The Fire Pit Podcast

After over 2,000 miles in 15 days, 12 courses, 50 Guinness, two goats, one trophy, a car ferry, spectacular cliffs, a dire wolf, a giant's causeway and lobstering in a mini wooden skiff, several members of the Fire Pit Collective get together to reflect on Covid, camaraderie, culture and the craic on the island of Ireland. You'll hear from dignitaries, tournament directors, directors of golf, course owners, and we talk architects, value and the two new shiny pennies in the North, which are going to be worth their weight in gold to everything that's happening around them. (Especially Carne and Cruit Island.) Get in the huddle of a Gaelic football match, hear the punchline to a joke and listen to some Irish folk music as we're going over an hour on an itinerary that included six of Golf Digest's 100 Greatest in the World, two that will be there soon and several others that were built by shovel. And those were the ones that we'll never shake from our adventurous souls. Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Dream Golf GiveawayGot a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Amateur or the Walker Cup were always the Holy Grails,” says Josh Lesnik, President of Kemper Sports, who manages Bandon Dunes. Lesnik was also the first General Manager of the resort, where he started in his late-20s, and was literally in on the sand floor. “But to be honest, we never really thought about hosting anything like that until Mike Davis took a look and liked it. That’s a big part of this,” says Lesnik. “Mike Davis came out early, and the fact that he liked what he saw, that pushed it over the top for the USGA.”Now here it is, July of 2021, roughly 25 years into the development of Bandon, and news just broke that not only is Mike Keiser looking to develop a sixth 18-hole course, another short course and a putting course, but that the USGA will be bringing 13 amateur championships in the next 24 years, which includes a Walker Cup, two more U.S. Amateurs, three Women’s Amateurs, a Curtis Cup and four U.S. Juniors, two boy’s and two girl’s. “I never dreamed Bandon Dunes would be as popular as it is,” Keiser said on Tuesday evening, just before he sat down to dinner with one of his granddaughters. “That popularity enables us to have these tournaments.” And it also frees him up to build more courses and lodging. In this episode, Matt Ginella, Alan Shipnuck and Colt Knedler discuss all that’s on the horizon for one of the greatest pure golf destinations in the world. Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One more time around the block as we get reflections and observations on what was one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Amateur Championship. Both competitors, their dads and a girlfriend, we heard from two announcers and Tom Bailey, who, over a chance encounter in December, set Laird Shepherd on a path to a life-altering adventure. But then there’s Monty Scowsill, who taught us all about sportsmanship and class as he set his own anguish aside and consoled the champion. This is a story that’s so much more than just an incredible comeback.Special thanks to the R&A for their help from across the pond.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re just joining us, we’re about to tee off on the first tee at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. It’s a Saturday afternoon in mid-June, it’s the finals of the 126th playing of the British Amateur Championship in which two underdogs, who’ve both overcome adversity and physical issues getting here, are about to finish things off. Monty Scowsill, who made six birdies in the morning, is 7-up on Laird Shepherd, who didn’t make any birdies and didn’t win his first hole of the day until the last hole of the morning round. Which made for a somber sandwich. But there’s nothing more dangerous than a talented competitor who’s so far down, it frees them up to swing freely and play aggressively. It’s never over until it’s over.Special thanks to the R&A for their help from across the pond.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We collected over nine voices and 12 hours of interviews on the twists and turns of the 2021 Amateur Championship at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. We track the path of Laird Shepherd and Monty Scowsill as they chase their dream of winning one of the most storied championships in golf. At halftime of the 36-hole final, Shepherd is 7-down. Is there still hope? It would take a miracle.Special thanks to the R&A for their help from across the pond.