The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack Podcast

Golf is booming, an unforeseen occurrence beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing into 2026. With that, courses are worth more and the value around them are on the rise. Commercial real estate expert Rick Flacksbarth from CityScapes Development in Fargo joins the show to discuss.

Tom Hoge may be the most accomplished PGA Tour player from Fargo South, but 1972 graduate Mike Barge may be the most prominent PGA Professional teacher. He's spent over 40 years at the craft at Hazeltine National in the Twin Cities. That's also home to the Minnesota Vikings. On June 14, former players like Carl Lee, Daunte Culpepper, Chuck Foreman and Tommy Kramer will be part of the Vikings Legends to the Rescue charity scramble at Wildflower Golf Course to benefit the Homeward Animal Shelter in Fargo. Lee joins the show along with development director Dave Dondoneau.

The Moorhead Country Club, in another step up in the direction of the course, has a new general manager, although he's not new to the club. Chris Larson made the jump from Osgood Golf Course in Fargo to the GM position at a golf course where he first started in the bag room at age 13. North Dakota State, meanwhile, captured the Summit League men's title earlier this week behind a roster consisting mostly of North Dakota and Minnesota recruits. One, Fargo Shanley's Jake Skarperud, recaps his four-year career heading to the NCAA regionals.

The Summit League men's golf championships begin Monday at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona, and North Dakota State is one of the teams expected to battle it out for the title. Ekren Miller, in his first year as the head coach, has seen his team finish in second place and fourth place in the last two tourneys and will take that momentum to Mesa. Senior Rylin Petry was named the Summit's golfer of the week for his fifth-place finish in Iowa's Hawkeye Invitational. While Miller is new to NDSU, Matt Cook is not to Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo. He's been the head PGA professional since 2005

Steve Murdock first burst upon the scene as an accomplished young golfer, winning the F-M Junior All-City golf tournament by 17 shots. He went on to a standout career at North Dakota State and reached PGA club pro status at PGA National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida and head professional at Firethorne Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Through his contacts, and out of the professional golf game, Murdock has had a unique job with the Masters tournament for the last 10 years handling merchandise of patrons who purchase items at Augusta National. These days, he plays at Village Green Golf Course in Moorhead, where Russ Nelson — who taught Murdock the game as a kid — is the head pro.

Fred Strege is a North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame inductee who is taking Bois de Sioux Golf Club in Wahpeton, North Dakota, to new levels. The president of the club is leading the charge for a new irrigation system among other improvements. Also, Moorhead Parks and Recreation director Sean Brandenburg joins the show to discuss the city's two 18-hole jewels in Village Green and Meadows.

Their fathers, Ed Schultz and Dana Mogck, were a broadcasting duo in the early days of Bison football Division II success and now their sons are recreating some microphone magic, at least for one show on Dave's "The Hole-in-One Show" that is on its seventh season. It's Masters weekend, so plenty of other golf talk on deck, including the process of how Gunnar will become a certified PGA professional.

Mark Johnson has worn several hats in the Fargo-Moorhead golf community, from public courses in Moorhead and Fargo to the Fargo Country Club and being part of an ownership group of Suite Shots entertainment facility in south Fargo. In the offseason, he added another one: general manager of Oxbow Country Club. It's Masters season and Mark and Jeff hack out their favorites in addition to some Tiger Woods commentary. Also, nobody opens earlier than Leonard Country Club, which will have a brief challenge with the early April snow. Owner Mike Pulczinski gives an overview of spring golf.

Golf and North Dakota State athletics were the two staples in the life of John Mark, who passed away last Sunday at the age of 83. He was a longtime member of the USGA Junior Committee and was largely responsible for the Fargo Country Club landing the 1995 USGA Junior Amateur. Mark was involved with the Bobcat North Dakota Open since the tournament's inception in 1964 and was a master rules official with his USGA involvement. Longtime friends Dick Anderson and Roger Reierson and former Bobcat tournament director Mark Johnson share their memories.

