TeeTalk

After only a brief stop on the show in Episode 100, our celebration episode, PGA of Canada Professional Brad Lawrence is back for a full interview. The Associate Professional at the highly-regarded Hamilton Golf & Country Club, the site of Rory McIlroy's RBC Canadian Open win in 2019, Brad shares his insight on junior golf development and much more.

Outside of the interview we explore the decision by the PGA of America to allow rangefinders, the return of Annika Sorenstam to the LPGA, and the stories from the men's tournaments in Phoenix and Saudi Arabia where Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson prevailed.

The Mail Bag sees us answer questions about the possibility of rangefinders on the PGA TOUR, is it possible to make a good golf movie, what are the youthful golf brands, the pros and cons of hitting golf balls off of turf versus mats, and would TPC Scottsdale be suited for a 2-player team event.

We take a quick look at the early part of the backswing in the Tip of the Week.

Brad Lawrence

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Many, many people have contributed to the Flagstick.com TeeTalk Podcast in the first two years of production so we decided to celebrate our 100th episode with a selection of them.

It's the most eclectic show ever with guests that include parents, adminstators of the golf, LPGA and PGA TOUR caddies, media members, top amateurs, plus teaching and playing professionals.

We take on the news of the day, and catch up with all our guests in locations ranging from the Waste Management Phoenix Open to the Jones Cup Invitational.

You'll hear thoughts and discussions on: the Rules of Golf (yes, Reed talk), the status of World Long Driving Championships and the RBC Canadian Open, an insiders look at the first LPGA Tour event of the season, the feel this week in Phoenix for the PGA TOUR, updates on the 2021 Flagstick Open, where Team Canada member are playing this week, the playing status of a former Big Break winner, and insightful thoughts on the game and the year ahead from award-winning PGA of Canada Professionals.

Settle in, it's a lengthy show, but a whole lot of fun as we welcome guest after guest.

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It's a big week with all the major professional golf tours back in action so there is plenty to cover, including the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, PGA TOUR Champions, and European Tours.

Dramatic play by Jessica Korda, some less than stellar television broadcasts, and the continued ascencion of players like Si Woo Kim and Tyrell Hatton draw our attention and fuel our discussions.

With it being PGA Show week (virtual) we also lay out some of the latest product introductions and give our thoughts on their prospects.

With a clubhead and ball speed currently being a huge discussion point on professional tours and, increasingly with amateurs, we welcome PGA of Canada Teaching Professional Ryan Robillard as the feature guest. Ryan also represents SuperSpeed training aids in Canada and he breaks down what that system is all about and how it can benefit golfers.

In the Mail Bag we answer questions about what type of hole we perefer to see used for a tournament playoff, locations for affordable golf trips in Ontario, the fate of consumer golf shows, the inability of Tony Finau to close out wins, and buying iron sets as collector items.

The tip of the week sees us chatting about getting to know your club yardages.

Ryan Robillard

SuperSpeed Golf

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Things are a little less turbulent in golf this week but there is plenty to talk about with the return of the LPGA, PGA TOUR Champions, and European Tour, along with continued play from the PGA TOUR.

We jump into more remnants of the Justin Thomas fallout, and ponder how Kevin Na has gone from fan heel to hero, as he earns his 5th PGA TOUR win.

Stefan challenges Scott to recall PGA TOUR winners from 2020 (you can likely smell the smoke from his churning brain), and the lads give parting thoughts of the final part of the HBO Tiger Woods documentary.

For the feature interview we welcome Tomo Bystedt, the Director of Product Creation for Metalwoods at TaylorMade Golf to detail their work on the SIM2 line-up. That includes inside details about working with the top players in the game.

In the Mail Bag we answer questions on celebrities playing golf, 2021 golf technology we are anticipating, the virtual PGA Show, how many times we think Brooke Henderson will win this year, and whether we’d rather play alone or with a random person.

Tomo Bystedt

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It’s a tale of the two sides of golf on this week’s TeeTalk podcast.

Canada’s Jaclyn Lee, one of the most talented young players on the LPGA Tour, joins us for the feature interview. She shares her origin story in golf, the dedication it took to advance to be a part of Team Canada and earn a scholarship to Ohio State University, the decision to turn pro early, and then the roadblocks she has faced to start her pro career. Through it all she has tackled it with as much positivity as possible and we think you will enjoy her story.

On the flip-side there were a few mis-steps in the game this week as we take on the impact of the homophobic slur uttered by Justin Thomas at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the reaction to two of golf’s iconic players receiving a U.S. Presidential honour a day after historic events at the U.S. Capitol Building, and the PGA of America’s adjustment in their Championship schedule.

