Golf Business Podcast

Fresh off National Golf Day, Episode 104 of the Golf Business Podcast features NGCOA CEO Jay Karen and his special guest Greg Nathan, President & CEO of the National Golf Foundation, for a data-driven conversation on the current state of the golf economy, record participation growth and the continued evolution of off-course golf. Listen in for timely insights, industry trends and practical perspectives on where golf stands today — and where it may be headed next.

Description: Join in on this Golf Business LIVE conversation with Jon Last, founder and president of Sports & Leisure Research Group, as he sat down with NGCOA Sr. Director of Education Taylor Wall at Golf Business Conference 2026 and the 2026 PGA Show! Learn about the latest trends and data from Jon's extensive consumer research and how those compare to both golfer and golf course owner insights — some of which you will see in the upcoming 2026 Golf Business Pulse Report. Then, 'Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams – powered by Tagmarshal' returns with a House Chat featuring the CEO of Tagmarshal, Bodo Sieber. Listen in as Michael and Bodo explore how Tagmarshal's technology is enhancing player experience with improved pace and flow of play. Also, learn about Tagmarshal's revolutionary WindTag technology, designed to give golfers accurate, hyperlocal, real-time wind and speed direction on every green.

Join in on this Golf Business LIVE conversation when NGCOA CEO Jay Karen welcomes acclaimed golf writer, editor, broadcaster, designer, and storyteller—and now course owner—Tom Coyne. Jay delves into the books that have shaped Tom's career, from his journey of playing golf in all 50 states to his latest work chronicling the revival of a 100-year-old golf course from the owner's perspective. Then, 'Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams – powered by Tagmarshal' returns with a House Chat featuring Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports. As one of the world's leading golf management companies, KemperSports continues to set the standard for operational excellence. Skinner outlines the strategies and principles behind the company's sustained success in golf and how they continue to shape their strategy with the influx of modern technology entering the industry.  

Join in on this Golf Business LIVE conversation when Jay Karen (NGCOA CEO) welcomes special guest Evan Roosevelt, Co-Founder of Old Tom Capital, the leading investment firm focused entirely on the golf industry. Evan brings a unique perspective on where capital is flowing, what innovations are shaping the future, and how course owners can stay ahead. Find out where he sees opportunity, risk, and transformation happening across the golf ecosystem – and gain investor-level insight into trends shaping demand, technology, and consumer behavior in golf! Then, 'Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams – powered by Tagmarshal' returns with a House Chat featuring Matt Welliver, Director of Business Strategy for Lightspeed Golf, for an on-location "House Chat" recorded from NGCOA's TechCon25 in Frisco, Texas. Together, they unpack key findings from the new NGCOA member-exclusive whitepaper, "Driving Demand, Revenue and Retention Across the Golfer Journey," produced in collaboration with Lightspeed. Listen in as they discuss actionable insights on how to leverage technology, reduce cancellations, and maximize returns across all channels — while delivering a seamless experience throughout the golfer journey.

On a recent 'Golf Business LIVE', Jay Karen (CEO, NGCOA) and Don Rea, PGA (President, PGA of America) reacted to National Golf Day 2025 and gave updates on legislative items that were covered in D.C. that could impact your golf business. Hear updates on key items crossing Jay Karen's desk, including potential legislation against the practice of dynamic pricing in CA, protective measures for owners from bad actors, bots and other threats in the tee-time acquisition market, and much more! Then, 'Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams - powered by Tagmarshal' returned with a House Chat featuring Ben Holbrook, Chief Innovation Officer at Tagmarshal, to discuss their innovative WindTag technology. Learn how this software allows golfers and operators to know the exact strength and direction of the wind while playing golf. WindTag's technology provides hyperlocal wind conditions and helps automate pin locations, feeding daily hole location information into Tagmarshal's system, saving valuable labor time and increasing operational efficiency.

