Who are the people quietly shaping the future of golf? The founders, creators, operators, and community builders whose names you don't see on the leaderboards, but whose impact is felt across the industry. In this bonus episode, Colin Weston sits down with David Hyland, co-founder of Business in Golf, to talk about The 100 List - a new, fully independent initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the inspiring individuals driving the game forward. If you've ever believed that golf's future belongs to more than just the household names, this episode is your invitation to shine a light on someone who deserves it.
Oh by the way - you can nominate yourself!


Nominations are open until October 30, 2026

The Business in Golf 100 is now accepting nominations from across the global golf industry. You can nominate yourself, a colleague, a peer, a friend, or anyone you believe is doing great work to grow the game and inspire others.

The five criteria they'll be judging against will be impact, innovation, inspiration, contribution to the future of the industry, and then character and values.

➡️ Nominate at: businessingolf.com/the100list [https://businessingolf.com/the100list]

It's free to nominate, open to anyone, anywhere in the world, and the final 100 is decided by a fully independent judging panel chaired by Martin Slumbers (former CEO of the R&A).

The 10 Categories Open for Nomination

 1.  Founders & Entrepreneurs
 2.  Executives & Business Leaders
 3.  Operators & Course Management
 4.  Investors & Deal Makers
 5.  Innovators & Technology Leaders
 6.  Designers & Creatives
 7.  Brand Builders
 8.  Creators
 9.  Catalysts
 10. Rising Stars & Next-Generation Talent

Categories are guides, not quotas. If someone is making an impact, nominate them!

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with David on The ModGolf YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/B3pMvj5NDZA]. Click on this link [https://youtu.be/B3pMvj5NDZA] or the image below to watch.



3 Key Takeaways from This Episode

 1. Golf's New Consumer Isn't Being Measured Properly – David argues the industry's reliance on "rounds played" misses the bigger picture. Many new golf consumers never play 18 holes—they play simulators, short-form courses, watch YouTube golf, and buy apparel. Understanding this new consumer is essential for long-term growth.

 2. Outside Perspectives Are a Superpower, Not a Weakness – Neither David nor his co-founder Leanne came from the golf industry. Rather than being a credibility gap, their 20+ years of external commercial and innovation experience lets them ask different questions and bring a fresh lens to golf business news.

 3. The 100 List Democratizes Recognition – Unlike traditional power lists that celebrate the usual suspects, The Business in Golf 100 is about contribution, not profile. It's open to anyone, at any level, anywhere in the world - and women are especially encouraged to nominate and be n

The Business in Golf 100 List: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes Shaping the Future of the Game

What if the future of golf wasn't on a golf course at all?

In Michigan, golf courses close mid-November and don't reopen until the end ofMarch. That's over four months of bills with zero revenue - the brutal reality for every northern golf course operator. But instead of accepting this cycle, Kyle Holmes and his business partner Tim asked a different question: What if we could keep people playing, and paying, all winter long?

The answer became The Nest - an eight-bay indoor/outdoor golf facility that Kyle believes is the first of its kind in Michigan, possibly the entire country. What makes it unique? "Dual-mode" bays that let you hit down the range on TrackMan 4 technology with the garage door open in July, or into an impact screen in January without ever moving from your spot.

In this episode, Colin sits down with Kyle Holmes, General Manager and Managing Partner of Quail Ridge Golf Course in Ada, Michigan. Kyle shares his journey from employee to owner, the power of a complementary business partnership, and how he's betting big on the explosive growth of indoor golf - where more rounds were played than outdoors for the first time in 2025.

Whether you're a golf course operator looking for new revenue streams, an entrepreneur curious about turning a vision into reality, or simply someone who loves hearing about innovation in unexpected places, this episode will inspire you to think differently about what's possible.

3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. The Dual-Mode Bay: A Genuine Industry Differentiator
Most facilities force you to choose: hit outdoors at a range OR play indoors on a simulator. The Nest eliminates that choice entirely. With garage doors that open to a 375-yard range on one side and impact screens for virtual play on the other, golfers never have to move bays to switch between experiences. Kyle explains how this seemingly simple design decision creates a completely unique customer experience that competitors will be challenged to replicate.

