Hooper Golf Course: Community, Stewardship, and the Heart of 9-Hole Golf
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Hooper Golf Course: Community, Stewardship, and the Heart of 9-Hole Golf

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What does it take to save a golf course and keep it true to itself?

In this episode of The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, host Matt Considine and cohost Dr. Kevin Moore (a.k.a. “The Professor”) sit down with Josh Beer, president and chairman of Hooper Golf Course, to explore how one beloved nine-hole course in Walpole, New Hampshire was nearly lost, then preserved through community passion, stewardship, and a clear sense of purpose.

Josh shares Hooper’s remarkable story, from its roots as a town course on donated land to the years of uncertainty that nearly saw it disappear. The conversation moves through the role of volunteers, conservation easements, thoughtful restoration, and why the best courses know exactly what they are and who they serve.

The conversation dives into:
⛳ How Hooper was saved after years of financial pressure, uncertainty, and a grassroots “Save Hooper” movement
🌲 Why stewardship, conservation, and restraint have shaped Hooper’s future both on and off the course
🏌️ What makes nine-hole golf so soulful, memorable, and perfectly suited to community
🏡 How Hooper balances public access, local identity, history, and hospitality in a modern golf world
🍻 Why a trip to Hooper is about more than nine holes, from the Watkins Inn & Tavern to the broader golf around Walpole, Vermont, and western New England

Connect with our guests
⛳ Hooper Golf Course — https://www.hoopergolfcourse.com/ — 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopergolfcourse/ | 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooperGolfCourse
📚 Josh Beer — 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlbeer8/ | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-beer-618b8779/

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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 every corner of 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, as well as 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.