Talking GolfGetaways: Your Golf Getaways Podcast

Fresh off his victory in North Carolina, Bumage-Smoyes Cup champion Jason Moyes returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” for an Emergency 9 episode that includes everything from Bandon Dunes to Tobacco Road to Ireland’s Lahinch to an ace at Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Plus, an answer to the “Equipment or Apparel You Can’t Live Without” question that might leave you begging for a brain eraser.

Friend of the podcast Jason Moyes joins hosts Mitch and Darin for an hilarious episode recapping last year’s Bumage-Smoyes Cup competition waged at Tobacco Road and courses No. 2 and No. 8 at Pinehurst utilizing such fun two-man-team formats as Scotch Foursomes, Chapman and the new, patented 9-9 Scramble.

Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, California, and Winter Park Golf Course in Florida take center stage as Mitch and Darin discuss recent visits and what they hope is the “future of community golf.” Plus: a bit of bucket-list dreaming about visiting the Prestwick area of Scotland as well as announcements of upcoming guests as “Talking GolfGetaways” heads toward its 100th episode.

Zeb Welborn, social media expert, entrepreneur and the mind behind Twitter’s #GolfChat “Fastest Hour in Golf” plunges into the “Talking GolfGetaways” Emergency 9 golf-travel quiz, which reaches all the back into his Scottish family history.

Social media expert and entrepreneur Zeb Welborn, who created Twitter’s weekly #GolfChat Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern, joins the podcast to talk about golf, travel and a family history steeped in the history of the game.

Tom Mackin has crafted a career traveling and writing about places most golfers merely dream about visiting. In this episode, he discusses everything from Canada’s Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu to Pebble Beach’s best holes to bunging-jumping in New Zealand.

Tom Mackin has crafted a career traveling and writing about places most golfers merely dream about visiting. In this episode, he discusses everything from Canada’s Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu to Pebble Beach’s best holes to bunging-jumping in New Zealand.

Keith Cutten, best known for his Atlantic Canada work on the Cabot courses and new renovation at The Algonquin in New Brunswick, takes the plunge into our Emergency 9 as hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance dive into his golf-traveling soul, from England to the Canadian Rockies to a few West Coast bucket-list favorites.

Working his way up from an intern, Keith Cutten has had a hand in some of the best golf projects in Atlantic Canada and beyond. “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch catch up with Keith at The Algonquin to talk about the recent Rod Whitman-led renovation as well as their early days on the courses at Cabot Links on Cape Breton Island.

If you’re gearing up for a summertime golf getaway, co-host Darin Bunch suggests our friends to the north — The Algonquin Resort in New Brunswick, where the golf design team of Rod Whitman and Keith Cutten have just finished an expansive renovation of the historic oceanfront golf course. Plus, epic food and a waterslide!

“Hell 2 Heaven Golf Challenge” creator Robert Kaufman returns to "Talking GolfGetaways" with his globe-spinning answers to our Emergency 9 golf-travel quiz.

Golf writer and photographer Robert Kaufman joins the podcast to discuss his upcoming “extreme” event — the “Hell 2 Heaven Golf Challenge” — where participants play golf in Death Valley (Furnace Creek Golf Course) and Mammoth Lakes (Sierra Star Golf Course) on the longest day of the year.

Co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch discuss last summer’s exploration of America’s 50th state, from quirky golf courses to dinner cruises, grizzly bears in Denali National Park and serene treehouse yurts in a location visitors will never forget. If you’ve been considering a trip to Alaska, this is the perfect primer.

Canadian golf architect and historian Ian Andrew returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” for the Emergency 9 golf-travel quiz with answers ranging from the magnificent Jasper Park Golf Club in Canada to a memorable eatery around the corner from famed Royal County Down in Ireland.

Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch kick off a new year of episodes with a recent conversation about golf architecture and the restoration of Stanley Thompson’s famed Highlands Links on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, with friend and passionate golf historian Ian Andrew.

Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch talk about swinging through Alabama on the expansive Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, with highlights that range from multi-course resorts to some of the better short tracks in America, plus a full account of where to eat (so much unforgettable food), drink and sleep in this trailblazing destination that should be on every golfer’s radar.

Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch tape this episode “live” (ish) from the new Stewart Cabin at Tobacco Road in Sanford, North Carolina, with special guests Hall of Fame billiards star Ewa (Mataya) Laurance and GolfGetaways travel buddy Joe Sas for a lively discussion about one of our new favorite places to stay at one of our all-time favorite places to play.

To honor the legacy of Pebble Beach’s RJ Harper, who passed away at age 61, “Talking GolfGetaways” offers this wide-ranging interview from our previous podcast, “Golf Connections with Mitch Laurance,” recorded live from the office of the famed “Mr. Pebble Beach” back in 2014. We hope the episode will serve as a fitting memorial to one of golf’s true gentlemen of the game — a man, and conversation, we will always cherish.

