially closing in on the Garden State, which means it’s prime time to lock in your next golf escape and The DROP Podcast has your winter golf trip strategy covered. This episode breaks down why planning early pays off for Jersey golfers chasing warm-weather fairways. From no-budget bucket-list adventures to value-packed destinations, we dive into the top golf travel hotspots: Myrtle...

Christina Parsells brings elite credentials and undeniable presence to this week’s episode as we highlight one of New Jersey’s most accomplished and influential female golfers. A proud member of Somerset Hills Country Club, Christina is a 6x USGA participant - most recently competing in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship - and the 2024 New Jersey Women’s Mid-Am Champion, a milestone th...

A huge thank you to Mirza and the Dormie Network team for hosting at Hidden Creek Golf Club - a day that perfectly captured the soul of South Jersey golf. Hidden in Egg Harbor Township just minutes from Atlantic City, this Coore & Crenshaw masterpiece stretches across 750 acres of pure Pine Barrens terrain, offering one of the most immersive walking experiences in New Jersey golf. Since joinin...

Rory Asselta - the 2025 NJ Boys Golfer of the Year - joins the show after a freshman season that rewrote New Jersey golf history. Representing St. Joseph (Mont.), Rory captured the Garden State Cup, the FDU Invitational, and the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, where he fired a jaw-dropping 64 to seal both team and individual titles. He then took his game national, shooting 65-66-69 to win the PGA...

Our day at Hollywood Golf Club reminded us why we love this game. From the first tee to the final walk up 18, every step showcased pure golf excellence. Originally crafted by Walter Travis and masterfully restored by Tom Doak, Hollywood stands as a tribute to Golden Age architecture - where sculpted bunkers, coastal winds, and beautifully contoured greens create a timeless test. Ranked 5th in New...

Bill Hook, Head Golf Professional at Knickerbocker Country Club and last year’s 2024 NJPGA Golf Professional of the Year, joins the show as he finishes his 15th season at one of New Jersey’s most historic Donald Ross clubs. The latest in a 70-year lineage of respected head professionals, Bill has helped guide Knickerbocker through a major restoration that modernized the course while protecting its...

Trump National Bedminster’s Old Course leads the show this week as Ryan breaks down his full round - including what it’s like walking into a mansion-style clubhouse that feels more presidential estate than golf facility, easily one of the most over-the-top clubhouses in the country. On the course, he goes deep on the famous closing stretch: the demanding Par 5, 15th with its deceptive fairway widt...

This week on The DROP, we sat down in The Banks Room at Hackensack Golf Club with Greg Beringer, the club’s new Head Golf Professional, to dive into his untraditional rise through the game. Greg didn’t grow up inside the ropes - he picked up golf later than most - but his time at Oak Hill Country Club proved to be career-defining. Over nearly a decade, he worked under some of the most respected pr...

This week on The DROP, we uncover the resurgence of Knickerbocker Country Club - a standout in New Jersey’s private golf scene and one of North Jersey’s most historic and underrated clubs. Originally designed in 1914 by Donald Ross, with a major architectural imprint from Herbert Strong, Knickerbocker blends Golden Age strategy with modern edge. Now under the vision of Jaeger Kovich of Proper Golf...

What happens when viral content meets Golfing in the Garden State? In this episode of The DROP Podcast, we sit down with Zach Misischia, of The Makeshift Project - one of the fastest-rising content powerhouses in the content game. With millions of followers, views and subscribers across social platforms, Zach dives into how Makeshift built a loyal digital audience from scratch, what it takes to st...

This week’s DROP takes you behind the gates at Hackensack Golf Club - a private, Charles Banks-designed gem tucked into Bergen County that blends Golden Age architecture with modern championship teeth. We break down the course and explore Banks’ bold use of classic templates like the Redan, Short, Biarritz, Punchbowl, and even the rare Principal’s Nose. With steep-faced bunkers, massive green cont...

A career-defining win. A name etched into MGA history. In this week’s DROP, we sit down with David Pastore, fresh off completing the elusive MGA Slam with a dramatic victory at the 110th Met Open Championship at Meadow Brook Club. Pastore becomes just the fourth player ever to win the Ike, Met Amateur, and Met Open - joining legends like Jerry Courville Sr. and Johnson Wagner. We dive into his jou...

