Flagstick Podcast

For a few generations, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has been a staple in the golf travel world. They set a standard that many others followed and as many new golf destinations emerged, the area sometimes fell down the list as a trip choice. That is changing. The 90+ golf properties in Myrtle Beach are stepping up to get the next generation of golfers familiar with their wide range of offerings. That "flex" includes a new PGA TOUR event in the area, other new facilities, and a long list of courses re-investing in their amenities. We details some of these changes on this show. We also discuss Tiger Woods returning to play on the PGA TOUR after ten months away from official events, the rising trends of Canadian women succeeding at Division 1 NCAA golf tournaments, and share some thoughts on the new honourees for the 2024 Golf Ontario Hall of Fame.

In an age where almost everyone is spending far too much time online, we often start to look beyond our own real needs and see what others are doing. That leads to us to being concerned about some things that should not matter. In essence, they really should not have an impact on our thoughts and lives. But, they are hard to ignore, even if they do us no good. We have a discussion about this week on the Back Nine as it relates to golf. It’s an interesting chat and might give something for you to think about as a golfer, or even chat about with your golf friends. On the Front Nine we update you on the progress of a Canadian pro plying his trade on the DP World Tour, discuss the new investment partner with the PGA TOUR, reveal a new equipment deal for a young Canadian tour pro, and take a look at the changing landscape in golf properties to appeal more to the changing golf demographic.

Plenty of Canadian golf talk this week as we run down the list of some top finishes by Canadian pros on their respective tours. That includes Brooke Henderson who not only had a 3rd place to start the LPGA season but appeared in a video with popular golf YouTuber Micah Morris. As a result we wonder what her future potential might be on the YouTube platform. We also have a look at the recent GolfWeek Junior Girl Rankings and the rise of many young Canadian women on those charts, plus share some details on exactly how talented they are. We also mix in a tip on what you should be working on your game more even though you likely think you are good at it. On the back nine we chat PGA Merchandise Show, new products, and trends within the industry. We finish it all up with a guessing game where we predict what music artists are the most popular for certain top tour pros.

Welcome to 2024 and the first episode of the season. There is plenty to catch up on this show with the start of the pro tours for the year, success by young Canadian amateurs on a world tournament stage, industry news and job openings at various golf courses, and news coming out of the amateur schedules for the season ahead. On the Back 9 we get to the topic that many golfers are talking about at this time of year - new golf equipment. We discuss who is getting the buzz, why golf ball manufacturers are paying more attention to the "middle" market, and what factor should be your big priority when you go to buy your next piece of gear.

It's time to close out the year and look ahead to 2024. We wrap up a couple of last pro events that we had our eye on then we run through many key moments from the past year. We highlight some of the best in golf that happened at an international, national, and regional level. On the Back 9, we share what we are looking forward to in 2024 on the golf scene, at the pro and amateur levels, in tournament play, in the business or the game, and for what we have played within the Flagstick brand. That includes our tournaments and a very new foray we have been working on for some time. Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License certificate #2227748

As we wander towards the end of the year, plenty of fun golf conversations remain left to have. In this show, like always, we provide some updates on Canadians playing golf worldwide. That includes the Ladies European Tour Qualifying, the Grant Thornton Invitational, and the PGA Tour Qualifying School. We wander through some talk on Tiger Woods and the PNC Championship, and chat about the implications for others now that Jon Rahm has officially chosen to play the LIV Golf League and is suspended from the PGA TOUR. We take a reverse course from the toxic golf topics to share some personal highlight moments that we experienced in golf in 2023, and on the Back 9, we explore golf trips to Florida and give some insights from our past journeys. We hope it helps the community when they are trying to look for southern golf destinations for upcoming trips. Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License certificate #2227748

Things get a little spicy this week as Jeff and Scott jump into the contentious topic of golf ball distance rollback after this week's announcement by golf's governing bodies. They dig into a few different angles, tangle over a few points, and set the table for what golfers can expect to see when it comes to their own golf balls and new testing standards for the future. We detail the fate of three Canadians playing at the LPGA Q-Series, with some key details and stats about what success in Alabama means for Savannah Grewal, Maddie Szeryk, and Alena Sharp. We also drop a few details about how Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson are feeling as they head into this week's Grant Thornton Invitational as partners. On the Back 9, we have an interview with a local dentist, hear his golf origin story, and explore the heights of the game that his passion for it has taken him to.

