Course Record Show (Roberto Castro and Dan Ferreira)

Matt Welter is CEO of Dormy House (www.dormydevelopment.com), a real estate development company focused on destination golf.  Matt's story as a caddie and relationship with Mike Keiser (owner of Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley and Cabot Cape Breton) led to him solving an underappreciated problem in the golf industry.  Matt shares his vision, founding story and how he sees the housing shortage problem for golf resorts.  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!

Mike Small is head men's golf coach at the University of Illinois, ranked #10 in the 2021-2022 pre-season golf rankings. In this episode, we discuss the ramifications of the Name, Image and Likeness ruling, how the mechanics of college golf (recruiting, fundraising, leadership) really work and how Coach Small develops college players into pros.

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!

Chad Parker is GM and COO at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, we talk to Chad about the operations of a golf club, hosting a PGA Tour event, pro shop merchandising, philanthropy, barbeque and more.

In this episode we discuss the book "Deane Beman, Golf's Driving Force" with author Adam Schupak.  We unpack some of the most unexpected plot twists in the book, how the former PGA Tour Commissioner went about his business and the parallels to the state of men's professional golf today.  Enjoy, like and subscribe!

Roberto speaks to Joe Assell, Founder and CEO of Golftec.  Joe shares his journey from PGA Professional to Founder, the expansion of Golftec, how digital plays a role in the company's future plans and more.  Enjoy!

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!

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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/

Alex Prasad is CEO of V1 Sports, maker of video swing analysis software apps for golfers and coaches.  In this episode we discuss the origins of the company, what makes golf swing improvement a business opportunity and how Alex approaches his management of the company.  Enjoy!

If you like this episode, share it with a friend, subscribe and write a review.

Brian Ferris is a golf course developer, restauranteur and co-chair of the Pebble Beach Company. We talk about building Chestatee Golf Club in suburban Atlanta, why he sometimes regrets not using Jack Nicklaus as his designer, and the other ups and downs of the business over the last 20 years. Brian also tells the story of how his father got involved at Pebble Beach alongside a couple other folks you might have heard of - Arnold Palmer and Clint Eastwood. Brian is a hard charging, high energy guy and you'll really enjoy hearing his perspectives on the golf business.

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.

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!

Episode #4 of the Course Record Show features our very own Roberto Castro talking about the day-to-day of a tour pro. We cover the usual expense breakdown of playing professional golf and what life on the road looks like. These are some of the most frequently asked questions that amateurs ask pros during pro-ams and outings, so we’re bringing them to you here.

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!

This episode is Part 1 of 3 of a special series on Direct to Consumer companies focused on the golf market. This episode features Wayne Birch Jr., Co-founder and Co-owner of Trap Golf (trapgolf.com). Trap Golf makes apparel that reflects the intersection of golf, art and hip-hop. Listen to the episode to see how Wayne (who is a caddie on the PGA Tour) has used his unique background to bring legitimacy to a brand that's growing the game of golf and the tactics he's using to help it grow.

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!

Much like Lebron in 2010, CRS decided to take it’s talents to South Beach…well, not quite. But we did land in Orlando for the PGA Show! We had an interesting panel of 3 guests, and covered a lot of ground. Specifically, you'll hear from: (1) Jon Bradway of Captech, a technology consulting firm that recently signed a marquee partnership with the PGA of America, (2) Ken Reynolds of aboutGOLF Simulators and (3) Matthew Hobbins of Concert Golf Partners, an owner-operator of over 25 upscale clubs nationwide. We know you'll enjoy their perspectives on what's hot in the game right now and how their companies are making bold bets for the future of golf. After the interview, Dan and Roberto debrief on their main takeaways of the conversation and whether some of their predictions for 2022 (see Episode #13) are more bullish or bearish after hearing from insiders. Please subscribe, write a review for the show and recommend it to a friend. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more content like this to you.

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.

Golf business stories from 2024, plus some inside the ropes talk. We talk TOUR, LIV, DP World (3:30), big job openings across golf (5:40), Scottie/Xander/Rory (11:00), Nelly/Hovland/Ludvig/Clanton (17:00), Creator/Influencers/SimGolf Market (23:30), and finally...Castro gets back inside the ropes! (31:00). 

Thanks to Holderness & Bourne for the support! 

Subscribe if you enjoy!

Roberto and Dan kick off 2022 with predictions for 2022. We discuss non-green grass golf, betting in golf, golf media, the future of startup golf leagues (PGL, SGL), direct to consumer brands, and gender equity in golf. Stay tuned throughout the year for deep-dives on some of these topics with expert guests.

