🎙️ Upstate Golf Guys Podcast – Golfweek Spotlight

Alright… season opener at The Swan… and right out of the gate, you could feel it — this tour is loaded.

Pressure shots, tight leaderboards, and a finish in A Flight that delivered right away to start the season.

We had Tour Director Evan on the show to break down his first event running things — what he saw, how the course played, and what stood out.

Then we get into the headline story — the A Flight battle. Jason Hoch joins us after his win, along with Kevin D, who pushed him all the way to a playoff. We break down that extra hole, the nerves, and the shots that decided it.

We also talk The Swan — what players liked, what they didn’t, and what they might’ve changed if they had a say in the setup.

And when you look at the results, it shows just how deep the Golfweek Amateur Tour really is:

🏆 Champ Flight — Adam Candlen

Top to bottom… competitive.

And now, all eyes turn to the next test — the two-day major at Frear Park Golf Course.

This is a completely different challenge. Two days, more pressure, and one of the best tracks in the area. Anthony gives some home-course insight, a few key tips, and what it’s going to take to score out there.

👉 Tune in now to the Upstate Golf Guys Podcast – Golfweek Spotlight and get ready for what’s coming next.

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Golfweek Amateur Tour

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This week on the podcast, Anthony RGB and Florida Mike are back with a full-blown Masters Special—and we kick things off with the big news surrounding Tiger Woods. With Tiger officially out and not playing in this year’s The Masters Tournament, we talk about what that means for the field, the storylines, and the overall vibe at Augusta.

From there, we dive into one of the best traditions in golf—the Champions Dinner. We break down some of our favorite menus from the past 10 years, from classic southern spreads to some unique picks from international winners. Then we flip it on ourselves… what would OUR Champions Dinner look like if we slipped on that Green Jacket? Let’s just say, things got interesting.

Then it’s time to get competitive.

We each drafted our own Masters teams across 8 different categories—building out squads of contenders, sleepers, and wild cards. There’s a lot of pride (and trash talk) on the line here, because the loser is buying the winner a free round of golf this summer. Stakes are HIGH.

We also throw out a great question to wrap things up:

As always, big shoutout to our sponsor Hudson Valley Indoor Golf—go check them out and get your game dialed in.

And don’t forget—the Golfweek Amateur Tour season is right around the corner, kicking off in just two weeks. Huge things are coming this year with Evan Silkworth, owner of HVI Golf, stepping in as the new Upstate director. If you’ve ever wanted to compete, now’s the time—go sign up and be part of it!

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On this episode of the Upstate Golf Guys Podcast, we sit down with one of the most well-traveled instructors in the game—Chris Howard- @Chowardgolf

Chris dives into how his journey began and what led him to building a career running golf schools all over the world. With experience teaching in 29 countries and over 800 schools, he’s truly seen just about every type of golf swing you can imagine—and he shares what all golfers, no matter the level, tend to get wrong.

We get into his coaching philosophy, how he approaches teaching both everyday players and high-level golfers, and most importantly—he gives out some simple at-home drills that anyone can start using right away to improve their game.

We also talk about what’s ahead for Chris, including his upcoming schedule and a big stop right here in Upstate New York. If you’re serious about improving your game, this is a great opportunity to learn from someone with a global perspective on golf instruction.

Chris will be in the area this June—so make sure to check it out and grab a spot at one of his schools.

You can find more information and sign up here:
https://www.chowardgolf.com

Don’t miss this one—tons of value packed into this episode.

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We had a really fun and special episode on the Upstate Golf Guys Podcast joined by standout junior golfer Bailey Baio and her dad Scott Baio, yes that Scott Baio from Happy Days and Charles in Charge.

Scott Baio may be the name everyone recognizes, but he wasn’t the star of today’s podcast — today’s star was Bailey.

A standout junior golfer making a name for herself, Bailey is putting in the work, chasing big goals, and showing exactly what the next generation of the game looks like.

We got into Bailey’s golf journey, what first got her into the game, and how her dad made sure it was always about having fun, including the tradition of getting a cookie after every round.

Now her dad is right there with her every step of the way, caddying for her and supporting her through the journey, which makes the story even more special.