Jay Karen (CEO, NGCOA) and Don Rea, PGA (President, PGA of America) cover the top stories and emerging headlines across the golf industry with special guest Paul Sullivan, an author, former New York Times columnist, and current Golf Digest contributor. Listen in as they dive into his recent article detailing where forthcoming policies from our country's new administration will intersect with the golf industry and, more importantly, your golf business. Then Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams - powered by Tagmarshal returns with a House Chat featuring Marc Williams, Head of Sales Operations, Toptracer, North America, and Clark Burckle, Owner and Managing Partner of Reimagine Golf. Learn how their successful forms of gamification improve the driving range experience for golfers of all skill levels.  

Join Jay Karen (NGCOA CEO) and Don Rea, PGA (Owner, Augusta Ranch GC) as we put a bow on another eventful year in the golf industry. Not only is this the FINAL episode of 2024, but it's also the FIRST for Don Rea as President of the PGA of America. Find out what's on Don's radar, and the role course owners from coast to coast play in continuing to strengthen our industry. Plus, Jay and Don review the top stories of 2024 and look ahead to how these items could positively or negatively impact your golf business in 2025.   Then Episode 5 of Golf Business LIVE with Michael Williams returns. Listen in as Michael hosts a discussion with NGCOA's Sr. Director of Advocacy, Ronnie Miles. Learn about the critical advocacy issues that influenced the industry in 2024 and the future bills to keep an eye on for next year. From the tax codes and jobs act needing to be renewed next year to the DOL's overtime ruling, how will changing legislation affect your golf operations?  

Listen in as Jay Karen (CEO, NGCOA) and Don Rea, PGA (Vice President, PGA of America) welcome special guests Ross Liggett, Founder and Managing Partner at Metolius Golf, and Del Ratcliffe, COO of Pinnacle Golf Properties and President of CourseRev AI to the show. Listen in as they cover all corners of AI in this episode of Golf Business LIVE – including a look at how golfers are currently engaging with AI, how owner/operators are relying on AI, and all areas in between.   Then Episode 5 of 2024 Golf Business LIVE – Tech Talks returns with special guest Mike Bremer, Sales Manager at Relay. Listen in as host Harvey Silverman dives into the world of walkie-talkie communication. Relay is an innovative platform that combines hardware, cloud software, and mobile connectivity to improve communication at facilities. With features such as real-time language translation between employees and data tracking, are you considering improving the efficiency of your radio system?

Listen in as Jay Karen (CEO, NGCOA) and Don Rea, PGA (Vice President, PGA of America) welcome special guests Wesley and George Bryan to the show. The Bryan Brothers catapulted themselves to success by recording golf trick shots on their Youtube channel, eventually growing their audience to over 300K followers. Wesley also has found success on the PGA TOUR (highlighted by a victory at the 2017 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town). And now... you guessed it, they bought their own golf course! Discover the Bryan Brother's journey into golf course operations, and how they are using their facility as a haven for content creators looking to grow the sport. Then host Michael Williams talks with Jason Pearsall, CEO of Club Caddie, and Partner of Warren Valley Golf Course for a House Chat. Learn how Club Caddie has become one of the fastest-growing golf management systems in the country and continues to push forward with their technology. Are you looking for golf management software to streamline your operations and improve the overall customer experience at your facility?

BEST OF → For this special episode of the Golf Business podcast, listen in on a few of the highlights from an unforgettable Q&A at NGCOA's 2024 Golf Business Conference in Orlando, Fla., on January 24, 2024. National Golf Course Owners Association CEO Jay Karen welcomed golf legend and six-time major championship winner Lee Trevino, and they discussed countless stories, successes, and signature moments from the champion's career. Trevino was presented with the 2024 Award of Merit, NGCOA's highest honor, earlier that afternoon. Then host Michael Williams talks with Chris Nowak, Veteran & Military Liaison for the PGA of America – recorded live on the PGA Show floor in Orlando. Learn about the PGA HOPE program that will help over 17,000 veterans this year heal by learning golf. This 6-week program is designed to teach veterans the mechanics of the swing, become singularly focused on playing, and move past their traumatic experiences through the joy of the game. How can owners and operators play a part in this important initiative?