Golf Podcast: next on the tee Chris Mascaro

In Part 1 of Season 11, Episode 27 I'm joined by 2017's Top 10 Most Innovative People in Golf, Bill Bergin, and The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters.


Bill Bergin is a former Tour Player and is now one of the game's Top Golf Course Designers & Architects. He and Rees Jones collaborated on The McLemore. The 18th hole there has been named one of the top finishing holes in all of golf. They've double down on a second course there called The Keep. It is set to open later this year. Bill tells about the over-mile-long cliff edge holes they created there. We also hear about his other current projects at Coronado in El Paso, Texas, and The Links at Audubon Park in Memphis.


Dr. Bob shares the story of his 9th hole-in-one that he made recently while playing the Nicklaus course at the Reunion Resort. Then he shares the simplest key to releasing tension in our swings that will result in hitting better shots. You'll think, "No way" but try it and see. Let me know if it works for you.

In Part 2 of Episode 26, I'm joined by Brian Jacobs, Chandler Withington, and Eddie Murray. You can use the link below to stream or download the show:


Brian recently moved from Rochester, New York to Palm Beach Florida. Brian is a two-time Western New York Teacher of the Year. His new club is one of the top facilities anywhere in the world, Ballenisle Country Club. It features 3 top-rated courses, 5 restaurants, tennis courts, pickleball, and a host of other amenities. It's the Club we'd all love to belong to. Check it out online at www.ballenisle.org. Brian talks us around the club. We also discuss his recent email newsletter outlining the characteristics that make up great leaders. We also get a playing lesson for those of us who struggle with coming over the top and early extension. Follow him online at www.brianjacobsgolf.com


Chandler Withington was a PGA Professional at some of the top courses in the country like Merion and Hazeltine. He recently shifted his attention to spending more time with his family, his artwork, plus public speaking engagements. His artwork is off-the-charts great. Check it out online at www.archive22.com. Chandler shares one of his favorite Arnold Palmer stories, plus the story behind his hand-drawn Masters piece. He bet on himself when he walked away from Hazeltine so he could spend more time with his family and focus on public speaking engagements. Hear him talk about why and how he made that switch.


Former Pro Bowl Kicker and a member of the 1980 Team of the Decade, Eddie Murray rounds out the show. Eddie talks about what it was like being in Detroit for this year's NFL draft plus the Lions' return to the playoffs last season. We go back to when he was first introduced to golf over in England, when he got his first set of clubs, the similarities between kicking and the golf swing, plus the Hope Network Golf Classic he hosts annually that's coming up on Monday, June 17th at the Oakland University golf course in Rochester, Michigan. Check out the tournament online at www.hopenetwork.org

In Part 1 of this week's Next on the Tee podcast, I'm joined by PGA Professional Hall of Famer Bob Ford and Uneekor VP of Marketing Greg Sabella. You can use the link below to stream/download the show. Below the link, you'll find a summary of some of the topics we discussed.


Bob Ford is a living legend in our game. He is perhaps the most decorated PGA Professional of all-time. You'll find him enshrined in several Hall of Fames:


University of Tampa Sports Hall of FameAllegheny Kiski Valley Sports Hall of FameWestern Pennsylvania Sports Hall of FamePGA Professional Hall of Fame

Last summer he was presented the William D. Richardson Award by the Golf Writers Association of American for his consistently outstanding contributions to golf. His coaching tree is also tall and wide. Bob is the most universally revered PGA Professional in the game.


I get his insights on this year's Masters tournament, Neal Shipley's performance, the falling television ratings, rising greens fees around the country, his Yinzer pride, the Pirates season and disdain for the Owner, his excitement over what the Steelers have done so far this offseason, and his role as the Starter at the US Open.


Greg Sabella is back with an exciting new product. We discuss Uneekor's new EYE Mini Lite Launch Monitor. It's the launch monitor we've all dreamed of having in our basement or den, and now it's more affordable. It provides all the data we need, like ball speed, launch angle, and smash factor, and it also comes with Game Day Software that allows us to play online simulator golf matches with our friends anywhere in the world. There's also a Target Practice game which is like being at Top Golf. Plus, there's an AI Trainer to help you with your swing. The Eye Minit Lite is an unbelievable game improvement tool that will take your game to a new level and provide hours of family fun.

