Episode 18: US Open and Founders Group in Myrtle Beach!

In this episode, we are joined by Justin Binke, Director of Sales and Revenue at Founders Group International and PGA professional, to unpack the upcoming US Open and learn about the Founders Group courses. Founders Group International is a top golf management company based in Myrtle Beach. It offers various services, including golf memberships, tee time bookings, and discount programs. Justin oversees revenue strategies and sales operations for Founders Group and is known for his role in enhancing the golf vacation experience and managing complex projects. In our conversation, we talk about the life and struggles of Grayson Murray, the importance of mental health resources in sports, and the benefits of working with a mental health professional. We delve into our key players and predictions for the US Open, rising and upcoming golf stars, and the latest controversy in the world of golf. Discover insider details about the Founders Group golf courses, the allure of Myrtle Beach as a top golf destination, and Jack Nicklaus’ role in helping design the courses. Justin also shares his journey in golf, how he got into the marketing and business side of it, and his background with Founders Group. We also provide insights into the best packages for Founders Group, Myrtle Beach updates, the growing popularity of golf, and what tees us off on the course. The Featured accommodations of the episode were the fabulous offerings at the Mar Vista Grande in North Myrtle Beach, which offers 3 and 4-bedroom spacious oceanfront or ocean-view condos.  Tune in for more insider tips, predictions, and stories that will have you swinging into the US Open and planning your next Myrtle Beach Golf Package on MBgolf.com. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Paying tribute to the sudden passing of Grayson Murray. 
• Why it’s important to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
• How Nelly Korda is dominating the women’s game.
• Unexpected headlines from Scottie Scheffler.
• US Open week and our top winners picks! 
• Justin’s background in professional golf and his path to the Founders Group.
• History, amenities, and standout features of the Founders Group golf courses.
• What makes Founders Group golf courses unique.
• Completed and upcoming course and facility renovations Founders Group has planned.
• Our favorite and most challenging Founders Group courses. 
• Top golf package recommendations for the Founders Group courses.

Transcript

EPISODE 18

[INTRODUCTION]

[0:00:07] ANNOUNCER: It’s time for the Tee’d Off Podcast.

[EPISODE]

[0:00:18] BC: Okay. It is Episode 18 of the Tee’d Off Podcast. I'm Ben Clyburn, and I'm here with my cohost, Aaron Thomas. Aaron, how's it going, man?

[0:00:24] AT: Good. Ben, how are you?

[0:00:26] BC: It is a beautiful summer day in North Myrtle Beach.

[0:00:28] AT: It certainly is. Chamber of Commerce Day, as I call it.

[0:00:31] BC: There you go. All right. We’re joined by the Director of Revenue and Sales and PGA professional, Justin Binke of Founders Group. Justin, thanks for coming on man.

[0:00:40] JB: Ben and Aaron. Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.

[0:00:42] BC: Yes. Looking forward to talking about the Founders Group, one of the most premier collection of courses in the Myrtle Beach area. So, we will get to that in a bit.

Let me go over the whole agenda of the show. So, front nine, the world of golf, we have a lot to cover there. A lot of newsworthy items, including recapping, all the drama at the PGA, and previewing the US Open. Then we'll make the turn and like I said, we've got Justin Binke in the studio. We're going to talk about Founders Group and Justin's history in the game of golf and in Myrtle Beach Golf. Aaron's also going to discuss the package of the episode.

Then we’ll hit the back nine, where we'll have the Myrtle Beach Golf report. We're going to talk about how golf is getting really popular in the summer. Talk about the rounds report for the fall and spring 2025, and the accommodations of the episode. And last but not least, what teases off. You guys ready to jump in?

[0:01:33] AT: Let's do it.

[0:01:33] JB: Let's do it.

[0:01:34] BC: Let's do it.

[0:01:38] ANNOUNCER: The Front Nine.

[0:01:42] BC: Okay, the front nine. So, this is a fun show. We talk about all sorts of – it’s called Tee’d Off. We talk about things that grinds our gears, but it's just a game. So, we got to start with Grayson Murray's passing, which was just shocking. He withdrew two holes before finishing his second round at the Colonial, and the next day, ended up taking his own life. We know Grayson struggled with alcoholism, anxiety, and depression for some years. Actually, I think he took a medical leave in 2021 to try to work out those issues and was a recent winner on the tour and not a mainstay on the leaderboards, but definitely a contender week in and week out. Shocking and terrible news. I just want to get you guys’ thoughts on that. Aaron?

[0:02:34] AT: I mean, it was crazy. I didn't even know that it happened that weekend, I was kind of disconnected from the world doing some other things. My parents actually had asked me about it, said that a golfer had passed away. I started looking it up. Then, it didn't take long, I think, it was the next day it was announced what had happened, which of course, seeing the reactions of the players on tour and this and that. It's definitely affecting everybody.

Something very interesting that I read this week at the memorial, they had a memorial for him early. I believe it might have been Tuesday this week and a lot of the players got up and spoke, told their stories, talked about him. But Jay Monahan was the one that was the – not surprising that he was speaking, but what he had to say. I guess, he had his own time whenever, that was last year after the Saudi deal and he took a break for his mental health. He had mentioned that when he turned his phone back on, the first message he had was from Grayson Murray, telling him, “Hey, your health is more important than any deal or whatever we've got going on. We'll all get it worked out. Work on yourself.” He said that that meant a lot to him personally.

So, he knows what he was dealing with too, having had his own mental health issues, as they call it, during that time last year. I thought it was very interesting. The connection there. Yes, just a shame. Still such a young, young – still a rising star, really. 

[0:04:31] JB: He had a lot of potential. He just came up with a win. Was it last year, I think he won? I don’t know the exact time that he won. I think last year was his first one or a minute early this year. A lot of potential. He was playing well and it's just unfortunate to hear something like that and I just think the support from the whole golf community and PGA Tour there just sheds a lot of light on the mental health aspect and how important it is, for all sports.

[0:04:59] BC: Yes. The Tour is a family. Professional golf is a family, especially at the highest level. A lot of these guys reached out to us and saw them post things about Grayson and things like that. It's great to hear about Jay because Jay was – when Jay stepped away for his mental health. I mean, we were critical about it, because we thought that it was for lack of a better term, some weakness like he was shelving what was going on and –

[0:05:29] AT: Avoiding. It’s really what it was.

[0:05:32] BC: – avoiding. But really, this really puts stuff like that into perspective. Golf is just a game. Life isn't. So, when you need help, get it. I think, nowadays, talking to people, talking to a professional, if you don't want to talk to your friends and family, that's one thing. But the access to professionals whose job is to talk about therapists and others, the access to that is everywhere. The PGA Tour does a really good job of providing those resources to their players. 