Bailey is taking things to the next level, committed to Providence College to play Division 1 golf, with her sights set on one day playing on the LPGA Tour.

The father daughter dynamic in this episode is awesome. Great banter, real moments, and a genuine love for the game that comes through the whole time.

RGB joined me as always and brought some great questions to the table too.

Make sure to tune in for this one, it’s a good one.

Shoutout to our sponsor Hudson Valley Indoor Golf
hvigolf.com

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On this episode of the Upstate Golf Guys Podcast, we recap our trip down to Virginia to compete in a two-day major at Kingsmill Resort on the River and Plantation Courses as part of the Golfweek Amateur Tour.

Let’s just say… the golf didn’t exactly go the way we planned. 😅 But the trip itself was an absolute blast.

I was joined by Champ Flight player Kevin DuMicich, who broke down his rounds and some of the struggles he battled through during the tournament. Even with a few bumps in the road, Kevin still managed to walk away with a huge skin worth nearly $400, proving that one clutch hole can make the whole weekend worth it.

We also talked about Anthony’s rollercoaster of a tournament. Saturday felt solid and competitive—holding his own and right in the mix. But Sunday… well… let’s just say it felt like he had never swung a golf club before. Anyone who plays tournament golf knows those days can show up when you least expect them.

We also had Jonni Callaway along for the trip, and he had an absolute blast. While the tournament golf kept us busy, Jonni’s highlight of the weekend might not have been on the big course—it was dominating the mini golf course at the condo. Safe to say he was lights out with the putter that night. 🏌️‍♂️

Even though the scores weren’t exactly what we hoped for, the experience at Kingsmill was incredible—great courses, great competition, and another awesome golf trip in the books.

Now we’re fired up and ready for the Upstate New York season to start. If you’ve ever thought about playing competitive amateur golf, now is the time—sign up for the Golfweek Amateur Tour. The schedule this year is stacked and you won’t want to miss it.

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The Upstate Golf Guys Podcast is back and this one was a heater 🔥

RGB and I were joined by golf content creator and founder of Feel Golf, Lyle — and let’s just say… the man is building something different.

Yeah, the hats are absolute fire. The Feel Golf drops have been turning heads, and the brand is growing fast. But what Lyle is building goes way deeper than apparel. He’s using his platform to bring awareness to men’s mental health — something that doesn’t get talked about enough in the golf space (or anywhere, really). His honesty, his journey, and his purpose behind the content are what truly separate him.

On this episode we dive into:

His growth as a content creator and brand owner

The vision behind Feel Golf

How he’s trying to grow the game in a completely different way

His experience at the PGA Show and some of the creators he connected with

And his golf game… because let’s not forget — the guy is a legit plus handicap. Lyle can flat out stripe it.

He’s traveled all over the world playing some of the best courses out there and even shared a few of his favorites with us. When someone who’s seen that much golf talks architecture and vibes, you listen.

And then of course… we wrapped it up the only way we know how — with the spitfire questions. Rapid, chaotic, and always a good time.

The biggest moment? Lyle dropped some news about a brand new series he’s launching in the next few weeks. He says it’s going to be BIG. Different than what anyone else is doing right now. If you know Lyle, you know he’s not chasing trends — he’s trying to shift culture.

We appreciate Lyle hopping on with us and we’re rooting for him as he continues building Feel Golf and pushing the game forward.

Be sure to follow Lyle and Feel Golf on all social platforms @feelgolf so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Huge shoutout to our sponsors:

We appreciate the support from businesses that continue to back the golf community up here in the Upstate.

Another great episode in the books. Let’s keep growing the game.

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This week we’re joined by Brandon Boisfontaine — Louisiana golf content creator, course and food reviewer, and all-around grinder in the golf space. Brandon’s not just doing it for the clicks either… he’s a neighbor and good friend of Uncle P (Paulie), and we dive into how that relationship started and how it’s helped shape his journey in content creation.

We talk Louisiana golf, from course conditions to must-hit food spots, and Brandon breaks down why he’s absolutely dialed in with his blue dot putter (yes, we went there). He also shares details on his new venture with the Under Armour Junior Tour in Louisiana, helping grow the game at the grassroots level.

