The ModGolf Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Golf”

Masters Memories and Your Canadian Golf Course Bucket List - Adam Scully, Host and Producer of Golf Talk Canada

The ModGolf Podcast — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 20:15:00 -0800

In this episode of ModGolf Live, host Colin Weston interviews Adam Scully, host and producer of Golf Talk Canada on TSN. Adam shares his journey in golf broadcasting, starting as an intern at TSN in 2011 and evolving into his current role. He discusses the show's growth from a regional radio program to a national multimedia platform covering professional golf, Canadian players, equipment reviews, and travel features. Adam details his first Masters experience in 2023, describing the unique atmosphere and course characteristics at Augusta National. The conversation also covers Canadian golf courses, with Adam highlighting top public venues around Toronto. The show concludes with discussion of Golf Talk Canada's future plans for 2025, including more on-course content and YouTube presence.

Chapters
02:05 Introduction and Show Background
Colin Weston introduces Adam Scully as the host and producer of Golf Talk Canada on TSN. The show covers PGA Tour events and broadcasts on both television and podcast formats.

08:41 Adam Scully's Career Journey
Adam details his progression from TSN intern in 2011 to his current role, including his transition to hosting during COVID-19. He describes how the show evolved from a 30-minute recap show to multiple hours of weekly content.

14:03 Masters Tournament Experience
Adam shares his first Masters experience in 2023, describing the unique aspects of Augusta National, including the strict no-phone policy and the distinctive white sand bunkers. He details the Monday practice round experience and the media lottery system.

27:08 Canadian Golf Course Recommendations for your next amazing golf trip
Adam highlights top public golf courses in the Toronto area, including Eagles Nest, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Cobble Beach Resort, and Black Bear Ridge, providing detailed descriptions of each venue's unique characteristics. Colin also offers up his top golf course picks on the Canadian west coast to consider for your next golf vacation, ranging from world class courses around Vancouver, Whister, The Okanagan and Vancouver Island. You can check out Golf Talk Canada's list of "Top 50 Canadian Golf courses HERE.

33:17 Future Plans and Industry Trends
Adam discusses Golf Talk Canada's plans for 2025, including more on-course content and YouTube presence. He mentions the anticipated PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger and predicts a strong year for Rory McIlroy.

Action Items
31:38 Adam and team to continue coverage of the anticipated PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger developments
34:16 Adam plans to expand Golf Talk Canada's content with more on-course matches and YouTube presence in 2025
41:48 Colin Weston proposes future golf rounds with Adam either in Toronto or Vancouver

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, you can watch our video version on The ModGolf YouTube channel for our weekly ModGolf LIVE Show. Click on this link or the image below to watch our video.

If you would like to connect with Adam, visit his bio page for contact information. To learn more about Golf Talk Canada click on the image below to visit their website.

We want to thank our friends at Golf Genius Software for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!

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.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... plus you can WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

The Bridge Between Sport and Fashion - Scott Davis, CEO of J.LINDEBERG North America

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:45:00 -0800

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been a huge J.LINDEBERG fan for over 20 years, so when I had the opportunity to connect with CEO Scott Davis I immediately asked him to share the company story on The ModGolf Podcast. Although we recorded as audio podcast, I couldn't help but wear my favourite JL biker jacket that is still in my outwear rotation. I hope you enjoy this fun episode with Scott as much as I love wearing that jacket!

Here are three key inspirational and informative takeaways that you will discover from the episode of The ModGolf Podcast featuring Scott Davis, CEO of J.LINDEBERG North America:

1 Embracing Innovation and Disruption: Scott emphasizes the importance of innovation in the apparel industry, particularly in golf fashion. He discusses how J.Lindeberg aims to disrupt the market by focusing on sophisticated designs that blend style with functionality. This commitment to innovation is not just about aesthetics; it involves using advanced materials and techniques, such as the self-cooling fabric derived from volcanic ash, to enhance performance on the golf course. This approach encourages you to think creatively and embrace change in your own endeavors.

2 Sustainability as a Core Value: The conversation highlights J.Lindeberg's commitment to sustainability, particularly through the use of recycled materials and natural fibers. Scott acknowledges the challenges in the textile industry regarding sustainability but emphasizes the brand's dedication to making incremental improvements. This focus on eco-friendly practices serves as a reminder for listeners about the importance of sustainability in their own businesses and the impact of consumer choices on the environment.

3 The Power of Community and Feedback: Scott shares how he actively seeks feedback from his family and friends, particularly his children, to understand the preferences of younger consumers. This practice of engaging with the community and valuing diverse perspectives is crucial for any brand's success. It encourages you to foster open communication and collaboration within your teams and networks, ensuring that they remain relevant and responsive to customer needs.

These takeaways not only provide insights into the fashion and golf industries but also inspire you to apply these principles in your own professional journey.

If you would like to connect with Scott, visit his bio page for contact information. To learn more about J.LINDEBERG click on the image below to visit their website.

We want to thank our friends at Golf Genius Software who have supported The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!

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.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... plus you can WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Scott Davis, CEO of J.LINDEBERG North America.

Fun is The Leading Message - Jay Karen, CEO at The NGCOA

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0700

"When you take those trend lines of the supply side of the American golf industry, it would not be surprising if 75 years from now we have 10,000 golf courses not 15,000, and we have 5,000 golf cafes like there are in South Korea. So if the future we will have a very different mix of supply of golf experiences in America."... Jay Karen, CEO at The NGCOA

Host Colin Weston speaks with return guest and friend of the show Jay Karen, CEO at The National Golf Course Owners Association to hear his take on how golf courses will navigate the upcoming decades as climate change, technology, entertainment and sustainable practices present new opportunities and challenges for the golf industry.

To watch our extended conversation, go to our ModGolf YouTube video with Jay at: https://youtu.be/INfpvwSLq8U

"It's in the DNA of the citizenry to keep those city golf courses as green spaces and not convert them to urban development. There's a protectionism towards not developing our existing city golf courses to keep them intact. For as many people who say we should shut these down, there are stronger voices that say "no, we should keep them open and here's why it because they are good for our communities".

Jay has been the CEO at The NGCOA National Golf Course Owners Association since 2015. Click on this link or the image below to learn more.

"I would call it The American Dream Story where a family had a golf course for 50 years and they sold it to developer for 10 times more than it's worth as an operating golf course. But the problem is from a supply and demand standpoint is those courses are closing down. So where is the affordable public golf going to be? Municipal golf courses are positioned perfectly to continue to be the place where everybody can play golf because they're near urban population centers".

If you would like to connect with Jay, visit his bio page for contact information. To learn more about the 2025 Golf Business Conference January 20-22 located at The PGA Show in Orlando, click on the image below.

We want to thank our partner inrange® for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!

inrange® is a radar-based ball-tracking company that enhances the driving range experience by offering the most engaging gameplay and precise ball-tracking on the market. From private clubs and standalone commercial ranges, to multi-storey “Big Box” entertainment venues and limited-flight ‘compact’ ranges, Inrange® creates unparalleled experiences for every type of player - and unleashes your business’ growth potential. They are also the only software in the world offering a bay vs bay link up feature - allowing large groups to play against one another in teams across the entire venue. To learn more check out www.inrangegolf.com.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... plus you can WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Jay Karen - CEO, The National Golf Course Owners Association.

Finding Her Ikigai Through Golf - Lehua Wise, Director of Golf at Kohanaiki Golf Club

The ModGolf Podcast — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 18:00:00 -0700

"Some of my members say, "Oh, I didn't start playing until after my career was over" and that's in their 50s or 60s. That makes it very hard to learn the game. So every little kid plays soccer, plays t-ball. Golf has to also be in that mainstream just to get the young ones in there as soon as possible. Doing what we can within our clubs, no matter their level skill or age to get them comfortable. Meaning we cover every skill, from different tee boxes, playing different games."

Host Colin Weston speaks with guest Lehua Wise to learn about her golf journey from top Hawaiian junior player, DI athlete, mini tour player to the Director of Golf at Kohanaiki Golf Club.

Ikigai (ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.” When combined, these terms mean that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose. Lehua has found her Ikigai. Have you found yours yet? Check this book to learn more.

Lehua is the Director of Golf at Kohanaiki Private Club & Community on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Click on this link or the image below to learn more.

"Getting to know our membership on a deeper level where you have to know what do they want to do. Do they want more silly things, do they want more big things? Getting them to come out to the golf course. That's the biggest part of it. You can go and create these things, but if they don't come then it's not going to be worth it."

If you would like to connect with Lehua, visit her bio page for contact information.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... plus you can WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Lehua Wise - Director of Golf at Kohanaiki Private Club and Residential Community.

Applying a Tech Startup Mindset To Innovate Golf Club Design - Brad Schweigert, PXG Chief Product Officer

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0800

"Bob Parsons had a real passion for challenging the status quo. We talked about how product was currently being designed, manufactured, distributed and marketed and believed that by doing things differently, we could figure out how to create a place in the market."

Mike Nicolette - who at that time worked for me at Ping - met Bob Parsons by chance playing nine holes of golf on a Friday afternoon. They had a good time and traded numbers afterwards and Bob would then call Mike all the time asking questions about golf equipment. Fast forward two years later, Bob had divested from GoDaddy and had an idea that he wanted to do something to change the golf industry.

Mike tried to talk Bob out of it because at that time in 2013 the golf industry had been flat and down for more than a decade. Bob told him to think about it and then Mike started to discuss the venture with me. At first I wasn't interested as Ping had been very good to me and I believed that I would retire there.

We want to thank our Episode Presenting Partner Golf Genius Software who have supported The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!
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.

PXG is active on Instagram where you can see their staff pros, clubs, equipment and apparel in action.

Click on the image below to watch Colin's unboxing of PXG irons and hybrid that arrived after his club fitting experience on The ModGolf Youtube Channel! We'll be posting the full PXG fitting experience video at Haus of Golf in Vancouver very soon.

"I decided to go talk with Bob and after leaving that meeting I knew what I was going to do. It felt that if I said no that I would regret it for the rest of my life. It would be so hard to move on knowing that I passed up on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was a huge decision and a lot of people thought that I was crazy to leave Ping but I felt that I had to give it a go."

Episode Chapters
[01:50] Brad's first golf experience and who introduced him to the game
[03:00] How Brad's education as a Mechanical Engineer led him to a career in golf club design
[05:00] The creation of PXG and how Bob Parsons incentivized both Mike Nicolette and Brad to leave Ping to join his quest to make the world's best golf clubs.
[09:30] The culture Bob created around PXG by giving Brad and Mike an open budget and schedule to design and create great golf clubs.
[14:00] Brad discusses their iterative design process, rapid prototyping and mistakes made that lead to material and design breakthroughs.
[16:30] Colin and Brad take a deep dive into material elasticity and how that informs club impact, energy transfer and forgiveness.
[20:40] The different club lines that span the spectrum of 14 handicappers like Colin to PXG staff pros like Christina Kim (who was our guest on the previous episode!)
[24:00] We learn how Bob Parsons' experience as a rifleman in the Marine Corps has influence the club numbering at PXG.
[26:00] The culture at PXG that combines passion, fun and the entrepreneurial spirit.
[28:00] PXG's core philosophy and vision as they expand their product lines.
[30:30] The future for PXG and where they look to be in 10 years time as they expand their distrubution centers and fitting partners.
[33:00] Some of the PXG designs that didn't work out and what they learned from them.

You can also learn more about Brad on his bio page.

Want to check out the PXG clubs and fitting experience we talked about in this podcast episode? Have a look at their website to learn more.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Brad Schweigert - Chief Product Officer at PXG Parsons Xtreme Golf.

Working Through Trauma to Emerge More Resilient, Grateful and Happy - Christina Kim, LPGA Tour Pro

The ModGolf Podcast — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:15:00 -0800

"Everybody has trauma, so being able to work through that has been huge for my golf game. Funnily enough I need to remember that I'm a person before I'm a golfer. I actually experienced this with my boyfriend Andrew where I felt the roots of my trauma being ripped from my toenails and being released and set free. I became okay with saying "this is what I went through, this is a life that I've lead". There's no judgment. There's no anger. No bitterness. This is something that has happened that I needed to confront and move through"

We also want to thank Golf Genius Software for supporting The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!
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.

Christina is active on Instagram where you can follow her life experiences both on and off the course.

Click on the image below to watch our extended conversation with Christina on our Youtube Channel!

Episode Chapters
[02:20] Christina's first ever golf experience as a kid and how she developed a passion for the game
[04:40] The influence Christina's dad had on her development as a young golfer
[09:50] Why Christina decided to turn pro at the age of 17
[12:00] Stories from Christina's first year as a pro in 2002
[15:30] How Colin met Christina at the 2023 CPKC Canadian Womens Open
[17:30] Christina's ability to cope with mental health issues to give her strength to face the day
[21:00] We share experiences of loss, grief and trauma that stem from unchecked mental health issues and how we both have been able to find meaning, joy and purpose in our lives
[24:00] A conversation around removing the stigma around mental health issues by helping others and allowing others to help us
[29:00] Christina's relationship with LPGA Medical Director Dr. Bruce Thomas, who she credits with "saving my life three times"
[36:00] "I am responsible for creating my own joy"
[39:30] Defining Christina's purpose and what is next for her in the years to follow after The LPGA Tour

"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one"... Bruce Lee

Do you or someone you know struggle with anxiety, depression and/or thoughts of self-harm? Please do not feel like you or a loved one must suffer in silence as we are all connected. In the US and Canada you can speak with someone who deeply cares at the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org

You can also learn more about Christina on her bio page.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Christina Kim - LPGA Tour Pro.

Pivoting Your Business Model To Unlock New Customer Value - Tommy Southworth, President and COO of Southworth Development

The ModGolf Podcast — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0700

"My childhood friend and I came back together into the company two years ago, with this generational change in mind and have been able to partner together to take this portfolio of communities, this incredible company and the values it represents and shine a new lens on it with significantly different backgrounds than traditional golf course developers."

Want to learn more about Southworth Development and the communities they create? Visit their website to see the portfolio of properties.

You can learn more about Tommy on his bio page.

Show Notes and Tommy Quotes
"We're familiar with the business, I grew up in it. We waited tables here and cut the greens here growing up, but to be able to go spend our time in consulting and finance and come back and look at this portfolio and try to think about where we want to move it to, that's been the challenge and the opportunity. That's what I live and breathe right now. Experiencing a magical memory, something very social, something new. The direction we're trying to steer the ship in is creating great memories and new experiences."

Special Guest: Tommy Southworth - President and COO of Southworth Development.

Looking Outside The Golf Box To Build A Premium Golf Brand - Lisa O'Hurley, CEO and Founder of LOHLA SPORT

The ModGolf Podcast — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0700

"When COVID hit, GOLFINO hit on some hard times because they had 30 freestanding stores that all of a sudden closed down. They ended up selling the brand and it affected all of us, I was getting phone calls like crazy from the country clubs from the members asking "What's going on with GOLFINO and how can we get it?" Sitting over dinners with my husband it dawned on me that you know, what, if you were ever going to create a lady's premium golf brand, now is the time, because there was all of a sudden a hole in the marketplace. And that hole is what I created! I was fortunate that I still had the sales team and customers who trusted me. So I had a lot of pieces to the puzzle that I had unknowingly been working on for seven years not knowing exactly that it would translate into LOHLA SPORT."

Want to learn more about LOHLA SPORT? Check out their website to see how Lisa and her team bring premium European-designed sporting fashion to North American women.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Lisa on our Youtube Channel!

You can learn more about Lisa on her bio page.

Show Notes and Lisa Quotes
In one of the most unique sponsorships in sports marketing history, LOHLA SPORT partnered with Stefan Wilson and Andretti Autosport for the 2021 Indianapolis 500. Lisa shares how one of her race car loving investors made this valuable marketing opportunity happen.

