VSGA‘s Golf in the Commonwealth Podcast

Golf In The Commonwealth -- VSGA Day and Senior Four-Ball

In this episode of Golf in the Commonwealth, we’re celebrating the scholarship recipients at VSGA Day, which was held on Monday, May 23 at Richmond Country Club. Listen in as VSGA P.J. Boatwright intern Ben Walls chats with our five named scholarship award winners. Stick around until the end to hear from VSGA Senior Four-Ball champions Buck Brittain and Jon Hurst. Chris Lang caught up with the back-to-back champs after their win on Tuesday at Washington G&CC.

Peter Gasperini - Golf In The Commonwealth

In this episode of Golf in the Commonwealth, Chris Lang chats with aspiring young professional golfer Peter Gasperini. A two-time VSGA Amateur semifinalist from Halifax who played for five years at Radford University before transferring to VCU, Gasperini recently qualified for conditional status on PGA Tour Canada. He has his foot in the door, as he says, and he’s ready to put in the work to make his professional dream a reality.

Gary Sobba - Golf In The Commonwealth

In this episode of Golf in the Commonwealth, Chris Lang chats with Wells Fargo Championship tournament director Gary Sobba. The event is moving just across the river from Virginia to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms this year due the Presidents Cup being played at its usual home, Quail Hollow, later this year. After that conversation, we recap the opening tournament of the 2022 VSGA championship schedule, the 4^th VSGA Multi-Format Team Championship, which wrapped up Tuesday at The Dominion Club.

2022 Championship Season Preview - Golf In The Commonwealth

It’s tournament time! The VSGA championship season opens on Monday, April 11 and Golf in the Commonwealth has you covered with a full preview of the championship season. Tournament department staffers Josh Coates, Amanda Braun and Kent Holubar join host Chris Lang to discuss the high points of this year’s championship schedule, with insight into some of the venues and new things players will see at championships in 2022.

Daniel Stamper - Golf in the Commonwealth

We’re releasing this installment on Thursday, March 10, the opening round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. We’ll hear from someone on the ground in Florida, past VSGA intern Daniel Stamper who now works for Trackman as a Tour Operator. Daniel takes us through his long journey from the state of Washington to VCU’s golf team, the value of the connections he made along the way in VCU’s Center For Sports Leadership, and the day-to-day life of running Trackman equipment on the PGA Tour. He also shares the best spot to grab a mid-round taco at TPC Sawgrass.

Michael Brennan - Golf in the Commonwealth

For our second episode of 2022, we’re talking with Michael Brennan, the 2019 VSGA Amateur champion who recently had the opportunity to play in the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational after winning the Collegiate Showcase at Riviera Country Club. It was another accomplishment in a career filled with them. Now a sophomore at Wake Forest, Brennan has won four individual collegiate titles, and all indications are that he’s just getting started.

Kent Holubar - Golf in the Commonwealth

For our first episode of 2022, we catch up again with VSGA manager of championships and junior golf Kent Holubar to see how his Youth on Course incentive trip to Pebble Beach went. Kent was on the podcast in 2021 prior to the 100-Hole Hike, and thanks to hitting the incredible benchmark of $10,000 raised for Youth on Course in Virginia, he earned a trip to California in December to play several iconic courses and spend time with folks from YOC national. Kent also talks about the upcoming VSGA Junior Golf Circuit season as it gets set to resume in the coming weeks. Here's our conversation with the VSGA's Kent Holubar.

Matt Smiley - Golf in the Commonwealth

For our final episode of 2021 we thought it appropriate to provide kind of an all-encompassing look at the VSGA and who better to offer that than our Executive Director, Matt Smiley. Many listeners have asked to hear a conversation with Matt over the course of the year so here you are. That being said, we actually had this conversation back in the fall as we were getting ready for the 100-Hole Hike at The Hollows to raise money for Youth on Course here in Virginia. The hike ended up raising about $55,000 to support Youth on Course here in Virginia all thanks to our hikers and the folks who generously donated to their campaigns. So, you will hear a little hundred-hole hike conversation in there, which, again, took place before the hike. Quick shoutout to our 100-Hole Hike sponsors Adams Performance, Cutter & Buck, Fore Craft Cocktails, GolfDom, Srixon and Turtleson. During the hike, Matt was the only hiker to have find his way around the course playing with each of the other 11 hikers at The Hollows. Without further delay, here’s our conversation with VSGA Executive Director Matt Smiley.

David Partridge - Lunchbox Golfer Inducted to Virginia Golf Hall of Fame

This week we’re sharing David Partridge’s Virginia Golf Hall of Fame induction speech. You may know David’s name from our Virginia Golfer magazine where he’s the author of our recurring Great Holes feature, or as a five-time VSGA player of the year winner or, as you’ll hear from Dottie Pepper, David is the player with the third most VSGA wins behind only Keith Decker and Vinny Giles. Thanks to our friends at Hourigan Construction, Lansing Building Products, Markel, MarshMcLennan Agency, TSW and Virginia Green for their sponsorship and support of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame. Okay, enjoy learning more about Virginia Golf Hall of Fame inductee David Partridge.

Kandi Comer - Success as a Player and Teacher

This week we have audio from this fall’s Virginia Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Kandi Kessler Comer was inducted with the class of 2020 and is currently the Director of Golf at Orchard Creek and has been recognized as a top teacher in Virginia by Golf Digest and as a US Kids Top 50 Junior Instructor.  Special thanks to our friends at Hourigan Construction, Lansing Building Products, Markel, Marsh McLennan Agency, TSW and Virginia Green for their sponsorship and support of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.