Beltway Golfer: Recent Episodes
BeltwayGolfer
Shining a light on golf in & around our nation's capital. The Beltway Golfer podcast is all about engaging conversations with the game's movers and shakers throughout DC, Maryland & Virginia. beltwaygolfer.com @beltwaygolfer
Geoff Shackelford is one of the preeminent voices in golf, authoring 10 books on the game, appearing regularly on Golf Channel, doing hands-on design work on a pair of prominent courses, and covering the sport’s biggest events through his popular newsletter, The Quadrilateral, where he has voiced his own opinions on the East Potomac Golf […]
Winner of both the 2025 Mid Atlantic Mid-Am and the Belle Haven Four Ball, Ryan is on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association, and is heavily involved at Argyle Country Club. He played his college golf at Loyola and is the older brother of PGA Tour player Denny McCarthy. We covered everything from competitive […]
Alex breaks down his weekend in Augusta, talking through everything from lodging to restaurants to walking the grounds for two days at The Masters. David Lee joins the show and talks about the latest version of The Hundred, and we provide an update on the first issue of BG Magazine. beltwaygolfer.com/magazine
Rick Maese of The Washington Post breaks down the Trump administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust for the operation of the three golf courses on National Park Service land in Washington, DC. The conversation traces the timeline, the ambiguous notice of default, and what those moves could signal for the […]
Washington Post columnist Barry Svrluga joins the podcast to unpack the unfolding controversy surrounding Washington, D.C.’s three public golf courses at Langston, Rock Creek Park, and East Potomac. Barry breaks down what the Trump administration’s notice of default against the National Links Trust means for the 50-year lease, why affordable public golf in the nation’s […]
Josh joins to discuss Where the Fairway Ends, his Nova Scotia golf road-trip book with his dog, his Weird Golf map project of unusual courses throughout the country, and his plan to build a cross-country golf course inspired by Australia’s Nullarbor Links. weirdgolf.com
Lauren Greenlief has long been one of the faces of Virginia amateur golf — a seven-time state Golfer of the Year and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am Champion. Fresh off another impressive run at the 2025 Mid-Am, she joins the pod to talk about staying competitive at the highest level while managing a demanding full-time […]
The summer of 2025 proved a major challenge for golf course superintendents across the Mid-Atlantic, as relentless heat and pounding rains pushed every aspect of course care to its limits. Worthington Manor Superintendent, Rob Randall joins to reflect on the season’s challenges, sharing how various grass types stood up to the test, why clear communication […]
Fresh off a week on the west coast, where he volunteered at Cypress Point and was able to play some of the best courses the Golden State has to offer, David Lee joins the Surrender Birdies pod for a second time. We discuss his experience volunteering at the Walker Cup, and his getting to play […]
With the PGA Tour descending on Caves Valley GC this week, we are joined by Bernie Najar, the Director of Instruction at the prestigious club. We discuss the upcoming BMW Championship, the recent renovations to the course, and the challenges it presents to players. He shares insights from his extensive experience in golf instruction, including […]
Ford Martin breaks down his rise in the world of adaptive golf, from overcoming neurogenic club foot to earning a global top-10 ranking. He shares how his background in lacrosse shaped his competitive mindset, walks us through the process of qualifying for elite adaptive events and recounts some of his achievements in golf including winning […]
With the US Adaptive Open set to take on Woodmont Country Club’s South Course, architect Joel Weiman joins the pod to talk about his work at the Rockville club. A veteran of over 20 years at MacDonald Design Group, Weiman started his own design firm in 2023 and has continued making an impact on courses […]
Rob McNamara reflects on his unforgettable experience qualifying for the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club as a 17-year-old high school senior, sharing stories about competing on one of golf’s toughest stages as a teenager. He describes the pressure and excitement of playing alongside legends and how that moment shaped his lifelong passion for […]
