In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy and Joe unpack one of the most surprising realities in golf: most golfers never actually get better. Handicaps stay the same for years, even decades — not because people aren’t trying, but because most golfers don’t know how to practice in ways that lead to real improvement.

This episode dives deep into the art of practicing well. Tommy and Joe explore why so much effort gets wasted, what effective practice actually looks like, and how intention, experimentation, and honest self-assessment can transform both your game and your enjoyment of it. They break down practical strategies for range sessions, short game work, overcoming weaknesses, and building an off-season plan that sets up a breakthrough season ahead.

Whether you're new to practice or you’ve been stuck at the same scoring plateau, this episode gives you a clear, encouraging roadmap for how to finally start improving.

• Most golfers fail to improve because they practice the same habits without intention.
• Effective practice is purposeful, targeted, and fun enough to keep you engaged.
• Gamifying practice boosts focus and accelerates learning.
• Experimenting with ball flight and feel on the range teaches more than grinding stock shots.
• Short game practice is essential — yet it’s the least practiced part of the game.
• Honest self-assessment helps you identify what’s actually holding you back.
• An off-season plan turns “winter rust” into real progress.
• Balancing strengths and weaknesses keeps practice structured and sustainable.
• Improvement comes from rhythm, reflection, and the courage to face what’s sabotaging your game.
• Better practice in golf mirrors better practice in life — clarity and intention matter everywhere.

Use this to determine where your practice should go:

• Putting
• Chipping
• Sand play
• Pitching
• Half wedges (40–70 yards)
• Irons
• Fairway woods / hybrids
• Driver

Framework referenced by Tommy:

• Communication
• Finances
• Marriage / relationships
• Parenting
• Health
• Work / vocation
• Personal growth
• Emotional life
• Spiritual life
• Rhythms / rest

00:00 The Challenge of Improvement in Golf

02:42 The Importance of Effective Practice

05:48 Mindset and Intentionality in Practice

08:53 Making Practice Fun and Engaging

11:49 The Role of Intention in Practice Sessions

14:50 Experimentation and Learning on the Range

17:45 Short Game as the Key to Golf Success

28:03 Mastering the Short Game

30:50 Developing an Off-Season Plan

33:32 Self-Assessment for Improvement

38:47 Embracing Frustration in Practice

42:50 Identifying and Overcoming Sabotaging Weaknesses

47:44 Balancing Perfectionism and Progress

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy and Joe share their biggest takeaways from attending the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Watching legends like Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, and Freddie Jacobson up close offered a masterclass in calm focus, emotional control, and smart play. They discuss how the pros manage pressure, recover from mistakes, and approach every shot with intention—lessons that apply far beyond the course.

From slowing down under pressure to keeping ego out of decision-making, this conversation explores what makes Champions Tour players so consistent and how those same habits can improve both your golf game and your everyday life.

Takeaways

• Champions Tour players model calm confidence and emotional control.
• Every shot matters, but no single shot should matter too much.
• Slowing down helps regulate focus and performance under pressure.
• Physical posture and pace can calm the mind and prevent emotional spirals.
• The pros know when to play smart and when to take calculated risks.
• The same mindset that improves golf can help us navigate work and relationships.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with golf professional Justin Beard, Director of Golf at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, to talk about raising a junior golfer and keeping the game fun along the way.

Justin shares his journey in golf, his experience parenting a talented junior player, and the lessons he’s learned about confidence, humility, and perspective. Together, they explore how parents can create a healthy, pressure-free environment that helps kids enjoy the game for life.

From balancing competition and fun to knowing when to step back as a parent, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt stories for anyone navigating youth sports or simply looking to make golf a more meaningful family experience.

• Golf should be a fun experience for kids, not a source of pressure
• Parents serve best as “guardrails,” not drill sergeants
• Winning doesn’t define a young golfer’s worth
• Confidence and humility can coexist
• Encouragement is more effective than criticism
• Patience and perspective are essential in youth sports
• The journey is about experiences, not just results
• Golf can strengthen family relationships and create lifelong memories

0:00 Introduction

4:05 The Ryder Cup Experience with His Son

8:55 Justin’s Journey in Golf

14:34 The Importance of Humility and Confidence

17:49 The Role of Parents in Junior Golf

22:44 Coaching, Confidence, and Character

28:15 Parenting as Guardrails

31:26 Encouragement Over Pressure

35:20 Lessons from a Summer of Competition

38:44 The ROI of Golf and Family Time

43:44 Introducing Kids to Golf the Right Way

50:10 Keeping Golf Fun and Creative for Kids

54:00 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

This special Links for Life episode captures the energy of the HOPE Golf Classic at the Federal Club in Virginia. Host Tommy Thompson and co-host Pete Bowell welcome players and friends including Stuart Holt, John Atkinson, Steven McCarthy, Parker Thompson, and Isaac Nunn for memorable stories and reflections on golf and life. From miraculous chip-ins to hilarious mis-hits, listeners will hear how patience, humility, and joy on the course carry into everyday life.

