Granite State Golfers

In this episode, we unpack the slope and rating system that is assigned to each course. In part one, I talk with Peter Harrity, one of the owners of Candia Woods and The Oaks. Last fall, they converted hole 14 from a par 4 to a par 5; this change slightly adjusted the course slope and rating. I talk with Peter about that change, what went into it, and some other changes that will be coming to the Oaks. 

In part two, I talk with Kate Billings from New Hampshire golf. Among her responsibilities is conducting the slope and rating r...

This is a little different from our typical episode. It addresses an important—and sometimes difficult—topic: alcohol, addiction, and sobriety.

My guests are Ben Alexander, the general manager at The Oaks, and Eric Foster. Together, they have launched The Dry Golfer, a community for people who love golf and want to enjoy the game without alcohol.

As you’ll hear, Ben and Eric speak openly about their own experiences, what led each of them to sobriety, and why they decided to start The Dry Golfer. I’m grateful for the honesty, candor, and vulnerability they bro...

This episode features Sam Maurice and Gavin Richardson, who are fresh off a win, capturing the 4 ball tournament at Owl’s Nest earlier this month. We talk about their high school careers in New Hampshire and their decision to attend Southern New Hampshire University to play on the golf team there and the success that team has had in recent years. We then dive into the 4 ball tournament - from their blistering open round of 61 to how they found themselves in a playoff near darkness and how they won it on the second playoff hole.

Thanks to Th...

This episode focuses on the New Hampshire Open, which takes place this week at Nashua Country Club.

First, I talk with NH Golf tournament director Kinsey Hoffman about the event and some significant changes NH Golf has made this year. Then I’m joined by Lewis Pattullo, the head golf professional at Nashua Country Club, who is both hosting and playing in the tournament. We discuss Lewis’s path in golf, his role at Nashua, and what players can expect from the course this week.

Thanks to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podc...

In this episode, I talk to Jay Pollini who is currently the head golf instructor at The Oaks. Jay’s father, who spent nearly 40 years as a golf professional, got Jay into the game at a young age. We talk about his high school and collegiate career in golf and then his decision to turn professional. Jay takes us through the different courses he has worked at in New Hampshire and we discuss some recent awards he has won - recognizing him for both his teaching and his playing.  We also discuss his equipment and for the gear heads out...

Hi everyone, I hope you are well. The snow has melted and courses are opening - let's go! This episode features Dave Ousterhout, the superintendent at Concord Country Club. We cover a lot of ground - from his early days in the field to his move to being the superintendent at the Mount Washington Course, to his last 10 years at Concord. We discuss turf conditions, green speed and a very interesting dive into how technology is changing the work of superintendents. 

Thanks for listening. 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast again this season. Th...

Happy New Year and welcome to season 5 of the podcast. We kick things off with Albie Powers. Albie was an accomplished youth golfer, helping Keene High School capture 2 titles and he would go on to play D1 golf at Liberty University. We talk about his prodigious length as a kid and his return to golf after he took many years off. We also discuss his course record at Keene Country Club last season and as a pastor, we talk about what overlap there is between his work and playing golf.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the...

With snow on the ground and as we head into winter, this episode focuses on the history and soul of the game. I talk with fellow NH resident and golf podcaster, AJ MacVie. We dig into hickory golf, golf course architecture, the roots of New England golf and golf in Scotland. And like I try to do with all my guests, we explore the big question - why are so many of us drawn to this game? 

Thank you for listening. And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. Song is Good Vibe by K...

This episode features Connor Greenleaf. Connor won two high school state championships and then won the 2015 State Am while playing on the Boston College golf team. Then, ten years later, Connor won two big events this year - the stroke play championship and the season long match play championship. We talk about all that and more in this episode. Thanks for listening. And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season - the course is still open and in great shape. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

In this episode, I check back in with James Pleat and Tara Watt to see how their experience was playing in their respective USGA Mid Am tournaments. If you missed my earlier conversation with them about how they qualified for their Mid Ams, check out episode 66. I thank them both for coming on the show.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast.

