Granite State Golfers

Jim Jankowski joins the show fresh off winning the New England Senior Amateur Championship at his home course, Baker Hill. Jim walks us through the final round, including the eagle-birdie-birdie finish on the back nine that sealed the win.

We also go back to the beginning: growing up in Canada playing golf and hockey, then playing both sports at Dartmouth. Jim has been part of Baker Hill since the start, and he explains what makes the Rees Jones design one of the best courses in New Hampshire and New England. We close with his work on the New Hampshire Golf board of directors.

This episode is sponsored by The Oaks. Give the gift of golf this holiday season with gift certificates for rounds, Toptracer, or lessons with The Oaks’ PGA Professionals. 2027 Evergreen Memberships are now available, with 15% off greens fees and carts plus discounts on food and Toptracer, and new members can start using the perks this fall. Learn more at candiaoaks.com

James Pleat returns to Granite State Golfers for his fifth appearance on the show. James joins us to talk about winning his fourth New Hampshire Mid-Amateur Championship last week at Mount Washington. He walks us through the tough weather the field faced and takes us through his final nine holes on the last day, when he made five birdies to pull away and win.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is in terrific condition. And be sure to check out the 2027 Evergreen membership options at https://candiaoaks.com

A two-part episode.

Part One: Mike Mahan, won his second Seacoast Am title earlier this summer, talks his start in golf, choosing a college that let him keep playing multiple sports, and the final stretch at York — including the chip-in that forced a playoff.

Part Two: Jim Cilley joins Mike to talk about their recent Mid-Am Team Championship win at Mount Washington, bouncing back from a Four-Ball playoff loss earlier this year, and what makes two-man team golf different from solo stroke play.

Presented by The Oaks Golf Links. Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast — aeration is behind us and the course is in terrific shape heading into fall, with plenty of season left to get out and play. The Oaks also offers instruction and clinics with Director of Instruction Jay Pollini. Reach Jay anytime jay@oaksnh.com for lessons.

This episode features one of the top young players in New Hampshire, Andrew Surprenant. A 2024 Merrimack Valley High School grad and member of the SNHU Penmen men's golf team, Andrew talks about his high school career and how quickly he developed into a top-tier player, SNHU's back-to-back NE10 Conference championships, and the big wins he's put together this summer — including the New Hampshire Golf Stroke Play Championship, which he won by four shots.

Presented by The Oaks Golf Links. Aeration is behind us and the course is in great shape heading into September — plenty of season left to get out and play. The Oaks also offers instruction and clinics with Director of Instruction Jay Pollini, a 2x NH PGA Chapter Champion and the current leader for Player of the Year. Reach Jay at Jay@oaksnh.com

Episode Summary

This episode features Mady Savary, the 2026 New Hampshire Women's Amateur Champion.

Mady joins Granite State Golfers to discuss her rise through New Hampshire golf, beginning with the lessons she learned from her dad, Jeff, and continuing through her junior golf career and playing on the Bishop Brady High School golf team.

We also take an inside look at her victory at the 2026 New Hampshire Women's Amateur Championship at Abenaqui Country Club. After finishing runner-up the previous two years, Mady entered the final round with a commanding lead and completed a breakthrough performance to earn her first Women's Amateur title. She shares how she approached the pressure, what she learned from coming so close in the past, and why this championship meant so much.

Whether you're a competitive golfer, junior player, parent, or simply enjoy hearing stories of perseverance and achievement, you'll enjoy getting to know one of New Hampshire golf's brightest young stars.

Presented by The Oaks Golf Links

The Oaks continues to grow one of New Hampshire's premier women's golf communities through its Birdies & Bubbles program, on-course instruction, and women's league opportunities. If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, contact Director of Golf Jon Ellis at Jon@oaksnh.com.

This episode features Sarah DesRuisseaux, the 2026 New Hampshire Women's Mid-Amateur Champion. Sarah joins us to discuss her journey in golf—from competing on her high school's boys' golf team to playing Division II golf at Franklin Pierce University. She reflects on the challenges she faced, the mentors who helped shape her game, and the experiences that prepared her for championship golf.

We also take an inside look at her victory in the New Hampshire Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at Stonebridge Country Club. Sarah shares what it was like competing at her home course, the pressure that came with being one of the favorites, and how she navigated the two-day championship to earn the title as the tournament's only player to finish under par.

Sponsored by The Oaks Golf Links

The Oaks continues to grow one of New Hampshire's premier women's golf communities through its Birdies & Bubbles program, on-course instruction, and women's league opportunities. If you're interested in learning more or getting involved, contact Director of Golf Jon Ellis at Jon@oaksnh.com.

Myles O’Quinn joins the podcast after winning the New Hampshire Men’s State Amateur Championship at Cochecho Country Club.

We talk about his junior golf years, including Oyster River High School capturing its first state championship, and his decision to continue his golf career at Endicott College.

In just his second appearance in the State Am, Myles advanced from stroke play through six rounds of match play to claim the title. He walks us through the long week of golf, breaks down each of his matches, and shares some great details from the closing holes of the championship match against Gavin Richardson.

We also talk about the side business Myles has started customizing putters. You can see his work on Instagram at @oqcstm

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is in fantastic condition.

In this episode, we unpack the slope and rating system that is assigned to each course. In part one, I talk with Peter Harrity, one of the owners of Candia Woods and The Oaks. Last fall, they converted hole 14 from a par 4 to a par 5; this change slightly adjusted the course slope and rating. I talk with Peter about that change, what went into it, and some other changes that will be coming to the Oaks.

In part two, I talk with Kate Billings from New Hampshire golf. Among her responsibilities is conducting the slope and rating review process for each course in New Hampshire. She walks us through how that system works and what goes into determining how hard a course is. If you are interested in becoming a rater, reach out to Kate at kate@nhgolf.com

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. Go book around - the course is in terrific condition!

