The Golfer's Journal Podcast

Club logos may be the most talked-about and least examined objects in golf. So George Peper took the deep dive. In this episode, he joins Tom Coyne to unpack The Best Logos in Golf, his new book ranking the game's best club emblems. Peper explains the seven criteria his panel argued over, why almost none of the winners contain a golf ball or a club, and the list of rules they created for logo life, including one he's violating during the interview. Peper spent 25 years as editor-in-chief of Golf Magazine, where he built the original ranking of the world's 100 greatest courses and, he confesses here, rigged the first one so an American course wouldn't finish No. 1. He also shares the best stories the research turned up: the sea lion that bolted from a 1930s photo shoot and left a nine-holer its logo, the pirate who never existed and now brings Tampa $40 million a year, and why there’s a propeller in the logo of Coyne's own course.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. https://back9press.com/products/the-best-logos-in-golf

Tre Lamb once coached a college football game wearing a Southern Hills hoodie. If that isn't enough proof that the University of Tulsa head football coach is a golf sicko, his +1.6 handicap is the lowest of any college football coach. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, Lamb joins host Tom Coyne ahead of Week 1 to share how his day job bleeds into his golf life, including stories of playing a donor for a new set of helmets, how he learned to golf by throwing a football and the money games settled on the putting green of his transfer portal house. Lamb admits he'd take a Green Jacket over a national championship ring, and that’s just one reason why after listening to this episode you may just become a Golden Hurricanes fan.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

The sign of a true grinder: The Art of Putting and The Art of the Short Game are on their shelf. Stan Utley wrote them, and they turned a PGA Tour winner into one of the most sought-after coaches in the world. Now the Director of Instruction at Shady Oaks Country Club, Utley has helped shape the swings of Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Joaquin Niemann, Jay Haas and countless others. On this episode, Utley joins host Tom Coyne at Shady Oaks, surrounded by Ben Hogan's clubs and trophies, to tell stories from his illustrious career, explain why your job is never to make the putt, and share how he’s battling a Parkinson's diagnosis with faith and a refusal to give in. It’s an episode full of wisdom from one of the sharpest minds in coaching. The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse was standing over a par putt this summer when his phone rang: LeBron James was calling. Basketball and golf constantly overlap for Nurse, who the sports world now knows as James’ new coach. But most don’t know that he is also a golf course owner. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, Nurse joins Tom Coyne to talk about rescuing his course (Carroll National GC in Iowa), what 40 rounds at Disney during the 2020 NBA bubble playoffs in Orlando did for his game, and why the Philly golf scene may have had something to do with LeBron's decision to sign. This wide-ranging conversation shows a different side of the coach everyone will soon be watching.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist. Quiet, Please is available for a limited time. Secure your copy: https://glfrsj.nl/quietplease

Sam Darnold won Super Bowl LX, then skipped the late-night shows, rode the teacups at Disneyland hungover, did a shift at Raising Cane's, and went home to play golf. In this episode, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Broken Tee Society member joined Casey Bannon live in the BTS App to talk about life after the Lombardi, the YouTube golf channel he's launching with Josh Allen, Kyle Allen, and Christian Kirk, and an epic Death Valley golf trip where a random naked man sent the group to bed clutching 9-irons. He also covers his golf origin story (a 60-degree wedge to a friend's forehead at the San Clemente Muni), what he would’ve changed about the Super Bowl (playing better), and his definitive ranking of the best hangs in golf.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Peter Howitt won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2025 for his theory of creative destruction: the idea that innovation drives growth by rendering the old obsolete. He also lives on the 10th tee of a Tom Fazio golf course in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and golf is the only thing that can quiet his beautiful mind. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, he joins Tom Coyne to break down the economics of golf: why Prestwick is a textbook case of obsolescence, what the Pro V1 did to the wound ball, why rolling back the golf ball fails as economic policy, and what LIV's disruption of the PGA Tour reveals about competition, business stealing, and superstar markets. You'll see the game differently after this one.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Nobody knows Shinnecock like Jimmy Dunne. A South Shore Long Island kid who caddied and painted houses in the summers, Dunne played Shinnecock at 16 after landing a painting job at a member's house in Southampton. He walked off the 18th convinced it was the greatest golf course in the world. Now the president of Seminole GC and a member at Augusta National, Pine Valley, and Cypress Point, he still feels that way. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, Tom Coyne joins Dunne in his Southampton golf shrine to share what he loves about Shinnecock and preview the U.S. Open. Dunne also discusses his legendary 63 at Shinnecock, how memorizing every caddie's name at Augusta became a dealmaker's cheat code, and what it was like helping steer the PGA Tour through its war with LIV. It’s a rare look at one of the world’s most iconic grounds through the eyes of someone who’s played them all.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

