Course Record Show

In this episode, we review "Rainmaker," the recently published book by former golf superagent Hughes Norton. We cover the major business lessons from the book and highlight the snippets that make the book memorable. Lots of great nuggets about Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and the making of IMG make this book unique. Enjoy the episode!

This episode has something for everyone! We talk Golf/Succession Comps (1:05) PLAYERS takeaways (10:15) Callaway spinoff (18:07) LA Muni Golf Drama (19:42) then take a deeper dive on Board Governance including the new TOUR structure (24:00) Enjoy, subscribe, send to a friend! #CRS #GolfBusiness #Golf #Business #podcast

In this episode, we take a tour-de-force of recent topics surrounding men's pro golf. We cover the latest developments with the PGA Tour Enterprises deal, cover what's new in golf fashion and break down the scene at the PGA Show. Enjoy!

In this episode, Roberto and Dan dive deep into the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a conglomerate of influential businesspeople looking to make an investment in the PGA Tour. We discuss who the key people behind SSG are, what might make them intriguing to the Tour, whether this means good things for the Saudi Public Investment Fund and more. At the end, Roberto and Dan make some quick and fun predictions for the 2024 season. Enjoy, subscribe and happy New year!

In this episode, we explore the stories of two Golf Courses that closed their doors during the Golf boom: Ravenaux Country Club (Spring, TX) and Sherwood Forest Country Club (Baton Rouge, LA). Alex Lidback shares his perspective as a former member of Ravenaux. Frank Gumpert is a PGA Professional who and former Head Pro at Sherwood Forest. Both Alex and Frank bring their perspectives on what happened at their clubs and whether these are cautionary stories for the growth of Golf more broadly. To see the picture of Raveneaux after Hurricane Harvey referenced in the episode, see here: https://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Harris-County-pays-11-5M-for-Raveneaux-Country-15017760.php

In this short series, the Course Record Show dives into some of the nuances overshadowed by the growth of golf during Covid. We explore whether the growth is sustainable and what it will take to it to continue. Then we bring in Lincoln Duff, who has made a career at the intersection of golf and Real Estate to explore which of our opinions carry water and which don't. Enjoy!

Fresh off of his runner-up finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship, we talk to Ben Griffin. After walking away from pro golf to become a mortgage loan officer, Ben recommitted to his playing career and finished his rookie season on the PGA Tour inside the Top 70. Ben played his college golf at UNC Chapel Hill where he was a two-time All American, won 3 individual titles and set the programs all-time scoring average, previously held by Davis Love III. In this episode, Ben discusses his journey to the PGA Tour, the changing landscape of pro golf and how he manages his career. Enjoy!

The Course Record Show is back after a summer hiatus! Our guest today is Sandra Richards. Sandra is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley where she is Head of Global Sports and Entertainment in the firm’s wealth management division. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, most recently being named to Sports business Journals Game Changers, class of 2023. We cover a variety of topics, from the changing landscape in wealth creation for athletes, how to manage that wealth, and the role of golf to a company like Morgan Stanley. Enjoy the episode!

On this episode, Roberto and Dan catch up on RC's behind the ropes experience at the ANWA and Masters. We also recap 2 years of CRS, recapping highlights from the show and our most profound takeaways. Thanks to our listeners for the amazing support you've shown!

In this episode, we talk to Geoff Shackelford. Geoff's has had an interesting career in golf, authoring 11 books, designing golf courses, frequently appearing on the Golf Channel, and co-hosting 2 podcasts (McKellar and State of the Game). We discuss Geoff's new book "Golf Architecture for Normal People" (coming this June), the publishing business, the state of golf media and Geoff's newsletter "The Quadrilateral." Enjoy! ---- Links from Today's Conversation To pre-order Geoff's book: https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Architecture-Normal-People-Sharpening/dp/1732222754/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HNHY58BALYOJ&keywords=golf+architecture+for+normal+people&qid=1679967179&sprefix=golf+architec%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1 To read and subscribe to The Quadrilateral: https://www.thequadrilateral.golf/