It go time for golf. The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack begins its 23rd year and we start off with veteran local golf professional Greg McCullough, always a voice of reason for the sport, especially when courses are about to open. Also, North Dakota State women's player Avery Bartels has had three top-10 finishes this season; we'll talk about the differences from her freshman to sophomore seasons. The golf show can be heard every Saturday morning on 740 The Fan-Am from 9-10 a.m.

Mark Johnson was part of the first season of the golf show 21 years ago, so it seems appropriate to put a wrap on this season with the CEO and director of golf at Suite Shots. Topics include the Bobcat North Dakota Open and the All-City tournament. Those are both in August. Starting Monday, an area staple in the Birchmont starts at Bemidji Town & Country Club. Head pro Rick Grand joins the show.

You may have caught a glimpse of them, usually in the front row of a Ryder Cup event. The American Marshals, a group of Ryder Cup fans from Minnesota, will once again be at the United States vs. Europe battle, and Forum Communications Chief Executive Officer Bill Rouse gives a front row view on being a Marshal. Also, North Dakota State names a new head men's golf coach in Ekren Miller, who comes to the Bison after 15 years at Bemidji State.

When Chris Geiss jumpstarted the Dakota Junior Golf Association five years ago, he could not have imagined the number of kids getting involved, with tournaments this summer continuing to blow away projections. The British Open is just a week away and nobody better to handicap the field than Oxbow head professional Corey Herlickson. 

North Dakota State professor emeritus Brad Strand spent four decades in education, recently retired with a higher education expertise in physical education, teacher preparation and coaching education. He's also an avid golfer and therefore the two have met many times. The published author of "Optimal Sports Performance: Practice Smarter, Think Faster, Play Better" joins the show on 740 The Fan to give us his latest research in applying proper mental techniques on the course, essential to enjoying a good round and posting a good score. We attack major issues such as: Do you ever find your mind wandering during a golf game?

It was quite the two weekends for North Dakota State golfer Rylin Petry, who won the prestigious Red River Amateur last weekend and is getting married this weekend. Petry is a perfect example of a small-town guy from Fertile-Beltrami High School who has made it at the Division I level. Minot North HS graduate Kasen Rostad made it through the year playing for his father, who is recovered from a bout with prostate cancer. Here his inspiring story on 740 The Fan. Kasen was named the state's Mr. Golf and is headed to Minot State to play in college.  

It was quite the athletic career for Grand Forks Red River's Sophie Brakke, who capped it by being named North Dakota's Ms. Golf by the Dakota Junior Golf Association. In the Twin Cities, Abby Swenson saw a need to combine women and golf with a social club atmosphere, so she started Northern Greens Golf Collective, which in part helps women get involved in the sport. One of the most popular charity golf tournaments in the area is The Schwetty, which once again is sold out at Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead. 

Growing up a Cook in Hawley, Minnesota, means golf. Rose Creek head professional Matt Cook and his daughter Sophie, one of the top players in Minnesota, talk about a life in golf. After 12 years at North Dakota State and 18 at Fargo South, that included 12 state championships, Steve Kennedy announced his retirement this month.  

The last time a champion was crowned in the Fargo-Moorhead All-City golf tournament was 2017, when Coy Papachek won his third straight. Thanks to Village Green's Randy DeBolt, the tourney that began in 1931 in making a return. Randy joins the show. Speaking of tradition, the Roger Maris All-Star Week and celebrity golf tournament returns for the 41st year thanks to the Maris family and Sanford Health. Joel Vettel from Sanford and Roger Maris Jr. make a golf show appearance.

In her 10 years on the LPGA Tour, Amy Olson was a part of a lot of interviews and press conferences and was no stranger to media appearances, which has been a topic this week on the PGA tour. She talks about her family life and thoughts on the U.S. Women's Open next week at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Also, Chris Larson at Osgood Golf Course in south Fargo has his views on golf and media. Meanwhile, the 12-hole course in southwest Fargo continues to shine.  