My sister's a therapist and works with Talkspace, where you can reach a therapist. It's almost as easy as calling an Uber is to get a therapist. So, this isn't a sponsorship for Talkspace. But I am going to provide a link in this episode. Life is not a game. There are people to talk to and you are not alone. So, it's just shocking and I wanted to start with that, because that is something that nobody saw coming and it's a shame and our thoughts are with the Murray Family.

Let's jump into the women's game. Nelly Korda is not been talked about enough. I know she shot a million on one of the holes during the US Open and kind of cost her ability to make the cut in the women's US Open. But she has won seven events this year, guys, including five in a row.

[0:06:59] JB: Just on fire.

[0:06:59] BC: That is joining the ranks of somebody named Annika Sörenstam, which I don't think someone's really dominated the women's game quite like Annika. I mean, we've had a lot of really great runs, but to see Nelly Korda doing this, and she won a whole bunch of tournaments before she got injured the other year and has just come back stronger and just –

[0:07:24] JB: Just how many did she win in a row?

[0:07:25] BC: Five.

[0:07:25] AT: Five. Five in a row.

[0:07:26] BC: Five tournaments in a row.

[0:07:27] JB: You know how hard that must be?

[0:07:28] BC: Yes.

[0:07:28] JB: How do you win five tournaments in a row? It's five straight weeks. That's incredible.

[0:07:33] AT: Her and Scottie Scheffler are both doing it at the same time.

[0:07:37] BC: Yes. Scottie’s getting a bunch of a bunch of promotion about it and I think we need to talk about Nelly too, because it’s amazing.

[0:07:45] AT: Yes. She deserves it. She's fun to watch, too. You turn on, you watch the LPGA and she's fun to watch. She's got a great personality. She's good. She's good on social media, everything. I mean, she's what you want in a star player.

[0:08:04] BC: I don't know her personally, but you want to talk about two role models. Scottie and Nelly. It's really special. Then two Americans dominating the game right now. That is really cool.

[0:08:15] AT: Scottie’s role model status was questioned last week, but we'll get into that.

[0:08:19] BC: Well, before we jump into that. I'm not sure about role model status. But Nelly not making the cut wasn't good. But Charley Hull made the cut.

[0:08:28] AT: Love her. I love her.

[0:08:30] BC: In order to quit vaping, according to her, she started smoking cigarettes.

[0:08:35] AT: Yes.

[0:08:36] JB: She went viral on that.

[0:08:38] AT: She did. She's having fun with it, which is great to see. Most times people you think of like cancel culture. “Oh, they shouldn't be doing that around kids or whatever.”

[0:08:49] BC: I hope that's not the case here. It's all just in good fun –

[0:08:53] At: She's taking – she’s not.

[0:08:56] BC: But man, the John Daly, the women's game didn't know they needed might be in the form of Charley Hull.

[0:09:03] AT: Hey, let me tell you, when I first saw the picture, I sent it out to a bunch of my friends with the caption under it said, “Meet the future Mrs. Thomas.” I absolutely loved it. I'm sorry, but I'm sure it's not allowed on the Tour. But whatever her cigarette is, that company needs to be slapping a logo on her bag or something right now. I'm sure there's some advertising restrictions on that. But it would be kind of fun to see.

[0:09:33] BC: The Marlboro Man resurrected.

[0:09:35] AT: Bring Joe Camel back.

[0:09:39] BC: But that was all in good fun. So, just wanted to mention that for sure.

[0:09:41] AT: Yes. She's fun to listen to. She takes it in stride.

[0:09:45] BC: The PGA Championship, talking about role models. Scottie Scheffler who going into the week was one of the biggest role models in sport gets arrested before his second round.

[0:09:59] JB: At 6am.

[0:10:00] BC: And proceeds to shoot six under that day.

[0:10:02] JB: Six under?

[0:10:03] BC: Yes. The next day didn't play that well, and I think it just caught up to him. Aaron, you mentioned some caddie issues too, on the third round that maybe cost Scottie from really contending.

[0:10:14] AT: Yes. I don't know so much caddie issue. I think more of just the familiarity of having his regular guy not being there. I know it was a close friend to his, it’s the Tour chaplain that was caddying for him that day. But I think there is something to be said not having your regular guy on the bag, regardless of what you've been through that weekend, which was an awful lot.

[0:10:39] BC: Yes. For the viewers, it was already predetermined that Scottie Scheffler’s normal caddie was going to miss the second round for his daughter's high school graduation.

[0:10:49] AT: Yes. Scottie, when they asked him about it, he just said that they agreed upon a long time ago. He said family always first. He said they have that agreement, as far as anything goes work-related, which is, what sounds to be Scottie Scheffler. I mean, but hey, he got a ton of street cred with his mugshot. That thing was on t-shirts within like 15 minutes.

[0:11:13] BC: Yes. The same day. People were showing up to the course with a “Free Scottie” and I'm a little surprised that – so the charges did get dropped. But I think they took a little longer than I thought. The story kind of fell apart on the law enforcement side, whether the policeman – he alleged he was dragged by Scottie’s vehicle before he slammed his on the windshield and stopped him, and maybe the camera didn't catch that and ruin his $80 pants and stuff like that. But his camera wasn't on his body camera. They didn't have a camera angle. I'm not sure about witnesses or anything like that. So, that’s undetermined.

[0:11:57] AT: The only witnesses were media. There was a handful of media there.

[0:12:01] JB: There is a video. Did the police officer actually get hurt? I think he actually had like –

[0:12:08] BC: He went to the hospital. I'm not sure if he was seriously injured or not. I mean, he released a statement that said he's fine.

[0:12:17] AT: Actually, both of them released statements like no ill will towards either.

[0:12:22] BC: Well, that's good. Yeah. If I'm the city of Louisville after this, I mean, the big picture is which Scottie and the police officer both said, the reason there were so much hubbub that morning is because someone lost their life that morning, due to a traffic incident. Somebody trying to get to the event. That's the main thing here, the main topic. This just caught all the attention because it's the most high-profile person at the event getting arrested.

[0:12:48] AT: And the one you least expect.

[0:12:50] JB: The one person you never would imagine.

[0:12:52] BC: But to compound that, and the mess was Scottie’s – if I'm Louisville, I'm trying to just make this go away. If you don't have the evidence supporting what happened and what you've charged him for, I would have gotten rid of this a week before they actually did.

[0:13:11] JB: I don't know what took so long for it to kind of go through.

