Anger might be the single most universal struggle in golf, and most of us are carrying more of it than we realize. In this episode Tommy digs into where golf anger actually comes from, why the way we handle it on the course is probably the same way we handle it everywhere else, and what you can actually do about it before it steals another round. Honest, practical, and a lot more useful than just telling yourself to calm down.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• Why golf is one of the best mirrors for the anger we carry everywhere else in life
• The three faces of anger on a golf course: visible rage, brooding, and the dangerous kind nobody around you ever sees
• The real root causes: humiliation, thinking we're better than we are, the desire for control, and using golf to escape problems it was never meant to fix
• Why internalizing anger is often more destructive than expressing it
• Tiger's ten foot rule and other practical ways to address and release anger without dragging it through the rest of your round
• Why asking your playing partner a question about themselves is one of the most effective anger tools on the course
• How to tell the difference between managing the symptom and actually addressing what is going on underneath

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro: why anger is the most universal struggle in golf

(3:28) Golf as a mirror for the anger we carry everywhere

(9:24) The three faces of anger on a golf course

(11:30) Symptoms vs the deeper issue

(15:12) The root causes: humiliation, pride, and unrealistic expectations

(20:51) When you use golf to escape life and it backfires

(32:32) Practical ways to address and release anger on the course

(40:10) Addressing the heart issue not just the symptoms

(47:30) Where to start if anger is wrecking your game

Tommy sits down with PGA Tour winner Robert Wrenn, who played in the 1988 Masters after winning the 1987 Buick Open by seven strokes, to share what it was actually like to experience Augusta National from inside the ropes. Robert co-led the tournament after round one, shot the low round of the day, and was later paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round, and he holds nothing back. This is the kind of conversation you only get from someone who has actually walked those fairways under the pressure of tournament play.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• Robert's solo practice rounds at Augusta before tournament week, playing the course alone with full access and no crowds
• His 88-year-old grandmother walking the front nine and watching the back nine from a cabin with a cocktail
• Getting an impromptu lesson from Davis Love Sr. on the Augusta practice tee the week of the tournament
• The birdie on 18 in round one that tied him for the lead and earned him a piece of Masters crystal
• Being paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round and the story that had the whole group laughing on the 11th green
• The hidden design details Augusta National doesn't want you to figure out, from grass grain direction to Alister Mackenzie's visual tricks
• His one tip for playing Augusta National and why knowing your lines matters more there than anywhere else

(0:00) Intro

(3:26) Earning the Masters invitation

(6:27) Solo practice rounds at Augusta

(11:38) Family, the locker room, and the atmosphere

(14:37) Getting a lesson from Davis Love Sr.

(19:31) Round one: co-leading after shooting 69

(22:41) Paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round

(25:07) Hidden design details of Augusta National

(53:54) Robert's one tip for playing Augusta

Resources / Next Steps: Share this one with a golfer who loves the Masters. It's one you'll want to listen to every year during Masters Week.

Why does the Masters feel different from every other sporting event?

For many people who have attended the tournament at Augusta National, the experience exceeds even the highest expectations. The course is immaculate, the atmosphere is calm, and the hospitality feels intentional in ways that are rare in modern sports.

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy Thompson sits down with author John Sabino to explore what makes the Masters so special and the ideas behind his book, The Augusta Principles.

John explains that the project began with a simple question he asked himself after leaving the Masters one year. Why can the world not be more like the Masters?

From that question came a study of the principles that define Augusta National. These include attention to detail, respect for tradition, thoughtful use of technology, limited commercialization, and a commitment to improving the patron experience every year.

John also shares the personal story behind the book. After being diagnosed with leukemia, he stepped away from his business career and began researching the history and leadership of Augusta National. The project became both a research journey and part of his recovery. Augusta National has spent nearly a century refining the experience of the Masters. The conversation explores how those principles extend beyond golf and into business and leadership.

(0:00) Why the Masters experience feels different

(2:48) John Sabino’s first Masters and the origin of the book

(7:00) A leukemia diagnosis and the journey to writing the book

(12:08) What makes Augusta National such a unique place

(15:58) Continuous improvement and attention to detail

(21:15) Business examples that reflect the Augusta principles

(27:29) Favorite Masters memories and practice round traditions

(34:14) Civility and trust in the culture of the Masters

(36:05) Counterintuitive decisions such as low prices and limited commercialization

Many golfers start playing because the game is fun. But over time something shifts. Golf becomes work. The scorecard becomes the focus. And the joy that originally drew us to the game slowly fades.