The numbers are skyrocketing with youth golfers in the Dakota Junior Golf Association, with the organization continuing adding tournaments and programs. Director of golf Chris Geiss has taken the DJGA to unforeseen levels. Meanwhile, Tara Jaeger, the CEO of Recharge Physical Therapy and Wellness in south Fargo, has brought technology to help golfers from a fitness perspective including a program called Titleist Performance Institute Golf Assessment.

Jody Vasquez wandered into a Fort Worth, Texas, clubhouse one day and ended up shagging golf balls for Ben Hogan. That started a relationship that spanned a lifetime, one of the very few who was part of Hogan's inner circle.He turned it into one of the greatest golf books you'll ever read: "Afternoons with Mr. Hogan." He also turned a putting idea into a partnership with Orange Whip Golf and an aid called the "Putt Master." The show this week is an hour long fascinating conversation with Jody. 

It's been since 2000 when Edgewood Golf Course in north Fargo has had a new leader, but Lisa Schwinden is no stranger to the facility. It's where she started in the golf business as a driving range attendant and golf shop employee, back in the days of the old clubhouse that felt like it was falling into the river. Across the river, Sean Brandenburg is the new recreation director for the city of Moorhead, which oversees public courses Meadows and Village Green. The Fargo South and Concordia College graduate outlines his role in the continued growth of both. 

The Hole in One Show, Dave Schultz's resurrection of a Jim Adelson classic, is back for a sixth season and the Fargo Country Club head professional continues to take it to different heights and avenues.One of them is taping a season in Arizona, where this week you'll find the North Dakota State men's golf team in the Summit League tournament. Head coach Steve Kennedy and senior Ian Simonich join this show.

North Dakota State senior Elise Hoven has won two individual titles this season and a third would cap off the career. She and her teammates will play in the Summit League championships Sunday through Tuesday at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona. Elise and head coach Matt Johnson outline the Bison chances. Meanwhile, in this neck of the woods, the golf course at Forest Hills near Detroit Lakes has a new name: Black Diamond, in reference to the new black coal sand bunkers. Operations manager Greyson Thomas joins the show.

   Chalk up another step in professional golf for Kate Smith-Stroh. The Detroit Lakes High School graduate got her LPGA Tour card last December in Qualifying School and has made two of three cuts so far this season. Kate talks about the journey including advice from former LPGA player and Fargo resident Amy Olson.        Mark June 20-22 on your calendar for one of the best amateur tournaments in the Midwest. The Red River Amateur returns with three days of coverage on WDAY-TV. Chris Howell from the Moorhead Country Club joins the show with details.

When it comes to jobs and golf, not many have it better than Glen Turk from Midwest Golfing Magazine, which covers golf mainly in eight states from Kansas and Ohio to North Dakota. A staff writer since 2006, he's seen and played some of the best courses anywhere in the country. He joins the show to give a glimpse into his world and his thoughts of playing in the Upper Midwest. There was snow on the ground this week. Don't fear, North Dakota State climatologist Daryl Ritchison gives an update on his thoughts when courses will open.

 Fargo South graduate Tom Hoge is in his 12th year on the PGA Tour, and is off to one of the best starts of his career making eight of the first nine cuts. Hoge is qualified for all four majors and talks about preparing for the upcoming Masters, which he has already played in twice. Mark Johnson from Suite Shots joins the show talking about Tom and the golf entertainment industry. 

The Golf Show returns for its 21st season and batting leadoff is a PGA professional who said goodbye to a job he held for 20 years. Greg McCullough at Edgewood announced in December he is retiring from the position. A retirement celebration will be held next Friday at Edgewood from 5-8 p.m., but first, Greg reflects on the growth and the ups and occasional down with flooding over the years on 740 The Fan. 