We chat with avid golfer, David Lee on the first 2025 episode of Surrender Birdies. The discussion starts off around the hundred hole challenge David recently hosted at Schoolhouse Nine, then turns to our trip to Scotland playing golf with family. The latter half of the episode hits on several recent rounds and courses we […]
In our first episode of 2025, Billy Hoffman joins the podcast. The director of instruction at Westwood CC shares insights into his journey in the golf industry, the unique facilities at Westwood, and his passion for coaching junior golfers. He discusses the evolution of golf culture, the influence of his family, and the importance of […]
The episode kicks off with a recap of the recent witnessing of some of the worst golf course behavior we’ve seen in person. Josh talks about his golf road trip with just he and his dog that tipped out at Cabot Cliffs. Alex shares details of his own summer golf roadie up north and both […]
Launching in 2023, BoBirdie magazine is the product of two of founder, Jefferson Burgess’ biggest passions…golf & the Shenandoah Valley. The second print edition was just recently published with subject matter covering the entirety of the valley from Roanoke County on the south end to Berkeley County, WV up north. With golf as the brand […]
The 75th U.S. Girls Junior kicks off this week at El Caballero CC in Southern California, and three young ladies representing Northern Virginia are among the field competing in the event. Emerson Roychoudhury, Sophie Cao & Kanchana Duangsam have competed against one another on the junior circuit for some time and join the podcast to […]
Claude Jennings of the Golf DMV podcast joins the show to hit on a wide range of topics. We both share stories and strategies we’ve employed with our own sons to help them fall in love with the game, before jumping into some of the traits we love and don’t love about courses in our […]
At 19 years of age, Bryan Kim is playing in his first U.S. Open this week at Pinehurst #2, earning his spot after winning the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur last summer. The Montgomery County native and Argyle Country Club member just finished his freshman year playing golf for Duke University. Bryan joins the podcast to […]
Adam Hallenbeck from the Mediocre Golf Podcast joins Surrender Birdies for a fun conversation about golf in our area. We cover some of his own takes on other golf podcasts & the youtube golf phenomenon before jumping into a discussion on the cost of public golf in our region and what we value when looking […]
Playing in his second PGA Championship this week, Larkin Gross will be competing at Valhalla after qualifying to be one of the 20 club professionals in the field. The Westwood CC assistant pro is one of two to make it in from the Mid-Atlantic PGA section after a top-ten finish in the PGA Professional Championship […]
Josh is back to talk about his buddies Dewey Golf Trip. Alex waxes about recent rounds at 1757 & South Riding. Which one resembles a Wegman’s? A fun pairing at East Potomac, and renderings released for Rock Creek Park GC. Listen to Episode 6 of the Surrender Birdies podcast below!
Joining Alex on the show is Dominic Lee to talk about the 2024 Masters, including his first trip to Augusta National earlier in the week. We discuss an amazing golf deal that he jumped on pre-covid at Worthington Manor and learn about a local golf group called The Hive. Listen to Episode 5 of the […]
For nearly three decades, The Sports Junkies have been on the air in the DC market bringing their unique brand of radio to the masses. Affectionately known as Lurch on their show, Jason Bishop is the big man of the foursome that makes up the broadcast team, and has been an avid golfer eager to […]
Alex talks Grapefruit League golf and public options down in West Palm Beach as well as a visit to Tiger Woods’ booming mini-golf business. Josh stops off at Furnace Creek GC north of Charm City and the discussion turns to a shared love of the nine-holer at Sligo Creek, along with an offbeat anecdote related […]
With a professional golf career spanning 43 years and counting, Fred Funk has experienced close to all you can imagine on tour. The PG County native who played for and coached the UMD golf team before his long journey on tour, joins the podcast to share stories from his career, memories from golf around the […]
Josh talks a few recent coastal first-state rounds at Baywood Greens, The Rookery & Midway. Alex plays a blustery round at Bull Run and shares some recent observations down at East Potomac. Listen to Episode 3 of the Surrender Birdies podcast below!
Alex and Josh dive into night golf after watching the latest iteration of The Match as well a recent round under the lights played at Knights Play in North Carolina. The discussion dives into the economics of adding lights to a course and where in the DMV night golf could work. Josh goes into the […]
For the past eight years, superintendent Chris Navin has led an on-course resurgence at PB Dye GC, with a continuing series of projects designed to have the course in the conversation as one of the best public options in the region. In the mid-2010s, conditions went through a rough stretch which led to ownership bringing […]
We kick off our new show with a review of the format, a couple host introductions and the plans for the podcast orgoing forward. A recent invite to BHCC gets interrupted by an urgent call from the homefront and the police have to be redirected from looking for one of our hosts mid-round, reflections on […]
The 2024 PGA Show in Orlando kicks off a conversation with Golf News Net’s founder, Ryan Ballangee. We discuss what Ryan saw at the show and how he’s seen the event evolve over the years before our discussion dives into his career in golf media. Just last year, Golf News Net launched a 24-hour golf […]
Fresh off last weekend’s PGA Tour Q-School, Davis Lamb joins the podcast to talk through his young career, which saw back-to-back wins on PGA Tour Canada this past summer. Those victories and a top 5 finish in the Fortinet Cup have earned him status on the Korn Ferry Tour with a handful of guaranteed starts […]
Jim Estes has enjoyed a long journey tied to this game. The DC area native and long-time resident spent years playing professionally on various tours both domestically and abroad, playing in five majors and earning his PGA Tour card for a year in the late 90s. But his enduring contribution to the game is co-founding […]
In our 75th podcast episode, we speak with five young golfers about their experience with the First Tee of Greater Washington DC and the impact both the organization and the game of golf has made with each of them. This impressive group each continued with The First Tee well into their teenage years, representing the […]
Retiring this season after a 27-year run as head golf coach for the Langley HS Saxons in McLean, Al Berg has led his program on a remarkable run of success. His team is competing to extend a run of seven consecutive Virginia Class 6 State Championship, and add to a total of 9 state titles […]
Recently named as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 teachers and having already been included in Golf Digest’s Top 50, Trillium Rose has established herself as one of the preeminent instructors in the game. Based at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, MD, she has also attracted a legion of followers to her social media channels […]
Having been named one of the top 50 Golf Fitness Trainers in America by Golf Digest every year since the list began, Jason Meisch is about as trusted a source for golf exercise training and performance enhancement as you'll find.
Jason and the PEAK team have been training golfers at their Rockville location since 2009 and have just opened their second larger facility in Ashburn. Much of the region's top young talent has been trusting PEAK to help them reach the next level and optimize their physical performance on and off the course.
peakgoffitness.com
Episode sponsor:
UnionGreen.com
Union Green is a lifestyle golf brand offering affordable performance golf balls, apparel, and gear to support local golfers—especially at the municipal and public courses, where so many first fall in love with golf.
Check out Episode 72 below!
With a lack of an end-of-season tournament available for his Stone Ridge golf team and other local private schools girls golf programs, Justin Nogay recently launched the Washington Metro Private School Girls’ Tournament, which in its second year fielded high school girls from 12 area schools. The success of his team and his contributions to girls golf helped land Justin, All-Met Coach of the Year honors this Spring.
This past fall, he moved to Charleston, SC to launch his golf performance business and commuted back to DC every week during the season to coach the team. Justin joins the podcast to talk about his journey with Stone Ridge golf, his passion of making golfers better through bio-mechanics and the challenges that currently face assistant golf professionals in the industry.
elitegolfperformanceusa.com
Episode sponsors:
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UnionGreen.com
Uniting people on and off the course through public golf #alwaysinplay
Check out Episode 71 below!
Playing golf six times a week is a dream that many who play this game imagine spending their golden years. DC Native and World War II veteran, Bernie Smoot has been living that dream for over 4 decades now since retiring in 1980. Weather permitting and when not visiting his sister and playing golf in Williamsburg, he can be found at the University of Maryland Golf Course nearly every day of the week.
At 97 years of age, Bernie has seemingly found the secret to longevity in this game. He reluctantly only started riding a cart at age 91 and has stopped counting how many times he shot his age many years ago. Mr Smoot was gracious enough to wear a mic during a round and share some of his stories on and off the course.
Episode Sponsor:
Union Green
Uniting people on and off the course through public golf
Listen to Episode 70 below!
https://youtu.be/_biXdnHmMnA
Jack Bonifant’s golf career alone is one most golfers would be impressed by. Junior champion at the Bobby Bowers at the age of 16, All-Met in high school, walk-on D1 golfer at James Madison University, and today a plus-handicap who competes for and sits on the board at Argyle Country Club.
His story becomes truly remarkable and inspiring when you add that at just six weeks old, Jack suffered a traumatic brain injury that resulted in him being left-hemiplegic and living a life of constant rehab.
Next month, the second U.S. Adaptive Open will again be held at Pinehurst Resort, where Jack will return to compete against of a field of talented golfers with a wide range of disabilities. He joins the podcast to cover a wide range of topics including how his disability impacts his life, competing in this area, and his love for Argyle Country Club.
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Union Green
Uniting people on and off the course through public golf #alwaysinplay
Listen to Episode 69 below!