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play, to explore how the science of play can reshape the way we approach golf.

Mia shares the story behind the research of her grandfather, Dr. Stuart Brown, whose work helped establish play as a fundamental human need and led to the creation of the National Institute for Play. Together they explore how play affects learning, performance, creativity, and how golfers can reconnect with the reason they started playing in the first place.

The conversation also looks at how reframing success in golf can lead to deeper learning, greater presence, and often better performance.

Play personalities include:

1. Competitor
2. Explorer
3. Mover
4. Dreamer
5. Creator
6. Joker
7. Storyteller
8. Director

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction to the Power of Play

(3:20) Mia Sundstrom’s Background and the Origins of the National Institute for Play

(7:42) What Play Really Means and Common Misconceptions

(10:06) Play as Both a State and a Personality Trait

(12:53) Understanding Play Personalities

(16:09) Applying Play Styles to Golf

(22:24) Reframing the Way We Approach the Game

(28:53) How Play Can Improve Golf Performance

(33:27) Flow, Relaxation, and Being Fully Present

(37:26) How to Discover Your Own Play Personality

(39:22) Reframing Success and Enjoyment in Golf

(41:16) Resources and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Learn More About the National Institute for Play: https://nifplay.org

What does golf coaching actually look like?

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with golf coach Brian Coleman to talk about the difference between lessons and coaching, why most golfers plateau, and what long term improvement really requires.

Brian shares his journey from aviation to golf, why he left a stable career to pursue coaching, and how he structures development with a new student. They discuss clarity, identity, nervous system regulation, and why “I just want to get better” is not specific enough to build a plan.

This conversation is not about quick fixes. It’s about the process behind becoming better golfers.

(0:00) Intro

(2:02) Brian’s Journey Into Golf and Aviation

(15:18) Lessons Versus Coaching and the Quick Fix Problem

(24:40) What Long Term Golf Improvement Actually Requires

(35:05) How Brian Builds a Plan With a New Student

(41:08) Identity, Letting Go, and Growth

(46:44) Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Learn more about Brian Coleman’s golf coaching at:

https://golfcolemans.com

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Pressure is something every golfer faces, but learning how to handle it is what separates average rounds from your best ones. In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with Robert Wrenn, former PGA Tour winner and 1987 Buick Open champion, to talk honestly about what pressure really is and how to play better when it shows up.

Drawing from 16 years on the PGA Tour, Robert explains why pressure is largely self-imposed, how elite players think differently in high-stakes moments, and why preparation, commitment, and reflection matter more than talent alone. The conversation moves through course management, visualization, breathing, and post-round reflection, while also connecting golf pressure to life, leadership, and growth.

This episode is practical, grounded, and focused on repeatable habits that help golfers perform closer to their potential when it matters most.

(0:00) Intro

(3:30) Pressure Is Self-Imposed

(5:21) Mindset Under Pressure

(15:14) Game Planning and Process

(23:56) Visualization and Commitment

(27:30) Reflection and Improvement

(36:39) Embracing Pressure

(59:27) Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy is joined again by Joel Suggs for a deep conversation on ego, pride, identity, and humility.

Together, they explore how the words we use, the identities we claim, and the expectations we carry quietly shape our experience on the golf course and in life.

This episode isn’t about swing mechanics. It’s about learning to accept facts, release false identities, and find freedom from ego driven frustration.

(0:00) Introduction and episode overview

(0:36) Humility and golf

(1:06) Ego and pride in the game

(2:31) Pride, insecurity, and self image

(5:09) Ego vs pride and why language matters

(8:32) Personal experiences with ego on the course

(12:10) Identity and performance

(16:27) Self perception and pressure

(20:56) Philosophy of ego and identity

(30:00) Humility and accepting facts

(40:15) Language shapes belief

(50:02) Practical tools for managing ego

(55:26) Final thoughts and closing wisdom

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How do you pursue improvement in golf without letting expectations steal the joy of playing?

In this episode of Links for Life, Joe and Tommy explore the tension between wanting to grow and actually enjoying the game. They unpack the difference between goals and expectations, process and outcome, and how pressure slowly replaces joy when performance becomes the focus. A powerful conversation on learning how to grow without losing the love of the game.

(0:00) Growth vs enjoyment

(3:00) How goals shape the round

(5:52) Process vs outcome

(9:12) Trusting the process

(11:56) Finding joy in improvement

(14:55) Practice vs performance

(17:49) Defining success beyond score

(20:55) Staying engaged in the round

(23:52) Finishing strong

(26:55) Setting better goals

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