What if the biggest obstacle to becoming a better golfer isn't your swing, but your expectations?

Golf improvement isn't always a straight line, and according to Sarah Bidney, PGA, that's exactly what golfers, parents, and coaches need to understand.

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, Ryan Dailey, PGA, and Seth Thompson, PGA, welcome Sarah Bidney, Director of Instruction at Hyperion Field Club in Iowa and one of Golf Digest's 2026–2027 Best Teachers by State.

Sarah's story began with a $20 high school golf team jacket. She didn't start golfing until she was nearly 15, yet went on to become one of Iowa's most recognized golf instructors and an Operation 36 Master Coach.

Now, she's sharing what nearly 25 years of coaching have taught her about developing better golfers.

From why lasting swing changes can take 12–24 months to the importance of tournament experience, proper equipment, fitness, and supportive parents, Sarah offers a refreshing perspective on what really helps golfers succeed.

You'll also hear why even accomplished golfers shouldn't necessarily coach their own kids, what separates rapidly improving junior golfers from the rest, and why knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things.

🎧 Whether you're a golfer, golf coach, or parent cheering from the sidelines, this episode is packed with practical advice and a few reminders we could all use.

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Meet Sarah Bidney, PGA 00:55 – The $20 Jacket That Started It All 03:00 – Sarah's Journey to Becoming a Golf Coach 05:25 – Why Golf Improvement Takes Time 09:50 – The Importance of Professional Golf Coaching 12:20 – Technology, Biomechanics & Better Instruction 16:45 – Fitness and Junior Golf Development 18:55 – Why Junior Golfers Need Tournament Experience 24:15 – Choosing the Right Junior Golf Equipment 28:10 – What Every Golf Parent Should Know

🔗 LEARN MORE

Operation 36 Golf: https://operation36.golf/

🎙️ ABOUT THE GOLF SIT DOWN

Hosted by Ryan Dailey, PGA, and Seth Thompson, PGA, The Golf Sit Down brings you conversations with golf coaches, industry experts, and leaders who are shaping the future of golf.

From junior golf development and coaching strategies to player performance and the lifelong journey of improving your game, we're exploring what it takes to help golfers succeed.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow The Golf Sit Down on Spotify and share it with a fellow golfer, parent, or coach!

Want to hit the golf ball farther without swinging harder? You might be approaching golf speed training all wrong!

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, Ryan Dailey, PGA, and Seth Thompson, PGA, sit down with Michael Romatowski, owner of Mach 3 Golf Speed Training, to explore what really creates speed, power, and distance in the golf swing.

Michael challenges common misconceptions about increasing clubhead speed, explaining why efficient movement matters more than brute strength and how golfers of all ages can develop more speed without sacrificing control.

The conversation also dives into junior golf development, the benefits of playing multiple sports, how often golfers should train for speed, and what coaches and parents need to know about developing stronger, more athletic golfers.

Plus, hear how speed training is making a measurable difference for junior golfers and high school golf teams, improving clubhead speed, ball speed, and on-course performance.

Whether you're a golfer chasing more distance, a coach helping players reach their potential, or a parent supporting a young athlete, this episode is packed with insights you can put into practice.

Tune in and discover why swinging faster doesn't have to mean swinging harder!

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Meet Michael Romotowski & Mach 3 Speed Training 01:25 – Michael's Background in Golf Fitness & Speed Training 05:40 – When Should Junior Golfers Start Speed Training? 07:50 – Why Playing Multiple Sports Matters 09:05 – How Much Swing Speed Do College Golfers Need? 13:45 – Swinging Harder vs. Swinging More Efficiently 17:35 – How Often Should Golfers Train for Speed? 20:00 – Why Distance Matters More Than You Think 26:00 – Can You Gain Speed Without Losing Accuracy? 31:00 – Common Speed Training Mistakes 37:15 – Real Results: More Speed, Distance & Better Scores 41:40 – Mach 3 Training Tools & Resources

CONNECT & LEARN MORE

Discover Mach 3 Speed Training: https://mach3speedtraining.com/

Learn more about Operation 36 Golf: https://operation36.golf/

🎙️ AB

What do Division I college golf coaches really look for in junior golfers and what does it take to play golf at the next level?

