The Fire Pit Podcast

Fire Drill 099: State of the Union Apr 08, 2024

In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck go deep on the complicated negotiations around the framework agreement, drawing on Alan’s new reporting. They also introduce Bonfires, events that will provide access, camaraderie, competition and quality experiences at some of the best courses and resorts in the world.🔥

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 9: “Reflections” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Apr 06, 2024

Wait, there's more?! In Part 9 of the Fire Pit series on L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella gets final reflections from all protagonists on Lucas Glover's accomplishments, the putter, the technology and the business. Lots more on Brett Rumford's "let go of control to take control" and how it relates to overcoming the fears in golf and life. Plus, Kelly Slater on his win at Pipeline, 100-foot waves in Ireland and Jason Kuhn, the former Navy Seal sniper on: "Train like you fight."

Thanks for listening. 🔥

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L.A.B. Golf – Part 8: “Glover Wins Again” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Mar 25, 2024

In part 8 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella takes you through the second of Lucas Glover’s back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour. And then he gets Glover’s thoughts on being passed up for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the business impact of the two wins, as well as reflections from several of the series protagonists on the stories within the series, including hope, inspiration, overcoming the yips and the American dream. In addition to Glover, you’ll hear more from Adam Scott, Kelly Slater, Brett Rumford, Mac Barnhardt, Michael Sims, Stuart Smith, Adam Beach, Sam Hahn, Liam Bedford and Bill Presse.

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 7: “Glover Wins Wyndham” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Mar 14, 2024

In part 7 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, it’s almost all Lucas Glover. When and where a new putter intersects with his battle with the yips, reflections on his life, career, more from the Navy Seal, bold predictions from his inner-circle, and ultimately a recap of his win at the 2023 Wyndham Championship.

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 6: “The Navy Seal” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Mar 07, 2024

In Part 6 of the Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, we’re getting to Lucas Glover, the highs and lows of professional golf, why friends and good management matters, and we talk to a Navy Seal about overcoming the yips. Thanks for following along.

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 5: "Brett Rumford" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Feb 29, 2024

In Part 5 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on how and why L.A.B. Golf's technology and their putters are gaining in prominence and popularity, you'll hear from Brett Rumford, an Australian short-game guru. Rumford explains "giving up control to gain control," sheds light on the technology and why it's "cutting edge," he shares details of his relationship with Adam Scott, the bumps he overcame with Sam Hahn and the engineering team of the company, and he articulates his frustrations with pros who sign a putter contract: “Free up your contract and free up your putting and you just fill up all of your heart’s desires.”

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 4: "Adam Scott" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Feb 22, 2024

In Part 4 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf’s rise to putter prominence, we hear how Kelly Slater impacted Adam Scott’s decision to make it his gamer and why Scott called Sam Hahn to tell him he could win the Masters with it. You’ll also hear from Adam Beach of My Golf Spy as to why the technology is passing his company’s sniff tests.

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 3: "The GOAT" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Feb 19, 2024

In part 3 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, the putters being used by the likes of Lucas Glover, Adam Scott, Ben An, Will Zalatoris, Camilo Villegas and more, you hear about some of the lean years, the struggles of branding, marketing, and how Sam Hahn went about getting it into the hands of Tour players. From Kelly Slater, Tim Wilkinson, Jeff Sluman and Vaughn Taylor, the proof was in the results. “His posture is getting taller and everything is looking better,” says Hahn about Taylor. “He has got hope.”

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 2: " The Inventor" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Feb 09, 2024

In Part 2 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, you get the story of Bill Presse, the inventor, as he goes from developing the "magic dust" of lie, angle and balance in his garage, sleeping in and selling putters out of his car to ultimately selling a "lion's share" of the company to the Hahn family. In addition to Presse, you'll hear from Sam Hahn, Matt Holm and Stuart Smith on how and why Presse's "genius" defied doubters, critics and Internet trolls.

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L.A.B. Golf - Part 1: "The Revealer" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella Feb 05, 2024

L.A.B. Golf builds and sells putters that don’t look like most conventional putters. They’re big, some might say they’re ugly, unwieldy. But they’re effective, they’re resurrecting morale, careers and a love of putting. In this Fire Pit podcast series, Matt Ginella conducts over 20 interviews and pieces together the story of Bill Presse, the inventor, Sam Hahn, the CEO, and several other L.A.B. Golf employees who have witnessed the rise from Presse tinkering in a garage and selling his theories out of the trunk of his car in 2012 to Lucas Glover winning back-to-back PGA Tour events in 2023. Ginella talks to Vaughn Taylor, Kelly Slater, Adam Scott, Glover and so many more as he gets to the essence of the technology, design, brand and an American dream.

In Part 1, you’ll meet Hahn, Presse, Bob Duncan and you’ll hear about how and why Hahn pushed all in and bought a “lion’s share” of the company.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Building Bandon - Opening Day [PART 2] Jan 11, 2024

In this throwback podcast on the history of Bandon Dunes, 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.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Building Bandon - Against All Odds [PART 1] Jan 11, 2024

In this throwback podcast 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.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Becoming Coore & Crenshaw [PART 2] Jan 05, 2024

Part 1 of this throwback podcast 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.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Becoming Coore & Crenshaw [PART 1] Jan 05, 2024

Part 1 of this throwback Fire Pit Podcast includes 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.

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Fire Drill 098: The Rebirth of Golden Gate Park Golf Course Dec 20, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella welcome the team behind the renovation of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course: Dan Burke, CEO of First Tee of San Francisco; Jay Blasi, the golf course architect; and Josh Lewis, project manager and agronomy guru. Burke, Blasi and Lewis reflect on the before, during and after of the resurrection and what this revitalized city asset will mean to the community.

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Fire Drill 097: The Great Rollback Debate - PART 2 (w/ Mike Clayton) Dec 07, 2023

In part 2 of this spirited rollback debate, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck are joined by world renowned golf course architect Mike Clayton to continue their discussion on the recent decision to modify the golf ball.

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Fire Drill 097: The Great Rollback Debate - PART 1 Dec 07, 2023

In this extremely spirited Fire Drill, Matt Ginella is joined by Alan Shipnuck and Micheal Bamberger as the three lay out their opinions of the recently announced golf ball rollback.

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Fire Drill 096: In the Dirt Nov 15, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck provide lively updates on two ongoing FPC docuseries, one at Golden Gate Park GC and the other at Pasatiempo. They also have some fresh reporting on Shorty’s, the new par-3 course that is taking shape at Bandon Dunes.

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Wishbone Brawl is Back, Bigger and Better Than Ever: PART 2 w/ Xander Schauffele Nov 10, 2023

Upon hearing about his competition in this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., in which Xander Schauffele (No. 6 in the world) and Chris Riley (PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cupper) will be taking on Geoff Ogilvy (U.S. Open winner) and Colin Featherstone (Korn Ferry Tour player and local legend), as well as Jasmine and Janae Leovao, 19-year-old twins who are sophomores at Long Beach State where they’re coming off back-to-back team wins in the Big West Conference, and who grew up playing Goat Hill Park, Schauffele couldn’t help but acknowledge what most people are thinking: “When I said we were slight underdogs, I was talking about the field.”

In part 2 of our Fire Pit podcast series previewing Wishbone Brawl VI, Schauffele shares his thoughts about how and why this event means so much to him, John Ashworth’s effective leadership, the evolution of the course’s condition, the magic in that land, the smiles on the kid’s faces and why Goat Hill Park, a 4,500-yard, par-65 municipal course is so conducive to this type of event in which women won’t just play with the men, they’ll play against them.

For updates throughout the day and during the Wishbone Brawl, be sure to follow Fire Pit Collective’s social channels, Goat Hill Park and Linksoul.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Wishbone Brawl is Back, Bigger and Better Than Ever Nov 09, 2023

In this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., women won’t just play with the men, they’ll play against them.

This Saturday, Nov. 11, at a 4,500-yard municipal golf course where the motto is “World Class for Working Class,” what has become one of the greatest events in golf will open the gates at 9:30 AM, there will be a range clinic at 11 AM and the tournament tips at Noon. Tickets are $50 for adults, kids are free and dogs are welcome. There will be food, drinks and parking is somewhat limited, so carpooling or Ubering is encouraged. All proceeds will benefit North County Junior Golf Association and Goat Hill Park’s Junior Caddie and Leadership Academy.

This year’s Brawl will consist of bona fide professionals and elite amateurs, they’ll dust off persimmon woods, pick up junior caddies, and they’ll play in front of roughly 1,000 adults, 300 kids and 100 dogs.

