next on the tee

In Part 2 of Episode 31 I'm joined by two of the best Oil Creek Region athletes of all-time in their opinions Steve Shingledecker and Eric Johnson.

Steve Shingledecker serves as the Head Coach of the Men's Golf Team at Robert Morris, hailing from Franklin, Pennsylvania. Returning to coach RMU after successful tenures as Director of Golf Operations at the Turn Club in Cranberry Township and Director of Golf at Nemacolin Woodlands, Shingledecker did a great job leading the team this year. Their impressive performance includes a 3rd place finish at the Carpetbagger Classic in Frederick, Maryland, a feat coincidentally following Steve's last appearance on the show.

In our conversation, Steve sheds light on the Colonials' season progression and the departure of key graduating players. Additionally, we delve into strategies for rebounding from a challenging hole and the benefits of encouraging children to explore multiple sports rather than specializing early.

Eric Johnson is a Golf Digest Top 100 Instructor. You can find him teaching each summer at Yellowstone Golf Club in Big Sky, Montana, one of the premier private courses in the country. Eric was the Director of Instruction at Oakmont for 17 years and then for a couple at Nemacolin. Eric was fresh off playing a round at Oakmont, with Pittsburgh Brewing Company Owner Cliff Forrest. We hear about the changes they've made at Oakmont in preparation for hosting the US Open in 2025. Eric also shares his thoughts on the PGA Championship, Tiger Woods' play, and the exceptional features of Yellowstone Country Club.

In Part 1 of this week's show, I'm joined by LPGA Elite Instructor Cindy Miller and former NFL WR Brian Finneran.

Cindy Miller was recognized as an Elite LPGA Professional & Instructor at the PGA Merchandise Show earlier this year. We hear about that honor. On the heels of the tragic news of Grayson Murray, Cindy shares the story of her husband Allen Miller who found himself in a similar dark place. Allen was a top Amateur player in the early 70s. He played on the PGA Tour from the mid-70s to early 80s. He competed in 5 Masters Tournaments. The expectations of his father always haunted him. No matter what Allen achieved it was never good enough. It led Allen into some dark places. He attempted suicide which led him and Cindy to the brink of divorce. Hear his story as told from Cindy's perspective.

Brian Finneran was an All-American WR at Villanova. He won the Walter Payton Award for being the best player in FCS College Football in 1997. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He played in the NFL from 1999 to 2010 with the Eagles and Falcons. Brian is now a Sports Talk Radio Host at 680 The Fan in Atlanta. He shares his insights on the Falcons draft and our dismay at why they picked Michael Penix with the 8th overall selection. We also discuss Angel Hernandez doing baseball a favor by retiring, plus we hear about Brian's round of golf at Augusta National.

In Part 2 of Episode 30 I'm joined by a pair to Tim's...Simpson and Gaestel.

Tim Simpson is known for being one of the all-time great ball strikers. He won 5 times on the PGA Tour, had 82 Top 10s, and the GOAT Jack Nicklaus even marveled at how frequently Tim would shoot low scores. Tim has overcome several physical ailments throughout his playing career. He won Comeback Player of the Year on the PGA and Champions tours. He beat Lyme disease and now he's battling a rare form of blood cancer. You'll hear how his positive attitude is going to lead him to beating it plus his thoughts on the PGA Championship, his relationship with his father, how Raymond Floyd intimidated players with his eyes, remembering Payne Stewart's 1999 US Open victory, and working with the great Sam Snead.

Tim Gaestel is a former Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army. As fate would have it, Tim was being sworn into the military on September 11th, 2001. Hear him talk about how that day unfolded and becoming even more driven to charge into the fight. We hear about his deployment to Afghanistan and the IED that exploded and sent shrapnel into his back as he and his peers were headed to Baghdad. Tim also talks about how golf saved his life when he returned home, how the game brought him and his father back together, his experience playing alongside show favorite Scott McCarron, and his fight to save a local municipal course, Lions Municipal Course, in Austin, Texas. Follow him on X @TGolfer83.

In Part 1 of Episode 30, I'm joined by Top Instructor Tom Patri and Legends Tour Pro Clark Dennis.

Tom Patri delves into Xander's major triumph at the PGA Championship, the mixed sentiments towards Bryson, speculations surrounding Tiger's future following another missed cut, and the potential repercussions of Jimmy Dunne's departure from the PGA Tour Policy Board.

