In our annual Christmas episode, we look back on 2025 — on the course, off the course, and everywhere in between. With Christmas right around the corner, we reflect on the best golf courses we played this year, our favorite trips and memories, and what made this season special.

We break down our top golf courses of 2025, first-time plays, favorite holes, and unforgettable trips to places like Pine Valley, Oakmont, Shinnecock, Bandon Dunes, England, and beyond. We also discuss the Golf & Politics Cup, the competitive moments that mattered, and how the event continues to grow heading into 2026.

To close things out, we share goals for next year, lessons learned, and a few thoughts on what’s ahead — all in the spirit of Christmas, reflection, and gratitude.

Thanks for listening all year. Merry Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you in 2026.

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🧠 Topics Covered

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In this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt sits down with Stephen Carney, a former professional golfer who competed on PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latin America, before stepping away from the game and rebuilding his life off the course.

Stephen opens up about:

Starting golf later than most elite players — and catching up fast

Junior golf, college golf at the University of Tulsa, and the grind of mini-tours

The brutal economics of professional golf

The mental toll of Q-School, Monday qualifiers, and razor-thin margins

Why great players don’t always “make it” — and what actually separates those who do

Walking away from pro golf, becoming a CPA, and regaining amateur status

The controversy around former pros playing elite amateur events

Mindset, pressure, meritocracy, and life after chasing the dream

We also hit a fast-paced Shotgun 9 to close it out — covering politics, taxes, clutch shots, Oklahoma golf courses, and dream foursomes.

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about ambition, sacrifice, failure, and redefining success.

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This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth sit down with Brent Buchanan — president of Cygnal and one of the most accurate pollsters in modern politics — to break down the forces shaping America’s political landscape and the emotional currents driving voters today.

Brent takes us inside his new book, America’s Emotional Divide, unpacking why emotions—not logic—steer decisions, how negative ads tap into our survival instincts, and why 2024 became a perfect case study for understanding voter behavior. From the culture-war ad that shifted the race to the collapse of shared truth in the media, to why authenticity now beats ideology — this conversation touches every corner of politics, psychology, and modern campaigning.

The guys also dive deep into religion, polarization, fragmented media, cultural identity, and how candidates can actually connect with voters in a world where everyone is living in a different reality.

And of course, we bring it back to golf — exploring what political candidates can learn from elite players’ emotional discipline, and hearing Brent’s dream foursome.

⸻ 🧠 Topics Covered: • Why emotions drive political decisions more than logic • The ad that reshaped the 2024 election — and why it worked • How media fragmentation created “competing realities.” • Disillusioned Republicans vs. anxious Democrats • Why negative ads outperform positive ones (3x!) • How authenticity became the #1 political currency • What Maslow’s hierarchy reveals about modern voters • Parallels between the mental game of golf and campaigning • Brent’s dream foursome featuring a president, a pro, and a comedian

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In this episode of Golf & Politics, Rob Ellsworth and Matt Parker sit down with Simon Holt — CEO of 8AM Travel, co-host of Destination Golf, and steward of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 rankings. From Pine Valley to Royal County Down, Japan to New Zealand, Simon pulls back the curtain on how rankings are created, what truly makes a world-class course, how recency bias affects ballots, why firm-and-fast is dominating trends, and why great golf is as much about people as it is about architecture.

We dig into: ⛳️ What defines a great panelist 🏆 The methodology behind the Top 100 🧠 Recency bias and how to avoid it 🌍 Where the next great golf destinations may emerge 🪵 Tree removal, firmness, playability 🎒 Solo vs group golf travel — how to make friends through golf 🇮🇪 Why UK/Ireland golf is in the soul 🥃 Whiskey, tradition, and the ritual of the day 🇺🇸🇬🇧 And yes — golf, culture, and politics on both sides of the Atlantic

Simon also reveals some of his top-five golf experiences, tells us what really sets Pine Valley apart, and explains why North Berwick, Muirfield, Tara Iti, Hirono, and Shanqin Bay linger in memory.

Whether you chase Top 100s or just love the game, this episode will inspire your next trip, your next tee shot, or the next conversation in the clubhouse.

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This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth flip the script — handing the mic to show producer, Shanbu. In this warm, honest, and often hilarious Thanksgiving special, the guys reflect on gratitude, golf highs and lows, political reality, business challenges, personal growth, and what really matters as another year winds down.

Rob and Matt get real about family, faith, failure, injuries, success, bad tee shots, big wins, deep conversations, and the bond that forms when you walk 18 with someone you don’t always agree with. This one hits the heart of what Golf & Politics is all about: friendship, empathy, competition, values — and a shared love of the game.