[0:13:14] BC: I don't know.

[0:13:13] AT: I'm sure there's like a legal process involved with everything. The legal process is never speedy, anyway. So, the only thing I did see was, there was mention of how quickly he got out of jail. They said like the normal person, same charges, you're in there most of the day if you're on those charges and not playing in the golf tournament.

[0:13:43] BC: Okay. Well, maybe a little preferential treatment, although they asked if he wanted the full treatment while he was in there and he got a sandwich, because he hadn't eaten breakfast.

[0:13:50] AT: They did some stretching.

[0:13:52] JB: He worked out in jail.

[0:13:53] AT: He was working out in the cell.

[0:13:56] JB: Which is insane. What a story that is.

[0:13:58] AT: I mean, seriously, you ever seen somebody go from like, wouldn't hurt a fly, to, he's now like a certified gangster. It was great. I loved it. I couldn't get enough of it.

[0:14:11] BC: I love it.

[0:14:12] AT: And the high five with the guys that had the shirts on, at the PGA Championship. I mean, that just made it. 

[0:14:21] BC: Just a lot of news off the course that I was not expecting for the PGA Championship. So, on the course, it’s great to see Xander kind of finally get the monkey off his back and win a major championship and kind of silence some of the critics about him not being able to pull off victories, in any tournament, as of late.

[0:14:40] JB: Because he’s been right there. He’s been right there for so long. Number two, number three, just can never get over the top into the win.

[0:14:49] AT: Yes. He did it like virtually wire to wire. I mean, which was more impressive, because he had some people nipping at his heels.

[0:14:56] JB: DeChambeau is right there. DeChambeau has been playing great in the majors. Then, I think, was it the last putt, he made that putt for like 8 to 10 feet to win? I mean, that's awesome. A storybook.

[0:15:07] AT: It was great.

[0:15:07] BC: How about DeChambeau’s kind of resurgence in the public eye?

[0:15:12] AT: Popular.

[0:15:12] BC: Yes.

[0:15:13] AT: Very popular. What used to be when him and Koepka didn't get along, people didn't like him because he was too –

[0:15:21] JB: Scientific. So methodical.

[0:15:22] AT: Scientific. People didn't understand that.

[0:15:23] BC: He’s quirky.

[0:15:23] AT: Yes. I mean, he really, the last couple tournaments has been, I mean, of course, he is one of those where he's a little over the top with fist pumps and this and that, but the crowd loves it. I mean, hey, if that's what works for him, go for it.

[0:15:40] BC: People feed off his energy. I think people fed off of Brooks' game when he was winning, but he's not a big energy guy. He's kind of a cool guy. I think that rivalry really made sense and was interesting. But Bryson's energy is just – and I think he's matured a bit. I think some of the things he said about the game, people have been critical of that. His quirkiness, I keep using that word, it was not totally attractive, but I think he's matured. He just balls out. He just plays, man.

[0:16:17] JB: He plays so well and he's been in contention. There's not many LIV guys – a lot of LIV guys we're playing pretty good, but not as much as DeChambeau. He’s been in the limelight.

[0:16:29] BC: Yes. I mean, Dustin's kind of disappeared. 

[0:16:30] JB: Dustin, who?

[0:16:33] BC: Jimmy Hanlin, we had on. I mean, he was like, “You guys are being critical of Bryson DeChambeau. This dude can play.”

[0:16:39] AT: He did say that. That is correct. I mean, he bombs it, which everybody loves.

[0:16:44] JB: Bombs it accurately.

[0:16:46] AT: The one thing I will say, is that guy is not afraid to take a chance. He doesn't lay up. I mean he believes in going for it and which is what put them into the position he was at the final round of the PGA.

[0:17:02] BC: Well, we've got another major coming right up. It's US Open week and we've got a big list of favorites. A lot of familiar names. So, I want to go over who you guys think is going to take the US Open at Pinehurst this year? Aaron, who you got?

[0:17:17] AT: Well, what are the odds on arrest first? I’d like to know.

[0:17:24] BC: What would be the police presence be?

[0:17:26] AT: What’s the presence going to be like? Who is the PGA Tour player that's going to have a mug shot? In all seriousness, I've arrived in Scottie Scheffler. I know everybody keeps – he's the easy pick, but I've picked him in the last two. I'm probably going to ride him every major this year. Why not? Because he's just that good. I just think it's his to win.

[0:17:53] BC: He literally had to tie his hands behind his back to keep him from winning the PGA. So, I think with no handicaps such as that, I think he's got a great shot. That's a good pick. I mean at 4 to 1, that's crazy, guys.

[0:18:09] AT: It's insane. It’s just well he's playing right now.

[0:18:14] BC: Yes. He is. Justin, who you got?

[0:18:14] JB: I played number two, second week of April this year.

[0:18:18] BC: Oh, cool. How was it?

[0:18:19] AT: Lucky you.

[0:18:20] JB: It was good. It was good playing in a tournament. It's a second time I played that course. It is all about those greens. Those greens are very crowned. It's not just one, it's almost every greens like that. If you veer off the fairway, you're in this little sand. It's just ridiculous. So, you need someone very accurate and the only person I can think of is, I love McIlroy. I love McIlroy. I mean, I know he's up there nine to one, but this fits good for him. This golf course, he drives the bulge. Everyone thinks DeChambeau is a good driver, but McIlroy slams it too. He's right there.

[0:18:55] BC: He's been one of the best drivers of the ball for the last 10 years.

[0:18:58] JB: And he's playing good. I know, there's a lot of stuff going on right now. But I think that venue sets up good for him. The only thing that would be against him is just his putting is not that great. But I think he's going to break through.

[0:19:10] BC: Okay. I like that pick. That'd be cool to see. I mean, Valhalla, his last win 10 years ago. So, I mean, I'm really surprised he has not won more.

[0:19:20] JB: It doesn't seem that long ago, but it really is.

[0:19:24] AT: I mean, he referred to himself as like the older guy on the PGA Tour now, which is like 35. But it’s hard to believe.

[0:19:33] BC: I hope from the US Open setup, everyone's going to struggle putting. Maybe it'll come to you – maybe it's not going to be his level going down with putting, but it's everybody's level going down because I hope the greens bite back. I want to see a low under-par win this thing.

[0:19:49] AT: Well, the last time it was there –

[0:19:51] JB: Martin Kaymer.

[0:19:53] AT: Yes, who –

[0:19:54] BC: He kind of ran away with –

[0:19:55] AT: – caught lightning in a bottle that weekend, because Rickie Fowler was, I think he finished second. He was like 8, 10 strokes behind, something like that. He was like right around even par. So, that tells you how well Kaymer played that week.

