Steve Tees Off Podcast

What started as a few friends playing pitch and putt in Vancouver has grown into something much bigger.On this episode of Steve Tees Off, Steven sits down with Ivan Lys of 604 Golf, a growing Lower Mainland golf community bringing people together through friendship, competition and a shared love of the game.Ivan shares his remarkable personal journey, from overcoming difficult times and finding comfort on the golf course to helping build a community of approximately 150–200 golfers that has raised nearly $25,000 for Coast Mental Health.Along the way, they explore Vancouver's incredible pitch and putt courses, the competitive spirit behind 604 Golf's four major tournaments, an unforgettable Ryder Cup showdown, and why Ivan carries an astonishing collection of wedges just to play pitch and putt!But beneath the friendly rivalries and great golf stories is a much more meaningful message about mental health, connection and the power of community.As Ivan puts it: "You'll never have to golf alone."Whether you're an experienced golfer, a weekend player or someone just discovering the game, this is a conversation worth hearing.⛳ Want to join 604 Golf? Find them on Instagram for tournament information, upcoming events and details on how to get involved.Steve Tees Off is proudly supported by Riverside Golf and Kings Links by the Sea.Enjoyed this episode? Follow Steve Tees Off on Spotify, leave a rating and share it with a fellow golfer!

Golf is booming — but is it becoming harder for ordinary people to actually play?Scott McCartney, owner of The Golf Park Company, joins Steve Tees Off to talk about accessibility, affordability and why the future of golf may need to look a little different.Scott shares his journey from discovering golf as a kid in Moose Jaw to building hundreds of golf projects, founding The Golf Park Company and developing new ways to bring golf into neighbourhoods and community spaces.They discuss golf parks, putting courses, pitch-and-putts and Park Golf — a Japanese version of the game Scott describes as the “pickleball of golf”: one club, one ball, shorter holes and a much lower barrier to entry.The conversation also explores rising green fees, crowded courses, junior golf, municipal recreation and Scott’s vision of a future where kids can put a couple of clubs on their bikes and ride to an affordable place to play.Plus: teaching golf on a cruise ship, favourite BC courses, Payne Stewart, the craziest tournament story Scott has witnessed, and why golf still has so much to teach the next generation.Brought to you by RiversideGolf.ca and Kings Links by the Sea.Steve Tees Off — golf stories, ideas and conversations from inside the game.

Canadian golf pro Doug Robb joins Steve Tees Off for a fascinating look back at more than five decades in the game.Doug shares stories from growing up around Fraserview Golf Course in Vancouver, becoming a professional in the 1960s, and what life on tour really looked like before modern purses, sponsorships and luxury travel.A big part of the conversation is Moe Norman. Doug competed alongside him and saw his legendary ball-striking up close. He talks about what Moe was really like, how other pros treated him, and why his ability with a golf ball was so remarkable.Doug also shares old-school tour stories, memorable characters, funny moments, and the lessons a lifetime in golf has taught him.Brought to you by Riverside Golf and Kings Links by the Sea.

Stuart Macdonald has won on the PGA TOUR’s developmental circuits, shot 62 on the Korn Ferry Tour, and still knows just how difficult it is to reach the PGA TOUR.The Vancouver golfer joins Steve Tees Off to talk about the journey from junior golf and Point Grey Golf & Country Club to Golf Canada, Purdue University and life as a professional.Stuart takes us through the road since turning pro — competing in China, Canada, Latin America, PGA TOUR Americas and the Korn Ferry Tour — including wins in Ottawa and Peru, his dramatic hole-out in Tulum, and some of the lowest rounds of his career.He also gives his perspective on the PGA TOUR’s upcoming 2028 structure changes, including the new Championship Series and Challenger Series, and what promotion and relegation could mean for players trying to work their way up.Plus, Stuart shares the funniest thing he’s seen on a golf course and reflects on what the game has come to mean after years of competing professionally.Brought to you by Riverside Golf and Kings Links by the Sea.Steve Tees Off — golf stories, tour talk and conversations from inside the game.

Ilirian Zalli and Jackson Jacob are two young pros taking very different paths toward the same goal — breaking through in professional golf.Ilirian joins Steve Tees Off after winning the Vancouver Open, and talks about growing up in Vancouver, turning pro at 18, representing Albania, and the journey that led to his DP World Tour debut.Jackson returns to the show to catch us up on his season, his experience working on Apple TV+’s Stick with Owen Wilson, and why golf ultimately remained the priority.Together, they take us inside the reality of DP World Tour Q-School in Sweden — preparing for an unfamiliar course, managing the pressure of 72 holes, and knowing how much one week can change a career.They also get into their journey together at the MNP BC Match Play, how their games complement each other, who’s more aggressive, and why team golf brings out a completely different side of competition.Plus: life on the road, the grind of professional golf, funny stories from the course, and what comes next for both players.Brought to you by Riverside Golf and Kings Links by the Sea.Steve Tees Off — golf stories, tour talk and conversations from inside the game.

The International Team had the Presidents Cup in its hands — leading 10.5–7.5 heading into Sunday at Medinah.Then everything changed.Steve welcomes PGA Golf Coach Tim Wilson back to break down the 2026 Presidents Cup, including the Internationals’ dominant Friday foursomes sweep, Team USA’s huge Sunday singles performance, and the moments that ultimately decided the Cup.They also get into Corey Conners and Nick Taylor’s strong week for Canada, Patrick Cantlay’s massive 57-foot putt, Jacob Bridgeman’s clinching point, Scottie Scheffler’s memorable act of sportsmanship, and the captaincy decisions that shaped the final result.Plus: was fatigue a factor, can “clutch” be coached, did the Presidents Cup live up to the hype, and could a Canada vs. USA “Border Cup” actually work?Brought to you by Riverside Golf and Kings Links by the Sea.Steve Tees Off — golf stories, analysis, instruction and conversations from inside the game.

