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

You’ve taken lessons, watched hours of YouTube, and invested in the latest launch monitor - so why is your handicap barely moving? The golf industry has convinced you that the answer is always MORE: more technology, more stats, more swing thoughts. But according to JR Charles and Aron Schüler of ParOne, more is actually the problem. In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, guest host Rich Katz uncovers how AVA Golf is flipping the script by turning your existing data (from Garmin, Arccos, and beyond) into a personalized prescription of video drills from Top 100 instructors. No more guesswork. No more generic fixes. Just a clear, sequential path to mastery. Tune in to discover why focusing on everything means fixing nothing, and how the right direction can finally unlock the golfer you know you can be.

Key takeaways in this episode with JR and Aron that you will discover:
The "Supply Constraint" in Golf Lessons:
With 30,000 instructors serving 5 million golfers taking lessons (and a post-COVID boom), demand far exceeds supply. AVA Golf bridges this gap by scaling instructor-led advice via AI-driven video playlists, not replacing the pro, but making their expertise accessible 24/7.

Your Game Becomes a Personalized Video Playlist:
AVA Golf ingests data from your existing devices (like Arccos and Garmin launch monitors) and analyzes root causes. Instead of generic YouTube fixes, it serves a unique, sequential playlist of videos addressing your specific faults (e.g., fixing alignment vs. swing path for a slice).

It Actually Works (Proof from the Engineer):
Aron Schuler, the developer, is also the guinea pig. He dropped his handicap from a 28 to an 18 simply by using the platform he was building. This validates that removing the guesswork leads to tangible, measurable improvement.

Three Quotable Moments from this episode:
JR Charles on the problem with modern data:
"I work in the golf industry and I work in game improvement. I don't know what half of these stats are. I have to Google them!"

Aron Schuler on the mission of AVA Golf:
"Most tools give you more data, but at AVA Golf, we're trying to give you direction. Ultimately, your game needs direction."

JR Charles on focusing your practice:
"Focus on the right things and not everything. If you focus on every single thing, you're just going to have a hodgepodge of a swing where you can barely hit the ball sometimes."

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out the AVA Golf demo with JR on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/4wHL2CO2S3w]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/4wHL2CO2S3w] or the image below to watch.


Episode Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Colin Weston hands the mic to guest host Rich Katz.
01:42 – Meet the Guests: Introducing JR Charles (CTO/CRO of ParOne) and Aron Schuler.
03:28 – The ParOne Thesis: Owning the video distribution path in golf (clients include LIV Golf & Golf.com).
05:40 – Why Aron Joined: From building "R10 Progress" to the vision of "Golf Intelligence."
07:49 – The Big Problem: Why more data leads to frustration, YouTube rabbit holes, and constrained PGA instruction supply.
09:57 – How AVA.Golf Works: Connecting your Arccos & Garm

Cutting Through the Golf Data Noise – Personalized Golf Improvement with AVA Golf

What if the reason you aren't enjoying golf has nothing to do with your swing? The governing bodies tell us participation is up, yet nearly 4 million golfers quit annually in the U.S. alone, and half of all on-course players don't even call themselves "golfers" because they don't feel "good enough." In this powerful episode, host Colin Weston sits down with Kris Lynch - a former finance professional turned golf mindset coach - who argues that golf is broken by a performance-obsessed culture. If you have ever felt like a "hacker" who doesn't belong, Kris has a radical prescription: forget your handicap, join the "Happy Hackers," and discover why belonging is more powerful than performance.

Key takeaways in this episode with Kris that you will discover:
The "Fitting In" vs "Belonging" Trap
Kris explains the difference between conforming to outdated golf etiquette (fitting in) and actually being accepted for your authentic self (belonging). You’ll learn why most mental health initiatives for men fail and how golf can actually be the solution.

The $150 Solution
Kris highlights how a new wave of "proprietor-owned" clubs (like Parc Golf Club and Pottergate) are thriving by ditching committees, welcoming non-golfers for Sunday lunch, and offering low-cost memberships - proving that the future of golf is agility, not red tape.

Why You Should Be a "Happy Hacker
Discover the psychology behind reclaiming the insult "hacker." Kris details how his free WhatsApp community and mindset coaching helps golfers separate their self-worth from their scorecard, using the game as a tool for resilience rather than a report card.

Three Quotable Moments from Kris:
On the industry’s blind spot:
"Golf does not have a participation problem. It has an experience problem."

On the pressure to perform:
"Golf has defined success too narrowly. We are average, everyday golfers, and we need to be at peace with that. We need a philosophy of happiness first, handicap later."

On the power of community over instruction:
"Culture shapes experience more than instruction does. We lead with a technical-first mindset rather than a people-centric approach. Golf talks to itself, and we forget that not everyone speaks that language."

