May 23, 2025 • 31 mins
Shane and Marty are joined on the PING Tour Truck by Scott Sullivan, PING Senior Manager of Amateur Player Development. They discuss the philosophies that guide PING’s Player Development Program, the support that PING provides at the collegiate level, and the impact of NIL endorsements on the program.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The guys from Ping. They've kind of showed me how
much the equipment matters. I just love that I can
hit any.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Shot I kind of want.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
We're gonna be able to tell some fun stories about
what goes on here to help golfers play better golf.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Hey, everybody, welcome back to the Ping prooven Grounds Podcast
Shane Bacon with Marty Jerts and Marty We've got a guest.
I think a lot of people are gonna be interested
in listening to Scott Sullivan, the senior manager amateur player
development here at Ping and Scott, your guy played college golf,
played at ASU. Sorry about that by the way, as
an Arizona waldcap. But you have a really interesting job.
(00:32):
And I would say, as somebody that obviously is a
very good player, to make your way up through Ping
and get to develop young talent has got to be
something that's been very interesting and very thrilling. How do
you come into this position, Like how does this come
about in your life?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, you know, when I finished school, I played professionally
for three years. I got as far as the corn
Ferry Tour now who was the Nike Tour back then?
But then I realized that I got myself in a
situation where I was spending more money than I was making.
That didn't really prove to be a good formula, by
the way you understand, So I had to it was
(01:13):
time to make some decisions, and so I took about
six months to decide what I wanted to do. I
almost took a job in the financial world, but an
opportunity offered itself for me at Ping, and I took
advantage of it, and I've been with Ping ever since.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Uh after you got in the door of Ping, you
were rep on was it the Nike Tour?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, you know. When I started, I got in, did
a little stint customer service, but I was fortunate enough
to be on with the group that started our democrt
fitting system, and actually, prior to that, we would take
that out on the road to uh PGA section meetings
and that kind of thing and do our presentations there.
(01:58):
But then we switched over to bring our top accounts
to Ping at their at their request, because they wanted
to see they They always ask the question, is you know,
we want to see Ping. We want to see what
you guys do and how you do it. And so
then we'd bring them in and run them through a
(02:18):
three day program on our campus. That's quite a fun thing.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
You were at the very beginning of that. We just
started doing that again, and the accounts love it because
they love they love tour in the factory, everything at
the proving grounds, visiting all the great experience.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It's certainly great experience for me.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
But so you were, you were in early on of
us kind of educating the accounts with in our fitting
cart and all the options there and things of that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah. Then after that, I went over to the tour department,
worked the Nike Tour and PJ Tour for two years
and took over the collegiate program.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
I mean, I think people like listening to the podcast
probably don't even know this exists for the most part.
I mean in terms of developing amateur players or funding
junior golfers and the amateur players and collegiate players that
couldut potentially be a ping professional if they turn pro
and they become obviously a good player, I mean, how
does that process work, Like, how do you introduce yourself
to young players? I mean, how do you guys evaluate
that level of talent?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, it is it's a very important part of what
we do for a number of reason. I'm sure we'll
get into all that, but what we do is is,
you know, it's just kind of we recruit kids just
like a college coach would, just from a slightly different angle.
You know, first you're looking you're looking at golf swings.
(03:32):
Then you're looking at see how a kid handles themselves
on the golf course. You want to see them play
poorly to see how they respond to that. It's easy
to watch them play well, but you want to see
them struggle att bit and see how they respond. Then
you look at the scoreboard. You see if what you
see golf swing wise, which you're hoping is fundamentally sound,
(03:53):
you hope the scores on the scoreboard reflect that. And
then you put the pieces together. You you find out
who mom and dad is, and you see what the
relationship with kid and mom and dad to see if
that's a healthy relationship if not. You know, all those
things go together to see if it's a right fit
(04:13):
for ping and what we do, and if we want
them to be part of our program.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
I can imagine your job has changed a lot in
terms of technology, and when I'm not talking about track
me in technology I'm talking about Instagram, social media, being
able to evaluate a golf swing on your phone versus
having to go and see that in person. How different
is your job in twenty twenty five than maybe what
it looked like in two thousand.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Well, I think the main thing now is is it
used years ago? You used to get product requests. People
just call you on the phone, okay, or they send
you an email. Now you get dms on Instagram or
those kind of things, Oh hey, you know my driverhead crack?
Can I get another one? And then you got to respond, yes,
(04:58):
send me this yerial number, I'll get you another one.
You do it through those avenues and then to touch
on what you said, And I think Marty can attest
to this is in my experience over the last twenty
five years, the technology that is going into the research
and the design of golf products is more than the
(05:20):
one hundred years up to that point. I think it's
just it's unbelievable the advancement and the technology in the research.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Scott, how what age range does you and your team
like start evaluating players? That's kind of one question, and
the other one is what forums or formats you know,
what tours tournaments, is your team looking.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
At the the age The ages of the kids we
work with are generally between the age of fourteen and
twenty three, so you know, school wise, you say freshmen
in high school up til they graduate college. That's one
of the tough parts about this is we always work
with kids between fourteen and twenty three, but I keep
(06:03):
getting older and that really sucks. But anyway, and what
we look for, you know, where the top tournaments during
the summer, spring and summer months. A lot of it
too is is that at the state level, state junior championships,
(06:25):
those kind of things, just the top competitive tournaments that
kids will play in. We want to see how they
play against each other. And then every once in a
while we'll go off the beaten paths and we're just
a different location, different kind of tournament, just to see
what's out there because you never know. And I know
(06:46):
historically one tournament during the summer that we really like
is the Western Junior because it's a big field, one
hundred and fifty six kids and they come from all
over and there's always one or two that nobody's ever
heard of that are pretty good.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yeah, I mean you mentioned and it's like college recruiting.
I mean that sounds exactly the same as a college
recruiting where you might be going to look at a
tight end and all of a sudden, this right guard
kind of catches your eye and you're like, oh, man,
this is the guy that I might want to bring
on for the team. Who is somebody in your career
doing this that you didn't know much about. You saw
them in person for the first time, and you went,
this is the kid that we've got to be paying
(07:19):
attention to.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You know. Recently, there's a kid by the name of
Alex Holder who he just committed to Auburn. Okay, he's
a twenty twenty six. I was at the Future Master's
number of years ago, and I went to watch one
kid in the group who's a Florida kid, And then
I see, oh, you know, I'm thinking that Alex was
(07:43):
the Florida kid. Well, Alex is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Okay,
And so then trying to figure out, Okay, that's that's Alex,
that's the Indiana kid. Well, who's Okay, who's his parents?
