Next On The Tee With Chris Mascaro, Golf Podcast

In Part 2 of this week's show, we continue The Masters conversation with a guy who played in the tournament 18 times and was currently over in Augusta, Mark Calcavecchia. Following Mark, I'm joined by Rob Strano. Rob grew up playing at the same country club as 1968 Masters Champion Bob Goalby. Mark starts off explaining why he's nicknamed the bunker on 10 Brenda's Bunker, after his wife. We learn that the tradition of skipping shots across the pond on 16 during the practice rounds was started by Mark and his college teammate Ken Green. Mark and Ken used to bet about who could make all kinds of shots. When they got to 16 during a practice round in 1987, they threw a few balls down and tried to see who could get it closer. The next morning there was a letter waiting for Green in his locker from Augusta National Chairman Hord Harden saying "We don't do that at Augusta National." Of course, now it's a tradition during the practice rounds. If players don't skip one across the pond, the patrons boo them. Mark and

Happy Masters Week everyone. For me, this is THE most magical week of the year. As they say, The Master is a tradition unlike any other. This week both parts of the show are dedicated to taking you inside the tournament to give you a sense of what it's like to be on those magnificent grounds. I kick it off with Tom Patri, who has been out there several times with his good friend, 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples. Also joining me in Part 1 is John Cook. Cookie played in 15 Masters tournaments dating back to 1979. He earned his way into that Masters field with his victory in the 1978 US Amateur. Tom Patri shares stories of being alongside Fred Couples during his run to the Green Jacket in '92. To this day, none of us know how Fred's tee shot on #12 didn't roll back into Rae's Creek. We hear what Fred's reaction was. Tom also shares some of his other favorite Masters memories, the legends he wished could have donned a Green Jacket, and current players he'd love to see win. I also get his thoughts on Scottie

In Part 2 of Episode 21, I catch up with 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel and Top 10 Instructor Martin Chuck. I have been saying for years that Shaun Micheel is the most underrated and under-appreciated player in PGA Tour History. Most remember his incredible win at the 2003 PGA Championship, hitting one of the greatest approach shots in major golf history. He came to that 72nd hole with a 1-stroke lead over Chad Campbell. He then hit his 7-iron approach shot to 3 inches from the cup. What people don't remember is that he nearly doubled down at the 2006 PGA, finishing 2nd to Tiger. He also finished runner-up at the 2006 World Match Play Championship after defeating Tiger in the first round 4 & 3. During his PGA Tour career he had 20 Top 10 finishes and 57 Top 25s. You'll hear him share his experiences playing in the 2004 Masters. His practice round with Jack and playing in the group behind Arnold Palmer during Arnie's final Masters appearance that year. Plus, playing in the group with Seve during his fina

In Part 1 of this week's podcast, my guests are former LPGA Commissioner & Author Charlie Mechem and The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Robert Winters. Charlie Mechem has recently written his third book titled, Arnie & Jack, Stories of My Long Friendship with Two Remarkable Men. We hear about how he met both men and stories from his 10 years working as a Consultant to Arnold Palmer following Charlie's tenure as Commissioner of the LPGA Tour. One of the many great stories that Charlie shares is from when former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem asked him to convince Mr. Palmer and Mr. Nicklaus to Co-Design The King & the Bear. Finchem failed to get them to agree to it multiple times. Charlie had a very unique idea of how to get them to do it...and it worked. We also hear about the true mutual respect and friendship Jack and Arnie had. Charlie tells the story of having lunch with Mr. Palmer following The Masters one year. They talked about a player who was in contention who laid up on 13 & 15. Neither

In Part 2 of this week's show, I'm joined by SportsBox Ai Founder Jeehae Lee plus Caddie Hall of Famer Dennis Cone and former PGA of America Write & Historian Bob Denney. Jeehae Lee picked up a plastic bat at the age of 8, swung it and the next thing she knew her parents bought her a set of clubs, got her an Instructor, dropped her off at the driving range, and told her to find her way there each day after school to practice...in Seoul, South Korea...at the age of 8! She played her college golf at Yale, helped them win the 2003 & 2006 Ivy League Championships, broke 70 for the first time ever at LPGA Q-School, finished 12th, and earned her Tour card. She retired from the Tour in 2014 and became Michelle Wie's Assistant/Manager. From there she went on to be the Director of Business Strategy for Top Golf. She then started her own company called SportsBox Ai. Their software creates a 3D video of your swing taken from your cell phone. You can see your swing from every possible angle including overhead an