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The British Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and greatest events in golf. The first, in 1885, was played at Hoylake in England. Bobby Jones won the British Amateur in 1930 in what was then considered a part of his Grand Slam of championships. Other notable winners include Sir Michael Bonallack, who won it five times, Joe Carr, the great Irish Amateur, who won it three times, Jose Maria Olazabal in 1984, and Sergio Garcia in 1998. Runner-ups include Colin Montgomerie, Trevor Immelman and Tommy Fleetwood. You like the stories of Monday Qualifiers who get a spot in a PGA Tour event? Then you’ll love the fact that the winner of the British Amateur Championship gets a spot in the Open Championship, the Masters, the US Open, a European Tour event and a five-year exemption into the US Amateur. The 2021 British Amateur Championship would be played at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland on the same weekend as the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Here at the Fire Pit Collective, the team had assembled to meet and greet, brainstorm story ideas. Colt Knedler jumped in: “Have you guys heard about the incredible comeback at the British Amateur?” We have now. Special thanks to the R&A for their help from across the pond. Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing. Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order. Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down? You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella). For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, by now, if you’re listening to this particular podcast, I’m going to assume you’ve either read or watched the Hayden Springer story on TheFirePitCollective.com. If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you read the story, which was written by Ryan French, and then watch the story, which was produced by Ben Van Hook, shot by Henry Lynk, and edited by Adam Showen. As you all probably know by now, The Fire Pit Collective’s first hire was Ryan French and I’m not shocked by his relentless delivery of compelling observations on aspiring Tour pros.And when he sent in his first draft of the Hayden Springer story, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. And it’s not just that Sage Springer took that first breath and then so many more. Or that while Sage is surviving, Hayden was qualifying for the U.S. Open. Or that Emma lives and works as a nurse all day every day to make both the surviving and qualifying possible. And it goes even deeper than they do it all with such ease and selfless grace. For me, it’s also about the fact that I’m a parent. That our son had complications at birth and if it wasn’t for the staff at the Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, he wouldn’t be alive today. So, it’s all of that. Which is why, when watching the story produced by Ben Van Hook, my wife and I sobbed. But it was an oddly good cry. An, “I’m happy for them,” cry. As French said to me: “You think it’s supposed to be a sad story, but it’s not.” That’s the true miracle here. It’s that they’re all refusing sadness, that Sage is denying death, and that with dad on the bag and the whole family in the crowd this week at Torrey, Hayden could win the whole damn thing.So, with that, I recently spoke to French and Van Hook about how they reported their stories and asked that they share their perspectives on why this story matters to them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Shipnuck has covered Phil Mickelson for the entirety of their careers. He was there every step of the way at the PGA Championship, including when Alan and Phil were both almost trampled in the 72nd fairway. Shipnuck brings to life an unforgettable moment in golf history with probing questions by host Matt Ginella and further thoughts from Laz Versalles, the newest member of the Fire Pit Collective. Their deep reflections on Mickelson is the perfect way to relive his thrilling victory and better understand the forces that led to Phil's unlikely renaissance.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here we are, almost exactly a week after Brad Hurlbut, the athletic director at Fairleigh Dickinson and member of the local NCAA Championship committee who walked down the stairs of The University Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, put his hand on his chest and stomped on the hearts of the assembled crowd.In Part 1, we told the story of what happened last week. In Part 2, we covered what happened after they cancelled the championship.And in Part 3, I turn to Jay Bilas, the college basketball analyst who once played and coached at Duke and is still a practicing lawyer in North Carolina. Bilas has spent the better part of his career questioning and assessing the dysfunction and flaws of the NCAA. Bilas is brilliant. I always get smarter when I spend time with him. It’s Bilas, Bones, John Smoltz and Tony Romo who are on my modern Mount Rushmore of sports analysts. Even if I don’t care about the teams or the outcome, I’ll watch for an education on the sport and what I’m seeing on the screen. In this case, I called Bilas to teach us about what we saw on those steps that day, and I wanted to get a better understanding of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Bozoian, also known as Barstool Riggs, is the white knight who socially rode into Baton Rouge on a horse named Twitter, scooped up an assembled group