Podcast
Those Weekend Golf Guys
Take a Golf Magazine Top 100 teacher, Jeff Smith ( (http://jeffsmithgolfinstruction.com) and pair him with an outstanding radio personality and you have the formula for one helluva Golf Talk Radio Show. John Ashton (the show host) has enjoyed success as a morning personality on radio stations from Bangor, Maine to Dallas, Texas. He’s also embarrassed himself on many golf courses in the same locations. John is a hacker, struggling to break 80 (OK, 90) but has a passion and enjoyment of the game, a skewed sense of humor and an outlook that makes this the most entertaining Golf Show around.Jeff Smith, PGA enjoys the innate ability to create word pictures so, even on the radio, his tips and techniques to improve your game are clear, easy to follow and help listeners cut strokes on their very next round.
- Episodes
- 527
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 44 min
- On air since
- 2014
- Latest episode
- 2 days ago
Episodes
527 episodes, newest first
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45 min
Punch Shots, Ego Shots & One Bad Joke
Show notes
Larry the Cable Guy Drops a New Joke John shares a fresh, never‑before‑told Larry the Cable Guy joke from his interview on The Approach Shot. The guys discuss Larry’s golf game, his left‑handed swing, and why he keeps getting invited back to celebrity tournaments.
• Celebrity Golf Tournaments: Skill Optional Scott and Jeff talk about the American Century Championship shifting from “good players” to “good celebrities,” and why some legitimately great golfers don’t get invited back.
• Weather That Makes Golf Questionable (But We Still Play) Stories of 60‑mph winds, balls rolling off greens, and John’s legendary 300‑yard three‑wood courtesy of Hurricane Ike. Also: the moment when golfers finally admit, “Maybe we should go inside.”
• Punch Shots, Knockdowns & Stingers — What’s the Difference? Jeff and Scott break down the real mechanics behind low‑flight shots, how Tiger learned them, and why amateurs confuse all three. Great tips on ball position, finish height, and choking down on the club.
• Driver Off the Deck: Yes, You Can Technique talk: sweeping the ball, choking down, standing closer, and hitting it off a “pane of glass.” Plus, when it’s actually smart to pull off this shot (hint: trees involved).
• Equipment Choices for Real‑World Conditions Why amateurs should own more than 14 clubs — even if they only bring 14 to the course. Hybrids vs. fairway woods, wedge bounce for different sands, and how to build a “weather‑ready” bag.
• The Psychology of Ball Striking Why hitting it solid matters more emotionally than scoring well. John shares how great contact saved an otherwise distance‑challenged round.
• Teaching Philosophy: Keep It Simple Scott and Jeff talk about the value of simple instruction, why online tips can be misleading, and how great teachers fix multiple issues with one cue.
• The Bull Joke (Because We Can’t Help Ourselves) John drops a classic “consulting bull” joke that fits perfectly into the Golf Guys tradition of questionable humor.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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42 min
The Great Grass Debate: Jeff Knows Stuff, John Nods Politely
Show notes
Segment 1 — The Leaf Blower Revolution
• John revisits the genius idea of renting leaf blowers on golf carts.
• Jeff approves, mostly because it means fewer leaves and fewer excuses.
• Discussion of “stick blowers,” battery life, and USB‑charging them like they’re iPhones.
• Reminder: if your pro shop steals this idea, credit goes to us… mostly John… but Jeff will take it.Segment 2 — Fall Golf = Yard Work + Swearing
• Jeff looks out his window and sees zero grass, all leaves.
• John suggests hiring the guy with the giant leaf‑vacuum truck.
• Jeff explains the emotional trauma of raking leaves only to have the wind undo your work.
• Conclusion: golf is easier than yard work, even when you’re terrible at both.Segment 3 — Grass Talk: The Nerdy Part You Didn’t Know You Needed
• Hybrid bluegrass that stays green in December? Yes, it exists.
• Jeff wonders if it’s too thick for fairways or perfect for them — agronomy degree pending.
• Zoysia: weed or wonder? Jeff says “plant out of place,” John says “looks like straw.”
• Poa Annua: a curse word in the Midwest, a religion at Pebble Beach.
• Why greens get bumpy in the afternoon — spoiler: different grasses grow at different speeds.Segment 4 — The Superintendent’s Secret Trick
• Jeff tells the story of rolling greens after syringing them midday.
• Why it works: water softens, roller smooths, golfers think the greens are perfect.
• Why they don’t double‑cut greens: “How many haircuts can a blade of grass take?”
• Moral: superintendents are wizards and we should stop complaining.Segment 5 — The USGA Actually Does Something Good
• John is shocked to admit the USGA has useful resources.
• Jeff explains the “Green Section Record” — a treasure trove of turf knowledge.
• Also: rules education, videos, examples, and why some rules aren’t as dumb as they seem.Segment 6 — Local Rules: The Golfers’ Manifesto
• Jeff recalls the Friday gang at Harrison Lake inventing “roving mulligans.”
• Also: the “throw rule,” used only on your own ball (no sabotage allowed).
