Season 3 of The Range opens with an honest one. Host Ari Ratner is joined by his Mully's co-founder and longtime friend Chris Houghton, making his third appearance on the show, to talk about why they're closing Mully's, at least for now, and what they learned along the way.

Chris has been on The Range twice before: the intro episode, and the Season 2 episode about launching Mully's, their golf-inspired beverage brand. This time they sat down to talk about closing it, at least for this season.

The Range is about golf and entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship isn't always the highlight reel. Ari and Chris talk through what they got right, what they got wrong, and the decisions they'd make differently. That includes betting most of their focus on a THC beverage while federal rules were changing underneath them, leaning too hard on a sales partner, not spending enough time on direct sales, and how much their time and capital really mattered.

They also get into the part that mattered most to both of them. Before they started, they agreed their friendship came first. It still does.

For anyone thinking about starting something, especially with a friend or in a regulated space, this one is worth a listen.

Topics covered:
- What Mully's was supposed to be, and what they got right from the start
- What they got wrong: time, focus, and being in different cities
- Building around a THC product while the rules kept changing
- Holding on to the original strategy too long, and whether Range Finder was the better bet
- Relying on a sales partner instead of doing the selling themselves
- Capital, runway, and how much skin in the game really changes your behavior
- Going into business with a friend
- Regrets, lessons, and whether Chris would do it again

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:30 Season 3 starts, and Chris's third time on The Range
01:49 What Mully's was supposed to be
03:57 What they got right
05:23 What they got wrong
07:21 Betting on the THC side of the business
11:23 The biggest challenge: time and focus
15:18 Did they hold on to the THC strategy too long?
18:14 What they should have obsessed over: sales
19:21 Capital and runway
22:45 When Chris knew it was time to close
24:15 Chris on wearing the entrepreneur hat
28:25 Going into business with a friend
32:02 Would you do it again?
33:45 More or less interested in entrepreneurship?
35:22 Skin in the game
38:03 What they hope to remember
39:20 Walking off eighteen with their heads held up

A note on timing: this was recorded on October 1, 2026, while federal rules on hemp-derived THC beverages were still changing, so some details may have changed since.

Guest:
Chris Houghton, co-founder of Mully's
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrischoughton/

Earlier episodes with Chris:
The Range: Intro Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429904/episodes/16209310
Season 2, Episode 9 - Mullys: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429904/episodes/17896074

Read the story and get each new one in your inbox: https://therangegolf.club

Listen and follow The Range:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-range/id1782962002
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1fFYZLzmvMvcXC1LPktk98
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRange-Podcast
Instagram: @therange_pod TikTok: @the.range.pod LinkedIn: The Range Podcast

#TheRangePod

In this episode, Ari sits down with Jake Hoselton, co-founder and CEO of Grass Clippings and the Grass League, and Matt Erley, co-founder and Managing Partner of Old Tom Capital, for a special conversation about the next era of golf.

Jake joins The Range for the first time, following Grass Clippings’ earlier feature with CMO Pete Wilson in Season One. This time, Ari reconnects with both sides of one of golf’s most exciting partnerships - Grass Clippings and Old Tom Capital - to discuss the latest investment round that’s fueling the growth of the Grass League.

The conversation explores how a backyard idea evolved into a professionally structured league built around par-three golf, community, and culture—and why Old Tom Capital saw it as a smart bet on where golf is heading. Together, they dig into the business of building a new kind of sports league, the process of raising capital, and what it takes to align vision between founders and investors.

Whether you’re interested in startups, sports investing, or how golf is reinventing itself for a new generation, this episode offers a front-row seat to the collaboration shaping golf’s future.

🎯 Topics covered:

• How Grass Clippings evolved into the Grass League
• Why Old Tom Capital led Grass League’s latest $2.75M investment round
• The rise of “golf light” and the opportunity in par-three competition
• Lessons in raising capital and scaling a modern sports property
• How strategic partnerships can redefine the business of golf

🎧 Listen now to hear how Grass League and Old Tom Capital are working together to build golf’s next great arena sport.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Ari sits down with Chris Houghton, his longtime friend and co-founder of Mully’s, to reflect on the journey of launching their golf-inspired beverage brand.

From early text messages and test formulations to a production run in Chicago, Ari and Chris share what it took to turn Mully’s from an idea into reality. They dig into the chemistry of being co-founders after 35 years of friendship, the importance of honest feedback, and how communication and complementary skills helped them navigate the challenges of starting a business. Along the way, they explore the balance between personal life and entrepreneurship, the thrill of small wins, and the lessons they’ve taken from both golf and business.

Whether you’re curious about launching a brand, teaming up with a co-founder, or simply love hearing the parallels between golf and entrepreneurship, this conversation is an inside look at building something from the ground up.

🎯 Topics covered:

– How Mully’s went from idea to full production run
– The role of co-founder chemistry and 35 years of friendship
– Why feedback from friends and family matters (but only goes so far)
– The toughest challenges of launching a consumer brand
– Parallels between golf and entrepreneurship: patience, perspective, and the grind

🎧 Listen now to hear how Ari and Chris launched Mully’s—and why this milestone episode is such an exciting step forward.