“It’s kind of a homemade backyard hang-out scene,” says John Ashworth, caretaker of Goat Hill Park. “Winning and losing doesn’t really matter, it’s just about having a blast, getting the whole community together and doing something special for the kids.”

It’s Xander Schauffele, who has seven PGA Tour wins, an Olympic Gold Medal and is currently No. 6 in the world, teaming up with Chris Riley, who won a PGA Tour event and partnered with Tiger Woods in the 2004 Ryder Cup. They’re playing against Geoff Ogilvy, who won the 2006 U.S. Open, and Colin Featherstone, a local and current Korn Ferry Tour player. And then there’s Jasmine and Janae Leovao, 19-year-old twins who grew up at Goat Hill Park and are now sophomores at Long Beach State where they recently helped the 49ers win back-to-back tournaments.

“I think the twins could win the whole damn thing,” says Peter Beames, who once played on the European Tour and has written books on golf instruction. “They’re that good and they’re not afraid.”

For a deeper dive on this year’s Wishbone Brawl, we’ve prepared a Fire Pit Podcast in which you’ll hear from Ashworth, Beames, Featherstone, the Leovao twins and more.

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Fire Drill 095: Positive Vibes Only Oct 18, 2023

In this Fire Drill Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck discuss:

The launch of "Liv and Let Die"
The uncertain future of professional golf
The influence of Tiger Woods and the TGL
Accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of the modern game
How geopolitics is affecting the framework agreement

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Fire Drill 094: Songs and Stories From Around The Fire Pit Oct 13, 2023

In this Fire Drill: Matt Ginella, Alan Shipnuck, Grammy award winner Jacquire King and Linksoul founder John Ashworth join artist Griffin House as he discusses the intersection of golf and music, his creative process and debuts some songs from his new EP.

Griffin House is a 2 handicap who swings his driver 125 miles per hour. He is also a talented singer-songwriter with a long discography and dedicated fanbase that packs his shows.

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Fire Drill 093: LIV and Let Die Oct 04, 2023

In this freewheeling conversation, Michael Bamberger gets the story-behind-the-story from Alan Shipnuck about his new book chronicling the battle for the soul of professional golf. They discuss the challenges of reporting a controversial, evolving story, delve into the larger themes of the book and dish on the brand name protagonists.

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Fire Drill 092: From Dublin to Belfast Sep 20, 2023

In this episode of a Fire Drill from the Fire Pit Collective, Matt Ginella joins Alan Shipnuck to break down his latest travels to Dublin and Belfast. They both dive into the best of what’s available on and off the course. You’ll hear from several protagonists who offered their expertise throughout the trip. From a rainbow and whiskey at Royal County Down, the architect of the front-9 of Portstewart, Ardglass with the 11-time club champ and a brief history of St. Patrick, Ginella and Shipnuck also share their Top 10 courses on the island of Ireland.

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Fire Drill 091: The Hair Apparent w/ Neal Shipley Aug 23, 2023

In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck speaks with U.S. Amateur runner-up Neal Shipley about his life-changing run at Cherry Hills, his brainy academic pursuits, the coming NIL windfall and much more.

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Fire Drill 090: "Gambler" - The Story Behind the Story Aug 17, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck speaks with Armen Keteyian, the co-writer of Billy Walters’s “Gambler.” They discuss the craft of telling other people’s story, fact-checking Walters’s tales and Armen’s thoughts on Phil.

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Fire Drill 089: Around the World with the FPC Aug 16, 2023

In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck checks in from the U.S. Am at Cherry Hills and reflects on the Women’s Am at Bel-Air, while Matt Ginella relives highlights from his recent sojourn to Ireland. They also delve into the reaction to the Billy Walters excerpt

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Fire Drill 088: Gambler - An EXCLUSIVE Excerpt from Billy Walters' New Autobiography Aug 10, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella go deep on the first, hotly anticipated excerpt from Billy Walters' "Gambler." What do the revelations of Phil's reckless betting say about him? Has his legacy been altered?

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Fire Drill 087: In the Footsteps of Giants [OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP] Jul 24, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger celebrate Brian Harman’s dominant win while drilling down on all the other news from an intriguing Open week.

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Fire Drill 086: I Am The Walrus Jul 19, 2023

In this Fire Drill Podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger break down the highly anticipated Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Rory’s win at the Scottish Open and more on the ongoing battle between LIV, the PGA Tour and the future of professional golf.

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Fire Drill 085: Follow the Money Jul 11, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella react to the Senate hearings on the LIV-PGA Tour framework agreement and the accompanying bombshell document dump. So much to unpack as the ongoing golf drama reaches Capitol Hill.

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Fire Drill 084: Inside the Ropes at the Women’s Open Jul 05, 2023

For this Fire Drill preview of the U.S. Women's Open, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella are joined by their longtime friend Kevin Price, a Pebble Beach caddie who this week is on the bag of qualifier Mackenzie Hahn.

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Fire Drill 083: Reframing the Debate Jun 28, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck discuss the leaked framework agreement between the PIF and the PGA Tour as well as other developments in golf's shifting landscape. They also preview some exciting upcoming Fire Pit projects.

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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 6 "Sit Down w/ Former PGA President Suzy Whaley" Jun 21, 2023

In Part 6 of this podcast series on the Club Pro Crisis, we’re joined by Suzy Whaley, who, in 2018, became the first female President of the PGA of America.

Whaley is a dual member of the PGA of America and LPGA Teaching & Club Professional division, she was an LPGA Tour member in 1990 and 1993, she is a two-time Connecticut PGA Teacher of the Year, a three-time Connecticut Women’s Open Champion, and in 2003, at the Greater Hartford Open, she became the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1945 to qualify for a PGA Tour event.

In this uninterrupted conversation with Matt Ginella, Whaley shares her thoughts on the industry, awareness, leadership, timing and why she’s relentlessly trying to increase the number of women who are working within the game of golf.

“I believe if you can see it, you can be it,” says Whaley. “We need more women promoted, we need more women elevated and we need more clubs thinking about women running their facilities.”

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Fire Drill 082: A Star is Born? Jun 19, 2023

Straight from the 18th green at LACC, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger break down Wyndham Clark’s gutsy win, Rory McIlroy’s dispiriting retreat and the mixed emotions for Rickie, Scottie and the host venue.

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Fire Drill 081: US Open Preview with a Zing Jun 14, 2023

From the 10th fairway of L.A. North, Alan Shipnuck, Mike Bamberger and surprise guest Paul Azinger discuss the wondrous host course, the feeling of this Open and the continued PGA Tour-LIV intrigue.

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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 5 "PGM Programs w/ Dr. Brian Soulé" Jun 14, 2023

In Part 5 of this series on the Club Pro Crisis, we hear from Dr. Brain Soulé, an associate teaching professor at Penn State’s Professional Golf Management program for the last 15 years. And we’re joined by Jack Davis, one of Soulé’s former students and current head pro at the Essex County Club in Massachusetts. Both talk candidly about the industry and what they’re doing to try and make it better for the next generation of club pros.

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Fire Drill 080: The New World Order (w/ Geoff Ogilvy) Jun 08, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck debriefs Geoff Ogilvy about what really happened in the fraught player-only meeting in Canada. They drill down on the details of the new alliance, with Geoff expressing optimism about the Tour's future.

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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 4 "Sit Down w/ Seth Waugh" Jun 07, 2023

In Part 4 of this series on the Club Pro Crisis, we talk to Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America since 2018. Waugh shares his thoughts on how and why he got involved, how he’s doing a lot of listening in order to improve the lives of his membership, and we learn about his ultimate goal: “I’m trying to leave the room better than I found it.”

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Fire Drill 079: LIV and Let Thrive Jun 06, 2023

In this emergency Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Matt Ginella, and Mike Bamberger unpack the stunning LIV-PGA Tour merger: how it happened, why, what the future will look like, biggest winners and losers and much more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Life & Legacy of Tony Gwynn [PART 2] "A Timely Triple" Mar 29, 2023

Tony Gwynn played 20 seasons for the San Diego Padres, ending his career with 3,141 hits, eight batting titles and five Gold Gloves. In episode one of this tribute series on the life and legacy of “Mr. Padre,” and with the help of with the help of a panel of Hall of Fame pitchers and hitters, we reflected on some incredible stats and anecdotes that made Gwynn's career so memorable. Throughout his two decades in San Diego, Gwynn passed up more lucrative offers to play for teams in bigger markets that might’ve had a better chance at winning a World Series. But as much as Gwynn loved his city and his team, when his son prevented the Padres from clinching a playoff spot with a timely triple, Gwynn celebrated like a man who always put family first. In episode two of this tribute series, we spend time with Tony Gwynn, Jr. and get his reflections on what it was like growing up as the son of a legend. "Little T" also talks movingly about the role his mom played in his father’s success and the responsibility of representing the family name. And we hear in vivid detail about the day in which Junior's worlds collided, creating a defining memory for the Gwynn family.

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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Life & Legacy of Tony Gwynn [PART 1] "Bugs Bunny Numbers" Mar 28, 2023

Growing up in Santa Rosa, Calif., Matt Ginella would fall asleep to baseball games on the radio. And although he lived an hour north of San Francisco, his favorite team was the San Diego Padres. His favorite player: Tony Gwynn. Now Ginella lives in San Diego, and, along with his son, listens to Padres games on the radio in which Tony Gwynn Jr. is the analyst. So, to get a chance to produce a three-part tribute podcast on the life and legacy of “Mr. Padre,” is a little boy’s dream come true. In episode one, the emphasis is on Gwynn’s athleticism, mind, preparation, consistency, dedication, humility and his secret weapon: his wife. The interviews include Gwynn Jr., Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Ryne Sandberg, Trevor Hoffman, Ken Griffey Jr., and Tom Verducci. This collection of Hall of Famers reflects on some of Gwynn’s outlandish stats, what Griffey refers to as “Bugs Bunny Numbers.” Smoltz says Gwynn “hunted hits” and tells the story of Gwynn breaking up one of his bids for a no-hitter. And Maddux explains why he’s actually pleased that Gwynn only hit .415 against him. “It was up to .485 [laughs], so I actually don’t feel too bad about the .415 to be honest with you.”

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Fire Drill 072: The Ball in the Air: A Golfing Adventure {BOOK PREVIEW] Mar 27, 2023

A new Michael Bamberger book is always cause for celebration! "The Ball in the Air" is his ode to the way golf connects us all. In this exclusive podcast, he introduces the book's protagonists, shares his writing process, and reflects on his enduring love of "the game for a lifetime."

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Fire Drill 071: Desert LIV-ing Mar 20, 2023

In this week's Fire Drill Podcast, Michael Bamberger interviews Alan Shipnuck about his enlightening reporting from LIV Tucson. They also touch on Jordan Spieth's vexing play in Tampa, larger trends in golf media, and their forever enduring love of a tangible book.

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Fire Drill 070 - The Great Ball Debate Mar 16, 2023

Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella all have different perspectives on the USGA’s proposed golf ball rollback so we convened a Fire Drill podcast to hash out all the talking points and help guide fans through a complex issue.

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Fire Drill 069: Scheffler Shines Mar 13, 2023

In this week's Fire Drill Podcast: Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger break down Scottie Scheffler's simple, boring, and incredibly effective approach towards golf. They dive into Jay Monahan's Oscar worthy press conference performance and discuss why there isn't a single good golf movie.

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Loud and Clear: How Bobby Weed’s Daughter is Changing the World Mar 08, 2023

Bobby Weed is an accomplished golf course architect who will leave behind a lasting legacy through his work. But the Weed who’s out to change the world, one letter at a time, is Lanier, his 24-year-old non-verbal autistic daughter. “She has a lot of things she wants to achieve,” Bobby says. “She’s just a beautiful young lady, inside and out.”

Lanier Weed’s story, in both video and words, can be found on firepitcollective.com. Lanier's life changed when, at 14, she was introduced to facilitated communications, which involves an autistic person spelling out words on a keyboard or similar device while their hand or wrist is physically supported by another person.

Lanier Weed was 14 when she got in front of her first keyboard. Her opening salvo?

“Thank you for releasing my voice.”

This podcast, featuring an interview with Bobby Weed and his wife Leslie, is a follow-up to that video feature on the Fire Pit Collective’s website and YouTube channel. We hear about where Lanier Weed is now, ten years after typing her first sentence. We hear about the foundation the Weeds founded 20 years ago, HEAL (Helping Enrich Autistic Lives), and its ongoing impact. The Weeds talk about Arnold Palmer, Dean Beman and Jay Monahan, just some of the people who have helped them along the way. Bobby and Leslie also reflect on Pete and Alice Dye and what Players Championship week means to them and their community.

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Fire Drill 068: ELEVATED Mar 06, 2023

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger praise Kurt Kitayama on his gritty victory, discuss the state of Jordan Spieth's game and go deep on changes to the Tour's "product."

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Fire Drill 067: In The Room Where It Happened Mar 02, 2023

In this Fire Drill podcast, PGA Tour Player Director Peter Malnati explains the new structural changes to the schedule and how, as the appointed voice of the Everyman, he changed his thinking as the Tour embraces small fields and no cuts.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 12 with Hale Irwin Feb 22, 2023

Hale Irwin is an all-time badass: A division one football star in college, a 3-time U.S. Open champ and now a dispenser of hard truths. In this Need A Fourth, he goes deep with another Winged Foot conquerer, Geoff Ogilvy, while Shipnuck & Bamberger ride shotgun.

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Fire Drill 066: Tiger Roars and Rahm Delivers Feb 20, 2023

In the latest Fire Drill podcast: Matt Ginella joined Ryan French, Michael Bamberger, and Alan Shipnuck to discuss the dominance of Rahm, the return of Tiger, and the amazing longevity of Bernhard Langer. They discuss the good, bad and ugly, of the 10th hole at Riviera and with the Masters just weeks away, the four wondered if Tiger had one more majestic run in him.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 11 with Mike Clayton Feb 15, 2023

This week on Need a 4th, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are along for the ride as Geoff Ogilvy welcomes an old mate and a fellow Aussie, the golfing polymath Michael Clayton! Michael can do it all. He played for years on the Australian and European tours, he writes about the game with spectacular clarity, his course-design work will stand the test of time, and as you are about to find out, he talks about the game like a Down Under version of Ben Crenshaw, with some Peter Thomson mixed in. Elsewhere at FPC this week, we celebrate golf in the great cultural, financial and sporting capital of Melbourne and we revisit the December fun of the Sandbelt Invitational, the tournament co-founded by Clayton and Ogilvy. There are few people in the world (if any) who know more about golf in the sand, and golf in Melbourne, than Clayton and Ogilvy. Give a listen and hear for yourself. G’day!

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Fire Drill 065: Super Sunday Feb 13, 2023

In the latest Fire Drill podcast: Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger watch the final stretch of the Waste Management Open together and discuss the tournament's place in modern professional golf. They share their opinions on whether or not Tiger will make the cut at the LA Open next week, and they speculate on what the conversations between LIV and the PGA Tour will be like at the Champions Dinner at Augusta in April.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 10 with Christina Kim Feb 08, 2023

Christina Kim swears like a sailor but has a heart of gold. Two decades into her LPGA career she is an O.G. who has retained a childlike enthusiasm. The one and only CK joins “Need A Fourth?!” for a lively, wide-ranging conversation.

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Fire Drill 064: Manic Monday Feb 07, 2023

In this week’s Fire Drill: Ryan French, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are joined by Matt Ginella and golf’s super agent Mac Barnhardt. They discuss the wild Waste Management Monday qualifier, Justin Rose prevailing at Pebble Beach, and what lies ahead for professional golf’s future stars.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 9 with Gary McCord Feb 01, 2023

How do you sum-up the one and only Gary McCord? Tour legend? Senior Tour winner? The wit behind hundreds of CBS golf telecasts? Well, give a listen to the latest edition of Need a Fourth as he joins Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and former neighbor, Geoff Ogilvy and decide for yourself!

You may settle on the one-word summation we have settled on: RACONTEUR. Gary’s half-century at the highest level cannot be contained in one podcast, as you will find out here. Good times, right here: Gary McCord on Need a Fourth!

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Fire Drill 063: Rough Lies Jan 30, 2023

In this week’s Fire Drill: Ryan French, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss yet another Patrick Reed controversy, Max Homa’s win at Torrey Pines, the next LIV deflector, the return of Anthony Kim and much more!

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Howard French.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 8 with Actor/Comedian Richard Kind Jan 25, 2023

On an all new "Need A 4th?!" a deep dive into the golfing foibles of a star of stage and screen, Mr. Richard Kind, the man who plays Larry David’s cousin on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Rich tells Geoff Ogilvy, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger about his buddy George Clooney’s golf game, tells some hilarious Hollywood golf stories that are NOT for the faint of heart, reveals his list of favorite courses and asks Geoff what he can do to get more distance. Tired of golfers who take themselves too darn seriously? Allow us to offer this special guest on “Need A Fourth?!”

