The Wednesday Match Play Podcast, brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews

The PGA Show is an annual event and the premier gathering for professionals in the golf industry. Hosted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, this highly anticipated event takes place every January in Orlando, Florida. It serves as an essential platform for networking, education, and business development within the golf community. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews, Lisa previews this year's PGA Show, highlighting the massive Orange County Convention Center with its impressive 1.1 million square feet of showroom floor space. She introduces the Career Zone and explains how attendees can take advantage of the opportunities it offers. Lisa shares insights on viewing vendors as partners, discusses pathways to sponsorship, and welcomes over 400 new companies to the showroom floor. Additionally, she talks about her favorite bars and restaurants on International Drive and emphasizes the importance of education in the industry. It was an absolute pleasure having Lisa on the show for this exciting conversation. Let's tee off!

Nicklaus Companies is a globally recognized business entity founded by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus. It focuses on a wide array of activities centered around golf and lifestyle industries. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews, CEO Phil Cotton shares his journey to Nicklaus Companies, delving into the challenges and opportunities of expanding such a prestigious global brand. He highlights the critical role of sustainability and the privilege of having access to an archive of photos, documents, and memorabilia. Phil also discusses their strategic partnerships, the significance of their relationship with Neal Shipley, and the exciting development of a new Jack Nicklaus Heritage course in the Bahamas. This was an iconic conversation, and it was an honor to have Phil on the show. Let's tee off!

The Million Dollar Round, also known as "The People's Tournament," is an amateur golf competition offering participants the chance to win substantial cash prizes, including a top prize of $1 million. Founded by entrepreneur Guy de Havillande, the tournament aims to provide amateur golfers with an experience akin to professional-level competition. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews, Guy provides an in-depth overview of The Million Dollar Round. He shares insights into how the purse is funded, outlines eligibility criteria, and explains what makes this event stand out from other amateur golf tournaments. Guy also delves into the one-time entry fee, introduces the exciting Zenith Series, and reflects on the extensive press coverage leading up to their inaugural event. This was a game-changing conversation, and it was an absolute honor to have Guy on the show. Let's tee off!

Golf Performance Coaches is a specialized coaching organization dedicated to helping golfers at all levels achieve their full potential. GPC focuses on providing structured, comprehensive, and personalized training to develop athletes both mentally and physically. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast brought to you by Eden Mill St Andrews, Jon provides an insightful overview of Golf Performance Coaches, shares his experience of being named Canada's Coach of the Year, and breaks down the NCCP, CNC, and CDC acronyms. He discusses his work with both high performers and beginners, delving into his expertise in the short game. Jon also reflects on how Henry Brunton influenced his career and talks about the various roles he holds, including Director of Instruction at Beacon Hall and his work with Miura Golf. This was a technology-driven conversation and an absolute honor to have Jon on the show. Let's tee off.

Golf.ai is an AI-powered platform designed to enhance golfers' on-course experience by providing real-time assistance with strategy, course management, and club selection. It evaluates current weather conditions alongside your validated distances to offer precise advice, aiming to help you stay in bounds and lower your scores. On this episode of the Wednesday Match Play Podcast powered by Epic Golf Club, Clive discusses the inspiration behind Golf.ai and the other startups he's been involved with. He explains how users can benefit from Golf.ai, addresses what happens if there's a dangerous animal on the course, and shares how user feedback is shaping the future of this innovative solution. Clive also dives into his Master of Wellness, emphasizes the importance of data privacy, and walks us through the milestones and challenges he's faced along the way. This was a highly technical and insightful conversation, and it was an honor having Clive on the show. Let's tee off!

Ascot Tours is a luxury travel company based in South Africa that specializes in crafting exclusive golf, safari, and beach travel packages across Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean Islands. On this episode The Wednesday Match Play Podcast powered by Epic Golf Club, Seyms shares his journey to Ascot Tours, delves into what sets them apart from other travel companies offering similar experiences, and highlights some of their most popular travel destinations. He also emphasizes the importance of sustainability, discusses the costs associated with these trips, and explains the role of travel insurance. Additionally, he offers insights into the wildlife you might encounter during your journey and the creation of Ascot Private. This was a luxurious conversation, and an honor to have Seyms on the show. Let's tee off.

Club Support Inc. is a specialized IT service provider with over 20 years of experience, focusing exclusively on the club industry across Canada and the USA. They offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of clubs. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast powered by Epic Golf Club, Denis provides an insightful overview of Club Support and their services, highlighting the importance of being aligned with their clients' needs. He delves into their partnerships with brands like Jonas and Northstar and reflects on his experience at ITMO University in St. Petersburg, Russia. He also sheds light on their onboarding process and emphasizes the critical need for understanding cybersecurity and mitigating associated risks. This was a technological conversation an honor to have Denis on the show. Let's tee off.

PIVOT Agency is a full-service sports marketing and entertainment firm based in Walnut Creek, California. The agency specializes in connecting consumer brands with athletes, sports organizations, the arts, causes, business, and media. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast powered by Epic Golf Club, Elliott provides an overview of PIVOT Agency, reflecting on his journey to the organization and detailing their range of services. He explains how they help clients achieve their goals, shares trends shaping the industry, and highlights some of the brands they collaborate with. He also dives into the exciting upcoming Celebrity Pickleball Bash and reminisces about his time at the University of the Pacific. This was an enlightening conversation, and an honor to have Elliott on the show. Let's tee off.

Ryan Doerr, Founder of Strategic Club Solutions and former Disney executive, dives into the nuances of enhancing private clubs and hospitality organizations. He discusses the unique, tailored approaches required for strategic planning and member retention, emphasizing that one size doesn't fit all. Ryan also highlights the significance of mentorship and effective communication, shares insights on navigating remote team dynamics, and introduces the innovative Club U2 resource platform. With a mix of personal anecdotes and industry wisdom, it's an enlightening conversation for anyone in the club management sphere.

The Fox Hills Golf Learning Center in Plymouth, Michigan, is a premier golf instruction facility featuring state-of-the-art technology like TrackMan and V1 Analysis. With PGA and LPGA-certified instructors, it offers tailored programs for all skill levels, plus extensive indoor and outdoor practice areas for year-round training. On this episode of The Wednesday Match Play Podcast powered by Epic Golf Club, Brian details his journey to becoming a PGA professional, talks about the importance of mentoring, gives us an overview of the Fox Hills Golf Learning Center, and introduces the team of qualified teaching professionals. He also discusses his certification with VISION54 and reminisces on being inducted into the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame. This was an inspirational conversation and an honor having Brian on the show. Let's tee off.