Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
I'm honored to be into Andy Everitt, of course when
he's back up for many many years, and because of
the show, I've had the pleasure you're talking with so
many great people in the world of glove, including this
fine gentlemen who is one of our top one undred
instructors in the entire United States. It is Brian Gathwright
who's out at River Crossing. Brian, good morning, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I'm doing great, David, how are you today?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I'm doing okay. Thank you very much for being on
with us before we chat about some of your instructions
and some of the people that you've had the pleasure
of teaching through the years. What's happening out of your
golf course, and what kind of shape is River Crossing in.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's in great shape. We're actually getting ready for our
member guest next weekend, and the greens are really in
nice shape. They're nice and firm and fast, and as
you know, we had a pretty mile summer and managed
to get some running through, so it's probably the most
green and the best I've seen it since I've been there.
So we're real excited, and I know the members are
(00:59):
excited to have their annual member guests. So everything's been
busy and I've been on the road a bunks, so
it's nice to maybe be home for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Brian Gazwright Azar guests one of the top instructors, and
let's chat about a couple of guys that you've had
the pleasure of teaching. First of all, Johnny Keefer. Now,
according to a statsy, turned pro last year. He is
currently ranked number fifty one on the official World Golf rankings.
What do you see down the road for Johnny.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Kiefer A really bright future when you're twenty four years old,
you've been a pro for sixteen months and your official
earnings are about one and a quarter million dollars and
you hadn't been on the PGA Tour yet. In fifty
first in the world, we're trying to figure out a
way to get into one more tournament and have one
(01:47):
solid finish to get inside that top fifty, because him
winning last week actually got him in the US Open
next summer, it got him in the Players Championship. If
we can get inside the top fifty, there's a little
tournament that they have the second week in April down
in Georgia that we might enjoy being at and certainly
(02:13):
there's one across upon it's pretty exciting as well. So
the opportunity to potentially play in four majors your first
year on the PGA Tour and the Players Championship, there's
a lot of incredible things went into him. You know,
he won the Player of the Year. This past week
(02:33):
on the corn Ferry Tour, he set an all time
scoring record of sixty seven point ninety five. And somebody
asked me how long that tour has been around, And
it's been around long enough that one hundred years ago.
I played a few events on that thing back in
the early eighties. So after forty one years, to break
(02:54):
a scoring record there, and he broke Jimmy Walker scoring
record at Baylor, the career scoring record up there. Last
year he set an all time scoring record on the
America's Tour where he averaged sixty six And what more
can I say? He's an incredible player, a wonderful young man.
(03:15):
Hits it a mile, puts it great and wedge is
it good. So we just got to stay healthy and
keep playing some great golf and and continue to grow
and learn and get better every year.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Brian Gathroters. I guess, Brian, when you're teaching these young
men the the you know, you know, the great way
to play the game of golf. When they make it
to the point of being able to play with other
members of the PGA, to who are some of the
stars and so forth, what is your best advice to
keep him from getting so nervous or maybe even starstruck
when they're going to be touring and basically paired with
(03:48):
maybe one of the most famous golfers in the world.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, I think a lot of it is it's just
a preparation that you do going into that. You know,
Johnny's been lucky, He's already you know, he's played in
a PGA Championship, he's already played in the US Open,
He's played with great players. And college golf is so
different than it was, you know, twenty thirty years ago.
(04:12):
The college ranks now they prepare these guys so well.
And then from a different standpoint, one of the things
that I've always tried to do with my players is
they grow and develop. I've always kind of put it
upon them on the older players to play with the
younger ones. I you know, years ago I gave not
(04:35):
to begay some advice this first year on the tour.
I said, look, when you go to play practice rounds,
I said, you look around the practice see and you
try to find someone that's been out there for a
long time, to find a veteran. Try to play golf
with the veteran and just pick their brain. I said,
you don't have to ask them a million questions, but
try to know something about something in their career that
(04:58):
you respect and admire about, and ask them about it.
I said, You'll be amazed how many times they'll share
that experience with you. And then what I've done is
some of my players have grown and developed. I've got
pictures of Mack Meisner playing with Johnny Keefer when Mack
was a freshman at SMU and Johnny was in high school.