• Why these rules exist: to prevent emotional meltdown after one terrible shot.
• John and Jeff agree — golf is more fun when you stop pretending you’re in the U.S. Open.Segment 7 — Dormant Grass & Winter Golf
• Jeff explains dormant Bermuda vs dormant zoysia.
• Dormant Bermuda = mushy sadness.
• Dormant zoysia = every shot feels teed up.
• John suggests spray‑painting it green like Phoenix lawns.
• Jeff approves this chaos.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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39 min
What Retired Pro Athletes and 25-Handicappers Have in Common
Show notes
In This Episode
Jeff reports in from Maryland while vacationing near Chesapeake Bay.
A quick football detour featuring Indiana University's impressive season and thoughts on the upcoming Ohio State matchup.
Why today's college football players seem bigger, faster, and stronger than ever.
John talks about his other podcast, The Approach Shot, and what they've learned from interviewing retired professional athletes.
The surprising statistic: most retired pro athletes have never taken a golf lesson.
Why athletic ability alone doesn't guarantee success on the golf course.
How ego often keeps both athletes and regular golfers from seeking instruction.
Jeff shares stories of working with former MLB pitchers and NFL players on the range.
The simple swing fixes that often produce immediate results.
Lessons from other sports that golfers should borrow, including focus techniques and performance psychology.
Why trying to copy someone else's swing can sometimes make your game worse.
How finding a motion that fits your body is often more important than looking textbook perfect.
Practical advice for golfers who refuse to take lessons.
The value of playing with golfers at a similar skill level.
Why making a few putts can dramatically improve your enjoyment of the game.
Key Takeaway
The goal isn't to swing like Rory. The goal is to find a swing you can repeat, trust, and enjoy. Sometimes improvement comes from a major lesson, and sometimes it starts with a small adjustment and an open mind.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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41 min
Fall Golf: Bring Layers… and a Leaf Blower
Show notes
John and Jeff settle in for a classic fall‑golf conversation — equal parts practical, ridiculous, and “why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?”
Jeff kicks things off with a life update: he’s taking a rare month off from teaching to spend time with his wife, including a trip to the Indiana vs. Nebraska football game. Thanks to his friendship with Coach Matt Rhule, Jeff’s getting VIP access to the Huskers’ sideline, which John insists is the most Jeff thing ever.
From there, the guys dive into the chaos of autumn golf, where the leaves are pretty, the air is crisp, and every tee shot becomes a scavenger hunt. John unveils his million‑dollar idea: golf‑course leaf‑blower rentals so players can blast away leaves and pine needles to find their golf balls. Jeff immediately approves — calling it the kind of innovation that could extend the season and save golfers everywhere from the dreaded “lost in the leaves” penalty.
They break down the realities of playing in cooler weather:Layering without restricting your swing
Heat packs for hands and pockets
Keeping ball position consistent when your body feels different
Why fall golf in the western U.S. plays nothing like fall golf anywhere else
The show wraps with gear talk — cart covers, cold‑weather accessories, and a reminder to keep your game sharp without freezing your face off. And as always, the guys encourage listeners to enjoy sports responsibly with FanDuel.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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37 min
Golf Rules: Because Common Sense Was Busy
Show notes
• Divot Repair Madness
Jeff kicks things off with his long‑standing gripe: why on earth can’t you fix a divot in the fairway? We can repair the green like surgeons, but the fairway — the place you’re supposed to hit the ball — is apparently sacred ground. John shares a video of two British golfers arguing about divot definitions like they’re rewriting the Magna Carta, and both guys agree the logic is… let’s call it “creative.”• The 10‑Club Proposal (aka: No, Thank You)
Next up: the Brits again, suggesting golfers should be limited to ten clubs. John wonders why anyone needs a rule to do what they could already do voluntarily, and Jeff admits he played months without an 8‑iron and barely noticed. The conclusion? If you want to carry ten clubs, great — but don’t make it a rule for everyone else.• Golf Ball Markings & Putter Alignment Rules
The guys dig into proposed restrictions on ball markings and alignment aids. Jeff questions whether these rules would apply to manufacturer‑printed graphics or just hand‑drawn lines. John wonders who exactly is being protected by making putting harder. The consensus: these changes feel like solutions in search of a problem.• Out‑of‑Bounds Rule Update
Jeff explains the new O.B. option: instead of the dreaded walk of shame back to the tee, players can now drop two club lengths inside the boundary with a two‑stroke penalty. It speeds up play and encourages people to actually follow the rule — which is good, because most golfers were already “creatively interpreting” stroke‑and‑distance anyway.• Penalties, Scorecards, and Golf’s Integrity
The episode wraps with a chat about penalty fairness and the tradition of signing scorecards. Jeff argues penalties should match the severity of the mistake, and both guys agree that signing a card is still one of the last bastions of honesty in competitive golf.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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40 min
Why Hockey Players Keep Beating Us at Golf
Show notes
Jeff and John got rolling on all things golf, bouncing from putting to fairways to the little tweaks that actually shave strokes. Jeff went deep on the putting side — talking eye dominance, why speed control is king, and why three‑putting is basically donating strokes to the golf gods. They even wandered into the wild world of side‑saddle putting, mostly to remind everyone why almost nobody sticks with it.
