Getting Off Course Podcast

Matt Holder is the founder of Loop, a tee time engine that helps golfers book the best tee times at their favorite local courses. In this episode, we discuss Matt's experiences in the world of technology, and how those experiences prepared him to launch this new marketplace.Topics include:Matt's golf origin storyMatt's relationship to golf todayWhy Matt pursued a BA in EconomicsWorking for Trulia, Zillow, Houzz and CargurusPredictions for the future of golf and technologyWhether or not technology will make us better golfersTaking an idea from vision to realityResponding to user feedbackChallenges to building a tee time marketplaceHow Loop is monetizedWe finished the episode with a 10 question lightning round that included a few questions about Matt's rec league softball team.Would Matt rather be known for base hits or home runs? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Tony Starks is a copywriter for TaylorMade Golf and a recent contestant on ABC's Holey Moley. In this episode, we discuss Tony's 15 year career in the world of golf, as well as his experience on Stephen Curry's extreme mini golf show.Topics include:How Tony first heard about Holey MoleyHow Tony became a contestantThe application and recruiting processThe recording processHoles that Tony was hoping to avoidOutfit selectionBad breaksThe Morehouse College experienceHow Tony became a golf writerEarly job takeawaysPerks of working in the golf industryChallenges of working in the golf industryA typical day as a TaylorMade copywriterDealing with deadlinesOther TaylorMade initiativesWe finished the episode with a 10 question lightning round.How does Tony really feel about playing mini golf with a Callaway ball? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Andrew is the founder of The Petcash Post, an email newsletter focusing on the business of athletes and sports. He played division 1 basketball at Boston University and is a great resource when it comes to understanding NIL deals. We talked about his popular newsletter, college basketball, and NIL.Topics include:How Andrew came up with the idea for The Petcash PostBuilding a business through emailHaving an entrepreneurial spiritChoosing topics for the newsletterDealing with the pressure of the newsletterGrowing your subscriber baseDealing with criticismsMonetizing The Petcash PostHow Andrew ended up at Boston UniversityA D1 basketball player's scheduleShould college athletes get paid?Do NIL deals solve the compensation problem?The best ways to profit from NILSetting yourself up for NIL successWe started (and finished) with a 5 question lightning round.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces and Par 3 Near Me.

Scott is a golf course designer, greenkeeping consultant and retired superintendent. One of Scott's projects includes the recently opened Gravel Pit Golf Course in Brainerd, Minnesota. We talked about this unique project and other design-centric questions.Topics include:Scott's early connection to golfPursuing a turfgrass management degree at Michigan StateEarly lessons as a superintendentExploring golf course designThe Gravel Pit Golf Course designAdvantages and disadvantages of building on a gravel pitHours logged in the design phaseRandom tasks and factors to considerFinding waterThe short course trendSeeing your design work come to lifeWe wrap everything up with a 5 question lightning round.Need a few reasons to visit Minnesota? Scott gives his pitch.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Zach and Andy Pessagno are the owners of Chasing Fowl Photography. These brothers teamed up several years ago to launch a golf-centric photography business that captures moments both on and off the course. In this episode, we talk about how they got started and what they've learned along the way. Topics include:Their journey into photographyGrowing up on the golf courseWho to trust in a life or death golf situationGolf misery storiesChasing Fowl PhotographyFirst clientsEarly lessons learnedKey equipmentThe challenges of sports photographyCapturing the perfect shotFavorite gigsWe ended with a 10 question lightning round.Which famous musician would Zach like to photograph in concert? I promise you'll never guess this one. Listen in to have your mind blown.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Abby Liebenthal is President and Founder of Fore the Ladies, Inc as well as the Senior Manager of Championship Marketing for the United States Golf Association (USGA). In this episode, we discuss:Abby's career in golfSome key takeaways from Abby's jobs along the wayIdentifying skillsets and passionsAbby's role at the USGALaunching Fore the LadiesSome of the barriers that keep women from exploring golfThe growth of Fore the LadiesGrowing painsContent creation for amateur golfersThe future of Fore the LadiesWe wrap everything up with a 5 question lightning round.Abby has lived in 8 different U.S. states. Which one is her favorite? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Lauren is one of the top 100 female golfers in the world, and she was kind enough to offer a quick glimpse into the life of a professional golfer. In this episode, we talk day-to-day life, tournament preparation, sponsorships and more. Discussions include:The work that goes into becoming a professional golferMoving to DallasLife on non-tournament weeksLife on the days leading up to a tournamentTournament questionsOvercoming bad roundsMaintaining momentum during good roundsThe disparity in LPGA & PGA payoutsWhat Lauren does with tournament winningsHow sponsorships workWe ended our time together with a 10 question lightning round.Did Lauren cry when the University of Alabama (her alma mater) lost to Georgia in college football national title game? You'll have to listen in to find out.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Ronan Galvin is the co-founder of Sunday Golf, a company that specializes in lightweight golf bags and other gear for the casual golfer. In this episode, we dive into the world of product development. Ronan offers some great insights for anyone looking to turn a product idea into a reality. Topics include:How Sunday Golf came to beThe first steps for turning an idea into a realityDeveloping a prototypeMoving into productionLessons learned from living in ChinaMisconceptions about ChinaHow to choose a partner for productionHorror storiesSunday Golf's first orderFinding customersDealing with competitorsThe Loma BagWe wrap everything up with a 10 question lightning round. You'll have to listen in to hear about some of Ronan's memorable experiences with Chinese cuisine.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.

Jeff Peart is a former semi-pro basketball player turned golf enthusiast. In 2021, he launched his own golf brand called Chasing Aces. We talk a ton of basketball in this podcast, giving the listener a glimpse into the world of semi-pro competition. We then pivot to golf and talk about the origin story of Chasing Aces. The show covers:Jeff's introduction to basketballAll-star game with Ime UdokaCoaching youth basketball in 2022Junior college basketballJeff's journey to semi-pro hoops and his takeawaysNature vs. nuture as it relates to talentInjury and life post-basketballDiscovering golfGolf in the Portland areaThe Chasing Aces origin storySuccessesHeadachesJeff's favorite Chasing Aces itemsFuture plansWe wrap everything up with a 10 question, basketball-centric lightning round.Jeff may or may not have compared his game to Larry Johnson's. You'll have to tune in to find out.

John is a retired professional golfer with plenty of PGA Tour experience under his belt. He also worked for the Golf Channel and is the author of a new book called Shafted. In this episode, we discuss:Lessons learned as a young golfer on the PGA TourJohn's incredible comeback win in the 1978 PGA ChampionshipWhy John found success at the highest levelsTransitioning away from professional competitionJohn's bookWe ended our time together with a 5 question lightning round. John shares the most underrated golfer from his era along with his favorite golfer from the current era.This episode is presented by Chasing Aces.