Five of the best moments from our podcasts this year
12/29/2024 | by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com
From rolling basketballs to Curtis Cup upsets to making a deuce at Pinehurst No. 2
It was a great year of Amateur Golf podcasts. A bunch of great guests joined the show to share their experience and expertise. We kicked it off with a David McKlay-Kidd interview in January as he worked on some new projects and commemorated the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Bandon Dunes.
Here are some highlights from the year. You can listen to all our podcasts on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Catriona Matthew: The Curtis Cup Captain speaks about the impact of Lottie Woad on her team
The World No. 1 and AmateurGolf.com Women's Player of the Year was a pivotal member of the Great Britain and Ireland squad that upset Team USA at Sunningdale. Matthew knew that Woad would play an integral part in the competition.
Colin Prater: Deuce on No. 2 during the U.S. Open
The biology teacher from Colorado made news just by qualifying for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He shared some stories on the podcast about his experience at Pinehurst, including first hand accounts of witnessing the Tiger Woods effect.
However, his story about making a birdie on his final hole on Friday in the last group was our highlight. The deuce on the ninth hole earned him a token, as is the tradition any time a player makes a “Deuce on No. 2.”
Michael Leonard: Recovering a lost Titleist 5-wood
Michael Leonard is the founder of Wicked Smart Golf. He shares an incredible story about losing a 5-wood after tossing it into a pond as a 19 year old. The effort he makes to recover the brand-new club in total darkness is incredible.
Rachel Kuehn: How she focuses on playing “Rachel Golf”
Rachel Kuehn is one of the most decorated amateurs of this generation. The Wake Forest star won the NCAA title with the Demon Deacons and also clinched the Curtis Cup on two different occasions. Even a player of her stature can hit rough patches, and her mantra of playing “Rachel Golf” is a great lesson for anyone looking to find their game.
Hunter Hamrick: Playing with a big lead while his friends text him congratulations
Don’t text your friends until they actually win the event. Hunter Hamrick, who is Nick Dunlap’s caddie, won the NIT at CC of Birmingham. However, a premature text on the 17th tee from a friend congratulating him on his win made the last two holes a little more nervy than Hamrick would have liked.
Mcclay Kidd: On rolling basketballs to test slopes on his golf courses
David McClay-Kidd is part of this new age of excellent golf architects. During our discussion, which touched on his career and what he’s learned over the years, he shared a cool trick that he uses to test slopes before growing grass. He tosses a basketball along the dirt because it’s the perfect weight and mimics how a golf ball rolls.
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