The Back of the Range

A private club in Texas is turning its amateur invitational into one of the most coveted weeks in mid-am and senior golf. Emile Asous, Director of Golf at The Club at Carlton Woods reveals why The Carlton Woods Invitational keeps growing, how the course tests elite players without ruining the experience, and what makes October the perfect reset for the field. Emile shares what it takes to host a serious 54-hole championship while still making every player feel like a member for the week.You'll discover:

• Why moving the tournament from late spring to October strengthened the field and improved the overall experience
• What makes the Jack Nicklaus course such a demanding but fair test, from green complexes to pin positions and scoring windows
• How the club balances a “serious competition” with a relaxed post-round atmosphere, dinners, and locker-room camaraderie
• Why member support, committee culture, and true hospitality are the backbone of a successful amateur event

Emile also explains Carlton Woods' long commitment to amateur golf and how that tradition shapes the Invitational today.

Carlton Woods Invitational - Official Website

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Blake Smart, head coach of the University of Memphis, joins The Back of the Range to discuss the long road to building a successful college golf program. From Bucee’s-fueled van trips and early-career sacrifices to a breakthrough season, Smart shares the lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy. He reflects on his time at Berry College, Kennesaw State, and Oklahoma, explaining why hard work, trust, and finding the right fit matter in recruiting and player development. Smart also discusses navigating NIL, building team culture with an international roster, and the emotional journey to Memphis’s first NCAA Championship appearance under his leadership. Plus, hear why the Quail Valley Collegiate victory felt meaningful—and what the Tigers learned at Nationals as they look ahead.

Blake Smart - Memphis Men's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Former mini-tour pro Andrew Bailey’s unlikely path to becoming U.S. Mid-Amateur champion began on Cleveland’s municipal courses. In this episode, he shares why he left professional golf, how reinstatement as an amateur changed his game, and how a chance pairing with Cleveland State coach Steve Weir helped shape his journey. Bailey reflects on the grind of the SwingThought Tour, the joy and community he found in amateur golf, and the pressure of his U.S. Mid-Amateur run. He also discusses earning exemptions to the Masters and U.S. Open, the future of the mid-amateur, and what it means to approach competition as a student of golf history.

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Wake Forest senior Macy Pate stops by The Back of the Range to share the story behind her team-voted exemption to compete at The Annika Driven by Gainbridge—and her upcoming LPGA debut. She reflects on growing up near Wake Forest, finding a family in the women’s golf program, and balancing elite competition with academics. Macy also discusses the mentors and teammates who shaped her and the legacy she hopes to leave at Wake Forest. A conversation about gratitude, ambition, and taking the next big step while staying true to what matters.

Macy Pate - Wake Forest Women's Golf

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Johnnie Clark of the University of New Mexico is making a statement: he won his first three stroke-play events this fall, a rare feat in Division I golf. In this episode, he shares the journey behind his breakthrough, from discovering the game at six in Mesa, Arizona, to competing against future PGA Tour talent as a junior. Johnnie talks about emailing top college programs at 16, his experience at Oklahoma State, and why transferring to New Mexico helped him find a better fit. He also takes us on the road, reflecting on a team trip to Japan filled with Tokyo adventures plus a memorable Canadian tournament. Hear how he stays focused by ignoring leaderboards, trusting his game, and embracing the people around him—and what his rise could mean for a future in professional golf.

Johnnie Clark - University of New Mexico Men's Golf

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Alabama assistant coach Forrest Schultz joins The Back of the Range to share his journey from Division II golf to the SEC. Hear how he builds competitive schedules, develops players, and creates a championship culture—plus what makes Alabama’s practices, team traditions, and approach to player development stand out.

