What if everything we've been taught about how to teach golf is backwards? What if the reason millions of golfers struggle isn't their lack of talent, but the way the game has been explained to them? And what if one woman, who's been challenging golf's conventions for over four decades, has the answers that could transform your game and the entire industry?

In this compelling episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Kay McMahon, a true force of nature in the golf world. Kay is a member of the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame, an LPGA Elite Top 50 Best Teacher, a PGA member, the President of Women in the Golf Industry (WIGI) , and the creator of the revolutionary Golf 8.5 teaching system.

From her humble beginnings putting on a homemade three-hole golf course built by her innovative father in their cul-de-sac (complete with a lemonade stand that taught her entrepreneurship at age five), to playing in three U.S. Opens and working alongside Arnold Palmer at Ironwood Country Club for a decade, Kay's journey is nothing short of remarkable.

But this conversation isn't just a trip down memory lane - it's a masterclass in challenging the status quo, building inclusive communities, and reimagining how we teach and experience the game of golf. Whether you're a frustrated golfer stuck at the same handicap for years, a golf industry professional, or someone who cares about making the sport more welcoming to everyone, this episode will leave you inspired and armed with actionable insights.

Three Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The Golf 8.5 System: Why "Simple" Beats "Complicated" Every Time
Discover why traditional golf instruction has been teaching the setup positions in the wrong order for decades, and how Kay's breakthrough system - built on cognitive learning principles and "chunking" - can help you retain 300% more of what you learn. You'll learn why there are only four things to do before the swing and four-and-a-half things during it, and how this approach can shave 15-25 seconds off every shot (that's a half-hour round!) while dramatically improving your consistency.

2. The Power of Connection: How WIGI is Amplifying Women's Voices in Golf
Learn how the Women in The Golf Industry organization, founded in 2001 by 11 pioneering women, has become a vital network for connecting resources, mentorship, and opportunities across all facets of the golf industry - from tour professionals and golf architects to media members and entrepreneurs. Kay shares how the organization embraces a two-way mentoring model where seasoned professionals and young newcomers learn from each other, and why having a unified voice matters in an industry where women represent only 5-10% of professionals.

3. Confronting Golf's Uncomfortable Truths: The Callaway/Good Good Controversy and Beyond
In the wake of the controversial Callaway and Good Good video that sparked industry-wide outcry, Kay offers her thoughtful perspective on the "unacceptable undercurrent culture" that still exists in golf. Rather than simply condemning, she advocates for recognizing these moments as opportunities to change the conversation, ask "what were they thinking?" and work toward building a more inclusive, respectful sport for everyone, while acknowledging the many men who are supportive allies in this effort.

💬 Inspiring Quotes from Kay McMahon

"I said, 'I'm really sorry that all the members keep talking to you and interrupting how you practice.' And he looked at me very closely in the eye and said, 'Just remember the r

Attitude is Everything - How Kay McMahon Empowers Women In The Golf Industry

What happens when a barber from Florida - turned streetwear entrepreneur - turned content creator picks up a golf club for the first time in 20 years during a global pandemic? He builds one of the most dynamic creative agencies in golf. Osi Umunna, CEO and Founder of The Hole 9, joins host Colin Weston for a raw, unfiltered conversation about how he's bridging the lifestyle and cultural gap between golf brands and the audiences they've been missing for decades. From the Good Good controversy that's shaking the industry to LeBron James' game-changing entry into golf media to the black-owned brands quietly rewriting golf's cultural playbook, this episode delivers the kind of perspective that only comes from someone who's lived on both sides of the fence and decided to build a bridge instead.

Whether you're a brand executive wondering how to reach new audiences, a creator trying to find your lane, or just someone who's ever felt like golf "wasn't for you," this conversation will change how you see the game's future. Osi doesn't just talk about the new guard of golf, he's actively building it.

Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The future of golf belongs to those who build bridges, not walls.
Osi explains why brands that only speak to one audience will eventually stall, and how The Hole 9 helps companies scale by bringing in fresh perspectives, tastemakers, and cultural credibility that simply can't be manufactured in a boardroom.

2. The Good Good controversy is a teachable moment about the cost of missing voices.
Osi breaks down what went wrong, why Callaway shares responsibility, and how the fallout could have been avoided if more diverse perspectives had been in the room before the content went live. It's a cautionary tale every brand in the creator economy needs to hear.

