This episode of The NebGolf Podcast is dedicated to Hitting the Slopes, the NGA's new video series premiering Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.  Hitting the Slopes follows a Course Rating trip by staff members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm last spring, during which they rated seven courses in four days. The NGA annually visits 10-20 golf courses to issue new Course, Bogey and Slope Ratings, but the best part is traveling the state and seeing these communities and their cherished golf courses. We showcase these courses and talk to some local members to find out what makes their courses special. Ben and Sam also play a little golf and provide some entertainment with their games, both good and bad. The courses featured include Alma Golf Course, Hi-Line Golf Course, Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course, Cross Creek Golf Links, Broken Bow Golf Club, Atkinson-Stuart Country Club and Wayne Country Club.

Kurt Karcher, Director of Nebraska Junior Golf, joins us to talk about what's new on the NJG scene and how parents can get their kids involved in the game. We're also joined by Kaitlyn and Terry Hanna ([email protected]) to talk about Westside High School's new training facility, The Swede Center. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm cover a few other topics as well, including Tiger's crash, the Genesis Invitational, Nebraska on Tour, Luke Kluver and KU in the desert, a Rules of Amateur Status announcement from the USGA, and some more junior golf talk.

Golf Course Architect Gil Hanse joins us to talk about CapRock Ranch, his original design opening near Valentine, Nebraska this year. We also cover his love for the sandhills area, designing courses all over the world and his restorations at championship golf courses that will host the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also talk more in depth about CapRock Ranch, Mike Whan as the new USGA CEO, a big week in Nebraska on Tour, the 200 Club and more.

NGA Vice President and longtime volunteer rules official Bob Planansky joins us to talk about how he became involved with the Rules of Golf and where it took him, from the U.S. Junior Championship to Pac-12 and NCAA events and more. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also follow up on Patrick Reed and the Distance topics from last week, take a look at some Handicap Index statistics, recap the Big Ten Match Play for the Huskers and Iowa's Alex Schaake, Nebraska on Tour with Nate Lashley on a hot streak, and Westside High School's new training facility.

McCook native and current Korn Ferry Tour professional Brandon Crick joins us to talk about his life on Tour, winning the Nebraska Amateur at the extinct Ironwood G&CC, playing in the U.S. Open, what it's like to play golf with Larry the Cable Guy and more. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also cover a couple hot issues in the world of golf, Patrick Reed and the USGA and R&A's distance report, the return of college golf and Nebraska on Tour with Nate Lashley in contention in Phoenix.

Former Blackshirt and NFL defensive end Jay Moore joins us to talk about his days as a Husker and in the NFL, getting hooked on golf in college, turning his competitiveness to golf after football, health and fitness specific to golf, Firethorn Golf Club and more. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also recap the last half of winners of the NebGolf awards on Twitter, take a look at the USGA Qualifying schedule and more.

Southeast Community College men's golf coach Calvin Freeman joins us to talk about growing up in a small town and learning the game at a 9-hole course, his collegiate and professional career, getting into coach, his obsession with buying putters, his love for Cane's sauce and much more. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also talk about Husker Kate Smith getting an invite to the Augusta National Women's Amateur, some of their goals for 2021 and recap the winners of the NebGolf awards on Twitter so far.

Creighton men's golf coach Judd Cornell joins us to talk about his golf career from a junior golfer to a touring professional, coaching at Nebraska and Creighton, and more. NGA Staff Members Ben Vigil and Sam Oehm also talk about winter golf outlets in Nebraska, the NebGolf awards for the best moments of 2020 and take a sneak peek at the 2021 NGA Championship schedule. We also offer a giveaway for listeners of the pod.

Before we kickoff in the podcast in 2021, we took the chance to highlight some of our guests from the summer of 2020. Listen to the best clips from our interviews with Tony Chapman, Kyle Hegland, Charlie Borner Jr., John Rathouz, Craig Badura, Dirk Chatelain and Kate Smith. 

Ben and Sam wrap up #12DaysofChampions, taking a closer look at the final six NGA championships of 2020, coinciding with our #12DaysofChampions videos that debuted on social media last week. Also in this episode is interviews with our 2020 Nebraska Golfers of the Year, Danica Badura (1:03:00), Luke Gutschewski (1:09:15), Ed Wyatt (1:15:30) and Andy Sajevic (1:22:00).