Thank you for listening to the show!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

This episode features Jake Nutter who won the NH Mid-Am last week at Laconia Country Club. Jake talks about what made the playing conditions tough and he walks us through an amazing last six holes which included TWO eagles which helped secure the victory. If you want to hear Jake's full golf story, check out episode 60 from earlier this year.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast.

Thanks for listening!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

This episode features James Pleat and Tara Watt, both of whom have been on the show before. In this episode, I talk with them about their recent success qualifying for their respective USGA Mid-Am tournaments (they were both medalists!). They talked about their qualifying rounds and how they are preparing for the big tournaments coming up. We also talk about their pride in representing New Hampshire on the national golf stage. When the tournaments are over, I will have them back on the show so we can talk about their experience. Thanks for listening! And thanks to The Oaks...

This episode features Julianna Megan who is back for her second time on the show. She is fresh off winning her second women's state am title last week at Derryfield. We discuss the tournament and how she managed her nerves coming down the stretch to close it out. She is a rising junior at Holy Cross and we talk about her time on the golf team there and how her internship with Callaway this summer has her sights set on applying her studies in physics and engineering to the world of golf tech. Thanks for listening and I hope...

This episode features Tara Watt. We talk about her win last week, capturing her fourth NH Women's Mid-Am Championship. Tara shares how meaningful and emotional the win was given her back surgery two years ago. She talks about her course strategy at Lochmere and how a podcast helped her stay grounded and present during the rounds. We also talk about her injury and surgery and her road back to playing golf. I love having Tara on the show - if you missed her prior episodes, check out Ep. 2 and 11. Thanks for listening! Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is...

This episode features the return of Josiah Hakala - or Jojo as people call him. At age 18, he just captured the state am on Saturday at Rochester Country Club. I talked to Jojo last summer so if you want to hear his full golf story, check out episode 45. In this episode, we dig into the state am from his strong play in the stroke play rounds to his march through match play. We talk about the final round and Jojo shares some insights on key moments in the finals. With this win, Jojo now gets to play in the...

This episode features Brett Wilson who is fresh off of a win, capturing his sixth Seacoast Am title. Brett grew up in Dover and went on to UNH where he played for the club golf team. We discuss his two NH Mid Am wins, the challenge of the state am and why the Seacoast Am has special meaning for him. Thanks for listening. And thanks to my home course The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast.

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features Jesse Smith. Jesse grew up in Barrington and would go on to play professional golf on some mini tours and the Canadian tour. We discuss his early years chipping and putting at Rochester as a kid, to his collegiate playing days at Colgate to his experience playing in the 2013 US Open at Merion. Jesse also talks about some tragedies he has faced, including the passing of his father when he was in high school and how that experience has shaped him. I really enjoyed talking to Jesse and listening to his perspective on the ups and...

This episode features Jake Nutter and Demetri Stamoulis who recently won the 36 hole 4ball event at Owl's Nest - always one of the fun events of the year where teams go low. I talk with them about their respective golf backgrounds from high school through college and then we get into the tournament. They share stories of the chip-ins for birdie and the hot putter that propelled them into an early lead after the morning 18 holes. Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. And thanks for  listening! 

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is...

This episode features Cam Salo who is fresh off his first individual NH Golf victory at Baker Hill. We talk about the tournament and some of the key shots he hit coming down the stretch. Cam walks us through his bag and what he is hitting this year and we also talk about his tournament schedule for the rest of the season. As always, thanks for listening.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. The course is in great shape with the greens rolling at 11 on the stimp.

Song is Good Vibe...

This episode features Matt Schmidt, the Executive Director of the NH Golf Association. We talk about their recent brand launch and refresh and their efforts to reach more golfers in New Hampshire and the different ways people are engaging with golf. We also talk about some of the new events they are hosting. 

Thanks for listening and sharing this with your friends. And thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. The course is in great shape and the Pavilion will start having extended hours soon.

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and i...

This episode Kat Bordeau who has earned the NHGA's Player of the Year for the past three seasons - a remarkable stretch of consistent "boring golf" as Kat shares. (I am a big fan of boring golf - fairways and greens.) She talks about her NH Mid Am win and we also discuss her love of fairway woods (and polar bear head covers). She also shares some thoughts on how women's golf has changed over the years in NH. 

As always thanks for listening. 

Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is...

This episode features Will McLaughlin. Will is a great golfer and a great story teller - I had a lot of fun talking with him. We cover his early years in golf and he shares a great story about shooting the course record at Concord Country Club two years ago. He also shares some great stories about playing with Xander Schauffele at the US Amateur. I really enjoyed hearing Will's perspective on golf and his approach to the mental side of the game - something I think a lot of golfers can benefit from.

Thanks to my...

For my regular listeners, this episode is a bit different. We step outside of New Hampshire to check in with Kyle Porter, one of the top golf writers. Kyle worked for CBS Sports for many years and left CBS last year to launch his own golf newsletter, Normal Sport. We discuss that decision and Kyle shares his thoughts on the current state of golf and golf content. We discover our mutual love for Jordan Spieth and Kyle talks about what he has learned about life through the game of golf.

Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring...

Welcome to Season 4! We start this season with Nick Grimbilas. I talk with Nick about his successful high school and collegiate career and how he turned an internship with Taylormade into a job. We talk about his work at Taylormade as well as his career low round which he shot at the end of last season.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast again this season. If you are looking to hit some balls and get ready for the season, go visit their TopTracer facility which is open year round and heated. 

Song is G...

This episode features Patrick Gocklin, owner of Golf360 in Manchester, and they focus on teaching and fittings. Patrick started playing at a very young age at Derryfield and got the golf bug. He played through high school, picking up an individual high school championship and went on to play in college. Right after college, Patrick started Golf360. 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. If you are considering a golf membership for next year, call The Oaks - they have a lot of options. 

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is licensed under CC...

This episode features three high school seniors who each won their respective individual high school championship last weekend. I speak with Jascha Johnston (Exeter High School, 1:56 mark), Carys Fennessey (Dover High School, 21:05 mark), and Josiah Hawala (Mascenic High School, 29:00 mark). We talk about their wins and their plans for golf after high school. 

Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is in fantastic condition and with this great fall weather, call them up and make a tee time!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This episode features the First Tee New Hampshire. I speak with executive director, Chris Sargent, and lead coach, Jim Blalock. We cover the origins of the First Tee program and how transformative the program is for kids and the values it teaches them. I love the passion Chris and Jim bring to their work! 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. If you are in the market for a golf membership for 2025, give them a call. The Oaks has a range of membership options!

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is licensed under C...

This episode features the return of Harvin Groft. If you missed his first appearance, check out Ep. 19. Harvin is fresh off a decisive win in the NH Mid-Am last week. We discuss that victory, his mindset through the event, and his decision to put a new putter in the bag. We also talk about some other wins he had this summer and the injury that sidelined him for a good chunk of last season. 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. The course is in great shape and if you have not visited The P...

This episode features one of the most decorated athletes in New Hampshire history, Jane Blalock. After winning a few NH am titles, she turned pro and won rookie of the year honors in 1969. Jane would go on to win 27 times on the LGPA tour and make a staggering 299 CONSECUTIVE cuts! Wow. We talked about her early years in golf at Portsmouth Country Club and her passion for teaching women the game. It was a real treat to speak with Jane. 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast. The course is in great shape and their new g...

This episode features Jim Sheerin who was the head pro for 40 years at Abenaqui Country Club in Rye. Jim talks about the evolution of Abenaqui during that time and we talk about Jim's passion for teaching golf, growing the game and getting kids into golf. We also discuss his playing career which includes multiple wins and Monday qualifying for three US Senior Opens. Jim is a member of the NH Golf Hall of Fame.

Thanks to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast. The grand opening of The Pavilion at The Oaks is this weekend...

