Ballot of the Heart: Hickories, The Old Course, and The Meaning We Found in St. Andrews
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S1 E271

Ballot of the Heart: Hickories, The Old Course, and The Meaning We Found in St. Andrews

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What happens when you chase the Old Course, and Scotland gives you something even better?

In this episode of The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, host Matt Considine and cohost Dr. Kevin Moore (a.k.a. “The Professor”) reunite NewClub’s Pilgrimage Three to relive a week in St. Andrews shaped by ballot drama, links golf, hickory clubs, family memories, and the deeper meaning of why golfers return to Scotland in the first place.

The conversation explores the thrill and heartbreak of balloting for the Old Course, Steve Pease’s storybook late tee time and birdies on 1 and 18, Hilary’s first true links golf experience, and why Kingarrock Hickories may have stolen the show. Along the way, the group reflects on golf’s civility, creativity, fellowship, and the feeling that even when you do not get exactly what you wanted, golf somehow gives you what you needed.

The conversation dives into:
  • Why St. Andrews feels more like a pilgrimage than a trip
  • The emotion of missing the Old Course ballot and leaving fulfilled
  • Steve Pease’s unforgettable Old Course finish
  • Why Hickory Golf became a surprise highlight
  • The creativity, simplicity, and soul of links golf
  • What American golf can still learn from Scottish golf culture
Thanks to our Pilgrimage Three crew and esteemed NewClub Members for joining us and sharing their stories: Hilary, Jimmy, Steve, Tyler, Ananth, Michael, Dean, and Bill. Your chapter is now part of The Pilgrimage Tradition, and we're all richer because of it. 

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
 03:33 Professor’s Fact
 05:48 Why Scotland feels like a pilgrimage
 10:11 Pilgrimage Three reunion begins
 11:08 Steve’s storybook Old Course round
 20:10 Hilary on first-time links golf and the Old Course
 22:44 Missing the ballot and wanting another crack at it
 31:45 House of Gods, surprise guests, and Adamson Links
 39:30 Why hickories at Kingarrock stole the show
 51:02 What Scotland gives back to golfers
 57:25 Lightning round for the 2026 pilgrims
 01:00:20 Leave with a full heart

What is The Bag Drop?
The Bag Drop features weekly stories from the culture, community, and characters shaping golf today. Produced by NewClub Golf Society, each episode blends authenticity and expert insights for passionate golfers at all levels. Special guests from clubs, courses, and across the changing landscape join us for thoughtful, in-depth discussions on all things golf.

What is NewClub?
Founded in 2017, NewClub is the premier private golf society in the United States. It blends the community and access of a private club with the variety and affordability of public golf. Members enjoy thousands of reserved tee times, competitions, and events at exceptional partner courses across our local chapters, along with signature trips and exclusive perks. NewClub is revolutionizing golf membership, making the game more meaningful for those who love it.

Creators and Guests

Matt Considine
Host
Matt Considine
Founder of NewClub and our resident feel player. Matt’s junior golf career led him to the University of Akron where he met our co-host. During his junior year, Matt Studied abroad in Ireland and discovered golf societies. Subsequent trips to Scotland fed his passion for the history, ideals, and culture of accessible, affordable, and sustainable golf, a concept he would later bring to the U.S. with NewClub. Known for his interviewing style, quick wit, and compelling storytelling, Matt brings thoughtful, reflective conversations to The Bag Drop. His professional journey before NewClub included multiple leadership positions in growth-stage startups, where he managed teams responsible for more than $250 million in revenue. Matt actively gives back to the game as a Board Member of the First Tee of Akron and past chair of the Evans Scholar Foundation. Proudly based in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, Matt finds inspiration in family life with his wife, their three children, and their golf dog, Gypsy.
The Professor
Host
The Professor
NewClub's Chief Ambassador and every golf sicko's favorite educator. Kevin is a thoughtful and deeply curious host. His studied, constructivist approach adds intellectual enrichment and balance to the show. As a professor of Math Education at the University of Georgia, Kevin's background in applied mathematics and cognitive psychology uniquely informs his insights on golf strategy and performance. Originally from Ohio, Kevin was a Division I collegiate golfer at the University of Akron, where his passion for understanding mathematical thinking began. After earning his doctorate from Arizona State University, he combined his analytical expertise with his love for golf by co-founding Golf Blueprint, an organization aimed at helping golfers optimize their games through data-driven strategies. Kevin enjoys balancing deep philosophical discussions with simple pleasures, such as indulging his sweet tooth, cheering on college football, and spending relaxed evenings with his friends, his wife, and their beloved dog, Nole.