Florida State Head Coach Trey Jones shares his recruiting philosophy, non-negotiables, NIL perspective, and what separates elite players from the rest in today’s college golf landscape.

This conversation with Florida State Head Coach Trey Jones was recorded before recent recruiting news surrounding the program.

Listening back now, his perspective on culture, recruiting, and player development offers timely insight into what attracts elite talent to Tallahassee.

In this episode:

• The “non-negotiables” inside the FSU program
• What separates elite 18–20 year olds from good players
• How NIL is reshaping recruiting
• Why inner confidence matters more than rankings
• The Brooks Koepka recruiting story
• PGA Tour U and the evolving path to the PGA Tour
• The facilities arms race in college golf

For over two decades, Trey Jones has built Florida State into one of the most consistent programs in college golf. This episode focuses on the blueprint behind that success.

Gary Williams is one of the most recognizable voices in modern golf media, best known for his long run on Morning Drive and now as the host of Five Clubs on SiriusXM and Golf Channel.

In this episode of The Cart Barn, Gary joins Chris Lemley and Gregg Dewalt for a wide-ranging, story-driven conversation that goes far beyond television golf. Gary reflects on his journey into the game, the relationships that shaped his career, and the moments behind the scenes that most fans never see.

We talk about:

• The origin and rise of Morning Drive
• Arnold Palmer, Joe Gibbs, and the early days of Golf Channel
• Golf as a participatory game, not just a televised sport
• Father-son golf memories and why they matter
• The philosophy behind Five Clubs and “it’s the time, not the score”
• Dogs on the course, Sweetens Cove, Landmand, and the future of golf gatherings

This is a thoughtful, personal conversation about golf, legacy, curiosity, and why the game continues to connect people across generations.

In this episode of The Cart Barn, we sit down with Tom Lovelady, one of the defining figures from Alabama golf’s modern golden era.

Growing up in Birmingham, Tom cut his teeth at Vestavia Country Club before becoming a cornerstone of the University of Alabama teams that captured back-to-back NCAA National Championships. From relentless Monday morning workouts to qualifying battles against future PGA Tour stars, Tom shares what truly separated those Alabama teams.

He also tells the full story of how he met — and eventually roomed with — Justin Thomas, the brotherhood that defined Alabama golf, and the lessons that carried him from college golf to the PGA Tour.

This conversation is about far more than trophies — it’s about accountability, culture, friendship, and the long game of life beyond competitive golf.

Key Time-Stamped Segments

• 00:00–05:30 — Birmingham roots, Mountain Brook, Vestavia CC
• 05:30–12:30 — High school championships & junior golf grind
• 12:30–18:30 — Choosing Alabama & early program culture
• 18:30–27:30 — National championships & Prairie Dunes memories
• 27:30–37:30 — Accountability, qualifying, and brotherhood
• 37:30–42:30 — Justin Thomas roommate story (first meeting)
• 42:30–50:30 — Transition to pro golf & PGA Tour realities
• 50:30–59:30 — Barbasol Championship & life-changing moments
• 59:30–1:05:00 — Life after tour golf & perspective today

John Gibbs takes us inside the untold early days of the Golf Channel—from a bold idea to a full-scale network launch. As a founding executive, John shares how the channel came to life, the critical role of Arnold Palmer, near-miss financial moments, and what it took to build a 24/7 golf network from scratch.

The conversation also dives into John’s own competitive golf journey—playing in U.S. Senior Opens, Senior Amateurs, and his lifelong passion for the game at Limestone Springs Golf Club. Packed with golf history, wisdom, and classic Arnold Palmer stories, this is a must-listen for golfers and golf fans alike.

Episode Highlights:

• How a lunch conversation turned into the Golf Channel
• Why Arnold Palmer was the key to instant credibility
• Building studios, hiring 200+ people, and launching in 1995
• Near-bankruptcy moments and the Comcast deal
• John’s experience playing elite senior amateur golf
• Lessons on longevity, mechanics, and mindset in golf
• Why fear—not talent—is golf’s biggest enemy

Notable Stories:

• Arnold Palmer’s “did you come out here to lay up?” moment
• Playing practice rounds with Hale Irwin
• Competing in U.S. Senior Opens and Senior Amateurs
• Life, golf, and perspective at Limestone Springs

Damon Green joins The Cart Barn to share one of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes journeys in professional golf. From grinding on mini-tours to caddying for legends — including Zach Johnson’s iconic Masters win at Augusta — Damon opens up about pressure, preparation, player-caddie dynamics, and what truly separates those who make it from those who don’t.

We dive into:

• Life on the mini-tours and why so many great players never make it
• How game-planning won the 2007 Masters
• The mental side of majors vs. regular tour stops
• The truth about caddie-player breakups
• Why the British Open at St. Andrews still means the most
• And the origin of the famous “Chicken Walk”

A must-listen for golfers, fans, and anyone who loves great stories from inside the ropes.

Birmingham native Gordon Sargent joins The Cart Barn Podcast to walk through his journey from junior golf and Mountain Brook High School to Vanderbilt, Augusta National, and now full PGA TOUR status. Gordon shares insights on college golf, NIL, Augusta nerves, elite ball-speed, mentorship, and what life is really like transitioning from a team environment to professional golf.

In this episode, Gregg Dewalt and Chris Lemley sit down with Gordon Sargent, one of the most exciting young talents in golf and a proud product of Alabama golf.

Topics include:

• Growing up at Birmingham Country Club and Shoal Creek
• The legendary Mountain Brook High School golf teams
• Choosing Vanderbilt and navigating elite college golf
• Winning the NCAA Individual Championship
• Playing Augusta National and staying in the Crow’s Nest
• NIL, equipment loyalty, and working with Titleist & Nike
• PGA TOUR University Accelerated and earning full TOUR status
• Adjusting to life on TOUR without teammates
• Elite distance, ball speed, and course management
• Staying grounded, giving back, and keeping Birmingham as home

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation with a player who understands both the grind and the privilege of the journey.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to The Cart Barn Podcast for more stories from the world of golf.

Joe Gibbs is a Birmingham native and the co-founder of the Golf Channel, built alongside Arnold Palmer at a time when a 24-hour golf network seemed impossible.

In this episode of The Cart Barn, Joe walks us through the real story behind the Golf Channel — from a friendship formed at Shoal Creek, to high-stakes meetings, investor skepticism, and the long road to profitability.

This conversation goes beyond golf media. It’s a story about vision, risk, leadership, and believing in an idea long before anyone else does.

Joe Gibbs shares the inside story of how the Golf Channel was created — from its Alabama roots to its global impact — and the leadership lessons learned along the way.

As the year comes to a close, Chris Lemley and Gregg Dewalt share a short New Year’s Eve reflection built around moments from conversations that truly resonated in 2025.

This episode isn’t a “best of.” It’s a curated collection of clips that sparked discussion, reflection, and connection — moments about process, perspective, resilience, and the human side of golf.

No commentary between clips. Just the conversations themselves.

Thank you for being part of The Cart Barn journey. We’ll see you in the new year.