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Becoming TV stars, juggling family life and ongoing financial stress | The Grind: Mark Baldwin - Post Show Pod Jan 24, 2023

The Grind is a docuseries that showcases the trials and tribulations of aspiring professional golfers as they bet on themselves in the face of the very long odds of ever making it to the big time. The first episode of the first season can now be streamed on the Fire Pit Collectives YouTube channel. It follows the travails of Mark Baldwin during a long, brutal roadtrip as he endures bad luck and the bad health of his young son thousands of miles away. In this accompanying episode of The Grind podcast (https://youtu.be/DBEwKfGq954), Mark is joined by his wife, Sarah, and Ryan French, his friend and part-time caddie. They discuss what it's like being the stars of the show; the vulnerability of opening up their lives to a large audience; and the challenges of juggling family life with Mark's travels and the ongoing financial stress that comes with missing cuts.

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Fire Drill 062: The Grind Continues - At Every Level Jan 23, 2023

In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger, and Ryan French recap the production of THE GRIND, our docusseries that premiers January 24th. They break down Jon Rahm's recent dominance, LIV's new television deal and the potential awkwardness at the dinner table if Dru Love tells his father, DL3, that he's joining LIV.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 7 with Sean Foley Jan 18, 2023

Sean Foley is one of the most fascinating instructors in the game of golf. His unique approach towards the golf swing and seamless ability to turn a coffee break conversation into a mind melting analysis of how Tiger Woods would have won 33 majors had technology never evolved, make’s for wonderful conversation with Geoff Ogilvy, Alan Shipnuck, and Michael Bamberger. We present to you: Need a 4th.

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Fire Drill 061: A Day to Reflect Jan 17, 2023

In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger, and Ryan French break down Si Woo's win in Hawaii, Buckley's near-miss and relive Michelle Wie's glory days. They also reflect on the importance of diverse voices in golf media and the ways the sport can continue to evolve.

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Fire Drill 060: Collin's Collapse Jan 09, 2023

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger break down Collin Morikawa's collapse at the Tournament of Champions, Alan gets some face time with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, and Michael questions why top amateurs are getting Masters invitations without having to formally qualify.

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Fire Drill 059: A Discursive 2023 Season Preview Jan 03, 2023

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger look ahead to the 2023 season with the usual mix of insight, humor and tales from the road.

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Fire Drill 058: The Shot Heard ‘Round Melbourne Dec 22, 2022

In just two years the Sandbelt Invitational has become one of the most charming tournaments in golf. In this Fire Drill podcast, founder Geoff Ogilvy and Alan Shipnuck discuss a rousing week and the future of the Sandbelt. The star of the tournament, Momoka Kobori, joins the conversation to share what she learned playing alongside winner Cameron Davis and what the strong showing at the Invitational means to her fledgling career.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 6 with Ben Crenshaw Dec 21, 2022

Now, on an all new Need a Fourth: the gentle wisdom of a golfing legend, Mr. Ben Crenshaw! In this episode, Alan Shipnuck, Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Bamberger visit with the only man who could have found his way to the World Golf Hall of Fame wearing two different hats, one as a player (two-time winner of the Masters) and the other as an architect (Sand Hills, just for starters).

Geoff has played in loads of tournaments with Crenshaw, and Alan and Michael have been interviewing him for years, but in this conversation they all heard things they had not before. Ben talks about the new 13th tee at Augusta National, and his memories of playing there as an amateur.

Geoff asks Ben about the secrets to putting, and you won't have to be a U.S. Open winner (as Geoff is) to understand the wisdom of what Ben says!
Ben speaks movingly about his love for the game, for The Country Club, for caddies, for courses. Need a good listen? Allow us to offer, “Need A 4th?!”

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Fire Drill 057: Geoff Ogilvy Previews the SandBelt Invitational Dec 19, 2022

The Sandbelt Invitational is part of the Geoff Ogilvy Foundation’s mission to bring together the best golfers across Australia with the goal that the older and more experienced players will pass down their knowledge to young pros and aspiring amateurs. In this special Fire Drill, Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck preview the Invitational and the four wondrous courses outside of Melbourne that serve as the tournament venues.

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Fire Drill 056: Fathers and Sons Dec 19, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill Podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger are joined by Matt Ginella to discuss the multiple sides of Vijay Singh, the Dad version of Tiger, the overblown coverage of Charlie Woods, and the future of the OWGR. Plus much more!

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 5 with REM Bassist - Mike Mills Dec 14, 2022

Great golf swings have a certain rhythm. The guest of this Need A 4th?! is an okay golfer with superior rhythm: Mike Mills, the bassist for the iconic band REM. He riffs on golf, life and music with guitar enthusiast Geoff Ogilvy plus Bamberger & Shipnuck.

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Fire Drill 055: Off the Rails Dec 12, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill: Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger break down Tiger Woods and his performance in The Match, their connection with the late Grant Wahl, how the Japan Tour qualifying series might change the pathway for professional golf, and somehow manage to tie together the film Straight Out of Compton with the complexities of breaking news as a journalist.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 4 with Brandel Chamblee Dec 07, 2022

Brandel Chamblee has long been the most polarizing commentator in golf, taking tough stances on everything from Tiger Woods’s rules controversies to Saudi Arabia’s encroaching influence on the professional game. But Chamblee shows a softer side in this wide-ranging conversation with co-hosts Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck, reflecting on his own playing career, the changing role of the media and the love of his life: the golf swing.

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Fire Drill 054: Tiger Looms Large, Even in Absentia Dec 05, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger discuss Viktor Hovland’s win at the HERO World Challenge or as Ryan calls it, “a glorified buddies trip.” They explain what Adrian Meronk’s victory at the Australian Open will do for his World Ranking and Olympic status as well as a deep dive into how the media shaped the tail end of Tiger’s career.

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Wishbone Brawl 2022 Dec 01, 2022

The Wishbone Brawl is one of the purest events in golf. “Perfect” is how one onlooker summed it up. “It’s the unicorn of golf events,” says John Ashworth, the “caretaker” of Goat Hill Park, the municipal golf course in Oceanside, Calif., and the annual host of the tournament.

The Wishbone Brawl consists of four professionals playing a mini municipal using vintage equipment in front of an animated crowd that’s not confined by ropes, kids and dogs are everywhere, and all money raised supports junior golf. When people talk about “growing the game,” this is it on so many levels.

What you’ll hear in this podcast are all the relevant audio moments throughout the day, which starts with a warm-up session on the driving range and ends with the post-round interviews on the 18th green. In between are some walk and talks on the course and throughout play with the players and some notables in the gallery. And you’ll hear the occasional reacts from the crowd after key moments in the match.

The teams are Xander Schauffele and Dean Wilson versus Fred Couples and Geoff Ogilvy. They’re playing persimmon woods. The format is best ball of the twosome. It’s Nov. 19th, a perfect Saturday morning in San Diego, the crowd size is estimated to be 1,000 adults, another 250 kids and about 40 dogs. All of the proceeds are going to support North County Junior Golf, which is based out of Goat Hill Park, and the other half of what’s raised goes to support the Goat Hill Park Caddie and Leadership Academy.

“This is community golf at its best,” said Ogilvy. “This is as much fun as I’ve ever had playing golf.”

We hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as we did watching it. And as much as Ogilvy had playing in it.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 3 with Michael Murphy - Author of "Golf in the Kingdom" Nov 30, 2022

In this episode, Alan Shipnuck, Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Bamberger sit and listen in awe as Michael Murphy, the wildly alert 90-something writer, takes over the show. Murphy is the man who invented golf’s most original player-philosopher, Shivas Irons, from his landmark novel/treatise, “Golf in the Kingdom.” Ogilvy, who has read the book innumerable times, looks like he is talking to a golfing god as he listens to Murphy. Shipnuck and Bamberger, who once had the privilege of walking the Pebble Beach dunes with Murphy, ask Murphy about Woods and Hogan and why the game has such a hold on us, and explore why his slender book captures more about the game’s complex beauty than any other golfing treatise ever written. Murphy is an utter inspiration and he is spellbinding in this podcast. Need a good listen? Allow us to offer, “Need A 4th?!”

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Fire Drill 053: Shark, Tiger and Pavin (Oh My!) Nov 28, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Mike Bamberger discuss the Global Player of the Year (hint: he just won in Australia) and the fatuous PIP payouts. There are also lively diversions about Corey Pavin, Greg Norman, Sean O'Hair and much much more.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 2 with Trey Wingo Nov 23, 2022

Every NFL fan knows Trey Wingo, the excitable host and commentator on various TV and radio shows dedicated to the real national pastime. But Wingo is just as fanatical about golf, and he displays his knowledge and passion in this conversation with co-hosts Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck. Wingo recounts how he fell for the game, spars with the hosts over his favorite courses and offers insight on the most golf-crazy players and coaches around the NFL.