[0:20:13] BC: He won the PGA that year too, I think. He won two big tournaments that year.

[0:20:18] JB: I think it was the Players. 

[0:20:20] AT: Well, he was on fire at that time. But yes, that was not typical Pinehurst. That was somebody. Like I said, he caught lightning in a bottle because –

[0:20:29] BC: Kind of like Pebble Beach, Tiger 2000.

[0:20:30] AT: Yes. If you look at every US Open that's been held at Pinehurst, it is classic US Open where the winner is generally right around even par, maybe a little under or sometimes over. But I think that's how Pinehurst is going to play.

[0:20:47] JB: I agree.

[0:20:47] BC: Good. That's how it should play.

[0:20:49] JB: Exactly. It's US Open, it's going to be around par. The greens, they’re rolling like 11 or 12. I put a two off the green.

[0:20:56] BC: Wow.

[0:20:56] JB: Which is easy for you to do. So, that just shows you how slick they're going to be.

[0:21:03] BC: I want to go with Viktor Hovland, as my favorite. I mean, he was the best player on the planet ending the season last year, kind of departed from his coach and then just fell off the wagon from a ball-striking standpoint. Is back with that coach and just flipped a switch. I mean, his ball striking is so much better. His short game is so much better again. He played good at the PGA, so I'm going to take him. I think if he's on, he's going to be right up there.

[0:21:35] JB: I like that pick.

[0:21:37] BC: Let's go over sleeper picks. Not necessarily a dark horse, sleeper, somebody that is down on the odds, but could win it and not be a total surprise. Aaron, who you got?

[0:21:50] AT: I already mentioned, Rickie. Rickie, he played well, last time. Obviously, he was a different phase of his game at that time. But he had a great US Open last year. I think a lot of it's going to depend on his driver. Like Justin said, you got to drive the ball well in the US Open, which he did great last year. I think until the final round. But I think he's going to have a little confidence, knowing that he played well there. Previous US Open, 10 years ago, whatever it was, and he's got confidence from last year. He's not played terribly in the majors this year.

[0:22:27] BC: No. That driver is the X factor. I mean, LA Country Club was a different setup to me. I think it was a little friendlier to somebody that sprays it. Rickie has never been a great ball striker. His swing looks as good as it did in 2015. I'll give you that. I mean, he was getting real flat before that, and then went flat again after that. Swing looks good. It'd be great. I mean, he's a fan favorite.

[0:22:50] JB: That’s what I was just going to say. He's definitely a fan favorite. Everybody pulling for him.

[0:22:55] AT: Well, now that Xander has a major, I think Rickie has always been at the top of the list. Best golfer to not have a major, but –

[0:23:04] BC: Definitely the most popular.

[0:23:05] AT: Yes. Certainly.

[0:23:06] BC: Justin, who you got?

[0:23:09] JB: This is hard one. There's so many good picks there. But I like Justin Rose. Maybe because we share the same first name. Actually, last, in the PGA the weekend, he played really well. I think Sunday he shot five or six under. He actually was like – he finished top 10. I think he's a great ball striker. He's a great iron player. It’d be interesting to see what type of conditions are going to be over there at Pinehurst because if it's windy, which it can be, I think a European player here might have a little advantage.

[0:23:39] BC: Yes, especially somebody that's – I mean, he's long enough, but he can hit it low.

[0:23:43] JB: Yes. Good putter. Pretty solid all around.

[0:23:46] BC: He did play well in the PGA.

[0:23:47] JB: Great short game. That’s what you kind of want to see around those greens there. You really got to get creative and I think he has it. I think he's been playing well enough to be in contention.

[0:23:55] BC: He won 11 years ago at Merion, and you had to be creative to win it. I like that pick.

My sleeper, he's been – his game, his style has been in the news, but his game is also improving. Jason Day. So, he has played well enough this year to be considered almost in any tournament he shows up to. He can – when he's accurate, he pounds it and his putter has woken up this year, so I'm going to take Jason Day.

[0:24:32] AT: I think it must be the clothes, man.

[0:24:32] JB: It must be the new style.

[0:24:34] BC: Yes, maybe. I don’t know. Well, the US Open will probably – the USGA will probably be a little looser than Augustus, so he might come out with something crazy.

[0:24:43] AT: Of course. I don't think he was too out of the PGA Tour Championship.

[0:24:47] BC: He might be draped like an American flag.

[0:24:50] AT: Who knows, man? I don’t know. It's an Australian company though, right?

[0:24:57] BC: I think, Stephen Malbon is from California.

[0:24:58] JB: I think it’s California.

[0:24:58] AT: Is it? Okay. I don’t know. That’s one thing I don't know about. So, I thought maybe it was like from his home country or something like that.

[0:25:06] BC: No. I think it's American-made apparel.

[0:25:10] AT: Okay. I haven't done much research on it. Because I'll be honest, what he's wearing, I don’t have a lot of interest in. So, that’s just me.

[0:25:18] BC: I think some of them hit, some of them miss. But it's all good publicity for them. Their logo kind of looks like from – the ball, the golf ball logo kind of looks like Tee’d Off.

[0:25:28] AT: Or what's her name? Charley? She wears the same brand. I saw her on an interview she was doing that had it. Obviously, I was paying attention.

[0:25:36] BC: Well, you’re a bigger fan of Malbon than we thought.

[0:25:39] JB: Wow. Yes.

[0:25:40] AT: I’m a bigger fan of Charley.

[0:25:44] BC: Well, we'll see if any of our favorites or sleepers pull through. It's going to be a great tournament. I love it when it's at Pinehurst.

[0:25:52] AT: Yes. For me, it's like Pebble Beach. It's one of those courses. You see the vets play.

[0:25:57] BC: It's amazing. Aaron. I see you're wearing a Fore golf hat today. I want to talk about them for a little bit. They're a new company out of Nashville, and they – I'm wearing their Bahama Breeze shirt. You're wearing their hat. We got another rope hat here. Then, here's another, one of their shirts. They feel great. They fit great. I just think they're really good for the golf course. Something that I like that I think they should mention more is their side vents, along the side. So, it's real hot in the summer, so it's like wearing an air conditioner while you're out on the course in the sunshine in Myrtle Beach. I really like their gear. Aaron, how do you feel about it?

[0:26:40] AT: I like it. The color on the shirt, also, and they have it listed on their website is, it's not a fixed color, but it stays in place, which is really nice, especially in the summertime. It's hot, sweaty. Sometimes color might stick to your neck or whatever. It's nice. It's definitely good stuff. I like it.