2. Segmenting Your Customer Base to Maximize Revenue
Kyle reveals his strategic approach to filling The Nest's eight bays by identifying distinct customer segments that don't compete for the same time slots - early morning "grinders" who want to dial in their swing before work, college and high school teams on weekend mornings, league play during weekday evenings, and groups of friends gathering around big games on Friday and Saturday nights. It's the same segmentation philosophy that has kept Quail Ridge's tee sheet full for almost three decades.

3. Building a Year-Round Business Without Cannibalizing Your Core Product
The Nest wasn't designed to replace the golf course - it was built to complement it. Kyle explains how indoor golf becomes an onboarding tool for beginners who feel intimidated by the traditional course experience, a winter training facility for serious players, and a community gathering space that keeps Quail Ridge top-of-mind even when the course is covered in snow.

💬 3 Inspiring Quotes from Kyle Holmes

"I don't pretend to be the smartest person in the room at every moment because if we're talking about something that's not 'how do you make this business grow faster?' or 'how do you fix somebody's slice?' - there's somebody else in the room that has a better answer. And I love to hear from them."

"We want people to feel like they're home when they come to Quail Ridge because everybody loves to come home. You can have a great golf course and a bad experience, and you're going to remember the bad experience, not the great golf c

Building a Year-Round Revenue Engine With "The Nest" - Kyle Holmes, GM & Managing Partner of Quail Ridge GC

"You get launched over a barrier and now you're running. Everybody's yelling and you just have to get there."

What happens when a psychology grad who grew up in tank tops and sundresses - and didn't own a single collared shirt - walks into a golf pro shop for the first time? She sees a disconnected, convoluted ecosystem and spends the next 19 years building the commerce layer that connects it all. In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, host Colin Weston sits down with Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark, the B2B wholesale commerce platform powering golf and outdoor lifestyle brands. From ordering 50 custom-logoed polos across 10 colorways to predicting what's trending in the market before orders are even placed, Meghann shares how she turned a sales rep's pad-and-paper problem into the platform the PGA of America calls "the commerce layer of golf." Whether you're a brand founder, a green grass buyer, or just golf-curious, this conversation is a masterclass in grit, empathy, and building infrastructure that makes everyone's life easier.

3 Key Takeaways you'll discover:

1. Psychology is the ultimate entrepreneur's superpower
Meghann's BA in Psychology and Communications from Vanderbilt didn't lead her away from tech - it led her through it. From listening to customer pain points to building the right team, she credits her liberal arts background as the differentiator that helps her understand what people need, how they say it, and how to translate that into solutions. "I've actually used my psychology degree more than anything else."

2. Mass customization is the hardest problem in golf apparel - and RepSpark solved it
It's not an e-commerce site where you put your name on a water bottle. It's 50 polos, 10 colorways, club logos on the correct side, correct colors, correct sizes - or the whole order comes back unsellable. Meghann explains how RepSpark spent years mastering this nuanced complexity, making it easy for sales reps and buyers alike to get it right the first time.

3. The future of golf commerce is predictive, intelligent, and inclusive
With 9 million new golfers and brands like Lululemon and Fabletics entering the space, the game is expanding beyond traditional 18-hole courses. Meghann shares how AI is transforming RepSpark - from predictive ordering and order organization to auto-generated templates - and why the platform is leveling the playing field for up-and-coming brands to present a modern front as big as the enterprise players.

💬 3 Inspiring Quotes from Meghann Butcher

"You have to be really gritty. Nothing can get you down. Someone can say something and you just have to either have the self-confidence to say, 'I don't really care what that person said,' but also the humility to listen, to understand what they're saying, and take that to heart too."

"You get launched over a barrier and now you're running and everybody's yelling. You just have to get there and you have to tune it out. You have a path and you just have to keep going."
...on how running the bulls in Pamplona is like entrepreneurship and running a business

"Don't be afraid of risk. Do not be risk averse. That's not going to work. But having a background in psychology has helped me more than anything else."

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Season 20, Episode 4 + Thanking new sponsor Big Swing Media
01:27 Introducing Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark
02:10 Meghann's

How a BA in Psychology is This Tech Entrepreneur's Secret Sauce -  Meghann Butcher, Founder & CEO of RepSpark

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.

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

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