We're joined this week on the Back Nine by Dan Marsh. He is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran who participated in The Caddie School for Soldiers program. He shares about how he got involved, why it was important to him, and how it has already brought him to some amazing places in the golf world. It's a thought-provoking interview we think all our listeners will enjoy. On the Front Nine, we take a glance through the LPGA and PGA Tour Qualifying schools, have a gab about Tiger Woods and what he had to say before playing in this week's Hero World Challenge, and share news about a new NCAA Division 1 Men's Golf Tournament coming to Canada. We also have some news on the 2025 Ryder Cup, some insight into the future of the CPKC Women's Open, and welcome the PGA of Canada to the National Capital Region for their member's conference.

It’s a show bursting at the seams for Episode #62 as we look at the end of the PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR seasons and consider how the Canadians fared. We discuss the prototype golfer of the future and if Ludvig Aberg is giving us a glimpse as to what is to come. We wrap up the Golf Ontario Order of Merit Standings for 2023, bring you some new golf course news from the Quinte Region of Ontario, and chat briefly about the return of Tiger Woods and if we have, or should have any expectations. On the Back Nine, we switch over to some industry talk on the heels of a State of The Industry Summit by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. We recap some stats for play across Canada for the past season, talk about what influence that is having on the future of the game, and get into some things we are hearing from our wide-ranging community that we touch base with daily.

This is a variety pack-type show including a myriad of topics that we work our way into. It all gets started with a talk about the appearance of several new drivers on the USGA and R&A conforming clubs list, what that means, and does it matter. That includes our thoughts on how people react so strongly to these preliminary photos. We catch you up on some news from the Canadian amateur and pro golf scene, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, Q-School, and the G4D TOUR. The latter includes a dream come true for not a player, but a parent of a player. In the "memory lane" part of the show we discuss a newspaper article from 1985 on the best golf holes in Eastern Ontario, how we may rekindle gathering opinions about that from our community in the modern era, and we share one hole that might make the list for each of us. On the Back Nine, we have an extensive interview with Blair Harris of the Quinte Kingston Intersectional Matches about the history, development, and future of that event and how it is creating greater camaraderie among golfers of that region.

This show is oozing with content and topics. We run through the night we spent at the PGA of Canada - Ottawa Valley Awards, talking about the winners, the golf business, and what goes into being successful in many aspects. We discuss Brooke Henderson and what is fuelling her recent success as she prepares for the final two events of the season. And, hint, it's got nothing to do with her putter. We share some news on more Canadian junior golf success in the United States and reveal which two players will captain the Junior President Cup teams in Montreal next year. We also roll through the new schedule for the PGA TOUR Americas and explain what makes it a better tour now, that will likely produce stronger players who have a better chance at long-term chance of success. To wrap it all up we dive into the the golf club business as it relates to Costco; what Jeff thinks they need to do with their branding, and details on the driver that we may see two rows over from the croissants very soon.

After missing a week, Jeff is back and almost healthy again. He was a trooper and we put together a show with plenty of news from the professional and amateur golf scene, with a few extra tidbits on industry news and even a reveal of a forthcoming golf book. We cover some NCAA golf tournaments and Canadian golf course news. We have updates on Team Canada for the World Amateur Team Championships and the upcoming Pan Am Games golf tournament. On the back nine, we feature an interview with Michelle Mulligan. Scott spent some time with the Senior Manager of Global Apparel for adidas Golf at Cabot Cape Breton. They talk about what goes into the design of golf apparel, from choosing colours to monitoring trends worldwide. It's an insightful look into golf fashion.

With the Fall season upon us, it is time to start looking at next year in the golf industry. It's a time when golf courses and facilities began to evaluate their success and failures and plan for where they are headed. With that in mind, we put our marketing and golf operations hats on and dig into a discussion of branding in the golf industry. From our years and scope of experience, we delve into a few aspects of the topic and why some of the best golf courses in the world tend to excel in merchandising and memory-making. On the Front Nine, we have news from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, a golf association seeking board members and volunteers, and we discuss the impact of Lexi Thompson being the 7th woman to play a PGA TOUR event and any implications from it.