[0:27:04] BC: Yes. I can't wait to hit the course with them.

[0:27:07] AT: I love the camo look on the other shirts.

[0:27:11] JB: You guys are looking good. Look at that.

[0:27:12] BC: Thanks, man. We’ll get you a shirt.

[0:27:14] JB: I would say, anytime you want to hook me up. That's cool.

[0:27:16] BC: Or a hat. I think, this hat is going to stay here because it's almost too pretty to wear. I love the font. Fore. It’s really cool. It's a classic style, but it's really fashion meets function. I mean, I can't talk enough about the side vents.

[0:27:29] AT: I yelled a couple times around anyway.

[0:27:32] BC: Yes. There you go. There you go, says disclaimer. Visit forecompany.co for more info and purchasing further gear. I'll provide a link in the description of this episode as well. 

[0:27:47] AT: When I play this weekend, I'll just walk up to whoever I might have to yell at, and say, “Read.”

[0:27:54] BC: There you go.

[0:27:56] AT: Read.

[0:27:57] BC: Great breaking of the ice. Fore golf. All right guys, well, that wraps up the front nine in the world of golf. Why don’t you say we make the turn and talk with Justin Binke some more and talk about the Founders Group?

[0:28:09] AT: Sounds good.

[0:28:11] JB: All right, awesome.

[MESSAGE]

[0:28:14] ANNOUNCER: Planning an unforgettable Myrtle Beach golf getaway has never been easier with mbgolf.com. At mbgolf.com, we give you the power of choice in pairing world-class golf with premium options from golf course villas to oceanfront condominiums brought to you by Condo-World, the leaders in Myrtle Beach luxury travel. Make your next stay-and-play journey to the golf capital of the world, the experience of a lifetime. It's all just a call or a click away.

[0:28:54] ANNOUNCER: Making the Turn.

[EPISODE CONTINUED]

[0:28:57] BC: All right, let's make the turn and we're here with Justin Binke, Director of Revenue and Sales and PGA professional at the Founders Group In Myrtle Beach. Justin, we ask everybody that comes on how they got into the sport of golf in general, and then how you came to be in the golf industry in Myrtle Beach?

[0:29:16] JB: Yes. It's been a long, long ride. I started playing golf when I was eight years old, and it’s just kind of that father-son thing. My dad got me involved in the game and I just, from there, was forever hooked. I knew growing up that that's something I wanted to do as a career. So, I went to Coastal Carolina University up the road here in Myrtle Beach, Conway, South Carolina and went to the golf program, the PGM program. So, when I graduated there, I was a PGA Golf Professional and with a marketing degree and we hopped right into the Myrtle Beach Golf scene. Started working backdrop. My first job, I used to come in at noon, and I would clean, wash the carts down park. I did that for a while.

[0:29:56] BC: It was good hours.

[0:29:57] JB: It was perfect. Very simple. I knew my job. I knew my job. I knew how to park cars. Plug it in, the charger, good to go. Then, went to pro shop and I quickly learned that the pro shop long days, long hours, being a head golf professional and I wanted to learn more about the how marketing and how revenue management ties into the game of golf. As golf, with technology kind of booming the same time golf is, it's like there's a handshake there between the two. I've always felt like that interests me the most.

So, I went down that path. I worked for some great people, and they do it, Kristen Bowden Steiner, Jim Woodring. I learned from some of the best in the business. I found my way into the marketing side and the revenue side. I just fell in love with it, well, how you can change rates and change dynamics and how you can market to certain individuals, the younger generation versus the older generation, and really kind of use that strategy from an overall strategy to help grow the game, not only here in Myrtle Beach, but at our facilities.

[0:30:58] AT: Well, as you mentioned, revenue management is a big thing with Myrtle Beach Golf Courses these days. It's really kind of taken on its own, from what it used to be.

[0:31:10] JB: Well, Aaron, I mean, we started, we'd have like a dartboard and we sit there and argue between, is it $80 or is $82? Oh, my gosh, just please pick one. At some days, we didn't know. We just threw it through the Dart, and it was okay, let’s go with 90. We've come a long way from since then.

[0:31:28] BC: Technology has definitely grown. It's a great story. You worked your way up in the business, and now you're working on it. So, it's really cool to see. I remember you're one of the pioneers of really dynamic pricing down here.

[0:31:41] JB: Yes. We were the first group at that time to kind of embrace it, and from the golf course level, and actually use the dynamic pricing and educate our providers or customers and what that means, and what that is, and how it works. So, it took a long time, but it was ever-evolving as well. It's what brought us here today and it's still evolving.

[0:32:06] BC: So, Justin, how long have you been with the Founders Group?

[0:32:09] JB: Yes. So, we've changed hands a couple times. Founders Group started in 2018. I've been working, I'm coming on to 19 years.

[0:32:17] BC: Wow.

[0:32:16] JB: I'm aging myself. I’m now the old guy in the office.

[0:32:20] AT: You were with the company prior to becoming Founders Golf, because it was a long-standing company here, the Myrtle Beach National Company for a number of years prior to changing to Founders.

[0:32:31] JB: Yes, Myrtle Beach National. Then, we went to National Golf Management or Burroughs and Chapin and Myrtle Beach National joined up to form a management company. Then, Founders Group came in, in 2018 and we've been Founders Group ever since. So, 21 golf properties all across the beach, from North Myrtle Beach in North Carolina all the way down to Pawleys Island.

[0:32:50] BC: So, 21 courses. Like I said, in the beginning of this episode, some of the most premium courses in Myrtle Beach, do you have news and updates on any of the courses in the area that we need to know about? We don't have to go over all 21, but I know they're all special.

[0:33:10] JB: They are. So, where we pride ourselves from Founders Group International's standpoint, a company standpoint, that we were always putting more into our product every year. We’re always trying to better our facilities, whether it be new greens, bunkers, or clubhouses. We're always reinvesting into our assets. So, two years ago, we did Pawleys Plantation. We did their greens and bunkers and renovated the whole golf course, and along, some parts of the clubhouse as well. We added a new kind of lunch bar area called Captain Jack.

[0:33:42] AT: Jack actually assisted with that renovation, correct?

[0:33:47] JB: Yes. We got Nicklaus. It was 2016, I think it was, or it was 2017. Jack Nicklaus came and we rode around the golf course at Pawleys, and he kind of gave us his advice. We actually hired his team to help us redesign the Pawleys Plantation Golf Course.

[0:34:00] BC: So, you met Jack met Jack?

[0:34:00] JB: I met Jack.

[0:34:01] BC: How was that?