After a 10 year career at GOLF CHANNEL, Lisa began the US business of GOLFINO, turning her love for golf fashion into her profession. After 7 years with GOLFINO, Lisa began LOHLA SPORT in June 2020 to continue to bring premium European-designed sporting fashion to the United States. Lisa strives to bring on-trend designs (with a touch of LA flair) to those who live a country club, resort or traveling lifestyle. Lisa lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, John (Seinfeld's J. Peterman), their son Will and two dogs, Lucy and Charlotte.
Lisa@LohlaSport.com

How To Turn Your "AHA Moment" Into A Scaleable Business Venture - Tom Cox, Co-Founder & CEO of Golfballs.com

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 18:15:00 -0700

"My AHA moment came when I met with the guys diving for lost golf balls in the lakes at the course I was managing, followed by our website developer for the golf club. I thought "what if I combine the divers to provide the product and the web developers to build an e-commerce platform to start selling used golf balls online?" That was the launch in 1995 that set the foundation for golfballs.com. We took our hobby and turned it into a minimum viable business and it has continued to grow annually since then."

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Tom on our Youtube Channel!

Want to learn more about GolfBalls.com customization capabilities?
Check out their website.

You can learn more about Tom on his bio page.

Show Notes and Tom Quotes
"I'm an unlikely entrepreneur as my parents worked in government so I thought that was my destiny. A friend got me a job at a country club, giving me the opportunity to hang out with and learn from business owners and entrepreneurs which activated this dormant entrepreneurial gene inside of me. Those encounters gave me the confidence and inspiration that led to embracing an entrepreneurial mindset."

This episode is brought to you by Golf Canada and the Golf Canada App - connecting you with an engaging digital platform from coast to coast. The Golf Canada app allows golfers to track their scores, manage their on-course experience and identify areas to improve their game. The app is a powerful tool that goes well beyond the handicap reporting and score posting system, as it connects golfers to their friends as well as over 1,400 golf courses across Canada. Download the app for free on either The App Store or Google Play. and visit their website at golfcanada.ca to become a member of our national golf community.

Special Guest: Tom Cox - Founder & CEO of Golfballs.com.

The courage to innovate during tumultuous times - Bryan Crawford, RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 22:30:00 -0700

"I've always been in the camp of we'll return to pre-pandemic conditions because as humans we crave that interaction of shared experiences. That is what we strive to deliver with The RBC Canadian Open."

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Bryan on our Youtube Channel!

Want learn more about the positive impact Golf Canada and The RBC Canadian Open generate? Check out their websites to learn more.
https://www.golfcanada.ca
https://rbccanadianopen.com

Want to download The Golf Canada app to track your handicap and for a chance to win an invite to the Audi Night Golf event? Download it from the Apple App Store for free. Android version is also available.

You can learn more about Bryan on his bio page.

Show Notes and Bryan Quotes
"We have created something that we feel really strongly about once we have the opportunity to come back in 2022 we are excited to be able to run with it. We drive over 82 million dollars of economic activity, never mind the two million that we give to charity and community organizations that we work with. So there's recognition of how important those are in providing support to organizations like ourselves to invest in new enhancements, which is wildly beneficial to an organization like ours that would otherwise have to do it much more slowly or perhaps not at all."

Special Guest: Bryan Crawford - RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director with Golf Canada.

Embracing A “Give First” Attitude To Build A Successful Business - Matt Fisher, The Mr. Short Game YouTube channel

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0700

"There was a point where I had to turn down freelance jobs. My last job was with Disney where I was making YouTube videos and that's when I realized this is what I need to be doing when I'm not working. About a year and a half later I'm at a point where I was thinking I need to let the other work go so I can this can grow. That was really tough because financially we were scraping by. Finally my YouTube channel was right on the cusp and I told my wife Jenny "here's the numbers showing where it's gone the last couple of months. If I let go of all my freelance work this could really take off". So that was a scary point but I had to go for it."

Golf YouTuber Matt Fisher, creator of Mr. Short Game

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Matt on our Youtube Channel!

Looking to improve your game around the green? Check out Matt's Mr. Short Game YouTube channel to experience his unfiltered energy and helpful tips.

You can learn more about Matt on his bio page.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Show Notes and Matt Quotes
"My approach to video creation has three components: I want to give something for free, whether it be a tip or a drill. I want it to be entertaining because I hate to be bored. Lastly I want people to connect and get to know me so we can build a community together."

"I'm not not going to mention somebody just because they don't pay me. I'll showcase good people and products all the time. Something I've learned along the way is just be giving first. Do expect or try to get stuff because the right things will come along. The universe has a way of giving back if you're a giving person. But if you're greedy or stingy, forget it. Nothing good is going to happen"

"I had to do stuff at my house and put a big net in my backyard. I just did what I had to do, which is the entrepreneurial mindset. I had no money and had sold all my camera equipment and was shooting videos on my iPhone. I'm in my yard, it's LA in the valley, 100 degrees outside and my phone is overheating so much that I had to put it in the freezer every 20 minutes, come back and finish the shot. That's how I started so I know what it takes to grind it out. Believe me, I want to be best golf YouTuber out there but I'm not going to build it at all costs. That's not part of the equation. What is part of the equation is how many friends and positive community can we build along the way."

Special Guest: Matt Fisher, Creator of The Mr. Short Game YouTube channel.

Inspiring Women To Build a Career In The Golf Industry - Kelly Hunt, Founder of GolfHers

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:30:00 -0700

To open Season 10 of The ModGolf Podcast we are shaking things up by doing something we've been planning for awhile. And that thing is to have Colin step aside from the microphone so that a guest host can take over the controls of the ship. On this episode former guest Dr. Greta Anderson takes over the hosting duties for an engaging conversation with GolfHers Founder Kelly Hunt to learn about her golf entrepreneurship journey to inspire women to build a career in the golf industry.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Kelly on our Youtube Channel!

Want to learn more about GolfHers or apply for their scholarship that helps women transition into the golf industry? Visit their website for more information. https://www.golfhers.net/

You can learn more about Kelly on her bio page.

Show Notes and Kelly Quotes
"When you're starting out, it's not the most lucrative job as you probably know, but it is the most rewarding career I think I could have. The fact that you can change lives with the game of golf and you need to pursue that. This is your calling and you're going to make a really big difference, so believe in yourself have confidence and go after it as much as you can because that's where I find myself. I have no regrets about my journey so far and I'm just so excited to be at a young age and know that GolfHers will help grow the game through more women participating. Being in the golf industry is exactly what I was meant to do."

Special Guest: Kelly Hunt - Founder of GolfHers.

Lessons Learned On The PGA Tour To Raise Your Mental Performance - Dick Zokol, CEO and Founder of MindTRAK Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 08:30:00 -0700

"For the first six months during my PGA Tour rookie year I couldn't make a cut and I'm getting all wound up. I knew I was playing well but my hyperactive mind was causing so much anxiety. I listened to music to calm down with a Sony Walkman so I thought "why don't I listen to it on the golf course?" Nicknamed "Disco Dick" after playing a 1982 PGA Tour event wearing a Sony Walkman, two-time tour winner Dick Zokol joins us to share how listening to music on course to calm his hyperactive mind were the seeds that led to the creation of MindTRAK Golf.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Dick on our Youtube Channel!

Want to give MindTRAK Golf a try? Download it from the Apple App Store for free. Android version coming soon.

You can learn more about Dick on his bio page.

Show Notes and Dick Quotes
"My first year on the PGA Tour, like most rookies I felt really uncomfortable. I got there thinking "oh my God, I have my PGA Tour card but now what am I going to do?" I'm amongst Jack Nicklaus and Freddie Couples, Arnold Palmer and there's Lee Trevino. For six months I couldn't make a cut and I'm getting all wound up. I knew I was playing well but my hyperactive mind was causing so much anxiety. I listened to music to calm down with a Sony Walkman so I thought "why don't I listen to it on the golf course?" which was a dangerous proposition.

The next week was Milwaukee so I put the Walkman in my bag and was playing with Larry Mize. 100 yards from the clubhouse I put the headphones on and Larry yells "Look at Disco Dick!" So I've got the rock and roll going and I'm coming down the 18th fairway seven under par and I'm so comfortable. I'm in my own little world listening to music and it's effortless. I led the tournament after the first round all the way up to the last hole on Sunday. This was a monumental discovery learning what music did to me.

At that moment I realized "Wow, this game is psychological because the only thing that has changed is how I thought". I can't physically compete with Fred Couples, but from a mindfulness perspective I can compete if I perform mentally. Now looking back at it, those were the seeds that led to the creation of MindTRAK Golf."

Special Guest: Dick Zokol - CEO and Founder of MindLink Golf.

The PGA Professional Who Became The “Director of Fun” - Keith Stewart, ESPN Radio Show Host

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:15:00 -0700

Want to learn how to master the art of saying NO, along with the value of focusing on your strengths rather than weakness? ESPN 920 Radio Show Host, Writer and Media Personality Keith Stewart joins us for a high-energy conversation that spans the spectrum from humourous storytelling and community building to an approach to life that shapes his business methodology.

Want to hear Keith in action on The ProShow With Keith Stewart? Listen in every Friday at 3pm ET at https://920espnnewjersey.com/listen-live/

You can learn more about Keith on his bio page.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Keith on our Youtube Channel!

Show Notes and Keith Quotes
"The WHY statement I developed was " I want to change the way people view the game of golf". Sounds like a lot, but as a PGA Pro I started local at my club and I took on the title of The Director of Fun. I didn't want to be stuffy as the Director of Golf. People need to show up at the club to enjoy themselves, relax and have a good time. Next thing you know, I'm on the board of The New Jersey PGA and I'm growing a national network of PGA golf professionals and I'm writing and making presentations."

"The natural progression of things is that I went to a larger medium as I got better and better at my craft. So here I am today hosting a radio show for over three years where we talk about the pop culture of golf, the innovators and all the cool things going on in the sport. The golf world is really growing and is becoming so much more engaging. It reminds me of when I was a kid just getting involved with golf, knowing nothing about it and everything was new to me. Now it feels new all over again and it's a lot of fun."

Special Guest: Keith Stewart - Golf Radio Show Host, Writer and Media Personality.

The "Accidental Agronomist" Who Became A Golf Industry Connector - Shelia Finney, Senior Director of Member Programs at The GCSAA

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 19 May 2021 22:00:00 -0700

Shelia Finney, Senior Director of Member Programs at The GCSAA joins us to share the engaging programs they are leading that encourage more women and young people to consider careers in the golf industry.

"The First Green Program is a fantastic way to get kids out on a golf course, show them the game, show them the career opportunities and show them that golf courses are not evil places. They are actually really great places with environmental integrity and loads of wildlife all around the course. So one, you're introducing them to the game and two, you're introducing them to the career path and if nothing else you're at least informing them that golf courses are great environment custodians and positive community members".

You can learn more about The GCSAA and connect with Shelia on her bio page.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Shelia on our Youtube Channel!

Special Guest: Shelia Finney - Senior Director of Member Programs at The GCSAA.

The Journey To Create The World’s First 3D Printed Putter - Mike Yagley, VP of Innovation at COBRA PUMA Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0700

"As we started printing prototypes around eight years ago we really believed it would be 10-15 years before we could print a commercially viable iron, driver or hybrid head primarily due to cost. The cost of those prototypes eight years ago was $500-600 a piece, and those were the cheap ones. So we didn't go to our marketing people or developers at that time to claim that we had something here. But true to form like with most technologies, the advancement of that technology far outstripped what we predicted. It's not just applicable to golf. It's also about printing rocket engines, fuel mixers, very complex automobile parts, medical devices or implants. So the desire the desire to print a 3D metal object was super-high and we benefited from that."

We sit down with COBRA PUMA Golf VP of Innovation Mike Yagley to learn the how and why behind the creation of the 3D printed Supersport-35 putter and to also explore other disruptive initiatives such as their "Machine Learning / The Internet of Things" collaboration with Arccos Golf.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Mike on our Youtube Channel!

Learn more about Mike on his bio page.

COBRA PUMA Golf collaborated with Hewlett Packard and sik GOLF to design and fabricate their Supersport-35 3D printed putter. Want to see how the HP Metal Jet Technology works? Check out this short YouTube video to find out!

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Show Notes and Mike Quotes
"The cost of the machines came down. The cost of the alloys came down, The throughput went up. The quality went up. To the point where four or five years later we believed we could print an iron and this would be a great entry into the putter business. So my innovation team did something that we don't normally do - we commercialized a product. Most of the time we invent, we engineer and we do a little bit of design work. But in this case Ryan Roach and Cameron Day on the innovation team said "ok, if this is going to happen, let's make this happen". And in the conversations with Hewlett Packard around polymer printing we had a great moment with them around metal jet printing. And now you have a solid metal object that you printed. It was just a phenomenal project. And it's a great putter!"

"3D printing has been around for decades and we were using it to 3D print polymer prototype heads. Heads that our designers and engineers could look at. They couldn't hit them but they could look at them and say "do I like the shape, the dimensions, the curves on this". It's nice to be able to look at a 3D CAD file or rendering, but being able to see and touch a physical object is massive in our world. And at some point in that process 3D printing metal prototypes became available. So we started dreaming about how we could make our prototypes out of metal and someday, if the costs came down enough, if the alloys available we correct, we could actually print a commercial head."

"This HP printer we are talking about is rather large. The print bed area is about two feet by two feet. With putter heads or a component of a golf club, you can print at the same time several variants of that object. Which means you can prototype 15 different putters to look at let's say the different internal lattice structures like on the Supersport-35 to investigate whether or not if it has an impact on feel, moment of inertia, the roll characteristics because of the CG location. So you're testing all these variables at the same time, where if you were doing conventional casting, machining or forging it would take you months if not years to produce that number of variants. But you're making them in once print which is a massive advantage."

Creating a Business Model That Makes Golf Accessible to Everyone - Kathy Erikson, The Short Game Place

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0700

After the sudden passing of her beloved husband Mike three years ago, Kathy Erikson made a life-changing decision: dedicate her energy to crate a golf experience that appeals to everyone, year round, 24 hours a day. We sit down with Kathy Erikson to learn about the passion that drives her to create an indoor golf arena that started with an AHA moment almost thirty years ago.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Kathy on our Youtube Channel!

Learn more about Kathy on her bio page.

Want to learn more about The Short Game Place? Check them out at https://theshortgameplace.com

Are you a golf course owner or operator struggling with the complexities of running tournaments? Do you want to spend less more running them while increasing revenue and profit margins? Check out our friends at Golf Genius to learn how they can help make the magic happen. >> https://www.golfgenius.com/

Special Guest: Kathy Erikson, Owner/Creator/Designer of The Short Game Place.

Understanding Customer Needs To Create Value For The Golf Industry - James Cronk, Co-Founder of Golf Industry Guru

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:00:00 -0800

"I'm pretty good at dreaming stuff up, but more importantly you need to be able to execute, to make stuff happen." We sit down with Golf Industry Guru Co-Founder James Cronk to learn how his team puts the customer first to create new value in a traditional market space.

Want to learn more about Golf Industry Guru? Check them out at https://www.golfindustryguru.com/

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with James on our Youtube Channel!

Show Notes and James Quotes...
After trying out of the University of British Columbia golf team (and unfortunately not making it), James met legendary Canadian golf icon Jack McLaughlin who helped jumpstart his golf industry career. After university James focused on acting, theatre and managing restaurants before deciding he wanted to apply the skills and knowledge gained in these professions to the golf industry.

James relied on the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" by Richard N. Bolles https://www.parachutebook.com/ to help shape his golf career path, which led him to seek employment with one of the best industry people in Canada: Tim Tait, who is the Head Professional at The Marine Drive Golf Club.

"I was attracted to the culture of golf. I was attracted to being outside and the fact that the golf industry has so many facets that make every day different."

"I came to the conclusion that a lot of people are in the golf industry because they love to play golf. Not many people are in it because they want to run it like a business. I saw this as an opportunity to fill that gap."