Now that the "Cup" season is done, we take some time to talk about the Fall Golf that the rest of us experience. We talk about why we and so many others love golf at this time of year, things we can do to enjoy it more, and for those who are looking to still keep their scores as low as possible, dig into adjustments you can make. We cover things from clothing to equipment in ways you can tackle playing in soft and wet conditions and still be able to maintain a low number on your scorecard. As many have done, we dig into the 2023 Ryder Cup and give our simple takeaways from all the happenings in Italy. What did we enjoy, who played well, and what storylines captured our interests? We also delve into our experience as Captains at this week's PGA of Ottawa PING Challenge Cup and give some thoughts on the matches we saw between some of the best club professionals in the region, playing for their respective teams.

This week, it's a packed show with more news than expected about the Canadian golf scene, including who will represent Canada in the upcoming World Amateur Team Championships and the PanAm Games. We fill you in on the latest. We delve into a big PGA of Canada - Ottawa event, the PING Challenge Cup, as we announce the teams we will each be acting as Captains to in the coming days for this annual battle between Head Professionals and Assistant Professionals. Kevin and Jake Haime join us on the Lesson tee with some thoughts on the grip. On the Back Nine, we wander through some thoughts on the 2023 Ryder Cup and our expectations for the week, who we might like to see matched against each other and consider why the United States team has struggled through the event's history on European soil.

With the Solheim Cup about to start we thought we would give it the due attention as the world's golf eyes fall up Spain this week where the Europeans look to defend the title against Team USA. We discuss who we think might win, who we are cheering for, and who might be the biggest star and dud for each team. We wander through the local and national golf news and topics on our mind this week. Kevin and Jake Haime are back on the Lesson Tee with some thoughts to help your golf game, and we take a look at some of the latest golf equipment and products that have recently arrived on the market.

A full show this week starting with Scott's visit to the recently renovated Hamilton Golf & Country Club that is preparing to host the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. Scott details some of the design changes at the course and what golfers can expect to see when they watch next year's tournament. Plenty of news covering a major golf media award, the end of the season for the PGA TOUR Canada, Ottawa Valley Golf Association, and PGA of Ottawa. Some news from the Ontario University Golf circuit, and updates from one of Canada's oldest team competitions - the Gordon Cup. We have insight on Hybrids from PGA of Canada Professionals Kevin and Jake Haime, and on the Back Nine we have an interview with Sam MacPhail of Golf Prince Edward Island. He recaps the season so far, shares about golf trip opportunities for the Fall and prompts golfers on why they need to start their planning now for a visit to the province in 2024.

We get the Fall Travel talk started this week, but first we have plenty of news to share. We rec-cap the end of the OVGA Junior season, the OVGA Intersectionals, and provide an update on Quinte Kingston Intersectionals, the Cornwall Open, local Pro-Ams, and some charity golf. Kevin and Jake Haime join us for more instruction talk. In the meat of show we take on the topic of golf travel to the Pinehurst/Sandhills region of North Carolina. We update you on the latest news for the region, give insight from over two decades of travelling there, provide some tips on golf courses, accommodations, travel, and the other highlights that are a must for any golf fan who makes the pilgrimage.

Jeff and Scott had a chance to play together this past week; giving them pause to consider what a gift it is to enjoy the company of friends and family on the golf course. They discuss this, leading to talk about the value of golf course, beyond how they may be portrayed in "rankings". That also leads to talk about golf course rankings, how many people misinterpret them, and what value do they have when they are not as incluive as they could be. Kevin and Jake Haime of the Kevin Haime Golf Centre are back with more instruction to get your game in tune. On the Back Nine it is all Ryder Cup talk as we discuss how the teams are shaping up a month out from the competition, why Captain's value varying elements in the process of creating a "team" and who will think will be stand-outs from the U.S.A. and European Squads in Italy this year.