How big of a golf sicko is Apple TV’s lead soccer analyst Taylor Twellman? In 2018, Twellman—who retired in 2010 as MLS's all-time leading scorer and was at that point at ESPN—unleashed what is still the most viral rant in US soccer history when the Americans failed to make the World Cup. What most don’t know is that the next day he was set to embark on a four-day golf bender through Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links, Sebonack and Friar's Head. The rant made him an overnight sensation, and forced Twellman to stay in the studio. But as he explains to TGJ’s Travis Hill, he’s so hooked on golf that he’ll forever regret missing the trip. In this episode, Twellman discusses the importance of golf in his life, breaks down how the USMNT can make a run at the 2026 World Cup, and explains why Argentina is the Bryson DeChambeau of this summer’s competition.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Jimmy Roberts doesn't remember stats. But he never forgets people’s stories, and after three decades as one of golf's most recognizable voices, he has more than most. A 13-time Emmy Award winner, Roberts has covered 17 Olympic Games and dozens of major championships for NBC Sports and Golf Channel. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, he joins host Tom Coyne to talk about a remarkable career and what it takes to tell a great story. Along the way, he shares some of his favorites about Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Urban Meyer, two U.S. presidents, a speedskating gold medalist and a man he helped free from prison.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Nobody knows Aronimink like Director of Golf Jeff Kiddie. He's spent the last 18 years preparing one of golf's oldest clubs for big moments. Now comes the biggest yet: the 2026 PGA Championship, returning to the Philadelphia area for the first time since Gary Player hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy at Aronimink in 1962. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, Kiddie joins host Tom Coyne in the clubhouse to preview the tournament: what makes this par-70 Donald Ross layout so uniquely demanding, what the 2017 Gil Hanse restoration returned to the course, and a hole-by-hole breakdown that reveals where the championship will be won and lost.The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYTThe Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

This is part five of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 5: As its founders begin to decline, the mythology around The Masters only grows strongerThe Masters is paused and Augusta National is forced to become self-sufficient in the wake of World War II. In the 1970s, the club must endure the passing of Bobby Jones and the shocking suicide of Clifford Roberts. But the club and tournament move on, going to untold lengths to preserve their legacies that still reverberate today.⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠

This is part four of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 4: The evolution of the Masters broadcast In the mid-1950s, the Masters innovates by partnering with CBS to broadcast the tournament on national television. As is the case with everything at Augusta, chairman Clifford Roberts has his fingerprints all over it as he works with legendary producer Frank Chirkinian to elevate the commentary, pacing, visuals and commercial load. The modern golf telecast is born.⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part three of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 3: The Augusta National Invitational Tournament is formedBy 1934, Augusta National is struggling to attract new members and raise the necessary funds to execute the club’s vision. With this in mind, the first annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament is held, and Clifford Roberts must convince Bobby Jones to play in it. In an effort to boost ticket revenue, the traditional three-day event is stretched to four, and Roberts has some strong opinions on how to improve the fan experience. A ⁠transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part two of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters. Part 2: A deep dive into the design and strategy of Augusta National’s routingThanks to his renowned designs at Cypress Point and Pasatiempo, Dr. Alister MacKenzie is hired to build Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts a golf course in Augusta, Georgia. The spectacular success of the project means that every hump, bump and contour is scrutinized. But as the course changes to adapt with modern championship golf, not every tweak is immediately embraced. A transcript of this episode can be found here.The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

In the mid-1990s, Augusta National approached author David Owen about a book project to preserve the legacy of its founder Clifford Roberts. Owen agreed, under one condition: During his reporting he could play the course as much as he liked. The club allowed it, and Owen’s book, The Making of the Masters, has since become one of the definitive histories of the tournament. It chronicles the beginnings, inner-workings and evolutions of Augusta National and The Masters, bringing to light a number of previously unreported facts and stories. In this new five-part TGJ Podcast series, Owen shares several chapters from his seminal book along with stories of his time on the course, painting a rich portrait of the tournament that changed golf forever.The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT