Rick Werner, Top Teaching Professional & South Dakota Golf Hall of Famer, Joins Me... artwork
Next on the Tee: Where Golf Legends Live & Your Game Gets Better

Rick Werner, Top Teaching Professional & South Dakota Golf Hall of Famer, Joins Me...

  • S10E33
  • 32:27
  • September 6th 2023

In this special segment of the show I am joined by one of the Top PGA Club Professionals of our time, 1979 Ohio PGA Section Champion, and a member of the 2023 South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame Class, Rick Werner. 

Rick and I start off by going back to his days at the University of South Dakota and the tremendous success he had there. We hear the story about the date he went on with Cheryl Ladd when they were in high school together. We hear the details of his victory in the 1979 Ohio PGA Section. We get into the time he spent as a Teaching Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club which is annually ranked among the top courses in the country. Rick talks about the other great Instructors he's learned from over the years including our good friend Jim McLean, plus John jacobs, Davis Love Jr., and Jackie Burke. We hear about the many rounds of golf he played with Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi plus a fabulous story from when he was paired with the great Charlie Sifford. He met legendary Notre Dame Head Coach Ara Parseghian along his journeys and Rick talks about the influence Coach had on his life. Finally, you'll hear an emotional Rick talking about what it will mean to him when he gets inducted into the South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame this week.

Next on the Tee, Where Golf Legends Live & Your Game Gets Better

Next on the Tee with Chris Mascaro is a conversation-driven golf podcast built on gratitude, storytelling, and a genuine love for the game. Each week, award-winning host Chris Mascaro welcomes golf legends, major champions, top instructors, broadcasters, caddies, and industry insiders to share the stories you won’t hear anywhere else—stories that entertain, inspire, and help you play better golf.

More than swing tips and scorecards, Next on the Tee is about the people who make the game special. From behind-the-scenes moments at major championships to practical instruction you can take straight to the course, every episode blends insight, heart, and a deep appreciation for the game’s traditions and its future.

Whether you’re a lifelong golfer or simply someone who loves great stories, this is your front-row seat to the heart of the game—where golf legends live, your game gets better, and gratitude always leads the way.

And as always…thank you for pressing play and sharing the show.

Meet the Host

Chris Mascaro avatar
Chris Mascaro
Host

I’m Chris Mascaro, who is blessed to be the award-winning host and creator of Next on the Tee. The heart of the show is a deep gratitude for my guests who share great stories, and a genuine love for the game of golf. Each week, I’m fortunate to sit down with golf legends, major champions, top instructors, broadcasters, caddies, and storytellers who are kind enough to share their time, insights, and experiences with all of us.

I believe golf is at its best when it brings people together. My goal with every episode is to go beyond the leaderboard and the swing tips, and instead focus on the stories, lessons, and moments that stay with us—both on and off the course. I want listeners to enjoy the game more, think about it a little differently, and feel connected to the people who have shaped it.

Next on the Tee has been honored with multiple industry awards, including w3, Davey, and Communicator Awards, and I’m incredibly grateful for that recognition. Even more meaningful to me is the community that’s grown around the show—“Next on the Tee Nation.” I never take for granted that you choose to spend your time here, and I’m thankful every time you press play.

At the end of the day, I approach each episode with humility, curiosity, and appreciation—for the guests who trust me with their stories, and for the listeners who continue to take the journey with me.