(05:18):
I've got pictures from twenty twenty at the USAM where
I had both Mac and Johnny there and they were
both in college at that point in time. And then
I'm proud to say last year in the Pro Corp Championship,
which was Johnny's first event on the PGA Tour, I
had Mac and Johnny play practice round together. And so
(05:42):
you try to prepare them as best you can. And
now Johnny's already played quite a few rounds of golf
with some of my high school players. So I just
make those guys give back by, you know, being somewhat
of a mentor to the younger kids behind them. And
I don't think there's a better way to prepare you
for that, and then you know, to get that opportunity
(06:04):
to play with some of those guys. But more importantly,
there's a little bit that you can learn from being
that mentor to those younger kids that makes them makes
them understand those types of things. And I think it's
it's essential as a coach to to be a little
bit demanding of those guys. They're getting a lot from
the game of golf, and you certainly want them to
(06:24):
uh to give back to the game because they've been
so blessed to be at the level that they are.
And and I couldn't be more proud of the three
that I work with, because when you talk about class
guys forget their golf game, Johnny Key for Mitchell Meisner,
Mac Meisner or quality quality guys and and people that
I think the world of. So I couldn't be more
(06:46):
fortunate as a coach.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Brian gathright as our guests. Brian, let's go back a
little bit in time and give me, if you will,
somebody that that you felt, maybe not quite Starstrug, but
maybe to a certain point Starstrug though. Who was it
they that may have put you in that particular circle
that you say, Wow, I'm actually going to meet this guy.
I'm actually meeting this guy and talking with this guy
right now. Who would that be?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Oh? I think probably the first one that really came
to mind. I'd had the good fortune I played with
a lot of players that went on and became too players.
But I ran a tournament in Aspen, Colorado that we
were blessed to have Greg Norman come to and Greg
was number one in the world at the time. You know,
(07:31):
the Great White Shark, the persona that Greg brought at
that point in time in the game, that was one
that was kind of like you pinched yourself and go,
you know, how did this kid from Teak, Texas end
up in this scenario? And I've been so blessed at
what the game's given me. And you caught me on
(07:54):
a drive today and I want to share something. Dale
Morgan longtime dear friend and golf professionals at Austin Country
Club for years and Yearsdale and I are actually in
the car right now headed up our Mentor Joe Whittaker
passed away last week and we're going to a memorial
(08:15):
service up there. And you know, I've just been so
fortunate in the game. We grew up on a nine
hole golf course in central Texas and to have had
the opportunity. I've played golf with President Ford, We've talked
about on the air. I've met you know, Greg Norman,
Tiger Woods, Shack, Nicholas, Arnold Palmer throughout the years, and
(08:38):
golf's been incredible to me. I can't tell you how
fortunate we are. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
First of all, I want to have pass along my
deepest sympathies. I'm very sorry for your loss, Brian, and
hopefully we'll have a safe trip. One thing I would
like to close out with is that me being, of course,
in the position that I am here in San Antonio.
Been playing golf for many, many years. But back in
the nineteen eighty two I was invited to play in
the Texas Open Pro am at Oak Hills, and I
(09:05):
had the pleasure of playing of mister fifty nine. At
that point, Al Geiberger, of all people, I was a
very star struck at that point, and when we were
on the first tee, I was just asking the Lord
please let me hit it down the ferry down in
the middle, and thankfully I did. But one thing that
I always remember about Al Geiberger is that back then
they had given us this new golf ball. It was
(09:26):
a color orange. They were just coming out with those
back then. At the dinner on the night before, or
actually at the weekend before of that particular event, they
gave me a dozen orange golf balls. I decided to
play with orange golf balls that day, and it was
on a part three. I don't recall what hold it
was at Oak Hills, but I actually hit my ball
into a pond, into one of the lakes, and I
remember Al telling me, as we were walking right alongside
(09:48):
the pond, he says, hey, David, I bet you if
you were to go ahead and dive into that pond,
you'd be able to find that ball glowing at the
bottom of it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Exactly and bore. The games come a long way now,
We've got them in all different colors and paint splatter
marks on them and everything else. It's been incredible to
see what's evolved and in the technology in this game.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
To say the least, it was pretty fun playing with
al gey Berger and I can only wish you nothing
but the best. I mean, you've played, played with, and
met with and talked with so many great people in
the world of golf, and probably some other celebrities too
that are not even in the world of golf. And
Brian Gathwright always pleasure're having you on and I'm going
to continue making this threat. Brian. I'm going to be
out there at River Crossing sometime soon, so make sure
(10:32):
you put up warning signs whenever I make it out there.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I'll look forward to it. David, let me know when
you're coming and we'll that time to have lunch.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Showcasey all right, Brian Gathwright, thank you very much, Safe travels,
and again I'm very sorry for your lost Stay safe.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Thanks so much, David, have a great day, Sam, you too.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It is Brian Gathwright from River Crossing, one of the
top instructors in the US. Coming up next it'll be
our tip segment of the week. We'll be chatting with
Bobby Steener from Horseshoe Bay. It is a ticket seven
sixty golf show.