As one of less than 500 PGA Master Professionals, Mike Dickson exudes a passion for seeing his students improve along with a deep understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing. After a seventeen-year run at Congressional Country Club, Mike now leads instruction at the MCG Academy at Little Bennett Golf Course.
Earlier this month he officially launched The Lagmaster, a swing-aid he personally conceived and designed that as the name suggests, trains the user to create a proper lag in their swing. We sat down at the Little Bennett range and talked about his career, how Homer Kelley's The Golfing Machine has influenced his teaching, his time at Congo and the process of bringing the Lagmaster to market.
lagmastersports.myshopify.com
Episode Sponsors:
BETWAY
Register today to get up to two-hundred-and-fifty dollars back in Bonus Bets if your first bet loses! All you need to do is sign up, make an initial deposit, and you’llbe ready to bet with Betway.
Please gamble responsibly – must be twenty-one years or older to wager withreal money. Terms and conditions apply.
Union Green
Uniting people on and off the course through public golf
Listen or watch Episode 68 below!
https://youtu.be/g01I4YJ60jo
For over 20 years, Jimmy Garvin ran programs at Langston Golf Course that included creating a learning center in the clubhouse where he used the game of golf as a carrot to get kids to focus on their education as well as exposing new destinations to a traveling team of All-Stars that competed against their peers abroad. Jimmy Garvin served as President of Golf Course Specialists, the longtime lease-holder of the three DC courses. He and his Legacy Foundation had a profound impact on many kids in this region who were able to see the game of golf as a vehicle to something greater.His programs came to a halt in 2012 after a well-publicized case involving a DC Councilmember who misused funds intended for these programs. Jimmy was forced to restart and eventually became part of the ownership group at Marlton Golf Course in PG County and today manages Rock Creek Park Golf Course.jimmygarvingolf.orgSponsored by Union Green - Uniting people on & off the Green through public golf - uniongreen.comListen or watch below!https://youtu.be/-o4n5yJuyR4
The indoor golf market has exploded in the US over the past few years with simulators popping up seemingly everywhere you look. After well-establishing itself as a global leader in the industry, Korean-based Golfzon opened its North American headquarters in Northern Virginia and is methodically pursuing US market share as this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
Golfzon America's James McDonald sat down with us at their Chantilly offices to talk about all aspects of indoor simulator golf including what the future of this market and technology holds.
Listen or watch below!
https://youtu.be/hrfr27zG3hU
When not working behind the camera on some of DC's most-watched shows like Meet The Press & Scott Van Pelt's SportsCenter, Garrett Johnston has been hustling to make a name for himself in the golf world, both as a writer and with a microphone. The Alexandria-based fellow podcaster has hosted over 140 episodes of Beyond The Clubhouse where he talks primarily with Tour Players, their Caddies and other media members covering professional golf.
Garrett joins the show to talk about his journey in the game, his strategies in getting that hard-to-get interview, the guidance he's received from a few folks at the very top of the profession and we also talk about this week's Master Tournament.
Episode sponsored by Betway
Register today to get up to two-hundred-and-fifty dollars back in Bonus Bets if your first bet loses! All you need to do is sign up, make an initial deposit, and you’llbe ready to bet with Betway.Please gamble responsibly – must be twenty-one years or older to wager withreal money. Terms and conditions apply.Listen or watch Episode 65 below!
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One of the best stories in DC-area sports the last few years has been not just the resurrection, but the play of the Howard University Golf team. Leading the way on the course has been Gregory Odom Jr who has won several events since transferring into the program from Memphis, and got the opportunity to compete in the Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac in 2022. While Steph Curry's highly publicized donation got the Howard Golf Program off the ground and thrust into the national spotlight, the play by Odom and his teammates under the guidance of Coach Sam Puryear has helped them stay there.He joins the podcast to talk about his journey from Memphis to Howard, his relationship with Coach Sam Puryear, the success he's had on the course, and what it's like playing with the national attention of a superstar's commitment to the program.Listen or watch below!https://youtu.be/YzJebnFOa7g
With 190 episodes under their belt and counting, Adam Hallenbeck and Eddie Taylor have been sharing their light-hearted stories and golf takes for four years. The Maryland-based duo tape the Mediocre Golf Podcast every week where they banter about their observations, recent rounds, buddies trips and whatever else is on their mind. We sat down to hear about their journey into podcasting and learn more about what drives this pair to tape their golf thoughts each and every week. Our discussion was taped in the clubhouse at Northwest Golf Course in Silver Spring, MD.Listen or watch below!https://youtu.be/d0opNxwiyHA
This episode was taped on the convention center floor during this month's PGA Show in Orlando, FL The annual industry event looked a bit more normal this year after going virtual in 2021 due to covid & last year's which was skipped by almost every major OEM.
