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    <fireside:hostname>app03</fireside:hostname>
    <fireside:genDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:57:08 +0000</fireside:genDate>
    <generator>Fireside (https://fireside.fm)</generator>
    <title>Divots &amp; Skins - Episodes Tagged with “Golf Confidence”</title>
    <link>https://www.divotsandskins.com/tags/golf%20confidence</link>
    <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:30:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <description>Divots &amp;amp; Skins is a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the grind, and the stories that come with chasing better rounds. Hosted by Jake and Brett from Upstate New York, the show covers amateur golf, local courses, tournament play, simulator golf, golf rules, the mental-game, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’re not pros. We’re just two golfers who love competing, talking golf, and trying to get a little better one round at a time.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>For golfers chasing better rounds and better stories.</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>Divots &amp;amp; Skins is a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the grind, and the stories that come with chasing better rounds. Hosted by Jake and Brett from Upstate New York, the show covers amateur golf, local courses, tournament play, simulator golf, golf rules, the mental-game, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’re not pros. We’re just two golfers who love competing, talking golf, and trying to get a little better one round at a time.</itunes:summary>
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    <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>divotsandskins@gmail.com</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
<itunes:category text="Sports">
  <itunes:category text="Golf"/>
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<itunes:category text="Leisure"/>
<itunes:category text="Sports"/>
<item>
  <title>Ep 7 - Golf Broke Jake At West Point, Then Travelers Championship Made It Better</title>
  <link>https://www.divotsandskins.com/ep7-golf-broke-jake-at-west-point-then-travelers-championship-made-it-better</link>
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  <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:30:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</author>
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  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
  <itunes:author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>Jake and Brett recap a packed golf weekend featuring a US AM Tour stop at West Point, a trip to the Travelers Championship and a very honest conversation about fighting through a broken golf game.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>56:38</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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  <description>&lt;p&gt;In Episode 7 of &lt;strong&gt;Divots &amp;amp; Skins&lt;/strong&gt;, Jake and Brett break down a busy golf weekend that included league play at Brookhaven, a US AM Tour stop at West Point Golf Course and a trip to the Travelers Championship.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The episode gets honest as Jake talks through the frustration of feeling like his golf game is broken, from first-tee nerves to struggling through tournament rounds and trying to figure out what needs to change. Brett shares his perspective on pushing through golf slumps, focusing on fundamentals and remembering that even the best players in the world go through rough stretches.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The guys also recap Brett’s win at West Point, the importance of short game, what it was like seeing PGA Tour players up close at the Travelers, and why watching a pro hit a massive shank made every amateur golfer feel a little better.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Plus, the Rule of the Day covers free relief from manmade obstructions, including cart paths, rakes and temporary structures.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Honest amateur golf talk, tournament stories, PGA Tour reactions and plenty of reminders that this game can humble anyone.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Links:&lt;br&gt;
West Point Golf - &lt;a href="https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Travelers Championship - &lt;a href="https://travelerschampionship.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://travelerschampionship.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Sponsors:&lt;br&gt;
Blueprint Leadership Development - &lt;a href="https://www.robshauger.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.robshauger.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
US AM Tour Albany Region - &lt;a href="https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
The Luxury Box - &lt;a href="https://theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://theluxurybox.net&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>golf podcast, Divots and Skins, amateur golf, golf slump, golf mental game, golf confidence, broken golf swing, bad golf round, golf tournament recap, US AM Tour, US AM Tour Albany, amateur golf tour, West Point Golf Course, West Point golf, New York golf, tournament golf, golf pressure, golf nerves, first tee nerves, golf course management, short game golf, golf tips for amateurs, high handicap golfer, mid handicap golfer, Brookhaven golf, Brookhaven Country Club, golf in the heat, provisional ball rule, golf rules, USGA rules, free relief golf, cart path relief, manmade obstruction golf, nearest point of relief, Travelers Championship, PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, PGA Tour shank, golf fan experience, golf podcast 2026, amateur golf stories</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>In Episode 7 of <strong>Divots &amp; Skins</strong>, Jake and Brett break down a busy golf weekend that included league play at Brookhaven, a US AM Tour stop at West Point Golf Course and a trip to the Travelers Championship.</p>

