The ModGolf Podcast

Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned In The Golf Industry - John Kawaja / Honma Golf (072)

February 4th, 2020  |  Season 7  |  43 mins 29 secs

#growgolf, adidas, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf channel, honma golf, innovation, john kawaja, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, pga tour, taylormade, usga

"Extraordinary can happen with a belief that you can change the world. A conviction that gives you the boldness and the creativity to imagine something better, something different." On our opening episode of Season 7, Colin speaks with Honma Golf NA President John Kawaja about entrepreneurial lessons learned across his career in the golf industry.

Season 6 Wrap-up / Season 7 Preview

October 31st, 2019  |  Season 6  |  18 mins 17 secs

#growgolf, adam heieck, azucena maldonado, blue ocean strategy, buffalo agency, buffalo.agency, dale merrit, entrepreneurship, future of golf, gina rizzi, golf canada, golf channel, golf genius, golfpay, innovation, kevin thistle, latina golfers, lean startup, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, pga of canada, radius sports group, renee mauborgne, reviver sport entertainment, rich katz, startup, tee it forward, usga, we are golf, youth on course

Host Colin Weston recaps the best from each of our ten Season 6 guests, along with a preview of Season 7 which will premiere early January 2020.

Creating Frictionless Customer Experiences For Recreational Golfers - Dale Merritt / Golfpay (071)

September 3rd, 2019  |  Season 6  |  33 mins 57 secs

#growgolf, dale merritt, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf channel, golfpay, innovation, modgolf, modgolf podcast, ngcoa, pga, usga, we are golf

"I focus on the behaviours of the modern consumer. It's a fascinating topic to me. How, and why golf is so far behind embracing the customer experience, how it is affecting the golf business, and how it can be solved." On our final episode of Season 6, Colin speaks with entrepreneur and Golfpay CEO Dale Merritt about harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning and experience design to create a frictionless mobile golf round check-in platform that removes pain points and frustration for both recreational golfers and the course operators.

Transforming Latina Women's Lives Through Golf - Azucena Maldonado / Latina Golfers (070)

August 18th, 2019  |  Season 6  |  53 mins 55 secs

#growgolf, azucena maldonado, british columbia golf, entrepreneurship, female founders, future of golf, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, latina golfers, modgolf, modgolf podcast, pga, usga, we are golf, women entrepreneurs, women's golf

"We teach women how to leverage golf as a business tool so they can shatter the glass ceiling with a golf ball”. On our latest episode, Azucena Maldonado, Founder of The Latina Golfers Association joins us to share how she has built a nationally scalable business that empowers women in the Greater Los Angeles area both on and off the golf course.

Growing The Game By Providing Youth Access To Affordable Golf - Adam Heieck / Youth On Course (069)

July 30th, 2019  |  Season 6  |  37 mins

#growgolf, adam heieck, british columbia golf, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, modgolf, modgolf podcast, pga, usga, we are golf, youth on course

"While everyone recognized the need to work together, there are still so many silos in golf. The industry is so fragmented that we decided to take a collaborative, wholistic approach in order to bring more kids to the game and to transition them through the funnel to the next progressive step”.

This week our host Colin Weston sits down for a conversation with Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth On Course. Adam joins us to share how his organization provides youth ages 6-18 with access to life-changing opportunities through golf.

Making a Positive Statement About "The State of Golf" - Rich Katz / buffalo.agency (068)

July 15th, 2019  |  Season 6  |  48 mins 8 secs

#growgolf, british columbia golf, buffalo agency, buffalo.agency, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, rich katz, usga, we are golf

"The future of golf is alive and well, not just for this generation but for generations to follow as well”. On this episode we sit down with Rich Katz, Founder and Principal of buffalo.agency joins us to share insights and stories from his nearly 30 years in the golf industry.

TEE IT FORWARD To Increase Enjoyment and Participation in Golf - Larry Gilhuly / USGA (067)

July 2nd, 2019  |  Season 6  |  43 mins 24 secs

#growgolf, british columbia golf, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, larry gilhuly, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, tee it forward, usga, we are golf

“Properly placed forward tees give all players a good experience,” USGA Agronomist Larry Gilhuly passionately remarks. “If you started a business from scratch and wanted to be successful, you wouldn't say 'let’s make sure that half of the population tries it once and quits.' That's a terrible business model. This is not just an approach for female and older players. You need to encompass everybody.” This week our host Colin Weston speaks with Larry Gilhuly, who is an Agronomist with The United States Golf Association and a passionate advocate of the TEE IT FORWARD program.

Connecting Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sport - Gina Rizzi (066)

June 9th, 2019  |  Season 6  |  48 mins 37 secs

#growgolf, arcus, arcus marketing group, corporate social responsibility, csr, entrepreneurship, future of golf, gina rizzi, golf channel, innovation, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, radius sports group, sustainability, triple bottom line, usga, we are golf

"I showed corporate organizations how they could save money and make money, all while doing good things”. This week Gina Rizzi, Founder and Principal of Radius Sports Group joins us to share how her companies are unlocking new value between the intersection of sport, sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Revealing The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Golf - Dr. Roger Hawkes (065)

May 23rd, 2019  |  Season 6  |  26 mins 17 secs

#growgolf, entrepreneurship, european tour, future of golf, golf and health, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, pga, r&a, roger hawkes, usga, we are golf

"Rather than prescribe a pill, hopefully medical doctors will prescribe placing a golf club in a patient’s hands instead”. This week Dr. Roger Hawkes, Exective Director for The Golf & Health Project joins us to share how his organization helps drive an increased participation in golf, improve the public image of our sport, and raise support for golf in the political arena.

Finding a New Life and Purpose Through Golf - Tanelle Bolt (064)

May 15th, 2019  |  Season 6  |  36 mins 18 secs

#growgolf, adaptive golf, british columbia golf, entrepreneurship, future of golf, golf canada, golf channel, innovation, lean startup, modgolf, modgolfpodcast, paragolf, pga, rad society, startup, tanelle bolt, usga, we are golf

“My first shot of The Mallorca International Wheelchair Golf Open Championship, off the tee, in front of everyone, cameras are on, people are watching. I hit the ball, nailed it with a driver, and everybody clapped as they do in golf that you hear on TV and it was so perfect." This week we hear the story of Tanelle Bolt, an adaptive paragolfer who was paralyzed from the chest down resulting from an extreme sport accident four years ago. Tanelle shares her difficult yet personally rewarding journey of a life transformed after suffering this devastating injury.