PODCAST · sports
The DROP Podcast
by Golfing in the Garden State
Golfing in the Garden State, like you’ve never heard it. Hosted by Mike Puorro, this podcast dives deep into New Jersey’s golf scene with 2 episodes every week. From honest course breakdowns and real clubhouse stories to in-depth conversations with head professionals, rising amateurs, touring pros, and the people shaping golf across the state, this is where New Jersey golf lives. Public tracks, private clubs, hidden gems, and everything in between - if it matters to NJ golf, it’s covered here. Subscribe, rate, and tap in before your next round. And yes - DROP stands for Driver off the Parkway.
Episodes
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Jamie Slonis: Birdie on 18 to Win the New Jersey Senior Amateur
A birdie on the final hole gave Jamie Slonis the 2026 New Jersey Senior Amateur title at Suneagles Golf Club, one shot ahead of longtime friend and four-ball partner Tom Gramigna. Jamie joins The DROP to revisit the comeback, the closing hole and the wait as Tom played behind him with a chance to...
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Plainfield, Arcola & Spring Brook: What Sets These New Jersey Courses Apart
Three New Jersey courses, three very different experiences. As The DROP begins Year 5, Mike and Chris thank the community behind the show before discussing a memorable week at Plainfield, Arcola and Spring Brook. Mike recounts playing Plainfield’s Donald Ross design alongside Rhett Sellers in…
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Jeff Maines: Spring Brook Assistant Pro Qualifies for Three National Championships
Three national championship berths in one calendar year. Jeff Maines, an assistant golf professional at Spring Brook Country Club, joins The DROP to explore the 2026 season in which he qualified for the Senior PGA Professional, Assistant PGA Professional and PGA Professional Championships. Mike...
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Central Jersey’s Top 5 Public Golf Courses
Seven counties. Five spots. Which courses make the cut? After listeners asked for a follow-up to the South Jersey ranking, Mike counts down his five best public golf courses in Central Jersey, with Chris weighing in on the selections. Covering Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean…
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Matt Lowe: Five Wins, an Eight-Shot Comeback and Met Open Runner-Up
Matt Lowe returns to The DROP after a five-win 2026 season that began with victories at the Havemeyer and Mittelmark Invitationals and continued with his third MGA Public Links title and second Ike Championship. The defining comeback came at Glens Falls, where Lowe entered the final day eight…
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The Comeback at Harkers Hollow Golf Club Is the Real Deal
Harkers Hollow Golf Club in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is a public, daily-fee course with membership options and a Robert White design dating to 1929. Mike visits for the first time to see how far Harkers Hollow has come under its current ownership group, and the turnaround shows from tee to…
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Chris Gotterup & Cameron Young: The Presidents Cup Pairing Mike Asked For
Before the Presidents Cup, Mike called for Chris Gotterup and Cameron Young to play together. At Medinah, they delivered two Saturday victories, winning 2 & 1 in four-ball and 6 & 4 in alternate shot, before both added singles wins during Team USA’s historic Sunday comeback. Gotterup finished his...
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Catherine McEvoy: From 77 to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Final
An opening 77 became a 66, the lowest round of stroke play, and the start of Catherine McEvoy’s run to the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur final at Montclair Golf Club. She joins The DROP to revisit that 11-shot turnaround, the match-play comebacks that kept her championship hopes alive and the...
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South Jersey’s Top 5 Public Golf Courses
Does Ballamor deserve the top spot over Twisted Dune and Shore Gate? Mike ranks his five best public golf courses in South Jersey and invites Chris to challenge the order, the omissions and what should matter most: design, challenge, value or the enjoyment of the full round. Then, Mike takes us...
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Katie Li: Garden State Roots, Duke Golf & What’s Next
Katie Li has taken her game from Basking Ridge to some of the biggest stages in women’s golf. The Ridge High School graduate and 2024 New Jersey Women’s Amateur champion is now a senior at Duke, where she has earned All-ACC honors twice and competed in two U.S. Women’s Opens. Mike talks with…
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Which Overlooked New Jersey Golf Courses Belong in the Top 10 Conversation?
Some New Jersey golf courses may be missing from the Top 10 conversation simply because too few golfers have actually played them. Mike takes the public side and Chris the private, with each making the case for one overlooked course and explaining why it deserves more attention, what part of the...
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Rory & Michael Asselta: From the Garden State to Golf’s National Stage
Rory & Michael Asselta sit down with Mike at Ramsey Golf & Country Club, their home club, with each brother already testing his game well beyond the Garden State. Rory enters his junior year of high school ranked No. 10 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, verbally committed to Auburn, a 2026 RLX Ralph...