3. Vulnerability is golf's secret weapon for inclusion.
From LeBron shanking shots on camera to Steph Curry's and Michael Jordan's legendary competitive fire, Osi explains why showing the struggle, not just the highlight reel is exactly what makes golf relatable and welcoming to newcomers.

💬 Inspiring Quotes from Osi Umunna

"Brands are now trying to scale and reach this new audience. And how do you reach it if you don't know the story?"

"For Black and brown individuals, it's like if you see it, you can be it. When you start building from the youth - they say the youth will save us - that's probably the biggest impact."

"If LeBron James can shank balls in front of the world, what's your problem? We all were there at one point. It's okay to show that side and the growth."

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Season 20 & Introducing Presenting Partner Big Swing Media
02:02 Meet Osi Umunna: Fashion, Entertainment & The Hole 9 Origin Story
04:09 First Golf Experience: The Power of Invitation & "Catching the Bug"
05:49 From Barber Chair to Boardroom: Building Networks & Inner Desires
10:58 The COVID Golf Boom & The Birth of The Hole 9
11:55 The Good Good Controversy: Lessons on Perspectives & Brand Responsibility
16:40 LeBron James, Steph Curry & the NBA's Impact on Golf's Growth
18:26 Adrian Colbert & On The Links (OTL): Athletes Transitioning to Golf
20:36 The Vegas Baby Golf Pro Am and the AM Golf Partnership
22:58 Steph Curry, Michael Jordan & the Power of Elite Athletes in Golf
26:52 Black-Owned Golf Brands to Watc

Bridging Golf's Cultural Gap - Osi Umunna, CEO and Founder of The Hole 9

What happens when modular construction expertise meets the booming golf entertainment market?
In this season premiere of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Matthew Towell (Founder/CEO) and Stephen Arnold (COO) of Cover The Tees to explore how they're transforming driving ranges across America into vibrant community entertainment hubs.

From Matthew's unlikely golf start of hitting his stepmother's 7-iron over a house as a kid, to building a company that's now completed 100 modular installations nationwide, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, overcoming adversity, and the power of creating shared experiences through golf. Whether you're a golf course operator, an entrepreneur, or simply love hearing how businesses scale, you'll want to hear this conversation.

Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. Modular Construction = Speed, Scalability, and Season Extension
Cover The Tees' modular approach allows facilities to install covered bays in just 10-14 days, scale from 10 to 20+ bays as demand grows, and add enclosures, heaters, and wind protection to extend operations into winter months. One Chicago-area facility tracked 1.5 million balls in the first four months of the year before the snow melted and their busy season even began.

2. Driving Ranges Are Becoming Community Entertainment Hubs
The traditional "hit a bucket and leave" model is evolving. Cover The Tees clients are hosting line dancing, bands, trivia nights, and craft events, transforming ranges into year-round gathering spaces. Nicole Inkle's facility saw community engagement soar, while Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort quadrupled their revenue in year one.

3. Start Small, Prove Your ROI, Then Scale
Cover The Tees encourages operators to start with 10 bays and expand later. One customer hit their previous year's ball sales in just the first month after installation, immediately requesting their second wing. The modular design makes expansion seamless.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Matthew and Stephen on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/MLFB2rcvdJw] as we run through a live demo of Cover The Tee's "Bay Builder" tool. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/MLFB2rcvdJw] or the image below to watch.


💬 Inspiring Quotes

"The money is great, but what you get to feel from it afterwards. It's really opening up this game for more people to get involved. Who would not have before."
— Matthew Towell, Founder/CEO

"I can't tell you why it works. I just know it does work. We built it. People showed up. We were able to take our revenues from $90,000 and do $300,000 in the first three months."
— Stephen Arnold, COO

"Watching the families come in with a grandmother in a wheelchair sitting in the bay with her family around her watching her grandkids hit balls. I was like, 'This is freaking cool, man. This is what I want to do forever.'"
— Matthew Towell, Founder/CEO

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Season 20 & Cover The Tees
02:13 Matt's first golf experience: stealing clubs, hitting over a house, and getting hooked
03:58 Stephen's int

The Future of Golf Is Modular - How Cover The Tees is Building the Next Generation of Driving Range Experiences

That's a wrap for Season 19 of The ModGolf Podcast! Our team is currently working on your next twelve episodes for Season 20, which launches mid September 2026. We heard some amazing stories from a diverse group of guests who discussed how innovation, inclusion, technology, entertainment, sustainability, celebrity, hospitality and community building intersect to shape the future of golf.

If you didn’t get the chance to listen to all of our twelve Season 19 episodes, this bonus show gives you a recap of the great conversations I had with some of the golf industry's top influencers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Hopefully this will inspire you to listen to a couple of the episodes listed below. Let us know which ones you enjoyed the most and I'd love to learn why you liked them!


Our Season 19 guests were:

Episode 1: Hyman Ngo, Co-Founder of Levelwear

What does it take to build a golf apparel brand carried by 85 of the top 100 clubs in both the US and Canada? Hyman Ngo, Co-Founder of Levelwear, joins The ModGolf Podcast to share his journey from contract manufacturer to industry leader, revealing the "Who's With You" manifesto, the brand's commitment to sustainable performance apparel, and how authentic relationships with caddies and golf pros drive long-term success in the competitive golf fashion space.
Click to listen 🎧 >> Team Over Everything - The Art of Building an Enduring Brand [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-modgolf-podcast/id1230363725?i=1000756038103]

Episode 2: Drew Koehler, Co-Founder of Blue Tees Golf

What happens when a broken Amazon rangefinder ruins your round and sparks a multi-million dollar business idea? Host Colin Weston sits down with Blue Tees Golf co-founder Drew Koehler to unpack the entrepreneurial journey behind one of golf’s fastest-growing tech brands. From liquidating bank accounts for bootstrap capital to launching the new Rainmaker launch monitor and Scout AI, this is a must-listen for golfers and entrepreneurs who want to know how to disrupt the golf industry with better design and smarter technology.
Click to listen 🎧 >> From Corporate Consultant to Golf Disruptor [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-modgolf-podcast/id1230363725?i=1000757951642]

Episode 3: Greg Collins, Founder of GRIT Inc.

He built a hockey bag empire from a handshake in a pizza parlour. Then COVID pushed the company to pivot into the world of golf. Greg Collins, founder and CEO of GRIT Inc. reveals how the 45-year industrial design veteran expanded from hockey into golf, turning fear into fuel and creating the revolutionary GRIT 2.0 Tower golf bag - a square, cart-stabilizing design that proves the best golf innovations come from off the fairway. If you're a golfer tired your golf bag twisting sideways in your cart, or an entrepreneur looking for startup resilience and product design inspiration, this is your must-listen episode!
Click to listen 🎧 >> From The Hockey Rink to The First Tee [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-modgolf-podcast/id1230363725?i=1000760124001]

Episode 4: Renate Roeleveld - CEO of The GCAE / Golf Course Association of Europe

She broke her leg running the NYC marathon and kept going - so resilience and tenacity are part of her DNA. Golf Course Association of Europe GCAE CEO Renate Roeleveld joins us to reveal how European golf facilities are embracing tech, hospitality, and "short format" play to solve inclusion and su

ModGolf Season 19 Wrap-up / Season 20 Preview

Ever wonder what it's like to walk the hallowed grounds of Augusta National alongside legends like Byron Nelson? In our Season 19 finale, host Colin Weston sits down with the incomparable Jimmy Roberts - sports broadcasting icon, master storyteller, and co-founder of Big Swing Media - for a conversation that spans the evolution of golf media and the $250 billion annual business of golf. We To learn how a cold call to ABC's Wide World of Sports launched a four-decade broadcasting career that would lead to earning 16 Emmy Awards.

From his first nervous steps at the 1991 Masters to launching a premium media company dedicated to golf's business landscape, Jimmy shares the lessons learned from a career that's covered every major sporting event on the planet. Whether you're an aspiring broadcaster, a golf industry professional, or simply someone who loves a great story, this episode is your backstage pass to one of sport's most respected voices.

Three key takeaways that you'll discover:

✅ The Power of Curiosity Over Stats Jimmy reveals that his entire career was built not on memorizing statistics, but on genuine curiosity about people. His advice? "God gave us two ears and one mouth" so listen more because everyone has a story worth telling.

✅ Golf is a $250 Billion/year Global Ecosystem With more golf courses in America than McDonald's restaurants and 130 million "golf engaged" Americans, Jimmy explains why he and co-founder Fred Bucher launched Big Swing Media to cover the business side of the game that's been largely overlooked.

✅ Storytelling is About Making People Care From his days at ABC Sports learning from legendary producer Roone Arledge, Jimmy shares the foundational principle of great storytelling: educate your audience and give them a reason to connect emotionally with the subjects you cover.

Inspiring Quotes from Jimmy Roberts:

"Everybody's got a story. The heart of storytelling is to educate people and give them a reason to care. Give them a reason to identify, give them a reason to root."

"If there was such a thing as YouTube back then, I'd probably be either waiting tables or selling insurance right now because there'd be evidence of my incompetence. I was really fortunate to learn on the job and make a lot of mistakes in obscurity."

"We're not broadcasters, we're narrowcasters. We've identified our little lane where there's a lot of white space, and we're colouring in some of the lines."

Episode Chapters

00:00 - Introduction
Colin sets the stage for this special Season 19 finale conversation with broadcasting legend Jimmy Roberts.

01:01 - The Origin Story Jimmy shares his golf journey - from parents who introduced him to the game to maintaining a "comfortable somewhere in the 80s" handicap. He reveals the three things that make golf truly special: beautiful places, connection with people, and the joy of playing the game for a lifetime.

03:43 - The Breakthrough Moment
The remarkable story of how a cold call to ABC's Wide World of Sports at age 18 launched a legendary career. Jimmy recounts pestering legendary producer Ned Steckle and landing his first gig covering the 1976 NCAA lacrosse championship.

08:40 - Finding Golf
Why Jimmy strategically "planted a flag" in golf coverage at ESPN in the early 1990s - and how Tiger Woods' arrival proved to be the perfect timing that turbocharged Jimmy's storytelling career.

10:02 - First Masters Memories
Jimmy's unforgettable 1991 Masters experience: showing up overwhelme

The Business of Great Golf Storytelling - Jimmy Roberts, Co-Founder of Big Swing Media

Have you ever stood over a three-foot putt, heart pounding, and wondered why that tiny target is exactly 4.25 inches wide?
It's a number every golfer knows but almost nobody questions. In this bonus episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston takes you on a fascinating journey through Scottish golf innovation, 67 years of golfing chaos, and a decision in 1891 that shaped the game forever. Discover how a random piece of drainpipe from a maintenance shed became golf's most enduring standard - and why, in an era of innovation and "fun-first" golf, that 135-year-old measurement might finally be facing its biggest challenge yet.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

The Drainpipe Origin Story - Meet Robert Gray, the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club employee who solved golf's "wild west" of inconsistent hole sizes by grabbing a piece of standard plumbing from a maintenance shed in 1824. The 4.25" diameter wasn't chosen for any strategic reason - it was literally whatever the local hardware store carried.

Why It Took 67 Years to Become Official - Despite Gray's brilliant invention, courses across Scotland continued doing their own thing for nearly seven decades. Learn why the R&A finally stepped in to standardize the game's most crucial piece of real estate - and why they simply shrugged and said "that'll do."

The Future of the Hole - From 15-inch "fun" holes and dual-flagstick courses to virtual simulators where cup size changes with a click, discover how the concept of "holing out" is evolving. Will the traditional 4.25" survive as golf pushes to be faster, more accessible, and more entertaining?

Episode Chapters

0:00 - 1:30 | INTRO The sound that defines golf and the question nobody asks
1:30 - 4:00 | THE MYSTERY OF THE STANDARD From chaotic Scottish links to Robert Gray's drainpipe solution
4:00 - 6:30 | THE R&A MAKES IT OFFICIAL Why 1891 changed everything and why precision matters
6:30 - 7:30 | DEFENDING THE STANDARD The sacred reverence for 4.25" and why change has been rejected
7:30 - 9:00 | THE FUTURE OF THE HOLE Innovation meets tradition: where the game is heading
9:00 - 10:07 | OUTRO Reflections on accidental standards

Links & Resources Mentioned

Robert Gray's original 1829 hole-cutter design



Click the image above to listen to the Bucket Golf episode of The ModGolf Podcast

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The 4 1/4" Question: Why is a Golf Hole That Size?