In this episode, Ari sits down with Abby Swenson, founder of Northern Greens Golf Collective, to talk about what it takes to build a women’s golf community from the ground up.

From juggling a full-time tech career to launching Northern Greens in Minnesota, Abby shares how she turned her own search for golf partners into a thriving community that now hosts sold-out tee times, social events, and even travel weekends. We dig into the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with community-building, how to make golf more approachable, and why patience might be the most important lesson the game has to offer.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, community organizer, or golfer looking for a place to belong, Abby’s story is proof that starting small...with a single tee time...can grow into something much bigger.

🎯 Topics covered:

– How Northern Greens went from idea to 50+ members in just two seasons
– The role of structure, organization, and advisory boards in community growth
– Overcoming golf’s intimidation factor and building inclusivity
– Why word-of-mouth and organic growth still matter more than paid ads
– The personal growth that comes from building a collective

🎧 Listen now to hear how Abby is reshaping women’s golf in Minnesota—one tee time at a time

In this episode, Ari sits down with Jason Richardson, founder and CEO of Bad Birdie, to talk about building one of the OG modern golf brands and reshaping how the game looks, feels, and is experienced.

From growing up in a non-golf family to launching a bold apparel company out of Los Angeles, Jason shares the story of how Bad Birdie went from a side hustle to a nationally recognized brand. We dig into his advertising background, the power of reinvesting in growth, and how Bad Birdie’s partnerships—like the collaboration with Taco Bell—show what’s possible when golf meets culture.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or golfer looking for inspiration, this episode highlights what it takes to build a brand that challenges tradition and builds community.

🎯 Topics covered:
– How a caddying gig sparked Jason’s early connection to golf
– The origin story of Bad Birdie and its first 100 polos
– Lessons from advertising that shaped brand building
– Navigating competition in a crowded apparel market
– Why partnerships and community are core to long-term growth
– The parallels between golf and entrepreneurship

🎧 Listen now to hear how Jason is forging a path for entrepreneurs in golf and inspiring the next wave of brands in the space.

In this episode, Ari sits down with Cordie Walker, founder of GolfWell (formerly Golf Science Lab), to talk about building a media company at the intersection of curiosity, content, and community in golf.

From launching a podcast in 2013 to now running a full-fledged video production and content brand, Cordie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how GolfWell evolved from a niche platform for instructors into a go-to source for everyday golfers. We dig into the transition from audio to video, his philosophy on educational entertainment, and why staying curious is the most underrated skill in both golf and entrepreneurship.

Whether you're a creator, coach, or casual golfer looking to improve, this episode offers a blueprint for building something meaningful—one story at a time.

🎯 Topics covered:

– The evolution from Golf Science Lab to GolfWell
– Why long-form video beats short-form hype
– How curiosity fuels content strategy
– Building an audience without paid ads or products
– Lessons learned from 10 years inside the golf instruction world

🎧 Listen now to hear how Cordie is turning decades of golf wisdom into an always-on learning platform for players of all levels.

In this episode of The Range, Ari sits down with Jared Augustine, founder and CEO of The People’s League, the first league created to organize and elevate competition among YouTube golfers.

Jared shares how his background in tech startups and creator media (Thuzio, Julius) led him to see a massive opportunity at the intersection of golf and content. With millions of views going to amateur golf creators - not the pros - Jared and his team are building a league from the ground up, with real structure, real stakes, and a community-first mindset.

From team formation and tournament structure to the challenges of partnering with courses and the importance of listening to fan feedback, this conversation covers what it really takes to launch a new sports league in today’s media landscape.

Topics Covered:

• Why YouTube golf is outpacing traditional golf content
• Building a league vs. throwing a one-off tournament
• What creators want—and need—to thrive
• Lessons from the startup world applied to sports
• Fan feedback that changed the league’s format
• Scaling the business while staying true to the community

Whether you’re a golf creator, sports entrepreneur, or just curious about where the game is headed, this one’s for you.

🎧 Subscribe and listen now.
🔗 peoplesleaguegolf.com

📲 Follow @peoplesleaguegolf on Instagram and YouTube

What happens when two longtime friends with a love for sports, sales, and storytelling team up to build a golf media brand from scratch? In this episode, I sit down with Robby Woodard and Jonathan Hill, the co-founders of Best Ball, to talk about turning a podcast into a platform - and a few cold DMs into a thriving golf community.

Best Ball is a golf storytelling brand built on authenticity, humor, and a deep belief that golf is about people first. What began as a podcast now includes content production, event hosting, and even a growing podcast network that helps others share their own stories from the game.

And while this episode focuses on the evolution of Best Ball, it’s also a masterclass in friendship-driven entrepreneurship...how shared values, relentless consistency, and a willingness to just start can turn a side hustle into a business with real momentum.

🎯 Topics covered:

– From 10,000 koozies to 100+ episodes: lessons from the early days
– Why community > virality
– The art of the cold DM (and the power of saying yes)
– Building a brand that starts with friendship
– Running turnkey golf trips with Good Company
– Helping others launch their own golf podcasts
– Why the best golf media stories haven’t been told yet

🎧 Listen now to hear how Robby and Jonathan are redefining what it means to build in the golf space—and why the next chapter of Best Ball is just getting started.