So I, you know, try to a couple holes later,
try to figure out who the parents are for each kid.
Then finally a pinpoint, Okay, that's Alex's dad. I'm guessing
(08:05):
that's his dad. So I went up and introduced myself
Alex's dad. Yes, I am okay, and then we got
that relationship started. And you know, and I'm always one
we use the resources we have at PING to get
the job done. So Alex and his family, they they
spend a little bit time down in Florida and West Palm. Well,
(08:27):
just last week Alex went down to West Palm. Hey,
is there anybody here that I could get together with
to get you know, try the new G four forty?
So I call you on Lingmerth who's our salesman in
that area? Hey, you'ren are you around? Can Alex come
see you? They spent a day last week together, had
(08:47):
a great time oron, got them all fixed up and uh,
we're in good.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Shape, beautiful And Jon's got some experience, he's got help players.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yep, yes he does as well. That's right.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We talked a little bit Scott about how things have
changed in terms of communication with social media and what
have you What have you seen in terms of in
the last say, ten and twenty years looking back on
the skill talent level of.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
The junior golfers coming up.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Are they closer together now than they were?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Are they further apart.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
In terms of skill level? What trends are you seeing there?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I think they're closer together now. Is the depth is greater.
There's way way more good young players, and there's more
good players that are fundamentally sound, and they're athletes now.
And I think I go back even further. I think
(09:45):
Tiger Woods made golf cool, right. He made it more athletic.
He made it to where a kid that you know,
maybe was a football player or a basketball player or
baseball player or whatever. You know, I'm gonna go ahead
and play golf because it's cool now. It's okay. You know,
it's not a dorky sport, you know, plaid pants and
(10:07):
hard collar shirts like back in the day. But it's
a legitimate deal. I think Tiger Woods legitimized it as
an athletic sport. So you see more kids that are athletes,
you see more kids that are fundamentally sound, and as
a result, the quality of play is better. These kids
are trained better, they're conditioned better, they're mentally stronger, all
(10:32):
of that. So I think that's the answer to that question.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
And Scott, I mean, you know something I've been interested
in terms of collegiate coaches is this idea of like,
send me your track by numbers, right, I mean it's
a thirteen, fourteen, fifteen year old kid. You want to
look at those numbers because speed is sexy. I mean
we talk about speed all the time in golf. How
much can speed, let's say, blind you to the player
they are as a young player. And how much is
(10:57):
speed at a young age important to somebody like you
who's looking at a talent five, ten, fifteen years down
the road.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Speed's important. You got to be able to smash it nowadays,
and you're at such a disadvantage if you don't. Comparatively,
you know, we look at speed, you know, and you
look at a kid's build too, you know, Okay, do
they have the build where they can put on some
weight and get stronger to hit it further? You know
what a mom and dad look like? You know what what?
(11:25):
Because you always you're trying to project, for sure, you know,
as a you know, fourteen year old, you're trying to project. Okay,
what do they look like at twenty? At twenty years old?
What do they project like to look like at twenty five?
That kind of thing as a college coach, and I
know this for a fact. As college coaches, they look
at speed. It's an important deal because they figure that
they can if we get a kid that's got some speed,
(11:47):
we can figure the rest out. So it's an important deal.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I mean, it's it's like if you have a fifteen
or sixteen year old that's six', eight, right and he's playing,
basketball and it's, like maybe he didn't have maybe he's
not a great, shooter maybe you can't make free, throws
but that build is going to work well in.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
COLLEGE i can help him learn how.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
To show yes exactly, Exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Scott we support about seventy teams collegiate. Teams we're up
eighty nine.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Nine, yeah what what does?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
That what does that look like day to day from
a tactical standpoint with you and your, team that's, Yeah
like you.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Say there's there's eighty nine, teams there's there's fifty five
on the men's, side and to get to eighty, nine
what's that the thirty four? Four okay on the women's,
side and we support them at varying. Degrees we have
twelve teams that are elite level and we outfit them
(12:44):
head to, toe, headwear bags and accessories, all you, know
and then all the clubs that we can put in
those golf. Bags then the second level we'll do golf,
bags head, covers some travel, covers and a couple other
accessories to outfit their. Team and again as many clubs
as we can get into those. Bags you, know the
(13:08):
way college athletics is, going it's very much you hear
about the power for now with The Big ten and
THE sec leading the, way really have tried to make
inroads in those two. Conferences we're having pretty good. Success
of the sixteen teams in THE, sec fourteen of them
(13:29):
Carry ping golf. Bags so we've got an in. There
in The Big, ten which isn't as strong golf, wise
we're in with the biggest Brands Ohio, State, michigan And,
illinois which historically is the best golf program in The Big.
Ten so really proud of that and we're going to you,
know try to keep, that keep that. Going and then the.
(13:52):
Outliers our go to teams Are Arizona state And Oklahoma.
State the Soul hi family And Ping company as a
historic relationship with both, schools and so we use them
specifically to test prototype, product different golf bag, designs any
(14:17):
specialty stuff that we're going to. Do we go to
them first and use them as our test subjects to you,
know then we go out to the rest of the
rest of the group and take care of them that.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
WAY i, mean it feels like a real personal, job you.
KNOW i, mean you're you're meeting a young person and
then you're kind of guiding them and helping them through the,
way hoping eventually they get to a professional level of this.
Game AND i, mean not everybody is going to get.
There but somebody Like sahith, right who you meet at
a young, age junior, golfer collegiate, player and he's now
he feels like a part of The ping. Family he
(14:52):
is a part of The ping. Family your relationship has
got to be so much stronger than so many peoples
with somebody Like sawhith that works Within ping and does
it get very personal for?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
You it. Does and we're in the relationship, business and
what you're trying to do is you're trying to develop a,
relationship but you're also trying to develop. Trust you want
them to trust, you AND i go back to my
experience at that. Age i'm sure you can. Too i'm
sure you can. Too when you're an aspiring young golfer
(15:22):
and to have somebody take an interest in, you somebody
that wants to help, you and somebody that wants you to.
Succeed that's the attitude that we. Take and so you,
KNOW i draw back on personal feelings that way and, like,
yeah you know, WHAT i had people along the way help.
ME i want to give back and try to help these.
(15:45):
People and then the thing about it is, is as
you guys, know it's only the top one percent that
are going to make it. Right and this group that
we're talking, about, yes that's the group that we draw
from for players that we sign endorsement contracts. With, okay
but there's the rest of. Them they're gonna be in
(16:06):
the golf. Business they're gonna, be you, know a college,
Coach they're gonna be a club, pro they're gonna be
doing you, know, Media they're gonna be doing all kinds of.