From there, they hit on full‑swing strategy: knowing your real distances (not the ones you brag about), picking the right club for the lie, and respecting wind like it’s a living, breathing opponent. And of course, they had to mention how hockey players keep showing up and embarrassing everyone with their natural golf swings.
Jeff sprinkled in wisdom from his golf schools, hammering home the basics — hit more fairways, control your speed on the greens, and stop pretending your 7‑iron goes 185.
Naturally, the guys drifted into some classic off‑course chatter too: food delivery disasters, sports announcers who drive them nuts, and a little college sports talk for good measure.
And yes, John wrapped things up with a nod to FanDuel, reminding listeners to fire up the app if they’re feeling lucky.
Jeff and John dive into a full round of golf talk — from putting fundamentals to fairway strategy and everything in between. Jeff breaks down why speed control is the real secret to better putting, how eye dominance affects alignment, and why most golfers should stay far, far away from side‑saddle putting.
They get into the nuts and bolts of scoring better: hit more fairways, know your actual club distances, and factor in wind, lie, and slope instead of pretending they don’t exist. The guys also have fun with the ongoing trend of hockey players dominating golf, thanks to their balance, rotation, and hand‑eye skills.
Jeff pulls from his golf schools to highlight the biggest amateur mistakes — three‑putting, bad club selection, and fantasy‑land yardages.
Off the course, the conversation drifts into food delivery mishaps, sports announcers who make them crazy, and a little college sports banter.
Presented by FanDuel, with John reminding listeners to fire up the app and get in the game.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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47 min
Mold, Maddux & Mallets: A Very Golf Guys Episode
Show notes
Golf, Weather & Other Things Trying to Kill the Game
John and Scott kick things off talking about the kind of heat and humidity that makes Florida golf feel like you’re playing inside a crockpot. Scott mentions mold — actual mold — growing on courses, because apparently Florida grass has decided to become a biology experiment.
Jody Mudd, Mac O’Grady, Greg Maddux… the guys bounce through golf legends and oddballs until Jeff jumps in with a story about Maddux asking him for swing help at a tournament. Because of course Greg Maddux wants to get even better at something.
John and Jeff brag (modestly… okay not modestly) about their recent FanDuel wins — Texas, Oklahoma State, Louisville, Ole Miss — basically everything except the teams you bet on.
Jeff talks about the charity tournament at Pine Canyon where he ran into half of Major League Baseball and a couple NBA guys. The conversation detours into Indiana basketball history and Gus Johnson yelling things at high volume, because that’s what Gus Johnson does.Which Athletes Make the Best Golfers?
Jeff lays out his official rankings:Hockey players — apparently if you can slap a frozen rubber disc at 100 mph, you can hit a golf ball.
Tennis players — footwork, rotation, anger management… they’ve got it all.
Baseball pitchers — elite sequencing and way too much free time between starts.Jeff shares a story about a pitcher who got better the moment Jeff stopped trying to “fix” him and instead let his swing match his natural throwing motion.
Sometimes the best coaching is just getting out of the way.Athlete Psychology: Why They Hate Lessons
John brings up his other show, The Approach Shot, and how athletes — even ones with 12 coaches per game — suddenly turn into stubborn toddlers when you suggest a golf lesson.
Jeff adds that one pitcher told him he hits golf balls 10 times more often than he throws pitches.
And the feel of a good golf swing reminded him of his favorite pitch.
That’s why pitchers get good fast: reps, reps, reps.Swing Fixes, Hickory Clubs & Louisville Golf Nostalgia
Jeff shares a setup tweak that instantly improved a player’s swing — just moving the feet and letting the body do what it already knows.
John and Scott go down a fun rabbit hole about Louisville Golf, persimmon heads, hickory shafts, and the revival of hickory tournaments.
Because nothing says “I love golf” like willingly making the game harder.Grass Talk: Bermuda vs. Paspalum
Florida courses are ripping out Bermuda and putting in Paspalum, and Scott explains why that changes everything.
Short game on Paspalum?
You fly it.
Short game on Bermuda?
You chip it.
Short game on either?
Most golfers panic. Jeff points out that players struggle because they try to use the same technique everywhere — and grass does not care about your feelings.Chipping on Difficult Grass
Jeff breaks down:The hook chip
The slide technique with a gap wedge
How to use bounce without digging a trench
Scott backs him up with stories from a South Florida seminar where instructors basically said, “Stop trying to be fancy — hit the center of the face.”Fast greens + grabby grass = more people putting from 40 yards out.
And honestly, sometimes that’s the right call.
Leading Edges, Hybrids & Putter Geekery
Jeff gets into the weeds (literally) about leading‑edge design:Rounded edges = forgiveness
Sharp edges = sadness, especially on Bermuda
He talks about modern putters with weight shoved forward and softer edges to help the ball behave.
