Episodes
In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck go deep on the complicated negotiations around the framework agreement, drawing on Alan’s new reporting. They also introduce Bonfires, events that will provide access, camaraderie, competition and quality experiences at some of the best courses and resorts in the world.🔥 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 04/08/24
Published 04/08/24
Wait, there's more?! In Part 9 of the Fire Pit series on L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella gets final reflections from all protagonists on Lucas Glover's accomplishments, the putter, the technology and the business. Lots more on Brett Rumford's "let go of control to take control" and how it relates to overcoming the fears in golf and life. Plus, Kelly Slater on his win at Pipeline, 100-foot waves in Ireland and Jason Kuhn, the former Navy Seal sniper on: "Train like you fight." Thanks for...
Published 04/06/24
In part 8 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella takes you through the second of Lucas Glover’s back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour. And then he gets Glover’s thoughts on being passed up for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the business impact of the two wins, as well as reflections from several of the series protagonists on the stories within the series, including hope, inspiration, overcoming the yips and the American dream. In addition to Glover, you’ll...
Published 03/25/24
In part 7 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, it’s almost all Lucas Glover. When and where a new putter intersects with his battle with the yips, reflections on his life, career, more from the Navy Seal, bold predictions from his inner-circle, and ultimately a recap of his win at the 2023 Wyndham Championship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 03/14/24
In Part 6 of the Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, we’re getting to Lucas Glover, the highs and lows of professional golf, why friends and good management matters, and we talk to a Navy Seal about overcoming the yips. Thanks for following along.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 03/07/24
In Part 5 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on how and why L.A.B. Golf's technology and their putters are gaining in prominence and popularity, you'll hear from Brett Rumford, an Australian short-game guru. Rumford explains "giving up control to gain control," sheds light on the technology and why it's "cutting edge," he shares details of his relationship with Adam Scott, the bumps he overcame with Sam Hahn and the engineering team of the company, and he articulates his frustrations with pros...
Published 02/29/24
In Part 4 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf’s rise to putter prominence, we hear how Kelly Slater impacted Adam Scott’s decision to make it his gamer and why Scott called Sam Hahn to tell him he could win the Masters with it. You’ll also hear from Adam Beach of My Golf Spy as to why the technology is passing his company’s sniff tests.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 02/22/24
In part 3 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, the putters being used by the likes of Lucas Glover, Adam Scott, Ben An, Will Zalatoris, Camilo Villegas and more, you hear about some of the lean years, the struggles of branding, marketing, and how Sam Hahn went about getting it into the hands of Tour players. From Kelly Slater, Tim Wilkinson, Jeff Sluman and Vaughn Taylor, the proof was in the results. “His posture is getting taller and everything is...
Published 02/19/24
In Part 2 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, you get the story of Bill Presse, the inventor, as he goes from developing the "magic dust" of lie, angle and balance in his garage, sleeping in and selling putters out of his car to ultimately selling a "lion's share" of the company to the Hahn family. In addition to Presse, you'll hear from Sam Hahn, Matt Holm and Stuart Smith on how and why Presse's "genius" defied doubters, critics and Internet trolls.  See omnystudio.com/listener...
Published 02/09/24
L.A.B. Golf builds and sells putters that don’t look like most conventional putters. They’re big, some might say they’re ugly, unwieldy. But they’re effective, they’re resurrecting morale, careers and a love of putting. In this Fire Pit podcast series, Matt Ginella conducts over 20 interviews and pieces together the story of Bill Presse, the inventor, Sam Hahn, the CEO, and several other L.A.B. Golf employees who have witnessed the rise from Presse tinkering in a garage and selling his...
Published 02/05/24
In this throwback podcast on the history of Bandon Dunes, part 2 picks up on May 1st, 1999 on the eve of Bandon Dunes opening for business. I’m not even sure Mike Keiser could’ve dreamed something as big as what Bandon has become. We hear from Bandon's original caddy master, Shoe, and the local barber, Mick Peters, who has hit the first tee shot on every course at Bandon, as well as reflections from Mike Keiser, David Kidd, Josh Lesnik, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw as we also celebrate the...
