Chris Gaffney: Director of Championships, Metropolitan Golf Association

Drew Stoltz has built real authority in golf media through Subpar and SiriusXM, which makes him a strong voice for a conversation like this as the PGA Tour moves deeper into a season that already feels bigger than week-to-week results. This episode focuses on where the Tour actually stands in 2026, what still feels unsettled about its direction, how much Tiger Woods still changes the sport’s center of gravity, and why the Masters immediately sharpens every debate once Augusta is on the horizon.The conversation examines the strongest and weakest points of the PGA Tour’s current position, the early-season storyline that has carried the most weight, and why Chris Gotterup’s rise matters for golfers in New Jersey. It also defines what makes Augusta different from every other stop on the schedule and what separates real Masters contenders from players simply arriving in form. This episode is for golfers who care about the Tour’s broader shape, major-championship standards, and the storylines that actually matter heading into the first major of the year.

The Sweet 16 is done, the Elite 8 is set, and this bracket has officially reached the point where every result carries real weight. This episode centers on what the Sweet 16 actually revealed: which public courses advanced with force, which matchups tightened up exactly the way they should have, and why the remaining eight now feel like the strongest and most credible group left on the board. At this stage, there are no easy picks, no soft landings, and no passengers left.The episode covers the biggest Sweet 16 results, what commanding wins from courses like Francis A. Byrne, Twisted Dune, Neshanic Valley, and Ballyowen say about support and momentum, and why close finishes like Ballamor over Berkshire Valley made the bracket stronger, not weaker. It also sets the table for the Elite 8 matchups now in front of the audience, where every vote feels more consequential and every surviving course has a legitimate case. This is an episode for golfers who care about public golf in New Jersey, strong competition, and how a bracket starts to sharpen once reputation gives way to real support.

Chris Gaffney serves as Director of Championships for the Metropolitan Golf Association, helping shape one of the most respected amateur championship schedules in the country. This episode centers on what that role actually demands, why MGA championships carry real weight in modern amateur golf, and how event setup, venue selection, and competitive standards continue to define the association’s identity. With multiple major 2026 championships tied to New Jersey, the conversation also makes clear why the state remains such an important part of the Met golf landscape.The discussion looks at the 2026 Met Open at Essex County Country Club, the Met Junior at North Jersey Country Club, the Carter Cup at Baltusrol, the Met Amateur at Deepdale, the Ike Championship at Sleepy Hollow, and the Mid-Am at Hudson National. It also examines what separates strong championship sites from great ones, what traits tend to show up in past MGA champions, and how the MGA balances tradition with the demands of the modern game. This episode is built for listeners who care about competitive golf, championship standards, and the structure that gives amateur golf its meaning.

The Inaugural DROP Pod event at Tee2Green sold out with 32 golfers and 16 teams, giving The DROP its clearest sign yet that Golfing in the Garden State is becoming something bigger than a podcast feed. This episode opens with the turnout, the energy in the room, and why a full field for the first event felt like a meaningful step forward for the brand.From there, the focus shifts to the Race for the Crown, where the Round of 32 delivered major upsets, razor-thin finishes, and a Sweet 16 that now looks very different than expected. Mike and Chris cover the results that changed the bracket, the vote totals that signaled real momentum, and the matchups that now carry the most weight in New Jersey public golf. For listeners invested in course loyalty, public golf debate, and the state’s golf culture, this episode captures both a major DROP milestone and a defining turn in the competition.

James Nicholas returns to The DROP Podcast in a very different place than when he first came on. After we said last January that a win at this level felt inevitable, he now comes back as a Korn Ferry Tour champion after closing out the 2026 Astara Golf Championship with an eagle on the 72nd hole. This episode centers on what that breakthrough actually proved, how a player handles the pressure that comes with sleeping on a lead, and what changes when PGA Tour promotion suddenly becomes part of the conversation.This episode examines the full reality around that win: the mental demands of a broken Sunday, the challenge of converting when you finally get into position, and why James has chosen to be unusually transparent about the financial side of professional golf. We also get into what YouTube golf gets right and wrong about the game, what serious amateurs still misunderstand about scoring, and what success should actually look like for the rest of his 2026 season. This is for competitive golfers, serious fans of professional golf, and anyone who wants a clearer picture of how hard it is to break through at that level.

