Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack: Tom Hoge and Mark Johnson March, 29, 2025

Jody Vasquez wandered into a Fort Worth, Texas, clubhouse one day and ended up shagging golf balls for Ben Hogan. That started a relationship that spanned a lifetime, one of the very few who was part of Hogan's inner circle.He turned it into one of the greatest golf books you'll ever read: "Afternoons with Mr. Hogan." He also turned a putting idea into a partnership with Orange Whip Golf and an aid called the "Putt Master." The show this week is an hour long fascinating conversation with Jody. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been since 2000 when Edgewood Golf Course in north Fargo has had a new leader, but Lisa Schwinden is no stranger to the facility. It's where she started in the golf business as a driving range attendant and golf shop employee, back in the days of the old clubhouse that felt like it was falling into the river. Across the river, Sean Brandenburg is the new recreation director for the city of Moorhead, which oversees public courses Meadows and Village Green. The Fargo South and Concordia College graduate outlines his role in the continued growth of both. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hole in One Show, Dave Schultz's resurrection of a Jim Adelson classic, is back for a sixth season and the Fargo Country Club head professional continues to take it to different heights and avenues.One of them is taping a season in Arizona, where this week you'll find the North Dakota State men's golf team in the Summit League tournament. Head coach Steve Kennedy and senior Ian Simonich join this show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Dakota State senior Elise Hoven has won two individual titles this season and a third would cap off the career. She and her teammates will play in the Summit League championships Sunday through Tuesday at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona. Elise and head coach Matt Johnson outline the Bison chances. Meanwhile, in this neck of the woods, the golf course at Forest Hills near Detroit Lakes has a new name: Black Diamond, in reference to the new black coal sand bunkers. Operations manager Greyson Thomas joins the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   Chalk up another step in professional golf for Kate Smith-Stroh. The Detroit Lakes High School graduate got her LPGA Tour card last December in Qualifying School and has made two of three cuts so far this season. Kate talks about the journey including advice from former LPGA player and Fargo resident Amy Olson.        Mark June 20-22 on your calendar for one of the best amateur tournaments in the Midwest. The Red River Amateur returns with three days of coverage on WDAY-TV. Chris Howell from the Moorhead Country Club joins the show with details.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to jobs and golf, not many have it better than Glen Turk from Midwest Golfing Magazine, which covers golf mainly in eight states from Kansas and Ohio to North Dakota. A staff writer since 2006, he's seen and played some of the best courses anywhere in the country. He joins the show to give a glimpse into his world and his thoughts of playing in the Upper Midwest. There was snow on the ground this week. Don't fear, North Dakota State climatologist Daryl Ritchison gives an update on his thoughts when courses will open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Fargo South graduate Tom Hoge is in his 12th year on the PGA Tour, and is off to one of the best starts of his career making eight of the first nine cuts. Hoge is qualified for all four majors and talks about preparing for the upcoming Masters, which he has already played in twice. Mark Johnson from Suite Shots joins the show talking about Tom and the golf entertainment industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Golf Show returns for its 21st season and batting leadoff is a PGA professional who said goodbye to a job he held for 20 years. Greg McCullough at Edgewood announced in December he is retiring from the position. A retirement celebration will be held next Friday at Edgewood from 5-8 p.m., but first, Greg reflects on the growth and the ups and occasional down with flooding over the years on 740 The Fan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last golf show of the 2024 season wraps up with two major players in the Fargo-Moorhead golf scene with Mark Johnson of Suite Shots and the Bobcat North Dakota Open and Greg McCullough of iconic Edgewood Golf Course and the Fargo Parks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Burey has had a hall of fame career as a PGA professional, once as a stint at Pinehurst No. 2 but most of his career in the Kansas City area. He's the creator of Wee Links, the six-hole golf course primarily meant for kids. It's a great story in the making, with Fargo in line to get a course.A cool match is coming to Detroit Country Club on Sunday, Aug. 4 before the Pine to Palm. The Legends (Bill Israelson, Jim Strandemo, Rick Kuhn, Greg Melhaus) will face the Young Guns that includes Hawley state champion Jack Justesen. Detroit CC Tom Dolby joins the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.