

Golf IQ
Golf Digest
Become a smarter golfer — faster.
Golf IQ is a 3x weekly podcast from Golf Digest. Our goal is simple: To help you understand the game, and become a better golfer because of it.
Golf IQ is a 3x weekly podcast from Golf Digest. Our goal is simple: To help you understand the game, and become a better golfer because of it.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2026 • 14min
Let's bust a long time putting myth
LKD is back with another episode featuring renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon. Today, LKD and Phil are busting one of putting's biggest myths: that the putter head needs to be rapidly accelerating through the ball. Plus, a drill on how to nail stroke tempo. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 23, 2026 • 13min
This 2/3rds green-reading rule is simple genius
Phil Kenyon, a leading putting coach who trains top pros and builds practical drills, breaks down his two-thirds green-reading rule. He walks through a simple tilted-green drill and explains where to place markers. Short sentences cover visualization, aiming geometry, and why amateurs under-aim.

Mar 20, 2026 • 14min
Deep inside a player-caddie conversation
A mic-up breakdown of a player and caddie debating club choice and landing targets on the island-green 17th. Wind, spin and rollout tradeoffs get decoded using clock-face wind cues and ground checks. Tense back-and-forth over choked-down nine versus pitching wedge leads to a strategic landing-margin adjustment. A great shot sparks immediate caddie reinforcement.

Mar 13, 2026 • 13min
How much can tour pros bench?
There has long been a complicated relationship between golfers and lifting weights, often featuring baked in misunderstandings of the how and why surrounding lifting in the first place. In this episode, LKD breaks down who on the tour bench presses the most and why it helps the golf swing to lift weights. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

6 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 35min
Golf Dad Part 5: Erik Barzeski on how to switch between father and instructor
Erik Barzeski, PGA professional and Director of Instruction who coaches juniors and authored work on coaching. He talks about switching between father and instructor roles. He covers post-round debriefs, when to give advice, recognizing kids’ stress styles, and balancing fun with development. He also discusses competition choices, parental pressure, and limits of tech vs on-course play.

7 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 39min
Golf Dad Part 3: Kevin Van Valkenburg on raising a kid who's better than you
Kevin Van Valkenburg, Director of Content at Fried Egg Golf and longtime golf writer, talks about raising a daughter who outplays him. They cover her start in junior golf, the shift from fun to tournaments, and teaching independence through pressure and mistakes. They also discuss balancing practice, managing expectations around posting successes, and keeping golf a lifelong bond.

Feb 20, 2026 • 11min
Training aids I like (Part 2)
A tour of practical training aids that target specific swing and putting issues. Learn which tools train impact feel, alignment, ground force and connected arm action. Hear about gadgets that reinforce consistent setup and shrink the sweet spot to build better contact.

Feb 16, 2026 • 28min
Golf Dad Part 3: Mike Thomas on raising a future major champion
Mike Thomas, PGA professional and father of major champion Justin Thomas, shares his coaching roots and parenting approach. He contrasts old-school teaching with modern methods. He explains letting kids find their own passion, focusing on process over results, and when parents should step back and hand coaching to pros.

Feb 13, 2026 • 11min
Training aids I like (Part 1)
A mini-series kickoff that walks through practical training tools for the golf swing. Short demos cover bands for arm spacing, putting rings that train speed and aim, and visual glove markers for consistent grip. A tempo aid for warming up and a simple phone mount for recording swings are also featured. Practical, gear-focused picks you can keep in your bag.

8 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 27min
Golf Dad Part 2: Johnson Wagner on raising a competitive golfer
Johnson Wagner, three-time PGA Tour winner and CBS Golf broadcaster, reflects on raising his son Graham in the game. He discusses starting with fun clinics, avoiding pressure and forced tournaments, and teaching emotional control over swing fixes. They cover pacing development, modeling supportive parenting, exposure to pros, course management, and how teammates and internal drive shape competitive junior golfers.


