On this episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two outstanding guests who bring incredible insight from different corners of the golf world.

First, LPGA Class A Professional and Top 50 Instructor Debbie O’Connell returns to share her passion for helping players strengthen both their game and their mindset. Debbie is the founder of Golf Positive and the author of Golf Positive…Live Positive: Lessons in Golf and Life. She’s been recognized with multiple LPGA honors, including the inaugural Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award, and continues to inspire golfers everywhere through her teaching, writing, and her “Conquer Your Golf Mind” program. Debbie joins me to talk about her latest projects, the importance of mental preparation, and practical tips for getting your mind prepared to play your best, plus some stretches to get your body ready to play, and how to keep from embedding negative thoughts into your brain.

Then, I welcome award-winning journalist and author Hank Gola for his Next on the Tee debut. Over his career, Hank has covered golf, football, and soccer for the New York Post and the Daily News, earning multiple awards from the Golf Writers Association of America, as well as the prestigious Lincoln Werden Award for golf journalism. He’s also authored several acclaimed books, including Ryder Cup Rivals: The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail. Hank and I dive deep into Ryder Cup history starting in 1927, the money Walter Hagan brought into the game, the 1991 War By The Shore, and the incredible US comeback at The Country Club in 1999.

It’s a fantastic mix of instruction, inspiration, and history with two people whose impact on the game runs deep. Be sure to come back for Part 2 featuring my conversation with Comedian and the Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast, Paul Ollinger.

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I welcome back one of my all-time favorite guests, 1978 PGA Champion John Mahaffey, making his 10th appearance on the show. John and I revisit his special connection to Oakmont, the site of his major championship win, and he shares how the course has evolved since his 1978 PGA Championship victory there. I also get his perspective on JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open victory before shifting gears to the Ryder Cup. John takes us inside his experience on the victorious 1979 team, recalling what it was like being paired with Lee Elder and Hale Irwin, facing Brian Barnes in singles, and handling the pressure of that opening tee shot on Friday. We finish up with a couple of wonderful Ben Hogan stories that you won’t want to miss, plus how he was able to successfully transition careers from play to broadcasting.

I round out the episode with another very special friend of the show, Dr. Russell Levenson. Russ radiates positivity and spirituality, something that shines through every time he speaks. Last time, we talked about his book Witness to Dignity and his friendship with President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. Now, Russ shares insights from his upcoming book, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith & Meaning, which features powerful conversations with 12 extraordinary individuals, including Condoleezza Rice, Denzel Washington, Amy Grant, Jane Goodall, and Dr. Francis Collins. His warmth, wisdom, and storytelling will leave you feeling uplifted and filled with positive vibes.

In this week’s episode of Next on the Tee, we kick things off with Brian Klocek, Director of Golf at Totteridge, a course that golfers across Western Pennsylvania know and love. Brian shares the journey of his career, starting with his college days at the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach, to South Hills Country Club just outside downtown Pittsburgh, and now leading operations at Totteridge in Greensburg—the hometown of recent guest Rocco Mediate. We also talk about Totteridge’s 13th hole, which KDKA TV recently highlighted as one of their “Elite 18” in Western Pennsylvania, along with Brian’s take on other favorite courses around the region.

The focus on Totteridge continues in segment two with my guest, the legendary course designer Rees Jones. Rees is one of the most influential architects in the game, with an unmatched résumé that includes seven U.S. Open sites, eight PGA Championship courses, five Ryder Cup venues—including Bethpage Black—plus Walker Cup and Presidents Cup courses. Rees takes us inside his redesign work at Bethpage Black and the incredible job he and Bill Bergin did at The McLemore on Lookout Mountain, a world-class golf destination that features one of the best finishing holes in the game. Now their newest course, The Keep, is earning rave reviews and, in Rees’ opinion, has the potential to host a major championship one day. We also highlight a few of my other favorite Rees Jones designs, including The Country Club in Boston, Oyster Reef on Hilton Head, Southbridge in Savannah, and Falcons Fire in Orlando.

This episode is a celebration of great golf design and storytelling, featuring one of Pittsburgh’s finest in Brian Klocek and one of the true legends of the game in Rees Jones.