Special Guest: James Cronk - Co-Founder & President, Golf Industry Guru.

Building a Business That Helps People Fall In Love With Golf - Dr. Greta Anderson, Founder of Dr. Greta Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0800

"We are making progress but there definitely are a lot of areas that we need to do more work. It's implied bias. I'm continuously saddened by the number of people - especially women of colour - who land at my lesson tee. Often times it is a return to golf after a bad experience that happened a decade or two ago and for whatever reason they have decided to give it one more shot and they found me".

To open Season 9, host Colin Weston is joined by LPGA Teaching Professional Dr. Greta Anderson - Founder of Dr. Greta Golf - to learn how she applies her PhD in Higher Learning and voracious curiosity to help students understand the WHY.

______________________________________________

After testing the deWiz biofeedback swing analysis product we were so impressed with the results that we invited them to offer you an exclusive 10% OFF your purchase using promo code MODGOLF! CLICK TO SAVE on deWiz to see (and feel) lasting results in your swing tempo, length and path improvement.

______________________________________________

To learn more about Dr. Greta, check out her bio page and Instagram @drgretagolf

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Dr. Greta on our Youtube Channel!

                                        ______________________________________________

If you love golf, we have exclusive deals on golf gear and services that we use and support! We launched The ModGolf Pro Shop to offer you - our ModGolfers - 10-20% OFF exclusive discounts using promo code MODGOLF. We have curated a diverse selection of awesome brands like KINONA, deWiz Golf, ODIN Golf, Back2Basics Golf, Deuce and Project72Golf to help you play better and look great while doing it. CLICK TO SHOP AND SAVE.

______________________________________________

Show Notes and Greta Quotes...
"Apart from the collateral damage of the pandemic itself, it was a great year from my perspective to focus on the client. Because golf served as an outlet, as a stress reliever for a new adventure when other adventures weren't available, it serves as so many things for so many people last year that i really felt that it forced me to up my game. So this past season was one of my best ever. It was exciting to introduce so many people to golf, to reintroduce so many people to golf and for so many people who decided that golf was going to be their jam. They really want to get good at it and learn more about it beyond just hitting the ball. That's exciting to me. I love when people want to learn golf. I feel like a big part of my job is kind of like Love Connection. It's my job to help people fall in love with golf."

"Golf is a beautiful sport in many ways but I also saw how difficult it is to learn golf. The interesting things that really fortified my desire to build this business as a very good golfer from the right side of the ball, was when I began this journey and committed to learning and starting all over again as a left handed golfer. I had to forget what I knew and start over. I got rid of all my right handed equipment and went to a golf store with my dad and bought beginner clubs and started from scratch. I was shocked by the lack of enthusiasm that several instructors who I visited with had. I was told a couple of times "you're probably not going to be that good anymore!". Like who says that? It was once I met an unbelievable instructor that things changed. I was struggling to get consistent ball-first contact and get the ball into the air. I told her my intentions and she didn't bat an eye and said "yeah, we can make that happen!".

"We are making progress but there definitely are a lot of areas that we need to do more work. It's implied bias. I'm continuously saddened by the number of people - especially women of colour - who land at my lesson tee. I always like to learn their history. Everyone's story is so interesting to me. I think that's the social scientist in me. I just love the human stories. But I also like to narrow in and understand where they are coming from in golf. Often times it is a return to golf after a bad experience that happened a decade or two ago and for whatever reason they have decided to give it one more shot and they found me. That makes me so happy but I'm always so sad hearing these stories because they could have been enjoying this great game for twenty years! But because you ran into a jerk, had a bad experience or you were purposely excluded from the golf network at the law firm or wherever they work. There are so many forces in place that have discouraged people of colour from getting involved in the game. It works on many people. Fortunately there are increasing numbers who are saying "no, that looks like fun and like something I want to try". Whether it's purely for fun or they realize that golf is a great business tool. Any number of those factors but that's really one of the driving forces that gets on my nerves. I don't like being the exception on the course.

"What I saw was a lot of people really wanting to move the golf needle, but many people want to understand how to move their needle. Most golfers that I work with now know that I'm very big on the WHY. It's not just what and how I say, but why I say it. I want to create an informed student who is a great golf citizen. I do not want you be dependent on me although yes, that's what I'm here for as a professional to help you refine and build your skill set but I want you to most importantly be an informed golfer. So as a passionate educator, just an if I was coaching at the collegiate level or teaching first grade, I'm the same way on the lesson tee. Excellence in education is significant because I am passionate about growing the game. Here's what I know: golf is way more fun and you're more likely to stay engaged in this great sport if you have some skills".

"I sensed that I was missing the breakthrough because often times, teachers and coaches it's more about what they're telling you to do and not questioning and not searching for the WHY. I always need to understand the why. I'll walk to the ends of the earth for you if I understand why. Every learner does not require that, but many do and many don't realize how helpful the why is. That's just my philosophy and my approach. I probably say that a hundred times every day on the lesson tee, but I feel it's so important that I want you to understand why. Why is the ball flying like that? Why is the ball hooking to the left or right? Not just "It is and that's disappointing for you", let me help you make the connection of the laws of ball flight. It's physics, it's nothing personal. The club just isn't doing what it needs to do".

Special Guest: Dr. Greta Anderson - Founder of Dr. Greta Golf and LPGA Teaching Professional.

Season 8 Wrap-up / Season 9 Preview

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 08:00:00 -0800

That's a wrap for Season 8 of The ModGolf Podcast! Our passionate team of content creators are currently working on your next twelve episodes for Season 9, which launches February 19 2021. We heard some amazing stories from a diverse group of guests who discussed how inclusion, technology, entertainment, music, celebrity, hospitality and community building intersect to shape the future of golf.

If you didn’t get the chance to listen to all of our ten Season 8 episodes, this bonus show gives you a recap of the great conversations I had with some of the golf industry's top influencers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Hopefullly this will inspire you to listen to a couple of the episodes listed below.

Our Season 8 guests were:

Episode 1
Terry Koehler - Edison Golf Chairman and Director of Innovation
Applying 40 Years of Golf Entrepreneurship to Innovate Wedge Design

Episode 2
Malcolm Scovil - Founder of Imagine Golf
Building Educational and Entertaining Content For Passionate Consumers

Episode 3
Kat and Is Shee - "The Shee Sisters" Social Media Golf Influencers
Harnessing a Love For Golf To Fuel Their Entrepreneurial Hustle

Episode 4
Robert Sereci - GM/COO at Medinah Country Club
Applying a Startup Mindset To Innovate Club Experiences

Episode 5
Reid Fowler - PGA Fantasy & Betting Analyst for DraftKings
Powering PGA Tour Fan Engagement To Expand Tournament Viewership

Episode 6
Scott Moore - Golf Product Manager for Garmin International
How a Human-Centered Design Approach Leads To Innovate Golf Products

Episode 7
David Grieshaber - Chief Information Officer at Gamerz Golf
Creating The Next Generation of Golf Entertainment Experiences

Episode 8
Charles Dillahunt - The PGA of America's Strategic Adjunct to the Chief Executive and Chief People Officers
Breaking Down Barriers in Golf by Engaging The Unengaged

Episode 9
Nick Steiner - Founder, Back2Basics Golf
Building Resiliency by Expressing Gratitude and Celebrating The Small Wins

Episode 10
Alissa Kacar - Social Media Host @NewLadyGolfer
Sharing Stories From Her Journey as a New Golfer

Episode 11
Broderick Higby - Creator of Golf AI and The Golf AI App
How Artificial Intelligence Makes Golf Improvement Accessible For Everyone

Episode 12
Tadd Fujikawa - Pro Golfer and LGBTQ+ Spokesperson
Finding Happiness and Balance in Both Golf and Life

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guests: Alissa Kacar - Instagram Golf Influencer @newladygolfer and beginner golfer, Broderick Higby - Creator of Golf AI, Charles Dillahunt - PGA of America’s Strategic Adjunct To The CEO and CPO / VenderMatch / JobMatch, David Grieshaber - CIO at Gamerz Golf, Is Shee - Golf Entrepreneur and YouTube/Instagram Influencer, Malcolm Scovil - Founder, TLDR and Imagine Golf, Nick Steiner - Founder, Back2Basics Golf, Reid Fowler - DraftKings PGA Fantasy Sports & Betting Analyst, Robert Sereci - GM / COO at Medinah Country Club, Scott Moore - Product Manager at Garmin International, Tadd Fujikawa, Pro Golfer and LGBTQ+ Spokesperson, and Terry Koehler - Chairman / Director of Innovation at Edison Golf Company.

Finding Happiness and Balance in Both Life and Golf - Tadd Fujikawa, Pro Golfer and LGBTQ+ Spokesperson

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0800

“I had to relearn how to live and now I feel like I can be myself again. If was different, it was a learning curve which I didn’t expect and it was confusing at first. As far as golf went, I separated the two but in my life I had to relearn so many things. It was great because along the way I found pieces of myself again and I felt like I could be more authentic. The journey I’ve been on since coming out has been very good. Honestly, my golf game isn’t quite where I want it to be but I can say that I’ve never been happier and my mental health has never been better. I have a lot of aspirations that I do want to continue striving for but as of right now I’m happy and pleased with the person that I am and who I have become."
... Tadd Fujikawa, Pro Golfer and LGBTQ+ Spokesperson

Since coming out on Instagram in September 2018, Tadd has been a strong voice in the LGBTQ+ community, supporting impactful organizations like:

The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Human Rights Campaign / LGBTQ Youth Group https://www.hrc.org/

The Get Real Movement https://www.thegetrealmovement.com/

To learn more about Tadd, check out his bio page and Instagram @taddy808

Special Guest: Tadd Fujikawa, Pro Golfer and LGBTQ+ Spokesperson.

How Artificial Intelligence Makes Golf Improvement Accessible For Everyone - Broderick Higby, Creator of Golf AI

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:30:00 -0800

"There are so many people in golf in San Diego and everyone is out here trying to grow the game. We're all working together in golf to make others able to see what the game is really about, how much fun it is and how much you grow as a person. Talking about the golf feedback loop, imagine what you think the shot is going to do, take it then see where it actually went and then reflect on why it went that way. This applies to life and I think if people were to adopt golf as a widespread sport and continue to grow it, it would be better for humanity."

We sit down with Golf AI Creator Broderick Higby to learn how Artificial Intelligence is making golf improvement and swing analysis accessible for everyone.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Broderick on our Youtube Channel!

To learn more about Golf AI and to download the Golf AI app on your iPhone (Android version coming soon!), visit their website at https://www.golfaiapp.com

To learn more about Broderick check out his bio page and LinkedIn profile.

Special Guest: Broderick Higby - Creator of Golf AI.

Sharing Stories From Her Journey As A New Golfer - Alissa Kacar @newladygolfer

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0800

“Whether you can hit the ball a mile or if you can barely hit it off the tee, you need to create an environment for newcomers to the game that is relaxed and fun. Otherwise it’s not going to keep people coming back. New golfer and social media host Alissa Kacar @newladygolfer joins us to share her journey and thoughts on how to make the game more welcoming for everyone.

“If someone is spending their day off on the golf course, they’re not going to dedicate their time doing something that isn’t enjoyable and fun. When I’m there playing with someone that’s new to the game, I always remember back to me being brand new and I always conduct myself the way that I was treated because it way very helped and built my confidence the way people were encouraging and patient with me. Golf is so humbling that you can duff one off the tee - she’s brand new to the game so she could miss the ball - I’m just as capable of doing the same thing two and a half years in! Golf is very humbling that way, just when you think you’ve got it figured out it will remind you that you do not.”

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Alissa on our Youtube Channel!

To learn more about Alissa check out her bio page and her @newladygolf Instagram.

Special Guest: Alissa Kacar - Instagram Golf Influencer @newladygolfer and beginner golfer.

Building Resiliency By Expressing Gratitude and Celebrating The Small Wins - Nick Steiner, Founder of Back2Basics Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0800

On this episode host Colin Weston speaks with Back2Basics Golf Founder Nick Steiner to learn insights from his entrepreneurial journey that has taken him from San Diego scooter culture to Australia's Gold Coast.

“The satisfaction that you get once things grow is really rewarding. Something else that I’ve come back to a lot lately is to really enjoy the process, taking each day just to be happy in the moment and have fun. It’s the little things overall that do bring the most happiness to me like the product being enhanced or an email of how we’ve helped improve someone’s game. All these things define the success that I continue to look at more and more. Acquisition and other milestones down the road, those are great and what we are striving for but when we look back and connect the dots, it’s the little moments that led you there, it’s the breakthroughs that you had, it’s the hard things that you got over that make the entire process worth it.".... Nick Steiner, Founder of Back2Basics Golf

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Nick on our Youtube Channel!

To learn more about Back2Basics Golf and The Pro Path Putting Mirror
visit their website at https://back2basics.golf/.

Special Guest: Nick Steiner - Founder, Back2Basics Golf.

Breaking Down Barriers In Golf By Engaging The Unengaged - Charles Dillahunt, The PGA of America

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0800

"My biggest hope for the golf industry is that it one day grows to be more representative of the population of the world, and that it openly welcomes and serves members of all communities and from all walks of life equally and inclusively."

Charles Dillahunt joins us to share how The PGA of America is working to break down barriers to entry for not only playing golf but to participate as a business supplier within the golf industry. “That’s something that I don’t think a lot of people have and if more people took the time to be a mentor, be more than just a manager or a boss. Be a friend and care for people, specifically minorities and under-represented audiences in the business world. I think that is one of the best ways to break down barriers. Share the knowledge and influence that you’ve gained over 30+ years and once the older generation does that, younger people like me are going to be ahead of the game. I believe that will only lead to much more innovation in the game of golf."

Are you part of a minority / veteran / women / disabled peoples owned business that would like to participate in PGA Championship events? Go to https://pgaimpact.org/vendor-inclusion/ to see the qualification requirements and apply. You can also email them at inclusion@pgahq.com to start the conversation.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Charles on our Youtube Channel!

During this episode Charles mentioned his connection to both Sandy Cross - The PGA of America’s Chief People Officer - and Radius Sports Founder Gina Rizzi. I had the pleasure of speaking to both Sandy and Gina on previous episodes, so I also included the links for those if you’d like to hear about the impactful work these dynamic women are spearheading in the golf space.

Gina Rizzi's episode >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/066-gina-rizzi
Sandy Cross' episode >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/030-sandy-cross

Special Guest: Charles Dillahunt - PGA of America’s Strategic Adjunct To The CEO and CPO / VenderMatch / JobMatch.

Creating The Next Generation of Golf Entertainment Experiences - David Grieshaber, Gamerz Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0800

How do you create new value in the expanding $10 billion golf entertainment sector? Our host Colin Weston sits down with entrepreneur, investor and Gamerz Golf CIO David Grieshaber to learn they are combining mobile gaming, user experience design, augmented reality, environmental sustainability, eSports and architectural design to create the next generation of Golf Entertainment Centers.

"Where I see this market going is the games will become more video game-like, they’ll become episodal, iterative, level based and more addictive. All the venues currently in market have taken the model of a driving range or golf game and tried to create a video game built upon that. Where we differ is that we’re in the heart of Xbox, PlayStation and mobile game land. We’re going with that direction. We’re going to take video game quality, PS4, PS5 type of games and downgrade them to become driving range games. That will be a major differentiator in what we are doing with the technology."

"You can hit the ball and look up as the ball is flying through the air you’d see a tracer following it as it lands in a target and you see explosions everywhere with points flying up in the air. So that is what’s called a “Glasses-less AR (augmented reality) experience”. That’s the direction I think is coming to this scenario in the future and what we’ve been working on as a solution for several years."

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with David on our Youtube Channel!
[

To learn more about Gamerz Golf, visit their website >> http://Gamerz.Golf

Enter our latest #ModGolfGiveaway Contest to win an Edison Wedge!