Scott jumps in with the “match the putter to the stroke” sermon, noting that even tour players struggle with putting.
Lead tape, grip tweaks, prototype teardrop putters — it’s all on the table.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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42 min
Uphill Lies, Downhill Lies, and the Lies You Tell Yourself
Show notes
Lesson Tee vs. On‑Course Work
Jeff breaks down the difference:
Lesson tee = mechanics
On-course = thinking
Golfers get in trouble because they grab a club based solely on yardage. Jeff explains why 155 yards is NOT always a six‑iron—especially when there’s wind, elevation, trouble in front, or a lie that changes loft.• Becoming Your Own Caddy
Jeff urges golfers to talk to themselves like a caddy would:
Is long better than short?
Is left better than right?
What’s the wind doing up there, not just at your ankles?
Most golfers toss grass in the air and pretend it means something. Jeff explains why that’s adorable… and useless.The Invisible Enemy: Wind
Jeff goes deep on how wind affects ball flight:
Wedges balloon and stall
Trees tell the truth
Clouds tell the real truthGround wind ≠ sky wind
Rule of thumb: whatever you feel at ground level, it’s worse up where your ball is flying.• Lies That Lie to You
Uphill lie? Adds loft.
Downhill lie? Takes loft away.
Jeff explains how to brace the downhill leg, match shoulder tilt to the slope, and choose the right club so your six‑iron doesn’t suddenly become a four‑iron or an eight‑iron.• Rough Reality Check
If the ball is sitting down, your six‑iron is a fantasy. Jeff walks through how to test the grass, choose the longest club with enough loft to cut through, and why the ball should NOT be shoved back in your stance unless you enjoy hitting low screamers.Football Break – FanDuel Accuracy & Michigan’s “Extra Second”
John and Jeff take a detour into college football, roasting Michigan’s infamous “extra second,” praising FanDuel’s spooky accuracy, and sharing stories about Indiana fans who sometimes forget they have a football team.• Closing – Off to Sedona
Jeff heads off to Oak Creek Golf Course for desert-style teaching, psychic energy, and maybe aliens. John stays in the studio where the wind is controlled and the lies are only metaphorical.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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45 min
Bad Teachers, Broken Swings, and Why Jeff Drinks
Show notes
00:00 – Cold Open: “So… You Changed Teachers, Didn’t You?”
Jeff warms up with a couple of cautionary tales about students who wandered off and came back with swings that looked like they’d been assembled by IKEA.03:12 – Why Picking the Right Instructor Matters
We dive into the big truth: golf instruction isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. If your teacher thinks it is, run. Fast.07:45 – The Franken‑Swing Files
Jeff breaks down how well‑meaning golfers get turned into confused pretzels when instructors force them into positions their bodies simply can’t do.12:10 – Grip, Stance, Ball Position: The “It Depends” Fundamentals
A lively rant on why fundamentals aren’t commandments — they’re adjustable tools that must fit you, not the instructor’s favorite tour player.17:30 – Golf Courses: Environmental Villains or Community Heroes?
We take a detour (because of course we do) into water usage, economics, and why golf courses aren’t the bad guys people think they are.
22:55 – How to Choose a Teacher Who Won’t Break You
Jeff lays out the criteria: look for instructors with a track record of improving all kinds of golfers, not disciples of a single swing religion.28:40 – Sneak Peek: Jeff’s Top 100 Teacher Conference Talk
A preview of Jeff’s upcoming presentation on ball position — why it matters, why most golfers get it wrong, and why fixing it changes everything.32:00 – Final Thoughts: Your Swing, Your Body, Your Teacher
We wrap with the big takeaway: find a coach who teaches you, not their system.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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40 min
Jeff Played Pebble Beach. John Played… Whatever Was Open
Show notes
John’s in the studio, holding down the fort like a man who hasn’t seen daylight since Tuesday, while Jeff is literally driving through the desert on his way back to Flagstaff — still high on the fumes of a three‑day golf binge on the Monterey Peninsula. And not just any golf binge. Oh no. Jeff went full “bucket‑list flex” and knocked out Pebble Beach, Clint Eastwood’s super‑secret Tehama, and the mythical unicorn of golf courses, Cypress Point.
Jeff breaks it all down with the excitement of a kid who just found out recess is now three hours long. Pebble’s wind tried to knock him over. Tehama’s hills tried to roll him back down to sea level. Cypress Point was so gorgeous it should’ve come with a warning label. And the man played each round with one golf ball. One. Per. Day. That’s not golf — that’s wizardry.
Naturally, the boys detoured into college football, because it’s early season and everybody’s already losing their minds over rankings that don’t matter yet. Jeff and John talk matchups, meltdowns, and why Week 1 is basically a giant Rorschach test for fanbases.
Then Jeff flips into full instructor mode — breaking down how to survive golf on hilly terrain without looking like you’re auditioning for a blooper reel. Ball above feet, ball below feet, uphill, downhill, stance tweaks, shoulder tilt… all the stuff that keeps you from chunking it like you’re digging for truffles.