This week’s DROP takes you inside our unforgettable day at Metedeconk National Golf Club, thanks to Director of Golf Brent Studer, who opened the gates for us to experience one of the most exclusive and demanding layouts in New Jersey. From the world-class practice facility to a full loop on the Tournament Course, we saw firsthand why this Robert Trent Jones Sr. design is considered a true Garden...

This week on The DROP Podcast, we sit down with Matt Ginella, Founder of Fire Pit Productions and now Chief Storyteller for KemperSports, following their groundbreaking partnership. Ginella opens up about what this next chapter means for golf media - where storytelling, course culture, and community collide. Known for his soulful approach to documenting the heart of the game, Matt shares how Fire...

Four years in, and we’re just getting started. The DROP Podcast kicks off Year 4 with big momentum and even bigger swings. With a growing community behind us and new support from Thrive, Sugarloaf Social Club, and the long-awaited Jersey Mike’s, we’re taking “Golfing in the Garden State” to the next level. We also reveal our brand-new YouTube video format designed for deeper dives and sharper stor...

Fresh off a semifinal run at the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur, Christian Cavaliere lit it up again - this time carding a course-record 9-under 63 at The Stanwich Club. The Hudson National standout and reigning New York State Open champ is dialed in, and we caught up with him to talk about staying sharp, staying grounded, and chasing peak performance on the Mid-Am circuit. But golf is only half the story....

156 weeks. 156 episodes. Zero misses. That’s the streak we’ve proudly built at The DROP Podcast: Golfing in the Garden State. Through vacations, sickness, personal commitments, and everyday life - we’ve never skipped a week since launch. That consistency isn't just rare in podcasting. It’s a reflection of how much we care about this show, this game, and you, the listener. Whether you’ve been w...

Matt Lowe continues to build on his elite amateur legacy with another standout season in 2025, recently adding a win at the MGA Public Links Championship at Hominy Hill to his resume. Lowe’s consistency, sharp ball striking, and ability to show up in big moments have made him a fixture at the top of leaderboards across the region. After a runner-up finish at The Farrell, Lowe’s 2025 campaign is sh...

We spent the day playing one of the most iconic tracks in the Garden State - Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course - and it did not disappoint. From the architectural evolution of the par-3 4th - once reshaped by Robert Trent Jones and now restored by Gil Hanse - to the renewed greens and bunkers throughout, Baltusrol’s Lower Course is a masterclass in design and legacy. We break it all down, then sh...

This week on The DROP Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Shutte, Head Coach of the Rutgers Men’s Golf Team, for an inside look at how he's building a powerhouse program in the Big Ten. Coach Shutte shares his recruiting approach, player development mindset, and the culture driving Rutgers to national recognition. We also explore his mentorship of PGA Tour winner and Rutgers alum Chris Gotterup, and...

What if getting on the course in New Jersey required a license? This week on The DROP Podcast, we explore Golf Platzreife, Germany’s unique certification that proves a golfer is truly course-ready. It’s not just about skill - it’s about etiquette, pace, and responsibility. As public golf in NJ gets busier and more competitive, we ask: could a system like this improve the game for everyone? Whether...

Dean Greyserman stormed his way to the 2025 MET Amateur title - and never looked back. Representing Hamilton Farm, the rising Stanford senior defeated a loaded field of the Metropolitan area’s best, capping off his run with a 3 & 1 victory over Matt Lowe in the 36-hole final at Old Oaks. Greyserman trailed for just two holes all day, taking control early and delivering in the biggest moments -...

What’s one public course in New Jersey we haven’t played - but absolutely need to? Inspired by our Instagram poll, Mike and Ryan reveal their Garden State golf bucket lists, from legendary layouts to hidden gems still waiting for a tee time. Then we tee up a question every golfer’s asked: What does it really take to be a “good” golfer? Is it breaking 90? Shooting in the 70s? Or just keeping the ba...

He’s back. Mark Costanza returns for his third appearance on The DROP after winning the 2025 New Jersey State Open at Hamilton Farm, a course he knows like the back of his hand. Mark walks us through his wire-to-wire performance, including the birdie-birdie-eagle stretch on the front nine that set the tone, the local knowledge that helped him navigate tough pins, and the mindset he leaned on to cl...