Next on the Tee: Where Golf Legends Live & Your Game Gets Better

S12, Ep45 Part 1: Golf Positive with Debbie O’Connell + Ryder Cup History & Stories with Hank Gola

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two outstanding guests who bring incredible insight from different corners of the golf world.

First, LPGA Class A Professional and Top 50 Instructor Debbie O’Connell returns to share her passion for helping players strengthen both their game and their mindset. Debbie is the founder of Golf Positive and the author of Golf Positive…Live Positive: Lessons in Golf and Life. She’s been recognized with multiple LPGA honors, including the inaugural Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award, and continues to inspire golfers everywhere through her teaching, writing, and her “Conquer Your Golf Mind” program. Debbie joins me to talk about her latest projects, the importance of mental preparation, and practical tips for getting your mind prepared to play your best, plus some stretches to get your body ready to play, and how to keep from embedding negative thoughts into your brain.

Then, I welcome award-winning journalist and author Hank Gola for his Next on the Tee debut. Over his career, Hank has covered golf, football, and soccer for the New York Post and the Daily News, earning multiple awards from the Golf Writers Association of America, as well as the prestigious Lincoln Werden Award for golf journalism. He’s also authored several acclaimed books, including Ryder Cup Rivals: The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail. Hank and I dive deep into Ryder Cup history starting in 1927, the money Walter Hagan brought into the game, the 1991 War By The Shore, and the incredible US comeback at The Country Club in 1999.

It’s a fantastic mix of instruction, inspiration, and history with two people whose impact on the game runs deep. Be sure to come back for Part 2 featuring my conversation with Comedian and the Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast, Paul Ollinger.

S12, Ep44 Part 2: Pressure at Oakmont & the Ryder Cup from John Mahaffey Plus Dr. Russell Levenson's, Witness To Belief

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I welcome back one of my all-time favorite guests, 1978 PGA Champion John Mahaffey, making his 10th appearance on the show. John and I revisit his special connection to Oakmont, the site of his major championship win, and he shares how the course has evolved since his 1978 PGA Championship victory there. I also get his perspective on JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open victory before shifting gears to the Ryder Cup. John takes us inside his experience on the victorious 1979 team, recalling what it was like being paired with Lee Elder and Hale Irwin, facing Brian Barnes in singles, and handling the pressure of that opening tee shot on Friday. We finish up with a couple of wonderful Ben Hogan stories that you won’t want to miss, plus how he was able to successfully transition careers from play to broadcasting.

I round out the episode with another very special friend of the show, Dr. Russell Levenson. Russ radiates positivity and spirituality, something that shines through every time he speaks. Last time, we talked about his book Witness to Dignity and his friendship with President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. Now, Russ shares insights from his upcoming book, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith & Meaning, which features powerful conversations with 12 extraordinary individuals, including Condoleezza Rice, Denzel Washington, Amy Grant, Jane Goodall, and Dr. Francis Collins. His warmth, wisdom, and storytelling will leave you feeling uplifted and filled with positive vibes.

S12, Ep 44 Part 1: Brian Klocek, Director of Golf at Totteridge Plus The Keep & the Legend that is Rees Jones

In this episode of Next on the Tee, we kick things off with Brian Klocek, Director of Golf at Totteridge, a course that golfers across Western Pennsylvania know and love. Brian shares the journey of his career, starting with his college days at the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach, to South Hills Country Club just outside downtown Pittsburgh, and now leading operations at Totteridge in Greensburg—the hometown of recent guest Rocco Mediate. We also talk about Totteridge’s 13th hole, which KDKA TV recently highlighted as one of their “Elite 18” in Western Pennsylvania, along with Brian’s take on other favorite courses around the region.