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Fire Drill 052: Grand Finale(s) Nov 21, 2022

Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger, and Ryan French break down the final week in golf before the holiday season begins. Jon Rahm wins on the DP Tour but Rory takes the Race to Dubai without winning a single DP event. Lydia Ko’s hall of fame career before the age of 26, Adam Svensson’s win at the RSM and his connections with the Big Money Classic and the crew presents their solutions to the current OWGR situation.

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Fire Drill 51: The Plot Thickens with Andy Ogletree Nov 17, 2022

Coming off his career-altering victory in Egypt, Andy Ogletree returns to the Fire Drill to discuss what led to the breakthrough and where he goes from here. He provides valuable context in the Asian Tour’s increasing influence in world golf as well as fun travel stories of an innocent abroad.

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Need A 4th?! Ep. 1 with Joel Dahmen Nov 16, 2022

Other than his otherworldly skill at golf, Joel Dahmen is just like us. A native of Clarkston, Wash. (population 7,229), he likes cold beer and football and, presumably, apple pie. While Tiger Woods’s maniacal workouts led to a physique that resembles a martini glass, Dahmen is unbothered by his dad bod. Think of him as the pro next door.

In this episode Dahmen speaks candidly about his long road to the PGA Tour and the stress that comes with having to fight for his job. He talks about what he learned moonlighting as a caddie for a friend at Q School, and takes listeners behind the scenes of Max Homa’s baby shower. As a member of the Player Advisory Council, Dahmen sheds light on the Tour’s boardroom machinations and what Jay Monahan is like behind closed doors. At every turn he is self-deprecating and amusing.

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Fire Drill 050: Grit and Intrigue Nov 14, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Michael Bamberger drill down on a huge week, including winners like Finau, Fleetwood, Korda, Harrington & Ishikawa. They discuss the larger meaning of Andy Olgetree’s win on the Asian Tour, the Alex Fitzpatrick Q School drama and the Phil and Pat Perez scandal.

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Fire Drill 049: The Ephemeral Nature of Winning Nov 07, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, and Mike Bamberger discuss Russell Henley’s (5th!) win, Q School storylines, Asian Tour results and Patrick Reed’s continued legal offensives.

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Fire Drill 048: The LIV Grades Are In Nov 01, 2022

Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and Ryan French hand out grades on the first LIV season. (They are better than you think). Plus the rise of Seamus Power, some great stories from the PGA Tour event in Bermuda and the guys rank their favorite courses at Bandon Dunes, where all three spent the previous week.

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Fire Drill 047: Rory Roars Oct 24, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill Podcast, Ryan French, Alan Shipnuck, and Michael Bamberger discuss the larger meaning of Rory McIlroy's latest win, Lydia Ko's renaissance and Alan's controversial ace, with the usual diversions.

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Fire Drill 046: Down the Middle with James Hahn Oct 18, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck is joined by James Hahn, a golf unicorn: a Tour member who makes supportive statements about LIV Golf. Hahn talks Tour politics, Monahan's future, his "price" to go LIV and much more in this candid conversation.

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Fire Drill 045: On The Record Oct 17, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French (MondayQinfo) & Michael Bamberger discuss Phil's curious press conference comments, Brooks and Keegan winning again, Rickie's resurgence and the delicate dance between reporters and subjects.

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Fire Drill 044: Tom Kim Versus the Universe Oct 10, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck is joined by Ryan French and Michael Bamberger to discuss Kim’s emergence as a budding superstar, as well as Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra’s win at LIV and what that means for the competition for young talent. Ryan brings to life his scoop on how the MENA Tour stiffed its players and what that means for LIV. They also riff on everyone from Frank Lickliter to Peter Thomson is a delightfully discursive conversation.

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Slaying The Dragon They Call Cancer Sep 30, 2022

The story of how the loss of one life is saving countless others.

Curing Kids Cancer is an organization that has raised over $23 million with a simple mission: “Find cures for all childhood cancers.”

This podcast tells the story of how one family’s loss has resulted in the inspirational progress to fund the development of CAR T immunotherapy. You’ll meet Grainne and Clay Owen, who, almost 20 years ago, lost their son Killian to leukemia. On the one-year anniversary of his death, they founded an organization that continues to change lives.

“I didn’t have the luxury of feeling sorry for myself,” says Grainne. “That would’ve been way too selfish because I had three other boys that needed me and they saved me from myself.”

You’ll hear from Dr. Stephan Grupp, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who has become a leader in research devoted to developing cell-based and molecularly-targeted therapies to treat leukemia and solid tumors.

“What motivates me is I see what it looks like when it doesn’t work,” says Dr. Grupp. “And it’s completely unacceptable.”

Is this a golf story? Not really. But golf has played a critical role in the cultivating of the funds that are being used to make the difference. Curing Kids Cancer’s 17th annual golf tournament will be held on Oct. 3rd at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas and is expected to raise upward of $400,000. PGA Tour player Matt NeSmith will be there and makes a cameo in this podcast as he explains why he and his wife, Abigail, are involved in supporting Curing Kids Cancer.

Lee Corso of ESPN’s “College Gameday” also offers his perspective and support.

“It was 15 years ago when I met Clay Owen,” says Corso. “He was making his speech in Atlanta about how he and his wife lost their son Killian to leukemia. I was so touched, I walked up to him on the stage and I grabbed him and I said, ‘How can I help?’”

Corso hasn’t stopped his support ever since. And there are countless others.

If you are interested in getting involved, please give this story a listen and then go to curingkidscancer.org.

For more 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.

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Fire Drill 043: Thoughts from the International Team Room Sep 28, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast International assistant team captain Geoff Ogilvy joins Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger to break down the results of the Presidents Cup, rising International stars, and the future of American team golf.

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Fire Drill 042: State of the Union (Jack) Sep 12, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Ryan French, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss another big stretch for the game: the compromised POY voting, bang-bang finish at Wentworth,Talor Gooch's rise and Monday madness as the Tour season begins in Napa.

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Fire Drill 041: Center of the Storm Aug 31, 2022

Andy Ogletree has been on a professional odyssey since winning the 2019 U.S. Amateur, including a dalliance with LIV. He speaks out here on his PGA Tour suspension (due to end in Dec.), recent adventures on the Asian tour and his new “optimism” for the future.

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A Tribute to Tom Weiskopf Aug 26, 2022

Tom Weiskopf was a man’s man, an outdoorsman who traveled the world to play golf, hunt and fish. Having conquered alcoholism (he had been sober since 2000), he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Aug. 20 at his home in Big Sky, Mont. He was 79. Weiskopf had prominent careers as a player (16 PGA Tour wins and an Open Championship), TV analyst (he called the Masters for 12 years) and architect (his name is on 75 courses), and his life and legacy are celebrated in this podcast featuring Ben Crenshaw, Dave Stockton, Michael Bamberger and Guy Yocom. We also hear from Weiskopf about the building of Forest Dunes, one of his highest-ranked public courses, in Roscommon, Mich. In this Fire Pit podcast, you’ll learn the 6-foot-3 “Towering Inferno” had a bit of a temper, perfect posture, a big heart and a passion for purple as he played in the shadow of Jack Nicklaus. You’ll hear Weiskopf’s call of Jack’s magical run at the ’86 Masters and reflections on the ’75 Masters, and the case is made as to why this lover of "The Lone Ranger" belongs in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

For more visit Fire Pit Collective

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Fire Drill 040: Unintended Consequences Aug 25, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, Mac Barnhardt & Michael Bamberger deconstruct a momentous day for the PGA Tour. Where is the money coming from? What happens to lesser players & tournaments? Will this thwart LIV? Answers here.

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Fire Drill 039: Patrick Reed vs. Brandel Chamblee Aug 22, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger welcome legal expert Jeffrey Toobin to discuss the Patrick Reed defamation lawsuit (“It’s a joke”), LIV’s anti-trust case (“The PGA Tour will prevail”) and other contentious (and litigious) matters.

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Fire Drill 038: Blood on the Floor Aug 17, 2022

The golf melodrama took more wild turns as Tiger Woods jetted into Delaware to hold court while Patrick Reed sued Brandel Chamblee & Golf Ch., alleging they are anti-LIV conspirators. Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger & @AlanShipnuck try to make sense of it all.

