Along the way, he began documenting the journey on social media and his life changed forever. At the age of 26, he decided to put the pursuit of the PGA Tour aside to begin a photography business. Just three years later, he has achieved phenomenal success, and we talk with him about the journey.

Since their launch in early 2017, Cut Golf has grown from a great idea, into a robust direct-to-consumer business. This week on the podcast, their founder Sam and his partner Dennis came on the show to talk about how they turned this dream into a reality.

Trey from Outside The Cut falls in line with this recurring theme. Since starting his content driven golf site and Twitter account at the beginning of the year, he's had experiences that may have never come his way if he didn't just start.

So if you're someone who has an idea for starting something in golf or any other industry then this episode is for you as we talk about why he started in the first place, strategies for growth in the first year, experiences that have come from it, and so much more.

In the episode, we dive deep into Jones Golf Bags founding in 1971 and why it dominated the market for two decades, the reasons for it's purchase in 1990 and how this lead to the eventual decline of the brand, why the current team came along and bought Jones in 2011 and decided to relaunch it around the vintage carry bag, and everything that has gone into getting the business to where it is today since.

We also talk about some upcoming projects he has planned, what life is like living on the road, caddying in q-school, and a whole lot more.

Sean also has some great insights into the current landscape of digital media and some phenomenal advice for anyone looking to start a career in this field. I hope you all enjoy our conversation!

What makes Keith story so great is that growing up he didn't have any plans to be in the golf industry. It just kind of happen by chance. And well, the rest is history. Now he is one of the hottest names in the game and has a strong passion for his craft to match. 

In part 1, Keith and I discuss how he got into building golf in the first place, working with Coore & Crenshaw, the unbelievable projects he has been on including Cabot Cliffs, Streamsong, etc, how his career evolved, and more.  

Last week, **Riley Johns **discussed with us his phenomenal career as a golf course architect.

This week, critically acclaimed golf writer, Tom Coyne, joined us. Tom has recently published his latest book, A Course Called Scotland, and was kind enough to come on the show to tell us about his career leading up to it.

In the episode, we talk about how he became a writer in the first place, what inspired his first few books A Gentleman’s Game, Paper Tiger, and then A Course Called Ireland, where he famously walked the entire island before we dive all into his latest release.

This week, we are back with golf course architect, Riley Johns. If you missed part 1 last week about how he first got into the industry, you will want to go back and check that out.

In part 2, Riley and I talk about his approach to the highly acclaimed Winter Park Golf Course, aka WP9. His thoughts on why he thinks this course type is the key to growing the game, how designs like this have led to more opportunities, and his plan for his latest project, the renovation of the remarkable William Flynn design, Rolling Green Golf Club in Philadephia.

This week, golf course architect and founder of Integrative Golf Design, Riley Johns, came on the show for a two-part interview. In part one, we discuss how he got into golf in the first place, his incredible work ethic that allowed him to climb his way up the chain, breakthrough projects like Cabot Cliffs, and why he started Integrative Golf Design in the first place.

Swing Juice began as an energy drink company that started during the days when the Red Bulls, Vitamin Waters, etc, were becoming a part of everyday life. Jon loved golf and wanted to create a drink for your everyday golfer. He took the idea and ran with it culminating in the drink being stocked in over 300 locations including the holy grail, Whole Foods.

But to scale the company to compete with the big name brands at the time was going to take a monumental effort. Jon didn’t know if he wanted to take that next step at this point in his life. Social media also introduced a pain point. He was developing a big fan base around the brand but struggled to ship the product as the model was retail-based so far.

So he decided to pivot to what we know as Swing Juice today. Give today’s episode a listen to learn all about the captivating entrepreneurial journey that Jon has been on.

It’s because we have Sean Ogle, founder of Location Rebel and Breaking Eighty, joining us. I could not think of a better guest to have on to celebrate this landmark. Sean was hands down one of the biggest inspirations to me when starting G&E Magazine. When our growing media company was just a domain, I stumbled across his site Location Rebel. On the blog, Sean documented his successful journey from being unhappy at his job, to starting his own online business that allowed him to work anywhere in the world. The life he lived was remarkable, and the below video was the icing on the cake. I just had to get started.

