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National Links Trust Podcast
National Links Trust Podcast
Author: National Links Trust
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© 2025 National Links Trust Podcast
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The National Link Trust Podcast highlights the work National Link Trust is doing to protect and promote accessible, affordable, and engaging municipal golf courses that will positively impact local communities across the US.
36 Episodes
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This episode of the National Links Trust Podcast is a recording from our most recent edition of the Municipal Golf Network Webinar Program. Learn more about the program here. In this episode, we spotlight the Alamo City Golf Trail (ACGT) - the non-profit organization that oversees San Antonio’s municipal golf facilities with a commitment to affordability and accessibility. Joining NLT co-founder and host, Will Smith, was Andrew Peterson, the President and CEO of the ACGT. The pair discussed t...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we are joined by veteran course architect, Mike Young. With a career spanning more than 40 years in the golf industry, today, Mike is best known as the architect and owner of The Fields Golf Club in LaGrange, GA. Built on rolling hills southwest of Atlanta, The Fields has developed a "cult following" as an affordable, architecturally-engaging facility that places the golf experience as the most important aspect of their operations. More rec...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we dive headfirst into public golf in New York City and the role of municipal golf within the game at-large with Richard Johnson of CBS Sports. While Richard’s primary domain is college football - working broadcasts and writing for CBS Sports, as well as co-hosting the popular college football podcast, “Split Zone Duo” - he is also a passionate golfer. Like so many other New York City residents, he fights tooth and nail to play whenev...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we're joined by Ryan Book AKA @BethpageBlackMetal on Instagram. Ryan's account is one of the most interesting in golf as he shares golf course construction and architecture updates from projects big and small around the country. It is a definitive source for all things golf development, and we highly recommend you follow it if you haven't already. In this interview, Ryan and National Links Trust co-founder, Will Smith, discuss trends in pub...
This episode of the National Links Trust Podcast features a recording of a recent Municipal Golf Network webinar highlighting Barrier Free Golf and their first project: The Loop at Chaska. Barrier Free Golf is a nonprofit dedicated to making golf accessible to people with disabilities, veterans, juniors, and beginners of all ages. Their first project, The Loop at Chaska, is a 9-hole short course ( and putting course!) designed by Benjamin Warren in partnership with the City of Chaska, MN. Ope...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we're joined by Tim Gavrich. Tim is a senior writer at GolfPass, and he covers nearly every facet of the game with a focus on golf travel, architecture, and products. A champion of municipal golf, Tim is perhaps best known for his "Munaissance" article series where he highlights municipal golf courses undergoing renovations and revitalizations. A native of Connecticut now living in Florida, Tim has seen countless architecturally and histori...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, our host, Will Smith, is joined by Geoff Shackelford. Geoff is one of golf’s most influential writers having authored 11 books and with his work appearing in the Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest, and more. He is also the publisher of The Quadrilateral, a newsletter that covers the game through the lens of the four majors. Geoff teamed up with Gil Hanse to design Rustic Canyon Golf Course: one of Southern California's...
This episode of the National Links Trust Podcast is a recording from the Municipal Golf Network Webinar Program. It features the story of Brookline Golf Course in Brookline, MA and its relationship with the local community. Opened in 1933, Brookline Golf Course (also known as Robert T. Lynch and previously, Putterham Meadows) has elevated its role in the community in recent years largely thanks to the leadership of Justin Lawson, the facility's general manager. In his role, Justin has oversee...
This episode of the National Links Trust Podcast features a recording of a recent Municipal Golf Network Webinar. In this episode, we head to the Lone Star State to check in with the Dallas Golf Initiative (DGI), a non-profit organization modeled similarly to the National Links Trust. DGI was formed in 2020 in response to the proposed closing of 9 holes at the Glen Course at Tenison Park to make way for a paved walking and biking trail that connects to the larger trail network within the City...
