Granite State Golfers

Episode 41: Damon Salo

This episode features Damon Salo who is fresh off a victory, winning the Players Invitational last weekend at Baker Hill. We talk about the win and we also discuss his stacked high school team (3 championships) and playing the Shattuck. Damon also discusses his collegiate career, his brief stint turning pro and which tournaments he is focused on this year. 
Thank you to The Oaks for sponsoring the podcast this season. Be sure to check out their US Open challenge tournament at The Pavilion powered by TopTracer Range technology. 
Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Damon.
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Episode 40: Mark Baldwin

This episode features Mark Baldwin who grew up in the Laconia area and had a very successful junior career capturing three consecutive state junior titles. He went on to play at the University of Notre Dame and turned professional after he graduated. He captured his first win as a professional in 2006, winning the NH Open. Since then, he has played on a number of tours around the world and has played in five PGA Tour events (including the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am). A lot of Mark's professional journey has been captured well by Ryan French at MondayQ.com - be sure to check it out if you are not already following MondayQ. We spend most of the interview talking about Mark's early years in golf, including late hot summer nights shagging balls at Laconia CC.
And thank you to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast this season.
Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mark.
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
 
Thanks for listening! 

Episode 39: Ken Hamel

This episode features Ken Hamel who has been the pro at three different NH courses and is currently the head pro at Stonebridge in Goffstown. I have known Ken for quite some time and as you will hear, he has a deep passion for the game and loves coaching and getting people to love golf. We talk about his early years in golf, his transition from being a plumber to a PGA Professional and his plans for retirement after this season. 
Thank you to my home course, The Oaks, for sponsoring the podcast.  The course has been open for 7 weeks and is getting greener by the day and the greens are rolling smooth. 
Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ken. 
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Episode 38: Pat Pelletier

This episode features Pat Pelletier. Pat grew up in Lebanon, NH and started playing as a kid and quickly got the bug for competitive golf, playing in junior tournaments. He played on a high school team that seems like was stacked with a bunch of players. I talk with Pat about his collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, his decision to turn pro and eventually regaining his amateur status. We also discuss some of his big wins and why the state am title is the one he really wants.
I am excited to announce that my home course, The Oaks, is sponsoring the podcast this year. Thank you to The Oaks for their support. If you have not checked out their new Top Tracer practice facility - go check it out.
Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Pat. 
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Episode 37: John Clark

We kickoff Season 3 with John Clark, superintendent at Rochester Country Club. John has spent his entire career at Rochester. We talk about the scope of responsibilities in being a superintendent, how the work has changed over the years, why he likes the fall season, the value of tree thinning, and how research and innovation is changing the job. John loves his work, loves to learn, and takes great pride in what he and his team do. Thanks for listening and enjoy the conversation! (Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Episode 36: Scott Hacker

We wrap up this year with Scott Hacker. Scott played successfully on some mini tours and for the past dozen years or so has been a golf instructor. This is a longer episode. Part 1 covers his early years in golf and his progression into professional golf. Part 2 covers the mental approach to golf. As we head into the off season in New Hampshire, I thought it might be helpful to get some insights from Scott on how we can improve our mental game as we plan for next season. Thanks for listening and enjoy the show. Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Episode 35: Paul Tessier

This episode features Paul Tessier who has been the head pro at Bald Peak for 31 years. I got the pleasure of playing Bald Peak this fall for the first time and meeting Paul - I knew right away I wanted him on the podcast. We talk about his journey from growing up in Niagara Falls to joining the plumbers and steamfitters union to interning at some nice courses in Florida. Paul also shares the story about the midnight phone call that helped secure the job at Bald Peak. We talk about the course and what makes this Donald Ross track so special. Thanks for listening and enjoy the show. 
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Episode 34: Laura Shanahan Rowe

This episode features Laura Shanahan Rowe who has had a remarkable career as an amateur and a professional. She is the long-time golf instructor at the Sagamore Golf Center. We discuss her late start in golf but how quickly she got the bug and how fast she started competing and winning. Laura talks about her 2 NH state am titles and winning the 2001 USGA Mid Am. We also discuss her 326 yard long drive. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Laura. 
Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0