Episode Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: The big connector of golf
04:30 – Kris’s origin story: From hacking in Scotland to burnout in London finance
09:00 – The "Aha" moment: Leaving corporate HR to launch Golf Yourself Healthy
12:30 – The Experience Problem: Why 4 million golfers quit every year
17:00 – Culture vs. Instruction: The "belonging" principle and Brene Brown’s influence
24:00 – Success Stories: How nine-hole courses and inclusive short-game areas are saving the game
30:00 – What is a "Happy Hacker"? Building a community for average golfers
38:00 – Mental health in golf: Meeting men where they are (statistics on suicide prevention and connection)
44:00 – How to join the movement and connect with Kris

🔗 Resources and Links:

Kris' bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/kris-lynch
GRIT Instagram: @golfyourselfhappy
LinkedIn: Kris Lynch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-collins-b35596b/]
The ModGolf YouTube Channel:

Happiness First and Handicap Later - Kris Lynch, Founder of Golf Yourself Happy

He walked away from a $750,000 golf apparel order, cried on his living room floor, and told his wife their dream was dead. Then he built a $12 million business from scratch - without knowing how to brew a single beer.

Geoff Tait has one of the wildest entrepreneurial stories in golf. He started a funky golf clothing brand before Travis Matthew, Puma and Nike caught on, landed a deal with Arnold Palmer himself, and drank Kettle One with The King and Jack Nicklaus on a balcony at Augusta. Then it all fell apart. Business partner battles. Lost control. Humiliation.

But here's the twist: Geoff didn't go work for someone else. He went back to teaching as a marketing professor as he built the business plan for Triple Bogey Brewing Company. No brewing experience. No investors. Just a fun name and a relentless commitment to slow, organic growth.

This is a conversation about the real cost of entrepreneurship, the loneliness and exhilaration of building something from nothing, and why "better hit another" isn't just a Triple Bogey Brewing slogan - it's a life philosophy.

Key takeaways in this episode with Geoff that you will discover:

Losing control of your company is a nightmare - but losing your values is worse
Geoff learned the hard way that scaling too fast with the wrong partners can cost you everything. Now he grows organically, keeps full control, and says "the best investor is your customer."

You don't need to be an expert. You need to surround yourself with the right people
Geoff couldn't sew a button or brew a lager. But he knew how to spot talent, build trust, and let experts execute. His superpower isn't technical skill - it's knowing who to bring into the room.

The golf industry rewards loyalty, not flash
While big brands fight for shelf space, Geoff built Triple Bogey one golf course at a time - by showing up, delivering great customer service, and making a product people actually want to drink on a hot day. Slow, steady, and authentic won the race.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Geoff on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/H6yAVmrhBe0]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/H6yAVmrhBe0] or the image below to watch.


Three Memorable Quotes from Geoff:

"I walked out of my office with a $750,000 JCPenney order on my desk that we didn't deliver. I went home and cried on the floor and had to tell my wife what happened."

"If I'm going to do this, this time it's with slow growth. For the first eight years, I was putting my own money back in. I didn't want to take on partners. I wanted to keep this thing in my complete control."

"It's a lonely world being an entrepreneur. There are sleepless nights where you're waking up trying to figure out how you're going to tackle the next step. But that's the fun of it. Even if you get pits in your stomach, you just gotta keep going."

🔗 Links & Resources
Triple Bogey Brewing Company: www.triplebogey.com [http://www.triplebogey.com]
Geoff Tait's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/geoff-tait

LinkedIn:

From Losing it All to Over $12 Million in Annual Sales - Geoff Tait, Founder of Triple Bogey Brewing

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result... and I have been INSANE with my driver for four decades." 😵

Can a 50 cent tea towel finally correct my driver swing path?

If you struggle with powerless effort instead of effortless power, or if you’re tired of blocking slices and snap hooks off the tee, this episode of The Rebuild is your turning point. Host Colin Weston reunites with PGA Teaching Pro Quinn Vilneff to tackle the "bane of his existence"—the driver.

Watch as Quinn diagnoses Colin's 7-degree left club path and introduces a surprising (and cheap) training aid: a simple towel. In this 20-minute masterclass, you’ll learn why traditional swing thoughts fail with the longest club in your bag and how to finally build a driver swing that neutralizes your path and increases ball speed.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then why not watch this episode on The ModGolf YouTube channel!
---> https://youtu.be/a3OfR1WI2b8 or click on the image to add some video to the sounds and words.



