The Masters Tournament is one of the most iconic events in golf, but there’s a lot more to it than just four days of competition.

In this episode of the Birdie Board Podcast, Corey breaks down everything you need to know about the Masters, from its history and traditions to how the tournament actually works. Played every year at Augusta National, the Masters is unlike any other major, with unique rules, traditions, and an atmosphere that sets it apart from the rest of the golf world.

Corey walks through the origins of Augusta National, the story behind the green jacket, and how the tournament evolved into what it is today. From the early days when members had to chip in to pay the winner, to modern prize pools in the millions, the growth of the Masters reflects the evolution of the game itself.

The episode also covers some of the most interesting traditions, including the Champions Dinner, honorary tee shots, and the unique way fans experience the tournament as “patrons.” You’ll also hear about how players qualify, what makes winning the Masters so significant, and the long-term benefits that come with it.

To help you get the most out of watching this year’s tournament, Corey also highlights key tee times, notable groups, and storylines to follow, including Rory McIlroy defending his title and the presence of rising amateur talent.

Whether you’re a longtime golf fan or just getting into the sport, this episode gives you a simple, engaging way to understand what makes the Masters so special.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Most golfers think the round starts on the first tee, but in reality, it starts well before that.

Before you even hit a shot, you’re making decisions. What kind of round are you playing? Are you keeping score? Are you playing a match? How competitive is this going to be? And for a lot of golfers, this is where things already start to feel a little off.

In this episode of the Birdie Board Podcast, Corey walks through a real early-season round where he tried something different: a true practice round with no scorekeeping. Instead of playing the course as-is, he focused on intentionally practicing different types of shots, from repositioning in the fairway to changing tee boxes for better yardages.

What came out of that experience was a bigger realization. The way you approach the beginning of your round, both mentally and physically, has a huge impact on how the entire day plays out.

This episode breaks down two key areas that most golfers overlook. First, the challenge of setting up a round that actually feels right for your group. Whether you're playing casually with friends or trying to keep things fair with different skill levels, that initial setup matters more than people think.

Second, Corey shares a simple and practical pre-round routine that helps you feel ready without overthinking your swing. From quick stretching to a structured range warmup and putting routine, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s getting your body loose, your mind in the right place, and your expectations set for the round.

If you’ve ever felt rushed, unprepared, or slightly off before the first hole, this episode will help you rethink how you start your rounds so everything feels smoother from the beginning.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Golf season is finally here, and for a lot of us, that first round comes with a mix of excitement… and frustration.

In this episode, Corey breaks down what golfers should actually focus on at the start of the season. From managing expectations versus reality, to avoiding the most common early-season mistakes, this episode is all about setting yourself up for a better year of golf.

You’ll hear why your swing shouldn’t be your main focus, how to approach your first few rounds without unnecessary pressure, and why separating practice rounds from competitive rounds can completely change your mindset. Corey also shares simple ways to ease back into form, including how to use forgiving game formats like Stableford and match play to keep things fun while you’re still getting dialed in.

Whether you’re coming off a long winter or just looking to improve your consistency, this episode will help you reset your mindset, build better habits early, and actually enjoy the start of your golf season.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Episode 25 is a milestone, and Corey celebrates hitting 25 episodes and nearing 250 downloads before diving into a practical strategy discussion built around a real round. Instead of theory, he breaks down how he approaches holes by looking at the course map, identifying safe landing areas, and choosing targets that maximize good outcomes even when the swing does not cooperate. 

Corey walks through a par five where the fairway narrows near trouble and explains why he chose the “fat” landing area, how he recovered from a shank, and how net scoring changes the way a hole should feel when you get strokes. Then he breaks down a par three by mapping safe misses around bunkers and using a shot shape to create multiple acceptable results. Finally, he covers a par four where he plays for his miss, aims to remove the most dangerous trouble, and sets up an easier approach and chip. 

The big takeaway is that course strategy is not just about better decisions, it is also one of the best ways to get your mind off swing mechanics and back into playing golf the way it is meant to be played.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Most golfers play for years without fully understanding how golf scoring and handicaps actually work. In this episode of the Birdie Board Podcast, Corey breaks down several golf concepts that many friend groups misunderstand, including score differential, handicap indexes, stroke indexes, ready golf, net vs gross scoring, and maximum hole scores for handicap purposes.

