They dared to say (jokingly): “Hello World.” That was many years ago on the very first episode of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast. And now, after 180-plus episodes — and far too many amazing places and interesting guests to properly name and thank — hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch are taking a break (not unlike Ross and Rachel). The busy lives of the dynamic podcast duo (plus the growing media empire of producer Kris McEwen) have resulted in this final episode (of sorts). And what an episode it is. Yoko Ono, Dawson’s Creek, Syngenor and Darin taking credit for pretty much everything i ..read more

As winter envelopes much of the mainland, a bit of warmth and sunshine is always welcome. On this episode of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast, both are provided, courtesy of one of the more remarkable families in golf — the Nakagawa clan — who join co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch from their home in paradise on the Big Island of Hawaii. LISTEN to “Talking GolfGetaways” on audioBoom! | iTunes | Stitcher | PlayerFM Father Kiley, daughter Khloe (12) and son Blake (10) take some time from a hectic travel and family-fun schedule to explain how golf has become their central common denomina ..read more

Alabaman Jim Hartsell represents the best of golf. A strong statement, to be sure, but one that is backed up by a resume that includes almost 30 years of his love affair with Scotland, the joy of finding and playing lesser-known courses, and a writing career that finds him contributing to some of the best golf literary magazines and websites we have (The Golfer’s Journal, The Links Diary and NoLayingUp.com among them) as well as authoring the best-selling book The Secret Home of Golf — The Authorized History of Kings-Collins Golf and the Creation of Sweetens Cove.  For these reasons and ..read more

Most golfers love to travel. To experience new courses and destinations, meet up with old friends or make new ones as they go. To explore the in-between journeys that traveling affords them. Perhaps no one has taken more advantage of the joys of golf travel than Matt Cardis, who joins Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch and Kris McEwen on Episode 180 of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast. Known to thousands of followers on Instagram as @GolfInYourState, Matt has logged more than 150,000 miles over the past five years in his quest to explore golf in America, first in his Toyota with a bed strappe ..read more

On Episode 175 of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast, host Mitch Laurance and producer Kris McEwen (Darin Bunch being on assignment) welcome Dr. Bern Bernacki for a second visit to the show, having talked to him earlier on Episode 150. As President of the Golf Heritage Society (and an Advisory Board Member of the First Tee of Pittsburgh), Bernacki offers a wealth of knowledge not only about the Society’s upcoming 50th Anniversary National Convention but about classic golf courses around the country that are open for public play. The discussion begins with Mitch giving a short history of the G ..read more

A wide-ranging “summer golf” episode highlighted by Mitch Laurance’s recent mountain golf getaway in North Carolina, with an eye-and-heart-opening experience at Sequoyah National Golf Club at the foot of the Great Smokey Mountains in Cherokee, is on the itinerary in the latest “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast with co-host Darin Bunch and producer Kris McEwen (both of whom also provide summer travel recaps of their own in this fun, funny and revealing three-way conversation). Having seen photos and read praise for Sequoyah National Golf Club, owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, and searc ..read more

Connections abound about in this game we love — to golf itself, to the history, to the land and to the people with whom we share a common passion. In Episode 169 of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast, co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch connect on many levels with Malcolm Scovil, founder of Imagine Golf, the No. 1 golf app for the mental game (available now on the Apple Store and soon on the Android platform), offering golfers a new “snackable” three-minute audio lesson every day. We open the show by asking Malcolm to describe his unusual journey to Imagine Golf, which began in Sandford ..read more

Social media has connected us all to people worldwide who love the game and spread its values, enjoyment, history and fun to like-minded, passionate golfers. Episode 168 of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast connects co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch (as well as producer Kris McEwen) to one of the truly unique voices in the game: Durel Billy of Seattle, Washington, whose positivity, sense of fun and ability to guide a large number of followers through the ongoing ups and downs of the golf journey has made him a must-follow. Durel’s introduction to the game and his contributions to sprea ..read more

Spreading the word about great golf courses, wonderful destinations and the people who create them, no matter where we might find them, has always been a goal of the “Talking GolfGetaways” podcast. On Episode 167, hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch go across the southern border for an enthralling conversation with Mexican superstar architect Águstin (Augie) Pizá of PizáGolf, a man who not only creates wonderful course designs but who is now pushing the boundaries of multi-purpose golf facilities worldwide into previously unchartered, and now-welcomed, territory. After welcoming Augie from h ..read more

Dan Hixson is quickly becoming one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular golf-course architects. We’ve been a fan ever since he made his mark on the golf scene with Bandon Crossings, a family-owned course just down the road from famed Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Since then, Hixson has gained acclaim for original designs at Wine Valley (Walla Walla, Washington) and the reversible routing at Silvies Valley Ranch in Eastern Oregon. And now he’s digging in a sand-and-gravel mine just off Interstate 5 in Roseburg, Oregon for his latest project, which will eventually include a boutique resort with ..read more