Episode 25: Fall Chop Session

Jon and Chris have another chop session with a variety of topics. Jon discusses some recent full swing, pitching, and putting lessons. They pick their 8 club bag per Jose Maria Olazabal's suggestion to bring skill back into the game. The session ends with some talk of travel plans (or lack thereof) and what top 100 public courses they have played.

Jon and Chris discuss a wide variety of topics including fall golf, the USGA Mid Amateur, reinstated amateurs, DP World Tour watching, distance debate/solutions, favorite swings on tour, and what they are currently working on in their respective games.

Adam Sanders is the local Field Sales Representative at PING. He answers all of Jon and (mostly) Chris's questions related to all things PING. He breaks down his 9 years at PING, including past and current roles and responsibilities. He also talks about his college golf days, current competitive golf, and his personal set of golf clubs. Tune in for a look into the equipment rep side of the game.

As former Mid Mid-Ams guest Bill Zylstra said, "Chester should be winning...." Well, winning is just what Chester (Chet) VandenBerg did at the GAM Mid Amateur up at The Highlands at Harbor Springs! Jon and Chris were excited to get Chet on the podcast right after his big win. He talks about the trip, the tournament, celebrating with his family, and the rest of his career leading up to it. Congratulations to Chet on his win!

Jon and Chris recap the second and final day of the Golf Association of Michigan Mid Amateur tournament. Thanks to the GAM and Boyne for putting on such a great tournament.

Jon and Chris wrap up the first day of action at the Golf Association of Michigan Mid Amateur on the Ross Memorial Course. They go through their respective rounds, discuss changes to the course since they last played it, run down the top of the leaderboard, and look forward to tomorrow at the Hills Course. 

Anthony Sorentino has been one of the most consistently elite amateur golfers in Michigan for the last 20 years. He was also a contestant on the original Golf Channel Big Break, which rebooted for another season next week after a many year hiatus. Anthony tells Chris and Jon about getting on the show and what it was like to compete in this unknown-at-the-time experience. He follows that discussion up with an in-depth look at his golfing career, which has been impressive. He has three GAM Mid-Amateur wins, in which Jon, Chris, and Anthony will be competing next week.  *Note, in the episode, a start date of August 25 is mentioned for the new season of The Big Break. This season has been canceled.

Jon and Chris are joined by Michigan Golf Hall of Famer Bill Zylstra. Bill is a Michigan golf legend, and his stories are equally legendary. He was one of the best Senior Amateurs in the world for a number of years. The Mid Mid-Ams had a great time listening to Bill's stories from his golfing life. At 75 years old, he's still competing and playing a lot of golf, which is aspirational.    Mid Mid-Ams scheduling note: it is vacation season, so there will not be a podcast released on August 12, and possibly not August 26. There will be two released the first week of September, as Chris and Jon will be participating in the Golf Association of Michigan Mid Amateur, and podcasting on site.

Jon and Chris provide updates on how the tournament season has gone so far, what tournaments they are looking forward to, and revisit season goals set in January. A little mid-season reflection for the Mid Mid-Ams. There is a lot to look forward to.

Chad Johnson is the Vice President of the Michigan Publinx Golf Association, as well as an assistant coach with the Wayne State University Men's Golf Team. He joins the Mid Mid-Ams Podcast to talk about his two Michigan Publinx State Match Play victories, his time with Wayne State as a player and a coach, and the other tournaments he plays in from year to year. Chad tells Chris and John about his mental approach and how he helps his college players with that side of the game.