Things so we want any experience they have with, ping
we want it to be a positive. Experience and, then most,
importantly once they get out and in the real world
(16:26):
and have the purchasing power we want them Buying Ping
ping golf clubs because of that positive.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Experience, YEAH i, mean it's a it's a great message
coming beyond this, too. RIGHT i, mean in, general it's
treating people with a level of respect that even if
it doesn't work out per se in terms of what
you hope to be or the goal in your, life
maybe you work for paying or maybe you are a
head pro that feels comfortable with this. Brand so, YEAH i,
mean LIKE i, said it just feels it feels like
a very personal, Job like it feels like it's probably
(16:53):
an emotional job as. Well And i'm assuming you've had
to like weave throughout over the last you, know two
and a half decades how to best to approach you
Because i'm sure there's certain players that are family to,
you and there's certain players that you would have hoped
to make it. RIGHT i hope they become pros because you,
Know i'm such a big fan of.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Their, Sure and what the cool thing is, is like you,
know before we got together for, THIS i was out
on the range and the putting green out, there and you,
know guys that have had contact with through the years
during THE pga. Tour, now whether they're a whether they're
a ping guy or. Not, yeah you, know you get
to catch up and chat with them a little. Bit
and that's that's the cool, part and that's the relationship,
(17:31):
part and that's that's the benefit of the, job is
seeing them have success and knowing that you had a
hand in helping them get there and have that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Success, SCOTT i want to transition a little bit to equipment.
SIDE i think in the last five years five years or,
so we've had maybe a little bit. More we introduced
THE pld line and ability to get customized, putters and
a big part of that was for the collegiate younger
players as well as The Blueprint. Irons talk a little
(18:03):
bit about the importance of BOTH pld in Our Blueprint
irons in terms of this.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Group, yes, first with THE, pod it certainly filled a
hole that we had with the customization of. Things and
it's not only you, know paint field colors and and
and stamp and engrave initials and names that kind of,
thing but the design of putters and the weights and
(18:31):
and the looks and where to put the site lines and.
Everything it gave us the opportunity to compete with obviously our,
competitors but it also enabled us to give the players
something that they. Desired so that's been very. Good are you?
Know in our iron categories we've always been, strong but
(18:52):
the blueprint t and the blueprint s has raised it
to another level and it's it's given us a leg
up in that. Area so we've got a lot more
iron sets in, play and you, know with blueprints And
blueprint t you know there's a lot of split sets,
too so we've got something that can fit a work
(19:15):
to perform for a wider range of. Players.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, Nice.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Scott there's a parent listen to this that has a
young player that's got a lot of talent or is
won a lot of golf. Tournaments what are tips you
give to parents that reach out to you that has
the twelve thirteen year old that has a dream of
playing collegiate, golf that has a dream of being a.
Pro what do you tell those people when they reach
out to you to give them advice to best kind
of navigate that very very very tough.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Situation the first THING i tell them is let them
be a. Kid, okay, okay if they're, thirteen let them be.
Thirteen they don't need to be eighteen yet they'll.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Get and when you say that is that don't spend
eight hours a day on the golf, course, like don't
don't be hitting balls to your hands. Bleed it's this
can be a part of who you, are but not.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Everything go ahead and play another. Sport please play other,
sport preferably a team, sport because you need the experience
of working with others versus you, know golf's in a
very individual, sport so you need. Both so let them
be a, kid and if they have a passion for,
it make sure they're fundamentals are sound sound at an
(20:19):
early age because it's going to do nothing but help.
Them so get, them get them good, instruction and then you,
know if you if you have the, means, great they
have to. Compete and then, again if you have the
means and they have to, compete, well travel your game
(20:41):
has to. Travel you, know very rarely do you have
a home game in. Golf you alwa's got to go somewhere.
Else so you, know An arizona kid go up To
ohio play on. That you know that Bent grass At Kentucky,
bluegrass play in somewhere the wind really moves the, ball
not a, yeah here where the wind? Does you? Know
(21:02):
the wind's, blown but it doesn't affect. Anything go somewhere
where it's, cold and you got to learn how to
deal with. That so deal with the elements travel and
those kinds of. Things it's gonna better prepare you down the.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Road what ARE i always remember WHEN i was coming
up AND i was trying to get get potentially play
golf in. COLLEGE i remember a college coach telling my
dad one, time if there if their legs on their
bags are, Bent i'm, Out, like what are some red
flags for you when you were looking at young players
and your life come? Out you, know because there are,
(21:36):
obviously i mean club. Throwers i'm assuming you're probably out, On,
like what are some things that you as you're evaluating,
Talent because, AGAIN i Mean i'm assuming you're working closely
with college coaches as, Well, like what are some red
flags that young people need to avoid or parents could
help their kids hopefully.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Avoid, Yeah, well it's. Funny you know you see a
kid and they, struggle they hit a bad, shot, whatever
and they have a negative. Reaction, well depending on how
negative it, is maybe it's just because they. Care, okay you,
know so you got to factor that in bent. LEGS
i agree that's not. Good that's not. Good but the
(22:13):
thing is, is no no ass, dragon no always, me
no MOPy, dopey none of. That you know you're gonna
hit a bad. One, Golf Like Ben hogan, Said golf's
a game of. Imperfections you. Know you know how often
do you play and you hit every shot.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Perfect i'll tell you this.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
GUY i remember a good friend of mine who lives
in The phoenix area who's been playing competitive golf for.
NOW i mean he's seventy years old, now BUT i
mean competitive golf, forever you, Know State open winner and.
STUFF i remember he telling me one time WHEN i
was probably my. Twenties he, SAID i hit four good
shots around and this was the best GOLFER i. Knew
AND i remember him telling me, that AND i just
(22:53):
thinking of. Myself my expectations are way, off you, know
like WHAT i Think i'm. Doing if this guy's saying
it's four good shots And i'll play golf of them
all the, time it feels like it has fifty good shots,
around you.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
KNOW i mean we talk so much about the.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Misses the one thing THAT i do find interesting about young,
people AND i like your opinion on, this is it
feels like young people are more mature. Now it feels
like they're able to handle. Situations not to say everybody,
is but you look at these young players coming out
of college and how competitive the amateur circuit, is both
the amateur wise and. Professional you See Nick dunlap last
year obviously whining as amateur first time since your teammate
(23:26):
did it in the early, Nineties like they seem like
they can handle these situations so much.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Better you, know just on. That you know That Nick
dunlop he won THE Us amateur and TWO Pga tour
events in a calendar. Year it's, incredible, unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Some would say the hardest golf tournament to win in
THE Us, amateur and then he backs it up with
a couple of tour.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Wins so back to what you're saying is is that they,
are and the really good ones really, are and that's
what separates them from everybody. Else the top level. Ones
they're advanced maturity, wise and they're advanced their mental, strength
(24:07):
and they're they're comfortable with, THEMSELVES i, think AND i
think that all goes, together but it's, noticeable and those
are the ones that that do separate themselves from everybody.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Else, scott how do you feel when you go visit
a SU's new practice? Facility are you.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Get a little jealous that you didn't have that when
you're when you guys have been, there, right and it's you,
know And i've seen them. All it is the best.