I'm honored to be into Andy Everitt, of course when
he's back up for many many years, and because of
the show, I've had the pleasure you're talking with so
many great people in the world of glove, including this
fine gentlemen who is one of our top one undred
instructors in the entire United States. It is Brian Gathwright
who's out at River Crossing. Brian, good morning, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
I'm doing great, David, how are you today?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I'm doing okay. Thank you very much for being on
with us before we chat about some of your instructions
and some of the people that you've had the pleasure
of teaching through the years. What's happening out of your
golf course, and what kind of shape is River Crossing in.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's in great shape. We're actually getting ready for our
member guest next weekend, and the greens are really in
nice shape. They're nice and firm and fast, and as
you know, we had a pretty mile summer and managed
to get some running through, so it's probably the most
green and the best I've seen it since I've been there.
So we're real excited, and I know the members are
(00:59):
excited to have their annual member guests. So everything's been
busy and I've been on the road a bunks, so
it's nice to maybe be home for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Brian Gazwright Azar guests one of the top instructors, and
let's chat about a couple of guys that you've had
the pleasure of teaching. First of all, Johnny Keefer. Now,
according to a statsy, turned pro last year. He is
currently ranked number fifty one on the official World Golf rankings.
What do you see down the road for Johnny.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Kiefer A really bright future when you're twenty four years old,
you've been a pro for sixteen months and your official
earnings are about one and a quarter million dollars and
you hadn't been on the PGA Tour yet. In fifty
first in the world, we're trying to figure out a
way to get into one more tournament and have one
(01:47):
solid finish to get inside that top fifty, because him
winning last week actually got him in the US Open
next summer, it got him in the Players Championship. If
we can get inside the top fifty, there's a little
tournament that they have the second week in April down
in Georgia that we might enjoy being at and certainly
(02:13):
there's one across upon it's pretty exciting as well. So
the opportunity to potentially play in four majors your first
year on the PGA Tour and the Players Championship, there's
a lot of incredible things went into him. You know,
he won the Player of the Year. This past week
(02:33):
on the corn Ferry Tour, he set an all time
scoring record of sixty seven point ninety five. And somebody
asked me how long that tour has been around, And
it's been around long enough that one hundred years ago.
I played a few events on that thing back in
the early eighties. So after forty one years, to break
(02:54):
a scoring record there, and he broke Jimmy Walker scoring
record at Baylor, the career scoring record up there. Last
year he set an all time scoring record on the
America's Tour where he averaged sixty six And what more
can I say? He's an incredible player, a wonderful young man.
(03:15):
Hits it a mile, puts it great and wedge is
it good. So we just got to stay healthy and
keep playing some great golf and and continue to grow
and learn and get better every year.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Brian Gathroters. I guess, Brian, when you're teaching these young
men the the you know, you know, the great way
to play the game of golf. When they make it
to the point of being able to play with other
members of the PGA, to who are some of the
stars and so forth, what is your best advice to
keep him from getting so nervous or maybe even starstruck
when they're going to be touring and basically paired with
(03:48):
maybe one of the most famous golfers in the world.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, I think a lot of it is it's just
a preparation that you do going into that. You know,
Johnny's been lucky, He's already you know, he's played in
a PGA Championship, he's already played in the US Open,
He's played with great players. And college golf is so
different than it was, you know, twenty thirty years ago.
(04:12):
The college ranks now they prepare these guys so well.
And then from a different standpoint, one of the things
that I've always tried to do with my players is
they grow and develop. I've always kind of put it
upon them on the older players to play with the
younger ones. I you know, years ago I gave not
(04:35):
to begay some advice this first year on the tour.
I said, look, when you go to play practice rounds,
I said, you look around the practice see and you
try to find someone that's been out there for a
long time, to find a veteran. Try to play golf
with the veteran and just pick their brain. I said,
you don't have to ask them a million questions, but
try to know something about something in their career that
(04:58):
you respect and admire about, and ask them about it.
I said, You'll be amazed how many times they'll share
that experience with you. And then what I've done is
some of my players have grown and developed. I've got
pictures of Mack Meisner playing with Johnny Keefer when Mack
was a freshman at SMU and Johnny was in high school.