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Fire Drill 037: Opening Salvo Aug 10, 2022

Today, the PGA Tour won the first of many legal battles versus LIV Golf. @AlanShipnuck was in the courtroom for all of the drama. In this Fire Drill podcast, he discusses the developments with @MattGinella and Peter Ginsberg, a preeminent sports lawyer who has often dealt with the Tour.

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Fire Drill 036: The Voice of the Establishment Aug 05, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, U.S. Presidents Cup captain @Love3d goes deep on his support for the PGA Tour, his contentious history with Greg Norman, his melancholy over Mickelson’s heel turn and much more. Bamberger and @AlanShipnuck ask the questions you want answered.

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Manning Brother's Buddies Trip (Part 2) Aug 01, 2022

In Part 2 of this podcast about the greatest buddies trip happening in and around the playing of the 150th Open Championship, the Manning brothers, Eric Church and several others continue their romp around the linksland of the UK, immersing themselves in the culture and traditions at some of the best golf courses in the world. From North Berwick to Gullane, Muirfield and Royal County Down, Eli Manning shares his wine and gets heat for ordering fish, Cooper Manning gets out of the robe but gets in red knee-high socks after Muirfield’s “proper” lunch, and a jet-lagged Eric Church is inspired to write a song, which he’s kind enough to share with us at the end of the adventure. More insider info, course reviews and reflections throughout this oral history of a trip that was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” for a special group of friends.

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Manning Brother's Buddies Trip (Part 1) Aug 01, 2022

In Part 1 of this podcast, you’ll hear from Peyton, Eli and Cooper Manning, plus Eric Church, the country music star, Jim Nantz, the voice of golf, Joe LaCava, Tiger’s caddie, and you’ll listen in on John Daly smashing a drive off a tall boy Tenants. Two foursomes of friends start their trip as Tiger is finishing his Open, they navigate cemetery walls at midnight to pay their respects to Old and Young Tom Morris, while Cooper Manning pours and passes out free beers a Rusacks robe. They play Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie before watching Cam Smith catch Rory McIlroy from one of the greatest porches in sports. And then there’s Part 2…

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Fire Drill 035: Open and Shut Jul 18, 2022

At the end of a thrilling final day at the Open, Alan Shipnuck & Michael Bamberger reflect on Cam Smith’s stunning comeback and the anguish of watching Rory fritter away the lead. A couple of surprise guests enliven the final podcast of an action-packed week.

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Fire Drill 034: Destiny Awaits Jul 17, 2022

With the final round finally upon us, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and Matt Ginella set the scene for what should an epic conclusion to the 150th Open Championship.

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Fire Drill 033: Godspeed, Tiger Jul 16, 2022

With the 18th hole as a backdrop for this Fire Drill pod, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella relive the conflicting emotions of watching Tiger's farewell to the Old Course. They also go deep on a stacked leaderboard and the tourney's good vibes.

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Fire Drill 032: Dawn to Dusk Jul 14, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast from St. Andrews, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella dissect a fascinating first round of the Open, in which Rory starred, Tiger struggled and a firm, fiery Old Course demanded precision.

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Fire Drill 031: On the Eve of The Open Jul 14, 2022

On the eve of the 150th Open Championship, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and Matt Ginella banter about how and why we got here, and how and why it all matters. Especially to competitors like Tiger Woods.

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Fire Drill 030: To The Linksland Jul 11, 2022

In this Open pre, Ogilvy-Bamberger-Ginella-Shipnuck go deep on the charm/challenge of the Old Course, with lively stories about their own adventures there (notably Geoff's t5 in '05). The pod gets emotional when they discuss what St. Andrews means to their lives.

Watch Journey with Matt Ginella: St Andrews

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Fire Drill 029: The Inner Sanctum Jul 06, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill, Matt Ginella checks in from Ireland, having just competed in golf’s most exclusive event, the JP McManus Pro-Am. With Michael Bamberger & Alan Shipnuck, they bring to life the scene at Adare Manor and tense reunion of LIV and Tour players.

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Fire Drill 028: Open and Shut Jun 20, 2022

In the last Fire Drill podcast of a busy week, Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger & Alan Shipnuck go deep on long-hitting Matt Fitzpatrick’s breakthrough win at the U.S. Open. They also discuss Rory, Will Z, the course setup and The Country Club’s place in the pantheon.

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Fire Drill 027: A Wild One at the Open Jun 19, 2022

The latest Fire Drill podcast goes deep on a thrilling third round: Geoff Ogilvy revels in the windy challenge; Alan Shipnuck hails Rory’s grit; Ryan French celebrates the louder crowd; and Michael Bamberger discusses Jeff Maggert’s sex life.

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Fire Drill 026: Cut Day at the U.S. Open Jun 18, 2022

For the latest Fire Drill podcast, Ryan French goes deep on the unknowns near the lead, Ogilvy and Bamberger wax poetic about metal spikes and Jon Rahm, and Alan Shipnuck asks, Who is the best player in the world right now?

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Fire Drill 025: Opening Salvos At The Open Jun 17, 2022

In this instant-reaction Fire Drill podcast following the first round of the Open, Ryan French revels in the qualifiers on the leaderboard while Geoff Ogilvy goes deep on the setup. Alan Shipnuck & Michael Bamberger chime in on Rory and the subdued crowd.

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Fire Drill 024: Final U.S. Open Preview Jun 15, 2022

On the eve of the Open, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and Ryan French offer a final Fire Drill preview, touching on Tiger’s absence, JT’s emergence, the glory of TCC and the feeling in the air of LIV vs. the Tour. Stay for the bonus scenes after the credits!

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Fire Drill 023: Boston Tee Party with Geoff Ogilvy Jun 14, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Ryan French preview the U.S. Open by discussing the qualifiers, the favorites, the charming course and the unique mystique of the national championship.

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Fire Drill 022: Phil Faces The Music Jun 14, 2022

U.S. Open week began with lingering business: Phil Mickelson facing the free press. In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss Mickelson’s performance, his legacy, and where he goes from here.

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Fire Drill 021: The Next USGA President, Fred Perpall Jun 13, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Michael Bamberger is joined by USGA president-elect Fred Perpall, who in 2023 will become the ruling body's first Black president. They discuss Perpall's unusual route to golf, how to diversify the game and the changing role of the USGA.

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Fire Drill 20: Final Thoughts on the First LIV Event Jun 12, 2022

Alan Shipnuck calls in from London to recap the inaugural LIV Golf event. Matt Ginella, Michael Bamberger and Ryan French join Alan to discuss the on-course play, and the off-course news of more big names defecting from the Tour to join LIV Golf.

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Fire Drill 019: LIV, Live from London Jun 10, 2022

For this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck calls in from England to discuss an eventful day at the inaugural LIV event, including his dust-up with Greg Norman and his goons. Matt Ginella, Michael Bamberger and Ryan French are all part of this lively discussion.

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Fire Drill 018: Go Time for Phil and the Saudis Jun 07, 2022

Following Phil Mickelson's announcement, the FPC team assembles to discuss the state of the game and the strengthening field for the first LIV Golf event in London.

Matt Ginella, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger, Ryan French and Mac Barnhardt share their thoughts in what feels like a significant moment for the game of golf.

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Fire Drill 017: The Comeback Kid May 23, 2022

In the final Fire Drill of a jam-packed week, Geoff Ogilvy joins Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck to relive, and add context to, Justin Thomas's thrilling win. The setup at Southern Hills and Will Z's putting stroke are also dissected.

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Fire Drill 016: The Rielly Way May 22, 2022

The PGA Championship is our annual opportunity to celebrate club pros. In this Fire Drill podcast, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck are joined by Rick Rielly, the head pro at Wilshire CC, to celebrate the legacy of Rick's father Pat, a PGA of America lifer.

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Fire Drill 015: Midway at the PGA May 21, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Geoff Ogilvy joins Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck as they discuss how Southern Hills is playing, sing the praises of slower greens and riff on JT, Bernd, Tiger, Rory and other protagonists.

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Fire Drill 014: Rory, Tiger and Trump, oh my! May 20, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck recap the first round of the PGA Championship, which was dominated by Rory McIlroy’s fine play and Tiger Woods’s struggles. They also discuss Bamberger’s story about his news-making phone call with Donald Trump, who is still stewing that this PGA was taken away from him after the January 6th riots.

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Fire Drill 013: Tiger Tales May 19, 2022

Few reporters have been closer to Tiger Woods than John Hawkins. In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Hawk joins Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck on the eve of the PGA Championship to riff on how Woods has (and hasn’t) evolved through the years.

