The DROP Podcast

Golfing in the Garden State
  • 5.0 (182)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Golfing in the Garden State, like you’ve never heard it. Hosted by Mike Puorro, this podcast dives deep into New Jersey’s golf scene with 2 episodes every week. From honest course breakdowns and real clubhouse stories to in-depth conversations with head professionals, rising amateurs, touring pros, and the people shaping golf across the state, this is where New Jersey golf lives. Public tracks, private clubs, hidden gems, and everything in between - if it matters to NJ golf, it’s covered here. Subscribe, rate, and tap in before your next round. And yes - DROP stands for Driver off the Parkway.

  1. Michael Buell: True Spec Golf and What Defines a Professional Club Fitting

    12H AGO

    Michael Buell: True Spec Golf and What Defines a Professional Club Fitting

    Michael Buell, Master Fitter, True Spec Golf; Golf.com contributor explains what a professional club fitting should actually fix and why chasing more distance is usually the wrong objective. We break down True Spec’s brand-agnostic fitting model, starting with the player interview and blueprint process that often reveals spec drift across a set (loft, lie, length, swing weight, shaft profiles). From there, Michael walks through how driver, iron, and wedge testing is structured to eliminate false positives and interpret launch monitor numbers correctly, prioritizing dispersion, spin consistency, descent angle, and playable distance gaps that translate to lower scores. We also recap a full bag fitting with real performance changes from tee through wedges, discuss the biggest club fitting myth, and outline what separates a good fitter from a great one. If you’ve ever wondered whether club fitting is worth it or what the data should actually prove before you buy, this episode delivers practical clarity for serious golfers in New Jersey and beyond.

    1h 9m

  2. 2D AGO

    New Jersey Public Golf: North vs. South Jersey - Which Is Better?

    North Jersey vs. South Jersey: who actually has the better public golf? Mike takes the North, Chris rides with the South, and we keep it strictly to public courses you can book and play across New Jersey. From county-system staples in Essex, Morris, and Somerset to Monmouth and Atlantic County destination layouts shaped by wind and links-style design, we break down which side offers more depth, stronger weekly rotation courses, and better long-term replay value. We also recap the Genesis Invitational, preview the Cognizant Classic, check in on the Korn Ferry Tour, and head From the Grandstand for listener questions. If you had to choose one half of New Jersey public golf for the next five years - elevation and density or coastal wind and destination tracks - which side are you taking? After you listen, head to YouTube or Instagram and tell us who won: North or South Jersey.

    50 min
  3. Jaeger Kovich | Proper Golf, NJ Architecture & the Aronimink Restoration

    FEB 19

    Jaeger Kovich | Proper Golf, NJ Architecture & the Aronimink Restoration

    Today’s guest is Jaeger Kovich, founder of Proper Golf and a golf course architect whose shaping work has influenced courses across New Jersey and the championship venue for the 2026 PGA Championship, Aronimink Golf Club. From discovering the game in New York City to working under Tom Doak and Gil Hanse, Jaeger shares the unconventional path that led him into golf course architecture and the moment at the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills that changed everything. The heart of the conversation centers on New Jersey golf. We discuss his work at Knickerbocker, Morris County Golf Club, and Canoe Brook, what defines great Metropolitan-area architecture, and how architects decide what to restore, modernize, or leave untouched. Jaeger also explains what everyday golfers misunderstand about course design, what makes a layout fun yet challenging, and how restoration projects like Aronimink shape the championship stage players will see in 2026.

    53 min

  4. FEB 17

    2026 NJ Golf Major Championship Schedule: Dates, Courses & Registration

    The 2026 NJ Golf Major Championship schedule is set. Dates are confirmed, venues are locked in, and registration is about to open. In this episode of The DROP Podcast, we break down New Jersey’s four premier championships: the 94th Four-Ball Championship at Little Mill Country Club, the 43rd Mid-Amateur Championship at Alpine Country Club, the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club, and the 106th New Jersey Open Championship at Morris County Golf Club. We outline the format of each event, what makes each course a true championship test, and what players should expect heading into the 2026 competitive season. Registration for the Four-Ball and Mid-Amateur opens tomorrow, with the Amateur and Open to follow - making this essential listening for players planning their tournament schedule. We also cover the PGA Tour, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am recap and a preview of The Genesis Invitational featuring New Jersey standouts Chris Gotterup and Max Greyserman. If you compete, follow, or care about championship golf in the Garden State, this is where the 2026 season officially begins.

