No Laying Up - Golf Podcast 1084: The Wild Life of Joey Ferrari
Oct 22, 2025
Joey Ferrari, an amateur golfer who famously qualified for the 1994 U.S. Open, shares his wild life story filled with triumphs and trials. He recounts his shocking rise to a million-dollar drug operation before serving ten years in federal prison. Joey reflects on his struggles with addiction, the harsh realities of incarceration, and the path to redemption through sobriety. Now living intentionally, he discusses his return to competitive golf and lessons learned, emphasizing the power of reflection and perseverance.
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Oakmont Moment And Lost Footage
- Joey Ferrari qualified for the 1994 U.S. Open and was paired with legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer during practice.
- His wife's camcorder failed to record the week, so the planned pizza-commercial footage was lost.
Early Golf Start And First Win
- Joey learned golf caddying for his grandmother and hit his first shot down the middle at age ten.
- He won his first junior tournament at 14 with rounds of 72 and 69 and dominated by seven shots.
College Partying Interrupted Golf Path
- Joey attended Chico State, got into heavy partying, and drifted away from competitive golf.
- He returned home, bought a small toy business, and rebuilt his local golf career while balancing entrepreneurship.