The Back of the Range

Jim Demick - Executive Director, Florida State Golf Association

January 10th, 2019  |  1 hr 1 min

amateur golf, florida golf, fsga, jeff golden, lexi thompson, marc dull, pga tour, usga

Our guest this week is Jim Demick, the Executive Director of the Florida State Golf Association. This episode was recorded at FSGA headquarters in Tampa, Florida. We talked about how the biggest state golf association in the United States manages over 600 days of tournament competition, 38 state championships, and all of the people that make it happen. We also talked about where he was in 1986 when Jack Nicklaus won The Masters. (HE WAS THERE!)

Marty Hackel - Golf's Mr. Style

January 3rd, 2019  |  58 mins 43 secs

adidas, golf, ian poulter, marty hackel, pga tour, polo ralph lauren, puma, rickie fowler

Our guest this week is the most stylish man in golf! Marty Hackel is still a contributor to Golf Digest Magazine, and is still considered their Fashion Director Emeritus. Marty shared some stories about the fashion that we all see on the PGA Tour, his thoughts on Tiger and Phil, and the dreaded white belt syndrome!

Steve LeBrun - The Journeyman Returns

December 27th, 2018  |  1 hr 7 mins

golf, minor league golf tour, pga tour, q-school, steve lebrun, web.com, west palm beach

Our special guest this week is Steve LeBrun from West Palm Beach, Florida.  With his back against the wall after three average rounds in Web.com Q-School Finals this year,  Steve qualified on the number with a final round 62.   Steve tells the entire story of that round and what is means for him, his family, and his prospects as a professional chasing his way back to the PGA Tour.  

For those of you that think the life of a professional golfer is glamourous....and full of private jets, courtesy cars, and endless endorsement deals...well, during this episode, Steve draws back the curtain and reveals what life is really like for professionals chasing the dream.

Stewart Hagestad, 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champ

December 19th, 2018  |  1 hr 19 mins

amateurgolf.com, golf, jordan spieth, justin thomas, masters, ryder cup, stewart hagestad, usc golf, usga, walker cup

Our guest this week is Stewart Hagestad. The 2016 U.S. Mid Amateur champion and 2017 US Walker Cup member talks about his college days at USC, fighting off nerves to make the cut at The Masters, and his decision to be a career amateur. Stewart also talks about his junior golf days with his pals Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

Scott Turner, Director - Minor League Golf Tour

December 12th, 2018  |  44 mins 24 secs

brooks koepka, golf, minor league golf tour, pga tour, professional golf, scott turner, web.com tour

Our guest this week is Scott Turner, the owner/operator of the Minor League Golf Tour based out of South Florida. The MLGT has been around since 2004 and through over 1400 tournaments, they've paid out over 8.5 million in prize money. Nearly 80 of their former players had status on the PGA and/or Web.com Tour in 2018. When Scott isn't running overseeing the day-to-day operations of the tour, he competes in amateur tournaments all over the state of Florida. Since reclaiming his amateur status, he has racked up numerous wins in Florida State Golf Association events and was the Palm Beach County Golf Association Player of the Year in 2018.

Scott Stallings - Three Time PGA Tour Winner

December 5th, 2018  |  49 mins 23 secs

arizona, boston red sox, crossfit, golf, pga tour, scott stallings, tennessee, tiger woods, whisper rock

Our guest this week is Scott Stallings.  Before becoming a 3X winner on the PGA Tour, Scott was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year as a Golden Eagle at Tennessee Tech University.  Scott picked up his first win in 2011 at the Greenbriar.  He backed up that win in 2012 at the True South and won again in 2014 at the Farmers Insurance Open.  Scott has battled health issues, but with the help of a new fitness program, he is in the best shape of his life as he enters his 9th year on the PGA Tour.

Bret Saberhagen - 1985 World Series MVP and the American Century Championship

November 28th, 2018  |  36 mins 33 secs

american century championship, golf, kansas city royals, pga tour, podcast, saberhagen, the match, tiger woods, world series

Our guest this week is Bret Saberhagen! The 1985 World Series MVP and two-time Cy Young Award winner stopped by to talk a little baseball as well as some of his exploits from playing the celebrity golf circuit. Specifically, the American Century Championship. Also, he shares his thoughts on why pitchers make good golfers.

Garrett Barber, LSU Freshman Phenom

November 21st, 2018  |  29 mins 46 secs

amateur golf, garrett barber, golf, jack nicklaus, lsu, ncaa, pga tour, podcast, rsm classic, sam burns, tigers

Our guest this week is Garrett Barber from the LSU Men's golf team.

Following his win at the Jones Cup earlier this year, Garrett was granted an exemption into the 2018 RSM Classic, his first PGA Tour event. We spoke about his transition from a small school in Hobe Sound, Florida to joining one of the largest freshman classes in the history of LSU. Garrett also participated in the Junior President's Cup and had some great stories to share about his captains, David Toms and Jack Nicklaus.