A couple weeks prior to the event, David Grossman of the Gibson Island Club was awarded Merchandiser of the Year in the private club category by the Mid-Atlantic PGA. He explains a bit of his strategy in stocking his shop, what he looks for at this show & gives us some history on the architecturally rich golf club as well as some background on its popular logo.
SuperSpeed Golf is a training aid and program that has capitalized on the movement across both professional & amateur golf to maximize swing speed and hit the ball farther. Co-founder, Michael Napoleon gives us some background on how the company got started and the science behind why it can have such a quick and lasting impact on a golf swing.
Tyler Golf Bags was launched less than three years ago to fill a gap in the market that founder, Tyler McDaniel and his peers were looking for themselves. Thin profile, fully customizable carry bags at an affordable price. At last year's show, we shared some laughs with him and his club pro father, Jay, during a chance meeting at a nearby watering hole. Tyler joins the show to provide some insight on his growing business and his notable show marketing strategy of walking the floor with golf bags over each shoulder in lieu of a traditional booth.
12:18 David Grossman29:28 Michael Napolean51:14 Tyler McDanielListen or watch below!
https://youtu.be/jZVnneGUh20
With the highest population of any county in Virginia and the third highest median income in the country, Fairfax County has golfers galore. Its Park Authority provides and manages seven properties that run the gamut of municipal golf. A 36-hole property at Twin Lakes, two-executive nines at Pinecrest & Jefferson District, a pair of par […]
Flying under the radar while in the ear of some of golf’s top stars has been Julie Elion’s modus operandi for going on two decades. While most golf fans likely aren’t familiar with her, she is still very active in working with tour pros at the very top of the sport. With a resume that […]
Striving to elevate a Division 1 golf program to new heights as a first-time coach takes a tremendous amount of passion and work. Coach Greg Pieczynski was hired to lead the George Mason team just prior to the pandemic shutting down sports around the country and ever since has been managing all aspects of the […]
Wearing multiple hats in the world of golf as both the founder of a consultancy to brands & companies in the golf space as well as co-founding a player agency, Nick Green has points of view into this game from all sorts of angles. His career began in his native UK representing up-and-coming players that […]
As general manager for the past fourteen years at Golfdom, Matt Trenton has been a mainstay at the long-standing Tyson’s retailer. Earlier this year, the business agreed to be acquired by Worldwide Golf Shops, a Bethesda-based parent company of several well-known golf retailers throughout the country. Matt joins the podcast to discuss what went into […]
A fixture on the grounds of Langston Golf Course for the past three decades, Ray Savoy’s contributions to golf in DC have been significant. The DC native is in the US Golf Teachers Federation Hall of Fame and founded the Langston Boys & Girls Golf Club in 1990 despite only coming to the game of […]
As Ocean City, Maryland’s golf course development started to boom in the early 90’s, Bobby Vermillion saw an opportunity to merge his love of golf with his advertising sales career and start a television show to help promote the area as a golf destination. Thirty years and still going strong, Bobby has been the face […]
Putting together charity golf outings where attendees not only enjoy themselves and want to come back, but fundraising goals are consistently hit can be a tricky endeavor. Walter Kirkland puts together several tournaments each year for both organizations he runs or is a part of as well as events where he is hired simply to […]
Responsible for some of the highest profile golf course renovation & restorations in the country right now, Andrew Green’s profile has risen dramatically over the past several years. His transformational work on Congressional’s Blue Course is getting it’s first look from a national audience this week for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Andrew called into […]
Despite being retired from tour golf for six years as well as having her first child just a few months earlier, Jenny Suh Thompson grabbed the lone qualifying spot for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the PGA Stroke Play in February. Congressional is a homecoming for the former junior golf standout from Fairfax, who […]
Brought on to lead the maintenance & grounds teams prior to the renovation of the Blue Course, Pete Wendt and his staff have had extremely busy few years. First working hand in hand with the architecture team, the builders & contractors during the course transformation and re-opening just last year. And now ensuring the course […]
When the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship comes to town next week, it will not only be the first in a series of PGA of America championships to be hosted at Congressional Country Club over the next decade and a half, but it will also be an unveiling to a televised global audience of the Blue […]