Tournament season is winding down for some golf tours and ramping up with some big events for others so there is plenty to talk about on this episode. On the Canadian front, we give a full recap of the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour Zone Championship, the PLAY Junior Golf Tour Kevin Dickey Tour Championship, along with the results of the Flagstick.com Cup on that junior tour. We dive into this week's CPKC Women's Open, Canada's only LPGA TOUR stop, to discuss what we expect from the course, the players, and especially the Canadians. That includes a new look for Brooke Henderson and a look at the parts of the game where she has had some issues compared to last year. We discuss the PGA TOUR's Championship and conclusion to the FedEx Cup race, including our favourites, dark horses, and some opinions on the format. We have a game to close out the show, with Over Par/Under Par opinions of a variety of topics that often divide golfers, or at least cause some discussion.

It's a milestone as we reach the recording of the 50th episode of the Flagstick Podcast. As such, while we run through some of the latest golf news from the region and Canada, we put a lot of focus on the back nine for this show. There we talk about Golf Bucket Lists. You know the ones; the course we want to play, the milestones we want to break, the other goals we would like to accomplish. Jeff and Scott run through some of their bucket list items while encouraging listeners to share some of theirs on the Flagstick social media channels. We talk about past list items for us, ones we still want to take on, and even explore the emotions that tie us to the items that we all put on our lists. We also reveal the winners from the TaylorMade Golf contest from earlier this year.

After a short break we are back with episode 49 (It'll be a very fun next one for our 50th) On this show we catch up on the latest news related to golf in Canada and the Eastern Ontario region, including events within the Ottawa Valley Golf Association, Golf Canada, and the Flagstick Two-Ball Championship. We discuss the ongoing bunker project at Rideau View Golf Club, and talk about the value of Inter-Club events, especially for junior golfers. On the Back Nine we take a look at the big stuff happening on the pro tours, with talk about the AIG Women's Open, the FedEx Cup Playoffs/Wyndham Championship, and wander deep into some thoughts about the Ryder Cup and the difficult decisions ahead for Captains Zach Johnson and Luke Donald.

You'll find out quickly in this episode that our answer to the title question is yes, we both believe The Open is the best men's major championship. Your mileage may vary but we make our case for why as we preview the 151st edition of the event taking place this week in England. We lend some insight the Hoylake Golf Links at Royal Liverpool, who we think may be a good fit as a winner, and what skills they will need to prevail. In the balance of the show we bring you another instruction piece from Kevin and Jake Haime, discuss the Flagstick.com Shootout that we recently hosted, share some thoughts on the OVGA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and introduce you to a young golfer who put on a dominant performance at a Golf Quebec Provincial Championship.

A extra fun one on tap this episode as we wrap up a few junior events, discuss the Rickie Fowler win on the PGA TOUR, and ponder the magnitude of the U.S. Women's Open being played at the Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time and what we will be interested to see. Kevin and Jake Haime join us from The Lesson Tee for another bit of instruction, and we decide whether we believe the golf indexes claim by some NHL players are legitimate or not in a game we call Onside or Offside. Joining us for a guest interview is Cameron Pero, the winner of the 101st Ontario Men's Amateur Champion, following in the footsteps of his father who won the title in 1989. We'll get his perspective on the win, what it meant to have his father on the bag, how college golf is treating him, and what his plans might be for the future.

A past week full of uncertain weather added some extra "texture" to some major Golf Quebec and Golf Ontario championships happening not far from us; we provide updates on how they played out. We have details from a new venture that will bring golf to an Ottawa stadium for a few days later this summer, and we share the latest from the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour and the Play Junior Golf Tour. On the back nine, we stretch our memories with a discussion about the 170 or so golf courses that existed in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec through the years (now just over 150) and flush out the few ones ones we each still have yet to play, what are some of the ones that surprised us, and take on the idea that a golf course has to be "famous" to be worth a play. We also update everyone on the Flagstick.com Shootout and the TaylorMade goodie pack giveaway.