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, we sit down with Matt Moot, Head Men’s Golf Coach at Campbell University, to talk about his journey from junior golfer and Campbell student-athlete to becoming a Division I college golf coach. Matt shares an inside look at college golf recruiting, junior golf development, tournament golf, practice habits, parental involvement, scoring, and the skills young golfers need to develop if they want to compete at the collegiate level.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What college golf coaches look for when recruiting junior golfers
• How junior golfers can get on a college coach’s radar
• Why tournament experience matters in college golf recruiting
• How young golfers can develop their games over several years
• Why learning to score matters more than chasing a perfect golf swing What parents should (and shouldn’t) do during junior golf tournaments Why independence is important for future college golfers
• How Matt developed his wedge game
• Why short putting can make such a big difference in scoring
• How to balance practice, competition, development and burnout

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Meet Campbell University Head Coach Matt Moot

01:51 – How Matt Moot Got Started in Golf

03:03 – Matt’s Journey to Campbell University

07:21 – Junior Golf Development & Early Milestones

10:12 – Starting Close to the Hole & Learning to Score

12:13 – Why Who You Play Golf With Matters

14:01 – What College Golf Taught Matt About His Game

16:55 – How Matt Developed His Wedge Game

19:34 – The Putting Practice That Can Lower Your Scores

25:35 – How Junior Golfers Can Get on a College Coach’s Radar

27:28 – Choosing the Right Junior Golf Tournaments

30:00 – Developing Competitive Golfers Without Burning Them Out

31:30 – What College Coaches Notice About Golf Parents

34:02 – Helping Junior Golfers Become More Independent

38:33 – How Much Tournament Golf Should Juniors Play?

42:29 – Why Golfers Should Stop Chasing the Perfect Swing

The Golf Sit Down brings you conversations with golf coaches, industry leaders and experts who are helping golfers learn, improve and stay in the game.

Subscribe for more episodes and golf development insights.

Learn more about Operation 36: https://operation36.golf/

#collegegolf #juniorgolf #collegegolfrecruiting #golfrecruiting #juniorgolfers #golfparents #golfcoaching #operation36 #thegolfsitdown

What does it really take to become a better golfer—not for one round or one season, but over the long term?

In this episode, Ryan Dailey, PGA and Seth Thompson, PGA sit down with Ryne Burnett, PGA, Director of Golf at Hidden Valley Golf Club, to explore the experiences, habits, and mindset that helped shape him as a player, coach, and golf professional.

Ryne shares how spending the majority of his early golf years actually playing the game helped develop his skills, why purposeful practice matters more than simply hitting balls, and how learning to manage his mind and emotions became a major turning point in his own playing career.

The conversation also dives into junior golf development and the role coaches and parents play in helping young golfers succeed. Ryne explains why alignment between the player, parent, and coach is so important, how properly fitted equipment can influence development, and why sometimes the best thing a coach can do is listen before trying to fix the problem.

In this episode:

• Why Ryne spent roughly 75% of his early golf development on the course • How the mental game changed his approach to competitive golf • Why purposeful practice beats simply hitting more golf balls • How wedge distance control helped take his game to another level • Why golfers should focus on process instead of results • The importance of parent, player, and coach alignment • What a golf coach can provide beyond swing instruction • Why junior golf equipment should be fit to the player • How coaches can help young golfers manage frustration and adversity • Why learning to handle failure is part of long-term player development

Whether you’re a golf coach, PGA Professional, parent of a junior golfer, or a player trying to improve your own game, this conversation provides a practical look at what sustainable golf development really requires.