Created to bring together golfers with all types of disabilities to compete in a single national open, Jason Faircloth and the United States Disabled Golf Association brought the 2022 event to Laurel Hill GC in Lorton, VA. Golfers from all over the country and a wide range of impairments competed this week for 54 holes […]
Launched in 2015 by a pair of grad school pals that saw a gap in premium apparel in the pro shop, Holderness & Bourne has grown from four early pro shops stocking their shirts to now over 1000 accounts and growing offering belts, hats, bags, pullovers and more. Headquartered in New York, founders Alex Holderness […]
While many prominent black golfers from the mid-20th century had significant roles in knocking down golf’s color barrier, Charlie Sifford is often referred to as the Jackie Robinson of golf for being the first African-American to be a card-carrying member of the PGA Tour and contributing to the removal of the PGA’s shameful Caucasian-only clause, […]
This Memorial Day weekend the Mid-Atlantic PGA along with the PGA of America is engaging in a nationwide fundraising effort to support veterans and increase opportunities to expose them to golf. As part of the PGA HOPE program courses throughout the region and country will be helping raise funds and awareness of their programs geared […]
Having won at every level from junior golf while at Georgetown Prep, to global amateur events while at the University of Virginia & later the Korn Ferry Tour championship, it seems just a matter of time before the Montgomery County native & five-year PGA Tour veteran, Denny McCarthy finds the winner’s circle at the highest […]
The preparation that goes into getting a golf course ready to host a PGA Tour event requires a tremendous amount of planning & coordination, to ensure conditions are ideal when the tour pros visit and throngs of attendees pack the grounds. Leading this effort at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm is Tim Connolly, who along […]
While it would be true to say that Billy Hurley III’s win on the PGA Tour put him on a very short list of winners at the highest level of golf from the capital region, that fact is hardly what makes that win & his career so unique. Having served 5 years in active service […]
Not many caddies on the PGA Tour are as well known & well respected as Jim “Bones” Mackay. After 25 years working with Phil Mickelson, his perspective on the game reached new heights spending 4 years on the NBC/Golf Channel broadcast team, receiving seemingly universal approval for his contributions as a tournament commentator. This past […]
The Mid-Atlantic Section of the PGA has been serving its membership comprised of over 1100 PGA Professionals throughout Maryland, DC & Virginia for almost a century. The MAPGA maintains a wide range of responsibilities, including running an extensive tournament schedule, a robust junior golf program & assistance in a variety of ways to its membership. […]
Beginning as a way for a group of college friends to stay in touch and talk golf, then evolving into a modest hustle selling extra hats and shirts, Sugarloaf Social Club has deftly leveraged social media to become a thriving business with a passionate community of golf-loving supporters. Founded by Ian Gilley & Harrison Lewis, […]
Few have had a life in golf as impactful as Deane Beman. Before a two-decade run as PGA Tour Commissioner where he ushered the sport from small-purses and minimal television coverage to major network deals and the big dollars that go with it, he was a standout golfer in his own right. Twice he qualified […]
Sustainability in the game of golf is an increasingly relevant multi-faceted topic within the industry. Andrew Szunyog is the DC-based co-founder of Driving The Green, a golf sustainability consultantcy. At next week’s Symposium on Municipal Golf, Andrew will be leading a panel on the subject, covering a wide-range of how golf courses can help themselves […]
The land that Laurel Hill Golf Course sits on in Lorton, Virginia has a rich history written about by Joshua Stueve in his piece titled “Ground Under Repair” in The Golfers Journal #5 (fall 2018). During the research for the article, he interviewed Laurel Hill’s course architects from Love Golf Design, Bill Love & Brian […]
Brought into the golf course design business by his father, the prolific Ed Ault, Brian has carved out a career that is approaching 50 years with golf course work completed all around the globe. While many of the projects Brian led in this region were renovation & course improvement jobs, his notable new-build designs include […]
Open up the current issue of Golf Digest (Sept ’21) and you will see an 8-page feature by the Club at Creighton Farms’ first ever Director of Instruction, Erika Larkin. Having been named the #1 teacher in the state of Virginia by her peers in every vote conducted by the publication since 2014, Golf Digest […]
It has now been one year since National Links Trust took over operations of the three public golf courses in our nation’s capital. Seemed an appropriate time to have another key piece of the operation on the podcast to hear some insight on the day-to-day operations as well as updates on the progress for the […]