We do break down the Sentry Tournament of Champions, look ahead at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and glance past the HBO documentary on Tiger Woods.

In the MailBag we take on questions about uncommon golf betting games, driver fitting without launch monitors, and even get asked to make some golf honeymoon suggestions.

Jaclyn Lee

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Year three of the Flagstick.com TeeTalk Podcast is officially underway with Episode 96.

Scott and Stef catch up on happenings over the break, including the LPGA announcement of an enhanced schedule for 2021, endorsement changes for PGA TOUR players like Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, and Patrick Reed, and the shifting situation for Golf Channel.

Joining us this week on the show for the feature interview in comedian, actor, and game show host, Gerry Dee. Gerry is a passionate golfer, active golf dad, and a huge supporter of the spot. Well known for his eight-year run of the Mr. D show, the host of Family Feud Canada shares his golf origin story, tells what the game means to his family, and reveals what he feels is his best golf story – involving a bet with NBA icon Michael Jordan.

In the Mail Bag we discuss the Lisa Cornwell claims about poor treatment for her and other women at The Golf Channel, opine on which Canadian we think we win first on a major golf tour in 2021, delve into Stefan’s willingness to play temp greens, explore the benefits of a new shaft over a new driver, and give our opinions on which piece of equipment is the most difficult for a pro to adapt to.

We clean in all up with a Tip of the Week about implementing a plan to get better at golf in 2021.

Gerry Dee

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It’s time to wrap up the year with the 49th TeeTalk podcast of 2020.

We wrap up the pro season with analysis of the DP World Tour Championship and what the Race To Dubai win means for Lee Westwood, give our takes on the United States Women’s Open and preview the CME Group Tour Championship.

We discuss some players making equipment changes for 2021, including Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm, and how it may affect them.

Taking it down memory lane, we each share our memorable moments of the year including our favourite guests and conversations, stories of the year, players, courses we played, and pro golf tournaments.

For fun we pick out Christmas gifts for some of the best golfers in the game. What would you buy for DJ, Brooks, Rory, Bryson, or Tiger?

In the MailBag we talk Flagstick-run tournaments for 2021, who will be a breakout player next year, what the future holds for touching pins, the immediate future for the RBC Canadian Open, and what we’re excited to see in golf next season.

Thank you to all our guest and listeners for the 2020 season. We look forward to providing more entertaining and informative shows for you in 2021.

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We get you ready for the off-season this week with an entire show dedicated to training all aspects of your golf game indoors.

Casey Ward, the award-winning Head Teaching Professional at the Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is the guest for the entire episode.

Ward helps us break down all aspects of what you need to do to get better in the off-season, covering topics from facilities and set-ups, to your physical well-being, speed training positives and negatives, skills, short game, and even things you can do to improve that are not even technique related.

Casey also handles all the Mail Bag questions including deep ones on the role of lateral movement in the golf swing, how to improve hip mobility, trying to gain clubhead speed with a lack of flexibility, favourite reading material, and short game drills without a real golf ball.

There is plenty of great advice, whether you are a beginner, average players, or an advanced golfer.

Casey Ward

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We dedicate this episode to the unheralded teammates that help pro golfers find sucess.

We share many caddy stories on this episode, from ones submitted via our social media channels, to audio clips from pro caddies who have been part of wins on the PGA and the LPGA Tour.

Joining us for a lengthy feature interview is Scott Martin. The Montreal native spent 23 years caddying, mostly on the PGA TOUR but starting on the Canadian Tour and finishing on the PGA TOUR Champions. He shares the high and lows of looping and the emotional curve balls along the way. From being deep in debt, to winning, to confrontations with players who disrespected him. And he tells us why the life hooked him in even when many would call it quits. It's honest, entertaining, and a deep inside look at the career few endure for so long.

Birdie vs Bogey is chock full of caddy questions and, as always, your MailBag questions make us put on our thinking caps as we formulate opinions on the matters you care about.

Past Caddy Episode Links

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One of the most anticipated events on the golf calendar, the Masters, is over and we take the time to examine every angle of a record-breaking week.

The fine play by winner Dustin Johnson, the surprises, the poor play, the Canadian angle, we cover it all and examine why this Masters was different but was still compelling to watch.

Birdie vs Bogey brings up even more Masters topics and check up on how our draft picks fared at Augusta National.

Enhancing our look at the week is a feature interview with Australian journalist and broadcaster Luke Elvy. As the commentator for the 15th and 16th holes of The Masters says, he gives us ten years of perspective in thirty minutes. It’s worth a listen and will have you ready for the next Masters in just five months.

Luke Elvy

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