The Inward Nine with Chandler Withington

Chandler Withington
  • 5.0 (103)
  • Golf
  • Updated Weekly

The Inward Nine is a podcast for those looking to discover the best version of themselves. On The Inward Nine we will learn from a range of people in the game of golf as we share our journeys, experiences, successes and failures, lessons learned and advice for the next generation. But we are not here just to talk about success in the workplace. We are here to talk about who we are as people and how we succeed at the game of life. Chandler Withington is a PGA Member of nearly 20 years and has worked in the game of golf for over 30 years. Chandler is the retired head golf professional from Hazeltine National Golf Club (2012 - 2021). Prior to Hazeltine, Chandler was an assistant golf professional at Merion Golf Club (PA) and Seminole Golf Club (FL). Over the last three years, Chandler has become a licensed artist for the United States Golf Association and PGA of America. Chandler's personal mission statement is to have a positive impact on the lives of those around him.

  1. 20h ago

    Ep. 73 Larry Bobka / Master Clubfitter

    Where are all my equipment heads, sickos and junkies? This episode is for all of you who love the equipment side of the game and want to better understand how we arrived at the golf club designs that we play today. Today on The Inward Nine we are fortunate to have someone who has served on the frontlines of each evolution in golf club design over the last 40 years, from persimmon wood to metal drivers, steel to graphite shafts, perimeter weighted irons, titanium faced drivers, modern forged irons and working with the best Tour players in the world, this man has simply done it all and referring to him as an expert in his field might even be an understatement. Please buckle up and strap in as we get to spend significant time with one of the best in the golf equipment and clubfitting over the last 40 years, he is the very knowledgeable yet humble Larry Bobka. In our time together with the man everyone calls LB, we will discuss: How throwing clubs in frustration accidentally unlocked Larry's curiosity about club design. After all, if Larry broke it, he needed to understand how to fix it. More on curiosity. As Larry began to teach his students and wasn't seeing them getting the results he felt they should, it sent Larry down a road of seeking other solutions. Larry will share what he discovered and how it began to shape the earliest days of club fitting. When it comes to clubfitting, Larry will remind us of what our primary job is when it comes to helping players not only play their best, but also enjoy the game the most. Ego. We all have one. Listen to the wonderful advice Larry received right before he was set to interact with Tour players for the first time. Trial and error. It is a part of any development process. From working for Wilson to Titleist, Larry and his team were constantly evolving and looking for ways to improve. We get a behind the scenes look at how Titleist hit their stride in the mid 90s and how Larry played a starring role. More than anything you take from this conversation from a master craftsman, I hope you leave with a greater appreciation of the people who came well before us and helped shape the game we play today.   To connect with Chandler:  Follow and DM on Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Email: podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'Check It Out' by John Mellencamp Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 73 Larry Bobka / Master Clubfitter

  2. Jul 15

    Ep. 72 Mid Season Check In

    As we make the turn on the 2026 season and year, how are you all feeling? Are you feeling energized and excited about the rest of the year? Or, are you feeling tired, overwhelmed and barely hanging on?  On this episode, Chandler pauses on asking questions to guests to ask some questions to all of you.  We will discuss:  We will pause to take some personal inventory at the mid season point. Just as we count the items in our golf shop and reorder accordingly, we will look at the things we need to have on hand to live life on a daily basis.  Have you ever recevied some feedback that was hard to hear? If so, how did you respond after? Did you seek to understand it more, or did you ignore the feedback even though you felt it may have been valid?  Have you ever felt lost or without purpose or meaning? Chandler shares a few passages from the book 'The Meaning of Your Life' by Arthur Brooks.  How do you deal with boredom or moments of quiet? Are you trying to fill every waking moment of your day with stimulation? Are you allowing time to just sit with your own thoughts and ideas?  How is your current perspective and outlook? Are you living life with a sense of gratitude, or more a sense of negativity or pessimism. Chandler shares a passage from a book to help bring you back to a place of being grateful.  To connect with Chandler:  Follow or send a DM on Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Send an email to podcast@archive22.com Music Credits: Opening: 'Youve Got a Friend in Me' by Randy Newman Interlude: 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' by U2

  3. Jul 3

    Ep. 70 Jason Prendergast / Dream Driven

    Have you ever wanted to change certain things about your past or who you are? It's natural to want to go back and undo things we have done. Today on The Inward Nine we get to spend time with someone who has wrestled with all of this and what he discovered might surprise you. He is a longtime PGA member and now an author of an impactful book. Our guest today is Jason Prendergast. In our time together with Jason, we will discuss: There is an uncomfortable word, but one we all live with each day. That word is fear. Jason will help us understand how not to run from it, but rather to embrace it and to let it ride shotgun in our daily lives. Dreams. We all have them, yet we rarely let others in when talking about them. Jason will talk about how his own dreams changed and evolved over time and once he identified what they were, how he chased after them with reckless abandon. Many of us are searching for direction and meaning in our lives. Jason will talk about how looking for a very specific type of plant taught him lessons in awareness and gave him the ability to be patient and persistent when trying to see things clearly. A Family. It is a powerful thing to be a part of. Listen as Jason talks about the impact of his second family and the life lessons his second father taught him, lessons that forced Jason to slow down and to care for others. We talk so often on this podcast about making the turn and heading home. But what is home? Jason will talk about what the word means to him and how you can find a place where you belong. To connect with Chandler: Follow on Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Email: podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'Dreams' by The Cranberries Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 70 Jason Prendergast / Dream Driven

