The Fire Pit Podcast
by The 8 Side
In the 25 years of covering golf, the development of the game, courses and the camaraderie that’s core to the culture, it was time for Matt to share some of the best stories he has heard around fire pits all over the world. From PGA Tour players, caddies, architects, avid amateurs and buddies-trip planners, Matt has forged relationships with some of the most colorful and influential people in the game. So grab a drink, a seat and settle in. We’re getting to the essence of one story per podcast. A narrative so deep and meaningful, you save it for a post-round fire pit, which is where no one is in a hurry for the night to end.
Episodes
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Fire Drill 099: State of the Union
In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck go deep on the complicated negotiations around the framework agreement, drawing on Alan’s new reporting. They also introduce Bonfires, events that will provide access, camaraderie, competition and quality experiences at some of the best...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 9: “Reflections” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
Wait, there's more?! In Part 9 of the Fire Pit series on L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella gets final reflections from all protagonists on Lucas Glover's accomplishments, the putter, the technology and the business. Lots more on Brett Rumford's "let go of control to take control" and how it relates to...
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L.A.B. Golf – Part 8: “Glover Wins Again” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In part 8 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, Matt Ginella takes you through the second of Lucas Glover’s back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour. And then he gets Glover’s thoughts on being passed up for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the business impact of the two wins, as...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 7: “Glover Wins Wyndham” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In part 7 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, it’s almost all Lucas Glover. When and where a new putter intersects with his battle with the yips, reflections on his life, career, more from the Navy Seal, bold predictions from his inner-circle, and ultimately a recap of his win at the...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 6: “The Navy Seal” - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In Part 6 of the Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, we’re getting to Lucas Glover, the highs and lows of professional golf, why friends and good management matters, and we talk to a Navy Seal about overcoming the yips. Thanks for following along.
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 5: "Brett Rumford" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In Part 5 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on how and why L.A.B. Golf's technology and their putters are gaining in prominence and popularity, you'll hear from Brett Rumford, an Australian short-game guru. Rumford explains "giving up control to gain control," sheds light on the technology and why...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 4: "Adam Scott" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In Part 4 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf’s rise to putter prominence, we hear how Kelly Slater impacted Adam Scott’s decision to make it his gamer and why Scott called Sam Hahn to tell him he could win the Masters with it. You’ll also hear from Adam Beach of My Golf Spy as to why...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 3: "The GOAT" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In part 3 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on the rise and relevancy of L.A.B. Golf, the putters being used by the likes of Lucas Glover, Adam Scott, Ben An, Will Zalatoris, Camilo Villegas and more, you hear about some of the lean years, the struggles of branding, marketing, and how Sam Hahn went...
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 2: " The Inventor" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
In Part 2 of this Fire Pit Podcast series on L.A.B. Golf, you get the story of Bill Presse, the inventor, as he goes from developing the "magic dust" of lie, angle and balance in his garage, sleeping in and selling putters out of his car to ultimately selling a "lion's share" of the company to…
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L.A.B. Golf - Part 1: "The Revealer" - The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella
L.A.B. Golf builds and sells putters that don’t look like most conventional putters. They’re big, some might say they’re ugly, unwieldy. But they’re effective, they’re resurrecting morale, careers and a love of putting. In this Fire Pit podcast series, Matt Ginella conducts over 20 interviews and...
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Building Bandon - Opening Day [PART 2]
In this throwback podcast on the history of Bandon Dunes, part 2 picks up on May 1st, 1999 on the eve of Bandon Dunes opening for business. I’m not even sure Mike Keiser could’ve dreamed something as big as what Bandon has become. We hear from Bandon's original caddy master, Shoe, and the local...
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Building Bandon - Against All Odds [PART 1]
In this throwback podcast you’ll hear part 1 of the building of Bandon Dunes, as told by Mike Keiser, the owner, David McLay Kidd and his father, Jimmy, the architects, and Josh Lesnik and his father, Steve, who won the bid to manage it. Bandon Dunes, the original course at what is now the best...
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Becoming Coore & Crenshaw [PART 2]
Part 1 of this throwback podcast leaves off in 1985, when Ben Crenshaw convinces Bill Coore to partner up. In part 2, we get them through some lean years, making a name for themselves in Maui, and tell the story of striking pay dirt and pink flags in the sand hills of Nebraska.
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: Becoming Coore & Crenshaw [PART 1]
Part 1 of this throwback Fire Pit Podcast includes the people, places and things that had an influence on what Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have become as architects, how and when they met, who was involved and why it works.
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Fire Drill 098: The Rebirth of Golden Gate Park Golf Course
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella welcome the team behind the renovation of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course: Dan Burke, CEO of First Tee of San Francisco; Jay Blasi, the golf course architect; and Josh Lewis, project manager and agronomy guru. Burke, Blasi and Lewis...
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Fire Drill 097: The Great Rollback Debate - PART 2 (w/ Mike Clayton)
In part 2 of this spirited rollback debate, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck are joined by world renowned golf course architect Mike Clayton to continue their discussion on the recent decision to modify the golf ball.
