Episodes
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Hole #7 Golf is Nature Walk (for the Birders)
18 Opportunities returns to celebrate Hiram Hart. This episode was recorded in Portland studio on January 3, 2020 by Billy McGee and accompanied by Jan Knott. Both Hiram and Jan are avid birders and golfers. Together we explore the natural beauty of the trees, birds and wildlife at Eastmoreland…
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Special: Golf in the Time of Coronavirus
On Special Segment, Billy is joined by Christine as they, along with families across the globe, live through new social distancing and work from home orders. We explore how golf can be a respite and mental health break from a world turned upsidedown. We explore how the golf course has changed…
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Hole # 5 Golf is Game of Tools (Part 2) with Conner of Society of Golf Historians
Billy welcomes Conner from the Society of Golf Historians and Talking Golf History podcast to replay Hole #5 and explore Golf as a Game of Tools. We explore Connor's love and obsession with hickory golf clubs, his collection of Rut Irons and Sand Wedges and explore how the evolution of the guttie...
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Hole #5 Golf is Game of Tools (Part 1 - Putters)
Blake joins Billy and Drew for the Hole #5 Golf is a Game of Tools. We begin with Blake's recent passion for old school blades and persimmons. Going deeper we explore golf as a game of tools with an emphasis on the putter, having gone through many changes through history leading to design bans by...
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#4 Golf is a Ball Game (Part 2)
In this episode, Billy & Drew pick up with the endo of the Guttie era with the introduction of the Wound Rubber Ball from America. John Low provides excellent commentary in 1903 decrying the "new ball" with longer distances that will make the current golf courses obsolete as drives now are going...
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#4 Golf is a Ball Game (Part 1)
Hole #4 Billy and Drew explore how Golf is a Ball Game and unique from other games, in that the evolution of the ball was a critical element to the evolution of the game itself. Learn about the original wooden golf balls pre 15th century and the origin of the featherie- the first "modern golf…
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#2 Golf is Made by the Land
Hole #2 Golf is Made By the Land explore how golf was made by the land, specifically the links of Scotland. The game was one shaped more by the land itself then by any theoretical constructs of gameplay, like court games. The game evolved to follow the natural contours and make a game of what...
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#3 Golf is a Competition (Match Play)
This episode features long friend and competitor Vinny who joins Billy to discuss the appreciation of the Match, specifically match play, making a wager and some American versions played in Texas called Wolf Hammer. This is an episode that will have you making a tee time and digging into the…
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#1 Golf is a Target Game
On the opening hole of the 18 Opportunities Podcast, Billy and Drew explore the origin of sports specifically melee games and target games, and how both golf and football were banned in 1457 by the King of Scotland.
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Why 18 Opportunities? The Introduction
"Why 18 Opportunities?" This episode introduces Billy and Drew to the listeners, as we explore why we love golf through the lens of history, culture, science, and evolution. Billy explains the origin of 18 Opportunities from the book Concerning Golf by John Low and his Eastmoreland 100 history...