So many golfers have lists of courses in some form of another that they are seeking to play. Whether it be best-of lists from magazines, the catalog of a certain architect or bucket-list big ticket destination golf, mapping out future rounds at yet unplayed tracks is common practice for most that play this game. For […]
Often overlooked when trying to improve the golf swing is what the golfer’s body is physically capable of. Mobility, strength & flexibility play an enormous role in how balanced, fast & complete the golf swing has the potential of being. Casey Edwards is a physical therapist & golf performance coach, and not only does he […]
As golf simulation tech has made huge advancements over the past decade, indoor golf businesses have been populating the urban landscape. On the forefront of the U.S. market is Five Iron Golf, which recently opened up their 9th location in Washington D.C. Founded by Jared Solomon, Five Iron offers a venue for the casual, the […]
This summer is the 100th anniversary of the lone golf major hosted at Columbia Country Club, the 1921 U.S. Open. The USGA awarded the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship to the historic club in Chevy Chase in part as a commemoration, but also as a return to the course that hosted the U.S. Boy’s Junior back […]
Looking to become the first golfer to represent Washington D.C. in the Special Olympics USA Games and perhaps beyond, Perez Plater is actively putting in the work necessary. He and Coach Nat, his coach and a former Olympian himself, sat down for this podcast at Langston GC, their home course, to talk about Perez’ progress, […]
The dream of many an avid golfer is to have their own course designed just how they want, to play anytime they’d like on their own property. Cliff Miller not only accomplished this with The Schoolhouse Nine, built on farmland in Sperryville, Virginia that has been in his family for generations, but he made it […]
In 2019, Henrico County issued an RFP to operate Belmont Golf Course, which was purchased by the county back in 1977. The historic A.W. Tillinghast design played host to the only major in the history of the state of Virginia, the 1949 PGA Championship won by native son Sam Snead. The contract was awarded to […]
The DC area’s chapter of First Tee got going back in 1999, not long after the national organization was founded in partnership with several of the sport’s governing bodies. After operating solely at East Potomac & Langston golf courses for its first 15 years, the First Tee of Greater Washington DC expanded into Northern Virginia […]
This is part 2 of the conversation with Tom Clark. Here we focus more on his most recent project, Cutalong at Lake Anna, where we did the taping after playing the course. After two decades of starts and stops, all 18 holes are now open and Cutalong is having its official grand opening later this […]
Having been a golf course architect for 50 years, Tom Clark has experienced just about all one can within the business. Hired by Ed Ault upon graduating college in 1971, Tom has been creating & reworking golf courses ever since. With the firm that eventually became Ault, Clark & Associates being based in suburban D.C., […]
-UPDATE: Not long after this podcast was recorded, the sale of the golf course was completed and new ownership did not retain staff. Shawn, Donny & Michael have each moved to new positions at other golf facilities- For our final episode of the year, we dive into the goings-on out at Lake Presidential Golf Club. […]
Having some of the longest hitters of a golf ball on the planet come to Washington D.C. and bomb drives on the National Mall seems almost too far-fetched & logistically challenging of an idea to be able to pull off. Yet in four short months since the concept was thought up, the event has not […]
Despite coming to the game later in life, Michael Williams has held numerous interesting roles within golf, has traveled the globe covering the game & spoken with a who’s who of the sport over the years for his own show, the 19th hole on GolfWRX. Earlier this year in the wake of the social upheaval […]
After spending nearly a decade at SBNation writing primarily on golf, Brendan Porath’s byline begins with podcast host. Three times a week, Brendan(!)and his co-host Andy Johnson (The Fried Egg) publish their off-the-cuff takes and musings on professional golf. Never shying away from calling out players or the industry in often hilarious ways traditional golf […]
Earlier this month National Links Trust took over operation as the long-term lessor of the three golf courses on National Park Service land in Washington D.C., East Potomac Park, Langston & Rock Creek Park. This project, which has justifiably garnered a tremendous amount of excitement not just locally but nationally, has years of work ahead […]
Over the past several years, the crew from No Laying Up has turned into a major force in golf media, with several highly quality video series & podcasts, a massive following on social media, in-demand golf trips and an online community spawned from their message board, The Refuge. Last month we participated in the first […]