<p>The episode gets honest as Jake talks through the frustration of feeling like his golf game is broken, from first-tee nerves to struggling through tournament rounds and trying to figure out what needs to change. Brett shares his perspective on pushing through golf slumps, focusing on fundamentals and remembering that even the best players in the world go through rough stretches.</p>

<p>The guys also recap Brett’s win at West Point, the importance of short game, what it was like seeing PGA Tour players up close at the Travelers, and why watching a pro hit a massive shank made every amateur golfer feel a little better.</p>

<p>Plus, the Rule of the Day covers free relief from manmade obstructions, including cart paths, rakes and temporary structures.</p>

<p>Honest amateur golf talk, tournament stories, PGA Tour reactions and plenty of reminders that this game can humble anyone.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
West Point Golf - <a href="https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course" rel="nofollow noopener">https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course</a><br>
Travelers Championship - <a href="https://travelerschampionship.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://travelerschampionship.com</a></p>

<p>Sponsors:<br>
Blueprint Leadership Development - <a href="https://www.robshauger.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.robshauger.com</a><br>
US AM Tour Albany Region - <a href="https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html</a><br>
The Luxury Box - <a href="https://theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener">https://theluxurybox.net</a></p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>In Episode 7 of <strong>Divots &amp; Skins</strong>, Jake and Brett break down a busy golf weekend that included league play at Brookhaven, a US AM Tour stop at West Point Golf Course and a trip to the Travelers Championship.</p>

<p>The episode gets honest as Jake talks through the frustration of feeling like his golf game is broken, from first-tee nerves to struggling through tournament rounds and trying to figure out what needs to change. Brett shares his perspective on pushing through golf slumps, focusing on fundamentals and remembering that even the best players in the world go through rough stretches.</p>

<p>The guys also recap Brett’s win at West Point, the importance of short game, what it was like seeing PGA Tour players up close at the Travelers, and why watching a pro hit a massive shank made every amateur golfer feel a little better.</p>

<p>Plus, the Rule of the Day covers free relief from manmade obstructions, including cart paths, rakes and temporary structures.</p>

<p>Honest amateur golf talk, tournament stories, PGA Tour reactions and plenty of reminders that this game can humble anyone.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
West Point Golf - <a href="https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course" rel="nofollow noopener">https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course</a><br>
Travelers Championship - <a href="https://travelerschampionship.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://travelerschampionship.com</a></p>

<p>Sponsors:<br>
Blueprint Leadership Development - <a href="https://www.robshauger.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.robshauger.com</a><br>
US AM Tour Albany Region - <a href="https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html</a><br>
The Luxury Box - <a href="https://theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener">https://theluxurybox.net</a></p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>Ep 4 - Normanside, Tournament Pressure, Back-To-Back Wins &amp; The Mental Side of Golf</title>
  <link>https://www.divotsandskins.com/ep4-normanside-golf-course-tournament-pressure-back-to-back-wins-the-mental-side-of-golf</link>
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  <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/a995ec10-de62-4655-81c9-2a369a95e294.mp3" length="55024868" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
  <itunes:author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>Jake and Brett recap Brett’s US Am Tour win at Normanside, celebrate Erin’s back-to-back tournament victories, and talk about confidence, bad holes, women in competitive golf, and putting alignment rules.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>38:01</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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  <description>&lt;p&gt;In Episode 4 of Divots &amp;amp; Skins, Jake and Brett dig into the highs and lows of amateur tournament golf.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Brett shares his recap from the latest US Am Tour stop at Normanside, where swirling winds, thick fescue, rough putting, and late-round pressure made for a grind to the finish. Even without his best stuff, he held on for a one-stroke win and proves one of golf’s biggest truths: sometimes your best round is not required, just your best effort that day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The guys also celebrate Erin’s back-to-back tournament wins at McGregor and Normanside. Her story opens up a great conversation about confidence, staying calm after bad holes, handling tournament nerves, competing in a male-dominated space, and why more women should feel welcome joining amateur golf tours.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Plus, Jake and Brett talk about what makes the US Am Tour experience so much fun, from local competition to national travel opportunities. The episode wraps with the Rule of the Day, covering putting alignment, using your putter as an alignment tool, caddie restrictions, and whether you can legally stand behind another golfer to read a putt.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you love amateur golf, real tournament stories, course talk, and trying to figure out how to get better one round at a time, this one is for you.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Links:&lt;br&gt;
Divots and Skins Podcast: &lt;a href="http://www.divotsandskins.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;www.divotsandskins.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
US AM Tour: &lt;a href="http://www.usamtour.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;www.usamtour.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
The Luxury Box: &lt;a href="http://www.theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;www.theluxurybox.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Normanside Golf Course: &lt;a href="https://www.normanside.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.normanside.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;em&gt;McGregor Links Country Club:&lt;/em&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>Divots and Skins, golf podcast, amateur golf podcast, US Am Tour, US Am Tour Albany, Normanside, Normanside golf, McGregor Links, tournament golf, amateur tournament golf, competitive golf, golf mental game, golf confidence, golf pressure, women in golf, women’s golf, women in tournament golf, golf course management, bad holes in golf, golf rules, putting rules, putting alignment, reading putts, golf caddie rules, Albany golf, Capital Region golf, New York golf, golf stories, golf recap, golf competition, amateur golfer, weekend golfer, golf simulator, The Luxury Box, Never leave a birdie putt short</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>In Episode 4 of Divots &amp; Skins, Jake and Brett dig into the highs and lows of amateur tournament golf.</p>

