next on the tee

In this episode, I'm joined by Top Instructor Tom Patri, former Tour Players Bob Friend Jr. and John Cook, plus Whisky Run Golf Club Owner Luke Nieuwland.

Tom gets credit where credit is due for accurately picking Rickie Fowler to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic. We also talk about how to pick the right bounce for your wedges, the amazing Bernhard Langer, and how different the game is over in Scotland and Ireland.

Bob Friend Jr. talks about his father's illustrious Major League Baseball career including being the winning Pitcher in the 1956 All-Star game. I get Bob's thoughts on whether there is a path back for Jay Monahan and we hear about the renovations currently going on at Oakmont Country Club that will make it play even hard at the 2025 US Open.

John Cook gives his insights on the PIF/PGA Tour partnership and whether Jay Monahan will make it through this calendar year as CEO. I get his thoughts on Bernhard Langer's amazing career, how in the world he ever successfully putted with a Bullseye putter, and Ken Venturi's legendary stroke-saver tips.

Luke Nieuwland rounds out the show. Luke is the owner of Whisky Run Golf Club up in Ontario, Canada. It's a family-owned course featuring three 9-hole layouts. We hear about each of those, plus their stay-and-play packages, and the Birrdi golf tee sheet software that Luke and friends developed to help increase revenue, organize tee times, and make it faster and easier for players to book and pay for their rounds.

What a privilege to get to spend some time with one of the great people you get to meet in this life, Melissa Fitzgerald.

Melissa played Carol Fitzpatrick, CJ's assistant, on The West Wing. You've also probably seen her movies like The Truman Show and Monument Avenue or on other TV shows like Gray's Anatomy and Chasing The Hill.

Melissa and I start out talking about growing up in Philadelphia. She is the daughter of a father who was a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge and her mother was also politically active and volunteered in the community. They are graduates of the University of Pennsylvania. I asked Melissa what it was like for her to give the commencement speech at Chestnut Hill College. We then delved into how loyal West Wing fans are to the cast and show. She talks about the support she's gotten over the years from her West Wing cast members, and the new book that she and Mary McCormack have written about their West Wing experience called, What's Next, due out later this summer.

We then transition into the incredible work she's done following the show. We hear about how the In Excelsis Deo episode became a reality for her when she was hired as the Director of Justice for Vets, a non-profit organization focused on veterans' treatment courts. It has recently gone through a rebranding to All Rise. Her cast mates have rallied around her in her new role to help raise money and awareness for the great things this court system is doing to help our Veterans, who are dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues, get their lives back on track.

Be sure to check out the great things Melissa and All Rise are doing online at www.allrise.org plus give her a follow on Instagram or X @maffyfitz. The book will be available later his summer in August. You can pre-order on Amazon. I will try to get both Melissa and Mary McCormack to join me when the release date gets closer.

This week on Next on the Tee, I have a fantastic lineup of guests and insights that I can't wait to share with you. Kicking things off is our resident Director of Instruction, Tom Patri, who was my eyes and ears at the PGA Merchandise Show last week. Since I couldn’t be there this year, Tom fills us in on all the exciting new technology and innovations making waves in the industry. As the ultimate advocate for short game, short game, short game, Tom will also weigh in on an age-old debate—should you invest in a new driver or a new set of wedges? I have a feeling I know where he stands, but you’ll find out at the top of the show.

Following Tom, our good friend and former Tour pro, David Peoples, joins me. Peeps has quickly become one of my favorite guests because he brings so much energy, fun, and great stories to every conversation. Recently, he reached out to Tom for a lesson, and TP was stunned when he saw what David had in his bag. We’ll talk all about that surprise, plus get David’s take on two of the hottest topics in professional golf: the ongoing slow play issues on Tour and the reduced fields in Signature Events and set to be in place across the board for 2026. David always brings great insight and perspective, and you'll hear why he's become a show favorite.

It’s another can’t-miss episode packed with golf knowledge, humor, and expert analysis, so settle in with us and enjoy the show!

Rob shares his thoughts on the proposed merger/partnership between the PIF and PGA Tour. I get his thoughts on whether there is a path back, not for the LIV Tour players to the PGA Tour, but for Jay Monahan. We get a great tip from Rob for how to recover from a wayward shot into the brush with a restricted backswing and a drill to improve your putting stroke and full swing using two water bottles.

This week on the Next on the Tee podcast, I'm joined by 3 of the Top Instructors in the game who have become wonderful friends over the years, Rob Strano, Brian Jacobs, and Eric Johnson, PGA. New friend Greg Sabella, VP of Marketing for Uneekor, Inc., makes his Next on the Tee debut.

A theme this week is getting reactions to the proposed merger between the PIF and PGA Tour. Rob, Brian, and Eric all share their disappointment when they heard the news. We also discuss if there is a path back, not for the LIV Tour players to the PGA Tour, but is there one for Jay Monahan?

Rob shares a great tip for how to recover from a wayward shot into the brush with a restricted backswing and a drill to improve your putting stroke and full swing using two water bottles.

Brian shares the work he's doing with several members of the Buffalo Bills. Plus, we hear about his incredible weight loss and fitness journey that has dramatically increased his clubhead speed and overall distance.

Eric and I talk about how a player like Rickie Fowler can wake up one day and lose their swing and the grind to find their way back to the winner's circle. Eric also updates us on what's going on up at one of the great private clubs in the US, Yellowstone Club in Boseman, Montana.

Greg Sabella tells us about their amazing simulators, ones we all wish we had in our basements, garages, or game rooms. Greg also talks about their Eye Mini launch monitors that are like the ones we see Tour pros have out on the driving range. We finish up hearing about their acquisition of Evnroll Putters and their SweetFace Technology which almost eliminates any dispersion off the putter even when you don't strike it in the center of the face.