What if the future of golf isn't just about better scoring or smoother tee sheets, but about creating deeper human connections that transform how we experience the game?

In this inspiring episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston reunites with one of his closest friends and most beloved guests, Kevin Carpenter - better known to the golf world as The GratiDude. Since his last appearance two years ago, Kevin has taken on an exciting new role as US Managing Director for AM Golf, a revolutionary all-in-one platform that's reimagining tournament management, community building, and the entire golf experience from registration to the 19th hole.

Kevin's journey is anything but ordinary. From personal transformation through gratitude and sobriety to fostering a tech revolution in golf, his story reminds us that the greatest innovations come from the heart. In this conversation, Kevin reveals how AM Golf is breaking down barriers, creating genuine community, and turning tournament software from a utility into a social experience.

If you care about the future of golf, technology that actually enhances human connection, or simply want to be inspired by someone who turned his life around through gratitude, this episode is for you.

Three Key Takeaways You'll Discover in This Episode

1. Technology Should Serve Connection, Not Replace It

AM GOLF isn't just another tournament software - it's a unified platform that combines scoring, communication, community building, and side game management in one intuitive app. By eliminating the need to toggle between multiple platforms, AM GOLF creates a seamless experience that allows players to connect before, during, and after events. The result? Deeper relationships, more engagement, and a golf experience that starts the moment you register.

2. Golf's Future is in the "Squishy" Stuff

While scoring and logistics are essential, Kevin argues that the real opportunity lies in enhancing the social and experiential aspects of golf. From pre-event smack talk in community feeds to post-round scorecard celebrations, AM GOLF is designed to capture and amplify the shared memories that make golf so special. The software even allows players to create private side games visible only to their group - turning every round into a customized experience.

3. Distribution Is Everything in Tech

Kevin's growth strategy for AM GOLF is refreshingly pragmatic. Rather than trying to win over every golf course operator at once, he's focusing on three channels: grassroots user adoption through events like the Vegas Baby Invitational, strategic B2B partnerships with golf cart manufacturers and POS companies, and pilot programs with course management groups. The goal? Get the software into people's hands, let them experience the value, and let word-of-mouth drive growth. "I'm not interested in being the best writing software writer," Kevin says. "I want to be the best selling software writer."

🎧 Subscribe & Review:

Did you enjoy this episode? Please follow, rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-modgolf-podcast/id1230363725] and share it with a with a friend who loves golf innovation stories.

Join our Patreon community at www.patreon.com/modgolf [http://www.patreon.com/modgolf] for exclusive live shows, bonus content, and member-only giveaways.[ Click here](www.patreon.com/modgolf [http://www.patreon.com/modgolf])

Transforming Golf Experiences To Deepen Human Connection - Kevin Carpenter, US Managing Director at AM GOLF

Are you tired of feeling like your body is holding your golf game back? You know you could hit it further and score better - if only your hips, shoulders, and back would cooperate. The frustration of knowing what you should do with your swing, but your body just won't let you, is real.

Host Colin Weston sits down with the mother/son co-founding duo behind GolfDr: Dr. Valerie De Maio (a physician with over 20 years of emergency medicine experience) and Dr. Chris Adamson (a TPI-certified golf physiotherapist). Together, they reveal why personalized, golf-specific body work is the secret to not just improving your game, but sustaining it well into your 70s, 80s, and beyond. If you've ever been overwhelmed by the endless flood of golf fitness advice on social media or wondered why your body won't cooperate with your golf swing, this conversation is your roadmap to a more enjoyable, longer-lasting golf life.

What you'll discover:

✅ Why 40%+ of golfers experience pain that disrupts their game - and how to identify the key mobility limitations (hip internal rotation, shoulder external rotation, torso rotation, and neck rotation) that might be sabotaging your swing.

✅ The GolfDr approach to fitness and longevity, moving beyond one-size-fits-all workout plans to personalized exercise prescriptions that adapt to your body, your goals, and your life.

✅ How this mother-son team pivoted from a mobile clinic to a scalable digital platform - and why they believe golf is truly a "lifespan sport" that deserves lifespan-focused care.