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Medford Lakes Country Club Is Just Flat-Out Fun
Medford Lakes Country Club in Medford Lakes, New Jersey, is the kind of private golf club that reminds you how much fun golf is supposed to be. The club’s original nine was designed by Alexander H. Findlay and opened for play in 1930 before Harold C. Purdy designed the additional holes when…
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6 New Jersey Golf Courses I Still Want to Play in 2026
With fall golf beginning and the 2026 season winding down, Chris turns the tables on Mike and makes him rank the New Jersey golf courses he still wants to play most before the year ends. Mike has to choose three public and three private courses, rank both lists from No. 3 to No. 1 and explain…
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Brent Ito: 2026 MET Open Champion
Brent Ito captured the 111th Met Open at Essex County Country Club with rounds of 66, 65 and 70, finishing 12-under and winning by three shots. Ito takes Mike through the decisions behind the victory, from hitting roughly 85 percent of his fairways and giving himself opportunities to attack pins...
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The Future of Golfing in the Garden State: Rory and Michael Asselta
Rory and Michael Asselta are two of the brightest young players in New Jersey golf, with Rory already reaching a level that is almost unheard of in the state for a player his age. As he enters only his junior year of high school, Rory is already verbally committed to Auburn, has earned a spot on...
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Dr. Eric Acevedo on Strength, Mobility and Playing Pain-Free Golf Longer
Dr. Eric Acevedo, owner of BackNineStrength in Eatontown, explains why the area causing a golfer's pain is not always where the problem begins and why some apparent swing faults cannot be corrected through instruction alone. A Doctor of Chiropractic, certified athletic trainer and Titleist...
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Is Crystal Springs Resort the East Coast’s Best Golf Getaway?
Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County, New Jersey, combines destination golf, luxury accommodations, professional instruction and year-round amenities into one of the most complete golf getaways in the region. Mike is joined by The DROP Podcast’s Social Media Manager Mike “Shack” Shackleton to...
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Chris Krno: What Does It Take to Maintain New Jersey’s Best Public Golf Course?
Chris Krno explains how a position at a private club led him to Francis A. Byrne Golf Course in 2009, what he recognized in a struggling municipal property and how his understanding of the superintendent profession developed along the way. He details the early agronomic challenges, the decisions...
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Don’t Sleep on This South Jersey Golf Gem
The Legacy Club in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is a private golf experience that left Mike beyond impressed. The William Flynn-designed course was in spectacular condition from start to finish, with great presentation throughout the property and a finishing hole at No. 18 that is simply special. Add...
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Is LeBron James the Biggest Moment YouTube Golf Has Ever Had?
LeBron James has officially entered YouTube Golf with plans for a recurring golf series on his own channel. Mike and Chris debate whether one of the most famous athletes in the world launching his own golf platform is the biggest mainstream moment YouTube Golf has ever had, what his arrival could...
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Brian Bianchi: How Weequahic’s Caddie Program Builds a Path to the Evans Scholarship
Brian Bianchi, Vice President of Caddie Development for the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation, explains why Weequahic Golf Course became the right home for a public youth caddie program in Newark. Mike reflects on his round with Brian, Tim Christ and Chris Krno, where the...
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What Do You Have to Shoot to Be Good at Golf? | Golf’s Biggest Questions
What do you have to shoot consistently to be considered good at golf? Mike and Chris tackle that question along with whether most amateurs are playing from tees that are too far back, who is better between the golfer who shoots 78 at home or 82 on unfamiliar courses, which New Jersey course...
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How Rhett Sellers Controlled the 2026 New Jersey Open From Start to Finish
Rhett Sellers explains how he turned an opening-round 65 into a wire-to-wire victory at the 106th New Jersey Open Championship at Morris County Golf Club. The Plainfield Country Club assistant professional details how his game was trending entering the week, what previous top-10 finishes taught…
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Episode 200: The Story Behind 200 Straight Weeks Without Missing One
200 Episodes. 200 Straight Weeks. Since launching on October 12, 2022, The DROP Podcast has never missed a Tuesday release. In Episode 200, Mike reflects on what it truly took to keep that promise through family life, his teaching career, high school coaching, vacations, sickness, personal...
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Barnes Blake: Back-to-Back New Jersey Amateur Champion at Baltusrol
Barnes Blake successfully defended the New Jersey Amateur Championship with a wire-to-wire, seven-stroke victory at Baltusrol Golf Club, becoming the first player in 12 years to win consecutive titles. Blake explains how he recovered from playing his first six holes in 3-over, transformed the...
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Do Bayonne and Knoll West Belong in New Jersey’s Private and Public Top 10s?
