Beyond the Scorecard: Dr. Nico Darras on Golf, Growth, and Letting Go
What's up Doc!? Dr. Nico Darras is back to reflect on his meteoric journey from baseball to professional golf to advising some of the best golfers in the professional game. Matt and Kevin kick things off with the importance of challenging paths in life, and how golf's difficulty should be viewed as a feature, not a bug. They share updates, including Matt's preparation for the Ohio Open. Dr. Darras joins to offer his insights on competition and enjoyment in golf immediately. The conversation explores balancing preparation and enjoyment, the nature of competition, and setting realistic goals. The episode emphasizes that the journey matters as much as outcomes, especially in competitive golf. The group delves into the mental aspects of golf, again stressing the value of separating outcomes from enjoyment and improvement. They reflect on personal experiences, including an enlightening non-spiritual trip to Scotland for Doc and what he learned about his relationship with the game. The dialogue underscores community importance, the joy of self-improvement, and how golf can connect and fulfill beyond us, beyond just a score.
NewClub > https://www.newclub.golf
Titleist > https://www.titleist.com
TPI > https://www.mytpi.com/
Golfblueprint > https://www.golfblueprint.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
03:02 The Hard Things We Choose
06:04 Setting Goals for Competitive Golf
09:01 Introducing Dr. Nico Darras
09:52 The Nature of Competition
14:07 Finding Balance in Golf
17:52 The Importance of Enjoyment in Golf
21:03 The Role of Preparation and Process
24:06 Navigating the Pro Game
30:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
37:43 The Mental Game of Golf: Success and Failure
42:44 Finding Joy in the Process of Golf
43:58 Reflections from Scotland: A Journey of Self-Discovery
49:32 Redefining Relationships with Golf
55:30 The Importance of Community in Golf
01:01:48 Self-Improvement vs. Competition: A Deeper Understanding
Play
Pause
What's up Doc!? Dr. Nico Darras is back to reflect on his meteoric journey from baseball to professional golf to advising some of the best golfers in the professional game. Matt and Kevin kick things off with the importance of challenging paths in life, and how golf's difficulty should be viewed as a feature, not a bug. They share updates, including Matt's preparation for the Ohio Open. Dr. Darras joins to offer his insights on competition and enjoyment in golf immediately. The conversation explores balancing preparation and enjoyment, the nature of competition, and setting realistic goals. The episode emphasizes that the journey matters as much as outcomes, especially in competitive golf. The group delves into the mental aspects of golf, again stressing the value of separating outcomes from enjoyment and improvement. They reflect on personal experiences, including an enlightening non-spiritual trip to Scotland for Doc and what he learned about his relationship with the game. The dialogue underscores community importance, the joy of self-improvement, and how golf can connect and fulfill beyond us, beyond just a score.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
03:02 The Hard Things We Choose
06:04 Setting Goals for Competitive Golf
09:01 Introducing Dr. Nico Darras
09:52 The Nature of Competition
14:07 Finding Balance in Golf
17:52 The Importance of Enjoyment in Golf
21:03 The Role of Preparation and Process
24:06 Navigating the Pro Game
30:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
37:43 The Mental Game of Golf: Success and Failure
42:44 Finding Joy in the Process of Golf
43:58 Reflections from Scotland: A Journey of Self-Discovery
49:32 Redefining Relationships with Golf
55:30 The Importance of Community in Golf
01:01:48 Self-Improvement vs. Competition: A Deeper Understanding
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.
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.