One and and obviously the settings nice and, everything but
just the. Functionality AND I i have talked to you,
Know i've done stuff like this, before talking about the,
(24:46):
bird AND i, say you, know every shot is out.
There you just have to go out and imagine, it
because if you can imagine, it you'll find it out.
There but it's tremendous and AND i, Remember i'll never.
Forget this is back in the issue days where it
is now where the soccer stadium. Is you guys familiar
(25:08):
with the campus down? There kid's where the picture where
the soccer stadium is. Now that used to be an open.
Field we used to get broomsticks and duct tape golf.
Towels those are our pin flags and we'd go step
them off and pound them into the. Ground and that's
(25:28):
where we would do our wedge. Practice, yeah there's been
a there's been a lot of advancement in uh in.
Facilities and to tell you guys the, truth all the
top collegiate programs have something like, that and they're investing
millions of dollars and it is it's a direct result
(25:52):
of the success that some of these kids have because
they have that level of training facility and that level
of attention to.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Detail, SCOTT i got to ask somebody you missed, on
somebody that you were thinking, about you were, evaluating and you,
Went i'm not sure about this guy and then they
went on or this girl then went on to to be.
Incredible mm, gosh if nobody comes to, mind that's. Okay
But i'm just, uh you, KNOW i, Mean i'm assuming
(26:21):
every college coach has probably had a couple of people
where they.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Went, yeah we've all had one that got. Away you.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Know it's, like, man that person was so much better
AND i thought they were gonna Be.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
NO i can't really think of anybody like. THAT i
can't think of that some that that certainly tried to
but Didn't, okay didn't didn't get. Them Luke, clanton who's
in the field here this, week who you guys are
familiar with that. Name he's been tearing it. Up he's
one of. Them but that comes with the that comes
(26:53):
with the.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Territory it's competitive, company it's competitive.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Business, Yeah AND i tell you, what at the at
the the amateur, level it's much much more competitive than
it is at this tour. Level, interesting and think about
it because at the amateur, level everybody's a free. Agent,
here everybody has their stable of, players right that are you,
(27:16):
know endorsed to do, So whereas at the ammeter, level
everybody's a free. Agent so you're you're fighting and clawing
every single, week every single day to hang on to
what you've. Got in a lot of times we find
ourselves playing.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Defense, interesting how has just THE nil deals changed your
landscape in your?
Speaker 1 (27:39):
World?
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Uh some some we're involved in it and WHAT nil
is It it's a necessary thing and it's not going.
Away so eventually we realized we had to get involved in,
it and we. Are but what it is is it's
it's to let the player know that, hey we leaving.
You we want to continue a relationship with you once
(28:04):
you get to the next. Level so this is just
showing you a little sign of love. That, hey you
know when it when it's all said and done and
you're ready to turn, pro we want we want to
talk and we want to do.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
A Deal, scott before we lets you. Go you played
With phil at a Su was that?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
RIGHT i? Did?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Yeah can you share a story of when you realized
how Good Phil mickelson was at? Golf was there a
moment you saw it or a shot you saw, it
or around of golf that you saw where you, Went
this dude's got a different, gear.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
A couple different. Things is you, know we would we
go out and, play whether it's we're just playing the
player or qualifying rounds or practice rounds for tournaments or,
whatever and you, know everybody hits and everybody's t. Shot
you're all out there within you, know five yards of each, other,
Right but then you get up to a part Five,
okay you know back in the day five seventy, five
(28:55):
five eighty, Five well that's all that's all long part five, right.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Likely unreachable in the early. Nineties, yeah to get there.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
And all of a, sudden he's twenty yards in front of.
Everybody so where did that come? From and then we
were playing at a tournament In Las, vegas and he
WAS i was playing in the group right in front of.
Him and the last hole was a par five and
there's a huge bunker on the left hand, side and
it's one of those that's got a really steep face
(29:22):
and it's a part. Five so it goes down across
a little, pond and then there's the green and he
hits you, KNOW i finish and we're you, know when you're,
done you sit behind the green and you wait for
everybody to come. In so we're sitting behind the green
and he's back up there and you can see him
walking and then he disappears because he goes into the.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Bunker, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And then you see his head pop up to, look
and then he goes back. Down then you see his head
pop up to look. Again AND i mean you're sitting
there thinking he's laying, out and then all of a,
sudden you hear the, contact and then you hear you
see a little, sand and then where is? It where is?
It where is? It and then all of a, sudden
(30:05):
like a like a meteor hit the. Earth it just
s ball lands on the green about twenty feet from the.
Hole he hit a driver out of that bunker and
it Was we actually went back up there later to look,
like how the hell did he do? That?
Speaker 1 (30:23):
First how did he think about? It second did he
pull it?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Off, yeah but back then he was so much better
than everybody else at that at that, stage and it's you,
know it's no surprise he's going to be in The
Golf hall Of.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Fame, WELL i, mean, like you, know you just think
about like we're talking about twenty twenty five and every
available player that exists in. Golf you can go on
social media and see their swings and see what they're
able to. Do and to think back to the early,
nineties you, know there wasn't video of these. PLAYERS i
mean you saw it. Firsthand you got to see it
day in and day out of a player that became
arguably the second best player of a generation AND i
(30:56):
think probably a top ten top fifteen player of all.
TIME i mean it must have been why iiled day
in and day out to just see the amazing short
game and the ability with the hands and shots like,
That like you're talking about where everybody else in the
world's hitting eight iron out and they just try to
hit a wedge on the.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Green he's so much better everybody. Else and then the
kids asked, me the college kids, now they asked, me,
like who you, know who's the best you've? Seen filled
by Always. Phil, yeah AND i told him just for. Numbers, Wise,
okay this guy won eighteen college, tournaments including THREE ncaa. Championships,
yeah that's pretty, good, RIGHT.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
I, mean you, know AND i mean obviously wins THE
Us amateur and wins THE Pj tour. Event is an
AMATEUR i mean, yes AND i mean.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
It's it's studley. Stuff it's, Crazy, scott the story is.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Incredible we appreciate you kind of sharing some insight into
this world THAT i don't think a lot of even
like diehard golf fans totally. Understand so we really appreciate the.