CHAPTERS

01:17 Ryne Burnett’s Journey Into Golf 04:20 Building a Career as a PGA Professional 08:20 Playing Golf vs. Practicing Golf 12:30 What Took Ryne’s Game to the Next Level? 15:00 Building a Precise Wedge System 19:40 Process, Preparation & the Mental Game 24:50 Mistakes Parents Can Make in Junior Golf 26:30 Creating Alignment Between Player, Parent & Coach 32:20 What Does a Golf Coach Actually Help With? 33:30 Why Junior Golf Equipment Matters 36:20 How Coaches Help Players Manage Emotions 38:10 Giving Junior Golfers Space to Talk 41:50 What Coaches Can Learn From an Op 36 Round 43:20 Coaching Your Own Kids 45:00 Balancing Golf, Career & Family 48:00 Final Thoughts

Subscribe to The Golf Sit Down for conversations about long-term golf development, coaching, junior golf, player development, and helping golfers build a game they can enjoy for life.

#golfsitdown #golfcoaching #juniorgolf #pgaprofessional #golfdevelopment #golfinstruction #golf #operation36

What does it really take to develop into a great golfer, not just build a great golf swing?

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, Ryan Dailey, PGA and Seth Thompson, PGA sit down with PGA Tour winner and longtime coach David Ogrin for a conversation about junior golf development, coaching, parenting, competition, and learning how to actually play the game.

David shares lessons from his own journey, from growing up on a golf course to winning on the PGA Tour and eventually building a career as a coach. He also explains why the best development environments often come down to opportunity, trust, and allowing players to learn through experience.

A major part of the conversation focuses on the role parents play in junior golf. David shares what he has seen work well with developing players, why parents should let coaches coach, and how to find the right instructor for a young golfer.

The discussion also moves beyond mechanics and into the parts of golf that are harder to teach on a range: awareness, decision-making, creativity, scoring, and learning how to compete.

If you’re a junior golfer, parent, coach, or anyone interested in long-term player development, this episode offers a valuable perspective on what helps golfers continue to improve.

Episode Chapters

00:00 David Ogrin’s Journey From Junior Golfer to PGA Tour Winner 04:25 The Role Parents Should Play in Junior Golf 07:31 How to Find the Right Golf Coach 13:00 Helping Players Take Ownership of Their Game 16:56 Developing the Mental Side of Golf 20:08 Lessons From Competing on the PGA Tour 28:00 Why Technology Can’t Replace Playing the Golf Course 33:25 Why Junior Golfers Need to Compete Before They Feel Ready

The Golf Sit Down explores long-term golf development and the people, ideas, and experiences that help golfers reach their goals.

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, we’re joined by elite junior golfer Oliver Betschart — a 17-year-old who has already competed in a PGA Tour event and some of the biggest junior tournaments in the world.

Oliver shares his journey from picking up a club at age 5 to making a hole-in-one at 7, and eventually qualifying for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at just 15 years old.

We dive deep into:

The mental game of golf (breathing, visualization, focus) What separates elite junior players from the rest Lessons learned from playing with PGA Tour pros Why “zero emotional attachment” can change your game Operation 36 and training to shoot lower scores Daily routines, practice habits, and coaching insights

If you're serious about improving your golf game or want to understand what it takes to compete at a high level, this episode is packed with value.

🎙️ Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE! The Golf Sit Down: https://linktr.ee/TheGolfSitDown Host: Ryan Dailey, PGA @ryandaileygolf Co-Host: Seth Thompson, PGA @seth_thompsongolf Executive Producer: A.J. Reimann @a.j._reimann

Chapters

00:00 Oliver's Journey in Golf 05:25 Daily Life and Training Regimen 09:28 Mental Game and Strategies 15:44 Emotional Attachment and Decision Making 18:06 Lessons Learned from Golfing Experiences 22:16 Defining Moments in Competition 24:38 Experiences at the PGA Tour Event 31:48 The Importance of a Long-Term Coach 38:24 Goals for Future Improvement 42:32 Advice for Young Golfers

#Golf #JuniorGolf #GolfTips #MentalGame #Operation36 #GolfPodcast #PGA #GolfTraining #GolfLife #GolfImprovement #GolfMindset

Can you shoot par golf without ever hitting a range ball?In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, we welcome Joel Suggs, a third-generation PGA Master Professional who went from shooting a 130 to a 2-handicap in just three years—without ever hitting a bucket of range balls.

