Golfers Anonymous

BONUS: What Makes The Masters Unique

We're officially one week away from the 2024 Masters. Matt and I decided to break down our top five favorite things that make The Masters so unique every year.
 
Chapters
 
00:00 Introduction and Masters Preview
05:29 Honorable Mention: Coverage of the Masters
07:14 Honorable Mention: Bridges at Augusta National
09:21 Matt's Number 5: Unpredictability of Player Performances
14:19 Noah's Number 5: Skipping Shots at the 16th Hole
20:36 Noah's Number 4: Concessions at the Masters
24:24 Matt's Number 3: Colors and Visual Presentation
26:01 Noah's Number 3: Magnolia Lane
28:56 Concessions and Food
32:17 The Start of Spring
36:25 The Trophy Ceremony
40:37 The Masters Theme Song
42:25 The Champions Dinner
 

Episode 9: Connor Mulligan - 10.5 Handicap

Any episode where the guest's name includes the word Mulligan is a must listen. In this episode Connor walks his through the peaks and valleys of his raging golf addiction. 
Connor reveals that he took on the brave task of completely rebuilding his golf swing and the roller coaster that was. To round the conversation out we cover various topics in the world of golf, including discussions about Scottie Scheffler and the World Golf Ranking, predictions for the Masters and Rory McIlroy's career, a critique of Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup captaincy, golf trips and bucket list courses, and why golf is special and addictive.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
06:11 Connor's High School Golf Experience
09:14 Connor's Home Course and Lowest Round
13:16 Connor's Golf Addiction in College
26:02 Connor's Favorite Golfer: Wyndham Clark
30:49 Discussion about Scottie Scheffler and the World Golf Ranking
36:37 Predictions for the Masters and Rory McIlroy's Career
40:38 Critique of Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup Captaincy
51:43 Golf Trips and Bucket List Courses
56:26 Why Golf is Special and Addictive
58:47 Breaking 80

Episode 8: Justin Lee - 3.5 Handicap

In this episode we bring on friend of the pod Justin Lee. Justin shares his journey into golf, starting with his father's influence and early exposure to the sport. Justin played competitive golf throughout high school and shared some great stories about how he grew up watching Tiger Woods with his Dad. Justin also talks about his favorite golf course, Bethpage, and his lowest round ever at Putterham, a course that holds a special place in his heart.
 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction 
02:03 Justin's Introduction and Early Golf Experience
04:36 Justin's Experience Playing Competitive Golf
11:38 Memorable Moments from High School Golf
19:15 The Longevity of Golf 
22:06 Favorite Golf Course: Bethpage
27:40 Lowest Round and Favorite Course: Putterham
33:01 Growing Up as a Golf Fan
35:20 Favorite Golfers to Watch
37:00 Rivalries and Fandom
38:41 Volunteering at Golf Tournaments
51:31 Most Memorable Golf Shot
 

Episode 7: Thomas O'Donoghue - 15.0 Handicap

In this episode we bring on a Thomas O'Donoghue, proud golf addict and close friend of the pod. Thomas is a 15 handicap who originally picked up golf as a small child, took some time off, and now is back chasing his dream of breaking 80. 
 
We talk about a variety of topics including the live experience at a major, the heat of Pinehurst in September, and what the perfect pre round meal looks like. 
 
00:00 Introduction 
03:08 Playing Golf with Irish Family
05:57 Getting Back into Golf and Improving Handicap
10:12 Golf Trip to Pinehurst
15:48 Custom Club Fitting and Funky Grips
22:53 Drinking on the Golf Course
25:08 Walking vs Riding
26:35 Attending the 2022 US Open
31:43 Favorite Golfers and the Future of Golf
34:38 LIV Golf and the PGA Tour
41:14 Favorite Major Tournament
43:59 Eating on the Golf Course
44:26 Would You Rather
49:31 Gimmies, Mulligans, and Cheaters
51:46 Why Golf is a Big Part of Life

Episode 6: Ottavio D. - 7.5 Handicap

This week we bring on Ottavio Dattolo, a former semi professional baseball player turned avid golfer. Tav has an awesome story of how his parents got him into golf at an early age via the first tee program and his love for the game has blossomed ever since.  Tav's golf career peaked when he shot 74, but his lowest point is when he accidentally bought fake clubs off of Facebook Marketplace.  This is another great listen for any former baseball players out there.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:12 Getting Into Golf and High School Golf
06:19 Playing Semi-Professionally and Transitioning to Software
13:51 Being a Golf Fan and Watching Live
19:09 The Waste Management Tournament and Rowdy Fans
22:37 Most Memorable Round and Golf Shot
29:09 Golf Trips and Planning
34:20 Bucket List Golf Courses
35:15 Golf Trips and Course Recommendations
41:45 Planning a DIY Home Golf Setup
46:53 Love For The Game

Episode 5: Ben F. - 6.7 Handicap

In this episode we bring Titleist celebrity Ben Firn to the show. Ben has a unique story in that he played college golf, yet never played competitively in high school. 
Ben truly caught the golf bug about 7 years ago and it has dominated his waking thoughts ever since.  We talk about some of the awesome trips Ben has been on including Bandon, New Zealand, and his upcoming pilgrimage to Scotland.
 