of female golfers and their coaches out of the puddles of tears and broken dreams and is giving them an opportunity to finish their seasons, and in some cases, their college careers, ON the golf course. What a concept! Throughout this podcast, you’ll be hearing more from all of the players and coaches I spoke to last week to report Part 1. Most of my conversations took place on the days right after their regional was cancelled. Their thoughts on what Riggs and Barstool were trying to do to help are used throughout the Riggs interview.So, it’s Sunday night and I called Riggs as he and his Barstool squad of do-gooders were well on their way to saving the day with a consolation tournament for the teams and individuals who got run over by the NCAA, the very organization that’s supposed to provide them opportunities to be athletes. This is the story behind the LTP Classic, as in: Let Them Play!Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, I can assume you’ve seen it by now; the video of a guy, walking down some stairs, puts his hand on his chest, and like a fire-breathing dragon, torches the hopes and dreams of an innocent gathering of female athletes. Then he turns around and disappears.The dragon is the NCAA, in this case, in the form of Brad Hurlbut, an athletic director at Fairleigh Dickinson, who, from what I’m told, volunteers for this particular NCAA Committee, which was running a five-day Regional tournament at The University Club, home to the LSU Tigers. In Part 1 of tracking down the story of how and why the Women’s Golf Regional in Baton Rouge was cancelled and six teams and three individuals will be going to play for a National Championship without ever hitting a shot, I spoke to three coaches, five players and other members of the media. There were emotions, frustrations and a lot of anger over the organization and communication of the people in charge. Some could even call it corruption.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Fire Pit, Matt Ginella interviews Alan Shipnuck about his recent story on Saudi Arabia's attempt to buy some good global PR through golf and a few of the world's best players and architects, which includes Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus. With more than a billion dollars to spend, Saudi leadership is breaking away from the concept of the Premier Golf League and trying to lure away top players into what is now being called the Super Golf League. Meanwhile, all of this talk of competition to the PGA Tour is giving its players some leverage to improve their situations, pad their bank accounts and they might even end up making a better product. Plus, Matt and Alan provide more insight and understanding as to how and why they were able to hire Ryan French, the curator of the Twitter handle, "Monday Q Info." Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan French of “Monday Q Info” on Twitter joins The Fire Pit Collective, a modern media network.From a TV on fire to the Fire Pit, we welcome Ryan French to the Collective. A Robin Hood of golf and media, the humble and thoughtful stay-at-home dad found a platform and a purpose while tending to the responsibilities of a daughter and a son, who, at the age of 18 months, was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a rare brain condition that required surgery. With a supportive family and friends who he made along the backroads of scruffy mini-tour venues, French launched a Twitter handle @acaseofthegolf1, more commonly referred to as “Monday Q Info,” which recently surpassed 50,000 followers. One of them is Aaron Rodgers, who slid into French’s DMs in order to support Monday qualifiers. Monday Q Info is one of the best stories in golf right now, and it’s because of the stories he’s compelling all of us to care about. See Michael Visacki, Corey Conners, and the guitar-playing lasso champion who competed in the Byron Nelson pre-qualifier. What’s French’s relationship with the PGA Tour? They, like everyone else, are taking notice. And rightfully so. Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we kick off Season 2 of The Fire Pit Podcast, just a short reflection on where we’ve been since March, 2020, which is when, while in quarantine, we hatched the idea of this podcast.Our first, which aired on what would’ve been Masters Sunday of last year, was the story of how and why John Ashworth caddied at the ’86 Masters for his childhood friend, Mark Wiebe. One interview led to the next, Zoom calling with Nicklaus, Griffey Jr., Walter Iooss, Fred Couples, Jim Nantz, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore, Mike Keiser, David Kidd and so many more, and here we are again, with an expanded Fire Pit Collective but the same objective, which is to tell compelling stories. As for the story we tell today—a trip to LaTrobe to sit with The King—it’s one of my favorites, but it’s bittersweet. The events that took place U.S. Open week at Oakmont in 2016 which afforded Gary Williams, Damon Hack and I to not only have lunch with Arnold Palmer, but to get time with him in his office, now all seems like a dream. What you’ll hear is that story. And you’ll listen to phone footage from that day that I’ve only shared with a select few in small settings. Plus, Gary Williams, Damon Hack, Doc Giffin and Bob Ford will add their perspectives. Not to mention Arnold Palmer, who tells his Roger Maris story one more time.