In Part 1 of this week's show, I'm joined by PGA Tour Legends David Peoples and Tom Purtzer. David had a fantastic Amateur career which included winning the 1979 Florida State Amateur Championship before he joined the PGA Tour. He went on to win twice on Tour, at the 1991 Southern Open and the 1992 Anheuser-Busch Classic. He also won the 1990 Kapalua International. David was so much fun when he joined me in December that I couldn't wait to have him back on the show. He and I talk about how he came from 2 strokes back to win that '79 Florida State Amateur defeating then 44-year-old and multi-time champion Jack Vegte and future Tour Pro Jay Schrader. He also shares memories of finishing runner-up at Q-School in 1982 when it was played at TPC Sawgrass, his appearances in the 1992 and '93 Masters, and why he decided not to play in The Open Championship until playing in the Senior Open Championship when he was on the Champions Tour. Tom Purtzer is one of my all-time favorites. In his 7th visit to the show, he sh

Former PGA Tour Pros Bill Mallon and Scott Gump join​ed me ​in Part 2 of last week's show. Bill Mallon played Tour in the mid to late 1970s during the Golden Age of the PGA Tour. After winning 43 amateur titles he earned his way through Q-School in 1975. He finished 6th at the 1976 Western Open, 3 stroke​s back of Al Geiberger. He played in the 1977 US Open at Southern Hills. The heat that week was brutal but Bill talks about how he thrives in conditions like that even though he's from New England. We talked about the death threats that eventual winner Hubert Green dealt with that week. Bill decided to walk away from the Tour after the 1979 season and go back to college to get his medical degree. He became a leading Orthopaedic Surgeon and medical advisor to Golf Digest. I got his thoughts on what Tiger Woods is now trying to play through following his surgeries to fuse a joint in his foot and vertebrae in his back. Scott Gump was a tremendous Amateur player as well. He was the medalist during the stroke pl

In the episode, you'll hear the amazing journey of former NFL QB Craig Nall and How to Conquer Your Mind from Top 50 LPGA Instructor Debbie O'Connell. Craig takes us through his playing career which really started with a historic senior season at Northwestern State. We hear how he led them to the FCS playoff and nearly upset top-ranked Montana. Craig was drafted in the 5th round in 2002 by the Green Bay Packers. He backed up Brett Favre for the majority of his career. He also was assigned to NFL Europe in 2003 where he played for the Scottish Claymores. He was 2nd in the League in passing and led the League in just about every other category. During his NFL career, he came through every time his number was called. He threw for 402 yards, completed 63% of his passes, had 5 TDs and 0 interceptions, yet no other team gave him a true shot to play. Following his playing career and the passing of his father who was his best friend, Craig dealt with alcoholism and divorce. He's now sober, in a loving relationship,

On this edition of Next on the Tee my guests are 1986 Players Champion John Mahaffey, Titleist Manager of Preferred Player Promotions Michael Gibson, Soleta Golf Club Developer David Turner, and Popticals CEO Gary DiSalvo. John Mahaffey shares his memories of Arnold Palmer and how the King helped him get his life straightened out after 10+ years of drinking. We look back to the early days of The Player Championship when it first moved over to the Pete Dye Stadium course and what it's like trying to deal with the swirling winds around the 17th hole. John compares it to trying to figure out how the winds swirl on the 12th hole at Augusta National. We also get an update on his Nemesis mystery novel series. If you love golf wrapped inside a mystery check out his books, Shafted, Unfinished Business, and Dead Quiet on Amazon or www.johnmahaffeyauthor.com. Michael Gibson is one of the all-time great club and golf ball fitters. He has a true passion for it. At the end of each day he asks himself if he did everythin