Since coming across Location Rebel a few years back, I discovered that Sean also had a growing presence in the golf community around his stellar blog and Instagram account, Breaking Eighty. The blog was focused on his pursuit to shoot that coveted 79 while playing the top 100 courses in the world. And since then, he has turned the brand into another growing online business and community.

For anyone who wants to play more golf, travel the world, and work from their laptop, this one is for you. A big thank you to Sean for coming on the podcast, and I hope you all enjoy our conversation about how he started his first online business, his life with golf, advice for people who want to do the same, and so much more.

Zack is the founder of Private Club Marketing, an advisory and consulting firm that works with private courses to grow and retain their membership through innovative marketing techniques. What makes his story so fascinating is how he got into this business in the first place.

Zack didn’t grow up at a country club but was instead looking for a summer job at one in college. Being in the right place at the right time, Zack met a gentleman who was the VP of a club management company. He was able to land a job where he worked his way up from being a pool boy at one of their clubs, to a marketing position for their membership.

Along the way, Zack saw that the landscape of marketing was evolving which culminated in an idea for his own business. Private Club Marketing was born, and he hasn’t looked back since.

A big thank you to Zack for coming on the show. Check out this week’s episode to hear us talk all about how his business came to be, the freelance economy and how he uses it to grow his business, the importance of self-branding as an entrepreneur, advice for golf courses looking to excel in digital marketing, and much more.

Since launching the Golf Threads website, Greg now writes a weekly column for the PGA Tour, filmed a segment with the Golf Channel for their design week, and has interviewed the likes of Davis Love, Bubba Watson, and Graeme McDowell. Imagine if he never took that first step to start.

On this week’s episode, we discuss the inspiration behind the brand, advice on juggling a side-hustle with a full-time job and family, the golf apparel industry, and more.

But I am talking about the gift of finding your passion at a young age. From the moment he picked up a camera, he knew this is what he loved to do. After taking a year-long photography class in high school and cruising through the curriculum in a few months, Christian was able to work with his teacher to create a unique program that allowed him to hone in on his craft.

A few years down the line, Christian found street photography while living near Philadelphia. This artistic technique of photographing everyday life enabled him to find his individualistic style that we now see in his golf photography. And with that style, he has been able to make quite the name for himself under the handle @hafe_life.

On this week’s podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Christian about the evolution of his fascinating photography career and how it has culminated in him focusing on golf. We also touch on the opportunities being a creative in today’s economy can provide, how he sees this fitting in with his personal brand, his new charity Carry Hope and it’s noble mission, and his vision for where he wants to take it all. A big thank you to Christian for coming on the show!

Coming off of an excellent college career, Matt made the declaration to turn pro in 2009. After bouncing around the mini-tours and Monday qualifiers for a few years, the lifestyle of living broke while chasing the dream was starting to wear on him. He came to an all too often reflection point for many aspiring touring pros. How much longer can I go after this?

So he determined it was time for a change. Matt decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, becoming a firefighter while realigning his goals with golf. He was far from hanging up the cleats. If anything, he was just getting started.

After reclaiming his amateur status, Matt started his meteoric rise up the ranks culminating in a U.S. Mid-Am title in 2017. With victory came a coveted trophy and a few things all golfers dream of. Official invites to play in the 2018 Masters and U.S. Open.

Matt Parziale came on this week’s podcast to discuss his epic adventure with competitive golf. With a major theme of the show being individuals creating remarkable lives around the game, his experience is a pure example of that statement.

In this week’s episode we talk about his background with golf, his thought process during his Mid-Am title push, practice rounds with Tiger, his dad on the bag at the Masters and much more. A big thank you to Matt for coming on the podcast!

Jay Revell saw this happening and thought to himself that he had to get in on this movement. For him, he always loved writing. And golf has been his lifelong passion. He just never thought of combining the two.

That was until he went to a course called Sweetens Cove and was moved to write about the experience. So, he took to his laptop and put together an article. Next thing he knew, he was getting such a great reception from it that he decided to do it again. And again. And again.

And now, some seven months later Jay is starting to make a name for himself and opportunities are coming with it. He also sees the light at the end of the tunnel that this could one day be his full-time dream job.

Introducing our guest on this week’s episode of G&E The Podcast, golf scribe, Jay Revell. On the podcast we talk about his life with golf, what inspired him to start writing, how he is getting his work in front of the right people, his vision for turning this side-hustle into a career, and a whole lot more. A big thank you to Jay for taking the time to come on the show.