Inspirational quotes from the episode:

"We want to give people the inspiration they need. A big part of that is showing them their data in fun ways with the dashboard and allowing them to see their progress." - Dr. Valerie De Maio

"Golf is rotational sport. But we do so much in our lives that are linear or very front to back, so we lose mobility in our ability to rotate." - Dr. Chris Adamson

"If we can help people move better and hurt less, they'll enjoy playing more and be able to stay out there longer." - Dr. Valerie De Maio

Episode Chapters

00:02 - Welcome to The ModGolf Podcast: meet the co-founders of GolfDr
03:40 - First golf experiences: from playing hooky to a shockingly fun triple bogey
07:38 - The origin story: how a pandemic pivot created GolfDr
11:45 - From mobile clinic to digital app: the evolution of GolfDr
12:48 - The GolfDr elevator pitch: where golf instruction meets physical rehabilitation
14:57 - The customer journey: what happens when you onboard with GolfDr
16:43 - The PERx: your personalized exercise prescription
18:36 - Global access and what's coming next (including AI-powered self-assessment)
19:58 - Partnerships and TPI certification
22:47 - Who's using GolfDr? Demographics, goals, and what men vs. women want from their golf fitness
27:45 - Ongoing care and technology: measuring progress, not just guessing
28:20 - Gamification and motivation: keeping golfers on track
30:23 - Mobility deep dive: the four key areas golfers need to work on
32:55 - The mobile clinic lesson: how a pivot led to a bigger vision
37:00 - How to connect with GolfDr and join the platform
39:05 - The longevity opportunity: why golf's lifespan makes it a business and lifes

Move Better and Hurt Less - Talking Golf Fitness, Longevity and Performance with the Founders of GolfDr

Picture this: You're an entrepreneur who just got laid off during COVID. Instead of finding another job, you take your logistics and sales background, pivot into golf tech, and go head-to-head with entrenched competitors who have deeper pockets and more market share. Why on earth would you do that? Because you found a pain point so painful that pros are practically begging you to build a solution.

In this live episode recorded at the historic Stanley Thompson-designed Highland Golf Club, Colin Weston sits down with Rob Sunstrum, the founder of Smart Golf – a tournament and league scoring platform that's quietly becoming the industry's best-kept secret. From their exclusive partnership with the NGCOA Canada to being a scoring partner with Golf Canada, Smart Golf is proving that a fresh approach to technology can turn a men's league from 50 players to over 350.

If you're a golfer tired of spreadsheet-powered leagues or a course operator looking to reclaim league ownership and drive F&B revenue, this episode is for you!

Three Key Takeaways From Rob You'll Discover in This Episode

 1. The Power of Reclaiming Ownership – Most golf clubs let members run their own leagues, losing control over messaging, branding, and revenue opportunities. Smart Golf helps clubs take back ownership, driving participation and giving them the tools to integrate F&B specials and sponsorship packages seamlessly. As Rob explains, a league night can double a club's midweek revenue if managed correctly.

 2. Simplicity Trumps Features – Rob's logistics background taught him that onboarding matters as much as functionality. Smart Golf's lean learning curve and short instructional videos mean even the least tech-savvy members – yes, even those "Luddites" – can post scores with ease. Their approach? Tell players what they're about to do, let them do it, and then tell them what they just did.

 3. The Canadian Built Advantage – With 350 clubs on board (75 in the U.S.) and exclusive partnerships with NGCOA Canada and Golf Canada, Smart Golf's integration with Golf Canada's handicap system is seamless. Scores post with a single click. Add in automatic email recaps, player stats, and profile pictures, and you have a product that's sticky enough to keep members coming back every single week.

Three Inspiring Quotes from Rob Sunstrum

"My entrepreneurial journey started right at the start of COVID... Rather than thinking about looking for another opportunity in the same role that I was running in, I realized that I had a nugget of a solid idea."

"You're definitely not going to have it right on the first 50 tries. But by the 51st try, you're going to have a large group of people thinking, 'Boy, you've thought of everything.'"

"We think that our program is the best in the marketplace. But not only that – our price point is lower."