<p>Brett shares his recap from the latest US Am Tour stop at Normanside, where swirling winds, thick fescue, rough putting, and late-round pressure made for a grind to the finish. Even without his best stuff, he held on for a one-stroke win and proves one of golf’s biggest truths: sometimes your best round is not required, just your best effort that day.</p>

<p>The guys also celebrate Erin’s back-to-back tournament wins at McGregor and Normanside. Her story opens up a great conversation about confidence, staying calm after bad holes, handling tournament nerves, competing in a male-dominated space, and why more women should feel welcome joining amateur golf tours.</p>

<p>Plus, Jake and Brett talk about what makes the US Am Tour experience so much fun, from local competition to national travel opportunities. The episode wraps with the Rule of the Day, covering putting alignment, using your putter as an alignment tool, caddie restrictions, and whether you can legally stand behind another golfer to read a putt.</p>

<p>If you love amateur golf, real tournament stories, course talk, and trying to figure out how to get better one round at a time, this one is for you.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
Divots and Skins Podcast: <a href="http://www.divotsandskins.com" rel="nofollow noopener">www.divotsandskins.com</a><br>
US AM Tour: <a href="http://www.usamtour.com" rel="nofollow noopener">www.usamtour.com</a><br>
The Luxury Box: <a href="http://www.theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener">www.theluxurybox.net</a><br>
Normanside Golf Course: <a href="https://www.normanside.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.normanside.com</a><br>
<em>McGregor Links Country Club:</em> <a href="https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com</a></p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>In Episode 4 of Divots &amp; Skins, Jake and Brett dig into the highs and lows of amateur tournament golf.</p>

<p>Brett shares his recap from the latest US Am Tour stop at Normanside, where swirling winds, thick fescue, rough putting, and late-round pressure made for a grind to the finish. Even without his best stuff, he held on for a one-stroke win and proves one of golf’s biggest truths: sometimes your best round is not required, just your best effort that day.</p>

<p>The guys also celebrate Erin’s back-to-back tournament wins at McGregor and Normanside. Her story opens up a great conversation about confidence, staying calm after bad holes, handling tournament nerves, competing in a male-dominated space, and why more women should feel welcome joining amateur golf tours.</p>

<p>Plus, Jake and Brett talk about what makes the US Am Tour experience so much fun, from local competition to national travel opportunities. The episode wraps with the Rule of the Day, covering putting alignment, using your putter as an alignment tool, caddie restrictions, and whether you can legally stand behind another golfer to read a putt.</p>

<p>If you love amateur golf, real tournament stories, course talk, and trying to figure out how to get better one round at a time, this one is for you.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
Divots and Skins Podcast: <a href="http://www.divotsandskins.com" rel="nofollow noopener">www.divotsandskins.com</a><br>
US AM Tour: <a href="http://www.usamtour.com" rel="nofollow noopener">www.usamtour.com</a><br>
The Luxury Box: <a href="http://www.theluxurybox.net" rel="nofollow noopener">www.theluxurybox.net</a><br>
Normanside Golf Course: <a href="https://www.normanside.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.normanside.com</a><br>
<em>McGregor Links Country Club:</em> <a href="https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com</a></p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
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