They wrap things up with a shoutout to FanDuel Sportsbook, plus a tease about future listener golf trips. Because if Jeff can get onto Cypress Point, maybe — just maybe — you can too. Or at least you can hear Jeff brag about it again.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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44 min
How to Spot a Sandbagger Before He Steals Your Gift Card
Show notes
What Sandbagging Actually Looks Like
Jeff breaks down the most common sandbagging tactics he’s seen in the wild, including:Forward‑tee manipulation — playing casual rounds from the up tees, then submitting those scores for handicap calculation.
Intentional bad lies — dropping balls into rough, roots, or hazards “just to see what happens,” conveniently inflating scores.
Penalty‑stroke amnesia — magically forgetting to count OB, water balls, or unplayable situations.
Casual‑round heroics, tournament miracles — mysteriously shooting 10–12 shots better only when prizes are on the line.
Jeff’s take: real low‑handicap players win net tournaments. If the 18‑handicap is suddenly posting net 63s, something smells like week‑old range balls.
How to Spot a Sandbagger
The guys talk through the tells:Look at club championship history — who consistently performs way above their stated handicap.
Compare casual‑round scoring vs. tournament scoring — massive gaps are red flags.
Watch for “I never play this well” miracles — especially when they happen every time a trophy or gift card is involved.
Cheating Stories That Make You Shake Your Head
Jeff shares two jaw‑dropping incidents:The Fake Hole‑in‑One — a golfer pre‑placed his ball in the cup before the group arrived, then “found” it. The only thing missing was confetti and a marching band.
The Vaseline Driver Guy — a player secretly applied Vaseline to his driver face to reduce spin and straighten shots. Creative? Yes. Legal? Absolutely not.
The Rule: Confront Cheaters Immediately
Jeff’s message is blunt and correct:
If you witness cheating, you must call it out right away.
Not later. Not after the round. Not “I didn’t want to make things awkward.”
Integrity only survives if honest players defend it in the moment.Road‑Trip Vibes
All of this unfolds while Jeff is literally driving through Arizona, proving once again that he can teach, rant, and diagnose golf pathology even while navigating desert highways.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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44 min
Tillinghast, Travel Tales & Courses That Fight Back
Show notes
John checks in fresh off a trip to Maine, where the lobster is great and the golf is classic New England. Jeff counters with his time teaching at the ultra‑exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana — mountain golf, thin air, and views that make you forget you just chunked a wedge.
Donald Ross & The Art of Greens That Make You Cry
The guys dive into Donald Ross’s legendary greens — the ones that look innocent until your ball starts rolling like it’s late for a meeting. They compare Ross’s style with Pete Dye’s “I dare you” intimidation and McKenzie’s artistic, flowing layouts.
Jeff previews his upcoming West Coast McKenzie tour, which John immediately tries to invite himself on.Renovations, Reconstructions & Golden Age Reboots
Jeff talks Spyglass renovations and a reconstructed McKenzie course in Wisconsin. John wonders what it would be like to play a 1920s design built with modern machinery — old strategy meets new bulldozers.The Lido, Sand Valley & Modern Classics
The guys geek out over the original Lido — a C.B. MacDonald/McKenzie/Raynor masterpiece — and its modern recreation at Sand Valley. They hit on courses that became famous fast:
Bandon Dunes
Whistling Straits
Payne’s Valley (aka “Tiger’s scenic roller coaster”)The Tillinghast Tour Idea
Jeff rattles off Tillinghast courses like he’s reading from a phone book. John suggests a “Tillinghast Tour,” the golf‑nerd equivalent of following the Grateful Dead around the country. They compare it to Dye, Palmer, and Norman tours and swap favorite designer quotes — including Rocco Mediate’s classic Dye jab.Design Philosophy & How Not to Get Tricked
Jeff breaks down fairway bunkering, hidden landing zones, and greens that wiggle like a toddler on sugar. They talk about how caddies can save your round on visually deceptive layouts — assuming you actually listen to them.Mountain Golf & Wildlife Cameos
Jeff shares stories from Pine Canyon in Flagstaff, where the scenery is gorgeous and the wildlife occasionally decides it owns the fairway.The Big Idea: East‑to‑West Golf Trip
John pitches an October RV golf adventure from the East Coast to the West Coast. Jeff pretends to think about it. John invites Chris Mascaro to join a future show, because every good golf trip needs at least one guy who brings snacks.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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41 min
He Played His Best Round With a Broken Ankle — Science Explains Why
Show notes
0:00 – Cold Open / Welcome
• John and Jeff kick off the show, presented by FanDuel.
• Introduce guest Dr. Fredric Abramson — “smartest guy in any room… except maybe this one.”2:00 – Abramson’s Background & Injury Story
• Former athlete, tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Broke his ankle at Michigan… then played his best golf round ever with a cast.
• Jeff explains why the locked‑up left leg actually improved his swing.6:00 – The Origin of the DNA Injury Test
• Meeting with Philip Morris CEO: “Americans want to die healthy.”
• Abramson decides genetics should help people live better, not just diagnose disease.
