VSGA‘s Golf in the Commonwealth Podcast

Belmont Golf Course Grand Re-Opening

This week we're sharing what it sort of behind the scenes footage from the grand re-opening of Belmont Golf Course in Henrico under the management of the First Tee of Greater Richmond. We'll use these interviews for a video which you’ll be able to find on our YouTube channel but in the meantime we wanted to share them here in their entirety.  The event took place on May 24 and included speeches from the First Tee’s Board Chair, Ben Pace, and comments from county officials recognizing the journey the course took from hosting the 1949 PGA Championship won by Virginia’s own Sam Snead to then a point of disrepair and near closure. Guests heard from the First Tee’s CEO Brent Schneider and then Davis Love III who spoke on Love Golf Design’s work with the course before Davis then coached a group of First Tee participants down the first whole of the short course where one young lady almost made a hole-in-one, another chipped in for birdie and others made great putts to cap off a special event. After all that was said and done, we had the opportunity to interview Brent Schneider and get his take on the project and celebration as well as Scot Sherman who was the lead architect for Love Golf Design on-site frequently working on the renovation and remaining mindful of the A.W. Tillinghast legacy and finally Davis Love III who talked about the creation of the First Tee from his time on the PGA Tour Board of Directors through today where his company had the opportunity to create an innovative and accessible golf course which is under the management of the First Tee.

Larkin Gross is Playing in the PGA Championship

Our guest this week is another former VSGA member with aspirations and opportunities to play professionally, in fact, the opportunity to play in this week’s PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. We’re talking with Larkin Gross, the 23 year-old assistant professional from Springfield Golf & Country Club in Northern Virginia who earned his way to the PGA Championship after a third round 64 at the PGA Professional Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida. We spoke with Larkin while he was driving to Kiawah the week before the PGA and got the inside scoop on his excitement and preparation.

Lauren Coughlin goes from VSGA Champion to LPGA Tour

Our guest this week has achieved what many of us have aspire to, succeed in all levels of amateur events, play college golf and now play professionally. We’re talking with back-to-back VSGA Women’s Amateur champion from 2012 and 2013, UVA grad and Symetra and LPGA Tour player Lauren Coughlin. Lauren grew up in Chesapeake, attended the University of Virginia and has called Charlottesville home since graduating while managing a schedule on both tours. She has a unique sponsorship with the team at No Laying Up and despite having great success in many VSGA events, there’s still one title that alludes her…we spoke while she was driving back to Charlottesville from Florida so the audio may get a little choppy at times at spots but nothing we couldn't handle. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Lauren Coughlin.

Michael Chupka, PGA - From Midlothian to Bandon Dunes

This week we’re talking with a former VSGA member who grew up playing golf on the southside of Richmond at Brandermill Country Club and Clover Hill High School and then as a member of the James Madison golf team but has since moved about as far west as you can get in the continental United States and to one of the most beautiful resorts in the country, if not the world at Bandon Dunes. We’re talking with PGA Professional Michael Chupka who grew in the game in Virginia is now the Director of Communications for Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in southwest Oregon.

Three Strangers Play a Round of Golf...

This week we’re talking with Corey and Eric. These guys were both in Matt's foursome during the VSGA One-Day event at the Country Club of Petersburg. What felt special about that day and this conversation is that none of them knew each other going into this round but four hours later could have sat and talked longer than they did and were already setting up the next time to play. They’re both at different places in the game and with competition which is part of what makes the community of respective VSGA events so great.

Kate and Rob Tidgewell Play a LOT of Golf

This week we’re talking with a couple of golfers whose names are annually among the top of VSGA leaderboards…not the leaderboards you’re thinking of in events or championships though…the perhaps more coveted leaderboard of number of rounds played in a year. Kate and Rob Tidgewell, of River Creek Club in Leesburg, posted a combined 538 rounds in 2020…and those are just the number of rounds they posted to their handicap. It’s a fascinating interview with a couple who’s been married for 28 years on how they amped up their number of rounds, how they manage the emergency nine and how they sell golf to their friends who don’t play.

Troy Thorne, PGA Shares his Journey in Golf

This week we’re talking with PGA professional Troy Thorne. Troy is a Virginia native, graduate of Old Dominion University where he was a member of the golf team and now head golf professional at Hobbs Hole Golf Course in Tappahannock, not far from where he grew up…and, when Troy came out of high school he was a recipient of a scholarship from the VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation and is now giving back to the foundation through Hobbs Hole participating in the VSGA VIP Golf Card. Matt was actually at Hobbs Hole to produce a video on Hobbs Hole and their involvement with the VIP Golf Card and Youth on Course, keep an eye out for that on our social channels in the next few days.

Carrie Abernathy - A Woman with Drive

This week we’re talking with Carrie Abernathy. You may recognize Carrie’s name from our weekly Clubhouse email where we’d featured her in the member spotlight a few weeks ago…but for those who don’t know…Carrie’s an event planner, podcast host and blogger through her blog A Woman with Drive where she shares ideas on leadership, elevating women and golf. She’s also recently begun contributing to Golf & Travel magazine. Carrie took up the game just seven years ago and in this conversation shares really relatable insight on how she came to it and how others can do the same so without further ado, we hope you enjoy our conversation with Carrie Abernathy.

Buddy Christensen Talks Golf Digest Hot List

This week we’re talking about the Golf Digest Hot List. As a VSGA member, you’re receiving a complimentary subscription to the magazine and by now have probably caught the issue which contained the 2021 Hot List of new clubs and products. In flipping through that you may have seen today’s guest, Buddy Christensen. Buddy is the owner and president of GolfDom, a golf store in McLean, Virginia which helps golfers live the game through a huge selection of products, gear, fittings and more. Buddy has been a part of Golf Digest Hot List panel for the past seven years and in this interview shares is experience with the panel and his journey in golf.

Josh Coates - 2021 VSGA Schedule Preview

This week we’re talking with one of our VSGA staff members, Director of Championships and Golf Operations, Josh Coates. With the tournament season opening in the next few weeks we wanted to have Josh on to share news on the upcoming events and venues and how the schedule comes together. This conversation is co-hosted by Matt Pochily and Chris Lang. We hope this conversation inspires you to visit VSGA.org and find an event that’s right for you and join us on the course in 2021.