In Part 2 of this week's show, I'm joined by PGA Tour Caddie and in my opinion the best player in the history of the state of Tennessee Kip Henley, and one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America Eva Rogers.


Kip Henley has a tremendous resume. As a junior player, he won the Chattanooga City Prep Championship and the Ewing Watkins Award for being the most outstanding junior golfer in the city. In college, he was an All-Southern Conference player at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He later became a Class A Teaching Professional and taught at a few local clubs before becoming a Tour Caddie. His playing accomplishments include:


The Tennessee Assistant Pro ChampionshipTennessee PGA Section Championship 4 timesTennessee State Open twiceTennessee Player of the Year 5 timesWon The Golf Channel's Big Break II in 2004He added the Tennessee Senior Open Championship in June of 2023.

He is a fantastic Caddie and has been on the bag for players like Steward Cink, Vijay Singh, Austin Cook, Brian Gay, Boo Weekly, and Grayson Murray.


Kip takes us back to last summer when he won the state Senior Open Championship doing it in honor of his mentor and a staple in Tennessee Golf Warren Huddleston, who passed away. He also shares stories from his time caddying for Brian Gay including their 10-shot victory in the 2009 Heritage Classic.


Eva Rogers was named by Golf Digest as one of the Best Young Teachers in America. She is also a certified US Kids Instructor. She teaches at one of the most historic courses in the country, Medinah Country Club just outside of Chicago. Medinah has hosted several majors including 3 US Opens, 2 PGA Championships, a US Senior Open, and the 2012 Ryder Cup. She is a bright star in our game, doing great things.


Eva shares what it's like to call Medinah home and the great membership they have there. She was recently selected to serve on the 2024/2025 PGA Lead Team and we hear what they are working on. We also discuss how she keeps her junior players engaged and enjoying the game in a Tic Toc, immediate gratification world. She reflects on Nelly Korda's current historic run and the call she received from Illinois House Representative Jennifer Sanalitro regarding Eva's success in a male-dominated industry.

In Episode 25 Part 1, I'm joined by two fantastic Instructors, Tom Patri and Larry Rinker.


TP and I talk about the history unfolding in front of all of us from Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda. He shares his thoughts on why in the world Victor Hovland went from winning the Tour Championship to making swing and coach changes. We also get into the unprecedented amount of money that Scheffler's Caddie, Ted Scott is making. It's about to be more in the last few months than Arnold Palmer made playing golf in his career.


Larry Rinker played his college golf at the University of Florida and was the medalist at the 1978 SEC Championship. He is now one of the top Instructors in our game. Larry played in a couple of Masters Tournaments and we talk about his first experience back in 1983. He played a practice round with Payne Stewart and Scott Hoch and the Par 3 Tournament with Gary Player and Gay Brewer. We get both of those stories plus what it was like playing in the final group at the 1984 Heritage Classic with Nick Faldo, when Faldo got his first PGA Tour victory. Check him out online at www.larryrinker.com.

In Part 2 of this week's show, I'm joined by 1983 PGA Champion and 2-time Players Champion Hal Sutton and former PGA Tour Player who is now one of the all-time great Golf Analysts, Frank Nobilo.


Hal has designed a new course outside of Houston, Texas called Darmor. It is destined to be named the Top New Private Course of 2024/2025. We start off getting an update on how it's progressing. I then get Hal's thoughts on Scottie Scheffler's win in The Masters and his impressive play in the extremely windy conditions in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He also shares his thoughts on what he saw from Ludvig Aberg playing in his first major plus Tiger's performance as well. We then look ahead to the PGA Championship at Valhalla and a look back at Hal's win in the PGA Championship in 1983. Hal talks about having his idol, Jack Nicklaus, make a charge in the final round and what it was like having Jack waiting for him on 18 as Hal closed out that victory.


Frank Nobilo was a part of the CBS broadcast team for The Masters. We talk about why Augusta National always brings out the best in past champions. He shares his insights on the play of Sscheffler, Aberg, and Tiger. Then I get Frank's thoughts on why golf's ratings are down 20+% this year. We conclude by looking back at the 1994 US Open at Oakmont. Frank was in the field that year and in the press room when Arnold Palmer finished his final US Open round. Frank talks about the emotional scene of watching Mr. Palmer address the press and his fans.