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Getting into Golf and College Golf Experience
04:04 Golf Fandom and Favorite Golfer
07:11 Improving His Game 
12:43 Best Golf Round and Golf Travel Experiences
22:16 New Zealand
27:49 Playing Golf in Winter and Favorite Game Formats
35:36 Annual Golf Trip and Competition
37:15 Golf Courses on the Robert Trent Jones Trail
38:15 Tobacco Road
40:41 Keeney Park & Hartford Golf
42:07 Wisconsin Circuit
43:25 Titleist Commercial
46:46 Why We Keep Coming Back to Golf

Episode 4: Deven Yee - 9.8 Handicap

We have our first guest who works in the golf industry! In our 4th episode of the Golfer's Anonymous podcast I talk to Deven Yee, Social Media Coordinator at Callaway Golf. Deven has had the opportunity to experience a lot cool things in the golf world so this is a must listen!
Here's the breakdown of the episode:
00:00 - Introduction of Deven Yee.
03:03 - Why people love golf.
09:25 - How Deven moved from public health to working in golf.
15:28 - Favorite golfers and experiences on courses. 20:28 - Our trip to Pinehurst.
33:23 - Deven's best game.
35:16 - Scoring under 80.
38:22 - The challenge of scoring under 90.
39:05 - Favorite golf shot.
41:01 - Favorite club.
42:52 - Adjusting golf clubs.
44:33 - Wyndham Clark's game at Pebble Beach.
46:26 - Deven's golf routine.
47:50 - Playing with his dad at Torrey Pines.
50:33 - Why we love golf.

Episode 3: Lane L. - 3.0 Handicap

Summary
 
In this episode, Lane shares how he transitioned from being a competitive tennis player to becoming a passionate golfer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses his rapid improvement in golf and the role of course management in his game. Lane also talks about his favorite golf memories, his favorite golfer (Rory McIlroy), and his goals for the future. The conversation concludes with a discussion about a potential 75-day golf challenge. The conversation covers intense golf competitions, horse race tournaments, chip-offs in tournaments, finding tournaments through USGA, and the fun of alternate shot.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format
01:27 Guest Introduction and Golf Background
04:13T he Quest for Improvement and the Golf Community
05:00 Sibling Rivalry and Getting Hooked on Golf
08:08 Transition from Tennis to Golf
10:05 Improving Golf Game and Course Management
11:14 Seeing Improvement and Setting Goals
12:02 Decade Course Management System
14:51 Determining Personal Shot Dispersion
17:16 Playing Games and Competing on the Golf Course
20:16 Best Rounds and Shots
25:23 Quirky Routines and Double Gloving
28:03 Golf Bucket List and Goals
30:40 Favorite Golfer and Golf Content
33:46 75-Day Golf Challenge
36:25 Favorite Golf Memories
37:23 Intense Golf Competitions
38:33 Horse Race Tournaments
39:02 Chip-Offs in Tournaments
40:21 Finding Tournaments through USGA
40:59 The Fun of Alternate Shot

Episode 2: Josh P. - 11.0 Handicap

In our discussion, Josh highlights his memorable golfing experiences, especially his excursions to iconic courses like Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst. These adventures not only fueled his love for golf but also provided unforgettable moments and lessons. He gives us a peek into his golf bag, expressing a particular fondness for his trusty three wood and his prowess in putting.
We delve into Josh's competitive nature on the course, how it shapes his approach to the game, and the thrill he finds in each round's unique challenges. This episode offers a lively and insightful glimpse into the world of a passionate golfer and his continuous journey towards improvement.
Show Notes:
Getting to know Josh and his journey in golf.
Transition from baseball to fully embracing golf.
Recalling golf trips to renowned courses like Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst.
Insight into Josh's favorite golf equipment and his strategic approach to the game.
Exploring Josh's competitive spirit and its impact on his golf experience.
Looking ahead at Josh's golfing goals and his relentless pursuit of bettering his game.
Tune in to hear Josh's engaging story and explore the depth of passion that golfers have for their sport. In "Golfers Anonymous," every golfer has a unique and compelling story to tell.

Episode 1: Matt W - 7.3 Handicap

Matt has been playing golf for 11 years and sports a 7.3 handicap. In this episode, we dive into Matt's golfing life, from his first steps on the green to his current golf experiences.
Matt shares how his golf journey was influenced by his family, especially his dad and grandpa, and reveals a surprising family connection to the FootJoy brand. He talks about his transition from a casual high school player to a more dedicated golfer after college, highlighting how better equipment changed his game.
We also explore Matt's favorite golf courses, like Bandon Dunes and Bethpage Black, and what makes a golf course special to him. He discusses the importance of playing with friends and the fun of competitive matches.
Matt recounts some of his most memorable golf moments, including a great round at Chambers Bay with rental clubs. We also get into his habits on the course, like his unique warm-up routine and preferred snacks.