Sign up to our newsletter (https://modgolf.fireside.fm/subscribe) to enter for a chance to win an Edison Wedge. You choose the loft, shaft type and grip to customize it to your liking!

You can also enter the contest by subscribing to The ModGolf YouTube channel and leaving the comment "Enter me in The #ModGolfGiveaway Contest!" for the Edison Wedges ModGolf Product Review video.
Contest closes at 11pm ET Friday December 11 2020.

Special Guest: David Grieshaber - CIO at Gamerz Golf.

How A Human-Centered Design Approach Leads To Innovative Golf Products - Scott Moore / Garmin International

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:30:00 -0800

"If you don’t have a “Why Garmin?” then why are we even proposing to make this? So when I go to pitch any product idea, for say the next generation golf watch, I can’t just state “let's make this just because we’re Garmin and we have a lot of success with the last one”. I have to propose some benefit for the customer which is why they will be compelled to buy this. Our host Colin Weston sits down with Golf Product Manager Scott Moore to learn how Garmin approaches their design process through rapid prototyping, user experience feedback and a passionate desire to continually innovate.

"Why will the customer go from the previous version or a competitor’s product to this one? That mentality that we have of always trying to add benefit to our products and not just churn out a bunch of similar products and put lipstick on it and say it’s good now, we are looking to add value every time we create a new product. It’s not just something our leadership says, at every level we always ask that question “Why Garmin?”.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Scott on our Youtube Channel!

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Scott Moore - Product Manager at Garmin International.

Powering PGA Tour Fan Engagement To Expand Tournament Viewership - Reid Fowler / DraftKings PGA Analyst

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 15:30:00 -0800

What can golf learn from other pro sport leagues when it comes to how content is consumed, fan engagement is amplified, and collective experiences are heightened? Host Colin Weston speaks with DraftKings PGA Fantasy Sports & Betting Analyst Reid Fowler as he shares how they create fun, memorable experiences for every demographic of sports fan.

Want to see what all the fuss is about with the DraftKings One Million Dollar Masters Contest? Or like me, you want to dip your toe in the sports betting pool and place $20 on a six player Masters "team"? Then check out the DraftKings website or mobile app to put some skin in the game and have some fun!

DraftKings’ has launched the first ever multi-sport $100K free-to-play pool combining The Masters and NFL Sunday. Also, in a study of over 1,000 fans of both football and golf, DraftKings found 77% are interested in engaging with multisport gaming.

Click on the image below to check out our extended conversation with Reid on our Youtube Channel!

Our Top 3 Reid Fowler Quotes From This Episode

Number 3
“How do you capture pro golf coverage without spending a ton of money on infrastructure and technology? The logistics of how you film golf at a PGA tournament, you’re talking about acres and acres of land. It’s just not feasible. How do you increase engagement on a Thursday and Friday at a golf tournament? Well there has to be a push on how golf is being consumed. When I was at Sawgrass for The PLAYERS Championship, they were pushing the technology so that you could see every single shot from every player, whether it be live or you click on the player to see that shot. Now at The Masters, they’re introducing an app so you can choose your favourite golfers and follow them and see every shot. That is going to increase viewership and the ability to engage. When looking to monetize golf tournament viewing, there are a lot of opportunities with this. That is where golf needs to progress. While the tournament is being played, how do get golf on TV and digital platforms sooner rather than later."

Number 2
"When you're watching sports - and maybe it’s just bragging rights with your buddies - but when you have a stake in the game it makes it way more engaging and entertaining. DraftKings has created a platform to amplify the fan engagement around the PGA Tour, especially during those early rounds of a tournament."

Number 1
"Golf is the closest to NFL football when you talk about how fans interaction with fantasy games. The cadence on how someone builds a fantasy football lineup is so similar to golf because it is week-to-week. I saw this correlation and said this is something we should really focus on because engagement heavily increased in the 18 to 35 year old demographic, especially on the Thursday and Friday of a PGA event when viewership is historically the lowest over the four days of a tournament."

At the end of this episode I ask Reid about DraftKings' role as an ethical corporate citizen regarding gambling addiction. I was pleased to hear that DraftKings takes this seriously and continues to expand their education and support for people struggling with with a gambling problem. While the vast majority of people enjoy gambling without falling into addiction, the prevalence rate for persons who veer into pathological gambling and potential life-ruining consequences is about 2.2 percent in the U.S., per 2014 findings by the National Council on Problem Gambling.

With an expansion of legal sports wagering in the U.S., a new cohort of citizens, however small, will get introduced to sports betting and struggle to find the line between entertainment and addiction. If you or someone you love struggle with their relationship with gambling, please reach out to Gamblers Anonymous

Special Guest: Reid Fowler - DraftKings PGA Fantasy Sports & Betting Analyst.

Applying a Startup Mindset To Innovate Club Experiences - Robert Sereci, Medinah Country Club

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0700

“In any industry, especially in our industry one needs to have an entrepreneurial mindset. But the challenge is this: in most clubs it’s not that my fellow club managers lack imagination or innovation. They are pretty bright folks. It’s through no fault of their own but the challenge is that we work in an environment where we change boards frequently, presidents every couple of years and the fear of failure in most clubs is so high that it prevents the management team from experimenting and innovating because the tolerance for failure is very small. Fortunately for us at Medinah we have educated and have the support of the board so that I have a pretty large safely net. So for as many ideas that have succeeded we have an equal amount that have failed. But you know what, it’s okay. We want our employees and our team to think outside the box because just like I have a safety net, I want to provide them with a safety net as well.”

Host Colin Weston speaks with Medinah Country Club GM/COO Robert Sereci to learn how he took an innovator's mindset to transform the iconic golf venue to become a vibrant, welcoming, experience-based community.

______________________________________________

                                        ______________________________________________

Hired at Medinah in 2015, Robert is a strong collaborator and team builder, and has worked to strengthen and empower the Medinah brand. In 2016, Robert worked with his board, management, and membership to roll out “Medinah 2020,” a comprehensive $25 million phased club improvement plan. All of these investments will move Medinah Country Club into a more modern era of membership enhancements and strengthens its community.

Prior to Medinah Country Club, Robert was GM of The American Club in Hong Kong, a 3000-member club founded in 1925. He has been COO of Northwood Club in Dallas and Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City. In addition to being a Certified Club Manager, Robert holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Cal Poly Pomona and an MBA from Georgia State University.

Check out our extended conversation with Robert on our Youtube Channel!

Special Guest: Robert Sereci - GM / COO at Medinah Country Club.

Harnessing A Love For Golf To Fuel Their Entrepreneurial Hustle - Is and Kat Shee / Shee Golfs

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0700

“When you’re in it every single day you don’t lift your head up to see the progress that you’ve made. That’s something that we're trying to do more, try to step away from it to acknowledge that “actually we’ve created something pretty cool from the ground up starting from nothing”. And the most exciting thing is this is only the beginning.” On this fun and fast-paced episode, Colin sits down with Is and Kat Shee - aka The Shee Sisters - to talk about the creation of their Shee Golfs YouTube channel, building sock and apparel brands from scratch and the connection between entrepreneurship, golf, yoga and friendship.

Isabelle (Is) Shee is the girl next door known for her unique fashion and mission to spread positivity through the game of golf.
Isabelle showcases her love for travel, luxury brands and premium golf courses to her millennial audience.

“I think something that every entrepreneur can relate to is there’s always more to do. It never ends as it’s a constant cycle where we are always working. It’s the only profession where you go into the shower and think about how to improve something. Your business is the first thing you think about when you wake up and the last thing before you go to sleep."... Is Shee

Check out our extended conversation with Kat and Is on our Youtube Channel!

Since launching her sock brand, IS, she has increased brand loyalty with an added mission- to reduce her carbon footprint while maximizing performance. She's taken two recycled materials (plastic & coffee) and made them into the most premium sock ever made. Use the Promo Code MODGOLF15 for 15% off your purchase of comfy, fashionable, environmentally friendly men's and women's Is Golf socks!

Together they created the popular Shee Golfs YouTube channel, where they provide helpful golf tips and create fun, engaging content with their female golf friends.

Special Guest: Is Shee - Golf Entrepreneur and YouTube/Instagram Influencer.

Building Educational And Entertaining Content For Passionate Consumers - Malcolm Scovil, Imagine Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0700

“The biggest mistake I’ve made in my entrepreneurial endeavours is to have a product idea and just run at it as opposed to starting with a curiosity approach and asking open-ended questions. It also helps from a marketing standpoint. You start to write down the things that people are saying and it helps you when you’re putting together the story so that you're speaking in the voice of the customer rather than the one that’s in your head.”

Host Colin Weston sits down with Imagine Golf Founder Malcolm Scovil as he shares how embracing patience, curiosity and tenacity have helped guide him along his entrepreneurial journey. Malcolm is the Founder of TLDR which stands for “Too Long - Didn’t Read”. TLDR's first product Imagine Golf reflects this “Give it to me quick, give it to me clear” content delivery philosophy.

Imagine Golf is currently on Apple iOS but will be available on Android soon. You can follow Imagine Golf on Instagram at @imaginegolfers

Check out our extended conversation with Malcolm on our Youtube Channel!

Quotable Nuggets of Entrepreneurial Wisdom From Malcolm...

"The vision behind TLDR is to build entertaining, educational content that we deliver through mobile apps around passionate pockets of consumers. One of our first products is Imagine Golf, which is focused on “snackable audio content for golfers of all skill levels” to help golfers improve their performance and enjoy the game more."

“Im always tinkering with small products and testing things out with friends. I think there’s a natural tinkerer in us folks who are entrepreneurial. Once of the things in my endeavours I found is getting close to the student or the customer is what helps quiet that voice of doubt or insecurity in the entrepreneurial mind."

"With Imagine Golf we really spent a lot of time before we had any product talking to golfers and asking them questions - not about a product that we are thinking about building but why do you play golf, what got you into golf, what are some of your highlights in your career for amateurs. What are you working on in your golf game? Where are you trying to go in you game? What are some of the ways that you think might accelerate you in getting there? So it’s really applying a curious mindset to the product development process, which leads to all types of unexpected discoveries through the nuggets of insight that you uncover.”

“Once you have a direction the real focus is on building a quality-first product. I think the only way to do that is with simplicity. Something I’ve been guilty of in the past is trying to do too much too early in an entrepreneurial venture. With my latest venture and all my future projects, it’s how do you cut through in a very noisy, cluttered market with a consumer experience that really resonates and adds value to people’s lives. Almost always simpler is better, that focus on simplicity and what adds value.”

“I think why most companies fail is either there’s not a customer or they haven’t been able to find that customer. To big things to in the early days of a startup are can you make something people want and the other part is can you get in front of folks, can you find ways for them to discover it? This is as important as building something people want.”

“For successful new products and companies like Sarah Blakely with Spanx who had a very clear proposition for the consumer by scratching the itch of a personal pain point to create something that wasn’t on the market.”

Reid Hoffman: “if you’re not embarrassed by your first product you shipped it too late.” It takes a lot of bravery to put something out there.

“The best advice I got was to get just one customer, get one person to pay you then the next one and the next one. What it forces you to do is create something of value. That first person you ask to pay ten dollars for your product and they say no, then you need to ask why, what’s missing right now? This combination of our intuition and the data gathered both qualitative and quantitative, those are a couple of ingredients for success."

“Customers are your best partners. Folks that are using and paying for your product are the best source of ideas and ways to grow. Without question, we get the best ideas for new content or courses we should create from the current member of the Imagine Golf community and we are very grateful for that”.

"Being an entrepreneur is tough and it creates a lot of doubt. Although it can be lonely it can also be very rewarding and fulfilling."

“As in business, the biggest barrier to athletic success is our mental game. It’s what separates the Tiger Woods, the Michael Jordans, the Oprah Winfreys and the Elon Musks of the world from the rest of us.

“I recommend that new entrepreneurs do not try to reinvent the wheel or start building something from scratch. Instead create something in your own unique way, find inspiration in something that already exists and do it differently and better.”

Special Guest: Malcolm Scovil - Founder, TLDR and Imagine Golf.

Season 7 Wrap-up / Season 8 Preview

The ModGolf Podcast — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0700

That's a wrap for Season 7 of The ModGolf Podcast! Our passionate team of content creators are current working on your next twelve episodes for Season 8, which launches early September 2020. We heard some amazing stories from a diverse group of guests who discussed how technology, entertainment experiences, music, celebrity, hospitality and community building intersect to shape the future of golf.

If you didn’t get the chance to listen to all of our ten Season 7 episodes, this bonus show gives you a recap of the great conversations I had with some of the golf industry's top influencers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Hopefullly this will inspire you to listen to a couple of the episodes listed below.

We're proud to have Golf Genius Software as one of our show sponsor partners and look forward to telling you more about the elegant solutions they create to simplify running golf tournaments. Go to https://www.golfgenius.com/ to learn more!

Our Season 7 guests were:

Episode 1
John Kawaja - President, Honma Golf NA
Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned In The Golf Industry

Episode 2
Shella Sylla - Founder/CEO, SisterGolf
Empowering Women Through Golf

Episode 3
Matt Considine - Founder/CEO at NewClub Golf
Creating a Scalable Business Model Inspired by Traditional Golf Societies

Episode 4
Thinh Tran - Founder/CEO at Transrover
Embracing Resilience, Curiosity and Joy to Fuel The Entrepreneurial Journey

Episode 5
Shayain Gustavsp - LPGA Coach / SJG International
Teaching Golf To Welcome, Elevate and Empower Diverse Communities

Episode 6
Nick Bednar - VP of Operations, Billy Casper Golf
Creating a Launch Point to Grow Golf Participation

Episode 7
Amir Raveh - Founder and President, HYPE Sports Innovation
Building Global Sport Startup Accelerators That Help Innovate Golf

Episode 8
Peter Johnson - CEO and Co-Founder, Phat Scooters
Delivering Great Products That Customers Love

Episode 9
Ian Peterson - CEO ad Founder, Dialed In Golf Solutions
Creating Memorable Golf Experiences For Everyone

Episode 10
Sal Syed - CEO and Co-Founder, Arccos Golf
Combining Big Data and Elegant Design to Create Memorable Golf Moments

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guests: Amir Raveh - Founder and President, HYPE Sports Innovation, Ian Peterson - Founder & CEO of Dialed in Golf Solutions, John Kawaja - President of Honma Golf NA, Matt Considine - Founder & CEO at NewClub Golf, Nick Bednar - VP of Operations at Billy Casper Golf, Peter Johnson - Co-Founder & CEO of Phat Scooters, Sal Syed: Co-Founder and CEO, Arccos Golf, Shayain Gustavsp - Entrepreneur / LPGA Certified Coach, Shella Sylla - Founder/CEO of SisterGolf, and Thinh Tran - Co-Creator of GimmePro and Founder of Transrover.

Creating Memorable Golf Experiences For Everyone - Ian Peterson, Dialed In Golf Solutions

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 22 May 2020 10:30:00 -0700

"We eventually learned how to simplify our product and experience offering while providing even a higher level of service and customer value." Ian Peterson - Founder and CEO of Dialed In Golf Solutions joins us to share his thoughts on innovating the golf industry.

                                        ______________________________________________

Special Guest: Ian Peterson - Founder & CEO of Dialed in Golf Solutions.

Delivering Great Products That Customers Love - Peter Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Phat Scooters (079)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 12 May 2020 14:00:00 -0700

On this episode our host Colin Weston chats with Peter Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Phat Scooters who shares insights, stories and business philosophy that has guided him along his entrepreneurial journey.

                                        ______________________________________________

                                        ______________________________________________

After college, Peter helped grow the family custom cabinetry business before transitioning into a hybrid world of tech, construction, sustainable product solutions and engineering. All of these experiences led up the founding of Phat Scooters in 2017.

To learn more about Phat Scooters, check out their website and this YouTube explainer video.

Special Guest: Peter Johnson - Co-Founder & CEO of Phat Scooters.