What You’ll Take Away

• How golf strengthens family connections and friendships
• Patience and humility as lessons the game teaches on every round
• How to embrace unexpected moments and enjoy the game without pressure
• The lasting community impact of events like the HOPE Golf Classic

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Hope Church and the HOPE Golf Classic at hopechurchrva.com
• Subscribe to Links for Life for more inspiring golf conversations
• 
  

Timestamps (chapter markers)

(0:00) Intro

(6:24) Guest 1: Stuart Holt

(13:15) Pete & Tommy’s Favorite Golf Courses

(19:40) Guest 2: John Atkinson

(32:10) The Craziest Shot Tommy Has Seen

(33:36) Guest 3: Steven McCarthy

(41:21) Pete’s Favorite Shot and Golf Lesson

(46:33) Guest 4: Parker Thompson

(50:00) Guest 5: Isaac Nunn

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

In this episode Tommy sits down with David Dwight to talk about golf as more than a pastime. Together they explore how the game reveals what’s happening inside us (our mindset, emotions, and even our character). Whether you’re battling a big number on the scorecard, walking the Old Course at St. Andrews, or teeing it up with three generations of family, this episode shows how golf can deepen self-awareness and joy while pointing to something bigger than the game itself.

Key themes you’ll hear:

• Why golf demands both mental and emotional discipline
• How ego and expectations impact performance and enjoyment
• The surprising ways golf exposes character and fosters growth
• Transcendent moments on the course (from Scotland to Pebble Beach)
• How golf strengthens relationships and bridges generations

Timestamps:

(0:00) The Unique Experience of Golf

(2:52) The Relationship Between Golf and Emotions

(6:05) The Mental Game of Golf

(9:05) Self-Awareness and Golf

(12:00) The Intersection of Mental and Emotional Challenges

(14:58) Ego and Honest Assessment in Golf

(17:50) The Role of Self-Control in Golf

(21:04) Enjoyment and Improvement Through Self-Awareness

(30:42) The Dual Nature of Self-Awareness

(31:12) Golf as a Source of Enjoyment

(35:47) Expectations vs. Reality in Golf

(37:59) Identity Beyond Golf

(39:05) Distortions and Perceptions in Golf

(41:51) Character Development Through Golf

(44:24) The Challenge and Transcendence of Golf

(51:29) The Unique Nature of Golf as a Family Game

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

In this episode, Tommy sits down with Will Saunders to explore how golf can unite people in a pressure-free, inclusive way. Will shares the story of Unclubbed, Virginia’s largest social golf league, which grew from a simple Tuesday-night idea into a 1,200-member community where anyone can RSVP, play nine, and connect. Hear how Unclubbed fosters community, and how golf can be a fantastic platform for deepening relationships and growing as a person.

In This Episode

• Golf as a platform for meaningful conversation and connection
• Removing intimidation by prioritizing fun over competition
• Unclubbed’s journey from a 40-name spreadsheet to a thriving community
• Strengthening relationships in business, family, and faith through golf
• Practical ideas to let golf serve what matters most in your life

(0:00) Why Golf Brings People Together

(5:10) Will’s Journey into the Game

(7:09) Making Golf Accessible for Everyone

(10:32) The Tuesday Plan

(12:15) Unclubbed’s Growth to 1,200 Members

(14:11) Connection Over Competition

(18:33) Redefining Club Culture

(21:17) Unclubbed in Practice

(30:49) Golf as a Platform for Relationships and Growth

(36:52) Golf as a Mirror for Character

(40:43) How to Join Unclubbed

(43:46) Final Thoughts

Unclubbed — open, social golf league: https://unclubbedgolf.com/

In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy and guest Joel Suggs, a recurrent co-host, discuss the profound topic of humility and its crucial role in everyday life and on the golf course. They explore how golf serves as a mirror to life, revealing key aspects of personal character and humility. Through personal anecdotes and philosophical insights, including references to biblical figures and writings by Andrew Murray, they outline what humility is and isn’t. They emphasize humility as honest self-awareness, seeing oneself rightly in the context of the world and God, and freedom from posturing and people-pleasing. The podcast transitions into practical ways golf can teach and reflect humility, underscoring the mental and emotional disciplines that foster a humble spirit. The conversation aims to inspire listeners towards actions that grow humility, highlighting its transformative potential for greater freedom and joy.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

What happens when golf, growth, and God intersect? In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson reconnects with longtime friend Kevin Wirt, whose journey from the fairway to faith is nothing short of inspiring. From his first set of golf clubs at age seven to navigating the highs and lows of life, Kevin shares how the game of golf became both a spiritual refuge and a powerful parallel to his faith journey. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or someone searching for deeper meaning in your passions, Kevin’s story will challenge you to rethink the role your pursuits play in your life. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about finding purpose beyond the green.