In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson sits down with Maggie Will, a three time LPGA Tour winner, to talk about what excellence actually costs in golf and in life.

Maggie shares her story of discovering golf at a young age, committing to the discipline required to reach the highest level, and learning how excellence evolves across different seasons. The conversation explores the difference between excellence and perfectionism, why self discipline matters more than external pressure, and how gratitude fuels passion over the long haul.

This episode goes far beyond golf technique. It is a thoughtful conversation about growth, leadership, coaching, and choosing to live with intention in whatever arena matters most to you.

• The cost of pursuing excellence
• Excellence versus perfectionism
• Discipline and self discipline
• Doing the extra over the ordinary
• Gratitude as a source of motivation
• Coaching and inspiring growth in others
• Practicing under real conditions
• Sustaining excellence through changing seasons

(0:00) Intro and Maggie’s Story

(8:59) The Cost of Pursuing Excellence

(17:51) Excellence Versus Perfectionism

(26:51) Discipline and Doing the Extra

(39:13) Coaching and Motivating Others

(50:05) Sustaining Excellence Over Time

(1:00:00) Practical Golf Advice for Improvement

First tee jitters are a shared experience for golfers at every level, yet many players don’t understand why they happen or how to handle them. In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy Thompson and Joe Wise explore the reality of first tee nerves, why they show up even in casual rounds, and why trying to eliminate them often makes things worse.

Through personal stories—from casual rounds to tournament play—Tommy explains that nerves aren’t something to overcome, but something to play through. He introduces a simple framework centered on acknowledging nerves, slowing the body through intentional breathing, and giving extra attention to the think box before stepping into a normal, unchanged pre-shot routine. The episode emphasizes that managing nerves is about regulating the body, not overthinking the shot, and that first tee shots can actually become some of the best shots of the day when approached with clarity and consistency.

• First tee jitters happen to everyone, from beginners to experienced tournament players
• Nerves often come from caring, wanting to do well, or trying to impress others
• Trying to fight or eliminate nerves usually makes them stronger
• Acknowledging nerves helps reduce their power
• The goal is not to remove nerves, but to learn how to play through them
• The think box is where extra time should be spent preparing the body, not overthinking the shot
• Slowing your breathing helps calm tension, regulate tempo, and improve focus
• Once you enter the play box, your pre-shot routine should stay exactly the same
• Rushing to “get it over with” often leads to poor first tee shots
• With proper preparation, first tee shots can be some of the most focused and solid shots of the round

00:00 First Tee Jitters and Why They Happen

02:59 Personal First Tee Stories and Early Golf Experiences

05:50 The Psychology Behind Nerves and Performance

09:12 Learning to Play Through Pressure

12:07 Why You Shouldn’t Fight Nerves

14:53 Breathing Techniques to Calm the Body

17:51 The Think Box and Pre-Shot Preparation

20:50 Why First Tee Shots Can Be Your Best Shots

28:02 Final Thoughts on Managing Nerves and Letting It Fly

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Former Major League Baseball pitcher Jose Alvarez joins Links for Life to reflect on his journey from pitching for the Atlanta Braves to competing in elite events like the Pro Rivals Open and serving in golf ministry through Links Players International. After a 16 year professional baseball career, including multiple seasons in the MLB, Jose shares what success taught him and what it couldn’t, exploring identity beyond performance, the pursuit of lasting fulfillment, and how faith ultimately reshaped his sense of purpose. Through stories from professional sports, competitive golf, and decades of mentoring athletes, this conversation highlights how golf became a powerful avenue for meaningful relationships, spiritual growth, and life changing conversations on and off the course.

00:00 The pursuit of happiness in sports

03:03 From MLB pitching to golf and ministry

05:53 Competing in the Pro Rivals Open

09:12 Finding purpose beyond winning

12:04 Faith and family as the foundation

18:05 Forgiveness and overcoming adversity

24:02 The illusion of success in professional sports

30:02 Life lessons revealed through golf

39:12 The Refresh Box and conversations on the course

44:00 Identity beyond performance

49:03 Links Players

55:04 Golf tips, mindset, and faith in action

Links Players - https://linksplayers.com

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In this episode, Tommy and Joe walk through a wide range of golf games—both team-based and solo—that make golf more fun while also sharpening your skills. From classics like Nassau, Wolf, Skins and Bingo Bango Bongo to creative solo formats like forward-tee rounds, back-tee rounds and reverse scrambles, these games help sharpen strategy, create pressure, practice smarter, and bring creativity back to the course.

They also explore how mixing up formats reveals weaknesses, builds confidence, and keeps golf fresh and enjoyable. Whether you're playing with friends or testing yourself alone, these games give you structure, focus, and a way to practice the mental game in real time.