On this episode, I'm joined by former VP of Sales & Marketing for the Arnold Palmer Golf Company now Founder of Sqairz Golf Bob Winskowicz, The Confidence Doctor Dr. Bob Winters, and former NFL DB and Indiana State Hall of Famer Vencie Glenn. Bob Winskowicz takes us back to his days working with Mr. Palmer. He talks about their relationship and Arnie's mantra, "What's in it for the consumer?" Then he updates us on what sets the Sqairz models for 2024 apart from other golf shoes, the science behind why Sqairz helps us generate more swing speed and gain greater distance, and the brand's move into the baseball cleat market. Check them out online at www.sqairz.com or on social media @sqairz. Dr. Bob Winters is now going to be part of the show the first week of every month. This week he talks about his relationship with Arnold Palmer and the time he spent with the King. We also hear his meeting with the men's golf team at his alma mater Ball State University and their subsequent victories at the Dorado Beach

This week I'm joined by Tom Patri, John Kennedy, Martin Chuck, and Chris Mitchell. TP and I get into fan behavior and whether we've all lost our collective minds following the Wasted Management Open, Charlie Woods dealing with unruly fans at a pre-qualifying event for the Cognizant Classic, and the Duke/Wake Forest incident where a player got injured when Wake Forest fans stormed the court. John Kennedy is one of THE most nationally and locally decorated and respected PGA Professionals in the game. John talks about his years as the Director of Golf at Westchester Country Club, the rich history there, the time Gene Sarazen defeated Walter Hagan at the Golf Championship of the World and then immediately went to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy, plus what it's like being the host for 18 PGA Tour events and majors on the Champions and LPGA Tours. Martin Chuck has been named a Top 100 Instructor every year since 2017. He has also created several of the best training aids on the market. We start out ta

In this special segment of Next on the Tee, I'm joined by Michael Vrska, Director of Custom Fitting & Player Performance for Callaway. Michael is one of THE foremost authorities on equipment in the industry. He and I sat down at the PGA Merchandise Show to talk about their new Ai Smoke driver and iron set. He explains how Callaway went about designing the new line, the research and technology that went into it, and why that technology will help you hit longer and straighter shots. Michael also talks about the importance of getting fit for the right golf ball and what to do to find the right one for your game.

On this episode, I'm joined by former Rams Pro Bowl QB Jim Everett, 2014 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year Kevin Roman, former Tour Caddy and Founder of Inspiring Warriors Golf Russ Holden, and Oklahoma Junior Golf Hall of Famer, Tour Caddie, & Wife, Tami Mayfair. Jim Everett is a long-time friend and his football IQ and insights are off the charts good. I get his thoughts on the Steelers QB situation, where he thinks the Steelers should go in the draft, his admiration for Jared Goff, Dan Campbell's ill-fated decisions to forego 2 crucial field goals, the time Bill Cowher wanted to trade for him, and some of his favorite Pro-Am stories. Kevin Roman is not only one of the Top Teachers in our game, he's also an equipment expert. If you're thinking about buying new wedges, irons, driver, or even golf balls, Kevin lets you know what to consider and how to pick out what's right for your game. Russ Holden has had a passion for giving back to our military Veterans and wounded warriors for many years. First,

Tom Patri is back with me this week along with 3 Next on the Tee rookies, 1984 National Champion John Inman, 1986 Florida State Amateur Champion Barry Cheesman, and Robert Morris University Head Men's Golf Coach Steve Shingledecker. TP and I got into this past weekend's Wasted Management Open and if it has gone from being The People's Open to needing The People's Court? We also talk about the rash of 60 and sub-60 rounds we've seen recently, plus the resurrection of the Maxfli golf ball. John Inman won the 1984 National Championship while at the University of North Carolina. We hear about that victory, what it was like teaming with Davis Love III and Jack Nicklaus II to win the 1983/84 ACC Championship, getting the better of Rocco Mediate twice at the '84 Western Amateur and the Provident Classic, plus whether his brother Joe, a 4-time winner between the PGA & Champions Tours, would make a great next Commissioner of the PGA Tour. Barry Cheesman started out as a Minor League baseball player in the Cardi