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo Firepit25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back at The Fire Pit dropping a podcast, which always feels good. We’ve been busy interviewing and editing season 2, which will start going live in a few weeks. Among other things, you’ll be hearing tributes to Charlie Sifford, Tony Gwynn and longtime colleague and friend, Tim Rosaforte. We’ll also be hearing from Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer and Lanny Wadkins on a $4-check from Ben Hogan. In the meantime, we’re supporting our friends at Linksoul as they honor and celebrate the life of Barry Grimes, John Ashworth’s co-creator of the Ashworth brand. Grimes, 61, died of brain cancer in 2020. He is survived by his wife Kristin and his two sons, Paul and Charlie. Ashworth changed the golf apparel industry forever, not only in the look and feel of the clothes, but also the look and feel of the imagery and marketing around the brand. And that, in large part, was because of Barry Grimes.In this podcast, you’ll hear from Ashworth and Geoff Cunningham the co-creator of Linksoul and you’ll hear from Fred Couples, Jim Nantz and John Cook, three of the original Ashworth ambassadors.After some setup and stories about Grimes’ artistry, impact and famous photo shoots, you’ll get a chance to help his family by buying a shirt.We appreciate your support.The Grimes Tee. All proceeds from this t-shirt will goto Barry's family.Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We started this podcast in April, not long after the country went into quarantine. And on April 18, we dropped episode two, a roundtable with industry leaders who provided perspective on the state of the game in the midst of a global pandemic. I was joined by the Presidents of Pinehurst and Kemper Sports, the owner of Forest Dunes, the manager of Goat Hill Park, and the CEO of an Irish-based travel company that customizes buddies trips.If you go back and listen to it, it’s somber. It’s as if the group is in shock, and fair to say, they were scared for their business and had concerns for the future of the game. But if there was one common denominator, it’s that they all said that if they could get open, they had a chance. They knew that as long as they could get a set of sensible regulations, the game could ride a safe and responsible wave of opportunity all the way to the beach. And by June, or shortly thereafter, they were all open. And it’s as if golf is our only option for a safe outdoor activity. Mike Stachura of Golf Digest recently tweeted that Golf Data Tech reports rounds played in July were up 20-percent over last year. U.S. golf equipment sales reached the all-time greatest single month in retail sales since the company started tracking data in 1997, the year Tiger won his first Masters. As Stachura said in his tweet: “If it’s not nailed down, it’s selling.”And so I got the buddies-trip of roundtables back together again to check in on the game and their business.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back, and as we continue a short hiatus between seasons one and two of The Fire Pit, we continue to go through our first season of recordings and extract some relevant nuggets or unpublished stories from our distinguished list of guests. With all that’s happening this week at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, most notably the U.S. Amateur, we’ve created another mini pod serving as a short tribute to owner Mike Keiser and all that he has done to golf in America and for golfers all over the world. We hear from Keiser, David and Jimmy Kidd, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and more.Mick Peters feature.Bob “Shoe” Gaspar, Director of Outside Happiness feature.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, that was a blur and a blast. We produced 15 episodes (and a bonus) of this podcast, which wraps up Season 1. For the next few weeks, as a link to the start of Season 2, we’ll be dropping mini-pods, short stories or great golf jokes by the best storytellers I’ve met at fire pits all over the world.Thank you for all of your support, kind words and thoughtful reviews. It has been a true team effort from the start, and I couldn’t have done any of it without Alex Upegui and Rex Lint, who’ve spent endless days and nights helping me tell the first set of stories.In some cases, we’ve recorded up to 400 minutes of interviews from as many as 11 voices to help produce one 40-minute story. In other words, there’s a lot left over. Which brings us back to Sir Nick Faldo, who we interviewed as one of the voices to help us tell the two-part podcast on Riggs of Barstool quarantining for 99 days at Pinehurst, episodes 13 & 14 of The Pit. As we said goodbye to Sir Nick, he shared a story about playing the role of a fire hydrant...Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every song is a story. This episode of The Fire Pit is a story about the making of a song, which happens to be the anthem we’ve adopted for this podcast. We listen in as Jacquire King, a Grammy Award winning producer works with Joe Horowitz on developing a song he started writing in 2016 at Matt GInella's wedding reception at Goat Hill Park. The inspiration: What has now become Horowitz's favorite fire pit.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this fire pit, we get the second half of Sam "Riggs" Bozoian's 99-day quarantine at Pinehurst, which includes a scramble match against Kevin Kisner on Pinehurst No. 2. The four boys of the ForePlay podcast take on a PGA Tour player on a U.S. Open venue. Plus, we get details on an emotional goodbye.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to a special production of The Fire Pit. A mini mid-week episode, put together after my recent interview with Kevin Kisner, who’s coming off a third-place finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. Bryson DeChambeau (-23) won the tournament, Matthew Wolff (-20) finished second and Kisner (-18) made a run on Sunday. But to say Bryson “won” is to say he overpowered the course and the competition. I had Kisner on to talk about his match with Riggs and the boys of the Fore Play Podcast at Pinehurst. For more on that story, Part 2 of Riggs’ 99 Days at Pinehurst will drop on Sunday. But before we got to talking about trying to beat a four-man scramble squad for charity, Kisner and I had a short back-and-forth about trying to beat a guy who was outdriving him by 60 yards. I took the DeChambeau chunk of our conversation and played it for Brandel Chamblee, analyst for NBC/Golf Channel. Here are snippets of my conversation with Kisner with Chamblee’s commentary throughout…Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story we tell today is that of Sam “Riggs” Bozoian escaping New York City to quarantine at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. He stayed there, playing an assortment of Pinehurst’s 10 courses and others in the area for 99 days. At this Fire Pit we hear about Riggs' start in life and at Barstool, his ace on The Cradle, a heated match against a 12 year old and a moral compass. Sir Nick Faldo is just one of the voices providing some perspective.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story we tell today, sitting around an actual fire pit, is how and why Lew Thompson bought Forest Dunes in Roscommon, Michigan, the ridiculous deal he got, and then how he has made this remote location a legitimate destination. As Forest Dunes is setting record-breaking business days and gets set to open yet another golf course, we hear from Lew and Josh Thompson, Tom Weiskopf, Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns.Check out the The Fire Pit shop for our new hats! More items in the works!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Father’s Day, a tribute to Joe Carr, who, along with his wife, Dorothy, raised six kids in a house overlooking the second green of Sutton Golf Club in Dublin, Ireland. Carr won three British Amateur Championships and was a semi-finalist at the 1961 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He won six Irish Amateurs, 12 West of Irelands, 12 East of Irelands, three South of Irelands, played in 10 Walker Cups, and in 1991, was the first Irishman to become captain of the R&A. In 2007, Carr was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame by Jack Nicklaus. We hear from Nicklaus and three of Carr’s sons: Roddy, John and Marty.The Fire Pit shop is here!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re telling the story about John Ashworth, the man and the brand. From the trunk of a car to the No. 1 golf apparel company in the world, we hear from Ashy, Jim Nantz, Fred Couples, John Cook, Gerry Montiel and Hank Ashworth.✌🏼The Fire Pit shop is here!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 picks up on May 1st, 1999 on the eve of Bandon Dunes opening for business. I’m not even sure Mike Keiser could’ve dreamed something as big as what Bandon has become. We hear from Bandon's original caddy master, Shoe, and the local barber, Mick Peters, who has hit the first tee shot on every course at Bandon, as well as reflections from Mike Keiser, David Kidd, Josh Lesnik, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw as we also celebrate the opening of the Sheep Ranch, their third course on property.The Fire Pit shop is here!