With LIV Golf coming to Brandon’s home course, we get his take on what that means for the area, the course, and the buzz around Louisiana golf. Brandon also opens up about the real grind of content creation — the consistency, the behind-the-scenes work, and what it actually takes to keep pushing when the algorithm isn’t always your friend.

And of course… we wrap it up with our classic spitfire questions, because it wouldn’t be our show without putting the guest on the hot seat.

Golf, food, content, and real talk — this one’s a fun ride. Don’t miss it. ⛳🔥

Make sure to follow Brandon on all social platforms: @bboisf_golf ⛳📲

Big shoutout to our sponsors who help keep the mics hot and the golf talk rolling ⛳🔥
88 Links Golf — dialing in your fit from the ground up with golf shoes, polos, hats, ball markers, and more. Clean gear, legit quality, built for golfers who actually play.

Go support the sponsors — because they support the show. 💪🏌️‍♂️

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This week we were joined by Ricky Reilly, one of the top adaptive golfers in the country and currently ranked second nationally in the short stature division. Ricky is a name you’re going to keep hearing, especially when it comes to competitive adaptive golf. He regularly competes against Chaz, with the two always battling back and forth, and Chaz was most recently seen competing in the Internet Invitational.

We got into Ricky’s journey growing up with dwarfism and what it was like navigating sports at a young age. Before golf took over, Ricky was a true athlete, with hockey being his go-to sport. That competitive mindset never left. Ricky puts the work in, living on a golf course and playing seven days a week, constantly grinding to elevate his game.

As a fellow Upstate NYer, kind of, coming out of Syracuse, New York, Ricky talked about the pressure that comes with competitive golf, the mental side of tournament play, and some of the rules he would like to see changed in the game. It was an honest conversation that shed light on adaptive golf, competition, and what it takes to perform at a high level.

Huge shoutout to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Hudson Valley Indoor Golf, your go-to indoor golf experience in the Capital Region. Visit hvigolf.com. And 88 Links Golf for premium golf gear including shoes, polos, hats, ball markers, and more. Visit 88linksgolf.com and use code UPSTATE20 at checkout.

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With RGB and Anthony snowed in and grounded for the foreseeable future, the fellas kick things off talking college golf championships and break down the Miami Hurricanes season, which came this close to glory — tough one for RGB. From there, the conversation rolls right into the hot-button topic everyone’s got an opinion on: NIL. Is it good for college sports? Bad? Somewhere in between? The boys give their honest takes and debate what it means for athletes, schools, and the future of the game.

We wrap things up on a high note spotlighting Florida Mike’s first Golfweek event down in Florida, where he didn’t just show up — he took home some cash 💰 Big start, big vibes.

Huge shoutout to our sponsors for always backing the show:

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In this episode, we were thrilled to be joined by Matt and Mike, the mastermind creators behind Line Lion, a next-level putting aid that’s changing the way golfers train their short game. Whether you’re struggling with pushes or pulls and can't hit the ball square the line lion is for you! It will build that much needed confidence on the greens...

Line Lion is engineered for golfers who live for precision. Built from tour-grade materials and designed for use on turf, grass, or even your carpet at home, Line Lion provides instant visual feedback on your face angle, stroke path, and ball roll — all without needing any apps or tech gear. Setup takes under 30 seconds and gives you real-time correction cues so you train smarter, not harder.

Matt and Mike dive deep into their development story, the design philosophy that makes Line Lion unique, and why they believe that precision starts with honest feedback. We talk about how it helps eliminate guesswork, builds muscle memory, and trains golfers to attack the line with confidence.

➡️ Listen in if you’ve ever wanted to:

Reduce 3-putts and start striking the ball more consistently

Build confidence at all distances

Practice anywhere — from the green to your living room

Understand the real science behind putting feedback and alignment

Plus — this episode gets real when we hit the Spitfire Questions, and we learned something unexpected that surprised even us: this was the first time we had a guest on who has actually played Augusta! 😲 Tune in to hear the full story and the amazing insight he shared from that experience.

📌 Check out Line Lion here: https://line-lion.com/

A huge shoutout to our sponsors:

88 Links Golf — your partner in all things golf gear and instruction

Hudson Valley Indoor Golf — stay sharp year-round with premium indoor training facilities

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