Why did you get rid of your "golf room"?

I knew this one was going to come up quickly! It was a sad, sad day ahead of a very exciting, exciting life moment as the wife and I are due with our first kiddo in early June (great timing, right before the U.S. Open!). So, after a lot of deliberating and conversations about why we even need a guest bedroom ("they can just sleep on the couch ... it's comfy!") I decided the golf room would have to go. As the old proverb says, "one man's loss is a huge gain for the First Tee of Phoenix."

Favorite player to cover and best course you've ever played?

I'm going to split the favorite player question into two parts because I think it deserves it ...

My broadcasting days started right around the time that Tiger Woods left the golf world, so getting to call him both during the U.S. Open, Tiger vs. Phil and at PGA Tour Live events has been really, really special. I just think being a part of this historical figure on the golf course and seeing him still capable of doing the things I watched him do when I was a teenager is unreal (when Rory and Tiger were walking up 18 last year at the Tour Championship, I was on the call for PGA Tour Live and remember just laying out for about three straight minutes because no words of mine were going to add to that moment or help it at all ... it was just such a cool thing to see and something I wasn't sure would ever happen again).

As for the players to talk to, I love the honest ones. Getting to interview JT when he shot 63 at Erin Hills was great because he was as amped as I was to get that conversation going live on Fox. I love Rory and Adam Scott's ability to just speak their minds and not worry about "critics."

For the best course part of the question, I've been lucky to get to play a lot of spots the last few years because of the job (and being friends with Brad Faxon ... thanks Fax!). I think Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne are my two favorites, with the Old Course being the one I'd want to play daily for the rest of my life.

Hello Shane,

In the spirit of March Madness my very important question is this:
If a bracket were created for "The best dogs in golf" what seed would Harlow receive? My guess is Snowball is a lock for a #1 seed.

also as well as

How important is it to get fitted for a driver?

I would give Harlow a 12-seed just because I know she'd surprise a few of the more confident dogs. All of a sudden Harlow would be in the Elite Eight and people would be like, "WHERE DID THIS FRENCH BULLDOG COME FROM?!"

For driver fitting and frankly, for all club fittings, I think it's silly to spend money on a golf club when a fitting is available. It's like getting an $800 suit and not getting it tailored to your body type. We live in a world where golf clubs and technology is readily available to the everyday golfer so take advantage of that. Could you imagine showing a golf nut from the 1230s the options now to get fit and that person not JUMPING at the opportunity? Get fit. It's an easy way to shave a couple of strokes off the 'ol cap.

1930s* ... 1230s was a typo and also about 500 years before golf was a thing

What’s the best course in Illinois that someone can get on, besides Chicago golf club, Medinah, butler national that an average guy like has no chance of getting on. Also a Rules question, is a player allowed to count his steps/strides on the putting green from the pin to his ball?

I had to bring in my buddy Andy Johnson of Fried Egg fame for this one because Illinois is one of the states I haven't played much golf in. He says, "Most fun course is Ravisloe, best conditioned course Glen Club." So trust that man!

As for the walking shots off, I don't see any rules issues if you want to step off and count your distance. One of my good buddies in college did that and had a whole Bryson-like equation in his head for pitch shots. It worked!

Stop by the Patriots Outpost at the Players if you get a chance and say hello!!

I won't be at the Players this year but have a cold one or two for me!

Stop by Patriots Outpost at The Players and say hello!!

Can you out-putt Brad Faxon? :)

All the best,
Paul

The first time I ever saw Fax hit a putt in person it was the 18th green at Oakmont and I was walking up to their group to say hi - he had about a 30-footer across the green that broke eight feet ... and he cashed it. A very appropriate moment considering his putting legacy.

Have you ever been around or played with a handicap golfer? Where are events for them to play in competively ?

Ok...seriously, what's been a great golf tip you've gotten from one of your broadcasting friends?

All the best,
Paul

I've got some that I've checked off the list like Pine Valley and Cypress Point during broadcasting weeks, but one of the most fun (and one I was blown away by) was Prairie Dunes in Kansas. We were broadcasting the U.S. Junior at Flint Hills and decided to make the two-hour drive up to Hutchinson to check out PD. The place was unreal. Absolutely unreal. Faxon, Brett Quigley, Steve Scott and I were walking around like kids seeing Augusta for the first time. We played 18, drove back, broadcasted the Junior that afternoon and after all the talk, our boss basically said, "we still have time to get up there and get in 18." He hadn't played it and wanted a run around Prairie. So we booked it a little faster than we should have, had carts waiting when we got there and got around the course in about 2.5 hours before the sun set. Ridiculous spot.

Here is a photo of the par-3 14th, they call Chute for good reason.

What is your dream event to broadcast and who would be your color analyst? My guess is Arizona in the finals of the NCAA college basketball championship, with Iggy doing color in the booth, and Hot Sauce doing sideline.

First, getting to call the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach is pretty dreamy to me. Considering we've checked off Oakmont and Shinnecock in the historic golf landscape and NOW get to do this is wild.

I would love to be involved in the Masters and the Open at some point. I think joining the crew that puts on the World Cup would be a bucket list item as would a Game 7 of the NBA Finals (huge basketball fan) and doing something around the Super Bowl.

But my top event in a dream world of broadcasting would probably be Wimbledon. Give me Roger Federer as my analyst and let us broadcast it on Fox Sunday morning with a little strawberries and cream. I think after that you could go ahead and shove me in the Thames and I would be completely content!

Shane:

Two questions:

TS2 or TS3?

and

Any interest in joining us for the Team Titleist Ballyhack event July 12-14?

Thanks for the thread!

WW

TS3 ... love that driver so much. Been really smoking it and have convinced a couple of my buddies to make the switch simply but getting it in play.

Ballyhack in Virginia? I've never played it ANDDDD have that week off of broadcasting so let me consider it. Always down for a little TT trash talk on the course.

Shane, in all seriousness, do what you can to make these broadcasts the best you can. The USGA needs it badly. Between screwing up course set-ups over the last few years +, despite promising that they wouldn't make the same mistakes, less than stellar changes to the rules "for the better of the game", the US Open needs to be a home run this time around. Bringing in Faxon was a great move. Greg Norman I'm sorry was a bust. Great Champion and golfer, but let's leave it that it just didn't work in the broadcast booth. "Borrow" what you've seen that works on other networks to make yours as good or better. I was a big Jack Buck fan, but I'll never be a Joe Buck fan. Especially in golf. Hopefully he grows into it since I know he plays and loves the game. I pray that he'll be better than he is at other sports, and maybe make like he's on the course playing with his friends when in the booth and relax. Despite him not being my favorite, I am rooting for him and FOX to hit a home run. All the best, and if you're ever around the center of the peoples republic of Massachusetts, say the word and we'll go out and play a round or two. I'll take a look at your Podcast too. Thanks again

What is the course in your Twitter profile picture?

That's Whistling Rock in South Korea. One of the wildest golf experiences of my life. If you ever want to read about it, check out the Spring 2018 (third edition) of The Golfer's Journal. I penned a piece in there titled, "Lucid Dream" that explains everything that is involved around this oasis golf course just outside one of the busiest cities in the world.

Been running through your podcast while i work, do you have any interesting guests upcoming on the pod soon??

I do! We're hoping to get a certain putter legend on the pod soon, as well as a couple of pros, one returning and one first timer (possibly a Hall of Famer!), but hey, all my guests are interesting, Eric!

Favorite course(s) in Myrtle Beach? Heading there Sunday - Wednesday and have our mornings booked but still looking for our afternoon rounds! Thanks!