3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. Niche down before you scale up Rather than trying to take on the "600 pound gorilla, Kleenex of vodka" with a mass-market product, Chris built Broken Tee specifically for golfers which is a market with natural moats: brand loyalty, higher net worth, and a well-documented affinity for a post-round drink. Florida's 1,200+ courses and year-round play made it the perfect proof-of-concept market before expansion into states like North Carolina.

2. Direct-to-consumer relationships beat distributor middlemen. Shipping to 46 states and selling directly through BrokenTeeVodka.com keeps the brand's story and one-to-one connection with golfers intact, which is something a traditional distributor model strips away. The 19th Hole Series of course collaboration bottles (like the Panther National edition) extends that relationship-building to clubs themselves.

3. Avoid expensive mistakes by leaning on those who've been there. Chris's advice for aspiring spirits entrepreneurs: "find people with experience who can tell you which pitfalls to sidestep". Mistakes are inevitable and at the same time are the best teachers but they're expensive, so every one you can avoid is capital saved for growth in the product and company.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Chris on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

💬 **3 Inspiring Quotes from Chris Bishouty

"If you build something that you love, you never work a day in your life. That is how Broken Tee ended up becoming what it became . It was the solution to "how do I build the thing that I love so I don't feel like I'm working for the rest of my life."

"Golfers drink three times more than the average American. Golfers are generally higher net worth individuals, golfers are extremely brand loyal... We all spend a lot of time, money and effort on the hat, the clothes, the clubs, the bag. The idea behind Broken Tee was: we really should all be spending that time, money and care into what goes in our glass."

"We are a lifestyle brand that happens to sell vodka. Our whole thing is about bringing more awareness to the game, bringing people into the game, and really being a part of the fabric of the story of other people's lives and their lives in golf."

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the ModGolf Podcast / meet Chris Bishouty of Broken Tee Vodka
01:07 First golf memories: dad's living-room putting and the coffee-cup hole
04:29 The entrepreneur's "open building site" why vodka, why golf?
07:18 A unique spirits education: pot stills and moonshine in 1970s Saudi Arabia
09:27 Assembling the team: sourcing vs. building a distillery, and the value of mentors
14:28 Tasting notes and differentiators: corn-based, carbon-filtered, sustainable
17:41 Finding the market gap in a hyper-competitive spirits category
22:35 Distribution strategy: direct-to-consumer, Florida proof of concept, 46 states
26:44 The 19th Hole Series: collaboration bottles with iconic golf courses
28:53 The Cocktail Club: golf-themed signature drinks (and a YouTube mixology demo)
31:14 The ball marker story: keepsakes, limited editions and brand engagement
37:28 Naming and logo design: the subtle broken "T" and the negative-space second T
40:51 The three C's - connection, community, camaraderie - and stories that fuel the fire
45:36 How to find Broken Tee Vodka and get it into your club or home

We want to thank Big Swing Media for presenting this episode and supporting Season 20 of The ModGolf Podcast!

Anyone can tell you what happened in golf. The Big Swing Golf Business Intelligence Brief tells you why it matters, and what’s coming next. Twice a week, Big Swing delivers original reporting and expert analysis of the money, trends, technology and personalities reshaping the game. It’s essential reading for anyone who works in, invests in or cares about the future of golf. ModGolf listeners receive a special first-year rate with code MODGOLF26. Visit BigSwingMedia.news to subscribe.

About The ModGolf Podcast: Host Colin Weston speaks with entrepreneurs, innovators, disruptors, and influencers shaping the future of the game and business of golf. Now in Season 20 with nearly 300 episodes produced since 2017.

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🔗 Connect with Chris and Broken Tee Vodka:

brokenteevodka.com

Special Guest: Chris Bishouty – Founder, Broken Tee Vodka.

Support The ModGolf Podcast

Nominations are open until October 30, 2026

The Business in Golf 100 is now accepting nominations from across the global golf industry. You can nominate yourself, a colleague, a peer, a friend, or anyone you believe is doing great work to grow the game and inspire others.

The five criteria they'll be judging against will be impact, innovation, inspiration, contribution to the future of the industry, and then character and values.

➡️ Nominate at: businessingolf.com/the100list

It's free to nominate, open to anyone, anywhere in the world, and the final 100 is decided by a fully independent judging panel chaired by Martin Slumbers (former CEO of the R&A).