  4. Jun 26

    Ep. 69 Shaun McElroy / Estancia Club

    So, what if I told you that a director of golf at a top 100 golf course and one of the most exclusive and reputable clubs in the western part of the country struggled to pass the PAT once upon a time? What if I told you he didn't graduate college… would you believe me? You see, that's the beauty of reaching a destination. None of our journeys are exactly alike. They all take different twists and turns. Today on the Inward Nine we get to spend time with a person who hasn't gotten complacent. Rather, he is continually looking for ways to improve life, his work and those around him. Our guest today is Shaun McElroy, the director of golf at Estancia Club in Arizona.  In our time together with Shaun, we will discuss: An 'ah-ha' moment he had during a health scare to one of his employees. It was a moment that pushed Shaun into action, leading him to advocate for a better way of life for his staff members. When it comes to a better way of life, have any of you ever tried to navigate another job opportunity while you are already holding a wonderful job? Shaun will walk us through how we handled this delicate process and how he feels you can do the same. Landing the job is one thing. Transitioning into the job is another. The first 90 days is a critical window into establishing yourself at a new club. Shaun will share some of the steps he took to not only understand the landscape of a new job, but also managing the expectations of his family and ensuring they also made a smooth transition. Worry. Fear. Anxiety. These words all have the chance to infiltrate our mind on a daily basis.. but not on this day. Today we are choosing a different path. To connect with Chandler:  Send a DM on LinkedIn on Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Or, send an email to podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'The Remedy' by Jason Mraz Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 69 Shaun McElroy / Estancia Club

  5. Jun 12

    Ep. 68 Sean Quinlivan / Shinnecock Hills GC

    Have you ever wondered how the head professionals at the greatest places in golf got the job? What does it take to land a coveted job like Shinnecock Hills and to host a major championship like the U.S. Open. In today's episode we get to learn about the journey of a young man who grew up caddying at Ballybunion in Ireland and now 25 years later is standing guard at one of the 5 founding clubs of the USGA and is the host professional to next week's U.S. Open. Our guest today is the very humble and approachable and easy to talk to Sean Quinlivan. In our time together with Sean we will discuss: Sometimes you interview for one role, don't land it and get offered another one entirely. Listen to how Sean took hold of the opportunity extended to him and if you have ever felt unprepared to do the job at times, you will enjoy listening to how Sean reacted to a similar feeling when asked to do something he had no experience doing. In any journey there will inevitably come a fork in the road, there will be a defining moment. Sean will discuss with us why he made the choice he did when he faced his own split in the road and how it eventually opened doors to where he is today. Moving from one country to another is one thing. The Fox Club, Piping Rock and now eventually Shinnecock Hills. It's not just moving from one position to another. As time goes along, many of us will have others moving with us. Sean shares with us how his wife and daughter not only navigated each move, but how they learned to adapt to each new environment. When it comes to being on the move, Sean will preach caution in how fast we look to do it. Some things can't be rushed. Sean walks us through the mindset he feels young professionals should embrace as they begin their own journeys. Picking up the phone to pursue an opportunity. It can feel so scary at times to ask or inquire about possibilities. When opportunity was knocking, Sean made the call and shares with us how you can do the same when you hear the same knocking at your own door.  None of us wins alone. While yes, one person will win the U.S. Open at Shinnecock next week, it will be far from alone. Sean Quinlivan didn't get to where he is by himself and neither will you. The great news is you aren't alone. As we walk together on the Inward Nine, know that you are walking shoulder to shoulder with people like Sean and countless others. We are all here to help you get where you are going. To connect with Chandler:  Follow along or send a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Or, send a direct email: podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'Bad' by U2 Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 68 Sean Quinlivan / Shinnecock Hills GC

  6. Jun 5

    Ep. 67 Fred Perpall / USGA President

    So, what happens when a young teenager is pulled aside by his coach and is told 'you could be anything'? When those words sunk and took root, they shaped the trajectory of the life of today's guest and into the person he is and is still becoming. Ahead on today's episode we get to spend time with the CEO of an architecture and construction company as well as the President of the United States Golf Association over the last two years. He is the very passionate, energetic and selfless Fred Perpall. In our time together with Fred we will discuss: The life we want and the work we do and why Fred feels those two worlds can coexist. Trajectory. It's not just the spin rate of a golf ball coming off the face of a club, but also what each of us needs to get to where we want to go. Listen to the moments in Fred's young life that shaped his trajectory to where he is today. Scars. We all have them, some more than others. Fred will share some of his own and how those scars have given him clarity on how he lives his life with intention on a daily basis. That person is a people person. We hear that comment quite often. Some of us feel we aren't as good with people as others. Fred will share the secret to being a people person and spoiler alert, it is something each of us is able to do. Road blocks. We all will face them, the question becomes what do we do when it feels we cannot find a way around them. Fred will talk about the mode he goes into whenever the path forward is uncertain. It takes 21 years to become 21 years old. Listen as Fred talks about why you can't always speed up the process or microwave your career to get to a destination faster. Some things just take time. To connect with Chandler:  Follow or DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @theinwardninepodcast or @chandler.withington Or, send a direct email: podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'Carry On' by Fun Interlude: 'Give Me Just One Reason' by Pink Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 67 Fred Perpall / USGA President

