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PODCAST

Golf And Politics

Reach Right Network

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

sports golf

All Episodes

62:46

The $85,000 Quest to Play America’s Top 100 Golf Courses

Golf And Politics ·

2026/09/23

On this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt and Rob sit down with Daniel Belk, an entrepreneur and former Division I track athlete who set out to play Golf Magazine’s Top 100 public courses in a single year.Daniel is already 53 courses into the journey, traveling the country in an RV and working with a $70,000–$85,000 budget. He breaks down how he’s managing the logistics, where the money goes, the courses that have stood out, and why the experience has become about much more than simply checking

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48:50

Where Does Politics Go From Here?

Golf And Politics ·

2026/09/17

On this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt and Rob sit down for a candid conversation about the Oklahoma governor’s race, the Republican Party, President Trump, and where American politics goes from here.Matt reflects on the incredibly close Oklahoma governor’s race and the experience of spending 20 months working on the Gentner Drummond campaign. The conversation then expands to Trump’s influence over the Republican Party, the challenges facing Republicans heading into the midterms, and whether the

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76:37

Inside Oklahoma’s 2026 Primary Runoff

Golf And Politics ·

2026/08/21

With Oklahoma’s Republican primary runoff just days away, Golf & Politics sits down with four candidates competing for statewide office.Gentner Drummond joins us in the final stretch of the governor’s race to talk about his military service, ranching background, political independence, integrity, and why he says he wants to be a statesman rather than a politician. Bob Sullivan discusses the Oklahoma insurance market, why he believes Oklahomans are paying too much for property and casualty

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33:13

9 Holes, 9 Questions with Louis Jackson

Golf And Politics ·

2026/08/20

Louis Jackson joins Golf & Politics for another round of Nine Holes, Nine Questions at the Landrunner Golf Classic. Jackson, a longtime friend of the program and a candidate for the Oklahoma State House, talks about his lifelong interest in politics, growing up in Lawton, why he decided to run for office in 2026, and what it takes to actually build a campaign from the ground up. Along the way, we get into knocking 1,200 doors, raising $60,000 in his first two weeks, the importance of golf as a

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46:05

Episode 91 – Did Bryson Get a Fair Shake?

Golf And Politics ·

2026/07/29

Bryson DeChambeau's controversial two-stroke penalty stole the headlines at The Open, but it was far from the only story coming out of Royal Birkdale.This week, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth break down why the course produced both record-low rounds and a winning score of just 10-under. Rob also shares his firsthand perspective from playing Royal Birkdale and every Open rota course in Europe. They also discuss: Whether Bryson deserved the penalty Why Rory vs. Bryson is becoming golf's

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59:58

Episode 90 - The BEST (and Most Overrated) Golf...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/07/09

Halfway through 2026, we're back with one of our favorite episodes of the year.Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth break down the five best new golf courses they've played so far this year—from legendary championship venues to hidden gems and some of the most exclusive clubs in the country. But we don't stop there. We also reveal the most overrated golf courses we've played in 2026, discuss what separates great golf architecture from great conditioning, and explain why some of golf's biggest names

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70:38

Episode 89 - The Vision Behind High Pointe Golf Club...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/06/26

What does it take to build one of the most talked-about new golf clubs in America? In this episode of Golf & Politics, we sit down with Rod Trump, founder and chairman of High Pointe Golf Club, to discuss the remarkable journey from caddie to successful entrepreneur—and ultimately to restoring and reimagining Tom Doak's first golf course. Rod shares how golf shaped his career, the lessons he learned building and selling businesses, and why creating a truly great golf club is about much more than

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69:45

Episode 88 - Can Golf Stay Affordable? The Story...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/04/30

In this episode of Golf & Politics, we dive deep into one of the most important—and overlooked—stories in the game today.We sit down with Will Smith, co-founder of the National Links Trust, to explore the intersection of golf, history, and power in Washington, DC. From restoring historic municipal courses to preserving access for everyday golfers, this conversation goes far beyond fairways and greens. We cover: The mission to keep golf affordable and accessible The untold civil

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82:21

Episode 86: A Brutally Honest Talk About 2026

Golf And Politics ·

2026/02/27

In this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt and Rob sit down with Sean O’Brien — former congressional chief of staff, Obama campaign operative, Pentagon speechwriter, and former speechwriter for Joe Biden.Sean shares what it was really like working in Rahm Emanuel’s office during the 2006 wave, running a rebellious Blue Dog-style congressional operation, writing speeches aboard Air Force Two, and serving at the Pentagon under both Democratic and Republican administrations. The conversation digs

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63:40

Episode 85 – Anthony Kim’s INSANE Comeback +...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/02/20

This week, we start with one of the wildest comeback stories in modern sports. Anthony Kim — after disappearing for a decade, battling addiction, injury, and mental health — shoots 63 in Australia and beats Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. For a guy who didn’t even own clubs for 10 years, it was electric. Not just a golf story — a life story.We also break down: Scottie Scheffler’s absurd consistency and why he’s not flashy… just relentless. Pebble Beach looking incredible — and the bigger