Building Global Sports Accelerators That Help Innovate Golf Amir Raveh, Founder and President of HYPE Sports Innovation

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:30:00 -0700

"I’ve been very fortunate at this point in my life to put together my two passions - one is sports and the other one is innovation." On this episode our host Colin Weston sits down with Amir Raveh, Founder and President of HYPE Sports Innovation who shares his thoughts on innovating the golf industry through the Global Sports Accelerator they have built.

"The sports world is going through a massive disruption in terms of innovation. There are dedicated accelerators for many sports but I don’t see one yet in golf. We have the platform with hundreds of startups that would be very happy to change that."

Amir suggests that golf should embrace technology innovations and trends in eSports, blockchain, fan engagement, artificial intelligence, Virtual/Augmented Reality and gamified experiences in order to connect with a younger, more diverse audience.

HYPE has created the first Global Virtual Accelerator with over 350 startups already registered. Do you have a technology-led sport/golf innovation product or service that is past the early prototype stage and has the potential to scale? Then we encourage you to apply to participate in the HYPE Global Virtual Accelerator!

Special Guest: Amir Raveh - Founder and President, HYPE Sports Innovation.

Reviving The Golf Courses That Revitalize Our Heroes - Jennifer Poth / Operation Military Support Golf (041)

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:15:00 -0700

On this week's episode, host Colin Weston speaks with Operation Support Military Golf Founder and CEO Jennifer Poth, whose Non-Profit Organization is dedicated to "Reviving the Golf Courses that Revitalize Our Heroes". Jennifer shares her entrepreneurial and personal golf journey, along with her deep connection to the US Military through her father's service as a Vietnam War Veteren.

Click to claim your exclusive ModGolf Podcast listener offer of $50 off a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation and/or TECFIT Club Fitting ($125 value)

About This Episode

Operation Support Military Golf (OSMG) – the non-profit organization which exists to enhance service members’ morale, welfare, and recreation by improving golf courses and associated facilities at 145 base facilities worldwide – invites those who value all that current and former U.S. service members give their country, to back their appreciation with a donation during Military Appreciation Month (May).

As a groundbreaking, global, military supportive, 501(c)(3) non-profit, OSMG’s goal is to provide a $1 million infusion to each military golf facility. Helping increase accessibility for our wounded and aging veterans, reducing golf facilities maintenance costs through modernized equipment, and increasing overall visual enjoyment are just some of the specific benefits from the upgrades.

Click HERE to learn more about and how to donate to OSMG.

Special Guest: Jennifer Poth - Founder and CEO, Operation Support Military Golf.

Engage. Empower. Support. - Stories from Women's Golf Day 2018 (040)

The ModGolf Podcast — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0700

On this episode of The ModGolf Podcast we bring you stories from one of the over 900 host locations for the 3rd annual Women’s Golf Day that was held globally on June 5th. Colin attended a Women’s Golf Day event at Fraserview Golf Course in Vancouver to hear from women of all ages and playing abilities to learn what this event means to them.

Click to claim your exclusive ModGolf Podcast listener offer of $50 off a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation and/or TECFIT Club Fitting ($125 value)

Episode Highlights
We get the Women's Golf Day 'big picture' as Colin speaks with Founder Elisa Gaudet while attending National Golf Day in Washington D.C. Elisa discusses her motivation for creating Women's Golf Day and the sense of purpose that it has created. She also talks about the power of partnerships with likeminded groups like Pinehurst and Evian Resort that provide the resources, connectivity and credibility that has allowed WGD to quickly scale around the world.

At the Women's Golf Day event at Fraserview GC in Vancouver, Colin speaks with event organizer Joan Probert and Head Teaching Professional Tom Monaghan to learn about their previous WGD hosting experience and what they have planned for the 60 women that evening.

Colin then reveals the fun, engaging stories from the women participating at the Vancouver WGD event, both during the two hour skills clinic and post-golf social time.

Like what your heard and want to hear a bit more? You can find our previous engaging conversation with Elisa Gaudet on our Season 1 Episode HERE

You can learn more about Women's Golf Day by visiting their webite.

Special Guests: Elisa Gaudet - Founder of Women's Golf Day and Tom Monaghan - President, Monaghan Golf Group.

Passionately Advocating For Golfers of All Abilities - Gianna Rojas / Adaptive Golfers (039)

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:30:00 -0700

On this week's episode, host Colin Weston speaks with Adaptive Golfers Founder Gianna Rojas, whose mission is to "Bring The Game of Golf To All Different Abilities". Gianna shares her entrepreneurial and personal journey through her work with The March of Dimes and defined by her discovery and love of golf, which ultimately lead to the creation of her non-profit organization.

Click to claim your exclusive ModGolf Podcast listener offer of $50 off a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation and/or TECFIT Club Fitting ($125 value)

About This Episode
• Gianna starts her story at birth, when she was born without fingers on her left hand. She shares the pain of childhood isolation and bullying due to her physical challenge, which eventually became a source of strength once she became The March of Dimes poster child.

• We learn how the support of her husband, friends and a meeting with Arnold Palmer gave Gianna the confidence to embace her calling to create Adaptive Golfers.

• Gianna shares the touching story of David Finn, a wheelchair-bound golf nut who gets the chance to take - and make - a putt for the very first time. You can watch the video of David draining that putt here.

You can learn more about the impactful work Gianna is doing with Adaptive Golfers here along with the opportunity to donate to this life-changing initiative.

Special Guest: Gianna Rojas, aka: The "One Handed Lady Golfer" - Founder of Adaptive Golfers.

Letting Washington Know About Golf's $84 Billion Annual Economic Impact - National Golf Day (038)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 29 May 2018 15:30:00 -0700

The pinnacle event of the year for WE ARE GOLF is National Golf Day. It was held on April 24-25, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Overview
A coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners hosted its 11th annual National Golf Day on April 24-25, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

National Golf Day celebrates the game’s nearly $84.1 billion economy, nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. More than 300 industry leaders met with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies across 230 meetings on April 25 to discuss golf’s 15,000-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value.

"With one in 75 U.S. jobs impacted by golf, the industry plays a significant role in stimulating our economy nationwide,” says Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation, administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “Last year, a record 2.5 million people tried golf for the first time, further cementing why it is vital to share golf’s interests with our country’s lawmakers, showcasing the game’s many economic, charitable and fitness benefits.”

2018 Recap
Golf industry leaders arrived Monday, April 23 to participate in the second annual Community Service Project on the National Mall the morning of Tuesday, April 24. The project featured 175 participants across 18 projects focused on beautification, preservation and helping the National Park Service with turf deferred maintenance.

Following the Community Service Project driven by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, WE ARE GOLF Board Members, media and other special guests headed to the National Press Club for a special release of the U.S. Golf Economy report, which reported a total economic impact of $84.1 billion for the industry and a 22% increase since the previous report five years ago.

(L to R: Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association and WE ARE GOLF Chairman; Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation)

On Wednesday, April 25, golf industry leaders participated in a record-high 230 meetings with Members of Congress representing 40 states to discuss the game's economic, social and environmental contributions to society.

Conversations with Senate, House of Representatives, Executive Branch and federal agencies’ directors coincided with Tuesday’s release of the new U.S. Golf Economy Report. It shows $84.1 billion in activity was directly driven by golf in 2016, a 22% rise from $68.8 billion in the 2011 report. The industry supported $191.9 billion in total annual activity, including 1.89 million jobs and $58.7 billion in wages and benefits. Demonstrating golfers’ and businesses’ commitments to charity, $3.94 billion was raised in 2016 through tournaments and other golf activities.

Golf social media influencer and WE ARE GOLF ambassador Paige Spiranac being interviewed during National Golf Day

Special Guests: Clint Sanchez - Executive Director, The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC, Delphine Tseng - Founder and President, Landseer Communications & Consulting, Elisa Gaudet - Founder of Women's Golf Day, Jennifer Poth - Founder and CEO, Operation Support Military Golf, Lewis Myers - Commissioner of The Congressional Golf Association, Michael Breed - Host of "A New Breed of Golf" on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Rich Katz - Katz Strategy, Steve Jubb, PGA - CEO/Executive Director of The National Alliance for Accessible Golf, and Steve Mona - CEO of The World Golf Foundation.

Harnessing Technology to Transform One of Golf's Great Traditions - Dave Cavossa / CaddieNow (035)

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:45:00 -0700

Dave Cavossa could have played it safe. He had a very successful professional career that would have carried him comfortably into retirement. But Dave's unrelenting desire to create something impactful gave him the courage to step outside his comfort zone, act on an opportunity and begin his entrepreneurial journey. This journey led to the creation of CaddieNow, a technology-based "Uber for Caddying" that aligns with a largely untapped, on-demand, young, mobile labour force.

CaddieNow is dedicated to bringing caddies (loopers) back to the game and giving every golfer the option of taking a caddie at every course. CaddieNow enables everyone to "Play Like the Pros," exercise more, and help employ and grow the game with the crucial 14-20 year-old demographic.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Dave's love of golf and experience caddying as a young adult that have both informed and inspired the creation of CaddieNow.

• How CaddieNow has created a Blue Ocean Strategy that looks outside the golf industry for a business roadmap that opens up an uncontested market space.

• CaddieNow's ability to build a three-sided marketplace, solving problems and creating opportunities for golf course operators, golfers and on-demand caddies.

• How CaddieNow embraced The Lean Startup Methodology when they launched in 2016 by starting with a "Minimal Viable Product" in the Washington DC golf market. After their first year of using the build/test/measure/learn feedback loop of validated learning, CaddieNow refined and enhanced their product offering before scaling up to over 100 golf courses nationwide in 2017. CaddieNow will more than double the number of golf courses offering their on-demand caddie booking service in 2018, positioning themselves to scale across the 15,000 golf courses in the US.

You can watch The CaddieNow Explainer YouTube video >> here

Special Guest: Dave Cavossa - Founder and CEO of CaddieNow.

PGA WORKS - Attracting Diverse Talent To Ensure a Strong Future For The Golf Industry (034)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:00:00 -0700

Twelve months ago Tajma Brown knew nothing about golf. Now she is poised to dedicate her professional career to the game she has quickly grown to love. Through PGA REACH - which is the charitable foundation of the PGA of America - The PGA WORKS Fellowship proactively recruits and hires recent college graduates from diverse backgrounds like Tajma for one year paid internships.

Under the guidance of Program Specialist Rachel Mabee, the PGA WORKS mission is to establish a deep bench of diverse talent who are prepared to ascend to key employment industries in the game and business of golf. Starting with two Fellows in 2017, PGA WORKS looks to scale up in 2018 to place interns in at least eight of the 41 PGA Sections. Their goal is to eventually have PGA WORKS Fellowship programs in all 41 PGA Sections across the US, acting as a catalyst to start reshaping the $70 billion/year golf industry to look more like America does.

Tajma shares her story as a sports business professional who currently works for the Middle Atlantic PGA of America as their inaugural PGA WORKS Fellow. As a Fellow, she works with the junior golf department coordinating tournaments, assists with communication efforts for the office, but most importantly she engages with the community to inspire and encourage young people from diverse backgrounds to consider golf as both a recreational pursuit and career option.

As Rachel Mabee mentioned in this episode, if you are or know someone like Tajma who is a recent college graduate with a passion for sports, there is still time to apply for the 2018 PGA WORKS Fellow positions. Go to www.pgareach.org to apply now.

Links to topics we discussed in this episode:

The mission of PGA REACH is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations through the game of golf.

PGA WORKS, including a wonderful video showcasing Tajma's journey.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.

Special Guests: Rachel Melendez Mabee - PGA WORKS Program Specialist with The PGA of America and Tajma Brown - PGA WORKS Fellowship Intern.

Telling Impactful Stories That Build Community Beyond Golf - YuChiang Cheng / President, Topgolf Media

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 21:00:00 -0700

On this week's episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Topgolf Media President YuChiang Cheng to learn how his team is tasked with striking the balance between rapid physical and technological expansion while conveying the consistent message that speaks to the quality, culture and purpose of their brand.

Topgolf now has 41 US venues that served over 13 million customers in 2017...and growing. They are expanding globally, starting with Australia, Mexico, Canada and Dubai, along with bringing to market complimentary products, services and experiences.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

I recently launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! By joining you will get access to exclusive live weekly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Topgolf Media has been entrusted to not only tell the Topgolf story, but to create innovative brand-extending content such as Topgolf Tour, Chef Showdown, The Hook and the In Focus series. Topgolf Media also helps facilitate new market growth with products such as Topgolf Swing Suites, TopTracer, TopTracer Range and Topgolf Crush.

YuChiang shares how his personal entrepreneurial journey of experimentation, curiosity and the occasional failure has shaped his leadership style that encourages staff members to embrace a startup mindset that looks for new opportunities to make things better.

Some of YuChiang's podcast picks (after The ModGolf Podcast, of course):

Freakonomics

Hidden Brain: A Conversation About Life's Unseen Patterns

This American Life

Special Guest: YuChiang Cheng - President, Topgolf Media.

Creating the "Uber of The Golf Industry" - Pascal Stolz / eGull Pay

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 23:00:00 -0700

As we met for the first time at The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, eGull Inc's CEO Pascal Stolz smiles confidently before speaking. His decades of entrepreneurial experience at both TaylorMade and Cobra Golf, combined with his tech startup efforts in Silicone Valley had prepared him for this moment. The moment when eGull Pay was about to step out of the startup shadows and offer the entire golf industry a Blue Ocean Strategy solution that solves one of the game's major pain points: TIME

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Just like Uber and Lyft - where you can see in real time where your ride is - eGull Pay is built on the same principles to optimize existing physical assets and create a more customized experience for the consumer.

Once logged-in and issued a code by the golf course, the eGull Pay App enables GPS tracking and follows the player during their round. eGull Pay overlays the golfer's path over precise geo-coordinates to know how many holes have been played. When leaving the course the golfer is billed only for what they played, with no need to go back to the pro-shop.

eGull Inc CEO Pascal Stolz (left) at The 2018 PGA Merchandise Show

To Learn More About eGull Pay:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eGullGolf
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo7-_ZYdQMljlfNyksPTbw
Website: http://www.egull.golf/
Product Review: https://mygolfspy.com/egull-pay/

Special Guest: Pascal Stolz - CEO of eGull Inc..

Expanding Golf's Fanbase by Not Taking The Game So Seriously - Alex Myers / Golf Digest Senior Writer

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:45:00 -0700

Alex combines the latest trending golf-centric news from the worlds of entertainment, sports, music, pop culture and viral videos to create his unique take on the game he loves.

Alex Myers is a senior writer for Golf Digest, where he has worked for nine years. Alex plays a wide variety of roles for GolfDigest.com, but most notably, he's the creator of The Grind, a weekly column and video series. Prior to that, he spent four years covering golf and other sports for The Journal News. In his spare time, Alex is an avid golfer with three green jackets from his annual buddies trip. But please, don't ask him if he's ever had a hole-in-one.

On this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, Alex speaks with host Colin Weston about:

• His introduction to golf as a kid traveling twice a year to Florida to hang out with his grandfather

• A "week in the life" as a golf and entertainment journalist

• How Golf Digest approved the creation of both The Loop and The Grind and the entrepreneurial approach Alex took when pitching them

• The ability for golf to expand by attracting a new audience through alternative formats and experiences such as GolfBoard, MSOP The Major Series of Putting, The European Tour's Golf Sixes and Topgolf

• How influential pro athletes like Steph Curry and Kelly Slater help raise the cool factor of golf in the eyes of their huge fan base

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Alex Myers - Golf Digest Senior Writer and host of The Grind.

Why Diversity and Inclusion Matters - Sandy Cross, Chief People Officer at The PGA of America

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 23:00:00 -0800

After 20 years into her career at The PGA of America with roles including player development and women's initiatives, Sandy Cross gathered the insights to realize in order to grow the game, golf needed to embrace all the dimensions of difference beyond gender. Sandy took an entrepreneurial approach to the opportunity, successfully pitching a corporate transformation that embeds diversity and inclusion along all lines of their business.