If you've ever wondered how the handicap system really works, why your handicap isn't your average score, or how net scoring is calculated, this episode explains it in a simple and practical way for everyday golfers.

Whether you're new to golf or have been playing for years, this episode will help you better understand the systems that make golf competitions fair and fun.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Last week’s episode on controversial golf rules sparked a surprising amount of engagement in Birdie Board short clips, which got Corey thinking about why certain topics light people up online. Instead of diving into the psychology, Episode 23 pivots into something practical: how amateur golf should be structured so competition is normal, fair, and actually enjoyable.

Corey breaks the episode into five pillars:

1. Normalize competition: golf is one of the only casual sports where people often avoid competing, even though competition is what makes games feel meaningful.
2. Skill-based tee boxes: most amateurs play too far back, which makes par feel impossible and the round feel like a grind.
3. Stroke play and personal par: handicaps exist to balance skill differences, and understanding stroke allocation helps you know what “par for you” really is on each hole.
4. Competing with friends without it getting weird: agree on rules before teeing off, keep enforcement structural, and build shared buy-in.
5. The amateur forgiveness framework: optional pre-agreed rules like max score limits, OB as red stakes, lift/clean/place, and the gallery rule to keep things fair and moving.

Corey also shares a few Birdie Board updates, including removing players before a match starts and fixing medal emojis for tied leaderboard spots.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Learn more at 🌐birdieboard.golf

Episode 22 is all about the golf rules that spark the biggest arguments, especially among amateurs. Corey shares what kicked this off, a viral video about divot relief, then walks through a list of the most debated rules in the game and why they feel so unfair or confusing in real rounds.

You’ll hear thoughts on leaving the flagstick in, accidentally moving your ball on the green, the infamous “divot in the fairway” rule, temporary water relief, and why out of bounds penalties feel so brutal for everyday golfers. Corey also digs into gray areas like provisional balls, asking for advice during a round, and the bigger question behind all of it: should amateurs always play exactly like the pros, or should friend groups agree on modified rules as long as they’re honest about their scores?

If you’ve ever argued about white stakes, divots, or what “counts” as your real score, this one will hit home.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Learn more at 🌐birdieboard.golf

Episode 21 covers two big topics: a quick recap of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (the first signature event and first non cut event of the season), plus the final installment of the rules series with a deep dive into rules on the green.

Corey breaks down what actually counts as “on the green,” what to do when you end up on the wrong green, how order of play works (and when it can become a penalty in competition), and the key mechanics of marking, moving, and replacing your ball correctly. He also covers common edge cases like puddles on the putting surface, accidentally moving the ball while marking, hitting another ball on the green, the 10 second rule for balls hanging on the lip, and when you must replay a stroke due to outside interference.

To close it out, Corey shares a Birdie Board content idea: recreating the “Reebok Invitational” YouTube golf tournament inside Birdie Board to show what that match could have looked like using the app.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Learn more at 🌐birdieboard.golf

Out of bounds might be the simplest rule in golf, but it’s also one of the easiest ways for amateurs to throw away strokes.

In Episode 20, Corey breaks down everything you need to know about white stakes, what “out of bounds” actually means, and why it’s often smarter to miss toward a red-staked penalty area instead. He also explains exactly how provisional balls work, when you’re allowed to play one, and what to do when you find your original ball but it’s still basically impossible to hit.

To wrap up, Corey shares a quick winter practice update, including how practicing swing mechanics without a ball has helped him lock in better angles and tempo, plus a few Birdie Board updates and a request for early season feedback.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

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Learn more at 🌐birdieboard.golf

In Episode 19 of the Birdie Board Podcast, Corey breaks down penalty areas in a simple, practical way. You’ll learn the difference between yellow stakes and red stakes, what actually counts as “in” the penalty area, and the two core decisions you always have: play it as it lies, or take one penalty stroke and use your relief options.

Corey walks through the exact drop options for yellow stakes (back on the line or re-hit) and the extra option you get with red stakes (two club lengths). He also covers common real-world situations like uncertainty about whether your ball is actually in the penalty area, identifying your ball in messy spots, what you can and cannot move, and what happens when your attempt to play out of the penalty area goes sideways.

Golf Is Better With Friends 

⛳ Download the Birdie Board App (Free)

• Download from the Apple App Store
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Learn more at 🌐birdieboard.golf