Joel shares the wisdom he learned from his aunt, legendary Hall of Famer Louise Suggs, including the "All-Par Golf" mindset: putting the drive in play, getting on or around the green, and getting down in two.

In this video, you’ll discover: The "Golf Mirror" strategy for tracking stats that actually matter. Why distance control is more critical than direction in putting. How to use Operation 36 to gamify your improvement. ro tips for winter practice using mats and rubber tees.

📖 Get Joel’s Book: Golf Success Before Every Round at JoelSuggsPGAauthor.com

🔔 Subscribe for more insights from world-class golf coaches!

The Golf Sit Down: https://linktr.ee/TheGolfSitDown Host: Ryan Dailey, PGA @ryandaileygolf Co-Host: Seth Thompson, PGA @seth_thompsongolf Executive Producer: A.J. Reimann @a.j._reimann

0:00 - Introduction: Meet PGA Master Joel Suggs 1:23 - From 130 to Scratch: Joel’s "No Range Ball" Story 4:55 - Lessons from a Legend: Working with Louise Suggs 9:18 - The "All-Par Golf" Secret to Lower Scores 17:19 - Analyzing 819 Rounds: The Stats That Matter 23:57 - Putting Myth-Busting: Distance vs. Direction 35:21 - Why On-Course Practice Beats the Driving Range 38:45 - Winter Training: How to Master Practice Mats 41:52 - The "Golf Mirror": A Simple System for "Dash-Filled" Golf

#GolfCoaching #Operation36 #JoelSuggs #GolfTips #JuniorGolf #PGAProfessional

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, we sit down with PGA & LPGA professional Angela Then, Director of Instruction at Indian Creek Golf Club.

Angela shares her incredible journey from competitive junior golf to playing on tour—and now developing elite players through coaching. We dive into what really separates top-level golfers, why “consistency” is misunderstood, and how players (and parents) should approach long-term development.

If you’re a junior golfer, coach, or parent trying to navigate the path to better golf—this episode is packed with insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

🔥 Topics Covered:

Transition from pro golf to coaching The biggest mistakes junior golfers make Why group training beats private lessons What elite players do differently The truth about “consistency” in golf Mental game insights from tour-level experience

🎯 Whether you're chasing competitive golf or just want to improve, this episode will change how you think about the game.

👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT your biggest takeaway!

The Golf Sit Down: https://linktr.ee/TheGolfSitDown Host: Ryan Dailey, PGA @ryandaileygolf Co-Host: Seth Thompson, PGA @seth_thompsongolf Executive Producer: A.J. Reimann @a.j._reimann

Chapters

00:00 Angela's Journey in Golf and Coaching 01:07 Transitioning from Player to Coach 03:54 Daily Life as a Golf Instructor 06:50 Learning from Mistakes and Adapting Coaching Styles 09:28 The Importance of Personal Experience in Coaching 12:22 The Role of Competition and Practice Partners 14:58 Developing Elite Players and Coaching Philosophy 16:28 The Importance of Group Training 20:54 Insights from Professional Golf Experience 25:22 Managing Expectations in Junior Golf 28:28 Common Mistakes in Player Development 30:38 Financial Realities of Turning Pro 36:08 The Value of Competing and Playing 41:34 Cultural Insights from Global Golf Experiences

#Golf #GolfPodcast #JuniorGolf #GolfCoaching #LPGA #PGACoach #GolfTips #GolfTraining #MentalGame #GolfLife #PlayerDevelopment #GolfInstruction