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Fire Drill 097: The Great Rollback Debate - PART 1
In this extremely spirited Fire Drill, Matt Ginella is joined by Alan Shipnuck and Micheal Bamberger as the three lay out their opinions of the recently announced golf ball rollback.
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Fire Drill 096: In the Dirt
In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck provide lively updates on two ongoing FPC docuseries, one at Golden Gate Park GC and the other at Pasatiempo. They also have some fresh reporting on Shorty’s, the new par-3 course that is taking shape at Bandon Dunes.
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Wishbone Brawl is Back, Bigger and Better Than Ever: PART 2 w/ Xander Schauffele
Upon hearing about his competition in this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., in which Xander Schauffele (No. 6 in the world) and Chris Riley (PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cupper) will be taking on Geoff Ogilvy (U.S. Open winner) and Colin Featherstone (Korn Ferry...
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Wishbone Brawl is Back, Bigger and Better Than Ever
In this year’s Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif., women won’t just play with the men, they’ll play against them. This Saturday, Nov. 11, at a 4,500-yard municipal golf course where the motto is “World Class for Working Class,” what has become one of the greatest events in golf...
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Fire Drill 095: Positive Vibes Only
In this Fire Drill Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck discuss: The launch of "Liv and Let Die" The uncertain future of professional golf The influence of Tiger Woods and the TGL Accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of the modern game How geopolitics is affecting the framework agreement
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Fire Drill 094: Songs and Stories From Around The Fire Pit
In this Fire Drill: Matt Ginella, Alan Shipnuck, Grammy award winner Jacquire King and Linksoul founder John Ashworth join artist Griffin House as he discusses the intersection of golf and music, his creative process and debuts some songs from his new EP. Griffin House is a 2 handicap who swings...
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Fire Drill 093: LIV and Let Die
In this freewheeling conversation, Michael Bamberger gets the story-behind-the-story from Alan Shipnuck about his new book chronicling the battle for the soul of professional golf. They discuss the challenges of reporting a controversial, evolving story, delve into the larger themes of the book…
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Fire Drill 092: From Dublin to Belfast
In this episode of a Fire Drill from the Fire Pit Collective, Matt Ginella joins Alan Shipnuck to break down his latest travels to Dublin and Belfast. They both dive into the best of what’s available on and off the course. You’ll hear from several protagonists who offered their expertise…
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Fire Drill 091: The Hair Apparent w/ Neal Shipley
In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck speaks with U.S. Amateur runner-up Neal Shipley about his life-changing run at Cherry Hills, his brainy academic pursuits, the coming NIL windfall and much more.
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Fire Drill 090: "Gambler" - The Story Behind the Story
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck speaks with Armen Keteyian, the co-writer of Billy Walters’s “Gambler.” They discuss the craft of telling other people’s story, fact-checking Walters’s tales and Armen’s thoughts on Phil.
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Fire Drill 089: Around the World with the FPC
In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck checks in from the U.S. Am at Cherry Hills and reflects on the Women’s Am at Bel-Air, while Matt Ginella relives highlights from his recent sojourn to Ireland. They also delve into the reaction to the Billy Walters excerpt
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Fire Drill 088: Gambler - An EXCLUSIVE Excerpt from Billy Walters' New Autobiography
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella go deep on the first, hotly anticipated excerpt from Billy Walters' "Gambler." What do the revelations of Phil's reckless betting say about him? Has his legacy been altered?
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Fire Drill 087: In the Footsteps of Giants [OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP]
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger celebrate Brian Harman’s dominant win while drilling down on all the other news from an intriguing Open week.
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Fire Drill 086: I Am The Walrus
In this Fire Drill Podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger break down the highly anticipated Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Rory’s win at the Scottish Open and more on the ongoing battle between LIV, the PGA Tour and the future of professional golf.
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Fire Drill 085: Follow the Money
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella react to the Senate hearings on the LIV-PGA Tour framework agreement and the accompanying bombshell document dump. So much to unpack as the ongoing golf drama reaches Capitol Hill.
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Fire Drill 084: Inside the Ropes at the Women’s Open
For this Fire Drill preview of the U.S. Women's Open, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella are joined by their longtime friend Kevin Price, a Pebble Beach caddie who this week is on the bag of qualifier Mackenzie Hahn.
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Fire Drill 083: Reframing the Debate
In this Fire Drill podcast, Matt Ginella and Alan Shipnuck discuss the leaked framework agreement between the PIF and the PGA Tour as well as other developments in golf's shifting landscape. They also preview some exciting upcoming Fire Pit projects.
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 6 "Sit Down w/ Former PGA President Suzy Whaley"
In Part 6 of this podcast series on the Club Pro Crisis, we’re joined by Suzy Whaley, who, in 2018, became the first female President of the PGA of America. Whaley is a dual member of the PGA of America and LPGA Teaching & Club Professional division, she was an LPGA Tour member in 1990 and 1993,...
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Fire Drill 082: A Star is Born?
