Stop Fighting Your Golf Swing: Play Better, Lead Better & the Tech Making Sports Safer
- S13E46
- 1:47:35
- August 31st 2026
The professional golf season may be winding down, but Next on the Tee never sleeps.
This week, I’m joined by three outstanding guests bringing us great golf instruction, leadership insights, legendary stories, and a fascinating look at innovation in sports.
Resident Director of Instruction Tom Patri, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Alumni Instructor, is back to talk about the Player of the Year conversation—who belongs in it, who could sneak into the discussion, and what we can learn from Ryan Fox’s swing. TP also explains something that hurts golfers at every level: tension. We’ll talk about how tension destroys motion and what you can do to free up your swing and play better golf.
Then, Tom Wildenhaus, Director of Golf at Olde Florida Golf Club, PGA Master Professional, and member of the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame, joins me for a conversation that goes beyond the golf swing. Tom shares his perspective on leadership, including some important do’s and don’ts for creating the kind of culture and experience that keeps members and guests coming back.
We’ll also cross over into the football world with longtime friend Lee Hanson, Co-Founder of Guardian Caps. We have been longtime believers in Guardian Caps. Lee and Erin Hanson started the company back in 2011. We first met them on Thursday Night Tailgate (football show) back in 2012 and have been tooting their horn ever since. You’ve probably seen their protective helmet covers being worn by players from youth football all the way to the NFL. Lee takes us back to their early days, the journey to acceptance, and what's behind the innovation designed to help make the game safer—and there’s a great golf connection too. His company manufactures urethane covers for several golf ball brands, and Lee was also involved in helping Dick’s Sporting Goods bring the Maxfli brand back to life.
Golf instruction, Player of the Year debate, club leadership, sports safety innovation, golf ball technology, and plenty of great stories—it’s all packed into this edition of Next on the Tee…where golf legends live and your game gets better.
Thank you for pressing play and taking the journey with us.
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
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.