The ModGolf Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Pga Professional”

Building a Year-Round Revenue Engine With "The Nest" - Kyle Holmes, GM & Managing Partner of Quail Ridge GC

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:15:00 -0700

What if the future of golf wasn't on a golf course at all?

In Michigan, golf courses close mid-November and don't reopen until the end ofMarch. That's over four months of bills with zero revenue - the brutal reality for every northern golf course operator. But instead of accepting this cycle, Kyle Holmes and his business partner Tim asked a different question: What if we could keep people playing, and paying, all winter long?

The answer became The Nest - an eight-bay indoor/outdoor golf facility that Kyle believes is the first of its kind in Michigan, possibly the entire country. What makes it unique? "Dual-mode" bays that let you hit down the range on TrackMan 4 technology with the garage door open in July, or into an impact screen in January without ever moving from your spot.

In this episode, Colin sits down with Kyle Holmes, General Manager and Managing Partner of Quail Ridge Golf Course in Ada, Michigan. Kyle shares his journey from employee to owner, the power of a complementary business partnership, and how he's betting big on the explosive growth of indoor golf - where more rounds were played than outdoors for the first time in 2025.

Whether you're a golf course operator looking for new revenue streams, an entrepreneur curious about turning a vision into reality, or simply someone who loves hearing about innovation in unexpected places, this episode will inspire you to think differently about what's possible.

3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The Dual-Mode Bay: A Genuine Industry Differentiator
Most facilities force you to choose: hit outdoors at a range OR play indoors on a simulator. The Nest eliminates that choice entirely. With garage doors that open to a 375-yard range on one side and impact screens for virtual play on the other, golfers never have to move bays to switch between experiences. Kyle explains how this seemingly simple design decision creates a completely unique customer experience that competitors will be challenged to replicate.

2. Segmenting Your Customer Base to Maximize Revenue
Kyle reveals his strategic approach to filling The Nest's eight bays by identifying distinct customer segments that don't compete for the same time slots - early morning "grinders" who want to dial in their swing before work, college and high school teams on weekend mornings, league play during weekday evenings, and groups of friends gathering around big games on Friday and Saturday nights. It's the same segmentation philosophy that has kept Quail Ridge's tee sheet full for almost three decades.

3. Building a Year-Round Business Without Cannibalizing Your Core Product
The Nest wasn't designed to replace the golf course - it was built to complement it. Kyle explains how indoor golf becomes an onboarding tool for beginners who feel intimidated by the traditional course experience, a winter training facility for serious players, and a community gathering space that keeps Quail Ridge top-of-mind even when the course is covered in snow.

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

💬 3 Inspiring Quotes from Kyle Holmes

"I don't pretend to be the smartest person in the room at every moment because if we're talking about something that's not 'how do you make this business grow faster?' or 'how do you fix somebody's slice?' - there's somebody else in the room that has a better answer. And I love to hear from them."

"We want people to feel like they're home when they come to Quail Ridge because everybody loves to come home. You can have a great golf course and a bad experience, and you're going to remember the bad experience, not the great golf course."

"Once people cross that threshold - where they whiff three or four times, then make contact, then the ball's airborne, then it's going 75 yards - are they ever not going to play golf again? Absolutely! It's such an empowering moment."

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to ModGolf: Meet Kyle Holmes, the "boots on the ground" entrepreneur
01:35 Kyle's first golf experience: Grandfather, father, and a club in hand at age two
03:38 The history of Quail Ridge: Built and opened during the Tiger Boom in 1998
05:45 From employee to owner: The journey of acquiring Quail Ridge with business partner Tim
08:09 The power of complementary partnerships: Kyle's business brain meets Tim's 30 years of turf expertise
10:33 "I'm a lifelong learner": How Kyle asks questions instead of pretending to know everything
12:30 Introducing The Nest: Eight dual-mode indoor/outdoor simulator bays
13:36 What makes dual-mode bays different: No need to move between indoor and outdoor experiences
15:52 The problem: Michigan golf courses close for four months and the bills don't stop
17:30 From idea to reality: Clearing trees, running internet to the maintenance barn, and betting on indoor golf
19:20 The customer mix: Grinders, leagues, date nights, college teams, and NFL Sundays
22:52 Quail Ridge's business model: Public course with just 35-40 members and 45,000 rounds in 2025
26:13 Location advantage: 1.5 million people in Metro Grand Rapids with only four high-tier public courses
28:25 Marketing The Nest: Why "simulator golf" isn't enough and explaining dual-mode to the masses
30:02 The women's clinic phenomenon: Sell-outs in hours and the power of a judgment-free environment
34:32 Breaking down barriers: Pace of play, etiquette, and making golf less intimidating
37:14 The "welcome home" philosophy: Why experience matters as much as course conditions
37:58 Scaling the vision: Kyle's plans to acquire more courses and apply the formula
39:45 What's next: The design and construction journey of The Nest on The ModGolf YouTube channel