This episode features Amy Dickison who just won the women's mid-am at Nashua Country Club. I talk with Amy about her early years in golf, including being the captain of the boy's high school golf team. We also talk about her amateur career and playing in tournaments in CT, MA and NH. In addition to winning the mid-am, she also won the Players Invitational earlier this year at Baker Hill. During the WITB segment, Amy talks about building her own irons.

As always, thanks for listening and sharing the show with your friends.

Thanks to...

This brief episode features the return of Rob Henley who just won the men's state am last week at Concord Country Club. Rob takes us through the long week (9 rounds!) and he talks about the ups and downs of the final 36 hole match. By winning the state am, Rob gets to play in the US Am at Hazeltine next month. When Rob was last on the show (Ep.33), we talked about his love of hot dogs on the course. Rob gives us the low down on the dogs at Concord CC.

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring...

Ep.45 features 17 year old Josiah Hakala who is from New Ipswich, NH. He is playing some tremendous golf this summer. We talk about his big win in Texas last week capturing the PGA Boys High School Golf National Invitational. Josiah also talks about his goal of turning professional and his busy tournament schedule for the rest of the summer which includes playing in the US Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills. 

Thanks to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. I played there this weekend and the course is in fantastic condition.

Song is Good V...

In this brief episode (7 mins), we check back in with Carys who just won the New England Women's Amateur. We talk about that victory, which college she will be attending and playing golf at and what other tournaments she is playing in this summer. If you missed my prior conversations with Carys, check out episodes 16 and 28. This is the third time she has been on the show - the most of any guest. 

Thanks to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast this season. 

Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa and is licensed un...

This episode features Nick McLaughlin who just captured his third Seacoast Am title last weekend. Nick grew up in New Castle and went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Virginia. We talk about some of the people he played with in college (Scottie Scheffler!) and his decision to turn pro and his decision to regain his amateur status. Nick shares great insights into the game and how fickle it can be. We also talk about the last round of the Seacoast Am including the playoff which led to his victory. 

Thanks for listening and s...

Damon Salo, the guest from our last episode, returns to the show with his brother, Cam, to talk about their win last week at Owl's Nest capturing the NHGA 36 hole 4ball tournament. We talk about their heater in the morning, firing a 62 and then their slow start to begin their second 18. Damon and Cam walk us through the playoff that led to victory. Thank you for listening and enjoy the show!

Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. They will be making an announcement soon to unveil the first full golf entertainment facility...

This episode features Damon Salo who is fresh off a victory, winning the Players Invitational last weekend at Baker Hill. We talk about the win and we also discuss his stacked high school team (3 championships) and playing the Shattuck. Damon also discusses his collegiate career, his brief stint turning pro and which tournaments he is focused on this year. 

Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. Be sure to check out their US Open challenge tournament at The Pavilion powered by TopTracer Range technology. 

Thanks for listening and I hope you en...

This episode features Mark Baldwin who grew up in the Laconia area and had a very successful junior career capturing three consecutive state junior titles. He went on to play at the University of Notre Dame and turned professional after he graduated. He captured his first win as a professional in 2006, winning the NH Open. Since then, he has played on a number of tours around the world and has played in five PGA Tour events (including the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am). A lot of Mark's professional journey has been captured well by Ryan French at MondayQ.com...

This episode features Ken Hamel who has been the pro at three different NH courses and is currently the head pro at Stonebridge in Goffstown. I have known Ken for quite some time and as you will hear, he has a deep passion for the game and loves coaching and getting people to love golf. We talk about his early years in golf, his transition from being a plumber to a PGA Professional and his plans for retirement after this season. 

Thank you to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast.  The course has been op...

This episode features Pat Pelletier. Pat grew up in Lebanon, NH and started playing as a kid and quickly got the bug for competitive golf, playing in junior tournaments. He played on a high school team that seems like was stacked with a bunch of players. I talk with Pat about his collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, his decision to turn pro and eventually regaining his amateur status. We also discuss some of his big wins and why the state am title is the one he really wants.

I am excited to announce that...