• Human Genome Project inspires practical injury‑prediction research.10:00 – How the Test Works
• Simple cheek swab — no blood, kid‑friendly, mail‑anywhere.
• Uses Illumina testing (same as 23andMe).
• Identifies genetic markers linked to injury susceptibility.
• Example: 8 known markers for concussion risk.15:00 – Break / GhostBed Ad
• John explains why GhostBed keeps you cool and pain‑free.
• Promo code: golfguys.17:00 – FanDuel Segment
• College sports talk: Indiana football hype, Michigan rivalry jokes.
• John threatens to ban Ohio State grads from the show.20:00 – Injury Prediction for Golfers
• Back injuries most common in younger, high‑speed players.
• Older golfers deal with accumulated life injuries.
• DNA could help adjust swing load, warm‑ups, and training.23:00 – Precision Nutrition
• Abramson holds the first patent in precision nutrition.
• Matching diet to DNA to improve recovery and reduce injury risk.25:00 – Future Tech: AI Swing Analysis
• Planned mobile app:
• Upload swing video
• AI analyzes injury risk
• 3D body mapping
• Nutrition + genetics + mechanics combined28:00 – John’s Knee & Thursday Tee Time
• John asks if the test can help him by Thursday.
• Abramson: “Not yet — still a startup.”30:00 – COVID Humor & Teaching Background
• Abramson lost his sense of smell after COVID.
• Corona beer joke.
• More banter about sports longevity and golf as a lifelong game.33:00 – Closing Thoughts
• Golfers could play longer, safer, and smarter with DNA‑based injury prediction.
• Jeff imagines entire institutes jumping on this tech.
• Wrap‑up and tease future conversations.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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54 min
The Orchestra of Negativity (And How to Turn It Off)
Show notes
What We Covered
Golf exposes your inner dialogue
Jim explains why your brain is louder than your driver — and how to quiet it.One shot at a time (seriously)
Scorecards drag you into the past and future. Jim says stay here, now, with this shot.Tension kills swings
A tight mind creates a tight body. We talk breathing, relaxing focus, and resetting your system.Recovery > perfection
Jeff’s “spectator technique” helps you detach from bad shots instead of spiraling.The orchestra of negativity
Too many swing thoughts = mental noise. Jim shows how to become your own “internal master.”Identity vs. score
You are not your number. Jim breaks down how to separate self-worth from performance.Golf as life in 18 chapters
Every hole is a new challenge — and a new chance to respond instead of react.Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’ve ever walked off a green muttering to yourself, gripping the club like it owes you money, or predicting your doom based on the first three holes… this episode is your antidote. Jim gives you tools you can use today, and we add the usual Golf Guys flavor: honesty, humor, and a little self‑deprecation.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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47 min
Golf Shots Don’t Care About Your Feelings
Show notes
This week on Those Weekend Golf Guys, the crew dove into the messy, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking world of golf performance — especially the mental circus happening between a golfer’s ears.
They kicked things off with a story about a player who had all the physical tools but confidence lower than a worm’s shoe size. Classic case: the swing was fine, the fundamentals were fine… but the brain? Oh boy. Total chaos. Jeff jumped in with the reminder every golfer needs tattooed on their forehead: range golf and real golf are not the same sport. You can stripe it on the range like you’re auditioning for a commercial, but the second you step onto the first tee of a tournament? Suddenly your hands shake, your heart races, and you forget how to hold the club. Welcome to competitive golf.
The guys hammered home the idea that a golf shot is a golf shot — whether you’re on the range, on the course, or staring down a college coach who may or may not be watching. But getting golfers, especially juniors, to believe that? That’s the trick.
Then came the junior‑golf deep dive. iPad shared a win with a 15‑year‑old from Montana who turned his game around once he got the right mental tools. But he also pointed out the obvious: how a kid handles pressure usually comes down to how they’ve been raised. Some kids soak up coaching like a sponge. Others crumble the second they think someone’s judging them. And yes — parents are often the biggest variable in the whole equation.
Jeff broke down performance variance in a way every sports parent needs to hear. He compared it to basketball: you don’t score the same number of points every night because the gym, the opponent, and the pressure all change. Golf’s the same. But parents see one bad round and act like the kid’s scholarship just burst into flames.
Speaking of pressure… Jeff and Joe talked about the cost of chasing big tournaments. Flights, hotels, rental cars, food — suddenly you’re two grand deep before the kid even tees off. And then you hear a college coach might be there? Yeah, that’ll tighten the screws on everybody.
Joe wrapped things up with some of his best emotional‑management tools. The big one: the detachment mechanism. Kid hits a bad shot? Instead of spiraling into a meltdown, they say, “Isn’t that fascinating.” Boom — emotional reset. No shame, no panic, no identity crisis. He even teaches players to jokingly blame their playing partner for the shot just to break the tension. It works way better than you’d think.
The final message was simple and loud: your golf game is not your identity. Kids need hobbies, interests, and confidence that don’t depend on whether they shot 72 or 92. Because the second golf becomes their whole personality, the game stops being fun — and that’s when everything falls apart.