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

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

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

Join the ModGolf Community

Subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen in.
Become a ModGolf Patron to help support golf entrepreneurship!
Join our ModGolf Patreon community at patreon.com/ModGolf for exclusive content and entry in our ModGolf Giveaway contests.

🔗 Connect with Quail Ridge GC and The Nest:

quailridgegc.com
Location: Ada, Michigan (12 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids)

Special Guest: Kyle Holmes, GM & Managing Partner of Quail Ridge GC.

Attitude is Everything - How Kay McMahon Empowers Women In The Golf Industry

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:30:00 -0700

What if everything we've been taught about how to teach golf is backwards? What if the reason millions of golfers struggle isn't their lack of talent, but the way the game has been explained to them? And what if one woman, who's been challenging golf's conventions for over four decades, has the answers that could transform your game and the entire industry?

In this compelling episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Kay McMahon, a true force of nature in the golf world. Kay is a member of the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame, an LPGA Elite Top 50 Best Teacher, a PGA member, the President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) , and the creator of the revolutionary Golf 8.5 teaching system.

From her humble beginnings putting on a homemade three-hole golf course built by her innovative father in their cul-de-sac (complete with a lemonade stand that taught her entrepreneurship at age five), to playing in three U.S. Opens and working alongside Arnold Palmer at Ironwood Country Club for a decade, Kay's journey is nothing short of remarkable.

But this conversation isn't just a trip down memory lane - it's a masterclass in challenging the status quo, building inclusive communities, and reimagining how we teach and experience the game of golf. Whether you're a frustrated golfer stuck at the same handicap for years, a golf industry professional, or someone who cares about making the sport more welcoming to everyone, this episode will leave you inspired and armed with actionable insights.

Three Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The Golf 8.5 System: Why "Simple" Beats "Complicated" Every Time
Discover why traditional golf instruction has been teaching the setup positions in the wrong order for decades, and how Kay's breakthrough system - built on cognitive learning principles and "chunking" - can help you retain 300% more of what you learn. You'll learn why there are only four things to do before the swing and four-and-a-half things during it, and how this approach can shave 15-25 seconds off every shot (that's a half-hour round!) while dramatically improving your consistency.

2. The Power of Connection: How WIGI is Amplifying Women's Voices in Golf
Learn how the Women in The Golf Industry organization, founded in 2001 by 11 pioneering women, has become a vital network for connecting resources, mentorship, and opportunities across all facets of the golf industry - from tour professionals and golf architects to media members and entrepreneurs. Kay shares how the organization embraces a two-way mentoring model where seasoned professionals and young newcomers learn from each other, and why having a unified voice matters in an industry where women represent only 5-10% of professionals.

3. Confronting Golf's Uncomfortable Truths: The Callaway/Good Good Controversy and Beyond
In the wake of the controversial Callaway and Good Good video that sparked industry-wide outcry, Kay offers her thoughtful perspective on the "unacceptable undercurrent culture" that still exists in golf. Rather than simply condemning, she advocates for recognizing these moments as opportunities to change the conversation, ask "what were they thinking?" and work toward building a more inclusive, respectful sport for everyone, while acknowledging the many men who are supportive allies in this effort.

💬 Inspiring Quotes from Kay McMahon

"I said, 'I'm really sorry that all the members keep talking to you and interrupting how you practice.' And he looked at me very closely in the eye and said, 'Just remember the reason that you and I are here is because there are fans.'"
— Kay sharing a life-changing lesson from Arnold Palmer about humility and gratitude

"We never get to where we are alone. I ended by saying, and guess what? I just spun The Game of Life again and I ended up on the Hall of Fame."
— Kay reflecting on her Hall of Fame speech, where she honored the many women who mentored and supported her journey

"Keep your head up because it's all in the attitude, and I promise your scores will come down."
— Kay's signature advice to golfers everywhere

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

Episode Chapters

00:14 Welcome to ModGolf: Host Colin Weston introduces Kay McMahon
01:16 Kay's First Golf Experience: How her father built a golf course in the cul-de-sac
04:30 An Overview of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI): Mission, history, and impact
09:00 International Reach and Mentorship: How WIGI connects women globally
12:45 The Callaway/Good Good Controversy: Kay's perspective on the industry's response
18:30 Partnerships That Matter: How WIGI collaborates with Women's Golf Day and other organizations
22:00 Becoming a PGA Professional: Kay's journey through nine qualifying schools and three U.S. Opens
25:44 Stories of Arnold Palmer: Lessons in humility, ethics, and treating people right
27:43 Influential Women in Kay's Life: Shirley Spork, Pat Lang, and the "Game of Life"
29:54 Making Golf More Inclusive: What clubs get wrong and how to fix it
32:30 The Golf 8.5 System Explained: Four setup positions, four-and-a-half swing thoughts
37:12 Closing Thoughts and Final Advice: "Keep your head up"

About Kay McMahon

Kay McMahon is a pioneering figure in the golf industry with a career spanning over four decades. She is:

A member of the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame
An LPGA Elite Top 50 Best Teacher
A PGA member
President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI)
Creator of the Golf 8.5 teaching system
Founder of EduKaytion Golf (a clever play on her name and her passion for education)
Former National President of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals
Played in 3 USGA Women’s Opens and competed in nine LPGA qualifying schools
Worked alongside Arnold Palmer at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California for 10 years

Connect with Kay McMahon & WIGI

Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) : womeninthegolfindustry.com
Join WIGI: Look for the "Join" button on the website
Junior Membership: Only $25/year for teenagers (and can be waived if needed)
Contact Kay directly: president@womeninthegolfindustry.com or kay@edukaytiongolf.com
EduKaytion Golf and Golf 8.5: edukaytiongolf.com

Join the ModGolf Community

Subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen in.
Become a Patron!: Join our ModGolf Patreon community at patreon.com/ModGolf for exclusive content and entry in our ModGolf Giveaway contests.

Special Guest: Kay McMahon - President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) and creator of the Golf 8.5 teaching system.

Combining Entertainment and Education to Improve Your Golf Game - David Buck, CEO at Big Swing Kings

ModSport Media Inc. — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:15:00 -0700

In this high-energy season 18 premiere, host Colin Weston sits down with David Buck, the charismatic and hilarious founder of Big Swing Kings. David is on a mission to inject more joy and simplicity into the game of golf, moving away from over-complicated instruction and back to the fundamental truths of what makes a ball go straight.

A former professional golfer who “won’t see his name on any trophies,” David discovered his unique teaching style by accident when a video of him roasting (then instructing) a golfer’s swing went viral. He breaks down why the quest for “consistency” is often misguided, why impact is the only position that truly matters, and how he’s even learning to play left-handed to better understand the learning process for his students.

Tune in for a conversation filled with laughs, practical wisdom, and a refreshingly simple approach to solving golf’s most frustrating problems.

Watch the video version with a special swing roast of host Colin Weston on: The ModGolf YouTube Channel

Featured Links & Resources:
Big Swing Kings Website: [www.bigswingkings.com]
Follow David on Instagram: [@bigswingkings]

During this episode you will discover these inspiring takeaways:
1. Stop Chasing "Consistency" and Start Understanding Impact
The golf world is obsessed with backswing positions, elbow angles, and perfect posture. David argues that this is backwards. The most important moment is the micro-second of impact. If you don’t know what a good impact position looks and feels like, you can’t possibly build a consistent swing around it. David’s entire philosophy starts with mastering a one-foot back, one-foot through motion to ingrain this feeling before ever adding speed.

2. The Fastest Path to Improvement is Often the Simplest
Golf is a simple game, but it is not an easy one. David advocates for stripping away complexity, both in swing thought and in equipment. He is a staunch advocate for single-length irons (from lob wedge to at least the 8-iron) because they remove variables like changing ball positions and spine angles, allowing you to focus purely on the strike. This simplicity creates inherent accuracy and makes the game easier to learn.

3. You Have to Choose Fun to Play Your Best Golf
Frustration, anger, and the dreaded shanks can make golf feel like a chore. David’s unique approach uses humor, light-hearted roasting, and camaraderie to break down the barriers of fear and frustration. By creating a community where it’s okay to laugh at yourself, he helps golfers relax, which is the first step toward playing better and truly enjoying their time on the course.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Season 18!
01:19 - Who is David Buck and What is Big Swing Kings?
02:16 - David’s “Failed Pro” Background and Philosophy
04:21 - The Overwhelmed Golfer’s Dilemma
04:38 - The Big Swing Kings Process: Start at Impact
06:31 - The Viral AHA Moment That Started It All
09:54 - The Story Behind the "Big Swing Kings" Name
11:30 - Is This Only for "Kings"? (Spoiler: No. Queens are welcome too!)
13:47 - The Upcoming Swing Roast of Host Colin Weston!
13:46 - Why David is Learning to Play Golf LEFT-HANDED
16:38 - The Case for Single-Length Irons
21:55 - How to Work with Big Swing Kings
25:31 - A Testimonial: Curing the Dreaded Shanks
33:14 - YouTube Golf, Tiny Clubs, and Storytelling
37:35 - Wrap-Up & How to Connect

Quotable Moment:
“The general consensus is fantastic. Same length eliminates complexities and it helps everybody. The fewer variables there are in my equipment, the easier it is for me to find straight.” - David Buck

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then enjoy our video with David Buck on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below as Colin has his 16 handicap swing ROASTED by David before helping with some simple and straightforward improvement drills.

Want to connect with David? Check out his bio page to make that happen!
David Buck's bio >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/david-buck

Care to have your swing roasted? (oops, we meant analyzed!) Then visit the Big Swing Kings website or click on the image below to set something up with David.

Follow Big Swing Kings on social media:
• Instagram: @bigswingkings
• TikTok: @bigswingkings

We 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.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and 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

It's The Banter Not The Birdies That Matters Most - Don Rea, President of The PGA of America

ModSport Media Inc. — Fri, 02 May 2025 08:30:00 -0700

"Whether it's to get better at golf as a game or improve as an executive or you're somebody who wants dedicate their life to the industry and send their kids to college, you've got to surround yourself with people that are better than you are and that certainly has happened for me. A high tide raises all ships and it's elevated my ability to be a good provider for my family, but also feel fulfilled in a life that's dedicated to golf because I just dig it."

PGA of America President and Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club Don Rea joins host Colin Weston to share his 25 year journey advocating for the game and industry that he deeply loves.

"Some people say that they're professional golfers on The PGA Tour and we're golf professionals. There is no doubt the mission of the PGA of America is having 31,000 men and women out there every day trying to help people get it airborne. I believe we're the voice of the golfer in the game. There's 28.1 million out there playing. And who do they talk to? Well, they talk to our members. They talk to me. So we're their voice when it comes to any issues that might face golf. We're the first people they come to. We're the first responders of golf."

"The special thing about a college campus is that when you go there, there's a connection to that place. It always will be. And the alumni of that tell everybody why they should go to their college. We never had that. And that's what the new PGA of America headquarters is. It's not just a building. It's our home. There's two championship golf courses, a 10-hole lit golf course that's crazy busy every night, a two-acre putting green where little kids are running around in their bare feet with their big putters that are bigger than they are just putting around. For us, it's our why. There's a lot of relationships out there and ROIs of why you invest in something or partner with somebody. But for us, it's not about that. You need to know our why and why we exist. You can talk about a why, you can show it, you can see it, you can feel it and smell it. And that's what the home quarters of the PGA of America is."

"That's where the 31,000 members ensure that we do everything we can to leverage the assets of the PGA of America to tell the story of the PGA professional so that we're serving them. And in the end that's our mission. Serve the member and grow the game. It's just that simple."

PGA of America's New Headquarters Campus in Frisco Texas

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 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.

Special Guest: Don Rea - President, PGA of America and Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Course.