[0:34:03] JB: It was interesting. It took us, I would say, I was heavily involved in getting Jack here. It took us about a year to do that. He's got a very busy schedule. So, we had to plan way in advance. It was great. His team is great to work with. When he came in on his private jet, he flew in and we had everything lined up to go. He didn't stop moving. You work with the kids. We had lunch with him. He was a just person to meet and be around, and although he remembered the golf course, he was just like, “Why did I put that tree in there?” “Well, Jack, you put that tree there like 20 years ago. It's now – it's huge.” So, we learned a lot from kind of his angle and kind of – it was just great to be in the presence of Mr. Nicklaus.

[0:34:48] BC: Oh, man. I bet.

[0:34:48] AT: A legend.

[0:34:50] BC: Now, Kingsnorth is also in your portfolio. Did you ever meet Arnold Palmer?

[0:34:55] JB: No. Nate DeWitt. The guy that we worked with in the marketing side, he's actually met Arnold when he came in 1996 to open the golf course, Kingsnorth. Actually, I do have an update on Kingsnorth, which we'll send out here this week, this summer. We're actually closed right now. Kingsnorth is closed. It was closed on June 1st and we're open again on October 3rd. We're closing this summer to do a part one of a two-part series. Part one, is we're doing the whole front nine, greens, bunkers, and some of the looks on the holes. That's kind of part one is to do the whole front nine this summer. Next summer around the same time, we're going to do the back nine. It's kind of a two-part, two-year kind of progress or work thing.

[0:35:42] BC: That’s exciting. Now, will you work with the Palmer Group on that? Or is that something that you guys can just do on your own? Or how does that work?

[0:35:51] JB: Yes. We hired a company that we've been used for a while to help us kind of with the design and the reshaping of the greens. We're going to bring it back to original sizes to help with the grasses and the bunkers, and we're going to do capillary bunkers in there. So, we're working with a group that has worked on Myrtle Beach Golf course and before, and we got hired them again to help us out.

[0:36:09] AT: Well, Kingsnorth. I mean, in my opinion, it's one of my favorites. It’s an iconic Myrtle Beach Golf Course. It's got the gambler, guile, and green. There's so many – I mean, one of my favorite holes that I think gets added when we had Ryan Ruddy, the Head Professional, was on here a while back, and I told him, one of my favorite holes was actually number 16. I think, just the drive when you – if hit a great tee shot, you drive up to your approach shot and you got to carry over the water into the green.

[0:36:43] JB: The water in the left.

[0:36:44] AT: And it's the bunker that runs out of the water, like the sand and everything comes right out of the water. So, it's just very pretty golf ball. I mean, it's going to be fantastic when they get it done. I've been fortunate enough to play when they've done their grand reopening on their other courses that they've done this work on and they're phenomenal. So, when you do come down to Myrtle Beach and you play one of their courses especially when it's been redone like this, it's worth it.

[0:37:16] BC: Especially, when they were premium to start with. I mean, Pawleys, which I think, Pawleys Plantation is one of the more challenging courses on the beach, but it is one of the most picturesque. So, just to accentuate what's already there, that's really important. You guys, it's only a couple years since you've done, maybe even less, the Grande Dunes renovations, right?

[0:37:40] JB: Yes. That was three years ago. We did Grande Dunes, the kind of same way we did Pawleys where we did a lot of the – all the bunkers, redid the bunkers, and the greens as well. So, that was a whole summer project.

[0:37:51] BC: That’s a special place too. We recently shot in commercial there in March. It was so much fun. The practice facility, we just kind of set up shop on the practice green and the practice bunker area and it was great. I mean, it's just definitely, the Founders courses are definitely courses you want to put on your list.

[0:38:11] AT: Well, as I say, I think they know me pretty well because a couple of their courses, Myrtlewood, Pine Lakes, Grande Dunes, are just a few minutes from my house. So, I tend to –

[0:38:25] JB: We do have reports of homicide in those golf courses.

[0:38:28] AT: I tend to get out and play the courses that are close to home.

[0:38:33] BC: If you can't help your friends, then why be in business?

[0:38:37] AT: Yes. I mean, I try not to sneak on like through the woods on the back nine, so I try to let him know I'm coming out.

[0:38:44] JB: Anytime. Anytime either one of you guys will come out. You know that. You’re more than welcome. More than welcome. We're excited, we're excited about kind of this year, and after coming off pretty good spring and now looking into fall, I can't believe it's already June. This year has flown by. Yes, we got a lot going on. Then, last year, we did River Hills. We did the bunkers and greens there at River Hills. We just finished up their bunker renovation at PineHills, Myrtlewood. That's all completed. We’ve been busy.

[0:39:13] AT: Long Bay, recently also. You’ve got so many of this. I have to remember. I know Long Bay because, of course, with us having a lot of North Myrtle Beach properties, Long Bay is a pretty popular course on the north end.

[0:39:30] JB: Signature design. We did the greens there last summer. So, they were coming out well. That's a hard golf course.

[0:39:39] BC: Nicklaus, he makes them pretty challenging because I was going to say, one of the harder courses on the north end, I would have – I think Tidewater is up there. But Long Bay is neck and neck as far as challenging. They're all fair tests. But if you struggle, there's some other courses that you can get away with it. You can't at Long Bay.

[0:40:00] JB: You got to be accurate.

[0:40:01] AT: That's one of those courses where it's like, it doesn't matter how well I'm playing golf. There's a hole that gets me, every round I play at Long Bay. Kingsnorth, something about it. Kingsnorth is a –

[0:40:15] BC: I think a different layer.

[0:40:16] AT: It's got wide fairways, which I like, but I've played some of my best rounds at Kingsnorth. 

[0:40:23] JB: It is off the tees, pretty friendly.

[0:40:24] AT: I love it.

[0:40:27] BC: Well, with 21 courses to choose from, I mean, we've got so many more we could talk about. Aaron, what's a package when someone's booking on mbgolf.com to consider that has great options for these Founders Group courses?

[0:40:39] AT: Well, as you say, staying with the Founders Group theme, we've got, which actually this package is very new, just came out. It's a three-round package when you play three or more of the Founders courses. It does a – you get a 10% discount off of the current going rate on that, which can add up very quickly, especially playing three rounds. It has been popular. I think that the actual pricing or the availability of it is for golfers this fall. You can book it now, if you're coming this fall, and then it runs in through next year as well. But we've already had a lot of groups that we have booked on it and of course, as you know Justin, early bookings. The earlier people were booking, it does drive the rates. So, the percentage off helps out tremendously.