    49 min

  5. FEB 16

    Mike Jacobs: Building Tee2Green & the Future of Indoor Golf in New Jersey

    Mike Jacobs didn’t stumble into the indoor golf business - he built Tee2Green with intention. In this focused conversation, the President of Tee2Green details his background in the game, the strategy behind launching the facility, and why this New Jersey location made sense within a competitive golf market. Mike outlines what separates Tee2Green in the growing indoor golf space - from technology standards and player development to leadership structure and operational execution. For New Jersey golfers paying attention to the evolution of year-round golf, this is a direct look at how a serious indoor golf facility is built and run.

    21 min
  6. Edmund Broderick: 2025 New Jersey PGA Assistant Player of the Year

    FEB 12

    Edmund Broderick: 2025 New Jersey PGA Assistant Player of the Year

    Coming off one of the most dominant seasons the section has seen, this week on The DROP Podcast we’re joined by Edmund Broderick, the 2025 New Jersey PGA Assistant Player of the Year. Edmund takes us back through his full journey - from elite junior golf in New Jersey and early exposure to championship-level competition, to becoming a multi-sport leader at St. Peter’s Prep, and eventually turning professional while balancing full-time work in golf operations. We break down how those early experiences on tough setups shaped his mindset and built the foundation for a breakthrough professional season. We then dive deep into the 2025 campaign that separated him from the field: opening the year with a win at Glen Ridge, stacking victories at Haworth and Suburban, and capturing the NJ PGA Assistant Championship at Canoe Brook. Edmund walks through what was working in his game, how his confidence evolved as the points race took shape, and what it takes to stay sharp late in a long season. We wrap it up with a Rapid Fire Final 5 covering lowest rounds, toughest courses, favorite NJ venues, and what’s next after earning Player of the Year. If you’re into competitive golf in New Jersey, player development, or the assistant professional grind, this episode is a must-listen.

    43 min

  7. FEB 11

    Chris Gotterup Wins Again + James Nicholas Breaks Through

    Two former DROP Podcast guests. Two huge wins. One incredible week for the boys! In this special midweek episode, we celebrate a pair of breakthrough performances that deserve more than just a quick mention. First, Chris Gotterup does it again - winning the WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion, closing with a final-round 64 and birdieing the first playoff hole to take down Hideki Matsuyama. It’s his second PGA TOUR victory of the young season, his fourth career TOUR win, and another massive leap forward for the former Rutgers star. We break down the clutch finish, the key moments that led to the playoff, and what this win means for Gotterup as he continues to rise in the world rankings. Then we head to the Korn Ferry Tour, where James Nicholas delivered the moment of his professional career. Needing something special on the final hole of the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard, Nicholas drained a 13-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to win by two shots - securing his first Korn Ferry Tour title. We recap his steady week of rounds, the pressure of holding a 54-hole lead, and how this victory catapults him up the season-long standings. From a PGA TOUR playoff win in front of one of golf’s wildest crowds, to a walk-off eagle in Colombia, it was a weekend to remember for two players we’ve had the privilege of watching up close on this show.

    8 min

  8. FEB 10

    The Top 3 Counties for Public Golf in New Jersey

    If you asked ten golfers in New Jersey to name the best county for public golf, you’d probably get ten different answers - usually based on a limited number of courses. In this episode of The DROP Podcast, we finally settle the debate by ranking the Top 3 Counties for Public Golf in New Jersey with real experience behind it. Guest co-host Orson Rosas, one of the very few golfers who has played every public course in the state, joins the show to break down each county based on depth of public courses, variety of layouts, and overall value and accessibility. No guessing. No hometown bias. Just informed opinions built on thousands of holes played across the Garden State. After the rankings, we roll into Fast Facts from the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, then head From the Grandstand to answer this week’s listener question on how to fix pace of play in NJ golf. Whether you’re planning your next tee time, mapping out a golf weekend, or just love debating public golf in the Garden State, this episode is built to spark conversation long after the final county is revealed.

    55 min
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5
out of 5
182 Ratings

About

Golfing in the Garden State, like you’ve never heard it. Hosted by Mike Puorro, this podcast dives deep into New Jersey’s golf scene with 2 episodes every week. From honest course breakdowns and real clubhouse stories to in-depth conversations with head professionals, rising amateurs, touring pros, and the people shaping golf across the state, this is where New Jersey golf lives. Public tracks, private clubs, hidden gems, and everything in between - if it matters to NJ golf, it’s covered here. Subscribe, rate, and tap in before your next round. And yes - DROP stands for Driver off the Parkway.

Information

  • Creator
    Golfing in the Garden State
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    278
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Golfing in the Garden State
  • Show Website
    The DROP Podcast

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