The last golf show of the 2024 season wraps up with two major players in the Fargo-Moorhead golf scene with Mark Johnson of Suite Shots and the Bobcat North Dakota Open and Greg McCullough of iconic Edgewood Golf Course and the Fargo Parks. 

Jeff Burey has had a hall of fame career as a PGA professional, once as a stint at Pinehurst No. 2 but most of his career in the Kansas City area. He's the creator of Wee Links, the six-hole golf course primarily meant for kids. It's a great story in the making, with Fargo in line to get a course.A cool match is coming to Detroit Country Club on Sunday, Aug. 4 before the Pine to Palm. The Legends (Bill Israelson, Jim Strandemo, Rick Kuhn, Greg Melhaus) will face the Young Guns that includes Hawley state champion Jack Justesen. Detroit CC Tom Dolby joins the show.

Grand Forks Central graduate Jim Hackenberg returned home this week to be inducted into the North Dakota Golf Association Hall of Fame, the highest honor in golf in the state. The creator of the Orange Whip (www.orangewhipgolf) among other training aids stopped by the studio with a show that includes his Chappie Golf  (www.chappiegolf.com) and PuttMaster inventions.For the fourth year, the El Zagal 9-Holes-In-1 fundraiser is set for bigger and better prizes at El Zagal Golf Course.

Susan Faus first cut her excellence in Fargo as a standout North Dakota State basketball player and track sprinter in the early 1990s, and she returned last December as the executive director of the Fargo Park District. She outlines the state of golf with the Fargo public courses.Just 20 miles to the east, Hawley Golf Club is a Red River Valley 18-hole gem not often seen in a small town that has everything: a nice clubhouse, true greens, plush fairways and landscape details. Clubhouse manager Jason Miller joins the show.

When Fargo South graduates Rob Ekern and Lee Swanson decided to do something to honor their fathers, well, they went the extra 1,000 miles. The Ekern-Swanson Memorial Trophy Collection now includes the entire Bobby Jones library, including 23 major trophies. Rob gives an insight to the treasure.Another Fargo South graduate and former standout player, Russ Nelson, remains a staple at Village Green in Moorhead. It's a Bruin kind of show.

Media day with Dom Izzo and a Peoria legend. Most people know WDAY-TV's Dom Izzo as the broadcaster for North Dakota State football and basketball games, but he also has proven himself pretty good at golf, as evidenced by last weekend's Red River Amateur coverage.Also, Nick Vlahos started his journalism career at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, but cut his cloth for many years at the Peoria Journal-Star in Illinois, where he became very adept at the golf world.

The show gets the lowdown on Maple River Golf Club with general manager Matt Western. Also, a visit with Hawley state champion Jack Justesen and a look at the Schwetty charity tournament 

Remarkably, the Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament is back for its 40th year as part of the Maris All-Star Week. Sanford Health's Joel Vettel outlines the week of events. What a breakthrough season for the Fargo North boys with state champion Carson Hannestad and head coach Mike Dobberstein. Both join the show to talk about their season.

Oxbow head professional Corey Herlickson gives his insight to next week's U.S. Open, who to look for and why. Will the LIV Tour players make a dent?Hatton-Northwood head boys and girls coach Christopher Strand admittedly is not a swing coach per se, but a math teacher, he gives his expertise on combining analytics with coaching. 

 The Bartels from Kindred and Dakota Junior golfKindred senior Avery Bartels finished her prep career last fall with her fourth straight Class B girls golf title, with her father Kory Bartels as her coach. Avery is headed to North Dakota State this fall.She also is an example of what junior golf has become in North Dakota, thanks to Dakota Junior Golf Association director of golf Chris Geiss. All three join the show this week.

The golf show stays in the metro this week with Rose Creek head professional Matt Cook and Fargo Country Club director of instruction Lisa Schwinden.These two have made huge impacts in the world of golf, from taking Rose Creek from a fledgling course to a mature go-to 18 holes to Lisa raising the profile of girls and women's golf. 

