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    <fireside:hostname>app03</fireside:hostname>
    <fireside:genDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:30:33 +0000</fireside:genDate>
    <generator>Fireside (https://fireside.fm)</generator>
    <title>Divots &amp; Skins - Episodes Tagged with “Short Game Golf”</title>
    <link>https://www.divotsandskins.com/tags/short%20game%20golf</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>
    <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/3/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
    <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>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/0b70d0b7-63f4-4bee-8188-c3e758f2359f.mp3" length="81555840" 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 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>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/3/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/episodes/0/0b70d0b7-63f4-4bee-8188-c3e758f2359f/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <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 6 - Thunderhart, Clutch Putts &amp; Tournament Drama</title>
  <link>https://www.divotsandskins.com/ep6-thunderhart-clutch-putts-tournament-drama</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="false">7f3a4bb5-6819-4697-9a6f-980a77f2f235</guid>
  <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Jake Van Ness &amp; Brett Varney</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/7f3a4bb5-6819-4697-9a6f-980a77f2f235.mp3" length="80266176" 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>ake and Brett recap a tough scramble at Brookhaven, a dramatic US Am Tour stop at Thunderhart, and a charity golf event where the putter finally caught fire. They also break down hidden hazards, clutch birdies, golf rules, and why the short game can save your round.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>55:44</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/3/3a9104e4-ff63-46cb-9f5a-e9b668fe21f5/episodes/7/7f3a4bb5-6819-4697-9a6f-980a77f2f235/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;In Episode 6 of Divots &amp;amp; Skins, Jake and Brett cover a busy stretch of amateur golf filled with tough courses, tournament pressure, clutch putts and a few painful mistakes.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Links:&lt;br&gt;
Thunderhart Golf - &lt;a href="https://www.thunderhartgolf.com" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.thunderhartgolf.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Scottie with his son - &lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;amp;sender_device=pc" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;amp;sender_device=pc&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>Divots and Skins, Divots &amp; Skins, golf podcast, golf YouTube, amateur golf, US Am Tour, US Am Tour Albany Region, amateur tournament golf, Thunderhart Golf Course, Thunderhart golf, Freehold New York golf, Adirondack golf course, Brookhaven Golf Course, Brookhaven golf, Van Patten Golf Course, ALS Open golf tournament, charity golf scramble, golf scramble, scramble golf strategy, golf course management, golf mental game, hidden water hazard, golf drop zone, golf rules, missed swing golf rule, does a whiff count in golf, ball knocked off tee rule, unplayable lie golf, short game golf, putting tips, clutch putt, 50 foot putt, golf skins, super skins golf, flighted golf tour, high handicap golf, mid handicap golf, women in amateur golf, West Point Golf Course, Travelers Championship, Scottie Scheffler, golf tournament recap, Upstate New York golf, Capital Region golf, weekend golfer, everyday golfer, golf stories, golf improvement</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>In Episode 6 of Divots &amp; Skins, Jake and Brett cover a busy stretch of amateur golf filled with tough courses, tournament pressure, clutch putts and a few painful mistakes.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
Thunderhart Golf - <a href="https://www.thunderhartgolf.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.thunderhartgolf.com</a><br>
Scottie with his son - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc</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 6 of Divots &amp; Skins, Jake and Brett cover a busy stretch of amateur golf filled with tough courses, tournament pressure, clutch putts and a few painful mistakes.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Links:<br>
Thunderhart Golf - <a href="https://www.thunderhartgolf.com" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.thunderhartgolf.com</a><br>
Scottie with his son - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.tiktok.com/@pgatour/video/7655405620350209294?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc</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>
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