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.
198: ESPN's Michael Eaves drops by to talk major coverage and more
04-27-2026
This episode of Talking GolfGetaways features one of the most respected voices in sports, ESPN's Michael Eaves, who not only anchors the Sportscaster desk but who has become the guiding figure for ESPN's coverage of both The Masters and the PGA Championship.
In a fascinating half-hour discussion, Michael joins hosts Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch and Kris McEwen to recap his recent Masters coverage, from pre-tournament intro shows to post-round player interviews. He then details an experience most golfers will never have, winning the media lottery and not only being able to play Augusta National, but hitting the first tee shot on the Monday morning following Hideki Matsuyama's win at The Masters the day before. It's an emotional story, one that brings in Michael's own journey in golf, as well as his father's place in that journey and in that dream-like day at Augusta National.
Michael also touches on his experience of being a part of the re-opening of the historic Augusta municipal course The Patch, detailing the importance of a course that for decades served as a home for black golfers and for the caddies of Augusta National, now a new home for public golf in Augusta, with design work by Tom Fazio and Tiger Woods, and with the support of Augusta National and the City of Aiken.
Finally, Michael gets us ready for the next major, The PGA Championship, to be held at historic Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia, where he will again guide us all through another exciting major week for the game we love.
197: David McLay Kidd talks Scarecrow, Streamsong and More
02-28-2026
We love us some David McLay Kidd — both the man and the golf courses he and his design company build. On this episode of Talking GolfGetaways, DMK stops by to discuss the lofty honors (including Best New Public Golf Course from Golf Digest) for his new Scarecrow at Gamble Sands Resort in Washington as we take another deep dive into the mind of a strategic magician, hitting on his other upcoming projects as well plus having a wee bit of fun with Mitch’s fescue fetish. Enjoy the conversation.
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.