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50 min
Relax… It’s Just a Golf Shot, Not a Tax Audit
Show notes
This week on The Weekend Golf Guys, Tom and Jeff teamed up to remind golfers everywhere that your brain can wreck a round faster than a topped tee shot. They hammered home the idea that if you’re not having fun out there, you’re basically paying good money to be miserable — and that’s just bad economics. Frustration, fear, and those wild expectations we all carry around? Yeah, those are the real swing killers.
Tom talked mindset, Jeff talked mechanics, and together they made one thing crystal clear: your setup and your patterns matter way more than whatever complicated nonsense you saw on YouTube at 2 a.m. Jeff even pulled out some wisdom from Dr. Bob Christina, explaining how your physical structure — the way you stand, balance, and move — shapes your swing more than any “try this one weird trick” tip ever will.
Then Jeff rolled out one of his classic lesson moves: he takes the golf ball away. Just removes it. Students freak out for a second, then suddenly start swinging like actual athletes instead of nervous wrecks trying not to embarrass themselves. No ball means no fear, no overthinking, no “don’t shank this.” Just balance, motion, and a swing that finally makes sense.
Tom backed him up, pointing out that golfers don’t need a dictionary of technical jargon. They need simple, practical stuff they can actually use — grip, stance, alignment, and a brain that isn’t screaming at them. Keep it simple, and the swing gets better. Make it complicated, and the golfer gets worse. Every. Single. Time.
The show wrapped with Tom sharing how folks can reach him for instruction, and of course, we reminded everyone to subscribe, leave a review, and keep the game fun — because golf is hard enough without you turning it into a science project.
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46 min
Fear, Focus, and the Phone That’s Ruining Your Round
Show notes
What Jared Shared From His Book, “EVERYDAY GOLF PSYCHOLOGY”
1. Emotions aren’t random—they’re signals
• Anger, fear, embarrassment, overconfidence… none of these are “mental weaknesses.”
• They’re outputs of something deeper: expectations, flawed goals, poor preparation, or misjudged skill.
• Trying to “stay calm” without understanding why you’re upset is like trying to fix a slice by adjusting your grip every hole.2. Overconfidence is a silent killer
Most golfers don’t realize they’re overconfident until they’re already playing poorly.
Overconfidence often comes from:
• A few good practice sessions
• A hot streak on the range
• Misjudging actual skill level
• Tournament performance exposes the truth: practice success ≠ competitive readiness.3. Fear of embarrassment is more common than fear of failure
Recreational golfers especially worry about:
• Looking stupid
• Holding up the group
• Hitting a bad shot in front of others
This creates tension, rushed routines, and poor decision-making.Focus: The Real Engine of Performance
4. Focus is driven by goals, not discipline
Jared was adamant:
“Focus isn’t something you do—it’s something your goals create.”
If your goals are vague (“play well today”), your focus will be vague.
Clear goals = clear attention.5. Phones destroy focus more than people admit
• Even checking your phone between shots fractures your mental rhythm.
• The brain doesn’t fully “return” to golf for several minutes.
• Recreational golfers underestimate how much this matters.Accessing Information During Shots
6. Great players access more detail, not less
They see:
• Wind patterns
• Lies
• Shot windows
• Tendencies
• Emotional state
Most amateurs try to “simplify” too much and end up ignoring critical data.Bridging Practice → Competition
7. Practice must simulate pressure
Otherwise:
• You build skills you can’t access under stress.
• You create false confidence.
• You never learn how your emotions behave in competition.
Jared’s strategies included:
• Adding consequences to practice
• Tracking emotional patterns
• Practicing decision-making, not just mechanics
• Using post‑shot evaluations to build awarenessHosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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45 min
Positive Self‑Talk: Because Yelling at Your Ball Hasn’t Worked Yet
Show notes
This week on Those Weekend Golf Guys, John Ashton is joined by two of our favorite smart‑aleck swing whisperers, Scott Monroe and Jeff Smith, for a conversation that wanders all over the golf landscape — in the best possible way.
We kick things off with the U.S. Open, where the golf was great, the crowds were… enthusiastic, and the etiquette was somewhere between “country club polite” and “rock concert adjacent.” From there, we jump into the hot‑button topic of music on the golf course — does it help you groove or make you shank it harder? Depends on who you ask.
Scott drops an absolute gem of a story about a pro in Australia who literally blacked out mid‑round and kept playing. Yes, really. That leads us straight into the mental side of golf — why this game demands a totally different headspace than sports where you never stop moving. We dig into hypnotism, visualization, and positive self‑talk, including Scott’s upcoming work with hypnotist Ricky Kalman, who might just be the next secret weapon for golfers everywhere.
We also talk about the future of young talent: Can late bloomers still make it? How has NIL changed college golf? And what does the modern path to the pros look like now that 19‑year‑olds have sponsorship deals bigger than our mortgages?
