Few places in golf have inspired as much intrigue—or imitation—as Ohoopee Match Club. For founder Michael Walrath, it was never about simply building an exclusive playground. It was a simple promise to keep his friends connected. In this wide-ranging conversation with host Casey Bannon, Walrath shares how a 20-page “manifesto” became one of the most talked-about clubs in the world. From zebras in Georgia to a Michelin-level restaurant, he reveals the ideas, risks, and small rebellions that shaped Ohoopee’s identity as one of the best experiences in golf. Along the way, Walrath reflects on his parallel life as a tech CEO, why he thinks golf clubs are bad investments, and how chasing timelessness—not trends—has become his life’s most rewarding project.

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The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. 

Bud Cauley was a sure thing: three-time All-American at Alabama, Walker Cup star and one of the rare players to skip Q-School and go straight to the PGA Tour. But golf hardly follows a script. After injuries, multiple surgeries, and a near-fatal 2018 car accident that kept him away for more than three years, Cauley wasn’t sure if he had a future on the PGA Tour. Now 35, he joins host Tom Coyne from The Bear’s Club to reflect on the comeback season that vaulted him back into the spotlight. They discuss the role of family, friends like Justin Thomas keeping him going, and how fatherhood has reframed his approach to the game. It’s a genuine look at resilience from a player making the most of his second chance.

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This is part two of a two-part TGJ Podcast series that explores the simmering animosity and contrasting philosophies shaping the road to the 2025 Ryder Cup. The series is voiced by Chandler Withington, former head professional at Hazeltine National and a consultant to the winning American side in 2016.

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After another American collapse at Medinah in 2012, two very different approaches to team building came into focus. Europe leaned into culture, continuity and connection, while the U.S. searched for formulas, fixes and new leadership. Part two examines how those contrasting philosophies shape each side, and how they now collide on the eve of Bethpage in 2025.

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

The Golfer’s Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/subscribe

This is part one of a two-part TGJ Podcast series that explores the simmering animosity and contrasting philosophies shaping the road to the 2025 Ryder Cup. The series is voiced by Chandler Withington, former head professional at Hazeltine National and a consultant to the winning American side in 2016.

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Until the mid-1980s, the Ryder Cup was little more than a friendly exhibition dominated by American stars. But when Seve Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin rallied Europe at The Belfry in 1985, everything changed. Part one tells the story of how polite applause gave way to jeers, tense matches spilled into parking lots and a nearly forgotten event transformed into golf’s fiercest rivalry.

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

The Golfer’s Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/subscribe

Dave “Phoenix” Farrell has led a different golf life. For more than two decades, he has played bass for Linkin Park, one of the most influential and highest-selling rock bands of all time. And whenever he’s offstage, he’s usually playing golf. His career has taken him all over the world and given him incredible opportunities. In this conversation with TGJ’s Travis Hill, Farrell shares stories of rounds at the world’s best courses while on tour, the friendships forged at the Dunhill Links, a three-birdie day at Augusta and how the game helped him navigate grief after the loss of the band’s former lead singer Chester Bennington. From architecture debates to wearing rubber pants at St. Andrews, Farrell proves his game can travel.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

For Rich Shilling, keeping Philadelphia’s best muni in pristine condition is equal parts science, art and…honey. Maintaining Jeffersonville Golf Club—a Donald Ross gem that hosts more than 60,000 rounds a year—is no small task. In this episode, he joins host Tom Coyne from the Turf Care Center to talk about the craft of keeping a high-volume public course in country club condition: managing people, navigating wild weather patterns and sometimes sleeping at the course. He also explains how his on-property bee hives produce honey for the Philadelphia 76ers and serve as proof that golf and the environment can thrive together. Expect turf wisdom, tangents on divots and a superintendent who wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Buddy Marucci’s résumé speaks for itself: played in 59 USGA championships, two Walker Cup captaincies, two Walker Cup appearances and a legendary duel with Tiger Woods in the final of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at 43 years old. And the stories he shares on this episode with host Tom Coyne reveal even more. Marucci takes us inside that unforgettable match with Tiger, shares lessons learned from playing alongside Arnold Palmer at the Masters and reflects on his status as a lifelong amateur in a game increasingly defined by money. He also previews the 2025 BMW Championship at Caves Valley, where he recently helped oversee a full course renovation. He also reveals the magic of Merion and discusses the absurd fact that he's eagled 17 holes at Pine Valley. It’s a masterclass in perspective from one of the game’s most respected gentlemen.

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The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

As the 2025 Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, we sit down with someone who knows the land, the game and the moment better than most. Justin Parsons—coach to the likes of Brian Harman, Harris English and Louis Oosthuizen—grew up just down the coast in County Down, learning the game on windswept turf and nine-hole loops near oyster farms. In this wide-ranging conversation with host Casey Bannon, Parsons reflects on Northern Ireland’s rich golf culture, how pros adapt to links conditions, and what it takes to compete at The Open. Along the way: lessons from Harman’s win at Hoylake, thoughts on developing young pros, Portrush pub tips and a reminder that sometimes the draw beats the field.

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The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Paul Azinger has never been afraid to speak his mind or take a big swing. So when a friend asked him to consult in building a golf course on 1,100 acres of Florida ranchland, Zinger saddled up. The result? Miakka Golf Club: a bold take on the modern game shaped by three million cubic yards of sand and the same bravado that won Azinger a Ryder Cup. In this episode, he joins host Casey Bannon to unpack Miakka’s Australian-style bunkers and why it's using trees as the last line of defense against today’s 340-yard carry. He also opens up about Ryder Cup regrets, the Keegan Bradley captaincy conundrum, the state of the broadcast booth and why we need less coaching in golf. Expect big opinions and unfiltered Zinger charm. Buckle up.

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The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Nobody knows Oakmont like Bob Ford. From living off the 18th green to becoming the last club pro to qualify for a U.S. Open at his home course, Ford has been part of American championship golf for more than five decades—and now serves as the tournament’s starter. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, he joins Tom Coyne to preview the 2025 U.S. Open and reflect on a career that stretches from furrowed bunkers in the ’70s to the first tee in 2025. Ford shares stories of tanking to avoid breaking Arnold Palmer’s course record, making more money in the U.S. Open than the champion, navigating the politics of the course’s tree removal and what it’s like to announce names with the world listening. For a deep dive into how Oakmont has evolved—much to the chagrin of Nicklaus, Trevino and Player—this one’s for you.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.