The focus on Totteridge continues in segment two with my guest, the legendary course designer Rees Jones. Rees is one of the most influential architects in the game, with an unmatched résumé that includes seven U.S. Open sites, eight PGA Championship courses, five Ryder Cup venues—including Bethpage Black—plus Walker Cup and Presidents Cup courses. Rees takes us inside his redesign work at Bethpage Black and the incredible job he and Bill Bergin did at The McLemore on Lookout Mountain, a world-class golf destination that features one of the best finishing holes in the game. Now their newest course, The Keep, is earning rave reviews and, in Rees’ opinion, has the potential to host a major championship one day. We also highlight a few of my other favorite Rees Jones designs, including The Country Club in Boston, Oyster Reef on Hilton Head, Southbridge in Savannah, and Falcons Fire in Orlando.

This episode is a celebration of great golf design and storytelling, featuring one of Pittsburgh’s finest in Brian Klocek and one of the true legends of the game in Rees Jones.

S12, E43 Part 2: Zig Fracassi on Crosby’s Penguins, Tage Thompson, Olympic Gold & NFL Surprises

Back with me this week is a true class act and a member of our Thursday Night Tailgate Guest Hall of Fame—Sirius/XM NFL Radio and NHL Radio host, Zig Fracassi. Zig’s reputation as one of the finest interviewers in the business is well earned, and I’ve long said it’s a mystery how he doesn’t already have millions of followers on social media. His insights into both football and hockey are second to none, and his character is even better.

In this segment, Zig and I dive into the state of the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Sidney Crosby continues to shine but Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are showing their age. We discuss whether it’s finally time to break up the Penguins’ big three and the impact of Erik Karlsson’s contract. From there, we turn to Buffalo and the rise of Tage Thompson, before looking ahead to the Winter Olympics—can the U.S. finally get past Canada, and who else could contend for gold?

Then we shift gears to the NFL, where Aaron Rodgers made headlines by signing with the Steelers and silenced some doubters with his Week 1 performance against his former team. Zig also weighs in on the Dallas Cowboys and shocks me to announcing they are no longer his favorite team. We unpack Jerry Jones’ surprising decision to move on from Micah Parsons, one of the best defensive players in the game.

If you're not already following Zig on X @zigsportsvoice, do it because you're missing out on great insights and a very special human being.

S12, Ep 43 Part 1: Lower Scores, Smarter Swings, Fixing the FedEx Cup, & a Ryder Cup Preview with John Hughes & Rob Strano

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two of the game’s top instructors, each bringing their own brand of expertise, innovation, and insight to help us all play better and enjoy the game more.

First, PGA Master Professional John Hughes returns for his 6th appearance. As a Master Professional, John is in the top 1.5% of all PGA Professionals. He's also a Top 25 Instructor with Golf Tips Magazine, and the 2023 North Florida PGA Section Teacher of the Year. He shares a preview of his soon-to-be-released book, Instant Golf Improvement: The 6 Pillars to Golf Success, which offers a realistic path to better golf without overhauling your swing. John also gives us valuable tips on target acquisition, proper driver stance, handling uneven lies, improving launch angle and spin rates, sharpening our chipping technique, and eliminating costly three-putts.

Then, my gumba Rob Strano stops by. Rob is one of the most creative teachers in the game, the former host of The Golf Kingdom TV show, and his new Golf Academy is now open in Destin, Florida. Rob shares his candid thoughts on how to truly fix the FedEx Cup format, if the PGA Tour needs a playoff system at all, and what he’s most looking forward to about the Ryder Cup. Rob gives us a look at the innovative tools and training available at his new academy.

It’s an episode packed with playing lessons, fresh ideas, and insights from two of the best minds in golf instruction.

S12, Ep 42: The Steelers, Super Bowls, and the game of golf—Trai Essex connects them all with powerful insights.

On this bonus segment of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by 2x Super Bowl Champion Trai Essex. A third-round pick out of Northwestern, Trai spent most of his NFL career with the Steelers, helping them to three Super Bowl appearances and two championships. Now you can hear his insights alongside Charlie Batch on their show The Snap Count.

