Have you ever wondered how the most successful people in the golf industry got to where they are today? On The Inward Nine, we tell the stories of people who have made an impact on the game of golf through their service and careers. 

Today, we get to spend time with the 2025 PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient, Jason Epstein, the Director of Golf at Congressional Country Club in Potamac, Maryland. 

In our time together with Jason we will discuss: 

How a young man who grew up in Miami, Florida went from one side of the country to the other and back again in landing at Congressional in 2016.

What to do when you don’t feel you have all the answers as a leader.

How Jason feels trust is built. Jason shares a quote on trust which is guaranteed to stick with you. 

The benefits in building a team in which you aren’t the smartest person in the room.

The approach Jason takes in learning how to motivate the members of his team.

About the difference between a offensive and defensive mindset and which one of them Jason chooses on a daily basis and why.

The 3 things Jason asked for from the people he reports to. It’s a short list, but its all he needs to be successful.

To connect with Chandler:

• Send a DM on LinkedIn or his Instagram @chandlerwithington
• Send an email: [email protected]

Music Credits: 

Opening: 'Back on the Chain Gang' by The Pretenders

Background: 'Sailing' by Christoper Cross (Instrumental)

Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

As we wrap up the series on the interview process, Chandler shares a few final thoughts to prepare you for the road ahead. 

Are you someone who has been struggling with the interview process? Do you feel overwhelmed at times by the entire process and unsure of how to improve? 

Today, we get to spend time with someone who has been helping hundreds of people prepare for interviews, including myself. He is the person who prepared me to land my dream job 13 years ago. 

In our time with Tm Dougherty, we will discuss: 

• The importance of our body language and tone of voice throughout the interview.
• How to captivate our audience in the first 3 minutes of an interview.
• How to effectively communicate your passions and what drives you.
• The 2 most important questions you MUST ask in an interview.
• How to demonstrate your ability to receive feedback during an interview.
• How to listen to yourself and pivot if you feel the job opportunity isn’t a fit.
• The one word Tim feels you must allow to come across to land the job.

Chandler also shares his perspective on the recent Ryder Cup and what we can learn from it (5:08). 

To connect with Chandler:

• Send him a direct email: [email protected]. 
• Or, send him a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @chandlerwithington

Music Credits: 

Opening: 'Alive and Kicking' by Simple Minds

Interlude: 'Streets of Philadelphia' Instrumental by Bruce Springsteen

Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

Are you someone who has been struggling with the interview process? Do you feel overwhelmed at times by the entire process and unsure of how to improve? 

Today we get to spend time with someone who has broken through the interview process and landed his dream job 11 years ago. We are joined by the Head Men's Golf Coach at the University of Florida, J.C. Deacon

In our time with J.C. we will discuss: 

How J.C. was able to get an interview as the only assistant golf coach in the group of head coaches who were being interviewed.

The interview advice J.C. received which allowed him to feel calm and confident heading into the interviews.

The item J.C. carried with him into the office of the Athletic Director which allowed them to build a connection over.

The topic J.C. never once discussed throughout the interview process and in doing so, allowed the Athletic Director to realize J.C. was the person for the job.

The first 90 days on the job and where J.C.’s focus was.

And J.C. will share his advice for all of you who have a quote ‘dream job’ you think about quite often.

To connect more with Chandler: 

Send him an email: [email protected]

Send him a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @chandlerwithington

Music Credits: 

Opening: 'St. Elmo's Fire' by John Parr

Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

Are you someone who has been struggling with the interview process for a managerial postion? Do you feel overwhelmed at times by the entire process and unsure of how to improve? 

Today we get to spend time with someone who has been a part of these processes for the last 10+ years. We are joined by Tom Wallace of the search firm, Koplin, Kuebler and Wallace. 

Tom's experience and insight, not just with KK&W, but also as the former General Manager at Oakmont Country Club is a valuable asset to anyone who is looking to prepare for an interview process. 

In our time with Tom, we discuss: 

Why Tom feels some candidates are a better fit for some jobs than others and how you can position yourself to find your best fit.

What quality Tom feels young employees are most often looking for in the people they work for.

What are the controllables you need to pay attention to as you enter the board room for the interview.

What is something you likely aren’t doing, but must start doing in an interview to learn if the job will be a fit for you.

What ability, more than teaching or playing, search committees are placing a greater emphasis on over the last 10+ years.

What business Tom feels golf professionals are really in these days.

What is the one thing Tom feels is hard for most people to do, but is also the thing that will lead to most of your personal and professional growth.

To learn more about KK&W, please visit their website, www.kkandw.com. 

To contact Tom Wallace directly, send him an email, [email protected]. 

To contact Chandler directly, send him an email, [email protected]. 

