The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf

Mark Labiak, PGA Head Professional at Ruth Lake Country Club, joins the Bag Drop to talk music, family life, and holes-in-one. Yes, multiple holes in one.

This past weekend was a special one. We were honored to have Dr. Joe Parent, author of the best-selling book Zen Golf, spend the last few days with NewClub in Chicago. It was an incredible experience spending time, learning from, and getting to know Dr. Joe. He joined us for rounds around Chicago, played with us in the Stinger at Stonebridge CC, held playing lessons with our members, and became a friend for life. There is much more to come for our society with Dr. Joe and we will be announcing more opportunities to meet and learn from him. Stay tuned.

Nathan Perry, PGA Head Golf Professional at Aurora Country Club, joins the Bag Drop from Ernesto’s Cave (club locker room manager) to talk golf architecture, compelling golf courses, and what makes a great round.

PJ Malik, FOX Sports and PGA Tour Radio’s resident statistician and researcher, returns to The Bag Drop to get us all ready for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Joining the Bag Drop is Jack O’Callahan, member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic hockey team and former player for the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils.

Joining the Bag Drop this episode is Mike Devries, Golf Course Architect of Kingsley Club, Cape Wickham, Meadow Club & Greywalls.

Chris Montagno, the tournament director of the Evans Scholars Invitational, joins us on The Bag Drop to kick off tournament week with the Web.com for the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Glen Club.

PJ Malik, FOX Sports and PGA Tour Radio’s resident statistician and researcher, returns to The Bag Drop to reflect on this year’s Masters and look ahead to the PGA Championship at Bethpage.

In this episode, I spoke with Patrick Crow, the head professional at Chicago Highlands in Westchester, Illinois. Patrick and I spoke about why he’s passionate about his job and his club, what it was like going to school for a career in golf, and whether they should keep wearing pants on tour.

In this episode, just days before NewClub Golf Society’s Spring Meeting, we welcome Brent Roberson, Superintendent of Sweetens Cove Golf Club. Brent, in his first ever podcast, shares with us how they overcame recent severe flooding, what we can expect for our first visit to Chattanooga’s now famous nine-hole course, and how they make Sweetens just plain fun.

It’s our first champion golfer on the Bag Drop: Neil Schuster, Co-Founder of No Laying Up, and the 2019 winner of the hickory championship at the Riinger, which was held at the site of our Spring Meeting, Sweetens Cove.

In part two of our Masters edition with PJ Malik, we pick up where we left off in the 80s and make our way through the Tiger years and what to expect for 2019.

In this special two-part Masters edition of the Bag Drop, I spoke with PJ Malik, who is a statistician and researcher for FOX Sports and PGA Tour Radio. In part one, we learn about PJ’s fascinating job as a statistician in the broadcast booth and he schools us on The Masters history all the way up to present day.

In this episode, we’re honored to speak with Paul Ciccarelli, Assistant Superintendent of The Dunes Club in New Buffalo, Michigan and the owner of Aim Better Golf, a craft shop that makes golf specific products by hand from reclaimed and recycled wood -- including NewClub’s official bag tag.

In part two of our episode with Doug Stein, founder and president of Black Creek Club, Doug and I talk about the new world of golf media, his golf travels and playing some of the top courses in America, and all about his famous “Raynor Report.”

In our latest installment of the people and places in the surrounding area of NewClub’s first Spring Meeting, I spoke with Doug Stein, founder and president of Black Creek Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In part one of this two-part episode, Doug joins us for a lively conversation about golf in Chattanooga, architecture and template holes, and which of his dogs is is the best golf dog.

In this episode, I spoke with Andy Mack, CEO of SnapMobile, a tech company based in Chicago. In our first in-person pod, Andy reveals his basketball idol, how J.B. Holmes helped shape his future, what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and the secret behind his sartorial trademark.

In this episode, we spoke with Marty Schiene, a former All-American at University of Illinois, three-time Illinois Open champion, former member of the PGA tour, and the head men’s golf coach at Depaul University.

In part 2 of this episode, Rob and I discuss our first experiences playing the old course in St. Andrews, its impact on his design principles and view of the game, Rob’s dream design scenarios, a teaser for his future projects, and NewClub’s Spring Meeting for our pilgrimage to Sweetens Cove.

In this two-part episode, I spoke with Rob Collins, the golf course architect, designer, and influential force behind Sweetens Cove in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. In part 1, we talk about the creation of Sweetens Cove, reflect on what it took to make it all happen, and what Sweetens really means to him.

On this very special episode I speak with Dr. Joseph Parent, author of the best selling book Zen Golf. Dr. Joe has been a PGA tour instructor for the last 35 years has changed the way golf is taught through Buddhist philosophies and meditation. Dr. Joe, who holds his Ph.D. in psychology, has helped PGA and LPGA pros like Vijay Singh and Christy Kerr become the number one ranked golfers in the world.

In this episode, we spoke with the founder of the RGV Tour, Patrick Koenig. On January 31, 2018, Patrick set out in his appropriately named “recreational golf vehicle” to play as much golf as humanly possible in every U.S. state and raise money for the First Tee in greater Seattle. Listen in on our conversation and see why Patrick’s refreshing take on golf makes him one of our favorite people in the game.

In this episode of the Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, we spoke with Maxwell Evans, PGA teaching professional at SmartGolf & Fitness in Chicago. Max represents the next wave of instructors who utilize tools like Trackman, fitness regimens, and the Internet to help golfers of all skill levels improve their game. But Max is one of the best instructors you’ll meet --- for his great attitude toward his role, his deep knowledge of the swing and the game, and most of all, his focus on keeping golf fun and enjoyable for everyone.

In this episode, our guest is Mike Harmon, PGA professional, and the director of golf at Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, South Carolina. When we asked Mike to highlight some of his golf accomplishments throughout his career, we didn’t expect the list to take up two full pages. I hope you enjoy our conversation to learn how Mike upholds some of golf’s oldest traditions while also thinking forward to how we can make the game of golf more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

In this episode we’re speaking with Carrie Williams, the executive director of the Illinois section for the PGA of America. As the largest sports organization in the world, the PGA of America runs some of the largest PGA events you’ve already heard of -- the PGA and Senior PGA Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and, of course, the Ryder Cup. Carrie has a deep connection to the game of golf, ever since she showed up at a junior golf clinic in her teenage years and went on to work at her local municipal course. Now, she leads the Illinois section as Executive director after being in the business for nearly 20 years.

When traveling to Ireland to play the oldest and most well-known golf clubs in the world, one might stand out: Royal County Down. I've played it twice before, but this time was unique and special because I had the honor of having Mr. Kevin Dorrian on the bag for 36 holes. Take a listen to Kevin’s story and the majestic beauty of golf in Ireland.

Our first guest on the NewClub podcast is Don Pieper, PGA, the general manager and director of golf at the Merit Club in Libertyville, Illinois. Hear about how Don got into the golf business, why he’s referred to as “The Don,” and what it was like officiating a match between Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.

Some analysts say the golf business is dwindling. Others contest that after years of decline, the industry has stabilized and is now positioned for a resurgence. Regardless of what the stats show, the golf industry will always need creative and innovative leaders to keep golf interesting and enjoyable for all of us. Leaders like Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, who joins us on today’s episode.