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro: The Road to Highland – Colin sets the scene for this live recording at the historic Stanley Thompson-designed Highland Golf Club, and why Smart Golf is the future of tournament scoring.
01:58 – Icebreaker: Rob's First Golf Experience – The competitive origin story that set Rob on his path, from a junior camp victory to founding a scoring platform.
03:31 – The COVID Pivot: From Logistics to Golf Tech – Rob reveals how he got laid off from DHL and turned a "nugget of an idea" into a product that pros were begging for.
07:02 – Building the MVP:

Elevating the Golf League Experience - Rob Sunstrum, Founder of Smart Golf

Ever wonder what happens when the cameras stop rolling and the players head to the clubhouse? For nearly three decades, the unsung heroes of the PGA Tour - the caddies - were left standing outside in the rain, sleeping on hotel floors, and hoping for a paycheck. That all changed thanks to a 28-year veteran named Don “Double D” Donatello. In this live episode from the RBC Canadian Open, host Colin Weston steps inside the Caddie Lounge (powered by Levelwear) to uncover the gritty reality of life on the bag. From carrying 42-pound loads up 60 flights of stairs to a dramatic "I quit" moment on the 4th hole, Don shares the wild, unfiltered stories of 650+ tournaments and why this new lounge is a game-changer for the guys who carry the clubs.

Key takeaways in this episode with Don that you will discover:
The Harsh Math of Caddie Economics:
Don breaks down the financial gamble of being a looper - the low base salary, paying your own travel expenses, and how missing the cut means earning $0 for a week’s work.

The Physical Toll of Looping:
It’s not just walking. Don reveals the insane fitness stats: 18,000+ steps and 30-60 flights of stairs per day, all while balancing a 42-pound bag on uneven terrain.

How the Caddie Lounge Was Born:
Learn how a simple conversation over a Levelwear hat turned into a tour-wide movement, giving caddies their own space with massage therapists, video games, and the dignity they’ve deserved for years.

The Caddie Lounge at The RBC Canadian Open is Levelwear's way of supporting their "Who's With You?" campaign to provide PGA Tour caddies with a space to unwind, rejuvenate and hang out with their fellow loopers. The Caddie Lounge is now at over 10 PGA Tour stops annually.

Three Inspiring Quotes from Don Donatello
On the old days vs. now:
"28 years ago, I only got paid $400 a week. You drove in a car and slept three to a room. One guy would sleep on the floor and you had to stand outside in the rain. Now, thanks to Levelwear, we feel like we’re being treated like the players."

On the secret to a long career:
"Certainty out here is very important as a caddie. A lot of mistakes these PGA Tour players make aren’t because they not good - it’s because they’re uncertain. Knowing when to speak and when not to is a very fragile thing."

On saving Webb Simpson’s career:
"He had four holes to play to keep his card. I changed his read on two putts. He made both. He shot 63 to keep his card. He said, 'Those were some of the greatest reads ever!'"

Episode Chapters
00:00 – Live from the RBC Canadian Open: Welcome to the Caddie Lounge
01:15 – Meet Don “Double D” Donatello: 28 years, 31 bags, 650+ events
02:30 – The Birth of the Caddie Lounge (and the “Who’s With You” campaign)
05:20 – Then vs. Now: **Sleeping on floors to massage tables
**07:05 – The brutal physical stats: 42lbs, 18k steps, and 60 flights of stairs
09:15 – Don’s origin story: From best player at the club to caddie
10:20 – The economics of looping: Base salary, expenses, and betting on your player
13:05 – Don's Proudest moment: The Webb Simpson story (changing reads to save a card)
15:05 – The “I Quit” story: Walking off the course mid-round
18:05 – How new caddies get jobs (agents, veterans, and the Korn Ferry grind)
21:05 –

Inside the Caddie Lounge with 28-Year PGA Tour Veteran Don “Double D” Donatello

Host Colin Weston explores the future of golf through conversations with the entrepreneurs, innovators and influencers who are shaking up the sport.

The ModGolf Podcast (@modgolfpodcast) · Zencastr

The ModGolf Podcast (@modgolfpodcast)

The ModGolf Podcast talks with golf's top influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators
and disruptors about their vision and solutions to re-imagine, transform and
grow the game. The ModGolf Podcast has been ranked #4 on 2021's most
comprehensive list of "Top 25 Golf Podcasts"
(https://blog.feedspot.com/golf_podcasts/), based on our quality and consistency
of posts, industry expert reviews and social media influence/popularity. Please
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innovation stories. Sponsor Partners
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