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Fire Drill 012: Dreamers and Shadows May 18, 2022

In this Fire Drill podcast, Ryan French and Laz Versalles join Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck for a non-traditional PGA Championship preview. Ryan gives the backstory on some of the longshot club pros in the field while Laz delves into the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre through the eyes of Bill Spiller, Jr., whose father, a Tulsa native, shamed the PGA of America into abolishing its Caucasian Only clause. This eclectic foursome also tees up their favorite storylines heading into this PGA Championships.

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Fire Drill 011: Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Bamberger Preview the PGA May 18, 2022

In the latest Fire Drill podcast, Ogilvy, Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck go deep on the charm and challenge of Southern Hills and relive its previous major championships, highlighted by Tiger Woods’s inspired play at the ’07 PGA. Typically discursive, the conversation also touches on Perry Maxwell, Gil Hanse, Scottie Scheffler, Retief Goosen and, from Ogilvy, exactly how different a major feels versus an everyday Tour event.

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Fire Drill 010: Show Me The Money May 17, 2022

This is a chaotic moment in professional golf. For this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger brought in the Jerry Maguire of PGA Tour agents, Mac Barnhardt, to help make sense of the shifting landscape. Mac brought decades' worth of insight.

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Fire Drill 009: Trumped May 16, 2022

This PGA was supposed to be Donald Trump’s crowning moment in golf; everything changed on January 6th. Now Trump is in league with the Saudis, whose toxicity sent Phil Mickelson into exile. In his first big piece for FPC, Michael Bamberger untangles the tentacles.

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Fire Drill 008: Bamberger! “Phil”! The FPC Is On Fire May 05, 2022

Michael Bamberger is the greatest golf writer alive, author of various classic books and winner of innumerable awards, including this year’s lifetime achievement citation to be presented by Jack Nicklaus at the Memorial. The intellectual curiosity that informs his writing has led Bamberger to leave corporate media for a scrappy upstart. With typical modesty, Michael did not want a splashy announcement that he was joining the Fire Pit Collective, preferring instead a substantive discussion with Alan Shipnuck about their shared history and Alan’s forthcoming Mickelson biography “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar.”

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Journey to Kauai Recap Apr 18, 2022

In the latest episode of the Fire Pit podcast, Matt Ginella is joined by Colt Knedler and Patrick Koenig as they recap their recent Journey to Kauai. Throughout the conversation, seven guests from the show pop in and out of a Zoom call offering their reflections on the story of where they call home and they reiterate how and why the “act like a guest” mentality isn’t just critical for visitors to the Garden Isle. Farmer Samuel checks in from, well, his farm. Keli’i Alapa’i calls from his backyard near the pig smoker. Hualani Duncan is in a golf cart cruising the back nine of Hokuala. And Mayor Derek Kawakami provides more insight from his office in Lihue. Plus, Zeke Alamida, Kellie Hines-Akana and Mary Bea Porter King on cultivating the game on an island.

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Fire Drill 007: Masters Recap Apr 11, 2022

Geoff Ogilvy, Alan Shipnuck, Ryan French, Laz Versalles and Matt Ginella put a bow on the 86th Masters. From Scheffler’s dominance to Tiger’s grit, Rory’s Sunday 64, crowds, course changes and our Aussie friends provide a whole new description for Cam Smith.

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Fire Drill 006: Cut Day at the Masters Apr 09, 2022

Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck reflect on an action-packed Friday at Augusta National, featuring a Tiger rally and more Scheffler mastery.

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Fire Drill 005: Masters Memories with Andy Ogletree Apr 09, 2022

When Andy Ogletree won the 2019 U.S. Amateur, his future seemed unlimited. But injuries and the impact of Covid on the pro golf schedule have left him on the outside looking in. Ogletree joins the Fire Drill podcast to relive his Amateur triumph and the tee time at the Masters with Tiger Woods that came with it.

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Fire Drill 004: Thursday Thoughts with Geoff Ogilvy Apr 08, 2022

In this instant-reaction Fire Drill podcast, Geoff Ogilvy and Alan Shipnuck break down the first round of the Masters, going deep on Tiger, Cam Smith and the scene today at a raucous Augusta National.

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Fire Drill 003: Stories From Augusta Apr 06, 2022

Our Masters week coverage continues as Geoff Ogilvy rejoins the Fire Drill podcast to talk Tiger, conquering pre-tournament jitters and whom he thinks will prevail. Co-hosts Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella share tales of jousting with the green jackets and reflect on how much the Masters media landscape has changed.

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Fire Drill 002: Wednesday Wisdom with Laird Shepherd Apr 06, 2022

For a new Fire Drill pod from Augusta, we brought together the OG Geoff Ogilvy to offer advice to Masters rookie Laird Shepherd, reigning British Amateur champ. Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella asked the questions and offered insight from their 40+ Masters. This is a fun chat that takes listeners behind the scenes at the tournament and offers a lot of nuanced discussion about the course and mental side of the game.

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Fire Drill 001: Tuesday at the Masters with Geoff Ogilvy Apr 06, 2022

The Fire Pit podcast has a new spinoff, the Fire Drill, which will bring to life the major championships and breaking news. For the debut of the Fire Drill, Geoff Ogilvy joins Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck to discuss his love affair with Augusta National, break down the course hole-by-hole, recreate his thrilling near-miss at the 2011 Masters and reveal many other little nuggets from inside the ropes. Alan and Matt have covered more than 40 Masters between them and Ogilvy played in eight of them (never missing a cut!), giving this conversation loads of depth and perspective.

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The Truth About Phil and Saudi Arabia Feb 21, 2022

"As of this moment, the Saudi Golf League is dead; and Phil helped write the obituary." Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck huddle up for this "Fire Drill" to break down the call with Phil last fall, Alan's report and the aftermath that has the entire golf world spinning.

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Canal Shores Teams Up With Kemper Sports Jan 20, 2022

For all the people from Chicago, who, upon hearing the name Canal Shores are inspired to say, “I grew up playing there,” the 103-year-old iconic fixture and fun zone that’s wedged between Evanston and Wilmette, and 10 miles north of Wrigley Field, is finally getting some much-needed resources and support.

After years of a passionate band of locals making every attempt to restore the bones, implore more investment and explore every option or opportunity for a resurrection, along comes Kemper Sports. The Chicago-based management company, which is affiliated with Bandon Dunes, Streamsong, Sand Valley, Big Cedar Lodge and another 100 courses nationwide, Kemper has sunk its teeth, resources and relationships into making the Tom Bendelow original design relevant again.

On 82 acres, and multiple mini parcels of land, the 3,900-yard 18-hole par 60 has been overgrown, downtrodden and, some might say, underperforming for quite some time. What is owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, that’s leased to the towns of Evanston and Wilmette, and leased again to the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association, will now be managed by Kemper Sports. Green fees range between $15 and $30 dollars. It’s a Youth on Course facility, so junior members of YOC can play for $5. The non-profit, which has relied heavily on donations and creative fundraising, finally has an optimistic plan for some realistic and relative success.

In this podcast, you’ll be hearing from Josh Lesnik, President of Kemper Sports and the original General Manager of Bandon Dunes. Lesnik grew up in the town of Winnetka, which is 15 minutes from Canal Shores.

You’ll hear from Karl Leinberger, President of Evanston and Wilmette Golf Course Association, which is currently managing the non-profit as a group of committed volunteers.

And throughout this story, I get background and perspective from Andrew Fleming, a great friend of mine who’s a former lawyer at the Golf Channel and a former employee at Kemper Sports. Fleming graduated from Northwestern, which is around the corner from Canal Shores.

Charm, community, accessibility, a hyper-focus on impacting kids by way of caddie programs, as Lesnik says, "It's all there." And now it's time to make it all happen.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Tim Rosaforte: Celebrating a Life and Legacy Jan 13, 2022

Tim Rosaforte spent his life telling stories about golf’s greatest players. Now it’s time to tell Rosey’s story. A towering figure in the golf media, Rosaforte died on Jan. 11, 2022 at the age of 66, from complications related to early onset Alzheimer’s.

From Sports Illustrated to Golf Digest and Golf World and then to Golf Channel, Matt Ginella always seemed to be somewhere right behind Rosaforte. And what a good place to be. And although that felt so special, he knew he wasn’t alone. Rosaforte was beloved because he was a great teammate for so many. The Godfather of golf journalists, he led by example, selflessly and unconditionally always supporting someone in need. No one ever out-worked him, he had no enemies, and everyone called him back. And when Ginella asked a long list of Rosaforte’s friends and colleagues to help him produce this podcast, Rosaforte would smile knowing they all called Ginella back.

