Episode 187: Eat It or Delete It!

September 17th, 2026  |  1 hr 6 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

We’ve got a fun episode on tap for you this week! On the Front Nine, we break down the latest in team golf-from regional to international, amateur to professional. We share our takes on how the Solheim Cup unfolded and preview the upcoming PING Challenge Cup on the Flagstick.com PGA of Ottawa Tour.

Later, we dive into Cabot’s new resort project in Nova Scotia and how it’s set to transform the region into a full-fledged golf destination. Plus, we break down the PGA TOUR’s newly announced eligibility categories for 2028.

Then, over on the Back Nine, we play a round of "Eat It or Delete It". We review unique food items from 25 golf courses around the world and decide whether they belong on our plate or get a hard pass.

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 186: Is LIV Golf Dead?

September 10th, 2026  |  55 mins 48 secs

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

Grab your headphones and tune into a jam-packed episode of the Flagstick Podcast as hosts Jeff Bauder and Scott MacLeod break down the biggest headlines and hot takes across the entire golf landscape. The guys kick things off by pulling back the curtain on the world of online course reviews to debate whether crowd-sourced quick ratings on social media actually help everyday players or are entirely subjective and something to be cautious about. From there, they shift gears to the international stage to dive into the latest Solheim Cup news, analyzing why there seems to be less buzz for the event, and what they will be watching for when the action unfolds.

The excitement continues with news from the home front as the team provides an update on the upcoming print issue of Flagstick Golf Magazine and when you can grab your physical copy. Then, Jeff and Scott react to the breaking news of LIV Golf filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to analyze what went wrong, where the roster goes next, and what this total collapse means for the future of global professional golf. Finally the hosts take a relaxed turn down memory lane to discuss the some "fun factor" golf holes they have played and what makes them look forward to playing them again.

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 185: Bad Bad For Good Good? Clout vs Credibility In The Golf Industry

September 2nd, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

On the latest episode we ramp up to the main topic with a brief catch-up on some regional golf story lines, including the conclusion of the Race to the Flagstick.com Cup on the PLAY Junior Golf Tour.

Having a look at the pro golf landscape, we give our thoughts on Scottie Scheffler pulling off another dominant win at the PGA Tour Championship. Looking ahead, we preview the upcoming Solheim Cup in the Netherlands, noting a curious lack of mainstream hype and giving some theories on why that is the case. We then shift over to the 2026 Presidents Cup, the Captain's Picks and the team rosters and who we might like to see face-off in a singles match.

The second half of the show tackles the balance between chasing short-term social media attention and preserving long-term brand integrity in the golf industry, given the recent situation with the Good Good and Callaway brands. Instead of just aiming out sights at this instance, we look at it with a wider lens to examine what lessons can be learned. How do golf businesses do a better job of navigating these pitfalls, to better control their messages and brand reputation, no matter the medium being used to reach consumers?

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 184: Spin The Wheel of Golf Topics

August 27th, 2026  |  1 hr 10 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

It's a random run through the world of golf on this show, taking on all manners of topics that are of interest.

We start with some chatter about our latest golf exploits then take on the breaking news of the new PGA TOUR playoff structure for 2028.

The Random Wheel serves up plenty of fun topics - where we think LIV 2.0 will go, does the PGA TOUR even need playoffs, should your pitching wedge match you irons or wedges, is Wyndham Clark in the Player of the Year conversation after his latest win, does the PGA TOUR need injury reports, and who will step up among the Canadians to join Mike Weir in the 2027 Masters.

Plenty of opinions, and a lot of interesting discussion.

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 183: Who Is This Scheffler Guy?

August 19th, 2026  |  1 hr 5 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

On this episode of Flagstick Podcast, the guys react to Scottie Scheffler’s crushing victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Following another clinic on the course, the show breaks down Scheffler’s sheer dominance over the past five seasons and debates just how high the World No. 1 can elevate his game moving forward.

Before diving into tour talk, Jeff and Scott catch up in the Front 9. Jeff shares updates on his recent sod project, while Scott reflects on his latest rounds. That leads into a candid conversation on the etiquette, unexpected perks, and potential pitfalls and windfalls of playing golf with strangers.

Plus, the podcast looks ahead to Canada’s national women’s golf championship: the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open at Edmonton’s historic Royal Mayfair Golf Club. The host Stanley Thompson layout welcomes a star-studded 156-player field, led by World No. 1 Nelly Korda, a chasing Lydia Ko, returning to the site of her historic 2013 victory, and 15 Canadians, including defending champion Brooke Henderson. From the electric atmosphere of "The Rink" on the 17th hole to CPKC’s goal of raising over $3.9 million for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the tournament promises high-stakes action and incredible community impact. Tune in for deep-dive analysis, course insights, and plenty of golf banter!

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 182: It's Time - Let's Talk Playoffs

August 13th, 2026  |  1 hr 4 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

This week on the podcast, we recap the latest from the golf world, including the PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship and Craig Stefureak’s remarkable run of play. We also take time to remember our friend Matt McQuillan, reflecting on his journey from top-ranked Canadian junior to the PGA TOUR and his impact on those around him.