(0:00) Intro

(3:15) Golf Games Glossary

(11:53) The Benefit of Golf Games

(13:33) Nassau

(18:24) Wolf

(26:19) Skins

(28:29) Bingo Bango Bongo

(34:13) 3 Sixes

(36:10) Getting Creative with Formats

(39:09) Solo Games

(40:00) Playing from the Forward Tees

(45:09) Playing from the Back Tees

(47:11) Self-Scramble / Best Ball

(52:29) Reverse Scramble

(54:53) Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy and Joe break down one of the simplest but most powerful frameworks for playing better golf: the four-box cycle of Think, Play, Memory, and Refresh. Adapted from the book Be a Player by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott (Vision54), the framework turns every shot into a repeatable rhythm that helps golfers manage emotions, make smarter decisions, and execute with clarity.

Tommy explains how each “box” creates structure around the chaos of a golf round. Joe shares how the model is helping him eliminate overthinking and separate decisions from execution. Together, they highlight how this cycle not only improves performance on the course — it also maps beautifully onto rhythms of daily life.

0:00 Intro

16:14 Introducing the four-box performance framework

20:16 Overview of Think, Play, Memory, Refresh

26:34 The Think Box

46:35 The Play Box

1:05:40 The Memory Box

1:16:11 The Refresh Box

1:23:55 Applying the four boxes to daily life

• There’s genius in this framework — it simplifies everything.
• Each box is its own action, helping you avoid blending thinking and execution.
• The cycle repeats every shot, giving you a clean reset.
• The Memory Box keeps you from dragging emotions into the next shot.
• The Refresh Box is where rhythm, joy, and presence return.
• This same cycle maps onto daily life: plan, act, reflect, rest.

• Be a Player by Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott
• Vision54

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy and Joe unpack one of the most surprising realities in golf: most golfers never actually get better. Handicaps stay the same for years, even decades — not because people aren’t trying, but because most golfers don’t know how to practice in ways that lead to real improvement.

This episode dives deep into the art of practicing well. Tommy and Joe explore why so much effort gets wasted, what effective practice actually looks like, and how intention, experimentation, and honest self-assessment can transform both your game and your enjoyment of it. They break down practical strategies for range sessions, short game work, overcoming weaknesses, and building an off-season plan that sets up a breakthrough season ahead.

Whether you're new to practice or you’ve been stuck at the same scoring plateau, this episode gives you a clear, encouraging roadmap for how to finally start improving.

• Most golfers fail to improve because they practice the same habits without intention.
• Effective practice is purposeful, targeted, and fun enough to keep you engaged.
• Gamifying practice boosts focus and accelerates learning.
• Experimenting with ball flight and feel on the range teaches more than grinding stock shots.
• Short game practice is essential — yet it’s the least practiced part of the game.
• Honest self-assessment helps you identify what’s actually holding you back.
• An off-season plan turns “winter rust” into real progress.
• Balancing strengths and weaknesses keeps practice structured and sustainable.
• Improvement comes from rhythm, reflection, and the courage to face what’s sabotaging your game.
• Better practice in golf mirrors better practice in life — clarity and intention matter everywhere.

Use this to determine where your practice should go:

• Putting
• Chipping
• Sand play
• Pitching
• Half wedges (40–70 yards)
• Irons
• Fairway woods / hybrids
• Driver

Framework referenced by Tommy:

• Communication
• Finances
• Marriage / relationships
• Parenting
• Health
• Work / vocation
• Personal growth
• Emotional life
• Spiritual life
• Rhythms / rest

00:00 The Challenge of Improvement in Golf

02:42 The Importance of Effective Practice

05:48 Mindset and Intentionality in Practice

08:53 Making Practice Fun and Engaging

11:49 The Role of Intention in Practice Sessions

14:50 Experimentation and Learning on the Range

17:45 Short Game as the Key to Golf Success

28:03 Mastering the Short Game

30:50 Developing an Off-Season Plan

33:32 Self-Assessment for Improvement

38:47 Embracing Frustration in Practice

42:50 Identifying and Overcoming Sabotaging Weaknesses

47:44 Balancing Perfectionism and Progress

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy and Joe share their biggest takeaways from attending the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Watching legends like Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, and Freddie Jacobson up close offered a masterclass in calm focus, emotional control, and smart play. They discuss how the pros manage pressure, recover from mistakes, and approach every shot with intention—lessons that apply far beyond the course.

From slowing down under pressure to keeping ego out of decision-making, this conversation explores what makes Champions Tour players so consistent and how those same habits can improve both your golf game and your everyday life.

Takeaways

• Champions Tour players model calm confidence and emotional control.
• Every shot matters, but no single shot should matter too much.
• Slowing down helps regulate focus and performance under pressure.
• Physical posture and pace can calm the mind and prevent emotional spirals.
• The pros know when to play smart and when to take calculated risks.
• The same mindset that improves golf can help us navigate work and relationships.

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In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson sits down with Pete Hiskey, a lifelong golfer, ministry leader, and passionate advocate for connecting faith and golf.

Pete shares his multi-generational story in the game, from his family’s deep ties to the PGA Tour and his 24-year career with Ping Golf, to his calling to serve what he calls his “nation”—the golfers of the world. Together, they discuss the mission of Links Players, the legacy of the PGA Tour Chapel, and Pete’s newest venture, The Saltire House in St. Andrews, Scotland—a spiritual home for golfers from around the globe.

This episode is a story of purpose and calling, showing how one man’s love for golf became a way to live out faith, mentorship, and community across the world.

• How Pete Hiskey found his calling to reach the golf world
• The multi-generational Hiskey legacy in professional golf
• How Links Players connects faith and community at local clubs
• The history and impact of the PGA Tour Chapel
• What it means to live out the Great Commission in your own “nation”
• The vision behind The Saltire House in St. Andrews
• Mentorship and investing in the next generation
• Finding purpose and adventure in life’s second season
• Bringing faith to the fairways—how golf connects people and God

• Links Players: https://linksplayers.com
• The Saltire House: https://www.thesaltirehouse.org

(0:00) Intro

(10:32) Links Players and Community Building in Golf

(15:41) The PGA Tour Chapel and Its Legacy

(21:55) Defining Purpose and Mission in Golf and Life

(26:11) Connecting Golf and Faith

(29:57) Living Out the Great Commission

(32:03) Embracing Life’s Second Season

(36:13) Mentoring the Next Generation

(36:58) The Saltire House: A New Venture

(45:08) Golf Tips for All Levels

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with golf professional Justin Beard, Director of Golf at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, to talk about raising a junior golfer and keeping the game fun along the way.

Justin shares his journey in golf, his experience parenting a talented junior player, and the lessons he’s learned about confidence, humility, and perspective. Together, they explore how parents can create a healthy, pressure-free environment that helps kids enjoy the game for life.

From balancing competition and fun to knowing when to step back as a parent, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt stories for anyone navigating youth sports or simply looking to make golf a more meaningful family experience.

• Golf should be a fun experience for kids, not a source of pressure
• Parents serve best as “guardrails,” not drill sergeants
• Winning doesn’t define a young golfer’s worth
• Confidence and humility can coexist
• Encouragement is more effective than criticism
• Patience and perspective are essential in youth sports
• The journey is about experiences, not just results
• Golf can strengthen family relationships and create lifelong memories

0:00 Introduction

4:05 The Ryder Cup Experience with His Son

8:55 Justin’s Journey in Golf

14:34 The Importance of Humility and Confidence

17:49 The Role of Parents in Junior Golf

22:44 Coaching, Confidence, and Character

28:15 Parenting as Guardrails

31:26 Encouragement Over Pressure

35:20 Lessons from a Summer of Competition

38:44 The ROI of Golf and Family Time

43:44 Introducing Kids to Golf the Right Way

50:10 Keeping Golf Fun and Creative for Kids

54:00 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

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This special Links for Life episode captures the energy of the HOPE Golf Classic at the Federal Club in Virginia. Host Tommy Thompson and co-host Pete Bowell welcome players and friends including Stuart Holt, John Atkinson, Steven McCarthy, Parker Thompson, and Isaac Nunn for memorable stories and reflections on golf and life. From miraculous chip-ins to hilarious mis-hits, listeners will hear how patience, humility, and joy on the course carry into everyday life.

What You’ll Take Away

• How golf strengthens family connections and friendships
• Patience and humility as lessons the game teaches on every round
• How to embrace unexpected moments and enjoy the game without pressure
• The lasting community impact of events like the HOPE Golf Classic

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Hope Church and the HOPE Golf Classic at hopechurchrva.com
• Subscribe to Links for Life for more inspiring golf conversations
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Timestamps (chapter markers)

(0:00) Intro

(6:24) Guest 1: Stuart Holt

(13:15) Pete & Tommy’s Favorite Golf Courses

(19:40) Guest 2: John Atkinson

(32:10) The Craziest Shot Tommy Has Seen

(33:36) Guest 3: Steven McCarthy

(41:21) Pete’s Favorite Shot and Golf Lesson

(46:33) Guest 4: Parker Thompson

(50:00) Guest 5: Isaac Nunn

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