The Fire Pit Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Club Pro Crisis - Part 3: “Where do we go from here?” May 31, 2023

Show notes

In Part 3 of this podcast series on America’s club pro crisis, another collection of voices and perspectives offer potential solutions to several complicated issues affecting club pros. Butch Harmon, Chandler Withington, Shane Ryan and a variety of current and former club pros discuss unionizing and properly incentivizing a “fed-up” industry of selfless men and women whose love of golf is being tested.

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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 2: "Work/Life Imbalance" May 31, 2023

Show notes

In part 2 of a Fire Pit podcast series on the “Club Pro Crisis,” Matt Ginella gets into how and why Shane Ryan’s article in Golf Digest (May, 2022) highlighted issues of a work/life imbalance, money and awareness. In short, club pros and PGA Professionals are taken for granted.

You’ll hear from Shane Ryan, Butch Harmon, Chandler Withington, Rick Rielly, Cody Sinkler and several other voices who share their thoughts on Ryan’s impactful article. And the podcast starts to address how Covid only exacerbated an already dire situation.

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Fire Drill 078: LIV Reigns on the Block Party May 22, 2023

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In the latest Fire Drill podcast Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger dive deep into the three winners of the weekend: Brooks Keopka, Michael Block and LIV Golf.

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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 1: "Ignorance Isn't Bliss" May 17, 2023

Show notes

In this first of several podcasts on what many consider a “club pro crisis,” we talk to several current and former PGA Professionals and other titans of the industry as they help us understand how and why the job of running a club or course has evolved and how and why it’s so hard to find and keep good help. The host, Matt Ginella, apologizes for an ignorant comment he made on a podcast last fall comparing club pros to the type of professional golfers who try to make cuts to earn a check. Throughout this series, you’ll hear from Butch Harmon, Seth Waugh, Suzy Whaley, Shane Ryan and several other club pros who offer thoughtful and constructive perspectives on the past, present and future of a profession that's on the ropes.

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Fire Drill 077: A Memorable Masters Apr 10, 2023

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In this Fire Drill: Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck go deep on a thrilling Masters Sunday, celebrating Jon Rahm's mastery and offering insight on how Koepka lost his way. Phil, Jordan & Tiger are also discussed at the end of a memorable week.

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Fire Drill 076: A Gathering Storm - Masters Round 2 Recap Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger go deep on leader Brooks Koepka and try to understand the poor showings of Tiger and Rory. They also discuss the effects of the worsening weather and unique challenges of reporting at the Masters.

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Fire Drill 075: A Test, With Depth - Masters Round 1 Recap Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

In this Fire Drill Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger & Alan Shipnuck break down a thrilling first round of the Masters. Geoff goes deep on the allure and challenge of ANGC and Koepka, Rahm, Hovland, Scheffler, McIlroy and others get their due.

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Fire Drill 074: The Comeback Kid - Catching Up w/ a British Amateur Champion Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Getting an invitation to The Masters is no easy task. Scotland's Laird Shepherd defines the grind. During the 2021 British Amateur Championship, he played well enough to qualify for match play. And then he won a match. And won some more. Eventually, he found himself in the 36-hole final, only six months after nearly giving up on his dream of playing golf for a living. And after being 8-down with 19 holes to play in the 36-hole final of the British Amateur, Shepherd started grinding again. The putts started falling... and kept falling until he had pulled off a historic comeback. In this Fire Drill Podcast, Shepherd shares it all: the Masters experience, his new goals, hopes and expectations, as well as the heartaches, frustrations and disappointments. The beauty and cruelty of competitive golf are all on display in this riveting episode.

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Fire Drill 073: The Masters Is Here…Finally Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

In this Fire Drill podcast, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella preview the many storylines for one of the most anticipated Masters in recent history. Can Rory break through? How will #13 play? Fisticuffs at the Champions dinner, Tiger's back and much more.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Life & Legacy of Tony Gwynn [PART 3] “Flirting with .400” Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Tony Gwynn played 20 years in San Diego, passing on more money from big-market teams and instead prioritizing loyalty and quality of life in a city he loved and playing for a fanbase that loved him back. We put a bow on this three-part podcast series on the life and legacy of Mr. Padre with final reflections from Tony Gwynn Jr., award-winning baseball writer and broadcaster Tom Verducci and a panel of Hall of Famers: Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Trevor Hoffman and Ryne Sandberg. In this episode, we go deep on Gwynn's flirtation with .400 in 1994, his 3,000th hit and the call from the Hall of Fame. You’ll hear why Gwynn was more proud of his five Gold Gloves than his eight batting titles; his love affair with the game of golf; and his favorite fire pit. And you’ll hear him say goodbye to professional baseball and his fans “Thank you, thank you, thank you." No, Tony, thank YOU!

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