The goal here was to out-Rosie Tim Rosaforte on his own story. Upon hearing about his diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s, which goes back to the summer of 2020, Ginella did what Rosaforte taught him to do: report the hell out of the story.

In this tribute, you’ll hear from Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Lanny Wadkins, Ben Crenshaw, Jim Nantz, Bob Ford, Mark Mulvoy, Jerry Tarde, Geoff Russell, Molly Solomon, Jaime Diaz, Matt Hegarty, John Hawkins, Pete McDaniel, Damon Hack, Gary Williams, Craig Dolch, Ron Sirak and Davis Sezna.

For more on the life and legacy of Tim Rosaforte, go to firepitcollective.com.

Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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2021 Wishbone Brawl Dec 04, 2021

It’s the fourth Annual Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif. It’s Saturday, November 20, and it’s a perfect afternoon for tournament golf at a 4,500-yard par-65 municipal where everyone in the community is committed to the vibe of “World Class for the Working Class.”

Class is at the core of the Wishbone Brawl, which was an idea Dean Wilson pitched to John Ashworth five years ago. Four players, two teams, best-ball and skins, persimmon woods, kids as caddies, no ropes, dogs encouraged, great attitudes are mandatory and all money raised goes to support junior golf.

A quick history:

In 2017, Wilson, who lives in San Diego and has invested in Goat Hill Park, teamed up with Xander Schauffele, who grew up playing in San Diego and played for San Diego State. They beat Charley Hoffman and Chris Riley, who were UNLV teammates and now both live in San Diego.

In 2018, Brawl 2, Wilson brought his friend Mike Weir and they beat Schauffele and Hoffman.

In 2019, Geoff Ogilvy, paired with Riley, had the walk-off ace from 133-yards on the ninth hole in a sudden-death playoff against Wilson and Schauffele.

2020 was cancelled due to Covid.

But this year, the Brawl was back, bigger and better than ever. Due to a fast flood of early interest, Ashworth had to close ticket sales on Tuesday before the Saturday event. Having had roughly 400 people in the gallery in 2019, in 2021, it was looking like there would be more than 1,000. Our team at the Fire Pit Collective partnered with the production company of KuenyPearson to go live on Linksoul.com. The edited version of the broadcast as well as other perspectives on the day can now be found at firepitcollective.com.

In this podcast, you’ll get some of the best action and reaction, added perspective and reflections from players, caddies and people in the crowd.

Schauffele and Wilson are paired together again. And today they’re playing against Fred Couples and Will Kropp.

Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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RainDance National, a Fred Funk Design Sep 28, 2021

Everything about RainDance National, a new golf course in Northern Colorado, is BIG, except for the guy who helped design it and the odds that it won’t hit.

It’s big news that there’s a new golf course being built. According to the National Golf Foundation, there were only 18 new ones in 2019, and some of those were only nine holes. The number on the RainDance National scorecard, from the back tees, will be over 8,400 yards, which will make it one of the biggest and longest in the country. The 1,000-year-old arroyos that the course is built around are big. The mountains that surround the course are even bigger. The landing areas, greens and expectations for the finished product are also all big. And then there’s Fred Funk, one of the littlest and shortest hitters in professional golf, who’s the co-designer of RainDance National. Nothing is bigger than his smile as he walks the routing and talks about how much fun he has had getting the opportunity to break into the business of course design. Funk, who won the 2005 Players Championship, is quick to point out that at an elevation of 5,000-feet, with most holes playing downhill and with the ideal playing conditions being hard and fast, the length could be deceiving.

In this episode of the Fire Pit, while sitting around a fire overlooking the arroyos, you’ll hear from Funk, Harrison Minchew, Funk’s co-designer who spent most of his career working for Arnold Palmer Design, and Martin Lind, the third-generation farmer who finally pulled the trigger on a project he’s been sitting on for over a decade.

Visit the The Fire Pit Collective to check out everything we are doing.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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The Stockton’s Sep 23, 2021

Needless to say, Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., is a special place. Pull up, grab your clubs, throw a leash on your dog, walk to the recently renovated range and you never know who you might see. There’s Dean Wilson, Mike Weir, Bill Murray, Charley Hoffman, Geoff Ogilvy, Kelly Slater, Xander Schauffele, Byron Scott or Bubba Watson?!

But on this day, the day that inspired a podcast and a feature, I saw three generations of Stockton’s: Dave Stockton Sr., Dave Stockton Jr., and Junior’s son, Jake, who’s a sophomore at Arizona State.

Senior won ten times on Tour, two PGA Championships, 14 more on the Champions Tour, which includes another three majors. He played at USC, turned pro in 1964 and was a member of the 1971 and 1977 Ryder Cup teams—both were winners—and he captained the winning Ryder Cup team in 1991 at Kiawah’s “War by the Shore.” He also played a role in the 2004 Ryder Cup, which get to in the podcast.

With input from Lanny Wadkins, Chris Riley, Al Geiberger and more, in this episode, Stockton’s tell stories about all of the above.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Ireland Recap Sep 09, 2021

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.

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Dream Golf Giveaway

Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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Bandon Dunes is Back in The News Jul 21, 2021

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.

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Part 4: Laird Shepherd, The 2021 Amateur Champion Jul 15, 2021

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.

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Part 3: Laird Shepherd, The 2021 Amateur Champion Jul 15, 2021

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 dayuntil 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.

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Part 2: Laird Shepherd, The 2021 Amateur Champion Jul 14, 2021

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.

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Part 1: Laird Shepherd, The 2021 Amateur Champion Jul 14, 2021

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.

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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.

Reporting and Sharing the Hayden Springer Story. Jun 16, 2021

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.

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Phil Mickelson, The Oldest on The Longest. May 26, 2021

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.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Part 3: Jay Bilas provides perspective on the NCAA and the Women's Golf Regional in Baton Rouge. May 20, 2021

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.

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Part 2: NCAA Women's Golf Regional at Baton Rouge—Riggs and Barstool to the Rescue! May 19, 2021

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!

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Part 1: The Breakdown of the NCAA Women's Golf Regional in Baton Rouge. May 18, 2021

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.

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More on "Blood, Oil and Golf" and why the Saudi story matters. May 08, 2021

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.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Info on The Monday Q May 03, 2021

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?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“By the way, Roger...” Arnold Palmer tells his Maris story one more time. Apr 09, 2021

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.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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The Golf Man. Barry Grimes Feb 03, 2021

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.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE 2 – GOLF TO THE RESCUE! Sep 01, 2020

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.

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A short tribute to Mike Keiser and Bandon Dunes. Aug 16, 2020

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.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Nick Faldo gets no respect at sunrise. Jul 26, 2020

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...

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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The making of "The Story," a song by Joe Horowitz, produced by Jacquire King Jul 19, 2020

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.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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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.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barstool Riggs, Part 2: His 99 days at Pinehurst Jul 12, 2020

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!

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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No.14: BONUS EPISODE- Beating Bryson Jul 09, 2020

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…

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Barstool Riggs, Part 1: His 99 days at Pinehurst. Jul 06, 2020

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.

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Got a comment about this story or a tip on a story we should track down?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Forest Dunes: How an Arkansas trucker found golf gold in Michigan Jun 28, 2020

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?

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Joe Carr’s life and legacy. Jun 21, 2020

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.

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Ashworth. How an American dream became a nightmare. Jun 14, 2020

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.✌🏼

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Building Bandon, Part 2: A closer look at Opening Day, the first tee shot and what the development of this destination has meant to the area and golf in America. Jun 07, 2020

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.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Building Bandon, Part 1: Against all odds, Mike Keiser buys remote Oregon dunesland and hires a pair of rookies to help him build and manage a golf course. May 31, 2020

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.

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Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Part 2: building Kapalua, Sand Hills and success. May 24, 2020

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.

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For bonus visuals and some behind the scenes of The Fire Pit podcast production, go to The Fire Pit YouTube Channel.

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Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Part 1: Becoming Coore & Crenshaw May 17, 2020

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.

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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.

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Walter Iooss Jr., Reflections on Michael Jordan, Tiger & more. May 10, 2020

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.

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Ken Griffey Jr. on Tiger, fatherhood, & hitting back-to-back HRs w/Dad! May 03, 2020

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.”

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Child's Play: How Alan Shipnuck chased down Pebble Beach, Sports Illustrated and Ken Griffey Jr. Apr 26, 2020

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.

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The States of The Game - Golf vs. Covid-19 Apr 17, 2020

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.

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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.

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Mark Wiebe & John Ashworth: A Masters "Bro Deal" Apr 12, 2020

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.

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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.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.