That big idea was Electric – an eyewear brand that was everything all other brands weren’t. One that was created “to encapsulate the energy of the generation that was changing things, doing things, and pushing the envelope, whether it be in art, music, or sport.”

And they certainly captured that energy. Within the first 5 years, Electric became a market leader in action sports eyewear across the globe. They eventually grew to roughly 50 employees and went through a few acquisitions. Sounds ideal. But founding partner, and current owner and CEO, Eric Crane, talks in today’s show that it was more or less the opposite. That at those peaks, the company lost the culture it stood for when it was created.

So it was time for a change. Eric decided to purchase the company, bringing it back to an independent brand focused on what they do best. Making unreal eyewear for their customers.

In today’s episode, Eric, and lifelong friend and Director of Golf, Cyle Cadam, join us to talk about Electric’s rich history, the thought process behind bringing the company back to independent ownership, why they are putting a lot of effort into building a golf department, and much more.

And their most recent project is full of passion. One day on a drive to a tournament, the two came up with the idea to collaborate on a blog. The Graceful Golfer was born. Their goal with their new venture, to reach and empower more women to pick up golf while sharing their journeys in the professional game along the way.

Anna and Armana are both wise beyond their years and have some extraordinary insights into golf, entrepreneurship, and life in general. A big thank you to the both of them for coming on the show.

In this week’s episode we talk about their lives on the mini-tours, what a day in the life looks like, their vision for the Graceful Golfer moving forward, advice for aspiring professional golfers, and so much more.

So why is it that so often players let their grips wear down to nothing hindering their game? We spend thousands of dollars on clubs, yet the one item that connects our equipment to the first fundamental flys way under the radar.

One guy who takes the golf grip very seriously is Bob Lamkin who’s company, Lamkin Grips, has been innovating that connection of hands to club for years. 92 to be exact.

What all started in his great-grandfather, Elver Lamkin’s, garage in 1925 has grown into one of the biggest brands in golf. Now, Bob Lamkin as the President & CEO works hard to carry on his families rich legacy while continuing to innovate the golf grip.

A big thank you to Bob for taking the time to come on the show. In this week’s episode, we talk all about the entrepreneurial journey that is Lamkin Grips, how the company evolved from leather grips out of a garage to a global corporation, what it’s like to manage a worldwide brand, his relationship with Arnold Palmer, and so much more.

At their peak in the 1980’s, Lousiville Golf was the original equipment manufacturer for the likes of McGregor, Wilson, Hogan, and Spalding, to name a few. From the original vision, the business had grown to over 120 employees while producing over 800 handmade heads a day.  Each persimmon has over 200 steps in its creation.

Think about those numbers for a second.

Then, the metal wood came along and all of a sudden there was a new challenge to keep persimmon golf alive. But Louisville Golf is a company built on passion, and with it has preserved the heritage of playing the game with this original equipment.

After watching this phenomenal video by Linksoul, you can get a sense of how special the business is. Jeremy and Yinyin Wright saw this and along with it an opportunity to get involved.

Jeremy Wright is a man who is very passionate about hickory golf, and through this was familiar with the company. After a visit to the factory, the couple saw the magic behind the brand and decided to buy the company with the goal of picking up the torch and continuing Elmore’s original vision for Louisville Golf.

A big thank you to Jeremy and Yinyin for coming on the podcast. We talked with them about the history of Lousiville Golf, what goes into building persimmons and hickories, why playing them is such a special experience that every golfer should try and their vision for the company heading into the future.

> “Stitch® strives to be the only company you will see with such precise attention to detail, all the way down to the last stitch.”

Charlie comes from a rich background in golf. After becoming a Class A PGA Professional, he had the opportunity to work with iconic brands such as Ashworth, Callaway, and Maui Jim. These experiences, especially with Ashworth, gave him the chance to see first hand what it took to scale a business from nothing into a multi-million dollar brand. In many ways, this was where he initially became inspired to one day pursue entrepreneurship.

> “That to me had just a huge impact on where I am today. I told a friend after my first sales meeting at Callaway that I am going to do this for ten years and then start my own deal.”

And ten years later, Stitch Golf was born.

What makes Charlie’s story so amazing is not just the business he has created but how he did it. He started Stitch when America was in a recession. All the while on the heels of two car accidents that forced him into the position to find a new career path in the first place.

