Episode 12 of Divots & Skins starts with Scottie Scheffler and the grit it took to battle through the BMW Championship while sick. We talk about what makes Scottie so consistent, his ability to avoid bogeys and scramble for pars, and a lesson he learned from watching Tiger Woods bring the same intensity whether he was in contention or not.
Then there's Gary Player.

Jake watched Bryson DeChambeau's Break 50 with the 90-year-old golf legend, and Player's game, fitness and energy are incredible. We get into his longevity, career, legendary approach to fitness and a golf term Jake hadn't heard before: "ham and eggs."
Then it's time for our golf.

Can I Break 50 with a 90 Year Old? - https://youtu.be/2WwmlhkXE7k?si=nxX4AjNvFeHGMorh

The US Am Tour Albany Region wrapped up its 2026 local season at Wyndhurst Golf & Club in Lenox, Massachusetts. Jake was trying to break 100 and shot exactly 100, while Brett battled through illness, dizziness and his toughest tour round of the season.

It leads to a bigger conversation every amateur golfer can relate to: What do you do when the round starts falling apart?

Do you quit, or do you reset and keep grinding?

We also look ahead to US Am Tour Nationals in Oregon, the beginning of the 2027 tour season, our upcoming Myrtle Beach golf trip and Season 2 of Divots & Skins.

And Brett's Rule of the Day gets weird again.

What can you legally do when your golf ball ends up next to a cactus? You might be surprised by what the Rules of Golf allow you to protect and what you're NOT allowed to protect.

IN THIS EPISODE:
• Scottie Scheffler battling through illness
• What Scottie learned from Tiger Woods
• Gary Player playing golf at 90
• Bryson DeChambeau's Break 50 with Gary Player
• What "ham and eggs" means in golf
• US Am Tour at Wyndhurst Golf & Club
• Battling through a terrible round
• When withdrawing from a tournament makes sense
• Why you shouldn't quit just because you're playing badly
• US Am Tour Nationals and the 2027 season
• Our upcoming Myrtle Beach golf trip
• Rule of the Day: the cactus rule
• What's ahead for Season 2 of Divots & Skins

SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Blueprint Leadership Development: https://blueprintleadershipdevelopment.com

The Luxury Box - Queensbury, NY: https://theluxurybox.net

US Am Tour - Albany Region: https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html

Courses:
Wyndhurst Golf & Club: https://wyndhurstgolfandclub.com

Have a course on the East Coast we need to play? Especially in Myrtle Beach? Drop it in the comments. We're building our list and want to hear where YOU think we should tee it up.

We also get into the bigger story from the PGA and LPGA this week, Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda both missing the cut on the same weekend, and why that says more about how hard golf actually is than it does about either of their games. Along the way we talk about Bryson DeChambeau's analytical approach to the game, why your best shots usually come on the range, and why nobody, amateur or pro, gets to skip the mental side of golf.

From there we head to Fox Run Golf Course in Johnstown for a great round that included a two hole playoff, and wrap up with a preview of the US Amateur Albany Region event at Turning Stone, where we'll be interviewing winners and losers straight off the course.

Courses mentioned in this episode:
Brookhaven Golf Course, Greenfield, NY - https://www.brookhavengolfcourse.com
Frear Park Golf Course, Troy, NY - https://www.troyny.gov/1411/Frear-Park-Golf-Course
Fox Run Golf Course, Johnstown, NY - https://www.foxrungolf.club
Turning Stone Resort, Kaluhyat, Verona, NY - https://www.turningstone.com/golf/kaluhyat

Thanks to our sponsor, Blueprint Leadership Development (https://www.blueprintleadershipdevelopment.com). If you're looking for a business coach, Rob's info is in the show notes. And thanks to The Luxury Box (https://www.theluxury.net) for letting us record in their simulator room, if you're looking for a place to swing when the weather turns, that's the spot.

If you enjoy the show, follow us wherever you listen and leave a review, it helps more golfers find us and it means we can get to more tournaments.

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.

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.

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

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

Links:
West Point Golf - https://westpoint.armymwr.com/programs/west-point-golf-course
Travelers Championship - https://travelerschampionship.com

Sponsors:
Blueprint Leadership Development - https://www.robshauger.com
US AM Tour Albany Region - https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html
The Luxury Box - https://theluxurybox.net

The episode begins with a surprise scramble at Brookhaven Golf Course, where the tight layout and difficult greens proved that even a four-person team can get into trouble. After shooting far lower at a previous scramble, the group quickly learned just how demanding their home course can be.

Next, they recap their latest US Am Tour Albany Region stop at Thunderhart Golf Course in Freehold, New York. They discuss the wooded layout, doglegs, elevation changes, hidden water hazards, drop zones and the importance of knowing what is waiting beyond a blind shot. The day also featured a dramatic comeback, clutch birdies, skins and another trophy added to the collection.

Jake then shares his experience filling in at the ALS Open at Van Patten Golf Course, where his long game struggled but his putter came alive. A 50-foot putt, several long birdie makes and key par saves helped the team finish six under while supporting ALS research and patient care.

The Rule of the Day explains when a missed swing counts as a stroke, why accidentally knocking a ball off the tee does not count, and when taking an unplayable lie may be smarter than attempting a hero shot.

The episode wraps with a preview of the upcoming US Am Tour regional event at West Point Golf Course and a trip to the Travelers Championship.

Links:
Thunderhart Golf - https://www.thunderhartgolf.com
Scottie with his son - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Sponsors:
Blueprint Leadership Development - https://www.robshauger.com
US AM Tour Albany Region - https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/programs/usamtour_nyalbany/index.html
The Luxury Box - https://theluxurybox.net

Jake and Brett also discuss the growing world of YouTube golf, where personalities, production and massive prize pools are changing how fans experience the game.

Then it is time to recap their latest US Am Tour Albany Region event at Wahconah Country Club in Massachusetts. They talk about the mountain views, changing weather, difficult greens, elevation changes and the small creek that winds through several holes. It turned into a memorable day for both golfers, but you will have to listen to hear exactly how it ended.

The Rule of the Day explores the different relief options available when a ball is unplayable in a bunker. They also answer a viewer’s scramble question about whether a team can change its selected ball after everyone has already played the next shot.

The episode wraps with a conversation about Brookhaven, The Luxury Box, upcoming events and why golfers of every handicap level should consider trying a flighted amateur tour.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Links:
Divots and Skins Podcast: www.divotsandskins.com
US AM Tour: www.usamtour.com
The Luxury Box: www.theluxurybox.net
Normanside Golf Course: https://www.normanside.com
McGregor Links Country Club: https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com

The episode starts with a recap of the latest US Am Tour Albany Region stop at McGregor in Saratoga Springs (Wilton), a course that recently went fully private. Jake and Brett talk about the course conditions, the challenge of playing tournament golf, and Erin’s win in the event.

They also dig into the Rule of the Day, focusing on provisional balls and why knowing the rule can matter when you’re playing in a more structured event.

Later, the conversation shifts to The Conklin Center’s charity golf tournament at Highland Park in Queensbury, where the team finished second, made some clutch putts and helped support a great local organization.

It’s a mix of course talk, tournament lessons, golf rules, scramble stories and the kind of conversation everyday golfers can relate to.

Links:
US AM Tour Albany Region - https://www.usamtour.com
The Luxury Box - https://theluxurybox.net
McGregor Links Country Club - https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com
Hiland Park Country Club - https://www.hilandparkcc.com/golf
The Conklling Center - https://www.theconklingcenter.org

In this episode, Jake and Brett introduce themselves, share how they got into golf, and explain why they decided to start a podcast built around amateur golf, local courses, tournament stories, golf rules, and the conversations golfers have before, during and after a round.

They also break down their first Albany-region US Am Tour event at Fairways of Half Moon, including tournament nerves, fast greens, course management, mental-game struggles, flighted competition, and what it feels like to have your name announced on the tee like the pros.

The episode also includes a look at indoor simulator golf at Luxury Box, how winter practice helped build confidence, and the first “Rule of the Day” segment, focused on playing from red and yellow penalty areas.

Whether you’re a high handicap golfer, weekend player, competitive amateur, or just someone who loves golf talk, this episode sets the tone for what Divots & Skins is all about.