Forrest Schultz - Alabama Men's Golf Assistant Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Mike Sposa’s U.S. Senior Amateur win is only part of the story. The real surprise is how a former pro who spent years grinding on tour found himself energized by amateur golf again, from the pressure of match play to the joy of competing without the weight of a paycheck. Ben and Mike unpack what changes—and what doesn’t—when a lifelong tournament golfer steps back into elite amateur competition. Mike shares what he’s learned about preparing faster, handling nerves differently, and using better self-talk under pressure. He also explains why the mental side matters more now than ever, and why the game can feel freer when it stops being a job.You’ll also hear about the whirlwind after Baltimore, when a championship celebration turned into a sprint to JFK and a next-morning arrival in Ireland for the Walker Cup at Lahinch. Mike revisits the 1991 Walker Cup, the star power of Phil Mickelson and David Duval, the wild atmosphere at Portmarnock, and what it means to be part of a Walker Cup society that lasts a lifetime.Ben and Mike also break down how junior golf has changed from both sides of the equation. Mike, now Senior Manager of Junior Development and Developmental Tours at Callaway, explains what he looks for in elite juniors, how technology like TrackMan and GC Quad is reshaping training, why speed has become nonnegotiable, and where today’s players still need more touch, creativity, and wind game. He also pulls back the curtain on what parents and players often misunderstand about equipment, brand relationships, and what companies actually look for beyond rankings and scorecards.Mike is the reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion and a former PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour player who won in Boise in 1998. He now leads Callaway’s junior development efforts, working at the intersection of equipment, player growth, and elite amateur golf.

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

NC State women’s golf coach Darby Sligh speaks about the experiences that shaped her path—from growing up in North Augusta, South Carolina, and working the range at Augusta National to coaching at Newberry, Illinois State, and NC State. Darby shares what she learned building a program with limited resources, why connection and consistency matter when developing a team, and how the NCAA’s 50/50 postseason rule influences scheduling. Coach Sligh also discusses how college golf has changed, the importance of team chemistry, and the challenges facing women’s golf programs today.

Darby Sligh - N.C. State Women's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

College golf is won long before the first tee shot - in the fundraising, the relationships, and the relentless behind-the-scenes grind that most fans never see. Toledo's Jeff Roope pulls back the curtain on how he turned vision into a nationally relevant program, why Inverness Intercollegiate has become one of the best events in the sport, and what it really takes to compete when your budget is a fraction of the power programs. From high school coaching to a national championship at Wittenberg and now leading Toledo, Roope shares the lessons that still shape everything he does: trust, accountability, and building teams that know exactly who they are. He also explains how college golf has changed - from multi-sport athletes to year-round specialization, rising travel costs, and the pressure to do more with less - and why the schools that adapt best are the ones that stay grounded in culture.

Jeff Roope - Toledo Men's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

GB&I’s Walker Cup win at Lahinch wasn’t just a trophy—it was a masterclass in team chemistry, preparation, and handling the biggest amateur stage in golf. Josh Hill stops by The Back of the Range to relive the wild celebration and the moments that turned a week in Ireland into the best night of his life. Beneath the laughter is a deeper story: how a player who felt he underachieved at Tennessee used setbacks, injuries, and hard-earned lessons to become a key part of a championship team. In this episode, Josh shares:

• How data and detailed preparation shaped partnerships down to the even- and odd-hole tee shots at Lahinch
• What it feels like to compete in front of 8,000 passionate fans while representing your country
• Why college golf can be an invaluable development ground—but not the final verdict on a professional career
• The pressure, emotion, and precision behind Josh’s famous bunker shot and winning putt on the 18th hole
• Why the Walker Cup’s timing creates such a difficult decision for college seniors turning professional

Josh also looks ahead to Q School and his transition into the professional ranks, explaining why he’s focused on trusting the process, stacking consistent days, and continuing to climb the leaderboard.

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

In this episode, Armen walks through exactly how you take a program from 81st in the country to a top-two national finish in four years — the recruiting philosophy, the culture shifts, and the belief system he had to install before the results ever showed up. We talk about what it took to build match-play mental toughness into a young roster, what it meant to develop a true program identity at a school with UCLA's history and expectations, and how the lessons from smaller programs like UTRGV shaped the coach he is today.