Bayonne Golf Club and Knoll West Country Club represent two completely different sides of New Jersey golf. Mike evaluates whether Bayonne belongs among the state’s top 10 private courses after experiencing its Manhattan skyline views, links-inspired architecture, demanding greens, changing wind,...
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Omar Jermaine: Shaping the Future of Dunning Golf
Omar Jermaine has spent more than 30 years working across apparel design, product development, streetwear, luxury sportswear and tailored menswear. Now serving as Creative Director at Dunning Golf, he is helping shape the company’s performance apparel, creative identity and future direction....
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Is This New Jersey’s Most Unique Golf Destination?
Great Gorge Golf Club is not a typical New Jersey golf facility. Their 27 George Fazio-designed holes are divided among the Rail, Lake and Quarry courses, each using the elevation, water, exposed rock and mountain landscape differently. In this Course Feature, Mike explores what gives Great Gorge...
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2026 NJ Golf Open at Morris County, The Open Recap and My Day at Baltusrol
The 106th New Jersey Open Championship returns to Morris County Golf Club for the first time since 1984, bringing 123 of the state’s best professionals and elite amateurs together for 54 holes on a course measuring roughly 6,600 yards. Mike and Chris examine why its narrow, sloping fairways,...
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Morris County Golf Club: NJ Golf’s 106th Open Championship Preview
Craig Smith, Head Golf Professional, and Nick LeViere, Superintendent at Morris County Golf Club, preview the course ahead of the 106th New Jersey Open Championship. The Macdonald-Raynor design will test New Jersey’s leading professionals and elite amateurs with demanding bunkering, sloping…
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Francis Byrne, Weequahic and Great Gorge: What New Jersey Golf Can Offer
Francis Byrne, Weequahic and Great Gorge show three distinctly different ways to experience golf in New Jersey. Mike makes the case for Francis Byrne as the state’s No. 1 public course, weighing its Raynor and Banks architecture, Stephen Kay restoration, conditioning, strategic challenge,...
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Patrick Keenan: How Deal Golf & Country Club Built a Stronger Family Golf Culture
Patrick Keenan, Head Golf Professional at Deal Golf & Country Club, explains how one of New Jersey’s most historic private clubs continues to evolve while protecting its golf identity. Founded in 1898, Deal has long been known for tight fairways, strong bunkering, and highly contoured greens, but...
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Atlantic City Has a Historic Links Course Next Door | Brigantine Golf Links
Brigantine Golf Links is one of the most distinctive public golf properties in New Jersey: a historic links-style course built in 1927 as part of the island’s original master plan and designed by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek. Set just minutes from the tables in Atlantic City, the course blends...
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Chris Gotterup’s PGA Tour Closing Standard and Crystal Springs Resort
Chris Gotterup’s final-round 62 at the John Deere Classic changed the conversation around New Jersey’s best golfer. Mike and Chris examine how Gotterup erased a five-shot deficit, won with his brother Patrick on the bag, and added another closing round that places him among the most dangerous...
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Is 12 Holes the Future of Golf? Mays XII Thinks So
Can 12 holes deliver a better modern golf experience than 18? Mays XII is betting that it can. Opening July 11 in Mays Landing, New Jersey, the former Mays Landing Country Club has been transformed into one of the most interesting new golf concepts in the state. Mays XII offers a legitimate round...
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Baltusrol Golf Club - Upper Course: NJ Golf’s 125th Amateur Preview
Jaimie Pierson, Head Golf Professional at Baltusrol Golf Club, previews the Upper Course ahead of the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship, where the cut will be established Tuesday and the champion crowned Wednesday afternoon. Although it has often stood beside the Lower’s larger...
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Baltusrol Golf Club - Lower Course: NJ Golf’s 125th Amateur Preview
Jaimie Pierson, Head Golf Professional at Baltusrol Golf Club, previews the Lower Course ahead of the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship. Opened in 1922 as part of A.W. Tillinghast’s groundbreaking dual-course design and restored by Gil Hanse, the Lower has hosted some of the defining...
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Who Will Win the 125th New Jersey Amateur at Baltusrol?
The 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship heads to Baltusrol Golf Club, where 102 of the state’s best players will compete across 72 holes on the Lower and Upper Courses. Mike and Chris preview the championship format, the two-course rotation, the demanding 36-hole final day, the significance of...
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Jimmy Arbes: 2026 New Jersey Mid-Amateur Champion
Jimmy Arbes captured the 2026 New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship after a dominant week of match play at Alpine Country Club, defeating three-time New Jersey Player of the Year Troy Vannucci, 3 and 1, in the final. After falling in the semifinals one year earlier, Arbes explains what changed, how...