After more than 20,000 golf shots across more than 1,200 miles, ultimate road warrior Adam Rolston returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” to share some final thoughts about his world-record-setting trip across Mongolia — how it changed is life, how well he can now hit an 8-iron and what happened to UB the Wonder Dog.

Here's one of #TalkingGolfGetaways' hosts Mitch Laurance's and Darin Bunch's favorite guests, BreakingEighty.com's Sean Ogle, a golf-crazed entrepreneur who's created the perfect golf-centric life (and can help you do the same). You'll find out how Sean embarked on his life-changing journey and started his first blog "Location 180," how he helps others through his consulting program "Location Rebel," which shows you how to work at what you love to do anywhere in the world, and how he's on a mission (now that he's broken the 80 barrier!) to play the Top 100 Courses in the World using his "Breaking Eighty" connections. Fascinating, fun, uniquely Sean Ogle. You'll love this one.

Sean Ogle, creator of the Breaking Eighty website and the new golf-travel Eighty Club, joins “Talking GolfGetaways” to discuss how his entrepreneurship led him into the golf business — and on a quest to play the world’s greatest golf courses — while sharing his travels with golfing road warriors around the world.

From classic links golf courses such as Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Ardlass to sampling ice cream along the seascape of Portstewart and staying at classic resorts such as the Slieve Donard and Lough Erne, co-hosts Mitch and Darin discuss some favorite places every golfer must consider when planning a getaway to beautiful Northern Ireland.

What motivates a rugby player to load up the sticks for a three-month continuous golfing journey across Mongolia? A spirit of adventure and love of the game. Adam Rolston talks about playing “The Longest Hole” across the Southeast Asian wilderness in one of the greatest feats of golf you can possibly imagine.

Golf-package expert (and golf photographer extraordinaire) Brian Oar talks about Kauai and the wealth of golf, hotels, beauty and culture the Hawaiian island has to offer, plus the “aloha spirit” that makes Kauai a perfect destination for traveling golfers.

Michael Beard returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” for an Emergency 9 episode detailing some of his (and his wife Carol’s) favorites from their extensive golf travels, including the best of Northern Ireland and New Zealand, plus their goal of golfing in all 50 states.

“Talking GolfGetaways” friend Michael Beard and his wife Carol recount an epic journey to play the best of Australia and New Zealand over the course of a month earlier this year and offer highlights, tips and ideas for working with a tour operator to build your ultimate golf getaway.

We take a break from whiskey talk with Journeyman Distillery’s Bill Welter long enough to get his answers to our famed “Emergency 9” questions, which include highlights of his golfing life (and actually residency) in Scotland, growing up in Indiana, unforgettable golf in southern Michigan and an epic story about a bogey-free round at famed Pine Valley.

Journeyman Distillery owner Bill Welter visits “Talking GolfGetaways” to give us an overview of how life’s journey led him into the spirits business — and how the game of golf has led him to some of the greatest places on the planet, including St. Andrews and Tasmania, among others.

Co-hosts Mitch and Darin recount a recent visit Down Under with tips on what you should know before leaving for Australia, bucket-list courses you must visit (Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne, Barnbougle Dunes, Cape Wickham) and a few under-the-radar finds you’ll never forget (like Ratho Farm).

Two Scotland favorites plus two Canadian up-and-comers make the list when Bandon Dunes Director of Golf Jeff Simonds joins the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast for his Emergency 9 golf-travel answers. Plus, an unforgettable Chicago steak and shoes that make your feet feel heavenly.

We’re talking socks, boxer shorts, meatloaf, Guinness ice cream floats, Puerto Rico lodging, Bandon Dunes and the Badger State all on this Emergency 9 episode of “Talking GolfGetaways” with guest Ryan Heiman, creator of iGolfReviews.

In another hilarious episode with our friend Akbar Chisti, the founder of Seamus Golf can’t stop talking about Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, California, plus offers up his other candid answers to our Emergency 9 golf-travel quiz, including why he loves great showers (making him a kindred spirit to co-host Darin Bunch).

Global Golf Post’s Ron Green Jr. returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” with answers and insight into our Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire from his years of covering and, more importantly, playing the game. Highlights include Royal Dornoch, Northern Ireland and Maui’s Kapalua and more.

In one of the funnier “Talking GolfGetaways” episodes ever, Augusta Golf Show’s John Patrick joins Mitch and Darin for an Emergency 9 like no other with nods to Pebble Beach, Whistler, Pinehurst’s Holly Inn and the classic Palmetto Golf Club, where the game dates back to 1892.