It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s a little chaotic — in other words, it’s exactly what you expect from Those Weekend Golf Guys
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40 min
Your Brain Is the Real Hazard
Show notes
This week, John and Jeff dive headfirst into the part of golf that ruins more rounds than bad lies and slow groups combined: the mental circus inside your own head.
Pressure, Panic & Playing With People Who Scare You
Jeff kicks things off with a story about playing at his father‑in‑law’s club — the classic “I swear I’m better than this” round — where he tried so hard to impress everyone that he played like a man who’d never held a golf club before. John jumps in with how working with Jeff helped him stop trying to prove anything to anyone and start leaning into humor, fun, and the occasional self‑burn. Because nothing lowers expectations faster than making fun of yourself before anyone else can.Golf With Better Players (AKA: The Intimidation Olympics)
Jeff talks about playing with golfers of all skill levels and how he tries to make people comfortable by pretending he’s not a Top‑100 teacher. John admits that playing with Jeff can be intimidating — because watching someone flush it on command is a humbling experience — but it all circles back to the mental game being the real separator.
U.S. Open Talk: Courses, Carnage & Wyndham Clark
The guys break down the U.S. Open setup and whether the USGA intentionally picks courses designed to make grown men cry. They talk about Wyndham Clark’s win, how a previous meltdown shaped his mindset, and that ridiculous recovery shot on 16 that basically said, “I’m winning this thing, thanks.”
Hero Shots & Why Pros Go Full Send
John and Jeff debate a player choosing the aggressive route instead of taking an unplayable. Jeff calls it a hero shot. John calls it Tuesday. They agree that when the difference between first and second is millions of dollars, you don’t lay up — you swing like you mean it.
Golf Psychology: Your Brain Is Not Your Friend
The guys get into why telling yourself “don’t hit it in the water” is the fastest way to hit it in the water. Jeff shares his Golf.com first‑tee jitters video and how negative thoughts become self‑fulfilling disasters. They lay out real fixes:
• Deep breaths
• Fast, loose practice swings
• A single, clear target
• ZERO math mid‑roundBecause nothing ruins tempo like trying to calculate your handicap on the 14th tee.
Bagger Vance, Tunnel Vision & The Good Kind of Zoning Out
Jeff brings up The Legend of Bagger Vance to explain that magical moment when the world blurs, the target sharpens, and the swing just happens. John nods approvingly, mostly because it means he gets to reference a movie he actually remembers.
Thinking vs. Doing (Spoiler: Thinking Loses)
Jeff reminds listeners that you can’t think your way through a golf swing — it happens too fast. It’s like trying to play guitar while reading the sheet music for the first time. As Jeff’s buddy John Dunnigan says: “When you think, you stink.”
Warm‑Up Like You Mean It
They talk about warming up without a ball first to avoid early‑round negativity. Jeff suggests hitting the ground with a tee to find balance and rhythm before you start judging yourself.
Stop Doing Math & Start Playing Golf
The guys wrap by reminding golfers to stop calculating their score mid‑round and focus on one shot at a time. They tease an upcoming episode with sports psychologist Jared Tendler, who will either validate everything they’ve said… or politely tell them they’re full of it.
They close with the usual: subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more mental‑game wisdom — or at least entertaining nonsense.
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41 min
How to Escape Rough… Without Being a Dumb Ass
Show notes
John and Jeff spent this episode diving into the stuff golfers pretend they know how to handle but absolutely do not: dumb lies in thick rough, dumb decisions in thick rough, and the Dumb Ass penalties that come from both.
They kicked things off with the age‑old debate: the hand wedge. Does it count as a stroke? Depends on the group. Some guys call it “winter rules,” some call it “improving your lie,” and some call it “I’m not writing down a 9 today.” But the point stands — if you’re going to cheat, at least be consistent.
Jeff rolled out his “loop of control” — brain → hands → clubface → ball → brain — which is basically his polite way of saying, “If your grip is trash, everything else is going to be trash too.” Check the clubface before you swing. Seriously. It’s free.
Then they got into the real meat: hitting from the rough. Jeff explained how to read the grooves, steepen the swing, and for the love of all things holy, use a wedge. If you’re pulling a 5‑iron out of knee‑high rough, you’re not a hero — you’re auditioning for a DA penalty.Speaking of which… Jeff told the story of a Big Ten Championship at French Lick where a college player made such a catastrophically bad decision on the 17th hole that it cost his team the entire tournament. Not a rulebook penalty. A Dumb Ass penalty. The kind you earn by ignoring every smart option available and choosing violence instead.
They broke down the unplayable lie rule, too — when to use it, how to use it, and why it exists to save you from yourself. You can take one unplayable. You can take two. You can take three. The Rules of Golf don’t judge you. Your buddies will, but the rules won’t.
And finally, they wrapped with the two kinds of penalties in golf:
• Rulebook penalties — the ones the USGA wrote
• Idiot penalties (DA penalties) — the ones you write yourself by doing something dumbMost golfers worry about the first category. Most golfers suffer from the second.
Jeff and John reminded listeners that knowing the rules — and knowing when to stop being a Dumb Ass — will
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