What's burning at the Kill House: March 2023

It's been a while since we've gone around the horn with a team-wide Q&A. I'll kick things off.

Neil

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

I'm very excited about what's going on behind the scenes at NLU. We are growing as a business, and with that growth, things get more complicated. I'm very proud of the way the team has responded to that complexity and the continued focus on creating content that entertains and informs avid golfers. That focus allows a wily veteran like KVV to jump in and make an immediate impact, something that may not have been possible even a year ago. I'm very grateful he decided to join the team.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

It's a two horse race for me between the movie Tár and the SNL skit featuring the animatronic Cologuard box. I also re-read the book The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien per KVV recommendation, and it was just as good 10 years later. Since it was a re-consumption, it has to be an honorable mention!

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

Of course, Patty Vise has a tool for every job, but he keeps his boxcutter/carpet knife clipped to his belt at all times. It's a versatile tool, and as a Treadstone operative, it can also be lethal.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Cam Smith shows up with bad intentions and wrecks the Rory block party on Sunday, April 9th.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

Tron

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

The Pro 4.0 aka Max Homa calling into the pod on January 29th the morning after his win at Torrey. It’s our favorite tradition and become a regular occurrence, and yet somehow I’m happier for him each and every time. Knowing both the work that he puts in, and the fact that he’s the exact same person as the day we met him, makes his success that much sweeter to witness.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

This guy performed the national anthem at the week 18 Titans-Jaguars game and burned the place down. Peak Florida Man.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

Patty Vise is a huge tape measure guy. Extremely deliberate. Truly a measure twice, cut once type.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Amateur/Vanderbilt Sophomore Gordon Sargent finishes in the top 20 at Augusta.

Soly

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

It's been the hottest start to any year that we've ever had, so this one was tough. I'm gonna go TC and list off a few: Shooting one of our best pieces of content ever with JT and Spieth, bringing Kevin Van Valkenburg aboard, the Jon Rahm/Max Homa podcast heater, reheating the No Laying Up website, launching a new LPGA podcast....I could keep going. But one of the highlight moments of my life, much less an NLU highlight, was walking up 18 with my dad on the bag at the Pebble Pro-Am. He had just lost his dad a few weeks prior, and it was a needed break for the both of us and I'll always remember that week.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

It's been the busiest start to a year I've had, and I don't think I've logged into Netflix other than to watch Full Swing. But I'll say, Bill Simmons' NFL playoff preview podcasts were fantastic and really got me back into football. Particularly, Peter Schrager and Benjamin Solak both broke down exactly what to look for in each matchup and it greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the NFL playoffs.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

A hammer? Or would he call it "the poundy thing"?

What's your bold Masters prediction?

The LIV Masters winners will be (politely) not invited to the Champions Dinner.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

Randy

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

Getting back to Pinehurst for the Donnybrook has been the highlight of 2023 for me so far. Was very nice to enjoy some sunshine and early spring weather in North Carolina while knocking some rust off the golf game and hanging out with a great crew.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

I have just started the book, “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin. This July, Christopher Nolan is releasing his movie, “Oppenheimer”, which I’m so stoked to see. I think reading the book beforehand will make the movie even more enjoyable.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

Favorite tool is a leveler. Has to make sure he’s even-keeled!

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Jordan Spieth returns to major glory.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

D.J.

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

Randy and I took a trip to LA earlier this year to record our annual Oscars pod with Tim Simons, which was as fun of a trip as I've had in a while. We don't get to do many podcasts in person anymore, so being in the same room and trying to make each other laugh was really energizing and refreshing. Sorry for how long it turned out.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

If you listened to the Goals TrapDraw Podcast, you know that Mr. 400 is trying to run down 100 birdies, 100 workouts, 100 movies and, perhaps the biggest challenge, finding and listening to 100 new albums that I've never heard. I've found some great recommendation sources and one of the albums that's stuck out to me the most is the self-titled 1969 debut album from an English psych band called Andromeda. Always a treat when you find something that's existed for more than 50 years that you had no idea was Absolutely Your Shit.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

Tape measure. Based on his pace of play, The Toolman is clearly a measure twice, cut once kind of guy.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

I think the three horsemen (Rory, Scottie, Rahm) are going to be gassed, paving the way for our beautiful boy Jordan Spieth to win his fourth Green Jacket.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

KVV

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

Selfishly I’m going to pick “Eight Short Films About Riviera.” We had talked a big game about bringing writing back to NLU regularly but talk doesn’t mean much until you produce. DJ and I came up with the idea mid-week that we wanted to give readers something they couldn’t get from television, and that only unique reporting and insight would justify going to events, and so I stayed up all night trying to craft these little scenes we thought of as mini-movies. The reception was great and I think it was the kind of tent pole we wanted to plant the announced to the golf world: Guess what? We do this now too.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

"A Pirate Looks at 61" by Spencer Hall. I’m cheating a little here because Hall’s send-off to Mike Leach came out in mid-December, but I’ve read it a few times since joining NLU and it delivers every time. I can’t link it because Spencer and Holly Anderson, friends to rogue media everywhere, run a paid newsletter called Channel 6 that’s some of the best $10 I spend a month. But Spencer writes with the kind of wit, humor and clarity I aspire to even one day scratch. Great obits aren’t hagiography. They’re honest and sad and funny and smart. The ending of the piece — “he walks and talks to no one but the stirring parrots about the endless sea, and all its glories a man can behold, simply by having the will to set sail” will stick with me forever.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

I’m going to go with a reciprocating saw. It’s like the paintbrush of demolition work. I don’t think Cantlay would use a sledgehammer or crowbar. He’s too finicky. He would want the finesse and speed of a reciprocating saw, plus the adaptability. He’d wield it like a surgeon.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Rory will have a real chance this year on the back 9. Doesn’t mean he’ll get it done, but he will be in the mix thanks to some smart wedge play.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

"This is a picture of my daughter Keegan and NLU young hitter Lauren Coughlin. About a year ago, Lauren and her husband John drove up to Baltimore because John had found a great deal on a grill. Lauren asked if Keegan and I wanted to play golf with them. Keegan was really nervous — an LPGA player on her home course! — but Lauren was the absolute best. She and Keegan drubbed me and John 4&3 and Keegan made a par to close out the match when Lauren hit her only bad drive of the day. It was such a great moment with great people. Lauren told me she used to play matches with her dad and his friends, and that’s how she fell in love with golf, and I can already see that happening with my daughter. She has one of Lauren’s gloves from that day hanging in her room, almost like it’s a holy object."

Casey

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

This may be recency bias, but the one-two punch of the Donnybrook in Pinehurst with a bunch of great Refugees followed up with a marathon day of Film Room filming in Jax with Ben, Soly, KVV, and Hueber has to top the list right now.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

Paramore's new album, This Is Why, has been on constant rotation since it came out in February.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

I'm thinking of the 2021 BMW where he outlasted Bryson in the 6 hole playoff - gotta be the 20V MAX* XR® 10.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery keeping him charged up to keep getting through the job.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Until it comes true, my standing Masters prediction is for Jon Rahm to win it!! Is it bold? Not really, but I'm committed to it for the 4th Masters in a row now.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

Ben

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

My highlight so far of 2023 was my solo morning at TPC Sawgrass leading up to Tron and Huebers Film Room shoot. I had a perfect morning without a soul on the course - just me and the camera. I muttered to myself a lot that morning about how lucky I am to have an opportunity to see Sawgrass like that.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

I really enjoyed the first part of Break Point on Netflix. Tennis has always been a sport I like to play but know very little about the professional game outside of the #hitters. Big fan of the lad Nick Kyrigos after his ep.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

Cantlay's favorite tool has to be the electric sander. I can see him getting deep into perfecting his wood prep before lathering on a nice finish.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

JT and Rory battle on Sunday and JT dons the green jacket.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

Cody

What has been your “NLU highlight” of 2023?

The Fourth Annual Oscars TrapDraw. With young kids now, I find it extremely difficult to take time away and go to the theatre. But it used to be a go-to weekly activity for Yari and me. What I have always loved about movies is that I see the story for what it is. Big, Deej, and specifically Tim can break down movies into something I have always thought of but never could. I appreciate their passion for the craft and art of filmmaking and in a weird way makes me better at my job.

Best piece of content you’ve consumed in 2023?

Alone at Dawn. This book is written by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz about John Chapman. John was a combat controller in the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Fort Bragg. He died in March 2002 during Operation Anaconda after risking his life to save his teammates. He is a hero, and the book is a great look back on the 20th anniversary of our involvement in Afghanistan.

What do you think Patrick Cantlay’s favorite tool is and why?

DEWALT Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch. Like Patrick, this is a high-powered piece of machinery. It's built for speed and precision. Its only goal is to have a smooth finish. However, it does not like depth. Struggles when things get rough. And is not the most prized piece in the shop. It just gets its job done.

What's your bold Masters prediction?

Max Homa wins. DJ finishes second. Rory makes the cut and somehow backdoors a top 10.

Caption a random picture on your phone from over a year ago.

I went with this one because I miss SP. I think it is natural to have moments looking back at what was and what could be. And I will note that I am as happy as I possibly could be in Texas. But this is about SPGC. From what it was, what it was turning into. And the hard work that the community did to save it thanks to the help of Mr. Kelly Miller. It was a project I am proud to be a part of. I need to find the Texas version of it.