Divots & Skins

Jake Van Ness & Brett Varney
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  • Golf
  • Updated Semiweekly

Divots & Skins is a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the grind, and the stories that come with chasing better rounds. Hosted by Jake and Brett from Upstate New York, the show covers amateur golf, local courses, tournament play, simulator golf, golf rules, the mental-game, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’re not pros. We’re just two golfers who love competing, talking golf, and trying to get a little better one round at a time.

Episodes

  1. Ep 5 - Major Headlines, Mountain Views & a Wild Day at US AM Tour Stop Wahconah

    5d ago

    Ep 5 - Major Headlines, Mountain Views & a Wild Day at US AM Tour Stop Wahconah

    Episode 5 begins with some of the biggest stories happening around golf, including Nelly’s latest major victory, the difference between a Grand Slam and a career Grand Slam, and the young amateurs earning spots in the U.S. Open. Jake and Brett also discuss the growing world of YouTube golf, where personalities, production and massive prize pools are changing how fans experience the game. Then it is time to recap their latest US Am Tour Albany Region event at Wahconah Country Club in Massachusetts. They talk about the mountain views, changing weather, difficult greens, elevation changes and the small creek that winds through several holes. It turned into a memorable day for both golfers, but you will have to listen to hear exactly how it ended. The Rule of the Day explores the different relief options available when a ball is unplayable in a bunker. They also answer a viewer’s scramble question about whether a team can change its selected ball after everyone has already played the next shot. The episode wraps with a conversation about Brookhaven, The Luxury Box, upcoming events and why golfers of every handicap level should consider trying a flighted amateur tour.

    37 min
  2. Ep 4 - Normanside, Tournament Pressure, Back-To-Back Wins & The Mental Side of Golf

    Jun 5

    Ep 4 - Normanside, Tournament Pressure, Back-To-Back Wins & The Mental Side of Golf

    In Episode 4 of Divots & Skins, Jake and Brett dig into the highs and lows of amateur tournament golf. Brett shares his recap from the latest US Am Tour stop at Normanside, where swirling winds, thick fescue, rough putting, and late-round pressure made for a grind to the finish. Even without his best stuff, he held on for a one-stroke win and proves one of golf’s biggest truths: sometimes your best round is not required, just your best effort that day. The guys also celebrate Erin’s back-to-back tournament wins at McGregor and Normanside. Her story opens up a great conversation about confidence, staying calm after bad holes, handling tournament nerves, competing in a male-dominated space, and why more women should feel welcome joining amateur golf tours. Plus, Jake and Brett talk about what makes the US Am Tour experience so much fun, from local competition to national travel opportunities. The episode wraps with the Rule of the Day, covering putting alignment, using your putter as an alignment tool, caddie restrictions, and whether you can legally stand behind another golfer to read a putt. If you love amateur golf, real tournament stories, course talk, and trying to figure out how to get better one round at a time, this one is for you. Links: Divots and Skins Podcast: www.divotsandskins.com US AM Tour: www.usamtour.com The Luxury Box: www.theluxurybox.net Normanside Golf Course: https://www.normanside.com McGregor Links Country Club: https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com

    38 min
  3. Ep 3 - McGregor Links Country Club US AM Tour Stop, Clutch Putts & Scramble Stories

    May 28

    Ep 3 - McGregor Links Country Club US AM Tour Stop, Clutch Putts & Scramble Stories

    In Episode 3 of Divots & Skins, Jake and Brett cover two very different golf experiences: competitive tournament golf at McGregor Links Country Club and a fun charity scramble at Hiland Park. The episode starts with a recap of the latest US Am Tour Albany Region stop at McGregor in Saratoga Springs (Wilton), a course that recently went fully private. Jake and Brett talk about the course conditions, the challenge of playing tournament golf, and Erin’s win in the event. They also dig into the Rule of the Day, focusing on provisional balls and why knowing the rule can matter when you’re playing in a more structured event. Later, the conversation shifts to The Conklin Center’s charity golf tournament at Highland Park in Queensbury, where the team finished second, made some clutch putts and helped support a great local organization. It’s a mix of course talk, tournament lessons, golf rules, scramble stories and the kind of conversation everyday golfers can relate to. Links: US AM Tour Albany Region - https://www.usamtour.com The Luxury Box - https://theluxurybox.net McGregor Links Country Club - https://www.mcgregorlinkscc.com Hiland Park Country Club - https://www.hilandparkcc.com/golf The Conklling Center - https://www.theconklingcenter.org

    38 min
  4. Ep 2 - When Golf Gets Tough: Brookhaven, Bad Breaks And The Rise Of A YouTube Golf Tour

    May 20

    Ep 2 - When Golf Gets Tough: Brookhaven, Bad Breaks And The Rise Of A YouTube Golf Tour

    Episode 2 of Divots & Skins is all about adjusting when the course refuses to let you get comfortable. Jake and Brett talk through their early rounds at Brookhaven in Greenfield, N.Y., a course that has already forced both of them to rethink club selection, course management and the urge to pull driver on every tee box. They also get into birdie tracking, breaking 90, Jake’s chip-in birdie and why golf can feel like one big Rubik’s Cube. The episode also covers a few practical golf rules, including embedded ball relief and whether stakes can be moved when they interfere with your swing. Then the conversation shifts to the growing world of YouTube golf, including Grant Horvat, the Bryan Bros and the launch of the Your Golf Tour. Is it good for the game? Is it entertainment, competition or a potential circus? Jake and Brett have some thoughts. A little course strategy, a little rule talk, a little ranting about pace of play and plenty of amateur golf honesty.

    41 min
  5. Ep 1 - Our First Tour Stop, First Podcast and First Rule of the Day

    May 3

    Ep 1 - Our First Tour Stop, First Podcast and First Rule of the Day

    Welcome to the first episode of Divots & Skins, a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the stories, the competition, and the occasional bad decision. In this episode, Jake and Brett introduce themselves, share how they got into golf, and explain why they decided to start a podcast built around amateur golf, local courses, tournament stories, golf rules, and the conversations golfers have before, during and after a round. They also break down their first Albany-region US Am Tour event at Fairways of Half Moon, including tournament nerves, fast greens, course management, mental-game struggles, flighted competition, and what it feels like to have your name announced on the tee like the pros. The episode also includes a look at indoor simulator golf at Luxury Box, how winter practice helped build confidence, and the first “Rule of the Day” segment, focused on playing from red and yellow penalty areas. Whether you’re a high handicap golfer, weekend player, competitive amateur, or just someone who loves golf talk, this episode sets the tone for what Divots & Skins is all about.

    49 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Divots & Skins is a golf podcast for everyday golfers who love the game, the grind, and the stories that come with chasing better rounds. Hosted by Jake and Brett from Upstate New York, the show covers amateur golf, local courses, tournament play, simulator golf, golf rules, the mental-game, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’re not pros. We’re just two golfers who love competing, talking golf, and trying to get a little better one round at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jake Van Ness & Brett Varney
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Divots and Skins
  • Show Website
    Divots & Skins