As Chief People Officer, Sandy tenaciously works to educate, train, promote and implement the need for the $85 billion/year golf industry to change its operating philosophy and the way it conducts business.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

On this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, Sandy Cross speaks with host Colin Weston about:

• how The PGA of America is working to build diversity and inclusion into the fabric of the golf industry. Watch Sandy's Golf Channel interview to learn more: http://www.golfchannel.com/video/pga-americas-cross-talks-diversity-inclusion-golf/

• PGA REACH, their charitable foundation with the mission to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. You can learn more at: https://pgareach.org/

• The PGA WORKS Fellowship, which aspires to be the most valuable entry-level employment opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to garner experience in all facets of the golf industry. You can learn more at: https://pgareach.org/services/pgaworks/

• PGA HOPE, which is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The Hero video, featuring Jack Nicklaus, highlights the positive impact that PGA HOPE has on the lives of our Military Veterans: https://pgareach.org/services/pgahope/

Sandy Cross, The PGA of America and PGA REACH on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandyCross and https://twitter.com/PGAREACH
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PGAcom/ and https://www.facebook.com/PGAREACH/

Special Guest: Sandy Cross - Chief People Officer at The PGA of America.

Empowering All Golfers To Read Greens Like A Pro - Pete Charleston / GolfLogix

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 23:00:00 -0800

A lifetime entrepreneur and sports junkie, Pete Charleston has combined his love for golf with his passion to constantly innovate. Pete shares how their latest Golflogix App feature Putt Breaks now gives every golfer the ability to read greens like a pro, lower their scores and have more fun.

We also learn about the strong company culture of Pete's Scottsdale Arizona based company, along with the volunteer work he does with The Thunderbirds in help make the Waste Management Phoenix Open the charity juggernaut that it has become.

You can learn more about Golflogix and Putt Breaks here:

Website:http://www.golflogix.com/page/putt-breaks/
Twitter: @golflogix
Instagram:@golflogix
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GolfLogix/

You can download the Golflogix App for free for iPhone or Android.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Pete Charleston - GolfLogix Co-Founder and President.

Transforming The Golf Industry to Align With a Changing World - Dr. Michael Cooper / Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 00:30:00 -0800

Dr. Michael Cooper's love for golf runs deep, inspired during his youth by the support and encouragement of both his father and the small but passionate Chicago African American golf community. Dr. Cooper shares with us how as the Chairman of The Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force, he aims to create and support meaningful and inclusive change in the $85 billion/yr golf industry.

______________________________________________

• How Golf 20/20 and The World Golf Foundation is working to build diversity and inclusion in the golf. Watch Dr. Cooper's Golf Channel interview to learn more: http://www.golfchannel.com/video/golf-2020-task-force-aims-diversity-throughout-golf-industry/

• His involvement as a Board Member with The National Black Golf Hall of Fame. Learn more about the NBGHF at http://www.nationalblackgolfhalloffame.com/

• Celebrating Black History Month by honoring the contributions of Charlie Sifford, Renee Powell, Calvin Peete and Lee Elder. This African American Golfer’s Digest article covers all four of them nicely: http://www.africanamericangolfersdigest.com/honoring-golfs-legends-during-black-history-month/ and Golf Digest wrote a strong piece on Charlie Sifford and his courageous golf journey: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/charlie-sifford-mcdaniel

• The power of partnering with existing African American Golf Community Builders to fast track the diversity mandate. The African American Golfer’s Digest http://www.africanamericangolfersdigest.com/ is a helping bring all these groups and initiatives together.

• Dr. Cooper's work as Tournament Director of The Advocates Pro Tour, which provides the platform for young African American men to play professional golf on a mini tour and connect with the inner city communities where they play. Learn more about the Advocates Pro Tour at: http://www.protour.advocatesgolf.org/

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Dr. Michael Cooper - Chairman of the GOLF 20/20 Diversity Task Force.

Stories From Four Decades Dedicated To Golf Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Dean Reinmuth / The "Dean of Golf"

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:00:00 -0800

Dean Reinmuth is one of Golf Digest's Top 50 instructors, but his talents and passion extends way past teaching. On this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, Dean shares his entrepreneurial golf journey that started in the 1970's with covering car windshields in The Buick Open parking lot to find customers for their golf instruction experiment. More than forty years later, Dean insatiable curiosity for golf innovation is still intact as he continues to turn over stones to reveal new ideas to test.

Learn more about Swing Coach by watching Dean's explainer video on our YouTube Channel >> https://youtu.be/bYi8bjNeveU
and on the Swing Coach website: https://www.swingcoachclub.com/

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Dean Reinmuth - The Dean of Golf / Swing Coach.

How Big Data, Machine Learning and AI Innovates Golf Game Improvement - Sal Syed / Arccos Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 22:45:00 -0800

The pioneer of Connected Golf, Sal Syed is the CEO and Co-Founder of Arccos - the leading provider of big data, advanced analytics and machine learning insights for the global golf industry.

First launched in late 2014, their patented, GPS-based, hardware and software system has automatically recorded more than 60 million shots taken by golfers playing on courses worldwide.

By seamlessly analyzing each shot in real time, Arccos provides powerful, data-driven insights that help golfers of all skill levels measurably improve their performance by going beyond guesswork.

To learn more, check out our "Arccos Golf demo at The 2018 PGA Show" on The ModGolf Podcast YouTube channel.

Arccos Golf Booth at The 2018 PGA Show

Named after the inverse cosine function – an element of advanced mathematics that is featured in the Arccos algorithm – their business and system have repeatedly been honored by leading media and business organizations.

In this episode host Colin Weston speaks with Sal about his entrepreneurial journey, the creation of Arccos Golf and the passionate culture he has created that inspires their entire team to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset that constantly strives to innovate, experiment with and iterate their game improvement experience.

While Sal was earning his MBA at the Yale University School of Management, he met co-founder Clinton Grusd, who worked to develop the foundation of the business and product concepts, plans and strategies that are used by Arccos.

They realized that golf was lacking a high-performing, comprehensive tool to track and analyze a golfer’s game and improve decision-making on the course. They set out build a solution to crack this pain point that has changed the way we think about and play golf.

To learn more about Arccos Golf, go to their website https://www.arccosgolf.com/ and social media feeds:

The Arccos Golf blog
Twitter: @ArccosGolf
Facebook: @arccosgolf
Youtube: Arccos Golf: Connect to Your Game

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Sal Syed: Co-Founder and CEO, Arccos Golf.

"Levelling The Playing Field" - Part 2 of The Major Series of Putting Championships

The ModGolf Podcast — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 14:00:00 -0800

So that’s a wrap for Season Two of The ModGolf Podcast. I want to thank each and everyone of my guests that have shared their unique and diverse stories on our first 25 episodes in 2017. Without you, The ModGolf Podcast wouldn’t exist. But most our all, i want to thank our listeners - our ModGolfers as we’ve grown to call you - for your support and feedback. We are closing in on 5,000 downloads and we are grateful for the positive response we’ve received since launching back in May. If you have any ideas for future episodes or a guest you’d like me to interview, DM us on Instagram @modgolfpodcast to share your thoughts.

We’re now going to take a couple of weeks off to develop Season Three, which we’ll startup up in late January. We already have some great guests with engaging stories lined up, along with the plan to finding the newest and brightest golf innovations while we attend the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Speaking of the PGA Show, I’ll be there moderating “The Golf Disruptors Panel” on January 24, where I sit down with five of my previous episode guests to discuss their entrepreneurial journey. If you plan on being at The PGA Show, please join us if you want to hear some inspirational stories and learn how you can transform your business approach to become more innovative and entrepreneurial.

We just launched our ModGolf Podcast YouTube channel, where we posted videos from the MSOP Championships, including a Stadium Tour and a Skills Based Gaming Putting Demonstration. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA63EnBgsW86r1jTtyHyo9w/videos

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guests: Dave Grant - Burke Putters and Guillaume Béland - Président & General Manager at MSOP / Lune Rouge.

#PuttForDough - Part 1 of The Major Series of Putting Las Vegas Championships

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:00:00 -0800

The Major Series of Putting (MSOP) 2017 inaugural season staged over 200 local North American local qualifiers, culminating with the 10 day Las Vegas Championships.

MSOP entertains, challenges and thrills people with the simplest and most important golf element – Putting. To achieve such, MSOP sanctioned the largest series of putting tournaments in history with millions of dollars in total prize money. In fabulous Las Vegas, MSOP built a temporary stadium one block off of the famous Strip, adjacent to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Participants from all walks of life had the opportunity to test their skills - and nerves - as they competed over several days in high-stakes championship putting tournaments on a 20,000 square foot putting surface created by world-leading Nicklaus Design and fabricated/installed by Southwest Greens. The fun was open to all as qualifying events were held around North America in collaboration with local golf courses.

MSOP is a subsidiary of Lune Rouge Innovation, a new creative company inspired and controlled by Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté. For more information, visit www.MSOP.com.

Take a tour of The MSOP Las Vegas Stadium with host Colin Weston and subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast YouTube channel to watch our latest video content: MSOP Vegas Stadium Tour

MSOP Stadium Las Vegas

Brad Faxon and Alex Phillips at The MSOP Las Vegas Championships

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guests: Alex Phillips - MSOP and World Long Drive Competitor, Bobby Sloan - Project Manager and Designer / Senior Associate at Populous, Brad Faxon - MSOP ambassador and Fox Sports 1 golf analyst, Brent Walker - Project Manager, SMT Sports Media Technology, Guillaume Béland - Président & General Manager at MSOP / Lune Rouge, Jeff Keas - Principal in Charge for MSOP Stadium / Senior Principal at Populous, Marcia Mendonca - MSOP Las Vegas Amateur Competitor, and Melissa Mabanta - Professional Golfer.

Creating The Ultimate Indoor Golfing Experience - Jon Standing / Indoor Golf Arena

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 01:00:00 -0800

Jon Standing is the founder and creative force behind Indoor Golf Arena, a Netherlands-based startup that looks to disrupt while compliment the European golf market.

Indoor Golf Arena® plans to first build in the Netherlands at a location close to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. The innovative concept has been developed by Indoor Golf Solutions International, a co-operation between Dutch companies Outstanding Enterprises and ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architects.

Key Project Features:

• 12.000 m2 of undulating synthetic grass practice areas, designed by Nicklaus Design and installed by Southwest Greens
• State-of-the-art Foresight Sports golf simulators, all set in a comfortable, golf-themed Spike Bar
• Hitting bays providing facilities to practice awkward lies
• An unconventional indoor driving range, with extensive food and drink menu, served at the bays by hosts
• Wellness and golf fitness facilities
• Top quality restaurant, bar and lounge areas
• Comprehensive conference and meeting facilities
• A 200 room, four star hotel
• PGAs of Europe Training Center
• Environmentally controlled indoor facilities, allowing golf to be played and practiced all year round

According to Jon, "The concept of Indoor Golf Arena® is based on a thorough understanding of the current trends in the golf market (supported by extensive market research in cooperation with Colliers International and AECOM), and a clear vision for the future of golf which includes developing the Indoor Golf Arena® brand as a complement to traditional outdoor facilities".

To learn more about Indoor Golf Arena® and Jon Standing:

Website: Indoor Golf Arena®
Twitter: @IndoorGolfArena
Facebook: @indoorgolfarena
Jon's bio: On LinkedIn

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Project Images

Special Guest: Jon Standing - Founder, Indoor Golf Arena.

Building An Entrepreneurial Culture of Constant Innovation And Improvement - Joe Assell / GOLFTEC

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:00:00 -0800

Joe Assell is the CEO and Co-Founder of GOLFTEC, the world leader in golf instruction with over 200 locations across the United States, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

In this episode host Colin Weston speaks with Joe about his entrepreneurial journey, the creation of GOLFTEC and the passionate culture he has created that inspires their entire team to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset that constantly strives to innovate and improve their student experience.

Colin also travels to the Vancouver GOLFTEC location for a much-needed lesson with Head Teaching Pro Norman Baufeld. Afterwards he speaks with Norman to get his thoughts on innovative culture that defines GOLFTEC's success.

Founded by Assell and Mike Clinton in 1995, GOLFTEC has given over 7 million private lessons. Assell serves on the Finance Committee for Colorado PGA Section and has won Teacher of The Year. In 2008, he was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

To learn more about GOLFTEC and Joe Assell, go to their website https://www.golftec.com/about-golftec and social media feeds:

The GOLFTEC Scramble blog: "Cup of Joe" video series
Twitter: @GOLFTEC
Facebook: @GOLFTEC
Vimeo: Joe Assell, PGA - Turning Passion into Profession (July 16, 2017)
YouTube: Cup of Joe: GolfTEC opens 200th Improvement Center

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guests: Joe Assell - Co-Founder and CEO, GOLFTEC and Norman Baufeld - Head Teaching Professional at GOLFTEC Vancouver.

Creating Positive Social Impact By Empowering Women And Girls Through Golf - Clemmie Perry / Women of Color Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:15:00 -0800

Clemmie Perry started playing golf in 2013 and is turning her passion into a national movement to make a difference in the lives of women & girls through the sport of golf. In 2014, she started Women of Color Golf (WOCG), and Girls On the Green Tee (GOTG-T), which are programs designed to increase and facilitate minority participation in the sport of golf for women and girls. In four short years, they have introduced over 350 minority women & girls to the basic fundamentals of golf in the Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida Bay area & Washington, D.C.

______________________________________________

The mission of these programs is to encourage and promote individuals to learn the benefits of golf, provide organized golf clinics, participate in recreational golf activities, fitness workshops and mentoring opportunities.

The mentoring program, Girls on the Green Tee (GOTG-T), is designed for girls ages 10 -17, answering the ever present need for strong, accomplished, and resilient female role-models. WOCG & GOTG -T seeks to create a spark of interest and inspiration in the game of golf. This inspiration is then turned into action by connecting the women and girls to our golf community through golf instruction, activities and events.

The Women of Color Golf (WOCG) and Girls on the Green Tee (GOTG-T) programs have grown into a national recognized, community-based program, with recent recognition by former President Barack Obama, as a U.S. White House Champion of Change for After School Extra Curricula Enrichment for Marginalized Girls.

WOCG has been featured in Forbes, Ebony, Black Enterprise, Golf for Her, Professional Golf Association (PGA) magazine, the African American Golfer’s Digest and several local Tampa Bay TV and radio broadcasts.

To learn more about Women Of Color Golf, go to their website http://womenofcolorgolf.org/ and social media feeds:

Twitter: @Womenofcolorglf
Facebook: @womenofcolorgolf
Instagram: womenofcolorgolf
YouTube: Making a Difference: Women of Color Golf

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Clemmie Perry - Founder & Director, Women of Color Golf & Girls On the Green Tee.

Harnessing The Power of Technology To Help Grow Golf - 020: Eddy Lui / 18Birdies

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:15:00 -0800

Since their concept launch at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, 18Birdies has emerged as the dominant golf mobile app with over 750,000 users and growing. With their clear mission to "Inspire golfers of all generations to enhance their game, share their experiences with friends, and increase their enjoyment of golf", 18Birdies has successfully aligned the game with the lifestyle habits of a younger audience.

Sharing the belief that technology can make a huge difference in elevating the game of golf, 18Birdies creates more ways to conveniently enjoy golf by looking to enhance and improve the entire golfing experience. Eddy realized "technology could make golf more accessible, engaging, social and fun, so when you bring all these elements together you can reshape how the game is played, perceived and experienced. To fundamentally change golf you need connectivity and integration for everything and everyone on the same platform in order for the magic to happen".

There are golf apps out there that focus on one aspect of the game, but Eddy realized that to truly succeed, a mobile golf app needed to "close the circle by connecting everyone in the golf industry". 18Birdies set out to create the big, ambitious vision with a platform that delivers everything that golf can possibly do.