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65:12

Episode 84 – Finding the Fairway in a Divided America

Golf And Politics ·

2026/02/06

In this episode of Golf and Politics, we sit down with Cori Kramer, longtime Washington insider and President of Center Forward, to talk about something increasingly rare in American politics: building trust across divides.Cori shares her journey from Capitol Hill staffer to leading one of DC’s most influential bipartisan organizations, where she’s spent the last 15 years convening lawmakers, chiefs of staff, and policy leaders from both parties—often off the record and far from the cameras. Why

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23:54

Episode 83 – The Biggest Mistakes Political...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/01/28

What does golf teach us about winning elections?In this episode of Golf & Politics, we play nine holes at Split Rail Golf Club outside Fort Worth with Drew Ryan, founder of Campaign Sidekick, to break down what actually wins campaigns: discipline, ground game, calculated risk, and authenticity. As the Texas wind kicks up, Drew shares lessons from building Campaign Sidekick from scratch, working on high-profile races like Ron DeSantis (2018) and Brian Kemp, and why most candidates still

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31:44

Episode 82 – What It Actually Takes to Be Scratch

Golf And Politics ·

2026/01/14

In this episode, Matt sits down with Ross MacDonald, owner of Tour Quality Golf in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to talk about what smart practice really looks like and how everyday golfers can improve by utilizing Trackman.Ross breaks down how TrackMan technology, monthly combines, and data-driven feedback help golfers identify exactly where they’re losing strokes—from wedge play and gapping issues to course management and mindset. We also dive into why focusing on the next shot matters more than dwelling on

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65:46

Episode 81 – What Makes a Great Golf Course?...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/01/08

In this episode of Golf & Politics, Colton Craig joins Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth for a deep conversation on golf course architecture, strategic design, and how great courses shape the way the game is played.The discussion centers on why timeless golf architecture prioritizes decision-making over raw power, how course design influences risk-reward choices, and what distinguishes truly great golf courses from those that rely solely on length or conditioning. Craig shares his perspective on

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40:42

Episode 80 – Bucket List Golf Trips, Top Courses &...

Golf And Politics ·

2026/01/02

In this New Year episode of Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth sit down to map out what a great golf year actually looks like — from realistic travel planning to chasing bucket-list courses without turning golf into a job.The conversation covers how to plan golf trips around work, family, and seasons, why over-planning can ruin the joy of the game, and how some of the world’s greatest courses fit into a long-term strategy rather than a rushed checklist. Rob shares insight from playing

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64:41

Episode 79 – Christmas Special: 2025 Year in Review |...

Golf And Politics ·

2025/12/25

In our annual Christmas episode, we look back on 2025 — on the course, off the course, and everywhere in between. With Christmas right around the corner, we reflect on the best golf courses we played this year, our favorite trips and memories, and what made this season special.We break down our top golf courses of 2025, first-time plays, favorite holes, and unforgettable trips to places like Pine Valley, Oakmont, Shinnecock, Bandon Dunes, England, and beyond. We also discuss the Golf & Politics

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69:10

Episode 78 – It's Hard to Make it on the PGA Tour

Golf And Politics ·

2025/12/19

In this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt sits down with Stephen Carney, a former professional golfer who competed on PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latin America, before stepping away from the game and rebuilding his life off the course.Stephen opens up about: Starting golf later than most elite players — and catching up fast Junior golf, college golf at the University of Tulsa, and the grind of mini-tours The brutal economics of professional golf The mental toll of Q-School,

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67:58

Episode 77 – Brent Buchanan on Why Emotions Beat...

Golf And Politics ·

2025/12/11

This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth sit down with Brent Buchanan — president of Cygnal and one of the most accurate pollsters in modern politics — to break down the forces shaping America’s political landscape and the emotional currents driving voters today.Brent takes us inside his new book, America’s Emotional Divide, unpacking why emotions—not logic—steer decisions, how negative ads tap into our survival instincts, and why 2024 became a perfect case study for

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88:02

Episode 76-Inside the Top 100: Simon Holt on What...

Golf And Politics ·

2025/12/04

In this episode of Golf & Politics, Rob Ellsworth and Matt Parker sit down with Simon Holt — CEO of 8AM Travel, co-host of Destination Golf, and steward of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 rankings. From Pine Valley to Royal County Down, Japan to New Zealand, Simon pulls back the curtain on how rankings are created, what truly makes a world-class course, how recency bias affects ballots, why firm-and-fast is dominating trends, and why great golf is as much about people as it is about architecture.We dig

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51:54

Episode 74 – Thanksgiving Edition: Gratitude, Golf,...

Golf And Politics ·

2025/11/27

This week on Golf & Politics, Matt Parker and Rob Ellsworth flip the script — handing the mic to show producer, Shanbu. In this warm, honest, and often hilarious Thanksgiving special, the guys reflect on gratitude, golf highs and lows, political reality, business challenges, personal growth, and what really matters as another year winds down.Rob and Matt get real about family, faith, failure, injuries, success, bad tee shots, big wins, deep conversations, and the bond that forms when you walk 18

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96 results

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