Fore Golfers Network Podcast

Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 402 - The Powerful Story of Mark The Caddie.

Our special guest is Mark Milatz, author of "Caddie Tales, a Looper's Search for Lost Golf Balls," the personal story of a Pastor turned caddie and the intense, poignant, soul-baring journey that led to that career change.

Mark shares his struggles with anxiety and depression, which led to bad choices and his eventual departure from his church. Readers of the book will (hopefully) see parallels in their own lives and find inspiration in his journey.

The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by men in their roles, particularly in fatherhood and ministry.

You've heard many times about the ways golf reflects real life and this conversation brings that concept full circle as you meet Mark Milatz.

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 401 - Officially Unofficial Ryder Cup Preview w/ Arron Oberholser

We're joined by Golf Channel Analyst Arron Oberhosler for a full download on the Ryder Cup matches, the trends and history of "away games" for the US team, and a rock solid lock prediction on how it all turns out in the end. 

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 400 - Super Speed Golf Training - The Need For Speed.

We're diving into the pursuit every golfer knows all too well - the endless quest for added distance. Part of the solution to the puzzle connects directly to swing speed and the team at Super Speed Golf has been at the forefront of science, research, and data-driven innovation. 

If added distance is on your wish list, you'll want to tune in and listen carefully to this conversation with a Super Speed Golf Research Scientist and one of the sharpest minds in the distance pursuit field.

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 399 - Meet Kimberly Dinh - US Women's Mid Am Champion

No amateur golfer in the nation has been on a roll quite like Kimberly Dinh, winner of the 2023 US Women's Mid Am (press release below). The remarkable story of Dinh - a research scientist for Dow - is one you don't want to miss. 

To help color in the story even more, we're also joined by her teacher, PGA Pro Kyle Martin The Fortress GC in Frankenmuth, MI.

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NATIONAL CHAMPION: Midland’s Kimberly Dinh Wins U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur  

  ELVERSON, Pa. – Midland’s Kimberly Dinh rallied from a 3-down deficit by winning six of the final seven holes to claim the 36th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Thursday. 

  The 31-year-old associate research scientist at DOW Chemical and GAM Women’s Player of the Year the last two years, beat Kelsey Chugg of Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2017 champion, 2-up in the title match on the North Course at Stonewall. 

  "In college, I never really played in any USGA events, mostly because by the time the summer came around, I was burned out and I didn't want to travel,” she said. “So having an opportunity to compete in a USGA championship after grad school, after college, has been awesome, and to win it, just incredible.” 

  Dinh, who trailed in the match from the fifth hole through the 13th, tied the match by winning 12 and 13 with pars and 14 with a birdie. She lost hole 15 with a bogey, then won 16 with a bogey to tie the match again when Chugg made double-bogey. 

  Dinh then took the lead for the first time at 17 with a conceded birdie-2 on the par 3, and then birdied the final hole with a nine-foot putt to secure the 2-up victory. 

  “To lose a couple holes pretty quickly was a little bit frustrating, but I just kind of dug deep and never really panicked,” said Dinh. “Kelsey was playing great golf, but both of us were going to make mistakes at some point, so I just kind of had to weather that and keep playing. I said to myself, ‘I’ll keep putting one good swing on the ball after another and see where it takes me.’” 

  Dinh, who hired Stonewall caddie Mark Dalton for the week, was the 16 seed, and Chugg the 14 seed after stroke play qualifying. Chugg, 32 and a five-time Utah Women’s State Amateur champion, was in the final match of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur for the third time, and Dinh for the first time in three appearances at the championship. Dinh had reached the round of 16 and the quarterfinals in her first two trips to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. 

  A former University of Wisconsin golfer, the 2021 Michigan Women’s Amateur champion and a two-time GAM Women's Mid-Amateur champion, Dinh said she has learned from her previous golf experiences how to handle being behind. 

 “I have learned something every time I’ve gotten to match play, just every time I've played it, I’ve gotten more comfortable with it,” she said. “I’ve learned that even if you get down to not panic. I’ve been in pressure situations and have gotten used to it. I used to struggle with it, but this year I’ve played with the attitude that I need to enjoy every moment. Like I said, keep hitting the ball and see where it takes me.” 