We are in the midst of a big run and pro and amateur events, leaving us plenty to talk about. This week, we share some thoughts on the U.S. Open, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and run through a myriad of regional and provincial events, including insight from attending a few of them. We also bring you the latest instruction from Kevin and Jake Haime of the Kevin Haime Golf School to help you improve your game. On our back nine Scott caught up with Jodie Jenkins of the Endless Summer event being held in Belleville, Ontario in a few weeks that will bring together some of the top men’s long drive professionals in the world to compete under the lights at the Trillium Wood Golf Club. He’ll reveal some of the big names who will compete and offers full details on how you can watch.

How can we ignore it? The biggest news in Canadian golf news, in sports news, is that Nick Taylor won the 2023 RBC Canadian Open held at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. We explore the win this week on the show; with personal insights on time spent with Nick in the past, how people reacted to the victory, and what it means for Canadian golf. Also, how the win saved a week that threatened to be overshadowed by other global golf news about a proposed alliance between the PGA TOUR, the DP World Tour, and PIF. It's a fun chat about a moment that will go down as one of the top ones in the country's long golf history. The balance of the show is packed with U.S. Open talk, regional discussions about junior golf, the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour, a new initiative by Golf Ontario that is helping to introduce women to the game here in Eastern Ontario, and Scott shares some nuggets about recent stop-ins at a PLAY Junior Golf Tour event and a speaking engagement he did this past week for LPGA legend Sandra Post. We also discuss the Flagstick.com Shootout, bring you a golf tip from the Kevin Haime Golf School, and preview an interview for the next episode.

Happy June! This month means it is RBC Canadian Open time so we do our final preview this week, chatting about the course, the scores we expect, and who will be in the field, including at least 19 Canadians. We introduce a TaylorMade Golf YouTube giveaway with two prize packages to be won. (details in pod on how to enter), and we roll through some regional and provincial news tidbits. Scott challenges Jeff with some Canadian Open trivia; we introduce a new supporting sponsor for the Flagstick Shootout, and to close the show we give our takes on the Retrogression method as a way to decide ties in golf.

We're back after a very full last two weeks preparing for, and running the Flagstick Open Amateur Championship. On the episode, we wrap up how that event went with some extra details from the organizing side, and also catch you up with the latest news on players and events around Eastern Ontario. That includes the PLAY Junior Golf Tour, Toronto Player's Tour, the Endless Summer Long Drive Championship Pro-Am, and the Spring Open on the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour. We talk PGA Championship (which we mostly missed watching) and the two big stories from the week, winner Brooks Koepka, and club professional Michael Block. We drop some related opinions on the Ryder Cup and where we see things going next for Mr. Block. On the Back 9, we dig into the Flagstick.com Shootout, including the list of players who have already been invited, what goes into choosing the field and things we are excited to see come July when the event happens at Smuggler's Glen golf course.

Following our attendance at the RBC Canadian Media Day, we have our interview with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum about the tournament. He shares what aspects he is excited about for the 2023 version of the championship being held at the Oakdale G&CC in Toronto, what the tournament now offers for a wider audience, and how it has evolved from being just a sports event to a credible entertainment product. For the first time we play an edition of "This Or That?" where we have to choose between two golf related items. It's a fun one to play along with on your own, and maybe even debate with your friends. Feel free to share your answers with us on our social media channels. We also provide an update on the Flagstick Open, discuss the reaction to the return of the Flagstick.com Shootout, and share some results on some of the first tournaments of the season happening in eastern Ontario.

It's a big show as we finally announce the third tournament of our series presented by Flagstick.com. We give you the details on the location, the format, and who we have partnered with as the presenting sponsor. Sam MacPhail, the Executive Director of GolfPEI joins us for an interview about all things golf in Prince Edward Island. He gives insight on how to book a golf vacation there, the type of courses they offer, things to look for that you might not have expected, and how they strive to add a personal touch to your vacation planning. Scott shares insight from two days on the road at the Media Day for the RBC Canadian Open and the Golf Ontario Hall of Fame Day, and we pay tribute to a media colleague who passed away recently.

It's Tourism Week in Canada so we thought we would delve into the topic when it come to golf, specifically. After some news on course openings, volunteer awards, and upcoming celebrity appearances in the region, we jump into discussion about golf tourism across the country. That includes sharing the current economic impact (in the billions) and discussing what some regions are doing well already to attract golf tourists, and the potential for its growth. We share some thoughts on what could be driving more golf toursim, and how mainstream attention needs to extend beyond the "marquee" golf facilities that people have come to know through extensive media mentions. To emphasize and explore the topic we are joined by Adam Chamberlain and Chad Townsend of the Gowan Brae Golf Club in Bathurst, New Brunswick for a discussion about golf in their province and what it offers.