Jeehae Lee is founder and CEO of Sportsbox.ai, a tech company focused on sports performance improvement. Jeehae has built a well rounded set of experiences in golf, as a LPGA pro, Michelle Wie's manager and TopGolf executive, picking up a Wharton MBA along the way. Jeehae is articulate and insightful about the business of golf. In this episode she offers her opinions on the future of golf coaching, the role of tech in golf, and the ever-changing role that golf has played in her life. We're mixing it up this episode and running a very cool custom apparel giveaway with H&B. The action is all happening over on their Instagram account @holdernessbourne. We're giving away custom logoed Course Record Show gear, designed by Castro Golf. The shirt is our all-time favorite golf shirt - the Maxwell - and the pullover is the Somerville, a mid-weight piece that's perfect for when the weather cools down. To enter, go to @holdernessbourne on Instagram - We will choose the winner this Friday 8/13 and send exact sizes.

Jesse Menachem is Executive Director and CEO of Mass Golf, the state Golf Association in Massachusetts. He’s been with the organization since 2004, where he started as an intern, then Director of Rules and Competition, before becoming Executive Director in 2013. Jesse is also the President of the International Association of Golf Administrators. He’s dedicated his life’s work to improving the game of golf and has a unique perspective on the game.

Longtime marketing guru at Callaway and TaylorMade talks us through the finances of sponsoring Tour players, the OEMs position on the distance debate, and making the jump into entrepreneurship by co-founding an apparel brand, Municipal, with Mark Wahlberg.

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

From winning 2 majors, to law school, to working in professional wrestling, Jane Geddes has done it all. We talk about playing golf in a bubble, switching to the administrative side of the LPGA, working at the WWE, and her current role as CEO of The Legends Tour. From winning 2 majors, to law school, to working in professional wrestling, Jane Geddes has done it all. We talk about playing golf in a bubble, switching to the administrative side of the LPGA, working at the WWE, and her current role as CEO of The Legends Tour.

In this episode, Chad Mumm joins Roberto for an in-depth conversation.  Chad shares some behind the curtains views of Full Swing (where he is the Executive Producer), the development of his company Pro Shop and how he sees the opportunity for golf entertainment for the years ahead.

Full Swing season 3 drops on Netflix on February 25, 2025.

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 cover the renovation at East Lake Golf Club and the implications for the TOUR Championship.  Chad Parker (GM and President, East Lake Golf Club) and Alex Urban (Executive Director, TOUR Championship) give us their views on how the renovation impacts the club operations, what to look out for when watching the TOUR Championship and what clubs should think about when undergoing such a project.  Enjoy!

Stewart Cink has been a PGA Tour player since 1997. He has 8 PGA Tour wins, highlighted by the 2009 Open Championship, appeared in five Ryder Cups and reached the #5 position in the Official World Golf Ranking. Stewart was a He's is one of the game's consummate gentlemen and a wealth of knowledge of the evolution of the professional game (and barbeque).

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.

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

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, Roberto and Dan break down the highlights from the past season in golf and share some of the developments they're looking to keep an eye on over the offseason.

In this episode we speak with Nick Venson, founder and CEO of SWAG Golf.  SWAG is a bold brand in the golf space, selling putters, wedges and accessories with a twist.  Nick shares the origins of the company, how his background helped shape the brand and the twists and turns along the way that make SWAG's story unique.  Enjoy!

If you like this kind of content, please subscribe to the show, leave a review and tell a friend.  Thank you!

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!

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!

Eric Stepanian is the founder of The Fliers Club, an international travel and private club experience designed by a collective of golfers who are inspired by the discovery of diverse courses, cultures & time-honored traditions of the game. In this episode, we talk to Eric about what makes a community of golfers so unique, how the Fliers Club turned a community of golfers into a business and how Eric took aspects from his background in the PGA of America and other jobs to form the Fliers Club.

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!

15 year PGA Tour veteran talks about how Tour players think about money, having Thanksgiving dinner with Warren Buffett, what makes The Masters so special, and the biggest threat facing the PGA Tour.

Club Pro Guy (@clubproguy) is a satirical character who depicts the life of a Golf Club Pro. Having risen to fame through his accomplishments on the Mexican Mini Tour, CPG then transitioned to become the Club Pro at one of Kansas City's elite semi-private golf clubs. In this episode, CPG talks about his business experience involving many aspects of running a golf operation and founding a new club altogether. He captures many of his thoughts in his new book "Club Pro Guy's Other Black Book: Wisdom from a Lifetime of Punching out Sideways" available at clubproguy.com. As CPG is a fictional, satirical character please take this interview with a grain of salt, and enjoy a good laugh. Please subscribe if you enjoy the show, we have a lot more great guests coming up!

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.

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!

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 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!