On this episode I'm joined by PGA Professional & Director of Golf at Alpine Country Club John Mascari, 2019 Champions Tour Player of the Year Scott McCarron, 2-time winner on Tour and now Top Instructor Rick Fehr, plus 2008 Minnesota Teacher of the Year and 2022/2023 Top Instructor in South Dakota Todd Kolb. John Mascari weighs in on the state of professional golf and where he thinks it'll be 5-10 years down the road. We hear the best pieces of advice he's been given in his business and golf careers and if the golf ball rollback is much to do about nothing. Scott McCarron shares his thoughts on golf becoming more of a worldwide game and if Rory was right in saying we could see a Premier League like structure. He also shared his thoughts on what it will be like when Tiger comes to play out on the Champions Tour, and we looked back on his first PGA Tour victory and how Johnny Miller's comments on the practice range fueled him to turn a 1 shot lead over Tom Watson into a 5 stroke victory. We finish off hea

What a privilege to get to spend some time with one of the great people you get to meet in this life, Melissa Fitzgerald. Melissa played Carol Fitzpatrick, CJ's assistant, on The West Wing. You've also probably seen her movies like The Truman Show and Monument Avenue or on other TV shows like Gray's Anatomy and Chasing The Hill. Melissa and I start out talking about growing up in Philadelphia. She is the daughter of a father who was a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge and her mother was also politically active and volunteered in the community. They are graduates of the University of Pennsylvania. I asked Melissa what it was like for her to give the commencement speech at Chestnut Hill College. We then delved into how loyal West Wing fans are to the cast and show. She talks about the support she's gotten over the years from her West Wing cast members, and the new book that she and Mary McCormack have written about their West Wing experience called, What's Next, due out later this summer. We then transition

I ran into two great friends and Top Instructors in our game, Rob Strano and Debbie O'Connell, while walking the floor of the PGA Merchandise show. We talked, new putting products, AI's impact on the game, resurrecting old equipment, feel vs. data, rooting for small businesses, Season 6 of The Golf Kingdom, the power of the mind, focusing on our positive shots, the one hole that always gets us,

I had the privilege of spending a few minutes with Jill Spiegel, President of the PGA Tour SuperStore, on the floor of the PGA Merchandise Show. Jill is one of the most influential people in the golf retail business. I got her thoughts on the shift in the retail soft goods side of the business over the years, some of the merging trends for 2024, where Nike stands in the market now, their relationship with the Travis Matthew brand, and what influences AI will have going forward.

This week I am joined by 4 of the Top Instructors and Body Movement experts in the game. Keith Jarvis is a Lead Instructor at Golf Channel Academy. He can be found in the New York/New Jersey areas and on the V1 app. Keith breaks down Trackman data and helps us understand what smash factor is, what good spin rate numbers are off the driver, how to take a pivot after we strike the ball, and why you should tee the ball lower than what you've been told. Terry Hashimoto is the Founder of BodiTrak Golf and Golf Rehab.com. Terry explains why all good players have 80+% of their weight on the lead leg by the time they get to the top of their backswing. We also learn why golf is a great rehab game for those suffering from concussions, and which fundamentals are no longer relevant. Katherine Roberts is the Top Movement Skills person and Yoga Instructor in the world in my opinion. She's about to begin her 10th season working with the Chicago Cubs. She takes us through how she can help those of us suffering from some s

Former Giants 2-time Super Bowl Champion DB Mark Collins joins me on this special segment of Next on the Tee. Mark also played for the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Packers. Mark talks about his favorite Pro-Ams to play in including the Mid Penn Bank Celebrity Golf Tournament. We hear about his recent trip to the TaylorMade Kingdom, his week working with Butch Harmon, how Butch got him to realize that golf is supposed to be fun since he doesn't play it for a living, the courses on Mark's bucket list, and who he thinks will be playing in the Super Bowl.