Round 1 of The Race for the Crown is officially in the books, and the bracket is already starting to separate reputation from real support. With the field cut from 64 down to 32, this episode looks at the first results, the limited but meaningful upsets, and what the early voting revealed about momentum, loyalty, and public perception across New Jersey golf. This is where the bracket stops being theoretical and starts telling the truth.Region by region, this episode covers the biggest Round 1 results, the tightest finishes, and the Round of 32 matchups that now carry real weight. From Francis A. Byrne, Shore Gate, Ballyowen, and Neshanic holding firm, to courses like Great Gorge, Skyway, McCullough’s, LBI National, and Tamarack West changing the shape of the board, this is an episode for golfers invested in New Jersey’s public golf landscape and the debates that define it.

Brian Crowell joins The DROP Podcast after being named the 2026 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor awarded to a PGA Professional. As General Manager of Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point, Crowell sits at the intersection of leadership, public golf, teaching, operations, and long-term facility vision. This conversation defines what elite public golf management actually looks like, not in theory, but at one of the most ambitious public facilities in the country.We get into Ferry Point’s identity as a tournament-caliber public course in New York City, what separates high-end public golf from expensive golf, the realities of leading a massive operation, and why community access still has to matter at that level. Brian also reflects on hosting the APGA Tour, building programs that serve Bronx youth and PGA HOPE participants, and what the award means within the broader profession. This episode is for serious golfers, PGA professionals, operators, and anyone interested in where public golf is headed when standards are set correctly.

March Madness has come to Golfing in the Garden State. After the Qualifying Round decided the final spots, the full Field of 64 is now set, seeded, and placed into a true bracket to determine the top public golf course in New Jersey. This episode reveals the full field, explains how the seeding was built, and officially launches The Race for the Crown, a statewide competition shaped by informed public golf voices across New Jersey and decided by the people voting.Mike and Chris break down the qualifiers that advanced, the standards behind the bracket, and the matchups that already look dangerous in Round 1. They also explain how listeners can fill out their own bracket, track their picks, and compete for a DROP Pod hat and Dunning polo. This episode is for serious golfers, New Jersey public golf players, and anyone who cares about how the state’s best public courses stack up.

Ben “Lurch” Severance was part of Fore Play before it was a brand - back when the audience was still forming and the identity of modern golf media wasn’t fully defined. This conversation revisits that early Barstool era through someone who lived inside it, clarifying what those formative years actually felt like and how Lurch fit within a group that helped shape the current landscape. It’s a grounded look at how that chapter unfolded and why stepping away from the spotlight doesn’t erase its influence.We talk about his relationship with Chris Gotterup and what he saw early as Gotterup climbed toward the PGA Tour, plus his perspective watching moments like the Internet Invitational from the outside. The second half shifts into life after media - building a serious career at Axon and how distance from the spotlight reshapes competition, pressure, and identity. For golfers who follow the game closely and care about the people and moments that shaped today’s golf media environment, this is a clear, honest lens on a defining era.

The Race for the Crown returns and the standard rises with it. The Qualifying Round determines which four courses earn the final spots in this year’s Field of 64, turning months of debate into real decisions. With a larger audience and stronger field than ever, reputation alone won’t carry anyone through. This episode defines the stakes behind the bracket and why the Qualifying Round has become one of the most competitive entry points in Golfing in the Garden State.We unveil the full 16-course qualifying field, break down the matchups, and explain how voting will shape the tournament from the very first round. Plus: TOUR updates on New Jersey pros, a listener’s question on Hollywood Golf Club’s place in the state conversation, and what the winner ultimately earns - a guaranteed DROP Pod visit in 2026. If you follow public golf in New Jersey and care about how courses actually stack up, this is where the bracket truly begins.