We dive deep into the current state of the Steelers—offensive line struggles, whether it’s youth or poor technique holding them back, and why the run game has failed to click despite significant draft and free-agent investments. Trai breaks down the differences he experienced under line coaches Russ Grimm, Larry Zierlein, and Sean Kugler, and what it really takes to command respect in the trenches. We also discuss defensive lapses, Mike Tomlin’s leadership, and why red-zone play calling isn’t maximizing the talent of 6’8” tight end “Mount Washington.”

Since this is a golf show, we talk about Trai’s love for the game, his round at Chicopee Woods in Georgia, when he first picked up the sport, and some of his favorite golf memories. Trai shares both his football and golf perspectives with the same candid insight that makes him a great follow on Twitter @TraiDay79 and a must-listen on The Snap Count.

S12, Ep 41: From The Final Broadcast to The Sports Time Traveler: Tucker Booth & Len Ferman Join Me

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two outstanding storytellers who bring both creativity and history to the game.

First, my good friend Tucker Booth returns to the show. Tucker is a professional entertainer, writer, rapper, and host of the podcast Rappers Don’t Golf. As an author, he’s collaborated on powerful projects, including Trouble Maker with Lisa Cromwell and most recently The Final Broadcast, co-written with Michael Whelan. That book, already earning five-star reviews on Amazon, is a deeply emotional, semi-biographical story that explores resilience, friendship, and the impact of cancer. Tucker and I talk about the process of blending his voice with Mike’s, why they chose a fictionalized narrative, the powerful imagery behind the book’s most moving scenes, and what they hope readers will take away.

Then, I welcome Len Ferman for his Next on the Tee debut. Known as The Sports Time Traveler from his popular podcast, Len is also the author of Great Golf Tournaments Volume 1 and The 1973 Mets: You Gotta Believe. A lifelong researcher and storyteller, he shares fascinating golf history—from Jack Nicklaus’ brilliance at the 1975 Masters, to Joe Louis breaking barriers as the first African American to play in a PGA Tour event, to Sam Snead competing at the highest level well into his 60s. We also revisit stories about Chi Chi Rodriguez, Dave Stockton, the Big 3 of Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player, and even a time Len discovered a very important error in the New York Times about a score that Johnny Miller shot.

It’s an episode filled with passion, perspective, and powerful storytelling—one that connects the emotion of today with the history that shaped the game.

S12, Ep 40: 6x Hall of Famer Jim McLean Talks US Open, Ryder Cup, & Bethpage + Steve Shingledecker's RMU Men's Golf Team Is On The Rise

On this bonus edition of Next on the Tee, I’m thrilled to be joined by two outstanding guests who are making a major impact on the game.

First up is legendary instructor Jim McLean, one of the most decorated teachers in golf history and a 2025 inductee into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Jim reflects on the honor, his extraordinary playing career that included being one of the rare players to ever play in the U.S. Junior AM, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and U.S. Senior Open. He was a part of the UH team that won the 1970 Natty. As an Instructor, he was an early adopter of technology like video analysis and TrackMan. We talk about all of that plus his student James Nicholas, who impressed at this year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont by shooting an opening round 69. Jim also shares lessons from his archives, the debate around “swinging left,” and what he’s most looking forward to at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Then I catch up with my favorite college golf coach, Robert Morris Head Men’s Golf Coach Steve Shingledecker. Steve has transformed the Colonials into a rising contender. We revisit their best-ever Horizon League finish, the confidence it created, and standout play from Chuck Tragresser, who earned his first win at the Western PA Spring Stroke Play and finished runner-up at the WPGA Open. Steve updates us on the hard work the rest of the team’s roster has put in that will have them contending this season for tournament titles and individual medalist honors. We break down their fall and spring schedule, plus Steve shares how the energy started by the RMU basketball team's run in the NCAA tournament is fueling excitement around the golf program.

Two great conversations this week filled with stories, lessons, and inspiration for players and fans alike.