Episode Chapters
00:00 - The Insanity of Driver Struggles
02:35 - Colin’s "Before" Swing Data (7° Left Path)
05:40 - Why The Driver Hates Your Body Mechanics
08:45 - The 50¢ Towel Drill (Best Training Aid Ever)
11:00 - Step 1: Missing The Towel (Changing The Path)
12:15 - Why The Ball Goes Right (And Why That’s Good)
14:00 - Step 2: Closing The Clubface For Power
16:45 - The 3 Pillars of The Rebuild (Recap)
17:30 - How To Train Indoors & Work With Quinn Online

What You’ll Learn in This Golf Lesson:
The Towel Drill: How a 20-cent towel is more effective than a $200 training aid to force your club path from negative (left) to neutral or inside-out.
Step-by-Step Reprogramming: Why you must start swinging slowly without a ball to eliminate the "left path" habit, and how to add speed after the movement pattern is fixed.
The Two-Piece Puzzle: Why fixing your path (step 1) will initially send the ball right, and how to later layer in clubface control to turn those blocks into powerful, low-spin draws.

👇 LET US KNOW...
What is your biggest frustration with the driver? Are you stuck in the "powerless effort" trap? Drop us a comment - Colin is reading them!

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to ModGolf for the "After" video in 12 weeks. The longer it takes, the longer it lasts.
👉 https://modgolf.fireside.fm/subscribe

RELATED VIDEOS & RESOURCES
👉 Book a virtual or in-person lesson with Quinn Vilneff at https://universitygolf.com/quinn-vilneff/
or on Instagram @vangolfpro

👉 Watch The Rebuild - Part 1: Are You Ready for a Golf Transformation That Actually LASTS?
--> https://youtu.be/Vtxcxs_If4I

👉 Watch The Rebuild - Part 2: Are You Ready To Fix Your Short Game By Understanding Spin Loft?
--> https://youtu.be/9yuk1xCW-t0

👉 Watch The Rebuild - Part 3: Is Your Swing Sequence Correct?
--> https://youtu.be/YKW9Nqjhw24

👉 Check out Gowanus Golf Club in Vancouver, the members-based indoor facility featuring TrackMan.
-->

The Rebuild - Part 4: Can a 50¢ Towel Finally Correct My Driver Swing Path?

What happens when a hospitality professional stumbles into golf and ends up leading the charge for the sport’s evolution across an entire continent? In this episode, host Colin Weston sits down with his "golf friend," Renate Roeleveld, CEO of the Golf Course Association of Europe (GCAE). Renate brings an infectious energy and a unique perspective on how Europe is redefining golf - from battling climate change with robotic mowers to creating "Fabulous Fridays" to get more women on the course.

Colin and Renate take a deep dive into the industry’s hottest topics: moving beyond the traditional 18-hole mindset, using tech to solve labour shortages, and why listening is the most powerful tool for inclusion. If you’ve ever wondered how golf can survive and thrive by embracing change, this conversation is your playbook.

Key takeaways in this episode with Renate that you will discover:

The "Short Format" Revolution:
Why golf courses need to stop defining golfers by 18 holes and start embracing par-3 courses and simulators to attract busy families and multi-sport athletes.

Hospitality is the New Currency:
Renate explains how her background in hotel management taught her that golf is a perishable "experience" business, and why women are naturally positioned to lead in this space.

Data-Driven Sustainability:
From robotic mowing to pesticide-free maintenance, European courses are being forced by regulation (and high energy prices) to innovate. Learn how greenskeepers are turning into data analysts to keep courses playable, sustainable and profitable.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Renate on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U] or the image below to watch.


Three Memorable Quotes from Renate:
On changing the game for women: "Women and men are equal, but we are not the same. When you realize the differences in how we experience golf, you can work your way around the small hurdles - and then it’s actually quite easy."

On the value of golf real estate: "As Jay of the NGCOA nicely put it: the dirt is worth more than the business. We have to do a better job showing what golf facilities offer to the community and the environment."

On resilience: "There are highs and lows when running. If you just keep going, focusing on what you’re doing and putting your best foot forward, you will make it to whatever finish line there is."

Renate Roeleveld's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/renate-roeleveld

Links & Resources Mentioned:
The GCAE Golf Course Assocation of Europe on Instagram: @gcae_golf
LinkedIn: Renate Roeleveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/renate-roeleveld-39222b3/]
The Golf Course Association of Europe: https://www.gcae.eu/

The ModGolf YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@modgolfpodcast

Episode Chapters:


A European Playbook to Future-Proof Golf - Renate Roeleveld, CEO of The Golf Course Association of Europe

What happens when a lifelong hockey player with a degree in industrial design walks into a pizza parlor? You get one of the most innovative golf bags to ever sit on a power cart. In this episode, host Colin Weston sits down with Greg Collins, founder of GRIT Inc., whose entrepreneurial journey took him from designing running shoes at Cooper Canada to creating the revolutionary GRIT 2.0 Tower golf bag. Greg shares how a chance meeting at a Bolton Ontario pizza joint led to a 15-year hockey bag empire, how COVID-19 forced a pivot into golf, and why he believes the best designs come from looking outside your industry. If you’re tired of your clubs twisting sideways on the cart by hole #2, this conversation is for you!

