The Golfer's Journal Podcast

 In TGJ No. 19 we met Mike Shade & Eli Strait—hosts of the wildly popular Chasing Scratch podcast. Now, we hear from them live in the Broken Tee Society Discord server. Mike & Eli join host Tom Coyne to discuss their newfound golf celebrity, their distaste for that word, inside jokes, pursuit of a 0.0 index and the magic behind their inimitable bond.

Re-Teed—the series where we relive golf’s most exciting tournaments—is back. And this time we’re going deep on the 2011 Masters—the one where everything went right for Charl Schwartzel after everything went left for Rory.  Featuring host Tom Coyne, TGJ editors Travis Hill and Casey Bannon, and ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg.

In TGJ No. 18, Daniel Riley’s “The Man Riding Clouds” introduced us to Peter Beames and a golf life that is hard to believe. We had a feeling that Peter might have more to say about his adventures if we put him in front of a microphone. So that’s what we did. And he proved us right.

From cleaning clubs to writing blogs to announcing the biggest events in golf, Shane Bacon has lived a golf life well beyond his years. He joins us via the Broken Tee Society to discuss how he went from grinding on the mini-tours to taking center-stage in the Golf Channel’s lineup as co-host of "Golf Today." Plus, he walks us through an evolving landscape in golf coverage, as off-the-course drama rivals on-the-course action for attention.

Wright Thompson is one of only a few scribes who have the luxury of writing about whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Which is why it came as a bit of a surprise when his most recent book, Pappyland, centered around a different kind of game: bourbon. Thompson joins TGJ Programming Manager Robbie Vogel and host Tom Coyne in our Broken Tee Society Discord server to give some insights into his writing and reporting process, as well as his fascination with Rory, expensing a yacht while writing about Tiger, boozy country club lunches, and building monuments that live on after death. 

You know Beau Welling as the Senior Design Consultant to Tiger Woods’ TGR Design, with recent work including Payne’s Valley, Bluejack National and the forthcoming PGA Headquarters project in Frisco, TX. Here's what you're about to learn: He’s one of eight people in the world tasked with governing the sport of curling.

Over the next 30 minutes, we will attempt to refocus your energy, and recenter your mind, with a meditation designed specifically for golfers, but not just for golfers.   If you are new to meditation, well welcome – this is a beginner friendly exercise.  And if you are experienced in the art of mindfulness, we hope you’ll find some new ideas and sounds to work into your own routine.   Either way, we think you’ll find that the benefits of meditation will carry on beyond this brief session, and hopefully, out onto the golf course with you.

As we touch the century mark here at The Golfer’s Journal Podcast (where has the time gone?), we wanted to celebrate our 100th episode by giving something special to our listeners; something you can use over and over again.    After a quick recap of our best and (very) worst from the previous 100 episodes, voice artist Erik Braa guides you through a 30-minute golf specific meditation.  His soothing tone paired with ambient golf sounds will take you from your couch or office and transport you to the first tee.  And his quiet message will help you find that on-course focus we’re all searching for.  

Matt Chominski is a professor of philosophy and theology at Delaware’s Archmere Academy—where once upon a time a young Tom Coyne wandered the halls. And when Chominski isn’t unpacking the fundamental truths of life, he’s putting some of those lessons into practice on the course.  He joins our host for a thought-provoking conversation on what it means to be human, the absurdity of golf at its core, why the game is technically “useless,” what it’s trying to teach us, and which famous thinkers best represent current Tour players. 

Sandra Boynton has sold more than 70 million children’s books, 500 million greeting cards, and has been nominated for a Grammy. So what does she have to do with golf?  According to her first publisher, Mike Keiser, Boynton’s work financed the building of Bandon Dunes.  Fresh off her profile in TGJ No. 18, Boynton joins host Tom Coyne to discuss working for Keiser’s greeting card company after graduating from Yale, turning down his original offer in exchange for royalties, Keiser’s meritocratic leadership style, the inspiration behind her designs, and quite possibly making the first hole-in-one in Bandon history.