But like so many great entrepreneurs, Charlie is an optimist. With the ability to see the positive in negative circumstances, he took what many would see as a difficult situation, and saw an opportunity. The chance to build his dream brand.

So he started. With a simple plan to develop the worlds best headcover. And did he ever.

After six years, Stitch Golf has grown from himself and his dad hustling to get it off the ground, to one of the fastest growing brands in golf. They have leaped into different product lines and are launching something new and exciting this Father’s Day (you will have to listen to the podcast to see what that is).

A big thank you to Charlie for taking the time to come on the show. It was an absolute pleasure to have him share his story with us all.

Check out this week’s episode to learn all about Charlie’s career, what the early days of Stitch Golf were like, his keys to growing at a rapid pace, and his timeless advice to any entrepreneur or an individual aspiring to be.

Originally founded in 1963, the family-owned Danish company is in their third generation. And they are different than most big brands due to the fact that they own every aspect of their business. From their tanneries to their footwear factories, Ecco keeps everything in-house.

With this setup, Ecco has been making high-quality footwear for decades outside of golf and have a very robust tannery business.

This dedication to quality lead to Ecco making a move into golf, and in 2010 their line blew up. This was due to Fred Couples and his 2010 Masters effort. Ecco decided to launch their Hybrid Street premier shoe with Mr. Cool as the Ambassador. Due to his phenomenal play, Couples landed the cover of the Wall Street Journal. Front and center was a golf shoe like no one had seen before.

The orders came in faster than they could produce and Ecco has not looked back since as the hybrid golf shoe is now a mainstream product in the sport.

This week on the podcast, David Helter of Ecco Golf, came on the show to talk about the history of the company, the evolution of their golf line, and how their partnership with Fred Couples put their entire hybrid style shoe on the map.

From starting an apparel company that revolutionized the industry with Ashworth clothing, to saving a local municipal and starting a movement with Goat Hill Park, John is someone any entrepreneur can look to for inspiration.

These are just a few of the topics we touch on in this detailed interview. John and I discuss his upbringing, his post-grad years caddying on the PGA Tour, the hustle that went into the rise of Ashworth, his time living in Scotland, the inspiration behind Linksoul, their new persimmon venture with Louisville Golf, and his final thoughts on entrepreneurship and life.

A big thank you to John for coming on the show. Enjoy!

Coming from small-town Idaho, Clarke landed an internship at a startup during the .com boom and never looked back. He fell in love with the culture, and with his work ethic and charismatic personality, Clarke has lead a fascinating life.

After working at multiple startups, venture capital firms and helping Skullcandy scale to an IPO, Clarke now runs deals with brand ambassadors and organizations in his current role at Stance. Since starting with the company he has worked with some big names, most notably in the golf space, Bubba Watson, and Jack Nicklaus.

In this week’s episode, Clarke shares with us the evolution of his career and some great stories he experienced along the way. We talk about working with Snoop Dogg and Slash while at Skullcandy, getting Bubba Watson into the All-Star game which is a must listen, what it is like to close a deal with the NBA, playing golf with his good friends Andre Iguodala and Steph Curry, and his thoughts on entrepreneurship and life.

Clarke is a really cool guy with a great story. A big thank you to Clarke for coming on the show. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

This is one of the many amazing things about the game. The style of it.

And when it comes to getting decked out for your next foursome there is no better place to go then Trendy Golf USA. Like the name represents, Trendy Golf is your one-stop shop for all the hottest apparel lines in golf. We warned you though, after going through their site your wishlist may get a bit long.

The brand was originally founded in the UK but was looking to spread its influence to the states. In comes Adrienne Cass, this week’s guest on the podcast. Adrienne is the Founder of Trendy Golf USA and has an incredible passion for the apparel side of golf. She loves to make you look good on the course. And well, look good, play good, right?

Right! And with this love for what she does, Adrienne has grown Trendy Golf USA, with the help of her team, to a staple in the industry.

On this week’s episode, she shares with us the evolution of her career and business, her thoughts on golf apparel and that side of the industry as a whole, how she leads her team and much more. Enjoy!

They are literally changing the game with their handmade high tech wooden putters that you are guaranteed to love.

Meet their Founder, Brad Converse. He’s a hustler. And with that mindset, Brad has built one of the hottest brands in golf in just 14 months.