The Red River Amateur and Wildflower's top billingThe Red River Amateur golf tournament is not far away (June 21-23) and Moorhead Country Club head professional Chris Howell says the event will be even bigger and better, with Bell Bank coming aboard to help attract the top players in the Upper Midwest.One of the top facilities in the country is Wildflower, which got a No. 2 billing from Newsweek for "Best All-Inclusive Family Resort." The show welcomes director of operations Emily Meyers.

 An O-kind-of-show on Saturday starting with Jim Hackenberg from Orange Whip Golf. The Grand Forks Central graduate started with the Orange Whip Trainer and expanded his business to other avenues. Also, Chris Larson, the head professional at Osgood Golf Course in south Fargo, joins the show to expand on one of the finest nine-hole tracks in the Upper Midwest.

Brock Ellingson just completed his first year as the head women's golf coach at Minnesota State Moorhead. It's a process in building a program with Brock wearing many hats in doing it.Mother's Day is just eight days away. Is mom a golfer? Nick Wimer from Austad's joins the show to give a few ideas.

The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack: Amy Olson reflects on her career in golfThe news hit Wednesday morning when Amy Olson announced her retirement from the competitive arena of the LPGA Tour, After 10 years, one of the greatest players in the history of Red River Valley golf said it's time for the next stage in life. Hear about the good times and the struggle to make it on tour, both financial and with the burden of travel.She left her mark, first in youth golf and then North Dakota State, where she was coached by Matt Johnson, who also joins the show.

MN Golf Association and Nate AdamsThe Minnesota Golf Association, a large organization that oversees 93,000 members and more than 400 member golf courses, has a new executive director in Jon Mays. The 34-year-old Mays succeeds a legendary figure in Tom Ryan.Also, North Dakota State senior Nate Adams and his teammates have their sights set on a Summit League title. Afterward, Adams plans on giving professional golf a shot.

An exciting new indoor facility has been going for over two years now. We visit The Clubhouse in south Moorhead, an indoor simulator and lounge that has a charitable component to it with a few events. Matt Gilbertson and Amy Ennen from the facility join the show.Also, North Dakota State sophomore Madi Hicks is putting together an outstanding season heading into the Summit League women's tournament next week.

Two long-standing members of the Fargo-Moorhead golf community join the show in a power-packed hour. Tom Hoge, in his 10th year on the PGA Tour, has been playing some of the best golf of his career making the cut in 10 of the last 11 tournaments. Yet, he missed the Masters, a World Golf Ranking system that even he isn't sure how it's calculated.Suite Shots general manager and partner Mark Johnson came in studio for the entire hour to talk Hoge, all the benefits Suite Shots is seeing in its two years in existence and NDSU golf.

A longtime friend of the show, Fargo Country Club head professional Dave Schultz, gives his insight to the course, his Hole-in-One show and the club’s 125th anniversary. On the course, the North Dakota State men’s team is off to a hot spring start. Head coach Steve Kennedy explains why. 

It's back, for the 23rd season. The longest running golf show in tri-state area and Canada is off and running with Edgewood head professional Greg McCullough. Plenty to discuss with the golf course openings not far away and the wide array of public golf in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

In the final show of the season, Forum columnist Mike McFeely joins the show to review a jewel of a golf course destination trip in Nebraska.  The Pine to Palm golf tournament starts Monday at the Detroit Country Club, tournament director Vern Schnathorst gives a preview. It's been another banner summer for Fargo public courses, Edgewood head pro Greg McCullough puts a wrap on the show.

It's been another banner year at Oxbow Country Club in south Fargo, Head professional Corey Herlickson joins the show and looks back at a successful renovation. NDSU professor Brad Strand explains how golf played a major part in his recent book: "Optimal Sports Performance: Practice Smarter, Think Faster, Play Better" that is available on Amazon.com.