[0:41:37] JB: That's a great song to sing right there, Aaron. I think, right now, to book early to get only the best availability and the best rates. So if you want those nine o'clock tee times on Kingsnorth or you want those tee times at Grande Dunes, I mean booked now for the fall and for the spring of 2025. It's one of our – it’s our biggest discounted package. Minimum of three rounds and you can choose from 21 golf courses. So, you can get three rounds and there are no problem. And it's just the right number of rounds to play to, I think, on a package. But at 10%, on $150, it’s 15 bucks. That really kind of brings it into a nice little price point.

[0:42:13] AT: Well, if you if you play six rounds while you're here. A lot of savings.

[0:42:18] BC: It does happen. For that package and many more, just go to mbgolf.com or call us. We've got the scoop on the best deals. So, go to mbgolf.com or give us a call. Aaron and his team are ready to assist you for your next golf package.

All right, well, that wraps up making the turn. Justin Binke, Director of Revenue and Sales and PGA professional at the Founders Group. Thank you so much for telling us your story and telling us about all the great offerings of the Founders Group. You want to stick around while we hit the back nine and talk some more Myrtle Beach Golf?

[0:42:51] JB: Ready to go. Again, thanks for having me.

[0:42:53] BC: Let's do it.

[0:42:55] ANNOUNCER: The Back Nine.

[0:42:59] BC: All right, the back nine in the Myrtle Beach Golf report. Aaron it is the summertime and we're busy welcoming family vacationers. But summer golf is a great time to get a great deal on some of these premium courses and the weather is gorgeous.

[0:43:15] AT: Yes. Weather is fantastic. I mean, the last couple of weeks we've had here as I mentioned earlier, Chamber of Commerce weather is the best way to describe it because it has been absolutely perfect. But summer golf has really gotten popular over the years. A lot of our golf packages – we don't have as many golf packages so much in the summertime, but we've seen more of a shift in family golf. I'm sure Justin, you guys have seen that, which Myrtle Beach does a great job. Kids play free with parents in the summertime and, actually, year-round, really. I know you guys offer it year-round.

[0:43:54] JB: I mean, we have a program on the Founders Group courses and all the courses do the same thing, 16 and under, get to play for free with one paid adult, on one on one basis. That’s, they pay for free any time of day. Morning, afternoon. We've seen a huge influx of juniors come out to play whether it be a father-son family unit that comes out to go play golf, and they're out there in the morning. First thing in the morning, and they're out there at three o'clock in the afternoon for nine holes. So, it's like it's cool to see that.

[0:44:19] BC: What’s terrific too because planning a golf package is usually an adult-driven thing. So, for the family vacation, a golf outing might not be on your agenda when you're planning months in advance. But with the deal where juniors can play free and almost every course offers club rentals, you don't have to worry about packing your car up with your golf clubs. Come off the beach and spend a day in the grass and play some golf. I mean, there's a lot of opportunity out here that is just footsteps away, a short drive away from the beach.

[0:44:55] AT: Yes. I mean, no matter where you're staying along the Grand Strand, you have a course –

[0:44:59] BC: Within five minutes.

[0:44:59] AT: Yes, within a couple of minutes. So, it's not like you got to go out of your way on vacation to play around golf.

[0:45:06] BC: Pricing to meet any budget.

[0:45:08] AT: Yes. Well, summertime pricing is generally, from a pricing standpoint, is your best pricing of the year, because it is a little warmer. Courses adjust their pricing accordingly. So, it's pretty easy to get out and play.

[0:45:23] BC: But if you can sit on the beach, there's an ocean breeze on the golf course too. Consider playing golf this summer. Go to mbgolf.com or give us a call.

Aaron, spring was great. Fall is booking up and next spring is booking up. Give us an update.

[0:45:38] AT: It is. The bookings continue to come in. I mean, we're really seeing right now fall and into spring of 2025. We talked about it earlier. We continue to see this booking window get further and further out. I was speaking with somebody in the golf business earlier about a promotion that they had, and they had shifted the book-by date on it because the bookings are coming earlier and earlier. I said, “Well, the pace we're on, you have to move it up another month for next year because we continue to see earlier and earlier.

But it's great. I mean, hey, you got guys that come down here. Of course, a lot of it is repeat business. I'm sure you guys see this, Justin, where a group comes down. I mean, they know what they want though. We've got some groups that they know what rooms they want and they are very easy to do. They just tell you their dates for next year. You just put their same rooms back in for those dates, and they give you your courses, and off they go. They know what they want to do. So, it is, the booking window has gotten so much bigger than it used to be.

[0:46:45] JB: That's great. That's kind of what we want to hear. That's a good strategy not only from the consumer side but for our side as well. That way, the customer has the best pricing and we start filling up which we've been seeing in the fall. Fall is pretty good. It's come along well. We are seeing that kind of younger generation of people who do have repeat customers that they know what they want, they know where to stay, they know the golf course they want to play with times and all that. We do see the younger generation coming down that they may go play Topgolf one day or we got PopStroke here now too, and then they'll ask us advice for where to stay. Maybe they'll stay in a golf course villa or by the beach, wherever it may be, and play golf a couple of times, which is great. We've seen that younger crowd from the Northeast all over the country. Really kind of take shape around here.

[0:47:24] BC: It’s great to see that introductory segment and it's all I mean, PopStroke, everybody's played pop putt in their life. That's kind of the next step is PopStroke. Then hey, well, maybe I'll do some full swings at Topgolf. Then hey, maybe I'll put it all together and try to play around.

[0:47:42] AT: Yes. I mean, there was a time not too long ago where there was concern that the game of golf was not for young people. Then, we have COVID and it's like golf became the greatest sport in the world.

[0:47:57] BC: For all people.

[0:47:57] AT: Yes, for everybody.

[0:47:59] JB: Just growing in every segment.

[0:47:59] AT: Yes. It did. I mean, it's hard to believe that a pandemic, I mean, shifted the way golf was viewed.

[0:48:08] JB: Now, it's fun and now there's so many barriers in golfing. I get clubs, you got to go get shoes and balls and whatnot. But now, I think that's kind of broken down and it's more fun to be able to go to Topgolf and play there and get a feel for it. That's actually turned – we've kind of talked a lot about how that's actually created more people in the green grass side. They've actually got to Topgolf, to your point, Ben, and then now all of a sudden, we're seeing them on the golf course. We have seen that.

[0:48:32] AT: Ben, we we're talking, this was actually earlier, just about what you see on social media and it's like the people that are on the golf courses. They're having fun. Got music. They're doing stuff that you wouldn't normally think of on a golf course.

