Tree of Life

20 May

S11, Ep 28, Pt 2: PGA Master Professional John Hughes and Journalist & Author Ward Clayton

published in category: Next on the Tee on Monday, May 20th, 2024 – 9:11 am

John Hughes is not only one of the rare PGA Masters Professionals, he’s also the 2023 North Florida PGA Section Teacher of the Year. His summer residency is up at McLemore outside of Chattanooga. John shares his perspective of McLemore and the new course The Keep. He teaches us why it’s important to positively express our goals, how to consistently make putts inside 5 feet, successfully chip from hard pan lies, and why we should hover our driver off the ground instead of resting it on the ground.

Ward Clayton was the Sports Editor for The Augusta Chronicle and Director of Editorial Services for the PGA Tour. He is the Editorial Director for Augusta National and their digital presence on Masters.com. In 2004 he wrote his first book, “Men on the Bag, The Caddies of Augusta National. He recently came out with an updated version of that book titled, “The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National.” In our conversation, you’ll learn who Stovepipe, Skillet, Pete, and Cemetary are. You’ll discover similar stories about even more legendary caddies when you get your copy of the book which you can find on www.blairpub.com or on Amazon.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

16 May

S11, Ep 28, Pt 1: Catching Up with Former Pirates Outfielder Adam Hyzdu and 5 Time Winner on Tour Jim Gallagher Jr

published in category: Next on the Tee on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 – 10:36 am

In Part 1 of Episode 28, I’m thrilled to be joined by two incredible guys: former Pirates and Red Sox outfielder Adam Hyzdu, and 5-time winner on Tour, now outstanding broadcaster Jim Gallagher Jr.

Adam Hyzdu’s journey in baseball is nothing short of remarkable. A standout prospect in high school, he left an indelible mark by breaking records, including surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.’s home run record at Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Despite not being selected as the first overall pick or landing with the Reds as he anticipated, being drafted 15th by the San Francisco Giants fueled his determination. Battling skepticism, Adam’s resilience led him to remarkable minor league seasons in 1999 and 2000, where he showcased his abilities by combining to hit 61 home runs and drive in over 200 runs. His eventual stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates saw him etch his name in history, with the AA Altoona Pirates who retired his number—a testament to his impact on the organization. From his memorable Major League debut with the Pirates against the Reds to the clutch pinch-hit home run that sealed a victory just days after his call-up, Adam shares great stories from his time in the big leagues, including his stint with the 2004 Red Sox during their historic World Series season.

Jim Gallagher Jr., a beacon of sportsmanship, success, and positivity in the world of golf. Hailing as the most decorated player in University of Tennessee history, Jim’s accolades span across prestigious halls of fame, including Indiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Reflecting on his recent honor of inducting his siblings into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame, Jim shares poignant insights into his incredible family and the significance of their shared legacy. From discussing his alma mater the UT Vols’ participation in the NCAA Men’s Golf Regional Tournament to revisiting his remarkable third-place finish in the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick—a tournament that witnessed the meteoric rise of John Daly—Jim’s journey in golf is one of incredible triumphs and fantastic stories. We finish off the segment with Jim’s thoughts on what needs to happen to bring the Professional game back together so we can move forward with the best players being in the same fields.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

16 May

From the newsroom: What is going on at Westmoreland County’s register of wills

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 – 10:30 am

 

In Westmoreland County, commissioner Ted Kopas has called for the resignation or removal by impeachment of the Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton.

Earlier this month, two judges found Hamilton in direct criminal contempt on three counts: disobedience or neglect by an officer of the court; official misconduct as an officer of the court; and misbehavior in the presence of the court and obstructing the administration of justice.

A Greensburg attorney has been appointed to serve as conservator over the office. The position gives the lawyer authority over all operations of the Register of Wills Office, where adoption records are processed and filed along with guardianships, wills and estates.

Hamilton has not spoken about whether she will resign or what she will do going forward.

TribLive’s Government and Politics reporter Rich Cholodofsky joined host Zac Gibson to explain what led to this call for removal and the consequences Hamilton could face.

This is From The Newsroom.

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 

10 May

S11, Ep 27, Pt 2: From Walk On To Hall of Famer & How Does TaylorMade Make Golf Equipment Better Every Year…

published in category: Next on the Tee on Friday, May 10th, 2024 – 10:46 pm

I chat with Wake Forest and Georgia Golf Hall of Famer Joe Inman and TaylorMade’s President & CEO David Abeles.

Joe Inman was a walk-on at Wake Forest in 1967. In 1969 he won the Arnold Palmer Award as Wake’s Top Athlete. Twenty-six years after arriving on campus, he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, after living in the state for several years and amid an 11-year run as Head Coach of the Georgia State Men’s Golf Team, Joe was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. We start by discussing his time at Wake Forest playing alongside guys like Lanny Wadkins and Leonard Thompson. From there we move to how he went from an alternate on the victorious 1969 Walker Cup team to going 2-0 in those matches. His play there earned him an invite to the 1970 Masters Tournament. Wait til you hear who he got paired with in the first two rounds. We finish by discussing his first PGA Tour win at the 1976 Kemper Open at Quail Hollow and then his years coaching at Georgia State.

I am grateful to David Abeles and the TaylorMade brand because they have been supporters of this show for nearly a decade. From the first time I met David, I learned he is one of the most upbeat guys you’ll ever meet. He shares the brand’s excitement over what Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda have achieved over the last few months. Their players on all Tours have had remarkable success this year. We transition to talking about the science behind their new Qi10 driver and how they were able to reach a 10K moment of inertia, something no brand had achieved until this year. We also hear what’s new with their TP5 and TP5X golf balls which has gotten David and me a 1/2 club longer. We round out the segment talking about their R&D team who are working on things well into the future.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

09 May

S11, Ep 27, Pt 1: They Could Play A Major Here & The Confidence Doctor Is In…

published in category: Next on the Tee on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 – 10:19 am

In Part 1 of Season 11, Episode 27 I’m joined by 2017’s Top 10 Most Innovative People in Golf, Bill Bergin, and The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters.

Bill Bergin is a former Tour Player and is now one of the game’s Top Golf Course Designers & Architects. He and Rees Jones collaborated on The McLemore. The 18th hole there has been named one of the top finishing holes in all of golf. They’ve double down on a second course there called The Keep. It is set to open later this year. Bill tells about the over-mile-long cliff edge holes they created there. We also hear about his other current projects at Coronado in El Paso, Texas, and The Links at Audubon Park in Memphis.

Dr. Bob shares the story of his 9th hole-in-one that he made recently while playing the Nicklaus course at the Reunion Resort. Then he shares the simplest key to releasing tension in our swings that will result in hitting better shots. You’ll think, “No way” but try it and see. Let me know if it works for you.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

09 May

From the Newsroom podcast: A look at the student protests at Pitt

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 – 9:38 am

Over the past few weeks, universities and colleges across the country have seen unrest tied to the growing public sympathy for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.

The University of Pittsburgh also saw a version of this national protest with its own Schenley Plaza as the site of students’ pro-Palestine encampment.

Universities across the nation, including Yale, NYU, Arizona State and Columbia, have seen protests by coalitions of students, faculty and other supporters erupt.

Protesters are calling for their institutions to divest themselves from any war-related investment in Israel. Many also want statements condemning “genocide in Gaza.”

These institutions have tried to disband the encampments with methods ranging from vacating deadlines and warning of suspension to escalated tactics like restricting access to university properties or requesting the involvement of law enforcement.

TribLive’s higher education reporter Bill Schackner joined host Zac Gibson to talk about his reporting covering this story and explain the Pitt student protests.

This is From The Newsroom:

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 

06 May

S11 Ep26 Pt 2: A First Class Instructor, Top Notch Artist & Speaker, & A Hall of Famer On & Off The Field

published in category: Next on the Tee on Monday, May 6th, 2024 – 3:16 pm

Brian recently moved from Rochester, New York to Palm Beach Florida. Brian is a two-time Western New York Teacher of the Year. His new club is one of the top facilities anywhere in the world, Ballenisle Country Club. It features 3 top-rated courses, 5 restaurants, tennis courts, pickleball, and a host of other amenities. It’s the Club we’d all love to belong to. Check it out online at www.ballenisle.org. Brian talks us around the club. We also discuss his recent email newsletter outlining the characteristics that make up great leaders. We also get a playing lesson for those of us who struggle with coming over the top and early extension.

Chandler Withington was a PGA Professional at some of the top courses in the country like Merion and Hazeltine. He recently shifted his attention to spending more time with his family, his artwork, and speaking engagements. His artwork is off-the-charts great. Check it out online at www.archive22.com. Chandler shares one of his favorite Arnold Palmer stories, plus the story behind his hand-drawn Masters piece. He bet on himself when he walked away from Hazeltine so he could spend more time with his family and focus on public speaking engagements. Hear him talk about why and how he made that switch.

Former Pro Bowl Kicker and a member of the 1980 Team of the Decade, Eddie Murray rounds out the show. Eddie talks about what it was like being in Detroit for this year’s NFL draft plus the Lions’ return to the playoffs last season. We go back to when he was first introduced to golf over in England, when he got his first set of clubs, the similarities between kicking and the golf swing, plus the Hope Network Golf Classic he hosts annually that’s coming up on Monday, June 17th at the Oakland University golf course in Rochester, Michigan.

Posted in Next on the Tee

 

01 May

Podcast: Butler County is Ponderosa’s last frontier in Pennsylvania

published in category: From The TribLIVE Newsroom on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 – 1:52 pm

This week’s episode feature reporter Joyce Hanz joining Zac Gibson to dive into the nostalgia and loyalty surrounding the last Ponderosa Steakhouse in Pennsylvania.

Butler County has one of the last of 16 Ponderosa restaurants left. It is located in Center township. Visitors travel from New York ,Virginia, Ohio and Erie to get a taste of the western-themed buffet.

Hanz walks through her reporting experience and explain why Ponderosa holds such significance in the hearts and stomachs of locals and visitors alike.

This is From the Newsroom.

 

Posted in From The TribLIVE Newsroom

 



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