S E52: Golf’s Equipment Rules Could Split in Two

Landmand Golf Club booked more than 10,000 available tee times in just 46 minutes. At Minnesota’s Beatles-themed Montgomery National Golf Club, annual rounds grew from roughly 17,000 to 36,000.Jimmy Roberts meets two people behind these unlikely golf destinations to explore how distinctive design, personality, and word of mouth bring golfers through the door.First, Landmand’s Sam Kincaid shares how Nebraska farmland became a destination course designed by Rob Collins and Tad King. He explains the booking frenzy, the commitment to keeping golf accessible, and plans for Old Dane, a 12-hole walking course scheduled to open in 2027.Then, Montgomery National owner Greg McKush explains how his love of the Beatles became a business advantage—with song-inspired holes, a guitar-shaped bunker, and a $20,000 yellow submarine. He also shares the story of a fake Ringo Starr visit that fooled him and had golfers reaching for their phones.What you'll hear in this episode:• How Landmand’s available tee times disappeared in 46 minutes—and what helped build demand from the beginning• Why Landmand resists using higher prices to solve its booking crunch• What’s planned for Old Dane’s 12-hole, walking-only experience• How Montgomery National more than doubled annual rounds while building its Beatles identity• Why Greg chose a yellow submarine for Aon’s “Making Better Decisions” seriesPlus, Jimmy closes with a personal Veterans Day reflection on his father’s service and the meaning of honoring those who served.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A gap in women’s golf became a growing business. Then came an expensive fight over the brand she’d built.Birdie Girl founder Lindzee Barrera joins Jimmy Roberts to explain how she turned a frustrating search for golf gifts into an accessories company she says is on track for $2 million in annual sales. The former Division I golfer shares why she left corporate marketing, chose to grow without investors, and built a business designed to leave room for her family.Barrera also recounts a domain-name dispute and ongoing trademark challenge—and explains what she believes golf brands still misunderstand about women golfers.Plus, Jason Caron takes us Inside the Shop for a look at his unusual double life: competing on PGA TOUR Champions while serving as head golf professional at the Mill River Club.What you'll hear in this episode:• How Birdie Girl grew from Instagram sales to placements at DICK’S Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy• Why products designed for women require more than a different color• Barrera’s account of the fight over Birdie Girl’s domain names and trademarks• How Caron balances tournament travel, club responsibilities, and family—and why he’s considering playing less• A Swing Test of the Nomad portable entertainment system, plus Jimmy’s perspective on Arthur Blank’s influence in golf🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When every conversation about golf turns to money, what happens to the game?Declan Kelly joins Jimmy Roberts to explore that tension—and explain why golf remains such a powerful investment for his own business. The Consello chairman and CEO shares why his company is backing the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, what makes Shane Lowry valuable beyond the logo on his shirt, and why some of his most revealing conversations with CEOs happen on the course.Known as the “CEO Whisperer,” Kelly also reflects on his journey from journalism in Ireland to advising business leaders, the lessons that shaped his approach, and the daily handwritten habit he has maintained since he was 15.What you’ll hear in this episode:• Why golf creates access and relationships that traditional corporate settings rarely offer• The value of Shane Lowry’s sponsorship beyond exposure and audience metrics• Kelly’s concerns about rising money demands and a widening divide in professional golf• What the “CEO Whisperer” believes makes advice—and leadership—effective• The four-part handwritten list Kelly creates every night and why he keeps every cardPlus, Kelly shares a personal decision in Making Better Decisions, presented by Aon, and Bob Costas recalls the career risk that became one of his most rewarding chapters.