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🧠 Topics Covered:

What we’re thankful for personally & professionally

 Most meaningful rounds of 2025 — Southern Hills, Shanken Bay, Ardfin & Pikewood

What golf has taught us about handling disagreement

Why relationships matter more than party lines

Goals for next year — on the course and in life

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On this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt and Rob sit down with one of the most fascinating personalities in the game: golf photographer, storyteller, and record-setting adventurer Patrick Koenig, author of The United States of Golf. Patrick shares how he left a conventional career behind to chase a dream—playing over 500 golf courses in a year, criss-crossing America in his RGV (Recreational Golf Vehicle), and capturing the spirit of the sport and the people connected to it.

We dive into:

⛳ The day he crossed paths with President Bill Clinton at Sleepy Hollow 

🚐 How an RV, a spreadsheet, and a leap of faith changed his life

 🏌️‍♂️ The mental grind of 500+ rounds — and one unforgettable shank

 💔 The emotional toll of divorce and healing through golf and friendship

 🔥 His parents’ loss in the Paradise Fire and the inspiring compassion that followed

 📸 The rise of golf influencers and life in the social media arena

 😂 Hilarious (and occasionally insane) stories from the road, the range, and the parking lot

This episode is packed with laughter, vulnerability, perspective, and love for the game. If you care about golf, humanity, friendship, resilience, and choosing an extraordinary path — this one will stick with you.

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In this Veterans Day–recorded episode of Golf and Politics, Matt and Rob welcome back their very first guest — former Congressman Bob Ney — for a brutally honest deep dive into Congress, shutdown politics, fiscal chaos, and the future of American governance.

Before the politics, the guys honor the veterans in their lives and share personal stories that set the tone for an episode rooted in gratitude and perspective.

Then they get into the big questions:

    • Why does the government keep shutting down?

    • Does “fiscal responsibility” mean anything anymore?

    • Could Congress ever pass a real budget again?

    • How have primaries, social media, and Trump reshaped incentives in Washington?

    • Is Chuck Schumer stronger or weaker after this shutdown showdown?

    • What happens when one party centralizes power — and the other eventually gets it back?

Bob Ney brings decades of insider perspective — from the Contract with America to balancing the budget in the 1990s to the Patriot Act fight — and breaks down how Congress lost its power and how it could regain it.

If you want a real, unfiltered, behind-the-curtain view of D.C. from people who’ve lived it, this is the episode.

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This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth break down key takeaways from statewide races across the U.S., including what Democrats’ strong night in Virginia and New Jersey means heading into 2026. They’re joined by Republican pollster John Rogers and Democratic lobbyist Brad Cheney to unpack what happened, why it happened, and what both parties should panic about (or celebrate).

🔑 Highlights:

What shifted with Hispanic and younger minority voters

Is “Trump fatigue” already affecting Republicans?

Did Democrats crack the affordability message?

Are candidate quality and authenticity finally mattering again?

What redistricting chaos could mean for Congress

The future of both parties heading into the next big cycle

Plus — insider stories from behind the scenes on campaigns in Virginia, California, New Jersey, and more.

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This week on Golf & Politics, Matt and Rob finally return — and they’re breaking down one of the coolest traditions in corporate golf: The Majority Cup (MG Cup). What started as a small outing among friends has grown into a 14–year legacy of competitive golf, meaningful relationships, and major impact.

Hosted at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia and Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, the MG Cup brings together clients, friends, and family to raise money for pediatric cancer through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. This year’s event generated more than $50,000 — and the stories behind the shots, the swag, and the people are what make this outing truly special.

Matt and Rob also talk:

 🏌️ Charity golf in Austin

 🎒 Swag that everyone actually uses 

🤝 Relationship building in politics and business

 🗳️ Upcoming elections and bipartisanship

 🎙️ Guest updates including Marty Russo & friends

If you’re thinking about hosting your own corporate or charity golf event — this is the episode to learn from.

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This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker sits down with Sam Hahn, co-founder and co-CEO of L.A.B. Golf, to unpack one of the most revolutionary stories in modern golf — how a street musician from Eugene, Oregon, turned his passion for tinkering with putters into a company that’s redefining the way players roll the rock.

Sam shares the unlikely journey from local music venues to leading one of golf’s most innovative brands — including the moment he almost ran for mayor of Eugene, how a viral Facebook argument helped launch L.A.B. into the spotlight, and what it felt like watching J.J. Spaun’s legendary U.S. Open putt sink with a L.A.B. in hand.

The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, perseverance, and putting philosophy — from Phil Mickelson’s golf IQ to why golfers should practice decision-making, not just mechanics.

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🧠 Topics Covered:

How a failed band tour led to golf’s most creative putter brand

Why Sam almost traded golf for politics

The early struggles (and lucky breaks) that helped L.A.B. Golf go viral

What makes the L.A.B. design so different — and why it works

Putting lessons from pros like Phil Mickelson, Lucas Glover, and J.J. Spaun

How COVID, social media, and authenticity shaped L.A.B.’s rise

The future of putting — beyond just putters

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