[0:48:51] BC: Yes. The trends are changing. I remember five years ago, hearing music on the course in my 20s being like, it's like taboo or something. But now it’s like, now, all ages. Retirees. Their blasting country music. It's fun guys. So, we've loosened up a little bit in the industry, and it's just letting in so many new entrants and I couldn't be more excited about it.

[0:49:20] AT: I heard the Beach Boys not too long ago when I was out on the golf course.

[0:49:23] JB: Nice. There we go.

[0:49:24] AT: I was impressed.

[0:49:27] BC: Well, for places to play or stay, MB Golf has you covered. Our accommodations of the episode, Aaron are the Mar Vista Grande Luxury Condos. Justin, we've got three and four-bedroom, oceanfront and ocean-view condos at the Mar Vista. It’s right up the road, North Myrtle Beach. It's within walking distance to Main Street so there's a lot of shopping and dining options there. There's great pool amenities in the building. There's a tiki bar. But in these condos, the condos are huge, with fully equipped kitchens, and laundry in the condos. Fully equipped kitchens. Big private balconies. A lot of bedding options. Aaron, golf packages really need to consider Mar Vista.

[0:50:08] AT: Oh, yes. As you said, luxury accommodations, the term luxury applies because as you mentioned, the size of the units, you don't realize how luxurious a condo can be and how much space you can have with your group until you go into one of those because they're nice size condos. 

[0:50:27] BC: They will all be penthouses. I mean, they’re huge.

[0:50:29] JB: I would say, that’s pretty set up perfectly.

[0:50:32] BC: So, consider the Mar Vista Grande when you're putting your golf package together on mbgolf.com.

All right, guys, last but not least, Tee’d Off, where we tell a story that might grind our gears about the game of golf or could be a personal story about something that happened to you on the golf course or in the golf business. Aaron, start with you.

[0:50:53] AT: Well, mine actually came about this week. I was asked to play in a golf tournament, which happens to be on my day off. Well, without thinking too much, yes, sure. I'll play. A few texts later, I said, “Hey, what time do I got to be there?” Way too early on a Sunday morning. I was like, “So, how many people turned it down before I was dumb enough to say yes without asking?” I just by luck. But hey, you go play golf on a Sunday. Just have to get up a little early. Have to shut it down a little earlier Saturday night.

[0:51:28] JB: How early is early?

[0:51:31] AT: Well, I need to be leaving my house about seven in the morning, which I don't even do for work.

[0:51:38] BC: I mean, just don't go to bed Saturday night.

[0:51:41] AT: No. Uh-uh. I'm at an age now where I do require some hours. So, I can't do that anymore.

[0:51:45] BC: Well, my Tee’d Off, I'm going to kind of draft off of you. In a previous episode, you talked about unsolicited swing advice, which I co-signed. I don't like unsolicited swing advice. I think it's worse when the unsolicited swing advice works, and then your partner thinks they're Butch Harmon. Just like, “Yes, I'm glad I'm hitting it better.” But it's like, “Man, now this guy is just going to take my swing apart.” So, now I've got an audience. But that would be my Tee’d Off, is successful unsolicited swing advice.

[0:52:23] AT: Yes. Especially when it works because you know they're going to be like, “Well, I saw a little hitch. If you on that, too.”

[0:52:30] JB: We all know one of those people.

[0:52:33] AT: Yes.

[0:52:34] BC: Well, mine means well, and I do appreciate it after the round. But during the round while I'm in the trenches, no. Justin, what tees you off?

[0:52:45] JB: This one kind of just want to kind of grinds my gears a little bit because I played it last weekend and we’re at a tee box. We all kind of experienced this. You know exactly what I'm talking about. So, I got up the tee box, hole straight ahead. But the tee markers are pointed towards the water. Why are we doing that? That's evil. I mean, come on. Golf is hard enough. And here I am, now, sometimes I don't even look. I just make sure I'm behind the tee boxes. I tee up and I align myself. Sometimes the tee box is not really thinking twice about it. Sure enough, I have to pay attention because I look up and I'm going run at that pond, or I'm going to run out the woods. I'm like, “Wow, they got me.”

[0:53:25] BC: It’s a really interesting Tee’d Off, because I'm a big alignment stick guy, when I'm warming up on the range. It just helps me get set up when I'm getting started. So, that almost subconsciously, those tee markers are going to be in alignment stick to me. I know that a lot of tea boxes are kind of facing danger, but you set the alignment sticks up to your kind of field of play and that is an interesting one.

[0:53:51] JB: Sometimes it bothers me because it get me like, “Wow, is that purposely done?” Are they really trying to mess with me right now?

[0:53:58] AT: Yes, because it gets in your head. There are a couple of holes in Myrtle Beach, that tee boxes are aimed a certain way, and I play those holes the same way every time because I know in my head where they got me aimed. It just messes with you.

[0:54:14] BC: Yes. But in relation to the tee markers, it's like you're standing over it and say you notice it and you straighten out, you're like, “Well, my stance is really open.” Or, “My stance is really close,” and that you can't get that out.

[0:54:23] JB: So, right then in there, you got to pull the trigger on like, “I don't feel comfortable.” But then you got to tell yourself like, “I got to trust where you're aiming.” I'm like, “Wow, I can't believe they actually tried to make me go right to the water here.” It just kind of was interesting.

[0:54:38] AT: But you know when you're saying you trust where you're aiming and you get about three-quarters away in your backswing and you're like, “Oh, I don't trust that.”

[0:54:46] JB: Yes. Guilty.

[0:54:50] BC: I'm working on some mental milestones in my game where I'm supposed to check in with myself before I start swinging to make sure I'm not thinking about a whole bunch of things and maybe even check in with myself before I come down. It's just like, “I know nothing.” Before it started, I’m at the top and I was like, “I know less.”

[0:55:09] AT: You need more mind mentality on the golf course and you'll be fine. So, I have very few swing thoughts when I'm playing.

[0:55:17] BC: I've got too many and too many strokes. Well, guys, this is a great episode. Justin Binke, Director of Revenue and Sales and PGA professional at Founders Group. Thanks so much for sitting in, man. It was really fun talking with you and learning more about you and the Founders Group and just talking golf.

[0:55:33] JB: I enjoyed it.

[0:55:34] BC: Aaron. It's a great episode. Everyone, thank you for listening and we'll see you next time.

[0:55:39] AT: See you next time.

[0:55:40] JB: Thank you.

[END OF EPISODE]

[0:55:45] ANNOUNCER: Thanks for listening to Tee’d Off. Visit mbgolf.com and follow us on Instagram @teedoffpodcast for the latest episodes and news.

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