Jake and Brett start with one of the craziest golf cheating stories they’ve heard. A former college golfer tried to claim a hole-in-one by dropping his ball into the cup when nobody was watching. Unfortunately for him, a nearby camera caught the entire thing. That leads to a bigger conversation about cheating in golf, questionable scramble scores and why integrity remains such an important part of the game.

Cheater Story: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/49577068/golfer-resigns-club-admitting-fake-hole-one

From there, it’s back to their own golf. Jake and Brett recap a great day at the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department charity scramble at Cronin’s Golf Resort, where their team finished third and had plenty of laughs along the way.

Then it’s time for the two-day Club Championship at their home course, Brookhaven Golf Course. Brett walked away as the net club champion, Jake finished fifth gross and their group witnessed Peter Taylor make a real hole-in-one on the fifth hole.

The US Am Tour Albany Region also took them to Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston, New York, where Jake went into one of the tougher courses he’s played on tour simply hoping to break 100. He shot 97 and walked away with his second tour victory of the season. They also talk about getting an early look at Wyndhurst Manor & Club in Lenox, Massachusetts, ahead of their upcoming tour stop.

Plus, the Rule of the Day takes an unusual turn with a look at what the Rules of Golf say when your ball ends up near a dangerous animal, and what happens when that animal isn’t alive.

It’s another episode filled with amateur tournament golf, great courses, bad shots, good rounds, golf rules and the stories that keep bringing Jake and Brett back to the game.

COURSES FEATURED
Cronin's Golf Resort - Warrensburg, NY: https://croninsgolfresort.com
Brookhaven Golf Course - Porter Corners, NY: https://www.brookhavengolfcourse.com
Wyndhurst Manor & Club - Lenox, Mass: https://wyndhurstgolfandclub.com
Wiltwyck Golf Club - Kingston, NY: https://wiltwyck.org

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

Then it’s time for some golf of our own.

On the way to Turning Stone, we made an early-morning stop at Fox Run Golf Club in Johnstown, N.Y., for a head-to-head round. Eighteen holes later, we were tied at 92 and neither of us was ready to call it a draw. That meant extra holes, an unexpected hype man and a memorable finish to a course we’ve quickly become big fans of.

From Fox Run, we headed to Turning Stone Resort Casino for a massive US Am Tour weekend featuring 115 golfers from across the country and beyond. We talk about the atmosphere surrounding the event, our winner interviews and what makes Kaluhyat such a demanding target golf course.

We also get into Scottie Scheffler’s season, tournament golf, course strategy and why events like this show just how competitive and diverse amateur golf can be.

Courses mentioned in this episode:
Fox Run Golf Club
https://www.foxrungolf.club/

Turning Stone Resort Casino Golf
https://www.turningstone.com/golf

Brookhaven Golf Course
https://www.brookhavengolfcourse.com/

Sponsors & Partners:
Blueprint Leadership Development
https://www.robshauger.com/

The Luxury Box
https://theluxurybox.net/

US Am Tour Albany Region
https://www.usamtour.com/

From PGA Tour controversy to our own amateur golf adventures, it’s another packed episode of Divots & Skins. Make sure you SUBSCRIBE!

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.

Don breaks down how the US Am Tour creates competitive opportunities for golfers of nearly every skill level through six handicap-based flights. He explains what tournament entry fees include, how live scoring works, how handicaps are monitored and how golfers earn trophies, prize payouts and Order of Merit points throughout the season.

We also discuss senior and women’s competition, qualifying for the national championship, traveling to play events outside your home region and turning tournament weekends into destination golf trips. Don shares how winning his first event changed his entire approach to the game and why tournament golf motivated him to practice, improve and explore courses he might never have played otherwise.

Later in the episode, we talk about standout municipal courses including Frear Park and Schenectady Municipal, preview upcoming Albany Region stops and share an unusual Rule of the Day involving the one situation where a golfer may legally hit a moving ball.

Whether you regularly shoot in the 70s, 80s, 90s or around 100, the US Am Tour may offer the competitive golf experience you have been looking for.

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

Jake and Brett talk through their early rounds at Brookhaven in Greenfield, N.Y., a course that has already forced both of them to rethink club selection, course management and the urge to pull driver on every tee box. They also get into birdie tracking, breaking 90, Jake’s chip-in birdie and why golf can feel like one big Rubik’s Cube.

The episode also covers a few practical golf rules, including embedded ball relief and whether stakes can be moved when they interfere with your swing.

Then the conversation shifts to the growing world of YouTube golf, including Grant Horvat, the Bryan Bros and the launch of the Your Golf Tour. Is it good for the game? Is it entertainment, competition or a potential circus? Jake and Brett have some thoughts.

A little course strategy, a little rule talk, a little ranting about pace of play and plenty of amateur golf honesty.

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.