Masters Week guest Cameron Wiebe, general manager at Champions Retreat outside Augusta, Georgia, returns to take on the famed “Talking GolfGetaways” Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire, discussing everywhere from Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes to Cabo’s Diamante.

It’s that time of year — and no better way to kick off Buddy Trip Season than with a discussion of the alternate formats co-host Darin Bunch is deploying on a visit to North Carolina’s Tobacco Road, the creative golf course from the mind of visionary architect Mike Strantz.

Jason Connery, director of the new “Tommy’s Honour” film (and son of actor Sean Connery) returns to “Talking GolfGetaways” to tackle the Emergency 9 golf-travel questionnaire with answers on everything from the Old Course at St. Andrews to New Zealand bucket-listers and a surprise favorite golf experience in Oceanside, California.

Two of golf’s most revered figures — Young Tom and Old Tom Morris — are brought to life in “Tommy’s Honour,” the new film directed by Jason Connery who joins hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch for a discussion about their impact on the game, re-creating a vintage version of the Old Course at St. Andrews and how “Tommy” paved the way for modern professional athletes.

As one of our game’s gifted journalists, Global Golf Post’s Ron Green Jr. (who also often appears on SiriusXM PGATour Radio and the Golf Channel) has spent a his award-winning career covering golf — and some of his fondest memories center on The Masters and Augusta National. In this episode of the “Talking Golf Getaways” podcast, Green joins hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch to talk about this most important week on the golf calendar.

Journalist Ryan Ballengee, creator of Golf News Net, joins “Talking GolfGetaways” for a Masters Week episode that includes remembrances of Tiger Woods’ historic win in 1997 (and a funny Steve Williams story from another Tiger run in 2011) plus thoughts on pimento cheese alternatives, first-timer impressions and perks you might not expect at Augusta National.

What’s Masters Week like for a journalist and broadcaster who has covered the event for 33 years? John Patrick, host of the Augusta Golf Show, joins Mitch and Darin for a wide-ranging conversation about what makes “The National” so wonderful, including a personal story about Jack Nicklaus’ historic sixth green jacket victory in 1986.

Get ready for The Masters (and some Masters-related bucket-list travel) with Cameron Wiebe, general manager of Champions Retreat — a private club about 30 minutes northwest of famed Augusta National. With 27 holes of golf designed by three of golf’s biggest names (Nicklaus, Palmer and Player) plus first-class service and accommodations, hear why Champions Retreat is the perfect high-end home base for that Masters-themed golf getaway you’ve always wanted to take.

Recorded live (sort of) from one of the Lofts at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, “Talking GolfGetaways” hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch wrap up Bandon Week with a recap of our recent visit, including an instant classic story about one player two-putting from one inch, plus all the food, golf and festivities that make Bandon Dunes Golf Resort the best pure golf destination in the United States.

Frequent (and favorite) guest Shane Bacon — journalist, broadcaster and all-around great guy — adds his insight to our Bandon Week series by recapping his bachelor party buddy trip and all the golf and hijinks he and his friends experienced during a week on the Oregon Coast.

Akbar Chisti, the founder of Seamus Golf, joins “Talking GolfGetaways” for our third of five Bandon Week episodes — this one focusing on Akbar’s history with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and his “insider tips” for things not to miss on any links-golf buddy trip to the Oregon coast.

The second of our Bandon Week episodes features Ryan Heiman of iGolfReviews.com talking about the Preserve, Punchbowl, “Secret Things” and some of his other “9 Reasons” he wants to return to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort as often as possible.

We launch our All-Things-Bandon five-episode series with Jeff Simonds, a man who has worked his way up through the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort hierarchy and offers his insider knowledge and love of links golf with hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch on “Talking GolfGetaways” — the perfect opening episode for Bandon Week.

After a great Scotland Week episode about Trump Turnberry and more, Golf Tips editor Vic Williams returns to tackle the Emergency 9 questionnaire, highlighting his favorites from the world of golf travel, including Oregon’s Bandon Dunes, Arizona’s Enchantment Resort, Idaho’s Circling Raven and New Mexico’s Black Mesa.

“Claret Dreams” author Tim Alpaugh returns for an Emergency 9 followup to Scotland Week with his answers to the “Talking GolfGetaways” golf-travel questionnaire, including a love for Alister MacKenzie’s courses, a few more Scotland favorites — and an unforgettable peanut butter, jelly and bacon sandwich.

Friend of the podcast Shane Bacon brings his humor and insight to this Emergency 9 episode of “Talking GolfGetaways” with mentions of everything from the obvious (Scotland’s Old Course and Oregon’s Bandon Dunes) to the lesser-known (Pine Dunes in East Texas) with stops at Nebraska, Australia and New Zealand in between — and perhaps the best cold-weather apparel suggestion you’ll ever hear.