Key takeaways in this episode with Greg that you will discover:
Form flows from the power cart, not tradition
Most golf bags are round because "that's how it's always been." Greg flipped the script by analyzing the rectangular box of a power cart, creating a square bag that doesn't rotate. Key takeaway: Sometimes the best innovation is simply solving the obvious problem everyone else ignores.

Watering down your design is the enemy of innovation
Greg spent 20 years as a freelance designer watching his concepts get diluted by sales teams. Starting GRIT allowed him to be "design-driven" rather than "sales-driven." Key takeaway: If you want to truly change a category, you need control over the creative process—even if it means manufacturing it yourself.

Look sideways, not just forward
The secret to the GRIT Tower bag isn't found in another golf catalog; it's found in hockey bags, military backpacks, camping gear, and automotive paint jobs (racing stripes!). Key takeaway: True differentiation happens when you steal (respectfully) from industries completely unrelated to your own.

Three Quotable Moments from Greg:
On the power of capital to fuel a startup:
"What it did was it gave me capital to dream. If you give an entrepreneur working capital and support, it's amazing what he can do."

The advantage of being a golf industry outsider:
"Golf bags all look very similar. You look at them go, 'Oh my God, they're all the same.' We had an advantage over every other golf company because our hands weren't tied. We could be creative. We had nothing to lose."

On trusting your own taste as a compass:
"I think that if I like it and if it turns me on, other people are going to want to buy it. They're going to recognize the same feelings that I have. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but I'm just really excited about golf. The golf world is a new canvas for us and we want to really rock the golf course."

and one from Colin's Architecture school professor regarding innovation and design inspiration...
"The good ones borrow, but the great ones steal."

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Greg on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U] or the image below to watch.


📖 Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome intro / Colin and Greg's Serendipitous Meeting at the PGA Show
02:00 – Gr

From The Hockey Rink to The First Tee - Greg Collins, Founder & CEO of GRIT Inc.

Ever bought a rangefinder on Amazon only to have the eyepiece pop off on the first hole? That moment of frustration on a San Francisco golf course didn’t just ruin a round for two friends—it sparked a movement. In this episode, host Colin Weston sits down with Drew Koehler, co-founder of Blue Tees Golf, to unpack how a group of young professionals with zero golf industry experience but a ton of business acumen decided to disrupt the golf tech space. From liquidating their bank accounts to buying a company just to get the perfect name, Drew shares the wild, unfiltered journey of building one of golf’s coolest and fastest-growing brands. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a side-hustle into a full-blown business, or just want to know what’s next in golf tech, this is a masterclass you don’t want to miss.

Key takeaways in this episode with Drew that you will discover:

Build Your Team Like a Stool, Not a Table
Drew shares why the founding team at Blue Tees was intentionally diverse - sales, finance, industrial design, and marketing. He reveals why going into business with people who have the exact same skillset is a recipe for disaster and how complementary strengths are the true engine of growth.

Design Matters from the Box to the Course
Learn how Blue Tees borrowed a page from Apple’s playbook to create a premium "unboxing" experience. Drew explains that the customer journey starts long before the product is turned on, and how tactile feedback, packaging, and high-quality materials are critical to building trust and brand loyalty.

The Future is a Connected Ecosystem
Drew lifts the curtain on the company’s "Scout AI" and the new Rainmaker launch monitor. He explains how Blue Tees is moving beyond standalone gadgets to create a seamless, connected ecosystem where your launch monitor data automatically updates your rangefinder’s club recommendations - keeping your phone in your bag and your focus on the game.

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Drew on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/egypq02F-0U] or the image below to watch.


Three Quotable Moments from Drew:

On taking the leap: "I was like, 'This is ridiculous. You should go do this yourself. Put your money where your mouth is and actually stand behind the advice you're giving.' So that was my AHA moment. I loved my job. It was safe. But let's go take that leap of faith."

On product design philosophy: "When you open up an Apple product before you even touch the phone, the box is the first thing you touch. Everything is already priming you to have an incredible experience. That design component was a pillar for us."

On the origin of the name: "When we heard 'Blue Tees Golf,' it was a light bulb moment. We were like, 'Our brand and our products are going to give you the confidence to take that step back and go play from the blue tees.' It became our mantra."

Drew Koehler's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/drew-koehler

Links & Resources Mentioned:
Blues Tees Golf Instagram: @levelwear

From Corporate Consultant to Golf Tech Disruptor - Drew Koehler, Co-Founder at Blue Tees Golf

The ModGolf Podcast talks with golf's top influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators
and disruptors about their vision and solutions to re-imagine, transform and
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Host Colin Weston explores the future of golf through conversations with the entrepreneurs, innovators and influencers who are shaking up the sport.

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