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.

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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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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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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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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.

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He didn’t set out to become one of the most recognizable caddies on the PGA Tour, but Geno Bonnalie isn’t hiding from the spotlight. He joins host Tom Coyne to share the behind-the-scenes realities of life on the bag, including his raw reaction to Joel Dahmen’s heartbreaker in Punta Cana. Bonnalie then gets into his surprising stardom and how far he and Dahmen have come since dinners at Waffle House. He also details the pranks he plays on his friend, the need for work-life balance and why cartwheels with his daughter matter more than any leaderboard.

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Rory McIlroy contains multitudes: child prodigy, global superstar, outspoken critic, Ryder Cup anchor, Grand Slam winner. In his upcoming biography Rory Land, Pulitzer-nominated author Timothy Gay tries to make sense of them all. In this episode, he joins host Tom Coyne to unpack McIlroy’s career: the youthful dominance, the swing admired by Tiger Woods, the decade-long major drought and the emotional weight of being golf’s unofficial spokesman during its most divisive era. Gay shares what he learned from early interviews, tournament deep dives and the decisions—public and private—that have shaped one of golf’s most watched players.

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Nearly 30 years ago, Tom Pashley mailed a box of grass seed and sand to the Pinehurst resort in the hopes of landing an internship. Today, he sits in the president’s office at the cradle of American golf. His mission is to steer one of golf’s most storied properties into an ambitious future—without losing sight of its roots. On this episode, Pashley sits down with host Casey Bannon at The Cradle during a Broken Tee Society Tour stop to talk about the making of Pinehurst No. 10, how No. 2 will keep testing the best even in the 2047 U.S. Open, and just how many courses the resort might have by then. Get the inside scoop on building a Pinehurst itinerary from the man who knows it best—where to play, what to eat, and why you’ll probably start planning your return before you leave.

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Today, we’re not chasing great. We’re chasing all-time, pantheon, tell-your-grandkids-about-it great. But how do you decide who belongs in that rare air? In this episode, author and golf writer Michael Arkush joins Tom Coyne to unpack The Golf 100, his bold new book ranking the game’s greatest players. From icons like Jack and Tiger to overlooked names like John Ball and Joyce Wethered, Arkush details the scoring system he created and the questions he wrestled with—like how to compare Old Tom Morris to Tiger, or Mickey Wright to Annika. Arkush also shares some of the book’s most surprising stories: a brash teenage U.S. Open champ vanishes into obscurity, a woman leaves the game at her peak (then comes back to duel Bobby Jones) and the time Walter Hagen became a coldblooded killer in the 1919 U.S. Open.

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This is part five of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 5: As its founders begin to decline, the mythology around The Masters only grows stronger

The Masters is paused and Augusta National is forced to become self-sufficient in the wake of World War II. In the 1970s, the club must endure the passing of Bobby Jones and the shocking suicide of Clifford Roberts. But the club and tournament move on, going to untold lengths to preserve their legacies that still reverberate today.

⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

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