To learn more about 18Birdies, visit their website and download their free app for either iOS or Android.

Twitter: @18BirdiesApp
Facebook: @18birdies
Instagram: 18birdiesapp

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

In this episode you'll learn:

• Eddy’s “AHA” moment and the inspiration for creating 18Birdies.
• The golf problem 18Birdies looked to solve by harnessing the power of technology to create fun, social and globally connected experiences.
• How customer feedback revealed the popularity of realtime gaming and betting during your golf round as the key to driving growth.
• The importance of building a powerful brand that reflects your purpose and culture.
• Identifying what value 18Birdies can bring to each user and partner, then stringing them all together.
• Creating the one portal that manages everything a user does across their golf life.
• “Every hole is a new game” - Eddy describes how Game Bets and Targets work.
• The gamification of 18Birdies through Dream Games and Golf Bucks.
• Launching the concept of 18Birdies at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show.
• The power of partnership like they have with NextGenGolf to propel themselves forward.
• The 18Birdies team and the entrepreneurial culture that passionately inspires them to build best golf experiences possible.
• Supporting their remote, high-performance corporate teams based in Oakland and Shanghai
• Next steps - the future of 18Birdies in 2018 and beyond.

Special Guest: Eddy Lui - Founder and CEO, 18Birdies.

Creating The World's Most Innovative And Fun Golf Tournament - Carlos Sugich / WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:00:00 -0700

When it comes to creating a golf tournament event that puts fan enjoyment at the top of its priority list, The Waste Management Phoenix Open wrote the book. From the organic evolution of the 16,000 seat 16th hole stadium to the Birds Nest nightly music festival, The WMPO continues to push the innovation envelope to place their fans at the center of the five day experience.

2018 Tournament Chairman Carlos Sugich proudly states “Each year we look to build upon the tremendous success of our tournament set by our predecessors. We have some great new things in the works for the 2018 event and we are excited to put these plans into action.”

Sugich lead the Thunderbirds in the planning and execution of every facet of the 2018 tournament, including meeting with current and potential sponsors, recruiting PGA TOUR players to the event and developing new on-course venues.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

The 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open was held at TPC Scottsdale January 29 – February 4, 2018. It is the best-attended golf tournament in the world and has gained legendary status for being the most unique stop on the PGA TOUR. The 2017 tournament broke four attendance records, including a PGA TOUR record 655,434 fans for the week. The 2018 edition will mark the 83rd playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the ninth as the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 250 “life” members. In 2016 The Thunderbirds raised a record $9.3 million for charity and have eclipsed $111 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932.

The complex four month on-course construction build results in the creation of what Carlos calls "The City", which includes the 16th hole stadium, "The Cove" at the 17th hole and 18th hole grandstand. Watch this "16th hole construction time lapse" YouTube video to experience the effort it takes to create "The Loudest Hole In Golf".

To learn more about the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open:

website: https://wmphoenixopen.com/
Twitter: @WMPhoenixOpen
Facebook: @WMPhoenixOpen
Instagram: @wmphoenixopen

The Coors Light Birds Nest at The Phoenix Open:

website: https://coorslightbirdsnest.com/
Twitter: @BirdsNestPhx
Instagram: birdsnestphx

Special Guest: Carlos Sugich - Tournament Chairman for the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Grow The Game By Taking It A Little Less Seriously - Shane Bacon / FOX Sports

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:00:00 -0700

Shane offers a broad base of knowledge and understanding of golf, having been involved with the game in a variety of capacities. In 2006, he spent the summer working as a caddie at the historic St. Andrews links course in Scotland and also later caddied in tournament events for LPGA tour professionals Irene Cho and the late Erica Blasberg. A low-single-digit handicap player, he also competed on the mini-tour circuit for a short time between 2007 and 2008.

Shane also hosts his weekly podcast "The Clubhouse With Shane Bacon". We highly recommend giving it a listen (after you've binge-listened to every single ModGolf Podcast episode, of course).

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Bacon began his coverage of the sport as a writer for the AOL FanHouse website in 2008. He held that position until 2010 when he began contributing to the Yahoo Sports Devil Ball Golf blog and later accepted a full-time writing position for the CBS’ Eye on Golf blog in 2011. In 2012, he assumed editor duties for the Yahoo Devil Ball site, penning columns, conducting interviews with tour professionals, covering tournament action and producing video content, while also planning the blog’s editorial calendar and overall content strategy. In 2014, he made his first foray into television, joining DirecTV’s upstart “Back9Network,” a golf and lifestyle cable channel, as an on-air personality. During his time with Back9, he co-hosted the show, “The Turn” from the channel’s Connecticut studios.

An experienced digital scribe and former mini-tour competitor, Shane Bacon is now a golf reporter for FOX Sports. In his dynamic role, Bacon serves as an on-course contributor during the network’s digital presentations of all eight USGA Championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open, in addition to producing columns and videos throughout the year for FOXSports.com.

On this episode Shane and Colin talk about:
• Shane's early days as a sports blogger and his first time is front of the camera at Back9 Network.
• his 'big break' opportunity to join the FOX Sports Golf team.
• why Shane had to "had to readjust my thinking about golf" when considering the future of the game.
• European Tour CEO Keith Pelley's Golf Sixes, match play and team events.
• how other sports love the underdog but golf fans do not.
• what young people think about Tiger Woods.
• the innovative culture at FOX Sports that gives their golf staff the creative freedom to experiment.
• that people need to remind themselves golf is an escape and we play to get away from everyday life.
• Shane's desire to publish a golf game pamphlet (Shane’s Games perhaps?) as a fun, social alternative to 18 hole stroke play.

Special Guest: Shane Bacon - FOX Sports Golf Reporter.

The Links At Petco Park: Creating Fun Golf Experiences - Nate Adelman / Callaway Golf

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 16:00:00 -0700

In 2014 the San Diego Padres approached Callaway Golf with the opportunity to create a golf experience in their ball park. They had no idea what this could look like, but rather than politely dismiss the request, Callaway embraced an entrepreneurial/startup/innovation mindset to collaborate and co-create what has become "The Links at Petco Park". http://cmp.callawaygolf.com/thelinks

Now in its third year, #TheLinksAtPetco has grown in both size and sophistication. Callaway keeps raising the bar on player engagement and experience to make this a truly unique event that serves as a platform to help grow the game and give back to the community through their charity partnerships.

This YouTube video covers the 2016 #TheLinksAtPetco experience.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwkDcT_GAD0

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Episode Highlights include:
01:52 - 03:14 Nate gives us an overview of The Links At Petco Park.
03:20 - 04:24 We learn the gameplay format and experiential qualities offered at #TheLinksAtPetco
04:51 - 08:40 Nate walks us through the player's "Day at Petco Park" experience and Callaway's "Grow The Game" initiatives.
08:52 - 10:35 The progression and growth in popularity as The Links At Petco Park enters its third year.
11:10 - 13:49 The charity platform #TheLinksAtPetco creates, which supports Callaway's desire to give back to the local San Diego community.
14:18 - 18:48 Nate tells the "AHA Moment" story of how The Links At Petco Park came to be.
18:48 - 21:48 Colin and Nate discuss Callaway's company culture that supports innovation and the startup mindset.
21:48 - 24:52 Nate's "Intrapreneur" role at Callaway and culture of trust that allows people to take risks in a safe and supportive environment.
24:53 - 28:14 How Callaway has applied "Lean Startup Methodologies" https://leanstartup.co/ over three years to eliminate or alter what hasn't worked and enhance the elements that have.
28:15 - 32:06 Callaway's dilemma to scale #TheLinksAtPetco up to a multi-stadium offering across the US or to focus on making this annual event experience the best in market.
32:07 - 34:41 Colin refers to Simon Sinek's TEDx talk "Start With Why" to explore the Callaway culture that motivates them to connect with their customer and help grow the game.
34:42 - 36:43 How The Links At Petco Park encourages beginners to participate by creating a fun, non-intimidating environment that everyone can enjoy.

Special Guest: Nate Adelman - Marketing Manager at Ogio and Callaway Golf.

Creating A Frictionless Experience That Connects Golfers To Tournaments - Eric Crawford / GolfTourney.com

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 14:00:00 -0700

In 2008, Eric Crawford had an "AHA" moment. He and his three brothers would regularly play in golf events around Iowa. They would play mostly four person best shots and stroke play tournaments. In order to find these golf events they would have to sift through a stack of papers. Back then golf courses would type up a bulletin that includes the events for that year and they would send those bulletins out to all of the golf courses in the area.

Eric told his brothers, “There has to be a website for this!” so he went home and checked. There were various websites that had a few golf events listed, with the biggest one having only 300 events on it! This gap in the marketplace and opportunity to connect eager golfers with unfilled tournament and charity events led to the creation of GolfTournery.com. After an exhaustive three year study and product development, GolfTourney.com found that there are an average of 8 golf tournaments per golf course per season, revealing that there are over 200,000 golf tournaments in the United States each year!

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

GolfTourney.com is dedicated to helping golfers find golf tournaments, by creating the seamless integration of the classic game of golf with their user-friendly technology platform. With GolfTourney.com any player, beginner to life long diehard, high handicap or low, can search and find local amateur golf tournaments in their area, state or country. GolfTourney.com is establishing itself as the brand golfers think of when seeking golf tournaments, finding tournament playing partners, course information and connecting with their golf community. GolfTourney.com is currently expanding their service offering by creating a "Vendor Marketplace", where they match event coordinators with golf courses looking to host tournaments.

So what is GolfTourmey.com? Here's their explainer video.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PHiG_PlIdY

You can download GolfTourney.com and create a free account to your smart phone and mobile device for either iOS or Android. For your desktop browser, go to www.golftourney.com

Connect with GolfTourney.com on social media....
Twitter: https://twitter.com/findtournaments
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GolfTourney/

Special Guest: Eric Crawford - Founder & CEO, GolfTourney.com.

Building the Technology Engine That Powers Immersive Golf Entertainment Experiences - Dave Shultz / NextLinks

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 01:00:00 -0700

Dave Shultz, founder and visionary of NextLinks, left his 20-year corporate career with General Electric to pursue a new more purposeful life journey. States Dave: "We are going to bring golf to life in ways for all to enjoy it on their own terms...in a social, beautiful, unintimidating, and interactive way."

An accomplished product development engineer and global operations leader, Dave changed his trajectory with a sudden awareness that he had the hunger and capability to create a new global economy from his idea.

A.G.E (Alternative Golf Experiences) are setting a new standard for how people will engage with golf. These solutions will socialize the golf experience in ways previously not considered, breaking down traditional barriers to entry.

Technology will play a significant role in the success of new and innovative golf endeavors, and NextLinks (www.nextlinks.com) was formed to develop software and hardware solutions required to deliver success, both indoors and outdoors.

This YouTube video is a good place to learn more about NextLinks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYVqLw8BdL4

On this episode Dave and Colin talk about:
• finding "Product Market Fit" by listening to your customers to reveal where you can add real value.
• "Pivoting" your business offering as you travel along your startup journey. Dave made the difficult but informed decision regarding which products to build and which ones to abandon, as he discusses the shift from building the entire entertainment experience with REALiTEE http://realiteegolf.com/ to focusing on the technology platform with NextLinks.
• Finding an idea that's so core to you that gives you that sense of purpose. They talk about Simon Sinek's famous TED Talk "Start With Why" and how is has influenced them both professionally and personally. If you haven't seen this YouTube video, we highly recommend it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA
• Dave refers to how the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill has shaped his approach to business. Here's a link to a PDF version of the book: https://archive.org/details/ThinkAndGrowRichPDF
• The concepts of "Lean Startup Methodologies" and creating a "Minimum Viable Product" or MVP are discussed as they apply to NextLinks as a way to build better products and services. To learn more, check out https://leanstartup.co/

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Dave Shultz - Founder & CEO of NextLinks / REALiTEE Golf.

"The Miracles Episode" - Golf Digest's Max Adler Shares Golf's Unexpected Stories

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 01:00:00 -0700

Golf Digest, founded in 1950 and published by Condé Nast since 2001, transformed itself in 2014 to align with a younger audience through both the look of and content contained in the magazine. Golf Digest has expanded it online and social media connectivity with their growing community through written and video content offered on their mobile app, website https://www.golfdigest.com/magazine and YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/GolfDigestMagazine

Editorial Director Max Adler is a driving force behind the re-positioning of Golf Digest, as seen here during his 2014 interview with Callaway Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKFmvYVrPYA&t=3s

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Max Adler - Golf Digest Editorial Director.

"It Only Takes One" - The Innovative Evolution of World Long Drive

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:00:00 -0700

When The World Long Drive states "It Only Takes One", they are referring to the nature of their tension-fueled gameplay format. World Long Drive, or WLD doesn't require four days and 72 holes of competition to determine a winner. Within six minutes of competition and eight balls hit by each athlete, only the one drive hit the farthest decides who moves on and who goes home. This elegantly simple storyline often produces dramatic final shot outcomes as the clock counts down that are more like a March Madness basketball buzzer beater than an golf tournament. And that's exactly what Golf Channel and WLD are looking for.

This YouTube video gives you a feel for the Volvik World Long Drive Championship experience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukVfM8XaLMo

Additional Links to WLD and our episode guests:

World Long Drive http://www.worldlongdrive.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldLongDrive @WorldLongDrive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldLongDrive/
Instagram: @worldlongdrive

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

HISTORY OF THE WORLD LONG DRIVE
The World Long Drive Championships, known under its corporate sponsored title as the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, is an annual world championship in long drive golf driving, hosted since 1975. The Long Drivers of America (LDA) took the reins in 1995 and RE/MAX became the title sponsor the same year; it evolved out of the original National Long Drive Championship, ran by Golf Digest. It used to be contested at a specially made complex in Mesquite, Nevada which is 60 yards wide and 450 yards long. It requires a three-step qualifying process and step one generally requires a drive of over 330 yards.

The finalists of the competition can often hit the ball over 400 yards, over 100 yards longer than the average professional PGA golfer, although many of the drives are in the 360-400 yard range and some have won previous competitions with drives within this range and even less in earlier years of the competition. The most prolific winner is the Canadian Jason Zuback, who has won it five times, including 4 in a row from 1996 to 1999.

In 2017, Swede Sandra Carlborg won her record fifth World Long Drive title, defeating Heather Manfredda with a 320-yard drive at Winstar World Casino & Resort in Oklahoma. In 2013, the event was held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first time.

Special Guests: Andrea Starkey - VP, Strategic Programming Partnerships at Golf Channel, Dean Jarvis - ParaLong Drive Cup Founder, Jeff Crittenden - 2017 World Long Drive Masters Champion, Jon Claffey - Vice President of Marketing for Tour Edge Golf, Justin James: 2017 World Long Drive Champion - Men's Open Division, Lisa Vlooswyk - Canadian Women's Long Drive Champion, Maurice Allen - World Long Drive Tour Pro Athlete, Michelle Sheptak - World Long Drive Tour Professional, and Sandra Carlborg - 5 Time Women's World Long Drive Champion.

BONUS: Season One Wrap Up / Season Two Preview

The ModGolf Podcast — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:30:00 -0700

After taking off the month of August to recharge our batteries and develop our second season, we're excited to back in mid September with a new round of compelling stories and inspirational interviews from our guests.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Promoting Diversity And Inclusion To Make Golf Look More Like America - Steve Mona / World Golf Foundation

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 00:15:00 -0700

In 2008, Steve Mona was named the World Golf Foundation's first CEO, and through his leadership the Foundation has embarked on new global initiatives to foster the growth and promotion of golf worldwide.

The mission of the World Golf Foundation is to unite the golf industry in support of initiatives that enhance the growth of and provide access to the game of golf worldwide, while preserving golf's traditional values and passing them on to others.