Published 01/11/24
In this throwback podcast you’ll hear part 1 of the building of Bandon Dunes, as told by Mike Keiser, the owner, David McLay Kidd and his father, Jimmy, the architects, and Josh Lesnik and his father, Steve, who won the bid to manage it. Bandon Dunes, the original course at what is now the best pure golf destination in America, and arguably the world, was an outlier that opened in 1999. Like Sand Hills in Mullen, Nebraska, which opened in 1995, to build a golf course in a remote location...
Published 01/11/24
Part 1 of this throwback podcast leaves off in 1985, when Ben Crenshaw convinces Bill Coore to partner up. In part 2, we get them through some lean years, making a name for themselves in Maui, and tell the story of striking pay dirt and pink flags in the sand hills of Nebraska. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 01/05/24
Part 1 of this throwback Fire Pit Podcast includes the people, places and things that had an influence on what Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have become as architects, how and when they met, who was involved and why it works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 01/05/24
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella welcome the team behind the renovation of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course: Dan Burke, CEO of First Tee of San Francisco; Jay Blasi, the golf course architect; and Josh Lewis, project manager and agronomy guru. Burke, Blasi and Lewis reflect on the before, during and after of the resurrection and what this revitalized city asset will mean to the community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 12/20/23
In part 2 of this spirited rollback debate, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck are joined by world renowned golf course architect Mike Clayton to continue their discussion on the recent decision to modify the golf ball.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 12/07/23
In this extremely spirited Fire Drill, Matt Ginella is joined by Alan Shipnuck and Micheal Bamberger as the three lay out their opinions of the recently announced golf ball rollback.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 12/07/23
In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck provide lively updates on two ongoing FPC docuseries, one at Golden Gate Park GC and the other at Pasatiempo. They also have some fresh reporting on Shorty’s, the new par-3 course that is taking shape at Bandon Dunes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 11/15/23
Upon hearing about his competition in this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., in which Xander Schauffele (No. 6 in the world) and Chris Riley (PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cupper) will be taking on Geoff Ogilvy (U.S. Open winner) and Colin Featherstone (Korn Ferry Tour player and local legend), as well as Jasmine and Janae Leovao, 19-year-old twins who are sophomores at Long Beach State where they’re coming off back-to-back team wins in the Big West Conference,...
Published 11/10/23
In this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., women won’t just play with the men, they’ll play against them. This Saturday, Nov. 11, at a 4,500-yard municipal golf course where the motto is “World Class for Working Class,” what has become one of the greatest events in golf will open the gates at 9:30 AM, there will be a range clinic at 11 AM and the tournament tips at Noon. Tickets are $50 for adults, kids are free and dogs are welcome. There will be food, drinks and...
Published 11/09/23
In this Fire Drill Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck discuss: The launch of "Liv and Let Die" The uncertain future of professional golf The influence of Tiger Woods and the TGL Accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of the modern game How geopolitics is affecting the framework agreement See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 10/18/23
In this Fire Drill: Matt Ginella, Alan Shipnuck, Grammy award winner Jacquire King and Linksoul founder John Ashworth join artist Griffin House as he discusses the intersection of golf and music, his creative process and debuts some songs from his new EP. Griffin House is a 2 handicap who swings his driver 125 miles per hour. He is also a talented singer-songwriter with a long discography and dedicated fanbase that packs his shows.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 10/13/23
In this freewheeling conversation, Michael Bamberger gets the story-behind-the-story from Alan Shipnuck about his new book chronicling the battle for the soul of professional golf. They discuss the challenges of reporting a controversial, evolving story, delve into the larger themes of the book and dish on the brand name protagonists.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 10/04/23
In this episode of a Fire Drill from the Fire Pit Collective, Matt Ginella joins Alan Shipnuck to break down his latest travels to Dublin and Belfast. They both dive into the best of what’s available on and off the course. You’ll hear from several protagonists who offered their expertise throughout the trip. From a rainbow and whiskey at Royal County Down, the architect of the front-9 of Portstewart, Ardglass with the 11-time club champ and a brief history of St. Patrick, Ginella and Shipnuck...
Published 09/20/23