During the late ’90’s boom of golf course construction, high-end public courses were beginning to open at a rapid pace. In Frederick County, Bob Sturges saw opportunity and was the first to open when in 1997, he purchased the piece of farmland that would become Worthington Manor Golf Club. Twenty-three years later the family-run operation […]
As the host of two popular Ringer podcasts, Fairway Rollin’ & House of Carbs, Joe House is very comfortable speaking into a mic. The DMV native and longtime DC resident has been teeing it up on courses around town for decades and jumped at the chance to sit down and chat about local golf. We […]
For the past 15 years, Donna Hoffman has been helping expose the game to women throughout the country with the company she founded, WomenOnCourse. The organization focuses on the social & networking benefits of golf above competition and has found this approach to be extremely successful having a membership that exceeds 20,000 (mostly) women, hosting […]
Optimizing the precise club component specs for each golfer’s unique swing is big business and the impact that club fitting can have is growing every year along with expanding options. With nearly a quarter-century of experience as an independent golf fitter, Matt Grabowy is one of the most knowledgable you will find on the subject […]
After years of teaching at several area courses and it came time to find a home for his own golf instruction business, Mark Russo came back to where his career began.. Night Hawk Golf Center. The fun driving range & par 3 course on a bustling section of MD route 3 maintains a neighborhood atmosphere […]
It is well -documented that hockey players love to golf. For Ethan Siemiesz, the perfect home to work within both of the sports he loves is Chevy Chase Club. One of the more prestigious clubs in the region and located just inside the beltway, CCC is also home to one of the only full-size outdoor […]
This game is all about having fun, and the guys at the GolfDMV keep that a priority at all times. Launched in 2017, the GolfDMV podcast focusing on their adventures in golf around the area, has been full of laughs, stories, and insights into the rounds they play and people that meet along the way. […]
Traveling the country in a custom van going from course to course playing with subscribers of The Golfer’s Journal, Casey Bannon is living out an absolute dream of a summer roadie. Now based near the TGJ’s headquarters in Southern California, the DMV native is making his way through the area in preparation for several events […]
With a resume that includes All-Met Player of the Year, All-SEC, Mid-Atlantic PGA Teacher of the Year & multiple stops as a coach at D1 programs, John Scott Rattan has experienced this game from all angles. Today, he works as a teaching professional at the prestigious Congressional Country Club which is currently going through a […]
Over the past decade, the golf retail industry has gone through tremendous change, with national chains scaling back their operations & independent off-course stores becoming few and far between. Buddy Christensen and his Golfdom team in Tysons Corner have persevered as a beloved business for their outstanding service and remain an invaluable resource for players […]
While golf simulators are seemingly popping up everywhere recently, CitySwing was the first to open in Washington D.C. and remains the only option in the city. Since that will likely change sooner rather than later, Tari Cash and her team are working hard to stay ahead of the competition and continue to grow their operation. […]
As founder of Road2Par, a social event company built around the game of golf, Desiree Walker focuses on exposing people to the lifestyle of the game and creating comfortability around a sport that can be intimidating for the uninitiated. By day, she is a police officer, striving to help set the example of how best […]
With change on the horizon at Langston and the other DC publics, we wanted to hear from Ernie Andrews, who has been working in some capacity at the historic course for five decades and counting. Ernie has seen it all and played with them all. Langston Golf Course was once a destination for golfers of […]
We sat down with Craig Kirby out at Langston GC in Northeast DC, where he was helping one of the young men he works with get settled into their first day interning at the golf course. Craig is the founder of Golf. My Future. My Game., based in Washington D.C., whose mission is to create […]
For episode three, Jon Eisman had us out to his new teaching studio at Laurel Hill GC in Lorton, Va. Jon talks to us about his start in coaching, who he teaches as well as some of the methods & technology he uses to do so. Jon was recently named to Golf Digest’s Best Teachers […]
In our second episode, we visit Ben Ellis at Fort Belvoir Golf Club, who along with a skeleton crew, is working to ensure the 36 holes on the property are in the best possible condition when it re-opens after closing due to Covid-19. Ben has extensive experience as a superintendent at several area facilities, is […]
In the inaugural episode of Beltway Golfer, Mike McCartin provides detail on the National Links Trust bid for the lease of East Potomac Park GC, Rock Creek GC & Langston GC. Our discussion takes place at Rock Creek Golf Course, where we also cover some of Mike’s other local projects such as the recent renovation […]