In support of that mission, World Golf Foundation focuses on a variety of initiatives to grow and celebrate the game of golf around the world. Through The First Tee, the WGF focuses on positively impacting the lives of young people. Under the banner of the World Golf Hall of Fame, it recognizes and celebrates golf's greatest players and contributors and serves as an inspiration to golfers and fans worldwide. The World Golf Foundation's GOLF 20/20 initiative pursues programs to ensure golf's continued growth and vitality. All World Golf Foundation initiatives work together to support the growth of the game among youth, women and minorities, while also fostering diversity within the golf industry.

The World Golf Foundation also supports the golf industry in a variety of other roles, including acting as a centralized vehicle for communicating the industry's initiatives to the media, providing a forum for golf's organizations to collaborate on initiatives of mutual importance and commissioning and disseminating to golf's stakeholders research on key aspects of the game.

http://www.worldgolffoundation.org/

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Creating Innovative Products That Find Their Customers First - Klaus Eldrup-Jørgensen / TrackMan

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 00:15:00 -0700

TrackMan is a fully wireless, easy to use, indoor/outdoor, radar-based solution for analyzing the impact conditions and resulting ball flight in golf. TrackMan provides the industry’s most accurate real-time data and graphics on ball launch, flight, and landing. Its unique combination of radar and video technology provides solutions for equipment manufacturers, teaching pros, club fitters, golf ranges, broadcasting companies, simulators, and ambitious golfers. TrackMan A/S, headquartered in Vedbæk, Denmark, is the developer and owner of TrackMan technology. TrackMan technology includes a comprehensive patent portfolio of granted patents and pending patents applications. http://trackmangolf.com/

This YouTube video demonstrates the latest TrackMan 4 Dual Radar Technology: https://www.youtube.com/user/TrackManGolf

Additional Links:

How Trackman Radar Technology is used to track Major League Baseball throwing, running and hitting, combined with the MLB Statcast graphic interface to create compelling visuals to amplify the fan broadcast experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UwLc0l68MY

To learn about Doppler Radar and how TrackMan uses The Doppler Effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_radar

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Trackman on Social Media:

Twitter: @TrackManGolf https://twitter.com/TrackManGolf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrackManGolf
Instagram: trackmangolf https://www.instagram.com/trackmangolf/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Trackmangolf-page

Special Guest: Klaus Eldrup-Jørgensen - Co-founder and CEO of TrackMan.

Growing The Game By Hosting The World's Biggest Golf Tournament - Jeff Monday / Myrtle Beach World Amateur (010)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:15:00 -0700

The Myrtle Beach World Amateur is the largest amateur golf tournament on the globe. Going into the 34th year, the World Am annually hosts players from the 50 United States and over 30 countries. 3,100 players teed it up in the 2016 tournament, and participation is expected to grow yet again. The event boasts 72 holes of net, stroke play on over 60 championship golf courses. Players are placed in flights based on gender, age and handicap to keep the competition fun, fair and equitable.

Interested in registering for the Aug 26 - Sept 1 event? Go to http://worldam.golfnet.com/register and use the promo code MODGOLF for a $50 discount.

This YouTube video gives you a taste of what The Myrtle Beach World Amateur is all about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shcYgqn_PfE

In this episode we learn:

• The rich three decade history of the The Myrtle Beach World Amateur "World Am" as the largest single site golf tournament in the world. http://myrtlebeachworldamateur.com/
• How Tournament Director Jeff Monday and his team continually innovate and evolve the event to offer new experiences and connect with younger golfers.
• How the tournament combines music, food and hospitality to create their massive "19th Hole" golf party each and every night at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. http://myrtlebeachworldamateur.com/what-is-the-19th-hole/
• How their partnership with NextGenGolf https://nextgengolf.org/ looks to build a healthy future for the World Am by creating experiences and formats to attract 20 and 30 year olds to the event.

Special Guest: Jeff Monday - Tournament Director, Myrtle Beach World Amateur.

"Surf The Earth" To Make Golf More Fast, Fun and Popular - Jeff Dowell / GolfBoard

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:15:00 -0700

Golfboard is a combination of electronic snowboard and golf cart that allows you to traverse the course by maneuvering it while standing on the deck with your clubs right in front of you.

Disruptively innovating the golf industry, GolfBoard is forever changing the way golfers experience the game. Powered by an environmentally friendly lithium-ion battery, the GolfBoard is an easy-to-ride fully electric vehicle that adds a whole new level of fun and excitement. Golfers of all ages can now "Surf the Earth" from shot-to-shot in a way that feels like snowboarding or surfing.

GolfBoarding changes the golfing experience, without changing the spirit and traditions of the game. With over 200 courses now offering GolfBoard rentals, and hundreds of thousands of GolfBoarding rounds played, the GolfBoard has a proven ability to attract new players and energize the sport.

This YouTube video demonstrates how fun, exhilarating and easy it is to ride a GolfBoard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9VuKK5sbQo

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

In this episode we discuss how since their 2013 Kickstarter campaign, GolfBoard has gone from scrappy startup to a growing company that has found their Product Market Fit. Topics include:

• The entrepreneurial inspiration and history behind GolfBoard. http://www.golfboard.com/

• Learning the technical features of GolfBoard from company President Jeff Dowell. http://www.golfboard.com/#product-details

• The importance of asking for and listening to customer feedback, allowing GolfBoard to quickly iterate, innovate and constantly improve their product.

• Learning that competition is a good thing and something GolfBoard welcomes as new players in the industry space they created serve to push them harder and innovate to add even more value for their customers.

• The critical importance of partnerships such as Billy Casper Golf https://www.billycaspergolf.com/ and Troon http://www.troon.com/index.php to help drive growth and increase the size of their Total Accessible Market.

• Jeff references Geoffery Moore's business best seller "Crossing The Chasm" to describe the challenge GolfBoard faces as they need to make the leap that brings their cutting-edge products to progressively larger markets. Here's a link to the book summary if you're curious to learn what a Technology Adoption Life Cycle is: https://ewthoff.home.xs4all.nl/Weppage%20documents/Summary%20Crossing%20the%20Chasm.pdf

• How GolfBoard follows the Blue Ocean Strategy business model that "creates uncontested market space and makes the competition irrelevant". https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/

• How GolfBoard integrates Lean Startup Methodologies https://leanstartup.co/ to create a Build/Test/Measure/Learn/Iterate feedback loop that allows them to quickly innovate, experiment (and sometimes fail).

Harnessing The Power Of Music To Reach A New Golf Audience - Kelley James (008)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:15:00 -0700

Kelley James is a musician, singer, songwriter and freestyle artist who's passion for golf has put him in the unique and influential position to connect his audience to the game he loves. Kelley believes the future of golf will be healthy and strong as the convergence of entertainment, music and sport competition continues to grow.

What you will learn from this episode:

• Kelley's early love of sport and music that has shaped his career in the music entertainment industry.
• How Kelley connected with some of the PGA Tour's biggest stars to transform his music career and help make him the golf ambassador and influencer he is today.
• How the WM Phoenix Open became the trailblazing pioneer that sets the standard for creating entertainment experiences around a golf tournament.

The inter-connectivity of music, food, hospitality and unique, engaging experiences that combine to create the future of both on-site and broadcast golf content creation. • How other PGA Tour events such as The Safeway Open in Napa understands the revenue potential of "Creating a party that just happens to have a golf tournament going on at the same time".

A 'Blue Ocean Strategy' For Golf - Guillaume Béland / The Major Series of Putting (006)

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:15:00 -0700

Guillaume Béland is the President and General Manager of Lune Rouge and The Major Series of Putting. Guillaume speaks with host Colin Weston about their ambitious and exciting plans to stage over 400 putting competitions this year, culminating with a week-long finals tournament this October in a purpose-built stadium in Las Vegas.

MSOP Stadium Las Vegas

About The Major Series Of Puttng (MSOP):

Major Series of Putting (MSOP) intends to entertain, challenge and thrill people with the simplest and most important golf element - Putting. To achieve this, MSOP is sanctioning the largest series of putting tournaments in history with millions of dollars in total prize money. In fabulous Las Vegas, participants from all walks of life will have opportunity to test their skills - and nerves - as they compete over several days in high-stakes championship putting on a 20,000 Square-foot surface designed by world-leading Nicklaus Design. The fun is open to all as qualifying events will be held around North America in collaboration with local golf courses.

MSOP is a subsidiary of Lune Rouge Innovation, a new creative company inspired and controlled by Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté.

In this episode we learned about:

• The Major Series of Putting and how to register for or host a qualifying tournament: https://msop.com/en/

• The architectural firm Populous http://populous.com/ and their MSOP stadium design. You can see the animation of the stadium design here --> https://msop.com/en/venue/LasVegas

• The 20,000 sq ft putting green created by Jack Nickaus Design. http://www.nicklaus.com/design/

• The "Blue Ocean Strategy" that MSOP is pursuing to capture a new, large and uncontested audience. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/

• "Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings From a Lifetime of Golf" Written by Harvey Penick
https://www.amazon.ca/Harvey-Penicks-Little-Red-Book/dp/1451683219/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497344682&sr=8-1&keywords=harvey+penick%27s+little+red+book

Special Guest: Guillaume Béland - Président & General Manager at MSOP / Lune Rouge.

Creating A Social Community Around Golf - Peter Kratsios and GolfMatch (005)

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 23:00:00 -0700

If you play golf often, you probably know how awkward it can be if you don't have a foursome to play with. A game of golf usually takes over five hours, and it's much more enjoyable when you're paired with people you have something in common with. To solve this, Peter Kratsios created GolfMatch, an app that uses an algorithm to match players with one another based on factors like age, location, gender, skill level, and game interest.

As passionate entrepreneur, Peter has taken GolfMatch from a conceptual idea to solve a pain point to the creation of a growing social community with over 40,000 engaged members.

"There were times where I would be matched with people who were 30 to 40 years older than me with nothing in common" remarks Kratsios. Similar to a dating app, GolfMatch's system uses behavioral data to find the best matches for you to play a round of golf with. It filters through other users with factors like location, handicap, age, courses you regularly play, and the styles that you most enjoy. "Nowadays you have mobile applications that allow for social experiences in so many areas, whether it's dating or food, and we wanted to do the same for golf," Kratsios said.

Three of the most commonly expressed frustrations with golf are that it's expensive, time-consuming, and inaccessible. On GolfMatch, people can join groups catered to their specific interests. Examples of groups include "Cheap Golf," which focuses on the best discounted rates around, or "Buy and Sell," where users can purchase or sell golf equipment.

The company's latest innovation is adding filters into its tech that can also track which groups users are involved in to recommend matches. Users will often organize events directly through groups before connecting in person. These groups essentially allow golfers to create their own community of players. "I'm communicating with people several times a day through the groups feature," Kratsios told us.

Peter's biggest insight so far: "Everyone has a unique emotional connection to golf and people crave the basic human desire to belong to something bigger than yourself".

In this episode we discuss how in only two years GolfMatch has become an influential social platform to help grow the game of golf. Topics include:

• We learn about Peter's story as a young golfer and the personal experiences that ignited his entrepreneurial passion.

• What is GolfMatch and what was Peter's motivation to create it.

• The business opportunity and gap in the golf marketplace that GolfMatch is poised to capture.

• The importance of strategic partnerships in order to propel your technology forward as a commercially successful enterprise.

• The value of a dedicated, passionate and lean team that embraces the GolfMatch vision and culture in order to build an agile business.

You can register for free by downloading the GolfMatch App from either The App Store or Google Play.
Learn more about GolfMatch at: https://golfmatchapp.com/ and @GolfMatchApp on Twitter and Instagram

Additional Links:

April 17 2015 Fox Business "Elevator Pitch featuring Peter and GolfMatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N0_hJ2oWFA

"Life Without Golf" video short where Peter talks about his passion for golf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NR7cYmylWo

June 5 2016 Business Insider article on GolfMatch: http://www.businessinsider.com/golfmatch-app-pairs-players-together-2016-6/?r=UK&IR=T/#-1

Special Guest: Peter Kratsios - Founder & CEO of GolfMatch.

The Future of Golf is a Dial Not a Switch - Darren Dummit, CEO ofGolfStream

The ModGolf Podcast — Tue, 23 May 2017 00:15:00 -0700

Darren Dummit, CEO and co-founder of GolfStream Inc. has created "The world's first indoor laser golf course and private lounge". After building, testing and refining their prototype in their LA warehouse space, GolfStream struck a partnership deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to open their first commercial "golf suite". We suggest taking a look at the GolfStream trailer video to fully grasp the fun experience they've created.

In this episode we discuss GolfStream's innovations, initiatives and go-to-market strategies such as:

• What is GolfStream and what was the motivation to create it.
• The business opportunity and gap in the golf marketplace that GolfStream is poised to capture.
• The importance of strategic partnerships in order to move your technology forward as a commercially successful enterprise.
• GolfStream's first location in Level Up at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas http://leveluplv.com/golfstream.html

• The emergence of "skills-based gaming" that casinos are exploring to align with the lifestyle desires of a younger demographic and GolfStream's opportunity to both participate and benefit from this initiative.
• Future business opportunities for GolfStream, such as partnering with the Major Series of Putting (MSOP) https://msop.com/ and major league sport stadiums.

You can learn more about GolfStream at:
• http://www.playgolfstream.com/ and info@playgolfstream.com
• @PlayGolfstream on Twitter
• playgolfstream and #PLAYGOLFSTREAM on Instagram
• Golfstream and @PlayGolfstream on Facebook
____________________

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Darren Dummit - Co-Founder & CEO, Golfstream Inc..

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone To Create Amazing Experiences - Ron Powers / Topgolf

The ModGolf Podcast — Mon, 08 May 2017 23:15:00 -0700

Topgolf has created the "convenient and fun delivery system for golf" that eliminates all the barriers to entry the game has suffered from for decades. No complaints of "too slow, too expensive, too hard to learn" at a Topgolf venue. Topgolf has created an entertainment experience that combines hospitality, music, food and drinks with their unique target-based gameplay format that appeals to both the beginner and veteran golfers of all ages.

Topgolf currently has 90+ venue locations in the US that generated over 20 million guest visits in 2023, with ambitious plans to expand to another 50 venues globally over the next three years. Topgolf has created the secret sauce that connects a younger audience to golf, but they're definitely not growing complacent over that success. Ron discusses how their cultural values, entrepreneurial spirit and passion to innovate pushes them to evolve and expand.

In this episode we discuss Topgolf's newest innovations and initiatives:

• Their stadium-based mobile experience called Topgolf Crush
• The Topgolf Tour, their two player team competition format that anyone can sign up for
• Topgolf International expansion plans, starting with Australia and Mexico
• how the acquisition of both Protracer and WGT Media help transform an entertainment company into a technology and media juggernaut
• Hotel-based Topgolf simulator experience called Topgolf Swing Suite
• Their charity endeavors and culture of "giving back" to benefit the communities which they operate in

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Special Guest: Ron Powers - Head of Swing Suite Division at Full Swing Simulators.

Links:

Fireside - Episode Links

Welcome to The ModGolf Podcast!

The ModGolf Podcast — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 01:15:00 -0700

The ModGolf Podcast talks with golf's top influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors about their vision and solutions to re-imagine, transform and grow the game. Host Colin Weston explores the future of golf through conversations with the visionaries and influencers that are shaking up the sport. Thanks for joining us and please subscribe to our newsletter for your chance to win golf products we love in our latest #ModGolfGiveaway contest!

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

We'd love to hear from you! Have any ideas or guests you'd like to hear on future episodes? Email me at colin@modgolfpodcast.com to start the conversation.

Want to listen to our most downloaded episode? That would be our conversation with Blue Ocean Strategy co-author Professor Renée Mauborgne! Click to listen in.

CREATING NEW GOLF MARKETS THAT MAKE THE COMPETITION IRRELEVANT - RENÉE MAUBORGNE / BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY

Special Guests: Jared Solomon, CEO and Co-Founder of Five Iron Golf and Renée Mauborgne - Co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy and Blue Ocean Shift.