Episodes

  • BONUS EPISODE! FOR A GREAT CAUSE SIGN UP NOW OR DONATE!!!!!!
    Jan 15 2026
    Welcome back to the podcast! Today’s episode is a special one because we’re spotlighting golf that goes way beyond the scorecard. I’m joined by Shawn Hulbert, one of the organizers behind an Indoor Golf Charity Tournament benefiting Patriot Hills of New York, an incredible organization supporting our nation’s veterans.This event is happening January 16th at Rotterdam Golf Lounge, and it’s loaded — competitive indoor golf, food and drinks, raffles, a 50/50, and even a $2,500 hole-in-one challenge. Whether you’re a golfer looking to compete or someone who just wants to support a great cause, this is an event you’ll want to be part of.Shawn breaks down how the tournament came together, where the money goes, and how you can sign up, donate, or get involved, even if you’re not swinging a club. So stick around, spread the word, and let’s help make a real impact through the game we all love.Let’s get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 mins
  • EPISODE 121- STEVEN DURAND PGA COACH
    Jan 14 2026
    We’re fired up to welcome Steven Durand to the podcast! Steven is a PGA Golf Coach and one of the most respected instructors in the game today. He was named Regional Coach of the Year in 2023–2024 and followed that up by earning 2025 Coach of the Year, a true testament to the impact he’s making both on and off the course. But Steven’s story goes way beyond golf. Before coaching, he was a professional dancer, even spending time as a backup dancer for Vanilla Ice. That background in movement, balance, and rhythm plays a huge role in how he teaches the golf swing today. Oh—and if that wasn’t enough, he’s also a pretty legit skateboarder, bringing a unique edge and creativity to everything he does. Tune in as we dive into Steven’s incredible journey, how dance and skating shaped his coaching philosophy, and what separates great instructors from the rest. 🔥 Big shoutout to our sponsors for making this episode possible:88 Links Golf 88Links Golf USE CODE "UPSTATE" AT CHECKOUT and Hudson Valley Indoor Golf — Make your tee time now at HOME | Hudson Valley Golf go support the brands that support the show! This is one episode you don’t want to miss. 🎙️⛳ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • EPISODE 120- GIPPER FINAU
    Jan 7 2026
    This episode was a fun one as we sat down with Gipper Finau, brother of PGA Tour star Tony Finau, for a wide-ranging conversation that hits on golf, family, grit, and what’s next. Gipper shared some great stories from back in the day, including how walking down a path he probably shouldn’t have been on is actually what led to his introduction to the game of golf. We talked about the journey since then and how golf became a powerful force in his life. We also dove into the incredible work being done through the Gipper Finau Foundation, the impact it’s having, and what Gipper sees for the future. On top of that, Gipper teased future plans involving Pro Mastery Classes for content creators, aimed at helping others grow, build, and succeed in the golf content space. The guys also chopped it up about Lombardi Putters — why they’re so good, why they’re affordable, and why they’ve become a favorite. Gipper even shared some stories about time spent with Uncle Paulie down in New Orleans and how that relationship came together. Of course, we couldn’t have Gipper on without talking about Tony’s success on the PGA Tour, including the wild moment at Augusta when Tony made an ace during the Par 3 Contest, dislocated his ankle, popped it back into place, and then went out leading after Day One. Unreal. And don’t skip the spitfire questions at the end — including the big one: 👉 Who talks more smack… Tony or Gipper? You’ll have to tune in to find out. Check out everything Gipper has going on here: 👉 https://gipperfinau.com/?v=966cb237d600 Huge shoutout to our sponsors for making the show possible: ⛳ 88 Links Golf — use promo code UPSTATE20 at checkout ⛳ Hudson Valley Indoor Golf — book your time at hvigolf.com Hit play, enjoy the stories, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • NEW YEAR WRAP UP
    Dec 31 2025
    Looking back on some of our best golf moments from the 2025 season. From unforgettable rounds to big milestones on and off the course, we reflected on what made this year special and why golf continues to bring the best stories with it. We also showed love to some of our favorite guests who joined us on the podcast over the past year — incredible golfers, creators, and personalities who brought insight, laughs, and real conversations to the mic. If you’ve been riding with us all year, this episode is a reminder of just how stacked the guest list has been. To kick off the New Year, we got into golf New Year’s resolutions — what we’re working on, what we’re leaving behind, and how we’re attacking the upcoming season with fresh motivation. Goals, mindset, improvement, and plenty of banter along the way. Huge shoutout to our sponsors who continue to support the podcast: 88 Links — your go-to for golf gear, apparel, and accessories, specializing in shoes while also carrying hats, polos, gloves, and ball markers. Hudson Valley Indoor Golf — elite indoor golf experience with cutting-edge simulator technology, access to over 150,000 courses, and a massive putting green to dial in your short game. New year, same love for the game. Tune in and kick off 2026 with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • EPISODE 119- JUNIOR GOLF DAD, JARED LOTT
    Dec 24 2025
    This episode we’re joined by Jared Lott, father of junior golfer Brantley Lott, who you might remember from his appearance on the podcast a few months back. Jared hopped on to talk all things junior golf, especially for families and players who love competitive golf and are looking for the right tours to get involved with. We broke down two of the best junior tours to join right now. First up was iGen Junior Golf, with their opening event set at Sea Trail Resort. Tons of giveaways, two days of awesome golf, and a great competitive environment for junior players. If you’re looking to get your junior involved, this is one you don’t want to miss — check them out at igenjuniorchampionships.com. We also talked about the Southern Showcase Tour, another excellent option for juniors getting into competitive golf and looking to grow their game in the right environment. You can learn more about that tour at southernshowcasejuniorgolf.com. Of course, we couldn’t help ourselves and got into a little Tiger Woods talk — will we ever see him truly back competing again? And we wrapped things up by finding out whether Jared ever actually gets time to golf himself between raising a junior golfer and everything else life throws at you. Huge shoutout to our awesome sponsors 88 Links Golf and Hudson Valley Indoor Golf for continuing to support the show. Be sure to check them out and support the brands that support the pod. Another great conversation packed with junior golf insight — tune in and enjoy! ⛳ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • GOLFWEEK UPDATES WITH TOUR DIRECTORS/INDOOR INVITE RECAP
    Dec 23 2025
    This episode of the Upstate Golf Guys Podcast is loaded from top to bottom with tournament news, competitive fire, and big things coming for the upcoming season. We were joined by Golfweek Amateur Tour Director Evan Silkworth, along with Assistant Director Mike Winters, to break down what events are officially set in stone and what players across the region have to look forward to this year. From confirmed stops like Swan Colony Country Club and Shaker Ridge, to the overall vision for the season, Evan and Mike give a behind-the-scenes look at how the Golfweek Amateur Tour continues to grow and deliver a true competitive experience for golfers of all skill levels. The Upstate Golf Guys plan on doing weekly segments bringing the highlights from Golfweek events to the podcast week to week. We also brought in Jeremy Hays and Josh Parlapiano, two finalists from the Upstate Golf Guys Indoor Invitation, to recap an intense indoor showdown. Both guys battled their way through the field, with Jeremy ultimately taking home the cheddar and claiming bragging rights. They break down the pressure, the format, and what it meant to compete in one of the most competitive indoor events we’ve hosted. Huge shoutout to our sponsors who make all of this possible — 88 Links, your go-to for premium golf gear, shoes, apparel, and accessories, and Hudson Valley Indoor Golf, the home for year-round competition, elite practice, and top-tier indoor golf experiences. If you’re into competitive golf, local tournaments, and what’s next for the Upstate golf scene, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 🎙️⛳ SIGN UP NOW AT Golfweek Amateur Tour Please subscribe to the Upstate Golf Guys on You Tube for all the video versions of the podcast and golf content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • EPISODE 118-ANDREW AUSTEN (YOUR FAVORITE ONE ARMED GOLFER)
    Dec 17 2025
    This week on The Upstate Golf Guys Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Austen, also known as your favorite one-armed golfer. Andrew was most recently featured in the Internet Invitational put on by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, and he didn’t just show up — he made a serious run and delivered some truly epic golf content along the way. We dive deep into Andrew’s journey in adaptive golf, the unforgettable moment he got the call from Frankie at Barstool, and how everything went from zero to real fast. From landing at Big Cedar Lodge to seeing the Good Good boys and Paige Spiranac in person, Andrew talks about the exact moment it hit him — this was real. We got into each round and what it was like playing with the Duke where he walked away with some cheddar! Andrew also played with one of the winners at one point, Brad Dalke! Plus, you won’t want to miss the hilarious Andrew Santino mix-up when the Andrews arrived at Big Cedar, an all-time story that had us rolling. We can’t thank Andrew enough for taking time out of his busy schedule to come chop it up with The Upstate Golf Guys. His story, mindset, and love for the game are straight-up inspiring. Check out Andrew on Instagram at Jimmythekiiid and follow his journey! https://www.instagram.com/jimmythekiiid?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Huge shoutout to our sponsors: 88 Links Golf 88Links Golf Hudson Valley Indoor Golf HOME | Hudson Valley Golf This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • DRAFT NIGHT!!! THE UGG INDOOR INVITATIONAL
    Dec 13 2025
    We went live on the pod to draft teams for our upcoming event at Hudson Valley Indoor Golf, and it got competitive fast. We straight copy-catted the full Internet Invitational format, bringing that same high-stakes, made-for-content energy to the Upstate golf scene. The format is simple but ruthless: round one is 27 holes where only the winning team advances, eventually narrowing the field down to a final six, with $1,200 on the line for the last two standing. Tune in as Captain John Cole (Team Blue) and Captain Kevin Dumacich (Team Red) break down who they picked, the matchups, and the strategy behind every move. Huge shoutout to our sponsor HVI Golf for making it all possible. Check them out at HVIGolf.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 9 mins