In what is the last episode of the podcast for 2020, Dave Wilber (@TurfgrassZealot) sits down with Nathan for a one-on-one interview from a snowy Littleton, Colorado (while Landon is away “on assignment”) to talk about the importance of mental wellness, not only during the holidays and a pandemic, but also all year long.  Although Dave is a long-time member of the golf turf industry and member of the GCSAA, in recent years he has become an advocate for mental wellness and an article in Golf Digest in the Fall of 2019 placed him squarely in that spotlight on a national stage. 

We start the episode by discussing Dave’s background growing up in Colorado and becoming the first to develop a fully organic maintenance program at a golf course in northern California during his “granola days” in 1990.  A few years later, his work consulting with golf courses around the globe gave him a peek behind the curtain to see how stress at work had impacted others—sometimes with devastating impact.  When he realized so many others were dealing with the same demons he fought with, he decided to make his story public and use those experiences to help others. 

We wrap up the episode with some fun personal stories, a look back at Christmases past, and Dave’s tips for dealing with stress--like making changes in your routine, adding simple exercise, and reaching out to neighbors to help deal not only with the stress of holidays and everyday life, but also the pandemic.

If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to a professional, call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 or call 911.

In addition to following Dave on Twitter, you can read his blog and hear his podcasts via TurfNet.com.

Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!  We'll see you in 2021!

Nathan and Landon open this episode pondering what could have been if Nathan has heeded the advice of his 7th grade career fair test results before talking about Thanksgiving during a pandemic, why Nathan thinks Landon might have attended grade school in a prison, and Nathan’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish.  Talking about Thanksgiving travel—or the lack thereof—leads Nathan down the dark (and dirty) road of men’s public restrooms at convenience stores, what needs to be done for the good of all humanity, and why poor restroom design keeps him up at night—but he assures everyone he’s not a “germaphobe.”  The guys wrap up the first half with a quick preview of Champions Golf Club which will host the 75th US Women’s Open this weekend and the unique history of Champions as Nathan reminisces about the thrill of meeting the great Jackie Burke, Jr. there two years ago.

In the second half, golf writer and renaissance man Bradley S. Klein joins the guys to talk about how he discovered golf as a boy, what he did for 20 years before writing full time (you don’t want to miss it), and why he jumped ship from Golfweek after 20 years to join Golf Channel. They also discuss Brad’s incredible book “Discovering Donald Ross” and why Nathan thinks anyone interested in golf course architecture should own a copy—and how to order a signed copy before Christmas! 

They wrap up Brad’s interview and this episode with the real reason Brad left Golf Channel and Golf Advisor, his feelings about freelancing, and how the way he chose to handle a sudden life and career change can help people in a similar position during the pandemic.  It’s a thoughtful and touching story everyone should hear.

This episode is sponsored by YourNameOfCourse.com and the new thriller “Vincent Vino,” available from Moonbay Media and on Amazon.com.

Nathan and Landon follow up last week's Fall Masters Preview with the Masters "Post Mortem" episode of the podcast where they dig deep into the big stories (and not so big stories) from the just completed first Fall Masters. Nathan introduces you to an up and coming young country music singer who just released his second album in Nashville (and the story of how Nathan knows him) and then golf stats man Lou Stagner from Decade Golf joins them in the second half for a deep dive into some interesting numbers--including how distance truly impacts the game and how you should play it!

This episode is sponsored by YourNameOfCourse.com and the new thriller “Vincent Vino,” available at MoonbayMedia.com and on Amazon.

After a long hiatus from the studio, Nathan returns with new co-host, former golf writer, and longtime friend Landon Petty to talk about the upcoming Masters being played in the Fall due to the pandemic. In the second half, they speak with Billy Fuller, a friend on Nathan's and a fellow ASGCA member golf course architect who was the superintendent at Augusta National from 1981-86 and get his insight on what differences fans might expect for a Masters being played in the Fall vs April.

Episode sponsored by www.YourNameOfCourse.com and Nathan's new thriller, VINCENT VINO available at www.MoonbayMedia.com

In this episode, we travel with Nathan to Mexico City and the WGC-Mexico for a evening press briefing to introduce Nathan as the new "Slow Play Czar." Nathan lays out his new plan to combat slow play on Tour using his patented new TTI Index system, explains why the current system will be trashed, answers questions from reporters, and provides some comic relief. 

The briefing was originally intended to be live streamed via Twitter, but technical difficulties occurred and we had to settle for audio.  The full transcript of the press briefing can be found online at blog.lipouts.com. You can also find links to the transcript and other updates at twitter.com/SlowPlayCzar

In this episode, Nathan has a conversation with GCSAA President Darren J. Davis to discuss the role of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) in a growing economy and a changing golf industry and how brand awareness is shaping the way golfers see superintendents.  Darren discusses his start in the industry when he used to work on the grounds crew at Augusta National GC and lived on the course!

They also discuss at length the importance of work/life balance for everyone (not just turf professionals), how physical fitness impacts mental health, the importance of communication at all levels of one's career, screech owls and...unicorns? And that's just the beginning.

Be sure to visit our sponsor www.HavePaintGunWillTravel.com and learn more about the podcast at www.LipoutsPodcast.com

In this episode, Nathan has a conversation with his friend and Golf Digest Architecture Editor Ron Whitten.  Ron has been in the business for decades and visited more courses than practically anyone else.  He is also in charge of the Golf Digest rating process and panelists for all of the Top Courses lists.  However, Ron is not a fan of being a guest on podcasts because he prefers to be the interviewer and not the interviewee.  He also didn’t want to talk about himself, the rankings system, or the myriad of questions he is asked every time he sits down for an interview.  Fair enough!  He knocks it out of the park when Nathan tells him he can rant about anything he wants—from what’s wrong with golf architecture to the problems with the new USGA rules for 2019 to the divide caused by social media among golf architecture fans and critics.  “Hey you kids, get off my lawn!” So sit back and enjoy “Ron Whitten - Unleashed” on this episode of The Lipouts Podcast and then visit our sponsor, www.HavePaintGunWillTravel.com!

In this Christmas 2018 episode of "The Lipouts Podcast" with Nathan Crace, Nathan talks with Matt Ginella from Golf Channel and Golf Advisor about traveling the world playing golf, his new show "Round Trip," the importance of buddies trips and family, recalling the first time he ever played golf, how he almost attended Penn State to become a golf course superintendent, the benefit and payoff of hard work, his time at Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest, what we need to do to grow junior golf, what makes short courses fun for all golfers, and why one of his fondest memories is leaving his Dad at The Masters in 2009 while he flew back to New York for work.

ASGCA Treasurer Forrest Richardson joins Nathan from his home in Phoenix to discuss his environmentally-winning project at Baylands GC in Palo Alto, his 18.5 hole par-3 course at Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale, PGA Tour players, The Match with Tiger vs Phil, Forrest's recent trip to Australia, current trends in golf architecture, his daughter's skyrocketing acting career, and..."what's the deal with time zones?"

In Episode 002 of The Lipouts Podcast, Nathan sits down with Pat Jones, Publisher and Editorial Director of Golf Course Industry Magazine to record in front of a live audience at the Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi, Mississippi. They talk everything from tips for turf professionals while using social media and reducing workplace stress to making golf fun, the growth of the cannabis industry and why Pat used to think he ticked off Jack Nicklaus. They also touch on the issue of mental health and the December issue of Golf Course Industry magazine that is devoted to the topic and have a few laughs along the way.  Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, HavePaintGunWillTravel.com.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy!