The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts

Golf is booming — but the business behind the game has never been more complicated.In this special live episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, recorded ahead of the U.S. Open, Jimmy sits down for two separate conversations with two of the most influential voices in golf, media, and business: Mark Lazarus and Jimmy Dunne.Lazarus, CEO of Versant and one of the key figures behind Golf Channel, breaks down why golf has become such a valuable business across media, technology, tee times, streaming, content, and fan engagement. From Golf Channel to GolfNow, GolfPass, college golf, the LPGA, USGA relationships, and the future of sports rights, Lazarus explains why golf is no longer just a television product — it’s an entire business ecosystem.Then Jimmy sits down with Jimmy Dunne, the Wall Street dealmaker, president of Seminole Golf Club, former PGA Tour Policy Board member, and one of the central figures in the PGA Tour/LIV Golf framework agreement. Dunne speaks candidly about LIV, the future of the PGA Tour, private investment, the role of money in golf, and why he believes the game’s biggest strength remains its ability to build relationships.In this episode:Why Golf Channel sees itself as the “network of record” for golfHow GolfNow became a major piece of the golf businessWhy live sports rights are putting pressure on every leagueWhat the NFL’s next media deal could mean for golfWhy LIV became a “giant distraction”How money changed the conversation around professional golfWhat Jimmy Dunne learned from negotiating the PGA Tour/LIV framework agreementWhy access, affordability, and star power may determine golf’s next chapterHow the U.S. Open, media, private investment, and the PGA Tour all intersectThis is a conversation about more than one tournament. It’s about the future of golf — who controls it, who pays for it, who profits from it, and how the game continues to grow without losing what made people fall in love with it in the first place.If you care about golf, media, sports business, LIV, the PGA Tour, or where the game goes next, this is a conversation worth your full attention.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Airing on Golf Channel every TuesdayThe Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts is produced by Big Swing Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The WM Phoenix Open isn’t just a golf tournament — it’s one of the most unique live sporting events in the world.In this episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, Jimmy sits down with Jim Fish, President & CEO of WM, to unpack how the WM Phoenix Open became the “greatest show on grass” — drawing nearly 700,000 fans and redefining what golf can look like when entertainment, sustainability, and community collide.Fish explains the inflection points that transformed the event, from Tiger Woods’ iconic hole-in-one on the 16th hole to WM’s decision to turn the tournament into the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world. He breaks down why Hole 16 feels more like a gladiator arena than a golf hole, how younger fans are reshaping expectations around the sport, and why creating a clear identity matters more than tradition in today’s golf landscape.Beyond the tournament, Fish opens up about his leadership philosophy, shaped by a near-death illness early in his career, ride-alongs with frontline workers, and a belief that culture is built by listening in the field — not just making decisions in the boardroom.This episode also includes Powering the Women’s Game, presented by Chevron, spotlighting the continued growth and innovation in women’s golf, including the announcement of a women’s TGL initiative backed by high-profile investors and LPGA stars. Plus, in Making Better Decisions, presented by Aon, Fish reflects on the pivotal choices that have shaped his leadership approach and guided WM’s long-term strategy.This is a wide-ranging conversation about sports business, fan experience, sustainability, leadership, and the future of golf — and why the Waste Management Open has become a model other events are trying to understand, not replicate.🔔 Subscribe for New Episodes Every Wednesday Morning▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Live on Golf Channel Every Tuesday Morning at 7am & 9am#JimFish #WasteManagementOpen #BusinessOfGolf #TheBigSwing #JimmyRoberts #SportsBusiness #GolfIndustry #SustainabilityInSportsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you think fairy tales in golf only happen inside the ropes — think again.This week on The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, Jimmy sits down with Sam Hahn, Founder of L.A.B. Golf, for one of the most unconventional business stories the game has ever seen.What started as a strange, “ugly” putter with a cult following turned into one of the fastest-growing equipment companies in golf — exploding from roughly $1M to $60M in annual sales in just four years, before being sold at a massive valuation. Sam walks through the moments that nearly broke the company, the tour break that almost ended it, and why not relying on PGA Tour validation became the key to survival.Along the way, Sam breaks down:How a musician and bar owner became a golf equipment disruptorWhy L.A.B. Golf rejected traditional marketing and tour contractsThe risks of scaling too fast — and the break that saved the companyWhat it’s like letting go of a brand you built from nothingWhy belief, obsession, and community mattered more than capitalPlus, we debut Powering the Women’s Game presented by Chevron, a new biweekly segment highlighting the growth, history, and future of women’s golf — beginning at the LPGA’s 75th anniversary and examining why the women’s game is poised for its biggest era yet.If you care about entrepreneurship, innovation, golf business, or building something the hard way — this episode is required listening.🔔 Subscribe for New Episodes Every Wednesday Morning▶️ Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📺 Live on Golf Channel Every Tuesday Morning at 7am & 9am#SamHahn #LABGolf #GolfBusiness #GolfInnovation #FounderStory #GolfPutter #TheBigSwing #JimmyRobertsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the past few months, The Big Swing has sat down with some of the most influential voices shaping the business of golf — from CEOs and founders to creators redefining how the game is consumed.In this special 2025 recap episode, Jimmy Roberts is joined by sports journalist and friend of the show Mollie Cahillane to look back at the most impactful conversations, ideas, and themes from recent episodes of The Big Swing.Together, they break down what these conversations reveal about where golf is headed — and what matters most right now across media, retail, leadership, and culture.This episode revisits insights from recent guests including:Executives rethinking long-term growth over short-term pressureRetail leaders navigating brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and brand loyaltyCreators building massive audiences outside traditional golf mediaBrands winning through customer experience, culture, and authenticityIt’s a curated look at the ideas, decisions, and inflection points that defined the business of golf in 2025 so far — and a roadmap for what’s coming next.Subscribe for new episodesWatch on YouTube | Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify#TheBigSwing #GolfBusiness #GolfIndustry #JimmyRoberts #2025RecapSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.