Is This Still a Simulation?
play Play pause Pause
S1 E261

Is This Still a Simulation?

play Play pause Pause
Can Simulated Golf Build Real Community? What if golf’s next great clubhouse is in your neighborhood?

In this episode of The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, host Matt Considine sits down with Jeff Testa, founder of Neighborhood National, to explore how golf simulators, technology, and shared spaces are reshaping the way golfers connect, practice, and build community.
The conversation dives into:
  • How technology and simulators are expanding access to golf
  • Why municipal and local golf remains vital for affordability and inclusion
  • The entrepreneurial journey behind Neighborhood National
  • The balance between altruism and business in golf
  • How social connection fuels the next era of the game
Connect with our guest
Jeff Testahttps://www.neighborhoodnationalgc.com — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/GolfNeighbor | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neighborhood.national | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-testa-86507823a/

Join the NewClub community
🌍 Website: https://www.newclub.golf
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newclubgolf/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/newclubgolf
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newclubgolf
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newclub

Links & Partners
🏡 Neighborhood National: https://www.neighborhoodnationalgc.com
🏌️ Titleist: https://www.titleist.com
🌐 Golf Blueprint: https://www.golfblueprint.com

Listen to The Bag Drop
🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bag-drop-untold-stories-in-golf/id1430328006
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xRWtUBJH8RazdLw14oaGH
🎧 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/633c8703-5880-4522-bd6d-5967b45fc777/the-bag-drop-untold-stories-in-golf
🎧 Transistor: https://thebagdrop.transistor.fm/

Connect with Matt & The Professor
🎙️ Matt Considine — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/consequential85 | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consequence18/ | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-considine-103bb21/
📚 Dr. Kevin Moore ("The Professor") — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/kevcmoore | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevcmoore | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-moore-177b30b3/
🗣️ Contribute to the show! — 📧 email: thebagdrop@newclub.golf

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Golf and Community Engagement
02:36 The Rise of Municipal Golf and Accessibility
05:36 Transitioning from Corporate to Startup Life
08:06 Building a Home Golf Simulator
10:46 The Concept of Neighborhood National
13:41 The Evolution of Golf Simulators
16:19 Cultural Shifts in Golf Participation
20:21 Altruism vs. Business in Golf
23:02 Community and Golf: A Shared Experience
25:57 The Importance of Social Connections in Golf
28:42 The Future of Golf Technology
31:38 Navigating the Golf Industry Landscape
34:08 The Role of Neighborhood National in Golf
36:56 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

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.

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.

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.