One of the coolest things about Brad’s company is he documents EVERYTHING on Instagram. From his first putter to methods he has used to grow his business, you name it; he is talking about it. And with this approach, he has leveraged his social media following in a personal way that allows his customers to feel connected to his business.

With a background as a military contractor designing military equipment to survive nuclear blasts, Brad is a smart guy with incredible insights into the startup life. He has an inspiring passion for what he does, and after listening to this interview, you will see why he has been able to build a great brand at such a fast pace.

She has grown a following of over 20,000 people on social media, has been in a Nike golf commercial and is speaking at a conference next month to help improve the women’s side of golf. That is just the start. Jasmine is on a mission to show more women why they should pick up a set of sticks and get out on the links.

One of the best things about her brand is she is documenting the journey of a beginner that is just trying to get better and enjoy this great game. And mix in some Jazzy outfits as she would say.

Jasmine is great for the game of golf. We had a phenomenal conversation about her brand, how she thinks the women’s game can grow, the change in modern golf apparel, and much more. Enjoy!

After the death of a close friend and the realization that life is too short, Matt left his job in the pursuit of a dream career. He packed up his car and embarked on an epic golf road trip.

21000 miles, 72 courses, and 22 states later, Matt was beginning to garner a following around his work on Instagram.

This trip was the start of Golf In Your State, and his brand has been growing rapidly since. Our good friend Matt came on the podcast this week to talk about the evolution of his business, his favorite road trips, the behind the scenes work it takes to have this type of career, the 2018 PGA Show, and much more.

Their latest product, the GENiUS Ball, will have a GPS tracking your shots and all sorts of statistics on your smartphone. Not to mention they are working on implementing augmented reality glasses to go along with it. It’s like having a launch monitor in your pocket. This is some really exciting stuff and their passion for shaking up the industry is infectious.

Keith Blakely, a co-founder at OnCore and a lifetime serial entrepreneur and investor, came on the show to talk about the evolution of the company and their latest technologies. It was hands down one of the most interesting episodes to date. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

The founders are long time friends who love golf but did not like the apparel that was being offered. One day after a round, the two spent the night brainstorming and woke up the next day with a new idea for a golf company. And they haven't looked back since.

It was called Thirty6ix Golf Co. A brand made for golfers, by golfers. The idea was to represent the individual who views the sport as a lifestyle, not just a hobby. Someone who truly enjoys the essence of the game.

In a year, the two have been able to turn their brand into a movement with their modern and distinct take on golf apparel.

Thirty6ix Golf Co is also available in G&E’s Marketplace. Browse the shop to see their full collection of hats, shirts, hoodies, headcovers, and more.

Brad began his career in golf as an Assitant Professional. He transitioned into the golf apparel industry when Ralph Dunning asked him to join his new label, Dunning Golf. Brad spent six years with Dunning and eventually became the Head of Design for both Tommy Hilfiger Golf and AUR Golf.

One day, Brad was inspired but a comment his wife made and started researching and designing his line. The culmination of his efforts, Bradley Allan.

Check out the Podcast and the feature to go along with it to hear Brad discuss what it is like to start your own clothing line, his lessons learned from his past positions, his love for golf and design, and so much more.

Immediately, Andrew was fascinated by the game. Having a very entrepreneurial mindset, he thought to himself how can I get paid to play golf. Andrew visualized what that would look like and created his first business in golf, Golf Getaway TV.

From here, Andrew created Golf University and eventually Search 4 Scratch and the program and documentary that goes along with it.

The Search 4 Scratch documentary is a fantastic concept. Give six amateur golfers the ability to practice and live like a pro for four months. Andrew gives them the life of a professional athlete. They have a world class coach in Larry Montague, a sports psychologist, and Andrew with his background as a mindset coach.

Check out the podcast to get a first-hand look inside the mind of an eternal optimist. Andrew has a very gifted mindset towards entrepreneurship, and it was a pleasure to have him share it with me.

Now, LuxGolf has expanded into New Zealand and Hawaii and has established partnerships with Porsche and Callaway. Travis doesn't plan on stopping there as he has big ideas for himself and his company into the future.

Carolina has an phenomenal work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset. Do not miss the opportunity to listen to her talk about her story in episode 8 of G&E The Podcast.