It's a high energy and diverse show this week as cover an array of topics from the PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR, junior golf, some equipment chatter, and our back nine conversation on "Ranger Danger", talking about good and bad habits on the practice ground. We get started with a discussion about the PGA TOUR's RBC Heritage and winner Matt Fitzpatrick, as well as our takes on the Harbour Town Golf Links and why what you see on the broadcast is much different than the playing experience we have had there. We then shift to another course we have played, the TPC Louisiana, as it hosts the Zurich Classic this week. We discuss the course's merits and what we feel about partner events and their place on tour. The LPGA has their first major of the season, the Chevron Championship, and we share some thoughts on the Canadians playing and even some special products being made to celebrate the move to the Houston area. Tour talk concludes with recent news from the Tiger Woods camp on his latest surgery and what it could mean for his career. We also mix in some product talk this week about a new retro looking driver from TaylorMade; and finish up the Front Nine with news on the Play Junior Golf Tour and a new amateur event we are planning . On the Back Nine we expand on an article on Driving Range habits that we posted on Flagstick.com and give you some insight on best practices, common mistakes people make, and things golfers should avoid if they want to get better at the game.

With The Masters all done for another year and golf courses opening in our area, there is a different energy for this show with the golf season arriving here in Canada. We give our takes on the first men's major championship of the season, from the winner, to the contenders, the course, and the story-lines. In our news and notes we take on the topic of websites for golf courses and how key they are for communications, as we chat about our course opening dates calendar and how it has become a much-anticipated part of our Spring. In the back nine we are joined by Cleveland Golf Senior Product Manager Casey Shultz to explore and explain all the features of their new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges and what consumers should consider as they make their wedge purchases.

It is a whopper of a show this week with a few hot topics to handle, ones lighting up the golf social media world and on the lips of many golfers. We get things started with the end of the Dell Match Play Championships on the PGA TOUR. We meander through our thoughts on match play in the professional game, what role it should and not have, and the value of different formats for professional golf tournaments. That's a good transition point as we take a look at the schedule for the 2023 Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour, where the circuit will be playing this season, and reveal a format change for one long-standing event. With The Masters on the horizon, we jump into some early hot takes on who the favourites are, how the atmosphere will be with the LIV League players in the field, and even drop a few nuggets on the Par-3 tournament and broadcast inclusions. For the meat of the show, we finally get to share some thoughts on the proposed Model Local Rule on changes to testing in the golf ball that is meant to slow down things at the "Elite" level of the game in 2026. We explain the proposal, provide some insight on a recent consumer survey done by TaylorMade Golf, and give our perspectives on what we believe the impact might be, if implemented.

Fresh off an appearance at the Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo, Jeff and Scott jump into a conversation about that specific show but also about consumer golf shows in general. They discuss the evolution of the shows, how they can get better, and how they can have a viable place in the future if they make the inclusions they need to meet the demands of the ever-changing audience. With a big week on the PGA TOUR for the The Players, the guys share their own experience of playing TPC Sawgrass and what you cannot see or feel at home that you can while playing the well-known course. We divulge if we think it is must-watch television for us, and ponder whether not having defending champion Cam Smith in the field diminishes this year's tournament. On the back nine we welcome in Dustin Brekke, the Director of Engineering at Cleveland Golf/Srixon Golf/XXIO, for an interview that explores the evolution of the Srixon Golf brand golf equipment and what their new MKII products bring to the market.

It's a very full show after a short break isnce the last episode. Scott shares a little about his recent trip to Los Angeles to test some new products with adidas Golf and do interviews with players like Collin Morikawa and Tyrell Hatton; the boys chat about junior golf and the upcoming PLAY Junior Golf Tour schedule, as well as give their thoughts on the upcoming Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo and what they expect from it after a multiple-year hiatus for the in-person version. In keeping with that theme, we have an interview with the show manager, Greg Chambers of the NGCOA Canada, and he provides the details on what consumers can expect to see from the show that will take place on March 3/4 at the EY Centre in Ottawa. On the Back Nine we dive into the new Netflix golf series - The Full Swing, and without revealing too many details, explain what we liked and did not like about the eight episodes, what we may have learned about certain players from it, who we think the show is suited for, and what we hope to see included in Season 2.