TIME i appreciate all the hard work you do a.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Thing oh you bet.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
You Scott's, soullivan. Everybody this is The ping Proven grounds
podcast
The guys from Ping. They've kind of showed me how
much the equipment matters. I just love that I can
hit any.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Shot I kind of want.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
We're gonna be able to tell some fun stories about
what goes on here to help golfers play better golf.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Hey, everybody, welcome back to the Ping prooven Grounds Podcast
Shane Bacon with Marty Jerts and Marty We've got a guest.
I think a lot of people are gonna be interested
in listening to Scott Sullivan, the senior manager amateur player
development here at Ping and Scott, your guy played college golf,
played at ASU. Sorry about that by the way, as
an Arizona waldcap. But you have a really interesting job.
(00:32):
And I would say, as somebody that obviously is a
very good player, to make your way up through Ping
and get to develop young talent has got to be
something that's been very interesting and very thrilling. How do
you come into this position, Like how does this come
about in your life?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, you know, when I finished school, I played professionally
for three years. I got as far as the corn
Ferry Tour now who was the Nike Tour back then?
But then I realized that I got myself in a
situation where I was spending more money than I was making.
That didn't really prove to be a good formula, by
the way you understand, So I had to it was
(01:13):
time to make some decisions, and so I took about
six months to decide what I wanted to do. I
almost took a job in the financial world, but an
opportunity offered itself for me at Ping, and I took
advantage of it, and I've been with Ping ever since.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Uh after you got in the door of Ping, you
were rep on was it the Nike Tour?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, you know. When I started, I got in, did
a little stint customer service, but I was fortunate enough
to be on with the group that started our democrt
fitting system, and actually, prior to that, we would take
that out on the road to uh PGA section meetings
and that kind of thing and do our presentations there.
(01:58):
But then we switched over to bring our top accounts
to Ping at their at their request, because they wanted
to see they They always ask the question, is you know,
we want to see Ping. We want to see what
you guys do and how you do it. And so
then we'd bring them in and run them through a
(02:18):
three day program on our campus. That's quite a fun thing.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
You were at the very beginning of that. We just
started doing that again, and the accounts love it because
they love they love tour in the factory, everything at
the proving grounds, visiting all the great experience.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It's certainly great experience for me.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
But so you were, you were in early on of
us kind of educating the accounts with in our fitting
cart and all the options there and things of that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah. Then after that, I went over to the tour department,
worked the Nike Tour and PJ Tour for two years
and took over the collegiate program.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
I mean, I think people like listening to the podcast
probably don't even know this exists for the most part.
I mean in terms of developing amateur players or funding
junior golfers and the amateur players and collegiate players that
couldut potentially be a ping professional if they turn pro
and they become obviously a good player, I mean, how
does that process work, Like, how do you introduce yourself
to young players? I mean, how do you guys evaluate
that level of talent?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, it is it's a very important part of what
we do for a number of reason. I'm sure we'll
get into all that, but what we do is is,
you know, it's just kind of we recruit kids just
like a college coach would, just from a slightly different angle.
You know, first you're looking you're looking at golf swings.
(03:32):
Then you're looking at see how a kid handles themselves
on the golf course. You want to see them play
poorly to see how they respond to that. It's easy
to watch them play well, but you want to see
them struggle att bit and see how they respond. Then
you look at the scoreboard. You see if what you
see golf swing wise, which you're hoping is fundamentally sound,
(03:53):
you hope the scores on the scoreboard reflect that. And
then you put the pieces together. You you find out
who mom and dad is, and you see what the
relationship with kid and mom and dad to see if
that's a healthy relationship if not. You know, all those
things go together to see if it's a right fit
(04:13):
for ping and what we do, and if we want
them to be part of our program.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
I can imagine your job has changed a lot in
terms of technology, and when I'm not talking about track
me in technology I'm talking about Instagram, social media, being
able to evaluate a golf swing on your phone versus
having to go and see that in person. How different
is your job in twenty twenty five than maybe what
it looked like in two thousand.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Well, I think the main thing now is is it
used years ago? You used to get product requests. People
just call you on the phone, okay, or they send
you an email. Now you get dms on Instagram or
those kind of things, Oh hey, you know my driverhead crack?
Can I get another one? And then you got to respond, yes,
(04:58):
send me this yerial number, I'll get you another one.
You do it through those avenues and then to touch
on what you said, And I think Marty can attest
to this is in my experience over the last twenty
five years, the technology that is going into the research
and the design of golf products is more than the
(05:20):
one hundred years up to that point. I think it's
just it's unbelievable the advancement and the technology in the research.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Scott, how what age range does you and your team
like start evaluating players? That's kind of one question, and
the other one is what forums or formats you know,
what tours tournaments, is your team looking.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
At the the age The ages of the kids we
work with are generally between the age of fourteen and
twenty three, so you know, school wise, you say freshmen
in high school up til they graduate college. That's one
of the tough parts about this is we always work
with kids between fourteen and twenty three, but I keep
(06:03):
getting older and that really sucks. But anyway, and what
we look for, you know, where the top tournaments during
the summer, spring and summer months. A lot of it
too is is that at the state level, state junior championships,
(06:25):
those kind of things, just the top competitive tournaments that
kids will play in. We want to see how they
play against each other. And then every once in a
while we'll go off the beaten paths and we're just
a different location, different kind of tournament, just to see
what's out there because you never know. And I know
(06:46):
historically one tournament during the summer that we really like
is the Western Junior because it's a big field, one
hundred and fifty six kids and they come from all
over and there's always one or two that nobody's ever
heard of that are pretty good.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yeah, I mean you mentioned and it's like college recruiting.
I mean that sounds exactly the same as a college
recruiting where you might be going to look at a
tight end and all of a sudden, this right guard
kind of catches your eye and you're like, oh, man,
this is the guy that I might want to bring
on for the team. Who is somebody in your career
doing this that you didn't know much about. You saw
them in person for the first time, and you went,
this is the kid that we've got to be paying
(07:19):
attention to.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You know. Recently, there's a kid by the name of
Alex Holder who he just committed to Auburn. Okay, he's
a twenty twenty six. I was at the Future Master's
number of years ago, and I went to watch one
kid in the group who's a Florida kid, And then
I see, oh, you know, I'm thinking that Alex was
(07:43):
the Florida kid. Well, Alex is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Okay,
And so then trying to figure out, Okay, that's that's Alex,
that's the Indiana kid. Well, who's Okay, who's his parents?
So I, you know, try to a couple holes later,
try to figure out who the parents are for each kid.
