Katie Lu is quickly becoming one of the names to watch in women’s professional golf. The New Jersey native, Michigan State standout, and ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour winner has already made a statement early in her pro career, highlighted by a 20-under victory and a rise to No. 2 on the 2026 money list.

This episode follows Katie’s path from Golfing in the Garden State to the professional level, including her junior golf success, New Jersey high school dominance, NJ Women’s Amateur title, and record-setting consistency at Michigan State. The conversation also covers what it takes to win as a pro, how she handles pressure, and why growing the women’s game is an important part of the platform she is building.

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Public golf in New Jersey is one of the strengths of Golfing in the Garden State, with courses, communities, and competitive opportunities that make this state special. This episode focuses on NJ Golf Member Golf Days and how they add another layer to that experience by giving public golfers the chance to enjoy private club access they may not otherwise get. Built around access, competition, and community, these events create a full-day golf experience at some of New Jersey’s standout private clubs.

Mike also recaps his visit to Hominy Hill, the place where The DROP Podcast first started to become what it is today, and shares what it was like finally playing all 18 holes there for the first time. The conversation covers the course conditions, layout, greens, price point, and why Hominy Hill remains one of the most meaningful public golf experiences in New Jersey.

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Michael Hyland, a 2-time NJ Golf Champion, 3-time GAP Champion, 9-time USGA competitor, and one of the most decorated players, if not the most decorated, to come out of Little Mill Country Club, brings a high-level competitive perspective ahead of the 94th New Jersey Golf 4-Ball Championship. With deep ties to the club and a career built on winning in the region, Hyland breaks down what defines Little Mill as a championship test and why success here is far from straightforward.

This episode examines the Red/White championship routing, how the course shapes strategy, and where momentum can shift during the round. Hyland explains what type of team has the advantage in a 4-Ball format, where players get into trouble, and what skill ultimately decides the championship. Built for serious golfers, this is a real preview of how Little Mill will play, what it takes to win when it matters most, and another strong look at Golfing in the Garden State.

Little Mill Country Club takes center stage as the host of the 94th New Jersey Four-Ball Championship, and after playing the championship routing firsthand, this episode defines why it stands out as a true test of competitive golf. This is not a course built on tricks or gimmicks. It rewards discipline, decision-making, and control over 18 holes, making it an ideal venue to open major golf season in New Jersey. The conversation establishes what separates Little Mill as a championship venue and why success here goes beyond making birdies.

From there, the focus shifts to the public-golf complaints that flooded my DMs this week: unreplaced divots, unraked bunkers, and pace of play that feels worse by the week. The episode also covers the professional game with a Zurich Classic recap, a Cadillac Championship preview at the Blue Monster, and a breakdown of Jim Furyk being named Ryder Cup Captain again. Combined with the Little Mill preview, this episode looks at the standards shaping golf right now, from New Jersey public courses to the highest level of the game.

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Mark Bryson brings a perspective that very few people in New Jersey golf can offer. As Director of Golf at Monmouth University, Head Women’s Golf Coach for the Hawks, and Director of Golf at Jumping Brook Country Club, he sits at the intersection of player development, program leadership, and club-level stewardship. That makes this episode about more than a resume line. It is about how golfers are shaped, what strong programs actually require, and why New Jersey remains one of the most underrated proving grounds in the game.

This episode examines what Bryson believes a program needs first when it enters a new chapter, how coaching differs from running a golf operation, what competitive amateurs can learn from college players, and what serious golfers still misunderstand about preparation and control under pressure. It also brings real Golfing in the Garden State substance through Jumping Brook’s architectural roots and Bryson’s long view of the New Jersey golf landscape. This is for golfers who care about standards, player development, course stewardship, and how better golf is actually built.

The 2026 New Jersey Golf 4-Ball Championship is next after Mike and Austin Devereux qualified at TPC Jasna Polana, finishing T6 at 4-under and extending their run to four consecutive years in the championship. That is the center of this episode, because qualifying rounds are never just about the final number. They are about handling the day, staying composed, keeping momentum when it is there, and doing enough well to keep the round moving in the right direction. Now the story moves to Little Mill Country Club.

The episode also turns to Chris Dymek’s recap from Galloway National, where he and Brian Varsey finished eighth at 5-under in the Johnnie-O Pro-Pro Championship in their first event of the season. That adds another meaningful result from one of New Jersey’s finest venues and gives the week even more competitive weight. The show also includes a quick recap of The RBC Heritage & the Tulum Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, while previewing the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and discussing what is going on with LIV Golf.

Scott Fawcett is the founder of DECADE Golf, one of the most influential course management systems in modern golf, and this episode centers on why so many golfers continue to lose shots before they ever make a swing. Rather than revisiting the basics from his first appearance, this conversation focuses on the deeper issues that shape scoring: poor target selection, unrealistic expectations, emotional decision-making, and the gap between a well-executed shot and a smart one. For serious golfers trying to understand why good ball-striking does not always lead to good scoring, Scott brings a clearer framework to one of the most misunderstood parts of the game.

The episode examines how DECADE has evolved, what golfers still get wrong about course management, and why structure creates more freedom on the course instead of less. Scott also explains how expectations influence frustration, where everyday players tend to leak shots, and why the system continues to work for both elite players and competitive amateurs. With New Jersey golfers often playing tighter, older, tree-lined courses that demand discipline, the conversation has real regional relevance while still offering practical value to anyone trying to score better through smarter decisions and better awareness.

The first major of the season delivered its usual weight at Augusta, but this episode does not stop at The Masters leaderboard. It also turns to the result that mattered most in Golfing in the Garden State, with Francis A. Byrne emerging from the March Madness bracket as the 2026 Public Golf Course Champion in New Jersey. That gives the episode real substance: one championship decided on golf’s biggest stage, another settled through a statewide public golf argument that finally reached its finish.

The episode examines what The Masters revealed under pressure, why Augusta still sets the emotional and competitive tone for the season, and why Francis Byrne’s path through Ballyowen and Neshanic Valley gave the final public golf result real credibility. This is for golfers who care about championship golf, public course standing, and how a course earns the right to be called the best of the publics in the state.