  7. May 29

    Ep. 66 Kevin Hammer / USGA President

    Our guest today has spent many years at golf house and while you might assume I am referring to the one in Far Hills, New Jersey, home of the USGA, the one I am actually referring to is the house our guest grew up in which was located on Golf Road of all places. The son of a Tour professional turned club professional and master professional, our guest was born into the game of golf and has lived in it ever since. From playing in USGA Championships as a junior amateur, to collegiate golf at the University of Florida, to president of the  Florida State Golf Association to now presiding over the USGA as its President, this guest has seen many sides to the game and he is here to share his perspective with us on the Inward Nine. Our guest today is the very thoughtful, humble and loyal, Kevin Hammer. In our time together with Kevin we will discuss: The atmosphere of his childhood home and the life lessons his father taught him. There are lessons Kevin is now passing down to his own children. An ability to adapt is one we all need to navigate life on a daily basis. Listen as Kevin talks about the most impactful championship he feels the USGA hosts each year and how its competitors can help prepare us for the many obstacles in life. Development. It is something each of us strive to achieve in our professional and personal lives. Yet not until recently did the game of golf have a development program to identify and grow talent. Kevin will take us back to the start of the USGA Development program and help us understand what it means for those of us who are PGA Professionals. Loyalty. It's a fleeting thing these days. Kevin who has served at the same company for over 25 years and we get to hear him talk about the value of loyalty and why the grass isn't always greener whenever we are tempted to make a career move. As with all guests, Kevin will hand down some advice to the next generation of PGA Professionals like his father was, and he will also share some advice he hands down to his own daughters. To connect with Chandler:  Send a direct email: podcast@archive22.com  Or a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram @theinwardninepodcast Music Credits:  Opening: 'Time' by Hootie and the Blowfish Interlude: 'Running From An Angel' by Hootie and the Blowfish Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 66 Kevin Hammer / USGA President

  8. May 15

    Ep. 65 Jeff Kiddie / Aronimink GC

    This week we are in Philadelphia for the PGA Championship and it only feels appropriate to pull a conversation out of the vault with the person who has been guardian of the host club for the past 18 years. This man can do it all – he is the 2011 National Merchandiser of the Year, 2023 Golf Professional of the year and oh by the way, he is also a National Rules Official for the PGA of America. Our guest today on the Inward Nine is a dear friend, he is the Director of Golf at Aronimink Golf Club and host professional of this week's PGA Championship, he is the very humble and respectful Jeff Kiddie. In our time together with Jeff: We will talk about his big break. Some luck and timing.. we all need it to get to where we want to go. He will share how a disappointing no suddenly became a very surprising yes, a break which sent him on his way. Once the dominoes begin to fall as they say, Jeff was offered an opportunity to open a new golf club. For those of you will be tasked with starting something new, listen to how Jeff invested himself in the process and the decisions he made. Where are all of my people who struggle with taking tests? Yes, my hand is up and so is Jeff's by the way. Jeff shares how he was able to go from making a 56 on his first Rules of Golf exam to making a 92 years later and how you too can chip away and improve in test taking. There are many other tests in life and most are taken on a sheet of paper. Jeff shares his outlook on the term work life balance, how he has struggled with it at times and what has also given him the freedom to improve in this area over time. Jeff Kiddie is one of the best in the business and one we can all learn from. So, settle in and grab a seat as we get to talk shop with the man who is in this week's spotlight at the PGA Championship. To connect with Chandler" Instagram @theinwardninepodcast  Email: podcast@archive22.com Music Credits:  Opening: 'Head Over Heels' by Tears for Fears Interlude: 'Old Friends' by Ben Rector Closing: 'Almost Home' by Ben Rector

    Ep. 65 Jeff Kiddie / Aronimink GC
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5
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103 Ratings

About

The Inward Nine is a podcast for those looking to discover the best version of themselves. On The Inward Nine we will learn from a range of people in the game of golf as we share our journeys, experiences, successes and failures, lessons learned and advice for the next generation. But we are not here just to talk about success in the workplace. We are here to talk about who we are as people and how we succeed at the game of life. Chandler Withington is a PGA Member of nearly 20 years and has worked in the game of golf for over 30 years. Chandler is the retired head golf professional from Hazeltine National Golf Club (2012 - 2021). Prior to Hazeltine, Chandler was an assistant golf professional at Merion Golf Club (PA) and Seminole Golf Club (FL). Over the last three years, Chandler has become a licensed artist for the United States Golf Association and PGA of America. Chandler's personal mission statement is to have a positive impact on the lives of those around him.

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