  Dinh’s emotions bubbled to the surface when she was asked about her family and friends in the gallery, including an aunt who had departed for Indianapolis only to turn around and return as her niece advanced through to the final match. 

  “I really enjoy them being out following me,” she said. “They have been supportive of me through my entire golf journey.” 

   For the victory Dinh received the traditional USGA gold medal, custody of the Mildred Gardineer Prunaret Trophy for the next year, exemptions into the next 10 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships, exemptions into the 2024 and 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships and an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Dinh said Wednesday that the U.S. Women’s Open was a bucket list item she hoped to cross off one day. 

  “I’m super excited but I don’t think all of this will sink in until I’m home,” she said. 

   As for heading home, she said work beckons because she takes vacation days for her golf competitions. 

  “I have a presentation I have to give tomorrow so I have to at least dial in for that, and then we'll figure out what the rest of the day looks like,” she said and laughed. 

  Dinh is the first GAM member golfer to win the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, the third GAM member to win a national USGA title in the last three years and the sixth to win a USGA national championship in the last 21 years.  

  Kim Moore of Portage won the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open last summer, and James Piot of Canton became Michigan’s first U.S. Amateur Champion in 2021. In 2002 Greg Reynolds of Grand Blanc won the U.S. Senior Amateur, Randy Lewis of Alma won the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and Tom Werkmeister of Hudsonville was co-medalist as Team Michigan won the USGA State Team Championship in 2016. 

  Learn more at 2023 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Golf Championship (usga.org) 

Story by Greg Johnson and Mary Jo Green 

Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 398 - Jon "Happy" Gilmore - Military Long Drive Champion. We're going 1-on-1 with one of the longest bombers in the game, a man who also served his country as a United States Marine in some of the world's hottest spots. 

If you enjoy learning about the long ball world and adding in a powerful dose of patriotism, this conversation is going to be a LOT of fun!

More info on Military Long Drive

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 397 - Paul Goydos Talks Career, Tiger, & The Dreaded 5-Putt

With a 30+ year career as a professional PGA/Champions Tour player - and multiple winner - Paul Goydos has seen and done almost everything in the game. Listen in as he shares the highs and lows of a journey that spans the Tiger Woods era, fame and success, being profiled in one of the best-selling sports books of all time (A Good Walk Spoiled), and the now infamous 5-putt that cost him the 2023 Ally Challenge.

Candid. Funny. Determined. Everything we knew Paul Goydos would be. Enjoy!

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 396 - Bernhard Langer, Tom Gillis, Jerry Kelly, Paul Broadhurst at the Ally Challenge.

We're talking golf, life, faith, football, and more with the foursome of Langer, Gillis, Kelly, and Broadhurst during the Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI - the state's only PGA Tour Champions event.

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 395 - Justin Leonard, Boo Weekley, Tim O'Neal at the Ally Challenge.

We're bringing you 3 interviews for the price of none from a rainy Wednesday at the Ally Challenge, the PGA Tour Champions event at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI.

You'll hear from 1996 Buick Open (also at Warwick Hills) Champion Justin Leonard, fan favorite and Champions Tour Rookie Boo Weekley, and Tim O'Neal - a Rookie with quite a story about the journey he's been on to make it to the PGAT Champions.

We also share an answer to a commonly asked question about our involvement with the tournament and sing the praises of the hard-working team at Warwick Hills.

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Welcome to the Fore Golfers Network/Michigan Golf Live Podcast Ep 394 - Special Investigation - Beverage Cart Operator Horror Stories, Part 1.

We invited beverage cart operators from around the nation to share their stories of the abuse, assault, disrespect, drug abuse, and overall boorish behavior they encounter while making their rounds to serve golfers at courses, resorts, and nationally ranked destinations.

We've changed their names and promised anonymity as these ladies share incredible stories of men behaving badly. Men, we can do better than this.

ATTN BEV CART OPERATORS - We'd like to hear from you and mic you up for a shift. If you'd like to talk more about your experiences and help us help you change the culture of toxic behavior, please text our 24/7 Hotline: (989) 272-2383

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This is the Michigan Golf Live Radio August 19th edition featuring Traverse City Tourism and our 24th season radio finale. You'll hear guests from AGaMing Golf Resort (our host location), Crystal Mountain Resort, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, and other special places in and around Traverse City.

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