Armen Kirakossian - UCLA Men's Golf Coach**

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

College golf is changing fast, and Shauna Taylor is one of the few people who’s lived its evolution from every angle - elite player, head coach, recruiter, mentor, and Hall of Famer. If you care about what actually builds winning programs, this conversation will show you why the best teams are built on values, relationships, and the courage to adapt. Shauna Taylor, the head coach of Arkansas Women’s Golf, opens up about the team retreat that may have set the tone for her entire season - including two hole-in-ones, a course record, and a viral behind-the-scenes look at her players being exactly who they are. She explains how she uses values exercises to shape locker-room culture, and why player-led teams are often stronger than coach-led ones.

Taylor also shares the deeply personal side of her journey - from growing up in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to becoming a decorated Georgia star, to navigating a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis that changed her path from pro golfer to coach. Her story is a reminder that the best leaders are often the ones who’ve had to rebuild their own definition of success. We also get into the future of women’s college golf: the rise of LEAP, the real value of education in the NIL era, and why Taylor believes programs must reward players fairly without losing sight of what makes college golf special. Along the way, she talks about the power of Arkansas’s home event, the Blessings Intercollegiate, the prestige of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, and what makes upcoming inaugural events like the Haskins tournament and the NANEA worth watching. Taylor’s Hall of Fame recognition, her habit of writing thank-you notes every morning, and her commitment to relationships over transactions make this episode a must-listen for coaches, college golf fans, and anyone who wants a masterclass in building something that lasts.

Shauna Taylor - Arkansas Women's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

In this episode of The Back of the Range, Ben Adelberg sits down with Jonathan Moore, head coach of Oklahoma Men’s Golf, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, player development, and the realities of building a championship program.

https://uncwsports.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/coaches/cindy-ho/771Jonathan Moore - Oklahoma Men's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Jim Anderson, Arizona men’s golf coach, talks through the build of a program that is both highly competitive and deeply relationship driven. He explains how the Wildcats are preparing for a new season, what adding associate head coach Alan Murray has meant, and why last year’s NCAA semifinal run proved the program can win it all. In this episode, Ben and Anderson also dig into the realities of college golf today, from transfer portal and NIL pressures to the challenge of building real team chemistry across a roster that spans multiple countries.

Jim Anderson - Arizona Men's Golf
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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

Our guest on this epsiode of The Back of the Range is Jeff Thomas, head coach of the Liberty University Men's Golf Program.

Jeff Thomas - Liberty University Men's Golf Coach**
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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

In this episode of The Back of the Range, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of college golf with Brendan von Doehren, the Executive Director of PGA Tour U. Brendan shares valuable insights on the new initiatives shaping the future of golf, particularly for young, emerging talent.

PGA TOUR U - Official Website
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For nearly three decades, Jerry Haas has been the steady hand behind one of the most consistent programs in college golf. Since taking over at Wake Forest in 1997, Haas has guided the Demon Deacons to a nation-leading 48 NCAA Championship appearances, more than 40 tournament victories, and a 2022 ACC Championship — building a program that has become a fixture on the national stage.

But before he was building a dynasty on the sideline, Jerry Haas was building his own game inside one of golf's most storied families. A two-time Illinois Amateur champion, All-American at Wake Forest, and PGA Tour winner, Haas comes from a lineage that includes his brother Jay — an 18-time PGA Tour winner — and his nephew Bill Haas, a FedEx Cup champion who also happened to play for him at Wake Forest.

In this episode, Jerry opens up about what it was like growing up around that kind of golf pedigree, the moment he decided to trade the Tour for the sideline, and how he's kept Wake Forest golf relevant through three decades of change — from scholarship rules to NIL to the transfer portal. We talk about what he actually looks for in a recruit beyond a swing or a scoring average and the stories — not the headlines — that he says tell you everything about what this game teaches young people.

Jerry Haas - Wake Forest Men's Golf
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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

My guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is Houston Moore, the director of golf for the UTRGV Men's and Women's Golf Programs.

Houston Moore - Director of Golf, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

My guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is Josh Brewer, head coach of the Eastern Michigan Women's Golf Program. We spoke about last season's run at the National Championship and what lies ahead for the program.

Josh Brewer - Eastern Michigan Women's Golf

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

My guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is the new head coach of the Georgia Tech Men's Golf program, Ryan Hybl.

Ryan Hybl - Georgia Tech Men's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips