Golf And Politics

Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth fly solo today without Cory or a guest. They discuss a wide range of topics, including personal experiences, mentorship, the future of the podcast, the Scotty Scheffler incident, authenticity in politics, and the impact of Donald Trump's authenticity on the working class. It also delves into the 2024 election and the influence of grievances, trade, and inflation on political messaging.Takeaways Mentorship and personal connections play a crucial role in success and

In this episode, Matt Parker interviews Justin Clark, a cofounder of National Public Affairs and former senior staffer in the Trump White House. They discuss Justin's transition from being a Democrat to a Republican, the political landscape in Connecticut, and the shift in demographics in certain states. They also talk about their experiences working on political campaigns, including the Foley campaign in 2010 and the Kavanaugh nomination and confirmation process. The conversation concludes with a

In this episode, hosts Cory, Rob and Matt are joined by Drew Ryun, the founder and CEO of Campaign Sidekick. They discuss Drew's involvement in politics, his experience working at the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the relevance of the RNC in today's political landscape. They also touch on the importance of direct voter contact and the role of social media in campaigns. The conversation transitions to the upcoming election and the strategies that both the Trump and Biden campaigns should

In this episode, hosts Cory, Rob and Matt are joined by Valis Associates Founder and Virginia golfing philanthropist Wayne Valis. After an opening discussion on the dominance of golfers Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda and the comparison between current players and Tiger Woods. The conversation then transitions to the guest, Wayne Valis, a former Nixon and Regan staffer, who shares his experiences working in politics and his love for golf. Valis talks about Richard Nixon's accomplishments and the

Former Congressman Marty Russo, whom Dan Jenkins, Senior Writer for Golf Digest once called “way too good at golf to be a servant of the People” discusses the changes in Congress over the years even beyond his tenure, the importance of compromise and bipartisanship, and the role of golf in politics and getting things done. Russo also shares his experiences playing golf with various presidents and celebrities, emphasizing the camaraderie and friendships that were formed on the golf course. He

Former Congressman Bob Ney from Ohio is the guest on the first episode of Golf and Politics. Bob Ney has been a mentor and friend to hosts, Rob and Matthew, and played a significant role in their careers. The conversation covers Bob Ney's impact on the steel industry with the ubiquitous ‘stand for steel’ campaign, the infamous St. Andrews golf trip to Scotland and the subsequent investigation that landed Bob in prison (and resulted in House rules about accepting gifts and golf rounds) which leads to

Is it possible to bring Republicans and Democrats together? Maybe. Rob Ellsworth, Matt Parker and Cory Toth grew up in the upper Ohio Valley playing junior golf, and today they all work in politics. Rob is a Democratic lobbyist, Matt is a Republican strategist, and Cory is a refining and petrochemical lobbyist. While they rarely all see eye-to-eye on politics, they wholeheartedly agree that golf is the greatest game ever invented and are passionate about expanding it.The podcast will feature stories