The Sidehill Lie Golf Podcast

How does a small-town Wisconsin kid who has re-created golf courses on computers go on to play an integral role in a major golf course development just down the road? How does a computer-game version of a lost golf course end up being carved out of the sand in Central Wisconsin? Brian Zager, digital golf course mapping specialist, shares the answers and details his unique journey in golf. Brian talks about his passion for golf and computers from a young age, his online golf hobby, and turning that into a money-making side business. Then, he discusses how Sand Valley, a golf resort 20 minutes from his hometown, changed everything. Brian dives into his most recent and largest undertaking at The Lido. From mapping the original model to implementing the plan in the field in an effort to re-create The Lido, it's hard to imagine someone with a more ideal background for this unique job.

To get in touch with Brian or learn more about his work, his website is http://www.zagerdesign.com. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianZ111.

Golf course architect Jeff Stein joins me to discuss his career in golf course design, working with his mentors, the golden age design styles of C.B. Macdonald and others, golf course photography, and running his own design firm.

Stein Golf Design: https://www.steingolf.com/

Follow Jeff on Instagram @steingolfdesign

National Links Trust Executive Director Sinclair Eaddy joins me to discuss the exciting plans to revitalize Washington, D.C.'s municipal golf courses. After detailing his personal background and experience in the golf industry, Sinclair highlights the history of and plans for D.C.'s three municipal courses: East Potomac, Rock Creek, and Langston. We talk about efforts to increase participation in golf at these facilities, including through workforce development and caddy programs. Sinclair outlines the National Links Trust's mission to provide affordable, accessible, and engaging golf opportunities to a wide range of golfers. We conclude with a discussion of the promise of NLT's model, the current status of the facilities, and what people can do to help in this important work.

National Links Trust website: nationallinkstrust.com

Golf Magazine Senior Writer Dylan Dethier and Sustainable Innovation MBA program graduate Cody Semmelrock join me to talk about sustainable golf. We start by discussing how the concept of sustainability applies to golf, then move on to golf courses and their natural environments. We briefly trace how golf courses have evolved from shared pastures to pristine playing fields. Dylan and Cody detail the resources that go into golf courses, including some of the factors and innovations that can help reduce water use. Cody outlines how golf courses can become regenerative, while Dylan highlights some courses on reclaimed land. We then get into golf courses as shared environments - both with nature and other people. We discuss shared uses of golf course land for things like agricultural and food production. Then we delve into multifunctional design, where golf facilities offer various forms of golf beyond the traditional 18 holes and include options for non-golfers as well. Dylan and Cody conclude with some creative thoughts on sustainable facilities and their hopes for where this conversation will go in the future.

Dylan's bio and articles: https://golf.com/contributor/dylan-dethier/

Cody's Acer Sustainability, LLC: https://acersustainability.com/

Australian golf course architect Mike Clayton joins me. He discusses his background as a professional golfer and how he got into the course design business. He outlines his approach to his work along with the principles of strategic golf course design. Then we dive into the distance debate in professional golf, where strategy has largely been lost due to the increasing distances professional golfers hit the ball. Mike describes the problem, how it has come to be, and how it has made many courses obsolete. He details the solution of rolling back the golf ball, of which he is an outspoken advocate on social media. We conclude with a discussion of the merits of bifurcating the rules.

Former PGA Tour player Lon Hinkle again joins me to discuss the rest of his playing career. We pick things up at the peak of his career in 1979 with his account of the famous Hinkle Tree. He talks through the rest of his prime, his struggles, his comeback, and some more of his adventurous travels. Lon goes on to tell the fortuitous circumstances that led him to settle in a small Montana town, where he still resides. He gives some thoughts on the state of the modern game and his views on golf course design before concluding with what he has been up to during Covid (hint: golf).

In the first-ever episode of The Sidehill Lie Golf Podcast, former PGA Tour player Lon Hinkle joins me to discuss the ups and downs of his career. He shares stories from his travels over the years, from signing on with sponsors in Guadalajara, Mexico to meeting his first wife in Switzerland. He also details the first two of his three career PGA Tour wins at the 1978 New Orleans Open and the 1979 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am. 

Follow The Sidehill Lie on social media for more golf content and to stay updated on the release of Part 2 of my conversation with Lon.

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