Getting Off Course Podcast

Matt Holder is the founder of Loop, a tee time engine that helps golfers book the best tee times at their favorite local courses. In this episode, we discuss Matt's experiences in the world of technology, and how those experiences prepared him to launch this new marketplace.Topics include:Matt's golf origin storyMatt's relationship to golf todayWhy Matt pursued a BA in EconomicsWorking for Trulia, Zillow, Houzz and CargurusPredictions for the future of golf and technologyWhether or not technology will make us better golfersTaking an idea from vision to realityResponding to user feedbackChallenges to building a tee time marketplaceHow Loop is monetizedWe finished the episode with a 10 question lightning round that included a few questions about Matt's rec league softball team.Would Matt rather be known for base hits or home runs? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Tony Starks is a copywriter for TaylorMade Golf and a recent contestant on ABC's Holey Moley. In this episode, we discuss Tony's 15 year career in the world of golf, as well as his experience on Stephen Curry's extreme mini golf show.Topics include:How Tony first heard about Holey MoleyHow Tony became a contestantThe application and recruiting processThe recording processHoles that Tony was hoping to avoidOutfit selectionBad breaksThe Morehouse College experienceHow Tony became a golf writerEarly job takeawaysPerks of working in the golf industryChallenges of working in the golf industryA typical day as a TaylorMade copywriterDealing with deadlinesOther TaylorMade initiativesWe finished the episode with a 10 question lightning round.How does Tony really feel about playing mini golf with a Callaway ball? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Andrew is the founder of The Petcash Post, an email newsletter focusing on the business of athletes and sports. He played division 1 basketball at Boston University and is a great resource when it comes to understanding NIL deals. We talked about his popular newsletter, college basketball, and NIL.Topics include:How Andrew came up with the idea for The Petcash PostBuilding a business through emailHaving an entrepreneurial spiritChoosing topics for the newsletterDealing with the pressure of the newsletterGrowing your subscriber baseDealing with criticismsMonetizing The Petcash PostHow Andrew ended up at Boston UniversityA D1 basketball player's scheduleShould college athletes get paid?Do NIL deals solve the compensation problem?The best ways to profit from NILSetting yourself up for NIL successWe started (and finished) with a 5 question lightning round.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Scott is a golf course designer, greenkeeping consultant and retired superintendent. One of Scott's projects includes the recently opened Gravel Pit Golf Course in Brainerd, Minnesota. We talked about this unique project and other design-centric questions.Topics include:Scott's early connection to golfPursuing a turfgrass management degree at Michigan StateEarly lessons as a superintendentExploring golf course designThe Gravel Pit Golf Course designAdvantages and disadvantages of building on a gravel pitHours logged in the design phaseRandom tasks and factors to considerFinding waterThe short course trendSeeing your design work come to lifeWe wrap everything up with a 5 question lightning round.Need a few reasons to visit Minnesota? Scott gives his pitch.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Zach and Andy Pessagno are the owners of Chasing Fowl Photography. These brothers teamed up several years ago to launch a golf-centric photography business that captures moments both on and off the course. In this episode, we talk about how they got started and what they've learned along the way. Topics include:Their journey into photographyGrowing up on the golf courseWho to trust in a life or death golf situationGolf misery storiesChasing Fowl PhotographyFirst clientsEarly lessons learnedKey equipmentThe challenges of sports photographyCapturing the perfect shotFavorite gigsWe ended with a 10 question lightning round.Which famous musician would Zach like to photograph in concert? I promise you'll never guess this one. Listen in to have your mind blown.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Abby Liebenthal is President and Founder of Fore the Ladies, Inc as well as the Senior Manager of Championship Marketing for the United States Golf Association (USGA). In this episode, we discuss:Abby's career in golfSome key takeaways from Abby's jobs along the wayIdentifying skillsets and passionsAbby's role at the USGALaunching Fore the LadiesSome of the barriers that keep women from exploring golfThe growth of Fore the LadiesGrowing painsContent creation for amateur golfersThe future of Fore the LadiesWe wrap everything up with a 5 question lightning round.Abby has lived in 8 different U.S. states. Which one is her favorite? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Lauren is one of the top 100 female golfers in the world, and she was kind enough to offer a quick glimpse into the life of a professional golfer. In this episode, we talk day-to-day life, tournament preparation, sponsorships and more. Discussions include:The work that goes into becoming a professional golferMoving to DallasLife on non-tournament weeksLife on the days leading up to a tournamentTournament questionsOvercoming bad roundsMaintaining momentum during good roundsThe disparity in LPGA & PGA payoutsWhat Lauren does with tournament winningsHow sponsorships workWe ended our time together with a 10 question lightning round.Did Lauren cry when the University of Alabama (her alma mater) lost to Georgia in college football national title game? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Ronan Galvin is the co-founder of Sunday Golf, a company that specializes in lightweight golf bags and other gear for the casual golfer. In this episode, we dive into the world of product development. Ronan offers some great insights for anyone looking to turn a product idea into a reality. Topics include:How Sunday Golf came to beThe first steps for turning an idea into a realityDeveloping a prototypeMoving into productionLessons learned from living in ChinaMisconceptions about ChinaHow to choose a partner for productionHorror storiesSunday Golf's first orderFinding customersDealing with competitorsThe Loma BagWe wrap everything up with a 10 question lightning round. You'll have to listen in to hear about some of Ronan's memorable experiences with Chinese cuisine.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Jeff Peart is a former semi-pro basketball player turned golf enthusiast. In 2021, he launched his own golf brand called Chasing Aces. We talk a ton of basketball in this podcast, giving the listener a glimpse into the world of semi-pro competition. We then pivot to golf and talk about the origin story of Chasing Aces. The show covers:Jeff's introduction to basketballAll-star game with Ime UdokaCoaching youth basketball in 2022Junior college basketballJeff's journey to semi-pro hoops and his takeawaysNature vs. nuture as it relates to talentInjury and life post-basketballDiscovering golfGolf in the Portland areaThe Chasing Aces origin storySuccessesHeadachesJeff's favorite Chasing Aces itemsFuture plansWe wrap everything up with a 10 question, basketball-centric lightning round.Jeff may or may not have compared his game to Larry Johnson's. You'll have to tune in to find out.

John is a retired professional golfer with plenty of PGA Tour experience under his belt. He also worked for the Golf Channel and is the author of a new book called Shafted. In this episode, we discuss:Lessons learned as a young golfer on the PGA TourJohn's incredible comeback win in the 1978 PGA ChampionshipWhy John found success at the highest levelsTransitioning away from professional competitionJohn's bookWe ended our time together with a 5 question lightning round. John shares the most underrated golfer from his era along with his favorite golfer from the current era.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Matt and a friend launched Cactus Golf Club, an online community that brings golfers together for game improvement and networking. Cactus Golf Club features exclusive monthly deals, fun giveaways, and drills and tips from golf instructors.The difference between Indiana golf and Arizona (desert) golfGolf accessoriesThe genesis of Cactus Golf ClubThe case for joining Cactus Golf ClubPartnering with smaller golf brandsPartnering with golf instructorsCreating an online communityFuture plans for the communityThe episode featured not 1, but 2 lightning rounds!I asked Matt which PGA Tour player he would like to trade places with. Who do you think he chose?This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Michael Wolf is a former college golfer and a current mini tour competitor. The journey to playing golf at the highest levels is a challenging one. I ask Mike a ton of questions related to what it takes to be a professional golfer. Topics include:How Mike got into golfHow someone becomes a professional golferMike's daily schedule for life and practiceWhat practice looks likeKey terms: Mini tour events, Monday qualifiers, pro-amsChoosing which events to compete inMike's favorite climate to play inHow the PGA uses its moneyHow Mike defines his successOvercoming adversity in a roundA tournament story (or two)We ended our time with a lightning round focusing on mini tour questions and Mike's hometown team, the Cincinnati Bengals. Does Mike think the Bengals will win a Super Bowl in the next 5 years? You'll have to listen in to find out. This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Bharat is the founder and chief appraiser at Veristrat LLC. He's a casual golfer and a contributor at Inc.com where he writes about a variety of business and financial topics. In this episode, we talk a bit of golf before diving into the world of business valuations. I had lots of questions about valuing businesses, unique assets and more. Bharat offered some great insights. Listen in, I guarantee you'll learn something!Topics covered:Bharat's relationship to golfPros/cons of an analytical golferThe importance of not siloing yourselfBusiness valuations: An art or a science?Why business valuations can vary between appraisersApproaches to valuing a businessBig companies that Bharat's valuedChallenges that come with large valuationsStartup valuations and what to look for in a startupUnique assetsValuing a golf courseMaximizing the value of your businessTeddy RooseveltIs owning a golf course a good business investment? That depends. Listen in to hear Bharat's take.We ended with a lightning round of 8 questions.This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Sam Puryear is a former college golfer and a pioneer in the world of golf coaching. Sam coached at Stanford (National Championship winner), Michigan State University (where he was the first African-American head coach at a Power Five School and won a Big Ten Championship), and Queens University of Charlotte. He is now the head of the men's and women's golf teams at Howard University, one of only twenty-five HBCUs with a Division 1 golf program. Sam is also the author of Diamonds in the Rough, an inspirational book that we discuss in the podcast.Listen in to learn more about:Sam's childhood and introduction to golfSam's collegiate golf career at Tennessee State UniversityDr. Catana StarksCoaching at Stanford UniversityEast Lake Junior Golf Academy in AtlantaDiamonds in the Rough (Sam's book)FaithThe genesis of the Howard University Golf ProgramThoughts on Steph Curry (who's funding the program)What practice looks like for Howard University golfersGoals and expectationsWe ended with a lightning round of 5 questions.#BleedBlue #HowardForwardThis episode is presented by SneakaDeal.com.

