December 04, 2025

Ben Polland PGA: The Mindset, Coaching & Competition Formula for Better Golf

43 minutes

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, Ryan and Seth sit down with Ben Polland, PGA, Director of Golf at Shooting Star (WY) and reigning 2024 PGA Professional Champion. Ben shares his incredible journey from late-blooming high school golfer to competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR events, and representing the PGA of America internationally.

We dig into:

• Why competing often is the fastest way to grow

• The mental game shift that changed Ben’s career

• How to pick a great coach (and when to move on)

• Why junior golfers MUST play more tournaments

• What Ben learned playing with Scottie Scheffler

• How to practice with purpose — even while working full-time

If you're a junior golfer, parent, coach, or competitive golf nerd, this episode is packed with insights you can use TODAY.

👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more elite-level conversations!

Hosts: Ryan Dailey, PGA & Seth Thompson, PGA

Executive Producer: A.J. Reimann

Find The Golf Sit Down: https://linktr.ee/TheGolfSitDown

⏱️ Chapter Markers

00:00 – Intro: Welcome Ben Pollin, PGA

00:09 – Ben’s background & growing up in Minnesota

02:00 – Choosing golf over baseball

03:00 – Why Ben chose Campbell University

04:10 – Early struggles & learning modern instruction

06:00 – Internships at Sebonack & Deepdale

07:30 – First major success & qualifying for nationals

09:40 – Turning pro & chasing the tour dream

11:00 – Competing to get better

14:00 – Playing with Scottie Scheffler

17:00 – Learning from elite players

19:00 – When self-belief finally clicked

21:00 – Pressure on tour vs. freedom now

23:00 – Managing a team while competing

24:30 – The importance of good coaching

27:20 – How to know if coaching is working

30:20 – Grip changes & experimentation

32:38 – Junior golf challenges & building programs

33:49 – How tournaments shape young players

35:49 – The Catherine Andino story

37:30 – How many tournaments juniors should play

38:52 – Mental freedom & pressure

39:50 – Why nerves are GOOD

41:38 – Big takeaways for parents & juniors

42:47 – Growth & comfort don’t coexist

43:26 – Closing thoughts & gratitude

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By Operation 36 Golf

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