Music Credits: 

Opening: 'Burning Down the House' by Talking Heads (Instrumental)

Opening: 'Burning Down the House' by Paramore. 

Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector. 

Now that we have our resumes updated and our cover letters are well written, what is next? 

On this episode we will discuss the importance of building a fan club (support group) to be in our corner throughout the job search process. A fan club will not only write letters of recommendation or make endorsement calls on our behalf, but they will also be looking and listening out for job opportunities which might be a fit for us. 

We will discuss: 

• How big or small your fan club should be. 
• The first steps to take in asking them for help. 
• How to be proactive in having letters already written and ready to send for when an interview process starts. 
• The do's and dont's of building a portfolio. 
• The impact of doing proper research on the job you are pursuing. 

To connect with Chandler: 

• Send him a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @chandlerwithington
• Send him an email: [email protected]

Music credits: 

Opening: 'Fame' by David Bowie

If opportunity knocked at your door tomorrow, would you be ready? If you only had a short window of time to submit your resume, could you do it, or would you be panicking? 

Having your resume up to date and ready to go is important. It's not just important merely for the checkpoint of submitting your resume, but more so because your resume is a gateway to landing an interview for the job. If your resume doesn't get you the interview, you won't land the job. 

On this episode, Chandler shares his perspective on organizing your resume and cover letter. Within this episode you will learn:

• Some of the do's and don'ts with your resume. 
• How to make it easy for the potential employer to find what they are looking for. 
• How to highlight your strengths to match what the job requires. 
• How to connect the dots through the format you use on your cover letter. 

To review a Chandler's resume and cover letter as you listen to this episode, click here. 

To connect with Chandler:

• Email him directly: [email protected]
• Send him a DM on Instagram @chandlerwithington on on his LinkedIn profile

Music Credits:

• Opening: 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House

What do you think of when you hear the word forgiveness? Do you find it hard to forgive others when you have been wronged? Has it been hard for you to accept forgiveness from others when they extend it to you? Or, do you find it hard to even just forgive yourself? Have you done something in your life that you feel is so unforgivable that you can’t escape the guilt and shame you are feeling?

On this episode, Chandler shares his perspective on two powerful and life changing words, grace and forgiveness. Chandler shares what they mean, how he has experienced them in his life and how you can begin to both accept and extend them in your own life if this is something you have struggled with.

If we are to become the best versions of ourselves, we cannot be holding on to bitterness or anger in not forgiving others, nor can we move forward until we accept someone else has forgiven us and finally we cannot thrive until we learn to give ourselves some grace and forgiveness for when we fall short, which we all inevitably will. 

To connect further: 

With Restoration Club, email Jeff Marsh: [email protected]

With Chandler, email: [email protected]

Music Credits:

Opening: 'The Unforgiven' by Metallica

Interlude: 'Good, Good Father' (Instrumental) by Chris Tomlin

Closing: 'Amazing Grace' by Chris Tomlin

How do you define the word success? 

What is it in your own life you are chasing after? 

Have you stopped to consider how it will make you feel once you achieve it?

Have you ever achieved the thing you set out to achieve and then felt unfulfilled?

We are talking about these questions and much more on this episode. 

On this episode:

• I will share my own perspective on the question of – what is success and share how I answer the question for myself.
• We will hear from a few other top athletes who have struggled with the same questions Scottie is asking.
• We will talk about what it means to be on the ‘second mountain’ of life.
• We will talk about what is the difference between joy and happiness.
• We will talk about the importance of creating a personal mission statement.

To connect with Chandler:

• Send him a direct email, [email protected], 
• Send a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @chandlerwithington

Music Credits:

• Opening: 'Peace' by Ben Rector
• Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

Have you ever found yourself trying to be someone that you aren't? Have you ever wanted to be more comfortable just being...you? 

Today we get to spend time with someone who is very comfortable in his own shoes and will help you understand how to feel the same way. He is Jason Ballard, the Director of Golf at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. 

In our time with Jason we will discuss:

• How a random act of kindness ignited his passion for golf and led him towards a career in the game. 
• How an early mentor challenged Jason with all the reasons he should NOT want to be a golf professional and why Jason decided to continue on. 
• What Oak Hill University is and how you can begin a similar educational program within your own team. 
• How to properly prepare for a dream job interview. 
• How the book 'Die With Zero' impacted Jason. 
• How to negotiate for the things most important to you when you receive your first big job offer. 
• Jason's advice for the next generation of golf professionals. 

To connect with Chandler: 

• Send a direct email to [email protected]
• Send a direct message to Chandler on LinkedIn or Instagram @chandlerwithington

Music Credits: 

• Opening: 'Take on Me' by Ah-Ha
• Closing: 'Something Beautiful' by Needtobreathe