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Scotland in New Jersey? Why Twisted Dune Stands Apart
Twisted Dune Golf Club brings a taste of Scotland to Egg Harbor Township and delivers one of New Jersey’s most distinctive public golf experiences. From the black tees, the par-72 layout stretches to 7,270 yards, with towering dunes, dramatic elevation changes and more than 100 bunkers creating…
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Wyndham Clark Survives Shinnecock to Win the U.S. Open
Wyndham Clark entered Sunday at Shinnecock with a six-shot lead and left as a two-time U.S. Open champion, but the final round became a test of survival. Mike, who picked Clark to win before the tournament, and Chris examine how he stopped a near-collapse, held off Sam Burns and handled a crowd...
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Jason Lamp on Life After Galloway National and What Comes Next
Jason Lamp returns to The DROP Podcast for a where-are-you-now episode centered on his next chapter in South Jersey golf. Since his first appearance, Lamp has moved into ownership at Pomona Golf, become a partner at FIRE GOLF, continued helping players through instruction at Atlantic City Country...
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Is This South Jersey’s Most Overlooked Public Golf Course?
Pinelands Golf Club in Hammonton, New Jersey has the feel of a course that more golfers are going to start paying attention to. Located just off the Atlantic City Expressway, Pinelands offers a classic South Jersey golf experience built around deep sand-based, tree-lined fairways, distinct…
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Twisted Dune Golf Club and U.S. Open Week at Shinnecock
Twisted Dune Golf Club brings one of the most distinct public golf experiences in South Jersey into focus, with big dunes, bold visuals, generous playing corridors, and the kind of personality golfers remember after the scorecard is put away. Mike and Chris connect that idea of course identity to...
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Harbor Pines Golf Club: A Complete South Jersey Public Golf Experience
Harbor Pines Golf Club is highlighted as The DROP examines one of South Jersey’s most recognized public golf properties through its course, conditions, pricing, practice facilities, and overall player experience. Assistant General Manager Chris Doyle adds the club perspective on how Harbor Pines...
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Dan Hicks on Shinnecock, Royal Birkdale, and Golf's 2026 Storylines
Dan Hicks has spent more than two decades calling golf's biggest moments, making him one of the most trusted voices in championship golf. With the 2026 U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills and The Open Championship heading back to Royal Birkdale, Hicks joins The DROP Podcast to assess the...
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Pomona Golf: New Jersey’s Best 9-Hole Hang
Pomona Golf is not trying to be the biggest golf course in New Jersey. It is trying to be one of the most fun. In this Course Feature on The DROP Podcast, we sit down with one of Pomona Golf’s owners, Jason Lamp, to talk about the vision behind the property, the renovations taking shape, and why...
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Pinelands Golf Club: Hidden in Hammonton No Longer
This episode begins with a golf course that left a lasting impression. Pinelands Golf Club in Hammonton delivered outstanding conditions, pure greens, exceptional food, and a level of value that raises an important question: why isn't more of New Jersey talking about this place? Located just off...
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Dottie Pepper on Rory, Gotterup, Aronimink, and the 2026 Golf Season
Dottie Pepper brings one of the clearest voices in championship golf to The DROP Podcast. The CBS Sports lead on-course reporter, two-time major champion, and 17-time LPGA Tour winner helps define the 2026 golf season so far, from Rory McIlroy defending at Augusta to Aaron Rai winning the PGA...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Golfing in the Garden State, like you’ve never heard it. Hosted by Mike Puorro, this podcast dives deep into New Jersey’s golf scene with 2 episodes every week. From honest course breakdowns and real clubhouse stories to in-depth conversations with head professionals, rising amateurs, touring pros, and the people shaping golf across the state, this is where New Jersey golf lives. Public tracks, private clubs, hidden gems, and everything in between - if it matters to NJ golf, it’s covered here. Subscribe, rate, and tap in before your next round. And yes - DROP stands for Driver off the Parkway.
HOSTED BY
Golfing in the Garden State
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The DROP Podcast have?
The DROP Podcast currently has 354 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The DROP Podcast about?
Golfing in the Garden State, like you’ve never heard it. Hosted by Mike Puorro, this podcast dives deep into New Jersey’s golf scene with 2 episodes every week. From honest course breakdowns and real clubhouse stories to in-depth conversations with head professionals, rising amateurs, touring pros,...
How often does The DROP Podcast release new episodes?
The DROP Podcast publishes regularly with 354 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The DROP Podcast?
You can listen to The DROP Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The DROP Podcast?
The DROP Podcast is created and hosted by Golfing in the Garden State.
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