In this episode, we talk to Lee Wybranski. Lee is the President of Lee Wybranski Art and Design (www.leewybranski.com), and is one of the premier artists working in golf today. He has been commissioned to create drawings and paintings for the finest clubs and organizations in the game. In addition, Lee works annually for the game’s governing bodies, creating classic, collectible work on behalf of The R&A, PGA of America, and the United States Golf Association. We chat with Lee about what makes for great art, how he captures the essence of the game and how the business of art works. Lee's also been part of a collaboration with fellow Philly natives Tom Coyne and Gil Hanse called "The Art of Golf: Philadelphia starring Tom Coyne, Lee Wybranski and Gil Hanse" which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yTYzLmV5jU

Roberto gives us the scoop on what the PGA Show was like this year. We discuss the biggest trends, novelties and intricacies of Golf's biggest trade show and the people that make it all happen, including some past Course Record Show guests. This episode is brought to you by Encina Farms. Encina Farms (encinafarms.com) specialized in Iberico, a special breed of pig from Spain. Encina's cuts of Iberico ship everywhere in US and you can get a taste of their delicious product with 15% off your purchase (of $100 or more) by using code CRS15 at checkout. Enjoy!

In this episode, we profile a handful of companies in the golf business and discuss who owns them and how that ownership came to be. Joe Ogilvie (former PGA Tour pro turned investor turned Course Record Show's first repeat guest) joins us with his personal experiences with these companies and tells us whether he'd buy or sell each company. This was a fun episode and Joe, as usual, was a wealth of information and stories. Enjoy!

In this episode, we speak to Allen Greene, former Athletic Director at Auburn University. Before that role, Allen was AD at Buffalo. His sports background runs deep as Allen was a collegiate (Notre Dame) and professional baseball player. In this rich discussion, Allen shares his unique view on college sports, what an administrator thinks about and how he sees golf in the broader sports landscape. Enjoy!

In this episode, we speak to Jeremy Stone, VP of Marketing at Titleist. Jeremy has been at Titleist since 2010 in a few different roles. We cover a range of topics in this discussion, from the strategic choices that Titleist makes in the evolving golf landscape, how the business of golf clubs and golf balls is more different than it seems and some deep-dives into the technological side of golf. Enjoy!

In this episode, we speak to Golf+ CEO Ryan Engle. Ryan is an engineer-turned-serial entrepreneur who founded Golf+ as a virtual reality golf game, which can be played with the Oculus headset. Ryan discusses the company's mission, what makes the VR experience credible to golfers, where golf is headed and how Golf+ is responding. Enjoy!

Ryan Baucom is a long-time PGA Tour caddie turned Medical Sales Rep. In this episode, we talk to "Bauc" about the economics of caddying, what makes a good caddy, the skills from caddying that translate into the working world and some fun stories about life on Tour. As a former collegiate football player, we also talk about NIL. Bauc is a fascinating individual with intellectual curiosity and a knack for storytelling. Enjoy, and stick around after the interview for Takeaways. If you're curious to see the Hudson Swafford video featuring Bauc mentioned in the beginning of the interview, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjlG6rP5Uc.

1 week a year, Augusta, GA becomes the center of the sports universe. But what happens the other 51 weeks a year in Augsuta? In this episode, mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. joins us to discuss how the Masters impacts the city of Augusta, how he leverages the tournament in his leadership, the role of engineering and theology in public service and handling adversity.

This episode is Part 3 of 3 of a special series on Direct to Consumer companies focused on the golf market. This episode features Mike Gottfried, Founder and CEO of Piper Golf (www.piper.golf). Piper Golf makes performance golf balls at reasonable prices using a simple fitting system. Listen to the episode to hear how Mike thinks about digital marketing, building lifetime value in golf and the role of experimentation in business. After the interview, Roberto and Dan discuss takeaways from the discussion with Mike. If you are interested in trying Piper Golf balls, use code CRS10 at checkout on piper.golf.

This episode is Part 2 of 3 of a special series on Direct to Consumer companies focused on the golf market. This episode features Brad Payne, Founder of Walker Trolleys (www.walkertrolleys.com). Walker Trolleys makes a premium golf pushcart to help golfers enjoy the experience of walking during their round. Listen to the episode to hear how Brad thinks about marketing channels, managing supply chain risk and his prospects for DTC in golf more broadly. After the interview, Roberto and Dan discuss takeaways from the discussion with Brad. If you are interested in buying a Walker Trolley, use code COURSERECORD20 at checkout for $20 off on walkertrolleys.com.