Talking Golf Getaways is a podcast focusing on golf travel, with hosts Darin Bunch and Mitch Laurance connecting with golf journalists, architects and global golf travelers to talk about their favorite destinations and experiences.
196: Talking GolfGetaways with Scotsman Greg McCrae
08-18-2025
Anyone who’s listened to Talking GolfGetaways over the years knows that Scotland is Mitch Laurance’s soul home. Not only for its connections to the game and its history, but for its welcoming, kind and wonderful people who are so willing to share Scotland’s gifts.
On this special episode of Talking GolfGetaways, co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch and Producer Kris McEwen are joined by Scotsman Greg McCrae, who has spent all but his first 5 years living and working on the Isle of Arran, is responsible for sharing the joys of golf and community with a rapidly growing social media base, and who, along with others talked about on the pod, helped guide Mitch on his most recent and first-time trip of discovery to the west of Scotland and to the Isle of Arran and down Kintyre. A week of memorable days that every golf traveler would relish when visiting Scotland.
Here you’ll find a list of terrific people and content who find Arran as wonderful as Mitch did. Please use it to explore more about Jim Hartsell, Greg McCrae, Robbie Wilson,Troon, Kimarnock Barassie, Arran and Dunaverty, and to plan what will hopefully be your next Scotland GolfGetaway.
195: Aiken Golf Course owner Jim McNair, Jr., tells all
04-26-2025
A short drive from Augusta, GA is the quaint, beautiful town of Aiken, SC, known for its iconic horse businesses of breeding, training, and showing. It's also home to one of the truly great, historic golf courses in the Southeast, Aiken Golf Course, which in the past couple of years has gone from "Hidden Gem" to "Must Play" for anyone who loves the game., One week after playing, and being enthralled once again by, AGC, Mitch (and Darin and Kris) are joined by AGC owner Jim McNair, Jr., who, along with his father Jim, Sr. before him, have shepherded this affordable, welcoming, and challenging municipal course for 65+ years, and are finally getting the recognition for a lifetime of passion and service to the golf community they so richly deserve.
Jim shares the history of his beloved golf course, which dates back to 1912, as well as his father's involvement which began in 1959. He discusses the various challenges and iterations of AGC, leading up to the late '90s and his decision to completely "reawaken" the course, a journey that continues with Jim at the helm on a daily basis. He also shares his involvement with the First Tee and USC Aiken in designing a short-course and pracitce facility wonder, the Chalk Mine 9, a legacy project that serves not only First Tee kids and the USC Aiken golf team, but the AIken community as well.
194: Talking Gamble Sands and the upcoming Scarecrow course
03-17-2025
Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch, Kris McEwen and podcast friend Joe Sas talk about planning return trips to Gamble Sands, the skyrocketing Pacific Northwest golf destination where David McLay Kidd’s new Scarecrow course opens Aug. 1.
193: Afriyea Golf Academy CEO Isaiah Mwesige inspires worldwide from Uganda
12-26-2024
The final Talking GolfGetaways podcast of 2024 is a most inspirational one, as Mitch, Darin and Kris connect with Isaiah Mwesige, CEO of the Afriyea Golf Academy in Uganda. It's a wonderful hour spent with someone who's life story is one of turning a heartbreaking beginning into a passionate, dedicated life of service, spreading the joy and lessons of golf to thousands of children and their parents across Uganda and beyond. Isaiah also talks about a new and exciting endeavor, Visit Uganda Golf & Safari, that will offer golfers an ultimate GolfGetaway to "The Pearl of Africa." Truly an unforgettable podcast.
192: Talking GolfGetaways Super Summer Recap!
10-10-2024
Darin, Mitch and Kris hit all the hotspots — from the Pacific Northwest (Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay, Bandon Dunes and more) to a Michigan buddies trip plus a very cool experience in Pinehurst with two future stars of the game — in this hourlong Summer Recap episode of Talking GolfGetaways that covers courses, food, friendship and all kinds of fun.