(05:18):
I've got pictures from twenty twenty at the USAM where
I had both Mac and Johnny there and they were
both in college at that point in time. And then
I'm proud to say last year in the Pro Corp Championship,
which was Johnny's first event on the PGA Tour, I
had Mac and Johnny play practice round together. And so
(05:42):
you try to prepare them as best you can. And
now Johnny's already played quite a few rounds of golf
with some of my high school players. So I just
make those guys give back by, you know, being somewhat
of a mentor to the younger kids behind them. And
I don't think there's a better way to prepare you
for that, and then you know, to get that opportunity
(06:04):
to play with some of those guys. But more importantly,
there's a little bit that you can learn from being
that mentor to those younger kids that makes them makes
them understand those types of things. And I think it's
it's essential as a coach to to be a little
bit demanding of those guys. They're getting a lot from
the game of golf, and you certainly want them to
(06:24):
uh to give back to the game because they've been
so blessed to be at the level that they are.
And and I couldn't be more proud of the three
that I work with, because when you talk about class
guys forget their golf game, Johnny Key for Mitchell Meisner,
Mac Meisner or quality quality guys and and people that
I think the world of. So I couldn't be more
(06:46):
fortunate as a coach.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Brian gathright as our guests. Brian, let's go back a
little bit in time and give me, if you will,
somebody that that you felt, maybe not quite Starstrug, but
maybe to a certain point Starstrug though. Who was it
they that may have put you in that particular circle
that you say, Wow, I'm actually going to meet this guy.
I'm actually meeting this guy and talking with this guy
right now. Who would that be?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Oh? I think probably the first one that really came
to mind. I'd had the good fortune I played with
a lot of players that went on and became too players.
But I ran a tournament in Aspen, Colorado that we
were blessed to have Greg Norman come to and Greg
was number one in the world at the time. You know,
(07:31):
the Great White Shark, the persona that Greg brought at
that point in time in the game, that was one
that was kind of like you pinched yourself and go,
you know, how did this kid from Teak, Texas end
up in this scenario? And I've been so blessed at
what the game's given me. And you caught me on
(07:54):
a drive today and I want to share something. Dale
Morgan longtime dear friend and golf professionals at Austin Country
Club for years and Yearsdale and I are actually in
the car right now headed up our Mentor Joe Whittaker
passed away last week and we're going to a memorial
(08:15):
service up there. And you know, I've just been so
fortunate in the game. We grew up on a nine
hole golf course in central Texas and to have had
the opportunity. I've played golf with President Ford, We've talked
about on the air. I've met you know, Greg Norman,
Tiger Woods, Shack, Nicholas, Arnold Palmer throughout the years, and
(08:38):
golf's been incredible to me. I can't tell you how
fortunate we are. Well.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
First of all, I want to have pass along my
deepest sympathies. I'm very sorry for your loss, Brian, and
hopefully we'll have a safe trip. One thing I would
like to close out with is that me being, of course,
in the position that I am here in San Antonio.
Been playing golf for many, many years. But back in
the nineteen eighty two I was invited to play in
the Texas Open Pro am at Oak Hills, and I
(09:05):
had the pleasure of playing of mister fifty nine. At
that point, Al Geiberger, of all people, I was a
very star struck at that point, and when we were
on the first tee, I was just asking the Lord
please let me hit it down the ferry down in
the middle, and thankfully I did. But one thing that
I always remember about Al Geiberger is that back then
they had given us this new golf ball. It was
(09:26):
a color orange. They were just coming out with those
back then. At the dinner on the night before, or
actually at the weekend before of that particular event, they
gave me a dozen orange golf balls. I decided to
play with orange golf balls that day, and it was
on a part three. I don't recall what hold it
was at Oak Hills, but I actually hit my ball
into a pond, into one of the lakes, and I
remember Al telling me, as we were walking right alongside
(09:48):
the pond, he says, hey, David, I bet you if
you were to go ahead and dive into that pond,
you'd be able to find that ball glowing at the
bottom of it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Exactly and bore. The games come a long way now,
We've got them in all different colors and paint splatter
marks on them and everything else. It's been incredible to
see what's evolved and in the technology in this game.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
To say the least, it was pretty fun playing with
al gey Berger and I can only wish you nothing
but the best. I mean, you've played, played with, and
met with and talked with so many great people in
the world of golf, and probably some other celebrities too
that are not even in the world of golf. And
Brian Gathwright always pleasure're having you on and I'm going
to continue making this threat. Brian. I'm going to be
out there at River Crossing sometime soon, so make sure
(10:32):
you put up warning signs whenever I make it out there.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I'll look forward to it. David, let me know when
you're coming and we'll that time to have lunch.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Showcasey all right, Brian Gathwright, thank you very much, Safe travels,
and again I'm very sorry for your lost Stay safe.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Thanks so much, David, have a great day, Sam, you too.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It is Brian Gathwright from River Crossing, one of the
top instructors in the US. Coming up next it'll be
our tip segment of the week. We'll be chatting with
Bobby Steener from Horseshoe Bay. It is a ticket seven
sixty golf show.
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