What if the secret to more power and consistency in your golf swing starts beneath your feet?PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional Ryan Holley joins Steve Tees Off for a fascinating deep dive into the science of the golf swing, ground reaction forces, biomechanics and the technology changing how golfers understand their movement.Ryan specializes in analyzing how golfers interact with the ground — when they apply force, how much they generate, and how the timing and direction of that force influence body rotation, clubhead speed, club delivery and ball flight.Using technology such as force plates and launch monitors, Ryan helps golfers understand what's really happening in their swing rather than relying on guesswork.His work has included advising Nick Taylor and working with elite players, including Tony Finau, J.J. Spaun and Michael Gligic.In this episode, Steve and Ryan explore:Why your golf swing starts from the ground upWhat force plates reveal that traditional video analysis may missHow ground reaction forces influence power, speed and consistencyThe difference between pressure, balance and forceWhy copying another golfer's swing isn't always the answerWhat everyday golfers can learn from Tour-level swing analysisHow data and technology can help identify what you actually need to improveThe future of golf coaching and biomechanicsWe also discuss Ryan's journey from Southwestern Ontario to British Columbia, the challenges facing junior golf in BC, and what it will take to develop the next generation of Canadian PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players.Whether you're a competitive golfer, a golf coach or a weekend player looking to better understand your own swing, this conversation goes beyond conventional golf tips and into the mechanics behind better ball striking.Learn more about Ryan Holley:https://ryanholleygolf.com/Follow Steve Tees Off on Spotify for more golf stories, tips and conversations with the people shaping the game.Brought to you by: RiversideGolf.ca and Kings Links by the Sea

Taylor Kim has lived almost every side of competitive golf — junior golf, Team Canada, NCAA competition, professional events, coaching, and now another championship win.In this episode of Steve Tees Off, Taylor joins Steve after capturing her second PGA of BC Women’s Championship and talks about what it took to come from behind, stay patient, and win without feeling like she had her best game.That lesson is especially meaningful because it’s the same one she gives her own students: you don’t need your A-game to compete.Taylor takes us back to the beginning — learning the game from her father, travelling for tournaments as a teenager, dealing with the pressure and anxiety that can come with elite junior golf, and eventually representing Team Canada before earning a Division I scholarship at Kent State University.We also talk about her transition from player to coach, her work at Beach Grove Golf Club, coaching with the UBC women’s golf program, and why she believes women’s golf in British Columbia is in such a strong place right now.This is a conversation about more than being a player — it’s about the journey, the lessons, and helping build the next generation.Follow Steve Tees Off on Spotify for more golf stories, tips and conversations with the people shaping the game.Brought to you by: RiversideGolf.ca and Kings Links by the Sea

Why does Vancouver keep producing PGA Tour players?Returning guest Fraser Mulholland, President and Commissioner of the Vancouver Golf Tour, joins Steve Tees Off to talk about the competitive golf pipeline in BC and what it takes to move from local tournament golf to the professional game.Fraser shares what he’s seeing across the 2026 VGT season, which players are standing out, how the depth of talent is changing, and why competing under real pressure teaches golfers things practice simply can’t.We also get into the VGT’s long history of helping prepare players who went on to bigger stages, including Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson and A.J. Ewart, and Fraser explains what he looks for when a young player starts to show that next-level potential.Plus:The state of the 2026 Vancouver Golf Tour seasonWho’s playing the best golf right nowThe next generation of BC golf talentWhy seasoned professionals still return to VGT eventsHow amateurs and juniors can get involvedWhat first-time players should expectThe Race to WaileaThe Vancouver Open and the biggest events on the scheduleWhy competitive golf in the Lower Mainland continues to growFraser also talks about what makes links golf different, how local sponsors help strengthen competitive golf, and why giving players meaningful opportunities to compete matters so much for the future of the game.If you follow Canadian golf, junior golf, amateur golf, the PGA Tour or the next wave of BC talent, this is an episode worth hearing.Follow Steve Tees Off on Spotify for more golf stories, tips and conversations with the people shaping the game.Brought to you by: RiversideGolf.ca and Kings Links by the Sea

Scottie Scheffler closed out the Tour Championship with another dominant performance — but the bigger story may be what the PGA Tour is changing next.Returning guest Tim Wilson joins Steve Tees Off to break down the Tour Championship at East Lake, Scheffler’s win, Viktor Hovland’s Sunday fade, Rory McIlroy’s charge, Ryan Gerard’s impressive debut, and the staggering amount of money now attached to professional golf.We also dig into the $33 million Scheffler earned across the FedExCup bonus and Tour Championship, and ask whether the current postseason format delivered enough drama.Then we look ahead to the PGA Tour’s major changes coming in 2028, including:A new Championship Series and Challenger SeriesPromotion and relegationA reworked postseasonMatch play over multiple weeksA 32-player pool stageA 16-player knockout bracketFewer exemptions and more emphasis on meritA format designed to create more unpredictability and better televisionTim and Steve also debate whether match play will actually improve golf viewership, whether fans will understand multiple end-of-season trophies, and whether a dominant player should be able to lose everything in a head-to-head format.Plus, we get into the coaching side of the game: what happens under Sunday pressure, why putting can disappear at the worst possible time, and what club golfers can learn from match play.If you follow the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler, FedExCup, golf coaching or the future of professional golf, this episode is for you.Follow Steve Tees Off on Spotify for more golf stories, tips and conversations with the people shaping the game.Brought to you by: RiversideGolf.ca and Kings Links by the Sea