The 10 Categories Open for Nomination

1. Founders & Entrepreneurs
2. Executives & Business Leaders
3. Operators & Course Management
4. Investors & Deal Makers
5. Innovators & Technology Leaders
6. Designers & Creatives
7. Brand Builders
8. Creators
9. Catalysts
10. Rising Stars & Next-Generation Talent

Categories are guides, not quotas. If someone is making an impact, nominate them!

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with David on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

3 Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Golf's New Consumer Isn't Being Measured Properly – David argues the industry's reliance on "rounds played" misses the bigger picture. Many new golf consumers never play 18 holes—they play simulators, short-form courses, watch YouTube golf, and buy apparel. Understanding this new consumer is essential for long-term growth.

2. Outside Perspectives Are a Superpower, Not a Weakness – Neither David nor his co-founder Leanne came from the golf industry. Rather than being a credibility gap, their 20+ years of external commercial and innovation experience lets them ask different questions and bring a fresh lens to golf business news.

3. The 100 List Democratizes Recognition – Unlike traditional power lists that celebrate the usual suspects, The Business in Golf 100 is about contribution, not profile. It's open to anyone, at any level, anywhere in the world - and women are especially encouraged to nominate and be nominated.

Inspiring Quotes from David Hyland

"We apply our external macro experience to the news that's happening within the golf industry and bring a slightly different perspective to the story. We may ask slightly different questions than what questions would be asked within the golf industry."

"It's not about their position or their job title or the company that they work for. It's about the individual and the work that they're doing. It's the impact. It's not their profile, it's about their contribution."

"Golf is attracting people from outside the industry both at a professional level, but also from a playing level as well. Both need to work together to help the industry keep on growing. You need people to come in with outside perspectives and with outside opinions and questions."

"We're looking for founders, we're looking for innovators, creators, operators, executives, community leaders and brand builders, rising stars, people who are having a global or local impact. Anyone can nominate themselves a colleague, a peer, a friend, whoever that might be who they believe is making a difference and helping to inspire others to make a difference to the industry. I think what makes this different maybe from other award programs or recognition programs is this is about the people."

"It's not about who they work for or their job title, it's about the impact that they're having not their profile. So it doesn't matter if they're really well known or not known at all, it's about what they're doing that really matters. It's their contribution as opposed to their popularity."

➡️ Nominate at: businessingolf.com/the100list

We want to thank Golf Genius Software for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!
Are you a golf course owner, manager or operator looking to increase both your profit margins and on-course experience?

Golf Genius powers tournament management at over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, resorts, golf associations, and tours in over 60 countries. So if you’re a golf professional or course operator who wants to save time, deliver exceptional golfer experiences, and generate more revenue, check them out online at golfgenius.com.

Episode Chapters

00:00 - Welcome to The ModGolf Podcast – Bonus Episode with David Hyland
01:22 - Meet David Hyland, Co-Founder of Business in Golf
02:08 - The Why: Filling a Gap in Golf Business Coverage
04:34 - The Ryder Cup Catalyst: Why the Industry Needed a New Voice
06:20 - Curating the Weekly Newsletter: Process, Perspective & the LIV/Rahm Story
09:34 - Outside the Industry: How Not Coming from Golf Became a Superpower
12:26 - Overhyped vs. Ready to Take Off: David's Take on Golf Business Trends
14:38 - YouTube Golf & the New Entry Point for Young Players
19:23 - Introducing The Business in Golf 100
22:20 - The Judging Panel: Martin Slumbers, Rick Shiels, Katrina Matthew & More
25:52 - Democratizing Recognition: Contribution Over Profile
28:32 - How to Nominate – Deadline October 30, 2026
30:23 - Encouraging Women to Nominate & Be Nominated
32:31 - Connect with Business in Golf & The 100 List
33:09 - Closing Thoughts & YouTube Bonus Conversation

Connect with David Hyland & Business in Golf

• Website: businessingolf.com
• The 100 List Nominations: businessingolf.com/the100list
• Instagram: @businessingolf
• LinkedIn: Business in Golf
• Newsletter: Free weekly newsletter every Friday
• Founding Partner of The 100 List: RepSpark

Special Guest: David Hyland - Co-Founder, Business in Golf.

Support The ModGolf Podcast