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today you’ll hear part 1 of the building of Bandon Dunes, as told by Mike Keiser, the owner, David McLay Kidd and his father, Jimmy, the architects, and Josh Lesnik and his father, Steve, who won the bid to manage it. Bandon Dunes, the original course at what is now the best pure golf destination in America, and arguably the world, was an outlier that opened in 1999. Like Sand Hills in Mullen, Nebraska, which opened in 1995, to build a golf course in a remote location using a minimalist architect or architects was anything but what was being built in America in the 90s.The Fire Pit shop is here!Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 1 leaves off in 1985, when Ben Crenshaw convinces Bill Coore to partner up. In part 2, we get them through some lean years, making a name for themselves in Maui, and tell the story of striking pay dirt and pink flags in the sand hills of Nebraska.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 1 of the people, places and things that had an influence on what Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have become as architects, how and when they met, who was involved and why it works.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walter Iooss Jr. shares several stories about his special relationship with NBA legend Michael Jordan, chasing Tiger Woods at a golf tournament, almost botching a portrait session with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, and how he captured arguably the most famous image in NFL history.Iooss has been taking pictures professionally for 59 years. He has shot every Super Bowl. He has over 300 covers of Sports Illustrated, which includes action, portrait and swimsuit. His versatility, personality and talent, along with the trust and respect of his subjects, plus his passion for sports and his craft have earned him a spot in the International Hall of Fame of Photography.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ok, settle in, stoke that fire, because today we’re catching up with Ken Griffey Jr. He’s seventh on the all-time list of home run leaders with 650, and in 2016, he was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame with the highest voting percentage ever. We’re talking to "The Kid" about his father, about being a father, playing golf with Tiger and his father, and we’re revisiting one of the most memorable moments in the history of fathers and sons. What’s commonly known as, quote: “We finally did it.”Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Shipnuck, award-winning Senior Writer for Golf Magazine and Golf.com, joins The Fire Pit to tell the story of how he got the job at Pebble Beach as a kid, then Sports Illustrated, as a kid, and how he chased down "The Kid," Ken Griffey Jr., to write what would be the first of Shipnuck's 20+ Sports Illustrated cover stories.With cameos by some legends in the sports world, Shipnuck's story parallels Cameron Crowe, as they both utilized talent and a dogged approach to reporting to get opportunities to tell meaningful stories at a young age for iconic publications.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the benefits of being around a fire pit is that the conversation can go in a lot of directions. In this episode, it’s not one good story about golf, it’s several perspectives on the game now, and in the future. When and how can we play golf safely and responsibly by minimizing the risk of life or death? Joining me on this podcast are Dr. Ara Suppiah, a functional sports medical expert who I’ve worked with at Golf Channel for the last few years. Marty Carr, CEO of Carr Golf Group, which is based in Ireland and includes Carr Golf Travel and Carr Golf Management. Josh Lesnik, President of KemperSports and KemperLesnik, which manages over 125 golf facilities in 25 states. Tom Pashley, President of Pinehurst Resort. John Ashworth, who’s the co-founder of Linksoul and who manages Goat Hill Park, a municipal course in Oceanside, Calif. And Lew Thompson, owner of Forest Dunes, a multi-course facility in the middle of Michigan.Be sure to follow my social handles because on Monday, April 20th we’re posting a live auction which will include items donated by all of my guests on this show and will benefit Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a story we should track down? You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella). For The Fire Pit podcast videos, goto The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Wiebe and John Ashworth share a story about a dream and deal they made as kids, which came true at the 1986 Masters.Wiebe, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, and John Ashworth, who revolutionized golf fashion, made a deal when they were kids: Whoever qualifies to play in the Masters, the other one would carry the bag. And in 1986, they found themselves driving down Magnolia Lane, complete with chill-bumps and tears, it was a dream come true.Use promo MattyG25 at Linksoul.com for 25% off your next Linksoul order.The Fire Pit shop is here! Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?You can reach me on Twitter (@mattginella) or on Instagram (@matt_ginella).For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the show is all about! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.