Then finally a pinpoint, Okay, that's Alex's dad. I'm guessing
(08:05):
that's his dad. So I went up and introduced myself
Alex's dad. Yes, I am okay, and then we got
that relationship started. And you know, and I'm always one
we use the resources we have at PING to get
the job done. So Alex and his family, they they
spend a little bit time down in Florida and West Palm. Well,
(08:27):
just last week Alex went down to West Palm. Hey,
is there anybody here that I could get together with
to get you know, try the new G four forty?
So I call you on Lingmerth who's our salesman in
that area? Hey, you'ren are you around? Can Alex come
see you? They spent a day last week together, had
(08:47):
a great time oron, got them all fixed up and uh,
we're in good.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Shape, beautiful And Jon's got some experience, he's got help players.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yep, yes he does as well. That's right.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We talked a little bit Scott about how things have
changed in terms of communication with social media and what
have you What have you seen in terms of in
the last say, ten and twenty years looking back on
the skill talent level of.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
The junior golfers coming up.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Are they closer together now than they were?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Are they further apart.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
In terms of skill level? What trends are you seeing there?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I think they're closer together now. Is the depth is greater.
There's way way more good young players, and there's more
good players that are fundamentally sound, and they're athletes now.
And I think I go back even further. I think
(09:45):
Tiger Woods made golf cool, right. He made it more athletic.
He made it to where a kid that you know,
maybe was a football player or a basketball player or
baseball player or whatever. You know, I'm gonna go ahead
and play golf because it's cool now. It's okay. You know,
it's not a dorky sport, you know, plaid pants and
(10:07):
hard collar shirts like back in the day. But it's
a legitimate deal. I think Tiger Woods legitimized it as
an athletic sport. So you see more kids that are athletes,
you see more kids that are fundamentally sound, and as
a result, the quality of play is better. These kids
are trained better, they're conditioned better, they're mentally stronger, all
(10:32):
of that. So I think that's the answer to that question.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
And Scott, I mean, you know something I've been interested
in terms of collegiate coaches is this idea of like,
send me your track by numbers, right, I mean it's
a thirteen, fourteen, fifteen year old kid. You want to
look at those numbers because speed is sexy. I mean
we talk about speed all the time in golf. How
much can speed, let's say, blind you to the player
they are as a young player. And how much is
(10:57):
speed at a young age important to somebody like you
who's looking at a talent five, ten, fifteen years down
the road.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Speed's important. You got to be able to smash it nowadays,
and you're at such a disadvantage if you don't. Comparatively,
you know, we look at speed, you know, and you
look at a kid's build too, you know, Okay, do
they have the build where they can put on some
weight and get stronger to hit it further? You know
what a mom and dad look like? You know what what?
(11:25):
Because you always you're trying to project, for sure, you know,
as a you know, fourteen year old, you're trying to project. Okay,
what do they look like at twenty? At twenty years old?
What do they project like to look like at twenty five?
That kind of thing as a college coach, and I
know this for a fact. As college coaches, they look
at speed. It's an important deal because they figure that
they can if we get a kid that's got some speed,
(11:47):
we can figure the rest out. So it's an important deal.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I mean, it's it's like if you have a fifteen
or sixteen year old that's six', eight, right and he's playing,
basketball and it's, like maybe he didn't have maybe he's
not a great, shooter maybe you can't make free, throws
but that build is going to work well in.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
COLLEGE i can help him learn how.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
To show yes exactly, Exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Scott we support about seventy teams collegiate. Teams we're up
eighty nine.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Nine, yeah what what does?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
That what does that look like day to day from
a tactical standpoint with you and your, team that's, Yeah
like you.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Say there's there's eighty nine, teams there's there's fifty five
on the men's, side and to get to eighty, nine
what's that the thirty four? Four okay on the women's,
side and we support them at varying. Degrees we have
twelve teams that are elite level and we outfit them
(12:44):
head to, toe, headwear bags and accessories, all you, know
and then all the clubs that we can put in
those golf. Bags then the second level we'll do golf,
bags head, covers some travel, covers and a couple other
accessories to outfit their. Team and again as many clubs
as we can get into those. Bags you, know the
(13:08):
way college athletics is, going it's very much you hear
about the power for now with The Big ten and
THE sec leading the, way really have tried to make
inroads in those two. Conferences we're having pretty good. Success
of the sixteen teams in THE, sec fourteen of them
(13:29):
Carry ping golf. Bags so we've got an in. There
in The Big, ten which isn't as strong golf, wise
we're in with the biggest Brands Ohio, State, michigan And,
illinois which historically is the best golf program in The Big.
Ten so really proud of that and we're going to you,
know try to keep, that keep that. Going and then the.
(13:52):
Outliers our go to teams Are Arizona state And Oklahoma.
State the Soul hi family And Ping company as a
historic relationship with both, schools and so we use them
specifically to test prototype, product different golf bag, designs any
(14:17):
specialty stuff that we're going to. Do we go to
them first and use them as our test subjects to you,
know then we go out to the rest of the
rest of the group and take care of them that.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
WAY i, mean it feels like a real personal, job you.
KNOW i, mean you're you're meeting a young person and
then you're kind of guiding them and helping them through the,
way hoping eventually they get to a professional level of this.
Game AND i, mean not everybody is going to get.
There but somebody Like sahith, right who you meet at
a young, age junior, golfer collegiate, player and he's now
he feels like a part of The ping. Family he
(14:52):
is a part of The ping. Family your relationship has
got to be so much stronger than so many peoples
with somebody Like sawhith that works Within ping and does
it get very personal for?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
You it. Does and we're in the relationship, business and
what you're trying to do is you're trying to develop a,
relationship but you're also trying to develop. Trust you want
them to trust, you AND i go back to my
experience at that. Age i'm sure you can. Too i'm
sure you can. Too when you're an aspiring young golfer
(15:22):
and to have somebody take an interest in, you somebody
that wants to help, you and somebody that wants you to.
Succeed that's the attitude that we. Take and so you,
KNOW i draw back on personal feelings that way and, like,
yeah you know, WHAT i had people along the way help.
ME i want to give back and try to help these.
(15:45):
People and then the thing about it is, is as
you guys, know it's only the top one percent that
are going to make it. Right and this group that
we're talking, about, yes that's the group that we draw
from for players that we sign endorsement contracts. With, okay
but there's the rest of. Them they're gonna be in
(16:06):
the golf. Business they're gonna, be you, know a college,
Coach they're gonna be a club, pro they're gonna be
doing you, know, Media they're gonna be doing all kinds of.
