73: Pebble's New Tree, Par-3 Courses, and more

Thank you to our great fans of the Destination GOLF Podcast! But after a great run, we're morphing into something new.Check out "Playing Privileges" starting on Monday, June 8th with Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt. We'll be diving into the best premium and private experiences in the game, highlighting the best architecture, history, and people you'll find in golf. Josh Sens isn't going anywhere though, he'll continue to lead GOLF Magazine's coverage of golf travel across the world, and at your local muni. Enjoy Simon and Josh's wide-ranging chat about increasing affordability concerns and our favorite golf destinations.

The driving force behind Sand Valley now introduces us to his next big project. Rodeo Dunes is open for play, the first of what Michael Keiser Jr. hopes will be 6 full length courses on property. 30 minutes outside of Denver, the Coore-Crenshaw design is creating quite the stir online, even though it doesn't open to the public until 2027. Michael talks to Josh Sens in this short interview, surrounded by a fun catch up with Simon Holt. Enjoy!

After falling into a state of disrepair, the municipal courses of the nation's capital certainly need some love. They've gotten the attention of President Trump, who's pressing the gas pedal on a plan to completely redo the course and facilities of East Potomac. But are he and Tom Fazio really the right stewards of affordable, playable public golf? Are their intentions for the new course to host big-time tournaments really possible? GOLF.com Executive Editor Alan Bastable has been reporting on this topic for weeks, visiting the folks at each of the three D.C. munis who might be impacted by the plans. He talks with Josh Sens about the timing, cost, and architecture we can expect to see as the project unfolds.

It's been a few weeks of adventure for our man Simon Holt, bouncing around the world and back again. He catches up with Josh Sens to discuss the successful launch of McLaren Golf, the 8AM Invitational at the Wynn, and a great tournament weekend at our top-rated course in China. Plus, Josh just got back from 3 days of hanging out with YouTube golf stars like Fat Perez. It's a fun, wide-ranging episode, from street food in Hong Kong to fast passes in Orlando.

On today's episode of Destination GOLF, Josh Sens catches up with producer Connor Federico on some of the biggest happenings in course news, plus we empty our notebooks on some of our favorite places and stories we've recently worked on from coast to coast. Enjoy!

Golf in Dublin might get overshadowed by a Guinness tour or night on the town, but it shouldn't.Anchored by a trip to Top 100 Portmarnock, plus rounds at The Island and Royal Dublin, make this itinerary perfect either on its own or as an add-on to another island of Ireland golf trip.Plus, the European Club will be coming back online next year as the Brittas Bay Club. Josh Sens and Simon Holt work their way through a fun travel guide in this one, enjoy!Use code GOLF40 for 40% off 2+ pairs of sunglasses from the Shady Rays Golf Collection.

Author and avid golfer Jared Tendler is out with a new book: "Everyday Golf Psychology." The basics of the mental game are often misunderstood, he says, and there loads of better ways amateur golfers should approach the game.Running late and trying to cram in a range session? Don't. Telling yourself that it's just golf, and none of it matters? That's not helpful either. Dreaming of glory on your next golf trip? Let's start with something more realistic. Jared's ideas are easily approachable and he loves to give Josh Sens a hard time in this interview. Enjoy!

In its first year open, South Carolina's Old Barnwell cracked GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the U.S. The course is earning rave reviews now in year three, but that's not what its membership is most proud of. The mission at Old Barnwell is simple, give back to the Aiken and Augusta communities. Through its Evans Scholars Foundation caddie program, they're hoping to provide 300 local middle, high school, and college kids with caddying jobs. With the ANNIKA Development program, Old Barnwell is helping senior college golfers with the resources they need to turn pro. The man behind it all is Nick Schreiber, who's not shy about taking the privilege he was born into and helping provide opportunities for others.Enjoy this great interview with Josh Sens, and use code GOLF40 on the Shady Rays Golf Collection to get 40% off 2+ pairs of quality sunglasses.

After weeks of dropping bits about our trip to New Zealand, Josh Sens walks through every highlight of the whirlwind itinerary on the North Island. From high-end resorts to working sheep farms, the courses in New Zealand are breathtaking and architecturally exciting. Simon Holt loves trips to New Zealand, and makes sure to keep Josh on task. Then the guys make their picks for the 2026 Masters this week. Enjoy!

The man behind the lens of Linksgems, one of the biggest golf course photography accounts on social media, actually isn't a full-time course capturer. Jon Cavalier is a lawyer living right off of Merion Golf Club. His photos have raised hundreds of thousands for charity, and he's taken shots of over 1,000 courses in 15+ years. Josh Sens asks him all about his life in golf and how he got into the field, but more importantly, finds out how to make our own simple photos of great courses better. Enjoy!