Clark Dennis, won the 2017 & '18 Senior Italian Open and the 2017 Dutch Masters on the Legends Tour. We reflect on his illustrious career, he reminisces about winning the 1983 Texas State Junior Championship and shares his elation at the Texas Rangers winning their first World Series. Additionally, Clark offers his insights on the PGA Championship and the low scores at Valhalla. He takes us back to his standout performances at the Colonial National Invitational in the 90s and recounts a memorable encounter with the legendary Ben Hogan. Furthermore, Clark sheds light on the caliber of players and awe-inspiring venues featured on the European Legends Tour, which needs more love and support.

In Part 2 of Episode 28, I'm joined by PGA Master Professional John Hughes and Journalist & Author Ward Clayton.

John Hughes is not only one of the rare PGA Masters Professionals, he's also the 2023 North Florida PGA Section Teacher of the Year. His summer residency is up at McLemore outside of Chattanooga. John shares his perspective of McLemore and the new course The Keep. He teaches us why it's important to positively express our goals, how to consistently make putts inside 5 feet, successfully chip from hard pan lies, and why we should hover our driver off the ground instead of resting it on the ground.

Ward Clayton was the Sports Editor for The Augusta Chronicle and Director of Editorial Services for the PGA Tour. He is the Editorial Director for Augusta National and their digital presence on Masters.com. In 2004 he wrote his first book, "Men on the Bag, The Caddies of Augusta National. He recently came out with an updated version of that book titled, "The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National." In our conversation, you'll learn who Stovepipe, Skillet, Pete, and Cemetary are. You'll discover similar stories about even more legendary caddies when you get your copy of the book which you can find on www.blairpub.com or on Amazon.

In Part 1 of Episode 28, I'm thrilled to be joined by two incredible guys: former Pirates and Red Sox outfielder Adam Hyzdu, and 5-time winner on Tour, now outstanding broadcaster Jim Gallagher Jr.

Adam Hyzdu's journey in baseball is nothing short of remarkable. A standout prospect in high school, he left an indelible mark by breaking records, including surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.'s home run record at Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Despite not being selected as the first overall pick or landing with the Reds as he anticipated, being drafted 15th by the San Francisco Giants fueled his determination. Battling skepticism, Adam's resilience led him to remarkable minor league seasons in 1999 and 2000, where he showcased his abilities by combining to hit 61 home runs and drive in over 200 runs. His eventual stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates saw him etch his name in history, with the AA Altoona Pirates who retired his number—a testament to his impact on the organization. From his memorable Major League debut with the Pirates against the Reds to the clutch pinch-hit home run that sealed a victory just days after his call-up, Adam shares great stories from his time in the big leagues, including his stint with the 2004 Red Sox during their historic World Series season.

Jim Gallagher Jr., a beacon of sportsmanship, success, and positivity in the world of golf. Hailing as the most decorated player in University of Tennessee history, Jim's accolades span across prestigious halls of fame, including Indiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Reflecting on his recent honor of inducting his siblings into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame, Jim shares poignant insights into his incredible family and the significance of their shared legacy. From discussing his alma mater the UT Vols' participation in the NCAA Men's Golf Regional Tournament to revisiting his remarkable third-place finish in the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick—a tournament that witnessed the meteoric rise of John Daly—Jim's journey in golf is one of incredible triumphs and fantastic stories. We finish off the segment with Jim’s thoughts on what needs to happen to bring the Professional game back together so we can move forward with the best players being in the same fields.

In Season 11 Episode 27 Part 2, I chat with Wake Forest and Georgia Golf Hall of Famer Joe Inman and TaylorMade's President & CEO David Abeles.

Joe Inman was a walk-on at Wake Forest in 1967. In 1969 he won the Arnold Palmer Award as Wake's Top Athlete. Twenty-six years after arriving on campus, he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, after living in the state for several years and amid an 11-year run as Head Coach of the Georgia State Men's Golf Team, Joe was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. We start by discussing his time at Wake Forest playing alongside guys like Lanny Wadkins and Leonard Thompson. From there we move to how he went from an alternate on the victorious 1969 Walker Cup team to going 2-0 in those matches. His play there earned him an invite to the 1970 Masters Tournament. Wait til you hear who he got paired with in the first two rounds. We finish by discussing his first PGA Tour win at the 1976 Kemper Open at Quail Hollow and then his years coaching at Georgia State.