Things so we want any experience they have with, ping
we want it to be a positive. Experience and, then most,
importantly once they get out and in the real world
(16:26):
and have the purchasing power we want them Buying Ping
ping golf clubs because of that positive.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Experience, YEAH i, mean it's a it's a great message
coming beyond this, too. RIGHT i, mean in, general it's
treating people with a level of respect that even if
it doesn't work out per se in terms of what
you hope to be or the goal in your, life
maybe you work for paying or maybe you are a
head pro that feels comfortable with this. Brand so, YEAH i,
mean LIKE i, said it just feels it feels like
a very personal, Job like it feels like it's probably
(16:53):
an emotional job as. Well And i'm assuming you've had
to like weave throughout over the last you, know two
and a half decades how to best to approach you
Because i'm sure there's certain players that are family to,
you and there's certain players that you would have hoped
to make it. RIGHT i hope they become pros because you,
Know i'm such a big fan of.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Their, Sure and what the cool thing is, is like you,
know before we got together for, THIS i was out
on the range and the putting green out, there and you,
know guys that have had contact with through the years
during THE pga. Tour, now whether they're a whether they're
a ping guy or. Not, yeah you, know you get
to catch up and chat with them a little. Bit
and that's that's the cool, part and that's the relationship,
(17:31):
part and that's that's the benefit of the, job is
seeing them have success and knowing that you had a
hand in helping them get there and have that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Success, SCOTT i want to transition a little bit to equipment.
SIDE i think in the last five years five years or,
so we've had maybe a little bit. More we introduced
THE pld line and ability to get customized, putters and
a big part of that was for the collegiate younger
players as well as The Blueprint. Irons talk a little
(18:03):
bit about the importance of BOTH pld in Our Blueprint
irons in terms of this.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Group, yes, first with THE, pod it certainly filled a
hole that we had with the customization of. Things and
it's not only you, know paint field colors and and
and stamp and engrave initials and names that kind of,
thing but the design of putters and the weights and
(18:31):
and the looks and where to put the site lines and.
Everything it gave us the opportunity to compete with obviously our,
competitors but it also enabled us to give the players
something that they. Desired so that's been very. Good are you?
Know in our iron categories we've always been, strong but
(18:52):
the blueprint t and the blueprint s has raised it
to another level and it's it's given us a leg
up in that. Area so we've got a lot more
iron sets in, play and you, know with blueprints And
blueprint t you know there's a lot of split sets,
too so we've got something that can fit a work
(19:15):
to perform for a wider range of. Players.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, Nice.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Scott there's a parent listen to this that has a
young player that's got a lot of talent or is
won a lot of golf. Tournaments what are tips you
give to parents that reach out to you that has
the twelve thirteen year old that has a dream of
playing collegiate, golf that has a dream of being a.
Pro what do you tell those people when they reach
out to you to give them advice to best kind
of navigate that very very very tough.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Situation the first THING i tell them is let them
be a. Kid, okay, okay if they're, thirteen let them be.
Thirteen they don't need to be eighteen yet they'll.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Get and when you say that is that don't spend
eight hours a day on the golf, course, like don't
don't be hitting balls to your hands. Bleed it's this
can be a part of who you, are but not.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Everything go ahead and play another. Sport please play other,
sport preferably a team, sport because you need the experience
of working with others versus you, know golf's in a
very individual, sport so you need. Both so let them
be a, kid and if they have a passion for,
it make sure they're fundamentals are sound sound at an
(20:19):
early age because it's going to do nothing but help.
Them so get, them get them good, instruction and then you,
know if you if you have the, means, great they
have to. Compete and then, again if you have the
means and they have to, compete, well travel your game
(20:41):
has to. Travel you, know very rarely do you have
a home game in. Golf you alwa's got to go somewhere.
Else so you, know An arizona kid go up To
ohio play on. That you know that Bent grass At Kentucky,
bluegrass play in somewhere the wind really moves the, ball
not a, yeah here where the wind? Does you? Know
(21:02):
the wind's, blown but it doesn't affect. Anything go somewhere
where it's, cold and you got to learn how to
deal with. That so deal with the elements travel and
those kinds of. Things it's gonna better prepare you down the.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Road what ARE i always remember WHEN i was coming
up AND i was trying to get get potentially play
golf in. COLLEGE i remember a college coach telling my
dad one, time if there if their legs on their
bags are, Bent i'm, Out, like what are some red
flags for you when you were looking at young players
and your life come? Out you, know because there are,
(21:36):
obviously i mean club. Throwers i'm assuming you're probably out, On,
like what are some things that you as you're evaluating,
Talent because, AGAIN i Mean i'm assuming you're working closely
with college coaches as, Well, like what are some red
flags that young people need to avoid or parents could
help their kids hopefully.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Avoid, Yeah, well it's. Funny you know you see a
kid and they, struggle they hit a bad, shot, whatever
and they have a negative. Reaction, well depending on how
negative it, is maybe it's just because they. Care, okay you,
know so you got to factor that in bent. LEGS
i agree that's not. Good that's not. Good but the
(22:13):
thing is, is no no ass, dragon no always, me
no MOPy, dopey none of. That you know you're gonna
hit a bad. One, Golf Like Ben hogan, Said golf's
a game of. Imperfections you. Know you know how often
do you play and you hit every shot.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Perfect i'll tell you this.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
GUY i remember a good friend of mine who lives
in The phoenix area who's been playing competitive golf for.
NOW i mean he's seventy years old, now BUT i
mean competitive golf, forever you, Know State open winner and.
STUFF i remember he telling me one time WHEN i
was probably my. Twenties he, SAID i hit four good
shots around and this was the best GOLFER i. Knew
AND i remember him telling me, that AND i just
(22:53):
thinking of. Myself my expectations are way, off you, know
like WHAT i Think i'm. Doing if this guy's saying
it's four good shots And i'll play golf of them
all the, time it feels like it has fifty good shots,
around you.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
KNOW i mean we talk so much about the.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Misses the one thing THAT i do find interesting about young,
people AND i like your opinion on, this is it
feels like young people are more mature. Now it feels
like they're able to handle. Situations not to say everybody,
is but you look at these young players coming out
of college and how competitive the amateur circuit, is both
the amateur wise and. Professional you See Nick dunlap last
year obviously whining as amateur first time since your teammate
(23:26):
did it in the early, Nineties like they seem like
they can handle these situations so much.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Better you, know just on. That you know That Nick
dunlop he won THE Us amateur and TWO Pga tour
events in a calendar. Year it's, incredible, unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Some would say the hardest golf tournament to win in
THE Us, amateur and then he backs it up with
a couple of tour.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Wins so back to what you're saying is is that they,
are and the really good ones really, are and that's
what separates them from everybody. Else the top level. Ones
they're advanced maturity, wise and they're advanced their mental, strength
(24:07):
and they're they're comfortable with, THEMSELVES i, think AND i
think that all goes, together but it's, noticeable and those
are the ones that that do separate themselves from everybody.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Else, scott how do you feel when you go visit
a SU's new practice? Facility are you.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Get a little jealous that you didn't have that when
you're when you guys have been, there, right and it's you,
know And i've seen them. All it is the best.