On the Back Nine, we dive into the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs, looking at the notable names who missed the top-70 cutoff, the players who made the field, and our picks to contend for the title. We also look ahead to the significant changes coming to the PGA TOUR in 2028, including a revamped postseason, match play, rotating venues, and a new two-tier structure featuring promotion and relegation.

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 181: Rankings Are Rank

July 30th, 2026  |  1 hr 13 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

With more media outlets recently publishing their annual course rankings, this episode dives deep into the fascinating history of golf course ranking lists, the psychology and business objectives behind their existence, and the ongoing debate over what people love and hate about them.

The team breaks down the fundamental flaw of the word "best," exploring how a term meant to signify objective statistical excellence is routinely used as an authoritative stamp on deeply subjective human experiences. When a publication claims a course is the best, it rarely implies a scientific consensus; rather, it indicates how perfectly a layout aligns with a small group's personal biases and opinions.

While informal evaluations date back as far as a 1908 edition of Golf Illustrated that ranked iconic tracks in Great Britain and Ireland, modern media-driven rankings officially began in 1966. That year, Golf Digest published its inaugural list, originally titled America's 100 Most Testing Courses. The initial intent was strictly to identify the most grueling, difficult tests of golf to challenge a surging post-war population of new players, though over time, the concept of hardest gradually evolved into “best.”

We look at the methodology used for some of these rankings, how they only represent a few people yet masquerade as being definitive, how they become misinterpreted and weaponized and what other factors may compromise the opinions of rankers.

The episode concludes with a philosophical look at the ultimate value of these lists. While rankings are an unstoppable force that will undoubtedly continue, the hosts advocate for greater transparency regarding what these lists truly represent. They highlight emerging alternative websites where everyday players can build, customize, and compare their own subjective lists, offering a crowd-sourced perspective that may ultimately be far more useful (as opposed to correct) than a rigid hierarchy dictated by an exclusive few.

This episode is presented by Srixon Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 180: Rules are Rules!

July 23rd, 2026  |  1 hr 6 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

Plenty of topics to tackle this week on the heels of delivering our July issue of Flagstick, being out on the road for a few days, and with the conclusion of The Open Championship.

We cover off our observations from being on the road, from stops at tournaments to interactions with the golf community members. That includes some insight on junior golf participation.

Ryan Fox wins the Open Championship, and we give our opinions on why we think he is a great champion and what we can learn from him - pace of play, the decision-making process, and how his humble nature needs to be in the game more.

The Open discussion leads us into a talk on the Rules of Golf and how they apply to both golf at the highest level and the everyday golfer. Do they matter? Why do they matter, and how are people learning about them?

We also delve into Bryson and Scottie rules situations and their ramifications.

We also glance at the Internet Invitational and what we can expect in 2026.

This episode is presented by COBRA Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 179: Royal Birkdale, A Beast?

July 15th, 2026  |  1 hr 10 mins

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

On this episode, we dive into the invaluable lessons learned from tournament golf and gear up for one of the absolute biggest weeks on the sports calendar: the 154th Open Championship.

We tee off the Front Nine with a comprehensive look at a number of tournaments. We break down the historic Ontario Women’s Amateur at eQuinelle, which marked the first time in its 111-year history that the prestigious event has traveled this far east. We celebrate Brooke Henderson’s spectacular playoff finish at the Amundi Evian Championship, which has vaulted her back to thirteenth in the world rankings. Finally, we reflect on our experiences at the Flagstick Shootout, using the tournament to explore the deeper pillars of competitive golf, the socialization, the competition, and the overall experience, while giving listeners a sneak peek at our print upcoming issue.

After the turn, in the Back, we shift our focus across the pond to Southport, England, for the return of the Open Championship to the iconic, towering sand dunes of Royal Birkdale for the first time since Jordan Spieth’s wild, chaotic victory in 2017. With over three hundred thousand spectators expected to set attendance records, we discuss how the course is playing incredibly firm and fast. We unpack the massive and controversial architectural renovations completed by Mackenzie & Ebert, and detail how Birkdale defends itself through flat fairways, brutal dunes, and unpredictable winds rather than complex putting greens, highlighting the critical closing tretch. To close out the show, we analyze how the world's best, including a few English golfers, will match up against this legendary links test as they chase the final major of the season.

This episode is presented by COBRA Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748

Episode 178: New Course? No Problem

July 9th, 2026  |  57 mins 41 secs

Sports, bauder media group, canada, eastern ontario, flagstick.com, golf, ottawa, ottawa valley, podcast, western quebec

The peak of the golf season has officially arrived for northern players, and this week's episode of the Flagstick Podcast is packed with regional tournament updates and essential strategic advice. Hosts Jeff and Scott catch up on a busy summer schedule, highlighting a massive slate of regional and provincial events including the highly anticipated Flagstick Shootout.

Transitioning from the PGA of Ottawa Pro-Pro at Buckingham, the guys dive deep into the ultimate golfer's challenge: how to successfully play and score well on a golf course you have never seen before. The Back Nine discussion focuses heavily on eliminating the mental pressure of "blind" tournament play. Jeff and Scott share personal anecdotes alongside practical advice on traditional and new-age ways to prepare to play a course unknown to you.

This episode is presented by COBRA Golf, with additional support from Metcalfe Golf and Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License certificate #: 2227748