Before we get to talking about putting on this, we take a swing at more regional topics including the 2023 Ottawa Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductees, the new OVGA schedule, an update on the Flagstick Open registrations, and news about a unique offering at a local golf course. On the Back Nine it is all about putting as we explore our own relationships with putting and putters, talk about common issues most players have, and even suggest some things you can work on with a coach or on your own.

This episode is a doozy as we dig into a wide-ranging topic - what the perfect golf club/course would look like if you built it from scratch. Not only do we provide our own opinions on the course itself, amenities, services, staffing, and programming, but we share the insight from dozens of listeners and readers who weighed in on our social media channels. Yes, we did not get to every aspect, it's just too big of a topic, but we covered off a lot of areas and set up discussions for the future. We think you'll find it informative and may get you thinking differently about the golf facilities of the future and what they might look like. Before we head to the main event, on the Front Nine we provide an update on the Flagstick Open Amateur Championship, give some thoughts on the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and it's watchability, ponder how controversies at the highest levels of golf might be taking away from the game, and talk about the growing level of golf content on platforms like YouTube.

Thoughts of a Spring or Summer golf trip have pushed plenty within our community to reach out about advice, so on this episode we dig into the topic. We cover off everything we can share from decades of taking them ourselves. From where to go, to how many people to go with, travel logistics, avoiding inter-group conflicts, playing formats, and many other considerations to make your trip a successful one. Before we get to that, we have a discussion about the annual PGA Merchandise Show that just wrapped up in Orlando, Florida. We provide a snapshot of the attendance, who was exhibiting, and how the show has changed over the last three decades. Just for kicks also wander into the results of our Flagstick Twitter poll this week about the foods people would like to see at golf course half way houses. We spend way more time talking about egg rolls than you would ever expect from a golf podcast. But hey, it's worth a laugh or two.

It's a fun show this week as we dig into a number of top of mind subjects. On the front nine we explore the move by Brooke Henderson to switch equipment to TaylorMade Golf, and try to decide if we care or not about the new Netflix Series coming out in February on the PGA TOUR. On the back nine we take on a big topic, one that comes to mind for many at this time of year - setting goals for our golf games. We share some of the details from a free worksheet with have available on Flagstick.com, while considering why some of the elements matter. Of note, they are not all about just posting a better score in 2023, so you may want to hear our discussion.

Jeff and Scott are back for the second year of the Flagstick Podcast. On this episode we welcome Tomo Bystedt, a key creator in the TaylorMade Golf team, who shares deep details about the creation and introduction of the new Stealth 2 line of drivers, fairways, and rescue clubs. He addresses the design challenges and opportunities, the "unicorns" in the new product line, and gives us the scoop on initial reactions to the clubs by the top touring pros in the world. We discuss the slew of new equipment flooding the market, why or why not you should be purchsing them, and dbanter about product cycles in golf in comparison to the auto industry. We also share some news about the 2023 Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo, and welcome a new show sponsor.

All things 2022 are on are mind as Jeff and Scott finish up the season with a look back. We delve into some late-season Canadian golf stories before turning our focus on some key events that took place in 2022. the big stories, the stand-out moments, and the things that set a foundation for 2023. Come join us, have a few laughs, and reminisce about the season that was.

With the holiday season upon us we thought we'd talk about golf gifts this week, but not only in the traditional way. Yes, we'll bring you some suggestions on gifts for the people in your lives, but we also challenge ourselves and consider what we might want to give to some of the top pro golfers in the game today. It makes for a fun segment, escpecially when you have to consider a gift for Tiger Woods or Brooke Henderson! As always, we have plenty of regional and Canadian golf news to discuss, Product Watch has us diving in for a look at some Jordan golf shoes, and on the Lesson Tee, Kevin and Jake Haime have a look at the movement of the knees in the full swing and what we can all learn to do better, or less of.