Cole Hammer, University of Texas Freshman Phenom

November 14th, 2018  |  44 mins 2 secs

amateur golf, cole hammer, college golf, golf, podcast, spieth, texas, usga

Our guest this week is Cole Hammer, freshman sensation from the University of Texas Men's Golf Team.

If you follow amateur golf, you've probably heard of Cole Hammer. As a 15 year-old, he burst on the scene at the 2015 U.S. Open. He hasn't slowed down since. After winning the 2018 US Four Ball with partner Garrett Barber earlier this year, he captured the Western Amateur as well as semifinalist honors at the US Amateur AND Junior Amateur. A tremendous young man out of Texas with a bright future ahead of him.

Dennis Walters, 2018 Bob Jones Award Winner and 2019 World Golf HOF Inductee

November 8th, 2018  |  1 hr 30 secs

amateur golf, dennis walters, golf, jack nicklaus, pga of america, podcast, tiger woods, usga, world golf hall of fame

Our guest this week is Dennis Walters, the star of the Dennis Walters Golf Show!

Dennis is one of only eleven honorary lifetime members of The PGA of America. The PGA of America. Earlier this year, the USGA awarded Dennis with the Bob Jones Award during the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Next year, Dennis will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Dennis was an exceptional collegiate player, but before he was able to chase down the dream of playing on the PGA Tour, he had a tragic accident that left him paralyzed. As you'll find out in this episode, that didn't stop him from finding a different way to play golf. Eventually, he developed the Dennis Walters Golf Show and has been on his OWN tour for over 40 years. He's performed over 3K shows all over the world. His trick shot artistry may be the glitz and glam of the show, but most importantly....he provides a message of positivity and hard work to his audiences.

Ben Cowan-Dewar, Co-Founder of Cabot Links

October 31st, 2018  |  43 mins 46 secs

bandon dunes, ben cowan-dewar, ben crenshaw, bill coore, cabot, canada, golf, mike keiser

Our guest at The Back of the Range Golf Podcast this week is Ben Cowan-Dewar. He is the co-founder of Cabot Links in Inverness, Nova Scotia.

With both of their courses, the Links and the Cliffs, rated as Top 100 Courses in the World, Ben Cowan-Dewar along with his team have turned a small town that was a relic of the coal-mining industry Canada’s first and only authentic links golf resort. Ben shared his story of how a vision can become a reality.

Gary DeSerrano, Adams Pro Tour Founder

October 24th, 2018  |  52 mins 45 secs

apt tour, brice garnett, gary deserrano, golf, mini tours, pga tour, scheffler

This week, we welcome Gary DeSerrano to The Back of the Range Golf Podcast. He is the founder of the APT Tour, which is the largest developmental tour in the mid-south region of the United States. In addition to raising thousands of dollars each year for charity, these events provide an avenue for professional golfers to hone their skills while preparing for a life on the PGA Tour.

Laura Ianello, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats Women's Golf

October 17th, 2018  |  40 mins 37 secs

arizona, college, golf, haley moore, ianello, national champs, ncaa, sorenstam

This week, we are thrilled to welcome Coach Laura Ianello from the National Champion, Arizona Wildcats Women's Golf Team. After barely making match play last year as the #8 seed, they ran through Baylor, UCLA, Stanford, and finally Arizona to capture the title. We spoke to Coach Ianello about her start in the game, her career as a player at Arizona, and the exciting ride to her first National Championship as a Coach.

Mark Roberts - The World's Most Famous Streaker

October 10th, 2018  |  1 hr 1 min

golf, mark roberts, pga, ryder cup, streaker, super bowl, the open, tiger, usga, wimbledon

This week, we talk to a true legend from the world of sports. In fact, he is the best in the world....at streaking! Our guest this week is Mark Roberts from Liverpool. He's streaked the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship, as well as Wimbledon, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. He shared some amazing stories from his exploits at the largest sporting events around the world.

Jacob Wilner - Men's Golf Coach, University of Nevada

October 3rd, 2018  |  35 mins 25 secs

amateur golf, college golf, golf, ncaa, nevada, vrzich, wilner, wolfpack

After hanging with a couple U.S. Mid-Amateur Champs the past two weeks, we head back to the college ranks and we welcome Jacob Wilner, Men's Head Coach at the University of Nevada.

Jacob played collegiately at Coastal Carolina University before studying underneath Hank Haney at his International Junior Golf Academy. Jacob shares stories from his USGA appearances and time at the University of Nevada!

Matt Parziale - 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion

September 27th, 2018  |  30 mins 3 secs

amateur golf, golf, matt parziale, pga, podcast, us mid amateur, usga, walker cup

Another U.S. Mid Amateur Champion visits us here at The Back of the Range Golf Podcast! This time, it's the 2017 Champ, Matt Parziale. We spoke about his amazing ride in the US Mid Am last year, his Masters appearance, making the cut at the U.S. Open, and some great stories from The Concession Cup. Enjoy the episode!