golf SMARTER

539 Premium: Our guest this week is Mark Siegel of Golf Asia, a golf travel agency that designs golf tours throughout Asia. This time we talk about the Nikanti Golf Club which is an hour outside of Bangkok, Thailand. Nikanti is the first course I'm aware of that has a layout of 18 holes that are designed as 3x6 vs 2x9. We often complain that golf takes too long, but wouldn't it be great if you could choose to play just 6, 12, or the full 18 holes?Their website says that "Nikanti Golf Club challenges the ordinary and sets a new standard in style and substance in golf in Thailand."Ever wonder how all that detailed yardage information finds their way to your GPS unit and mobile apps? I came across a guy who works for BestApproach.com while he was mapping out a course in my neighborhood. So I grabbed my phone and shot a short interview with him about exactly what he was doing. Enjoy!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkxGp3G8FnI

538 Premium: JimVenetos returns to share his passion and conviction as to whyhis swing method of Stillness, will bring three critical results tothe golf swing that every golfer craves: • Inside-out path, • Ball flight with a tight draw, • Increased distance through better contact. In this episode we hear an impressive testimonial from TV/Movieactor RichardSchiff on why Jim has had such a profound impact on hisgame and shooting his lowest score ever. If you'd like to see it,here's the linkPlease visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Surveyicon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choicesurvey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and whatyou don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

537: ConorJackson played Major League Baseball for seven seasons withArizona, Oakland, and Boston. But he didn’t take up golf untilafter he retired from the Big Leagues. He was lured in by charitytournaments, discovered how challenging it was and, like many ofus, fell in love. Even with a career .271 batting average, golfhasn’t come easy for him.Here's a videoexcerpt of today's episode when I asked Conor if it's easy forbaseball players to pick up golfNOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the People’s Choice Podcast Awards.Please nominate GOLF SMARTERas your favorite Sports Podcast to get us into the finals. You canonly nominate us one time. Deadline is April 30, 2016. Please visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Surveyicon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choicesurvey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and whatyou don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

536: We all have our pet peeves that irritate us when playing golf with others. Like talking on the phone. Forgetting (or making up) your score. Not having cash with you to pay your debts or the cart girl. Saying “I never play like this”, and more. Writer and High School English teacher/Golf Coach Rory Hughes recently published an article on this topic called “10 Things I Hate About You” and this week we break it down and have a lot of fun coming up with some more. Rory’s latest piece is about getting your child to hopefully love the same sports as you. If you’d like to get a glimpse of one of fun embarrassing points Fred brings up, watch this short video clip. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Please nominate GOLF SMARTER as your favorite Sports Podcast to get us into the finals. You can only nominate us one time. Deadline is April 30, 2016. http://PodcastAwards.comPlease visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

535: The 2016 Masters was an amazing showcase of professional golf at the highest level. But upon closer inspection, it also showed that there are moments of the PGA Tour that look an awful lot like weekend golf by mid and high handicappers. Dropping the ball in the water two shots in a row, 3 and 4 putting from inside 10 feet, trying to make difficult shots in windy conditions, all these and more come from a place that’s common to all golfers…poor decision making. And all that leads to stress which have disastrous effects on your swing and your round. This week we speak with old friend Jamie Zimron, LPGA, aka The Golf Sensei on how to reduce stress which leads to better swings and lower scores. Woman’s Golf Retreat “Raise Your Game in 2016” April 30-May 1,  2016  Jamie & Fred’s video tip on Chipping Around the Green:Golf Smarter can now be heard on Stitcher Radio! Please click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button at GolfSmarter.com, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

534 Premium: While all of the transactional elements of business happen either before or after a round, how you conduct yourself on the course could make or break your future business relationships. Jennifer Munro goes through the do's and don'ts of doing business while playing golf.In more than 10 years of the Golf Smarter podcast, this is our first mulligan. Because of a cancelation, we dug into our archives to replay an interesting topic that has great value to many of us, but is not normally discussed to lowering scores. BUT it will enhance your golf IQ!Please visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

533 Premium: Alister MacKenzie, one of the greatest golf course architects in history designed only one seaside public course, Sharp Park in San Francisco. Opened in 1932, the course’s closure is being threatened by the City of San Francisco. Attorney, author, photographer, and painter Bo Links joins us to discuss the legend of Sharp Park, Alister MacKenzie, and a group’s effort to save Sharp Park. Along with his final design, Augusta National Golf Club, other famous courses designed by MacKenzie include Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Melbourne, Australia), Pasatiempo Golf Club (Santa Cruz, California), Crystal Downs Country Club (Frankfort, Michigan), and Lahinch Golf Course (Lahinch, Ireland).  Watch the full interview and excerpt on GolfSmarter.comPlease visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

532: Dave Johnson is the longtime Director of Instruction at Rooster Run Golf Course in Petaluma, CA. In this interesting conversation, Dave talks about how we can turn 3 shots into 2 around the green knocking 5-10 strokes off each round! By chipping using a putting stroke with your irons, the RULE of 12 will help you gauge how far the ball will roll once it lands on a level dry putting surface. Dave also talks about how being a contrarian has made him a better golf instructor, the lessons he’s learned from a 9 year old, how hand/eye coordination is overrated for golf, and his most influential teachers.http://DaveJohnsonGolf.comThis complete interview can be seen on GolfSmarterTV at https://youtu.be/0w5pGpqFOM8Listen to end of this episode to hear more details about additional exclusive discounts for Golf Smarter listeners on last week’s High Heat golf clubs from KnuthGolf.comPlease visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

531 Premium: Dean Knuth is known as the Pope of Slope because during his years at the USGA he created the Rating/Slope system to provide golfers with more information about the difficulty of a course, other than yardage. With all his years working there, he was always an advocate for the amateur golfer. That’s why he’s currently designing and manufacturing a line of Drivers, Fairway Woods, and Hybrids designed to be much easier to hit and more forgiving than any other mass marketed club. In this episode, Dean talks about the High Heat line of clubs, why so many players are hitting the ball longer and straighter than ever before, and an easy to understand definition of what Slope is and how to use it.Regular price for the Driver is $399, but Golf Smarter listeners can save $70 on a High Heat Driver at KnuthGolf.com by entering “Golf Smarter” during checkout when you’re asked how you heard about them. Please visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.

Creating a new golf product is easy. Making it a success isn't. To get your great idea to the public you must convince the press you've developed something useful and worthwhile. Our guest this week is Mike Jamison who started out as a sports writer and ended up opening up a Golf PR Agency. Mike is also the brains behind an organization called ING (International Network for Golf) that for more than two decades has conferences connecting the golf industry and golf media.  Mike also discusses the upcoming ING Spring Conference and their unique One on One Appointment show which is like speed dating. We'll be at the Spring Conference, so plan on hearing about some new and interesting golf products/services in future episodes. Please visit the all new GolfSmarter.com and click on the Survey icon next to the Hey Fred button, to take our brief multiple choice survey so that we can learn more about you, what you like, and what you don't like about the Golf Smarter Podcast.