The boys are back after several weeks of challenges but that just means there is plenty to talk about. In this episode we discuss the surprise induction into the Ottawa Valley Golf Hall of Fame for Joe McLean, the announcement of Mike Weir as the International Team Presidents Cup Captain in 2024, as well as sharing some memories from 2007 when it was last held at Royal Montreal Golf Club. We chat about the recent spectacular play by Eastern Ontario's Kurtis Barkley in Dubai and Australia on the G4D Tour, and take a look at the season that was for Smith Falls' Brooke Henderson. That includes a summary of her first 200 events as part of the Rolex World Rankings. Lastly, we consider the lengthening of the 13th hole at the Augusta National Golf Club and how it may change The Masters going forward. In the Lesson Tee with Kevin Haime, he and Jake Haime discuss the flex in the trail knee during the full swing, and in Product Watch we have a look at the latest milled putters from Cleveland Golf.

Big news broke this week with word that the PGA TOUR Canada is returning to the Ottawa, Canada area in 2023 with the Commissionaires Ottawa Open Eagle Creek. We explore the three decade history of tour events at Eagle Creek (and in Ottawa) and talk about the opportunities and challenges ahead. In Product Watch we review a new book on the Math, Science, and Data in golf today as summarized by broadcaster Will Haskett in his latest book, while Kevin and Jake Haime take us to the Lesson Tee to explore ways to promote better balance in your swing. On the back 9 we dive into one of our latest Twitter polls on what age people took up the game of golf. We also share some of the stories they told us about how they came to play the sport.

We're back after an unanticipated break but that means we have all the more to talk about. The outdoor golf season seems to hanging on in Eastern Ontario and we chat about why some golf courses are not staying open for more golf. We highlight some recent awards for regional golf people and wrap up some of the latest results for collegiate golfers from the area. We take a look at the recently announced plans for the 2023 Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo as well as others across Canada, and ponder the staffing gaps among the professional staff at many golf clubs. In Product Watch we discuss a new option in the Project X shaft family, while Kevin and Jake Haime show us more insight derived from looking at the golf swing in 3D.

With the golf season beginning to wind down in our part of Canada we take a big portion of this show to talk about what lies ahead for many of those who play the sport in the region, transitioning to indoor golf play, practice, and training. We talk about the evolution of indoor golf, how you might want to start if you plan to train this winter, and even some ideas on simple things you can do to keep your skills sharp. On the Lesson Tee, Kevin and Jake Haime take a look at a simple way to improve your lower body movement in the full swing, and in Product Watch we spotlight a golf shoe that is ideal for late Fall golf. We also bring you news on where some of the top Canadian pros are teeing it up this week, who won the 2022 PGA of Ottawa Awards, and discuss the passing of an LPGA winner who played out of Canada for a time, something many were unaware of.

Fall Golf is in full swing and while the competitive golf season is coming to close in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, there is still news from the secondary school, college, and pro golf ranks. We wrap up the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour Ping Challenge Cup from the Hylands Golf Club. As Captains of the two sides, Jeff and Scott have the ultimate in perspectives. Even more so for Scott his year who played for points at the Hylands Golf Club. In our Back Nine this week, we bring you an intyerview with Sarah Marai, the Global Product Manager for adidas Golf that Scott recorded last week in Whistler, British Columbia at their Fleece Fairways global product launch. On the Lesson Tee, Kevin Haime shows you a simple drill to help you get your lower body moving better in the downswing of your full swing, and in the Product Watch we preview a 2023 rain jacket from Galway Bay.

It's a big week in golf with the return of the Presidents Cup and we take some time to preview the event, including what we like about it, what we are watching for this week, who we'd like to pair up with ourselves for a match, and what the future of this event might be. On the Front Nine there is no shortage of Eastern Ontario golf news to catch up on, including updates from the Flagstick Two-Ball Championship. the OVGA, the PGA of Ottawa, the Gordon Cup, and news on junior and college players from the region finding sucess around North America. Jake Haime joins us to show how you can improve your driving and we take a look at a training aid for putting that you can use indoors and outdoors.