This episode features a recording of our Municipal Golf Network Webinar Series on the upcoming restoration and renovation of the Great Dunes Course at Jekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia National Links Trust Co-Founder, Will Smith, is joinred by thee panelists. Jeffrey Stein and Brian Ross - the course’s co-architects, and Noel Jensen- the Deputy Executive Director for the Jekyll Island Authority. The group discusses the preservation of Travis’s architectural design as they tra...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we introduce a new National Links Trust Ambassador - Epson Tour player, Samantha Wagner. Samantha grew up playing public golf and had a successful junior and amateur career before turning pro in 2017. Since then, she has played on the Epson and LPGA Tours. We’re really excited to have Samantha aboard our team. To support National Links Trust and our mission to positively impact local communities through municipal golf, we encourage yo...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we welcome on Micaa' Thomas. Micaa' is a professional golfer who grew up at Langston Golf Course. After an accomplished amateur career, today, she plays mini-tour events while chasing her dream to play on the LPGA Tour. In her spare time, she is a talented artist who has produced an award-winning short film, Our House is on Fire, and written a children's book, Penny and the Peanut: A Story About Food Allergies. With her background in Washi...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, we welcome on Stephanie Tran and Tyler McKeever - winners of the Women's and Men's Division Champions at the inaugural National Links Trust Championship last fall. The National Links Trust Championship is a national mid-am tournament for public golfers held at Washington, DC's historic Blue Course at East Potomac Golf Links. In this pair of interviews, Stephanie and Tyler talk about their background in the game of golf and competing in th...
This episode features a recording of our Municipal Golf Network Webinar on San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Golf Course. Opened in 1951, this 9-hole, par 3 golf is coming out of a 6-month temporary closure that will see improved turf conditions, a brand new irrigation system and an expanded practice facility that will increase the course's environmental sustainability while expanding accessibility and inclusion for golfer's of all abilities. Course architect Jay Blasi (Chambers Bay) and othe...
This episode of the National Link Trust Podcast features a recording from the 2023 Symposium on Municipal Golf. Azucena Maldonado, Founder of the Latina Golfers Association, moderates a discussion on Partnerships and Community Engagement. National Links Trust's Andrew Szunyog, who oversees our volunteer and sustainability programs, is one of the panelists, and is joined by Dave Andrews, Director of The Path at The Park West Palm (FL) and Maria Stroup, Senior Vice President of Education, Socia...
This episode of the National Link Trust Podcast features a recording from the 2023 Symposium on Municipal Golf. Michael Stachowicz of the National Park Service moderates a discussion on Agronomy and Course Maintenance with a panel of golf course superintendents. These superintendents are Rich Shilling from Jeffersonville Golf Club (PA), Len Curtin from George Wright Golf Course (MA), and Clay Payne from Buffalo Dunes Golf Course (KS). All three of these properties have undergone renovat...
This episode of the National Link Trust Podcast features a recording from the 2023 Symposium on Municipal Golf. Bill Potter, Vice President of Communications and Engagement at First Tee - Greater Richmond, moderates a discussion on Fundraising and Marketing. Joining Bill are Marty Elgison, Co-founder and President of the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation (GA), Tim Andersen, Founder of Barrier Free Golf, and David Wagner, Board Member of the Highland Park Golf Foundation (OH). These panelists...
This episode of the National Link Trust Podcast features a recording from the 2023 Symposium on Municipal Golf. Rachel Carter, Senior Membership Director at the National Golf Course Owners Association, moderates a discussion on Municipal Golf Governance and Management. She is joined by Steve Leary, former mayor of Winter Park, FL who was instrumental in the renovation of Winter Park 9, Michael Raby, Director of Golf for the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rou...
This episode of the National Link Trust Podcast features a recording from the 2023 Symposium on Municipal Golf. Garrett Morrison of Fried Egg Golf is joined by Jay Blasi (Chambers Bay), Mike Young (Warmouth Sands), and Troy Miller (Charleston Municipal Golf Course). All three of these architects have vast experience in the architecture business, but their experience in municipal and public golf make them particularly well-fit for this conversation. To support National Links Trust, join our ...
In this episode of the National Links Trust Podcast, our host, and National Links Trust (NLT) co-founder, Will Smith is joined by his fellow co-founder, Mike McCartin. Mike and Will provide a number of updates on NLT including the state of the Rock Creek Park Golf rehabilitation project, ongoing work at Langston Golf Course, a new Director of Agronomy for our three Washington, DC courses, and more. They also discuss upcoming NLT events and talk about their recent golf travels checking out new...