This is a little different from our typical episode. It addresses an important—and sometimes difficult—topic: alcohol, addiction, and sobriety.

My guests are Ben Alexander, the general manager at The Oaks, and Eric Foster. Together, they have launched The Dry Golfer, a community for people who love golf and want to enjoy the game without alcohol.

As you’ll hear, Ben and Eric speak openly about their own experiences, what led each of them to sobriety, and why they decided to start The Dry Golfer. I’m grateful for the honesty, candor, and vulnerability they brought to this conversation.

We also discuss an event they are hosting at The Oaks on July 27. You can learn more about the event, The Dry Golfer community, and how to register at https://thedrygolfer.com/ You can also reach out to Ben at ben@candiaoaks.com and Eric at eric@candiaoaks.com directly if you want to connect with them.

Thanks for listening!

This episode features Sam Maurice and Gavin Richardson, who are fresh off a win, capturing the 4 ball tournament at Owl’s Nest earlier this month. We talk about their high school careers in New Hampshire and their decision to attend Southern New Hampshire University to play on the golf team there and the success that team has had in recent years. We then dive into the 4 ball tournament - from their blistering open round of 61 to how they found themselves in a playoff near darkness and how they won it on the second playoff hole.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is in fantastic condition. The Pavilion and Toptracer Range has also turned into a perfect spot to host an event… fundraising events of all kinds including company parties. If anyone is interested in bringing a group to the course or Pavilion, you can reach out to Ben Alexander, General Manager, at ben@candiaoaks.com

This episode focuses on the New Hampshire Open, which takes place this week at Nashua Country Club.

First, I talk with NH Golf tournament director Kinsey Hoffman about the event and some significant changes NH Golf has made this year. Then I’m joined by Lewis Pattullo, the head golf professional at Nashua Country Club, who is both hosting and playing in the tournament. We discuss Lewis’s path in golf, his role at Nashua, and what players can expect from the course this week.

Thanks to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast again this season. The Oaks is partnering with The Dry Golfer community to host Dry Golf Day at The Oaks on July 27. Learn more and register here: https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/dry-golf-day-at-the-oaks

In this episode, I talk to Jay Pollini who is currently the head golf instructor at The Oaks. Jay’s father, who spent nearly 40 years as a golf professional, got Jay into the game at a young age. We talk about his high school and collegiate career in golf and then his decision to turn professional. Jay takes us through the different courses he has worked at in New Hampshire and we discuss some recent awards he has won - recognizing him for both his teaching and his playing. We also discuss his equipment and for the gear heads out there, you will enjoy Jay's thoughts on his shafts. Thanks for listening and thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. New music this season; credit to artist lcsilviu under the Pixaby content license agreement.

Hi everyone, I hope you are well. The snow has melted and courses are opening - let's go! This episode features Dave Ousterhout, the superintendent at Concord Country Club. We cover a lot of ground - from his early days in the field to his move to being the superintendent at the Mount Washington Course, to his last 10 years at Concord. We discuss turf conditions, green speed and a very interesting dive into how technology is changing the work of superintendents.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast again this season. The Oaks is fully open and in great shape!

New music this season; credit to artist lcsilviu under the Pixaby content license agreement.

Happy New Year and welcome to season 5 of the podcast. We kick things off with Albie Powers. Albie was an accomplished youth golfer, helping Keene High School capture 2 titles and he would go on to play D1 golf at Liberty University. We talk about his prodigious length as a kid and his return to golf after he took many years off. We also discuss his course record at Keene Country Club last season and as a pastor, we talk about what overlap there is between his work and playing golf.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast again this season.

New music this season; credit to artist lcsilviu under the Pixaby content license agreement.

With snow on the ground and as we head into winter, this episode focuses on the history and soul of the game. I talk with fellow NH resident and golf podcaster, AJ MacVie. We dig into hickory golf, golf course architecture, the roots of New England golf and golf in Scotland. And like I try to do with all my guests, we explore the big question - why are so many of us drawn to this game?

Thank you for listening. And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features Connor Greenleaf. Connor won two high school state championships and then won the 2015 State Am while playing on the Boston College golf team. Then, ten years later, Connor won two big events this year - the stroke play championship and the season long match play championship. We talk about all that and more in this episode. Thanks for listening. And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season - the course is still open and in great shape. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In this episode, I check back in with James Pleat and Tara Watt to see how their experience was playing in their respective USGA Mid Am tournaments. If you missed my earlier conversation with them about how they qualified for their Mid Ams, check out episode 66. I thank them both for coming on the show.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast.

Thank you for listening to the show!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features Jake Nutter who won the NH Mid-Am last week at Laconia Country Club. Jake talks about what made the playing conditions tough and he walks us through an amazing last six holes which included TWO eagles which helped secure the victory. If you want to hear Jake's full golf story, check out episode 60 from earlier this year.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast.

Thanks for listening!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features James Pleat and Tara Watt, both of whom have been on the show before. In this episode, I talk with them about their recent success qualifying for their respective USGA Mid-Am tournaments (they were both medalists!). They talked about their qualifying rounds and how they are preparing for the big tournaments coming up. We also talk about their pride in representing New Hampshire on the national golf stage. When the tournaments are over, I will have them back on the show so we can talk about their experience. Thanks for listening! And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features Julianna Megan who is back for her second time on the show. She is fresh off winning her second women's state am title last week at Derryfield. We discuss the tournament and how she managed her nerves coming down the stretch to close it out. She is a rising junior at Holy Cross and we talk about her time on the golf team there and how her internship with Callaway this summer has her sights set on applying her studies in physics and engineering to the world of golf tech. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the conversation. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0