I am grateful to David Abeles and the TaylorMade brand because they have been supporters of this show for nearly a decade. From the first time I met David, I learned he is one of the most upbeat guys you'll ever meet. He shares the brand's excitement over what Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda have achieved over the last few months. Their players on all Tours have had remarkable success this year. We transition to talking about the science behind their new Qi10 driver and how they were able to reach a 10K moment of inertia, something no brand had achieved until this year. We also hear what's new with their TP5 and TP5X golf balls which has gotten David and me a 1/2 club longer. We round out the segment talking about their R&D team who are working on things well into the future.

In Part 1 of Season 11, Episode 27 I'm joined by 2017's Top 10 Most Innovative People in Golf, Bill Bergin, and The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters.

Bill Bergin is a former Tour Player and is now one of the game's Top Golf Course Designers & Architects. He and Rees Jones collaborated on The McLemore. The 18th hole there has been named one of the top finishing holes in all of golf. They've double down on a second course there called The Keep. It is set to open later this year. Bill tells about the over-mile-long cliff edge holes they created there. We also hear about his other current projects at Coronado in El Paso, Texas, and The Links at Audubon Park in Memphis.

Dr. Bob shares the story of his 9th hole-in-one that he made recently while playing the Nicklaus course at the Reunion Resort. Then he shares the simplest key to releasing tension in our swings that will result in hitting better shots. You'll think, "No way" but try it and see. Let me know if it works for you.

In Part 2 of Episode 26, I'm joined by Brian Jacobs, Chandler Withington, and Eddie Murray.

Brian recently moved from Rochester, New York to Palm Beach Florida. Brian is a two-time Western New York Teacher of the Year. His new club is one of the top facilities anywhere in the world, Ballenisle Country Club. It features 3 top-rated courses, 5 restaurants, tennis courts, pickleball, and a host of other amenities. It's the Club we'd all love to belong to. Check it out online at www.ballenisle.org. Brian talks us around the club. We also discuss his recent email newsletter outlining the characteristics that make up great leaders. We also get a playing lesson for those of us who struggle with coming over the top and early extension.

Chandler Withington was a PGA Professional at some of the top courses in the country like Merion and Hazeltine. He recently shifted his attention to spending more time with his family, his artwork, and speaking engagements. His artwork is off-the-charts great. Check it out online at www.archive22.com. Chandler shares one of his favorite Arnold Palmer stories, plus the story behind his hand-drawn Masters piece. He bet on himself when he walked away from Hazeltine so he could spend more time with his family and focus on public speaking engagements. Hear him talk about why and how he made that switch.

Former Pro Bowl Kicker and a member of the 1980 Team of the Decade, Eddie Murray rounds out the show. Eddie talks about what it was like being in Detroit for this year's NFL draft plus the Lions' return to the playoffs last season. We go back to when he was first introduced to golf over in England, when he got his first set of clubs, the similarities between kicking and the golf swing, plus the Hope Network Golf Classic he hosts annually that's coming up on Monday, June 17th at the Oakland University golf course in Rochester, Michigan.

In Season 11 Episode 26 Part 1, I'm joined by PGA Professional Hall of Famer Bob Ford and Uneekor VP of Marketing Greg Sabella.

Bob Ford is a living legend in our game. He is perhaps the most decorated PGA Professional of all-time. Bob shares his insights on this year's Masters, Neal Shipley's performance, the falling television ratings, rising greens fees around the country, his Yinzer pride, the Pirates season, what the Steelers have done this offseason, and his role as the Starter at the US Open.

Greg Sabella is back and we discuss Uneekor's new EYE Mini Lite Launch Monitor. It's the launch monitor we've all dreamed of having in our basement or den, and now it's more affordable. Not only do we get all the data we need like ball speed, launch angle, and smash factor, but now there's Game Day Software so we can play simulator golf with our friends anywhere in the world. There's also Target Practice which is like having Top Golf in your house. Plus, there's an AI Trainer to help you with your swing. This is unbelievable and will take your game to a whole new level and provide hours of family fun.