Kim Lewellen is a former college and professional golfer who now leads the Wake Forest women's golf team. She has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year on four separate occasions. In this episode, we discuss a variety of golf topics including:How golf became a part of Kim's lifeHow Kim became a college golf coachThe shift from competitor to the coach of competitorsHow Kim ended up at Wake ForestA glimpse into the world of golf recruitingInternational junior golfers vs. American junior golfersDivision 1 golf practiceThe role of a college coach on game dayReasons for Kim's successShould you choose a school because it has a yogurt machine in the cafeteria? Kim says no.We ended with a lightning round of 10 questions. Tune in for some of Kim's Winston-Salem restaurant recommendations.#godeacsThis episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Jared is a former college golfer and the brains behind Perfect Putt, a free weekly newsletter that breaks down the business side of golf. We discuss:Jared's D1 golf experiences at the University of Northern IowaJared's worst competitive roundThe mental gameJared's favorite golf memoryPerfect Putt origin storyWho the newsletter is forGolf trends that Jared's watchingHow to connect with Perfect PuttWe ended with a lightning round of 10 questions, 7 of which focused on golf and 3 of which focused on Jared's home state of Iowa.If Jared had $1,000,000 to invest in a golf stock, where do you think he would invest it? You'll have to listen to find out.This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Sloan Whitaker is one of the owners of BA Carts in Van Wert, Ohio. He wouldn't call himself the king of custom golf carts, but I've seen his work and it would be hard to top. We discuss:How Sloan got into the golf cart businessLessons learnedEarly marketing attemptsWhere his business sources their used golf cartsThe golf cart restoration processSloan's favorite custom buildsSloan's golf simulatorThis episode features our second installment of Caddie Corner, a  segment featuring Big G of the Real Life Caddie Podcast.We ended with a lightning round of 10 questions where Sloan highlights the most important accessory you'll want for your custom build. It's not what you'd expect.This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Tucker Booth is an award-winning battle rapper and entertainer. He's also the host of the Rappers Don't Golf podcast. A man of many talents, Tucker offers some great insights into how a creative person can make a living doing what they love. Our conversation covered a broad range of topics including:Tucker's first experiences with golfThe appeal of TopgolfA glimpse into the world of a battle rapperFinding success as an artist and getting paid for your workPushing through creative droughtsMental toughnessWe ended with a lightning round of 10 questions.Need some St. Louis food recommendations? Tucker has you covered.This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Dr. Mike Goatley is a Virginia Tech professor who specializes in turfgrass science. He's an engaging guest and I promise you're going to learn something. We discuss:Mike's first impressions of golfHow Mike ended up in the world of turfgrassWorking with bermudagrassWarm vs. cool season grassesThe "perfect" climate for turfgrass managementTurfgrass research examples and fundingHow turfgrass developments end up in the real worldThis episode also features our first installment of Caddie Corner, a new segment featuring Big G of the Real Life Caddie Podcast.We ended with a lightning round of 10 questions.Will Mike ever ride in a self-driving car? Listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.

Wayne Pettry hops on the show to give us some perspective on golf, his time as a par 3 clubhouse manager and his volunteer experiences with JMU women's softball. Wayne also shares:His favorite Jordan Spieth quote (very inspirational)His best/worst golf course clubhouse memoriesReasons for JMU's successInsights on other top D1 softball programsWayne acknowledges his fear of snakes, but also claims he would be willing to hold a live snake for $250. Write him a check and let's make it happen!This episode is presented by Par 3 Near Me.