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson. A $9 million purse. Could two golfers convince fans to pay for a single showdown?David Levy takes Jimmy Roberts inside the creation of The Match—from the ratings insight that sparked the idea to the skeptics who doubted it would work and the technical problems that complicated its debut.The former president of Turner Broadcasting and co-founder of Horizon Sports & Experiences also explains where he sees untapped revenue in golf, why he’s optimistic about the PGA Tour’s direction, and what still leaves him unconvinced about TGL. It’s a look at the decisions behind what gets televised, what advertisers buy, and how golf can turn more of its action into a business.Beyond golf, Levy shares the unexpected pitch that helped bring Shaquille O’Neal to Inside the NBA and the lessons he learned working for Ted Turner.What you'll hear in this episode:• Why Tiger and Phil were the foundation for a winner-take-all television event• Levy’s reservations about simulated golf as a spectator product• How action beyond the leaders could create new digital, social, and betting opportunities• The Shaq recruiting meeting—and why Ernie Johnson is essential to Inside the NBA• Levy’s 16-year quest to play America’s top 100 courses and the personal motivation behind his fundraising for type 1 diabetes researchPlus, Powering the Women’s Game presented by Chevron, a Big Swing Moment with Peter Millar’s Scott Mahoney, and Jimmy’s closing thoughts on life with a new puppy.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could professional golf end up with different equipment rules from the game most golfers play? Jimmy Roberts welcomes Gionni Magliocco, the newest member of The Big Swing team, for a look at the proposed changes that could create separate standards for pros and recreational players—and what that could mean for golf’s equipment makers.The conversation also explores why major manufacturers are moving away from annual driver releases, the mini driver’s growing presence on Tour, and how direct-to-consumer brands are changing the equipment business.What you’ll hear in this episode:- Why some manufacturers are moving to a two-year driver release cycle- What mini drivers offer—and how often they appeared at the Alfred Dunhill Links- How proposed equipment rules could affect Tour players and manufacturers- Why OEMs still depend on retailers even as direct-to-consumer brands grow- Headlines on California tee-time resale rules, Pro Shop’s latest funding, and Jon Rahm’s reported decision🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Topgolf was the darling of the golf industry—until it wasn't. Callaway bought the company in a deal valued at roughly $2 billion in 2021, then sold a majority stake to private equity this year after the combined business lost nearly half its value.David McKillips was hired to turn it around. Six months into the job, the former Chuck E. Cheese, Six Flags and Warner Bros. executive joins Jimmy Roberts to explain what he found after visiting 100 venues in 100 days, why guests love Topgolf but don't come back, and how he plans to fix it: new virtual courses every quarter, Toptracer technology in all 103 U.S. locations, a move away from the RFID ball, a membership program, floor-by-floor booking and more entertainment—from arcades to racquet sports—for the 65% of customers who aren't avid golfers.Then Evan Roosevelt, co-founder of golf-only investment firm Old Tom Capital, gives his read on the Topgolf model, why same-site visits declined from the day each venue opened, and whether leaning into entertainment risks alienating the core golfer. He also makes the case that par-3 and short courses are the next big investable category in a supply-constrained game, explains why the definition of a "serious golfer" is widening and shares why his firm invests exclusively in golf.Also in this episode: the Golf Business Intelligence Brief covers NBC's Presidents Cup ratings surge, Five Iron Golf's new smaller-footprint franchise model and L.A.B. Golf's sold-out collaboration with Steph Curry. David McKillips also appears in Making Better Decisions, presented by Aon, Fox News' Bret Baier shares his Big Swing moment and Jimmy closes on the Protect College Sports bill and why college athletics is more broken than golf's governing bodies.What you'll hear in this episode:Why Topgolf's growth story stalled—and what McKillips says the company failed to reinvest inHow a 30-year career in theme parks and out-of-home entertainment applies to golfThe product changes coming to Topgolf: Toptracer, a new ball, new virtual courses and a membership programWhat Old Tom Capital's Evan Roosevelt thinks Topgolf has to get right to win back golfersWhy par-3 courses may be the next great golf investment🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday ▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do after a seven-figure exit? Daniel Belk decided to play golf—all of America's top 100 public courses, in under a year.The entrepreneur behind a self-storage private equity firm and Cool Down, the run club turned apparel brand he grew to 15 cities before selling his stake, joins Jimmy Roberts from the road at the halfway point of his journey. Belk breaks down the numbers behind the quest: an $85,000 to $100,000 budget built on a $350 average green fee, why renting RVs and sleeping in course parking lots has put him well under that projection, and how a following of more than 100,000 on Instagram has brought coverage from Bloomberg and Golf.com—and a stream of brand offers he has so far turned down.He also shares the stories from the road, including hitchhiking from Wolf Creek to Black Desert, a birdie from the Ryder Cup tees at Bethpage Black, why Whistling Straits tops his list so far and how a $5.5 million self-storage deal that closed with four days to spare became his first big break.What you'll hear in this episode:How Belk budgeted a year of top 100 public golf—and why he's coming in under itWhy he's turned down brand partnerships to keep the series authenticHow a run club of 2,000 weekly runners became a seven-figure apparel exitWhat it's like to play Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits and the most remote course on the listWhy "winging it" beats a spreadsheet when your schedule gets wrecked every weekThe episode also features the Golf Business Intelligence Brief with headlines on the Presidents Cup's record $175 million economic impact and the return of bifurcation to the golf ball debate, LPGA teaching professional Kelly Brook's review of the $120 Golf at Home swing trainer, Making Better Decisions presented by Aon with USGA CEO Mike Whan, Soly from No Laying Up's Big Swing moment and Jimmy's tribute to retiring Mets radio voice Howie Rose.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday ▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Presidents Cup has been dominated by the United States—but judging the event by the final score misses the much bigger business story.Ahead of the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Big Swing Media golf business reporter Michael LoRé to examine why the PGA Tour, global sponsors, broadcasters and host cities remain bullish on the event.They break down the Presidents Cup’s commercial value, the advantage the PGA Tour gains by owning the property outright and why comparing a 32-year-old competition to the century-old Ryder Cup doesn’t tell the whole story. They also explore the tournament’s international reach and its projected $175 million economic impact on the Chicago region.What you’ll hear in this episode:Why competitive imbalance hasn’t eliminated the Presidents Cup’s commercial appealHow full ownership makes the event especially valuable to the PGA TourWhy brands see an opportunity to reach audiences around the worldWhat the Ryder Cup’s early history reveals about the Presidents Cup’s futureHow Medinah and Chicago could produce the event’s biggest edition yet🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USGA CEO Mike Whan joins Jimmy Roberts for a wide-ranging conversation about the decisions that could shape golf for generations.Whan explains why the continued increase in distance at the elite level has become one of the game’s biggest long-term challenges—and why the answer could involve changes to the golf ball, driver standards or different equipment rules for professional and recreational golfers. He also discusses the USGA’s evolving conversations with the PGA TOUR, the possibility of changes before 2030 and why protecting historic golf courses requires the industry to think decades ahead.The conversation also explores the rapid growth of the U.S. National Development Program, the USGA’s $50 million commitment to junior golf, the growing importance of water conservation and what women’s golf still needs to produce its breakthrough moment in America.What you'll hear in this episode:• Why golf’s continued increase in distance could threaten its most historic courses• Whether professionals and recreational golfers should play by different equipment rules• How the USGA is building a national development pipeline for young American golfers• Why water and land use could become major challenges for the golf industry• What women’s golf needs to create its own Caitlin Clark-style breakthrough in AmericaThe episode also features Powering the Women’s Game, presented by Chevron, and Peyton Manning sharing the handwritten letter that became his Big Swing moment.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peyton Manning knows how to turn sports into entertainment—and now he’s bringing that experience to golf.The five-time NFL MVP and founder of Omaha Productions joins Jimmy Roberts to explain why he believes golf is a smart business opportunity, how Omaha is developing new golf content with the PGA TOUR, and what the sport can learn from the NFL’s ability to command attention throughout the entire year.Manning also shares what he has learned from playing alongside Tiger Woods, the story behind his investment in Sweetens Cove, and why golf became an important team-building tool during his NFL career. Plus, he discusses the continued evolution of the ManningCast, Brian Rolapp’s vision for the PGA TOUR, the changing college football landscape, and the possibility of reuniting with the kids from his legendary Saturday Night Live sketch.What you’ll hear in this episode:Why Peyton and Omaha Productions expanded into golfHow the NFL’s year-round media strategy could help grow the PGA TOURWhat Tiger Woods taught Peyton about preparation and competitionThe story behind Sweetens Cove and its unusual business modelHow the ManningCast found an audience beyond traditional football fans🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.