Straight from the 18th green at LACC, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger break down Wyndham Clark’s gutsy win, Rory McIlroy’s dispiriting retreat and the mixed emotions for Rickie, Scottie and the host venue.
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Fire Drill 081: US Open Preview with a Zing
From the 10th fairway of L.A. North, Alan Shipnuck, Mike Bamberger and surprise guest Paul Azinger discuss the wondrous host course, the feeling of this Open and the continued PGA Tour-LIV intrigue.
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 5 "PGM Programs w/ Dr. Brian Soulé"
In Part 5 of this series on the Club Pro Crisis, we hear from Dr. Brain Soulé, an associate teaching professor at Penn State’s Professional Golf Management program for the last 15 years. And we’re joined by Jack Davis, one of Soulé’s former students and current head pro at the Essex County Club…
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Fire Drill 080: The New World Order (w/ Geoff Ogilvy)
In this Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck debriefs Geoff Ogilvy about what really happened in the fraught player-only meeting in Canada. They drill down on the details of the new alliance, with Geoff expressing optimism about the Tour's future.
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 4 "Sit Down w/ Seth Waugh"
In Part 4 of this series on the Club Pro Crisis, we talk to Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America since 2018. Waugh shares his thoughts on how and why he got involved, how he’s doing a lot of listening in order to improve the lives of his membership, and we learn about his ultimate goal: “I’m...
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Fire Drill 079: LIV and Let Thrive
In this emergency Fire Drill podcast, Alan Shipnuck, Matt Ginella, and Mike Bamberger unpack the stunning LIV-PGA Tour merger: how it happened, why, what the future will look like, biggest winners and losers and much more.
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 3: “Where do we go from here?”
In Part 3 of this podcast series on America’s club pro crisis, another collection of voices and perspectives offer potential solutions to several complicated issues affecting club pros. Butch Harmon, Chandler Withington, Shane Ryan and a variety of current and former club pros discuss unionizing...
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 2: "Work/Life Imbalance"
In part 2 of a Fire Pit podcast series on the “Club Pro Crisis,” Matt Ginella gets into how and why Shane Ryan’s article in Golf Digest (May, 2022) highlighted issues of a work/life imbalance, money and awareness. In short, club pros and PGA Professionals are taken for granted. You’ll hear from...
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Fire Drill 078: LIV Reigns on the Block Party
In the latest Fire Drill podcast Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger dive deep into the three winners of the weekend: Brooks Keopka, Michael Block and LIV Golf.
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The Club Pro Crisis - Part 1: "Ignorance Isn't Bliss"
In this first of several podcasts on what many consider a “club pro crisis,” we talk to several current and former PGA Professionals and other titans of the industry as they help us understand how and why the job of running a club or course has evolved and how and why it’s so hard to find and…
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Fire Drill 077: A Memorable Masters
In this Fire Drill: Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck go deep on a thrilling Masters Sunday, celebrating Jon Rahm's mastery and offering insight on how Koepka lost his way. Phil, Jordan & Tiger are also discussed at the end of a memorable week.
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Fire Drill 076: A Gathering Storm - Masters Round 2 Recap
In this Fire Drill, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger go deep on leader Brooks Koepka and try to understand the poor showings of Tiger and Rory. They also discuss the effects of the worsening weather and unique challenges of reporting at the Masters.
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Fire Drill 075: A Test, With Depth - Masters Round 1 Recap
In this Fire Drill Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Bamberger & Alan Shipnuck break down a thrilling first round of the Masters. Geoff goes deep on the allure and challenge of ANGC and Koepka, Rahm, Hovland, Scheffler, McIlroy and others get their due.
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Fire Drill 074: The Comeback Kid - Catching Up w/ a British Amateur Champion
Getting an invitation to The Masters is no easy task. Scotland's Laird Shepherd defines the grind. During the 2021 British Amateur Championship, he played well enough to qualify for match play. And then he won a match. And won some more. Eventually, he found himself in the 36-hole final, only six...
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Fire Drill 073: The Masters Is Here…Finally
In this Fire Drill podcast, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Matt Ginella preview the many storylines for one of the most anticipated Masters in recent history. Can Rory break through? How will #13 play? Fisticuffs at the Champions dinner, Tiger's back and much more.
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The Fire Pit w/ Matt Ginella: The Life & Legacy of Tony Gwynn [PART 3] “Flirting with .400”
Tony Gwynn played 20 years in San Diego, passing on more money from big-market teams and instead prioritizing loyalty and quality of life in a city he loved and playing for a fanbase that loved him back. We put a bow on this three-part podcast series on the life and legacy of Mr. Padre with final...
About this show
In the 25 years of covering golf, the development of the game, courses and the camaraderie that’s core to the culture, it was time for Matt to share some of the best stories he has heard around fire pits all over the world. From PGA Tour players, caddies, architects, avid amateurs and buddies-trip planners, Matt has forged relationships with some of the most colorful and influential people in the game. So grab a drink, a seat and settle in. We’re getting to the essence of one story per podcast. A narrative so deep and meaningful, you save it for a post-round fire pit, which is where no one is in a hurry for the night to end.
Hosted by
The 8 Side