Golf Needs You

episode 27 // Parker Anderson, Greener Golf // in this ep: golf sustainability // using golf as a tool to connect people to nature // creating healthy ecosystems out of golf courses // standard once-an-episode mention of Goat Hill Park // why does sustainability matter? // University of Michigan // donuts, deserts, & dogs

episode 26 // Connor Laubenstein, aka The Bag Bandit // in this ep: garden stones // who or what is the bag bandit // writing for Random Golf Club & The Fried Egg // the benefit of eating what you kill // using words, liberally // caddying! // what does success look like for a freelance writer // it’s not what you know it’s who you know but you know who you know because of what you know // mopeds

episode 25 // Eric Sedransk, founder & CEO of Member for a Day // in this ep: helping nonprofits fundraise through once in a lifetime rounds of golf // something good coming out of the bad that is COVID // raising 36k in two hours and 1 million in less than a year // time management and avoiding burnout // living in the grey (gray?) // Jim Boeheim, somehow

episode 24 // Matt Cardis, Golf In Your State // in this episode // my voice cracks on the intro but against better judgment i decided not to re-record // the journey from then to now of GIYS // lots of work behind the scenes // how to not make infomercials // what makes golf special // does college matter // unique questions only

episode 23 // Mac Todd, Founder & CEO of Urban Golf Performance // in this ep: a golf learning experience // paths outta pre-med // packing the car and making it in LA // when a spoon is your only tool // starting a vision with 50k and making 100k in 45 days // charitable giving as a business model // the future of UGP

episode 22 // Rob Lang & David Bareño, Indi Golf // in this ep: building golf clubs! // bringing products to market // the podcast is interrupted by dogs and that’s ok because we love dogs // manufacturing // inventing? // the importance of having fun

episode 21 // Colt Knedler, Vice Golf // in this episode: two friends talk for an hour about golf and life and work and content creation and creativity and a lot of other stuff // convinced no one cares about this particular podcast description component so my effort on this front now reflects that // a fantastic episode

episode 20 // Danny Wax, CEO of Forelinx // in this ep: the prince of podcasts // a digital currency for all things golf // danny’s path to entrepreneurship // why does golf move so slowly (no one knows) // the evolution of forelinx // is pivot a bad word // somehow we end up talking about the stock market? // imitation as the best form of flattery // some actual breaking news

episode 19 // Dave Tucker, Account Director at Eiger Marketing // in this ep: marketing vs. hospitality // 19 episodes deep and the audio transitions are as bad as ever // is sales a slimy word? // gap years & saying yes // the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA OPEN // sponsorships and how cool is Mike Whan // life as a private club employee // finally, Dave likely lands in hot water at home after the most dramatic BREAKING NEWS in GNY history

episode 18 // David Cushman, Cushman Custom Golf // in this ep: David builds putters with his bare hands with a machine // what’s the tipping point for when a side hustle has to become a full-time gig // being relatively new to the game // does anyone even read these descriptions? // what’s next for CCG

episode 17 // Dustin Marucci, ProPlay // in this ep: wil calls dustin a michigander in the intro which is only half-true // reframing and finding your passion // a day in the life running a new golf company // wil brokers a partnership for ProPlay without knowing it // inspiration from Radda // quantifying what works and what doesn’t on social media // when to interchange baby wipes with ProPlay wipes (never)

episode 16 // Jess McAlister, co-founder of Digital Golf Collective // in this ep: breaking news EARLY // playing golf with dad // wil says “sure” just way, way too often // finding a business partner // sean // what did you do at work yesterday? // work-life integration // getting back to normal... whatever that is // rounding out the interview with a really weird pronunciation of the word “creative”

episode 15 // Thomas Reiten // in this ep: video editing for Erik Anders Lang // what makes the golf community special // Thomas’s diary // the intro song // trust in the editing process // making golf cool again? // some absolutely earth-rattling BREAKING NEWS // finally, a new segment called “give the host a compliment”

episode 14 // Hannah Gregg // in this ep: “turning pro” & the associated expenses // life on the mini-tours // pro golf is a startup, you are the product // what is an influencer? // Fredrik Lindblom // the evolution of marketing // business ideas

episode 13 // Luke Davis, Founder of Lie+Loft // in this ep: connecting golf and the feeling of home // inclusiveness and welcoming // contemporary golf art // going down the PGM program path // being a starving artist // doing what you love but you also gotta keep the lights on // burnout & comparison complexes // wil says “huh” a lot // building relationships over time in the small golf community // sustainability & the unfinished ecosystem of recycling at golf courses

episode 12 // Chris Mellow, CEO & Founder of Good Walk Coffee Company // in this ep: combining golf + coffee // authenticity // being michiganders // the moment of inception (kind of) // opportunity vs. passion // more authenticity // wil asks a dumb question and forgets about editing it out until typing this so... it stays // collaborating and not threatening // finally, more authenticity

episode 11 // Matt Fernandez, Founder of North Coast Golf Co. // in this ep: michigan golf! // r & d // the excitement and intimidation of year 1 // does business school help? // building a business from anywhere // retail vs direct to consumer // some overall michigan banter

episode 10 // Cole Young, Brand Director at Malbon Golf // in this ep: you can’t put Malbon in a box // the epicenter of culture // getting scrappy in the face of covid // wil pitches a home run Rams Hill + Malbon Golf business idea to cole // networking! // BREAKING NEWS regarding Malbon Golf Club

episode 9 // Jason Fields, co-founder of Radda Golf // in this ep: the tee shot on 1 goes OB as wil mispronounces “Radda” upon introduction // what does it mean to be a golfer? // making apparel for golfers by golfers // breaking down antiquated associations with golf // startups and VC money // finally, most importantly, what Radda is doing to incite social change

episode 8 // Nick & Christina Lumsden, owners and operators of Dogleg Brewing Company in Vista, CA // in this ep: golf! // Beer! // DOGS! // getting a brewery off the ground in one of the weirdest times in human history // exposing golfers to craft beer and exposing craft beer drinkers to golf // the influence of Goat Hill Park + Linksoul // what is golf? // some unofficial official BREAKING NEWS regarding where you can find Dogleg beers in the near future // finally, Anza and Shasta 🐶🐶