One and and obviously the settings nice and, everything but
just the. Functionality AND I i have talked to you,
Know i've done stuff like this, before talking about the,
(24:46):
bird AND i, say you, know every shot is out.
There you just have to go out and imagine, it
because if you can imagine, it you'll find it out.
There but it's tremendous and AND i, Remember i'll never.
Forget this is back in the issue days where it
is now where the soccer stadium. Is you guys familiar
(25:08):
with the campus down? There kid's where the picture where
the soccer stadium is. Now that used to be an open.
Field we used to get broomsticks and duct tape golf.
Towels those are our pin flags and we'd go step
them off and pound them into the. Ground and that's
(25:28):
where we would do our wedge. Practice, yeah there's been
a there's been a lot of advancement in uh in.
Facilities and to tell you guys the, truth all the
top collegiate programs have something like, that and they're investing
millions of dollars and it is it's a direct result
(25:52):
of the success that some of these kids have because
they have that level of training facility and that level
of attention to.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Detail, SCOTT i got to ask somebody you missed, on
somebody that you were thinking, about you were, evaluating and you,
Went i'm not sure about this guy and then they
went on or this girl then went on to to be.
Incredible mm, gosh if nobody comes to, mind that's. Okay
But i'm just, uh you, KNOW i, Mean i'm assuming
(26:21):
every college coach has probably had a couple of people
where they.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Went, yeah we've all had one that got. Away you.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Know it's, like, man that person was so much better
AND i thought they were gonna Be.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
NO i can't really think of anybody like. THAT i
can't think of that some that that certainly tried to
but Didn't, okay didn't didn't get. Them Luke, clanton who's
in the field here this, week who you guys are
familiar with that. Name he's been tearing it. Up he's
one of. Them but that comes with the that comes
(26:53):
with the.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Territory it's competitive, company it's competitive.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Business, Yeah AND i tell you, what at the at
the the amateur, level it's much much more competitive than
it is at this tour. Level, interesting and think about
it because at the amateur, level everybody's a free. Agent,
here everybody has their stable of, players right that are you,
(27:16):
know endorsed to do, So whereas at the ammeter, level
everybody's a free. Agent so you're you're fighting and clawing
every single, week every single day to hang on to
what you've. Got in a lot of times we find
ourselves playing.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Defense, interesting how has just THE nil deals changed your
landscape in your?
Speaker 1 (27:39):
World?
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Uh some some we're involved in it and WHAT nil
is It it's a necessary thing and it's not going.
Away so eventually we realized we had to get involved in,
it and we. Are but what it is is it's
it's to let the player know that, hey we leaving.
You we want to continue a relationship with you once
(28:04):
you get to the next. Level so this is just
showing you a little sign of love. That, hey you
know when it when it's all said and done and
you're ready to turn, pro we want we want to
talk and we want to do.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
A Deal, scott before we lets you. Go you played
With phil at a Su was that?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
RIGHT i? Did?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Yeah can you share a story of when you realized
how Good Phil mickelson was at? Golf was there a
moment you saw it or a shot you saw, it
or around of golf that you saw where you, Went
this dude's got a different, gear.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
A couple different. Things is you, know we would we
go out and, play whether it's we're just playing the
player or qualifying rounds or practice rounds for tournaments or,
whatever and you, know everybody hits and everybody's t. Shot
you're all out there within you, know five yards of each, other,
Right but then you get up to a part Five,
okay you know back in the day five seventy, five
(28:55):
five eighty, Five well that's all that's all long part five, right.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Likely unreachable in the early. Nineties, yeah to get there.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
And all of a, sudden he's twenty yards in front of.
Everybody so where did that come? From and then we
were playing at a tournament In Las, vegas and he
WAS i was playing in the group right in front of.
Him and the last hole was a par five and
there's a huge bunker on the left hand, side and
it's one of those that's got a really steep face
(29:22):
and it's a part. Five so it goes down across
a little, pond and then there's the green and he
hits you, KNOW i finish and we're you, know when you're,
done you sit behind the green and you wait for
everybody to come. In so we're sitting behind the green
and he's back up there and you can see him
walking and then he disappears because he goes into the.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Bunker, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And then you see his head pop up to, look
and then he goes back. Down then you see his head
pop up to look. Again AND i mean you're sitting
there thinking he's laying, out and then all of a,
sudden you hear the, contact and then you hear you
see a little, sand and then where is? It where is?
It where is? It and then all of a, sudden
(30:05):
like a like a meteor hit the. Earth it just
s ball lands on the green about twenty feet from the.
Hole he hit a driver out of that bunker and
it Was we actually went back up there later to look,
like how the hell did he do? That?
Speaker 1 (30:23):
First how did he think about? It second did he
pull it?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Off, yeah but back then he was so much better
than everybody else at that at that, stage and it's you,
know it's no surprise he's going to be in The
Golf hall Of.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Fame, WELL i, mean, like you, know you just think
about like we're talking about twenty twenty five and every
available player that exists in. Golf you can go on
social media and see their swings and see what they're
able to. Do and to think back to the early,
nineties you, know there wasn't video of these. PLAYERS i
mean you saw it. Firsthand you got to see it
day in and day out of a player that became
arguably the second best player of a generation AND i
(30:56):
think probably a top ten top fifteen player of all.
TIME i mean it must have been why iiled day
in and day out to just see the amazing short
game and the ability with the hands and shots like,
That like you're talking about where everybody else in the
world's hitting eight iron out and they just try to
hit a wedge on the.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Green he's so much better everybody. Else and then the
kids asked, me the college kids, now they asked, me,
like who you, know who's the best you've? Seen filled
by Always. Phil, yeah AND i told him just for. Numbers, Wise,
okay this guy won eighteen college, tournaments including THREE ncaa. Championships,
yeah that's pretty, good, RIGHT.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
I, mean you, know AND i mean obviously wins THE
Us amateur and wins THE Pj tour. Event is an
AMATEUR i mean, yes AND i mean.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
It's it's studley. Stuff it's, Crazy, scott the story is.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Incredible we appreciate you kind of sharing some insight into
this world THAT i don't think a lot of even
like diehard golf fans totally. Understand so we really appreciate the.
TIME i appreciate all the hard work you do a.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Thing oh you bet.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
You Scott's, soullivan. Everybody this is The ping Proven grounds
podcast
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