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Claude Jennings Jr., Lawrence Brooks and Vernon Brown, the co-hosts of the Golf DMV podcast, have a unique relationship with the very sport they cover.
“We don’t get really golf nerdy about things,” Jennings Jr. said. “It’s literally just the fun we have, the love we have for the game, the hate we have for the game at times. ‘I’m tired of playing golf. I don’t want to do this anymore.’ But then we get up, [and] there’s just the pure fun that we have.”
Once per week, Jennings Jr., an audio engineer from Silver Spring; Brooks, a retired business owner from Damascus; and Brown, a former Air Force veteran and current defense contractor from Upper Marlboro, discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service.
On a recent episode, the trio interviewed Dave Mattes, general manager of the Links at Challedon in Mount Airy. A discussion on the links-style course evolved into an on-air taste test of the clubhouse’s crabcakes, chicken wings and fries — much to Mattes’ delight.
“We focused a lot on the menu, which is great because that was kind of what we wanted to promote,” he said. “We of course want people to come to the golf course and play the golf course, but we think that the thing that makes us relatively unique is a really good restaurant and a nice event facility in a place where people can come. And so there were multiple reasons for us to want to do this other than people getting to know our golf course.”
Jennings Jr. and Brooks launched the podcast almost nine years ago as a way to continue to feed their passion for golf.
“The whole premise was just to talk about golf in the DC area — essentially playing the courses and covering anything here in the DC metropolitan area,” said Jennings Jr., who is also the show’s executive producer. “And each show, it would be me just having all my friends who I played with, GMs, superintendents, instructors, just people around the DMV.”
Mattes was happy to host the Golf DMV podcast for a round on July 11. He said Challedon hosts 45,000 rounds per year, but is competing with other area courses for business.
“There’s a lot of competition out there,” he said. “So I think it’s great. It’s a win-win for everybody — for us to be able to promote us, our golf course and for them to showcase what we have. Anything that promotes the game of golf is better for us because it’s our livelihood.”
Jennings Jr., Brooks and Brown — who became a co-host in 2019 — usually spend much of the 45-to-60-minute-long podcast reviewing past performances. With an 8.6 handicap, Brown is the best player among the ********* and has carded career-low 77s at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana and Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace this year.
“I look forward to doing the shows. I always have,” said Brooks, who owns a 17.8 handicap while Jennings Jr. is at 17.6. “At the end of the day, these guys are my friends. Who doesn’t like talking to their friends?”
That friend group has grown. The co-hosts play weekend rounds and arrange golf trips for as many as 20 friends — some of whom did not know the trio until they began listening to the podcast.
Brown, who is in charge of organizing trips to destinations such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina, said adding golfers to the group has been rewarding.
“When we went to Whistling Straits with a lot of these guys, and they were blown away by the property and all this stuff, that’s the coolest part to me because no matter how you play, when it’s all said and done, I’ll have the memories of these trips, of the experiences with these guys,” he said. “Those are the things that are going to stick with me when I’m old, and I can’t play anymore.”
Until then, the ********* envision a vibrant future for their golfing futures. Jennings Jr. said he would like to include women in their weekend rounds, and Brown said he would like to continue to teach the unwritten rules of golf such as wearing the proper attire and instructing golfers where to stand when others are about to hit their balls.
Brooks, however, might have the boldest plan for the podcast: a time slot on the Golf Channel.
“I think that’s probably unrealistic,” he said with a grin. “But on the other hand, I don’t see why not. Because I’ve seen some of the content that’s on cable television and some of the stuff I see is no better than what we’re doing.”
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
Once per week, Lawrence Brooks, pictured, Claude Jennings Jr. and Vernon Brown co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.. Once per week, Vernon Brown, pictured, Lawrence Brooks and Claude Jennings Jr., co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.. Show Caption1 of 3Once per week, Claude Jennings Jr., pictured, Lawrence Brooks and Vernon Brown co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits..Expand
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“We don’t get really golf nerdy about things,” Jennings Jr. said. “It’s literally just the fun we have, the love we have for the game, the hate we have for the game at times. ‘I’m tired of playing golf. I don’t want to do this anymore.’ But then we get up, [and] there’s just the pure fun that we have.”
Once per week, Jennings Jr., an audio engineer from Silver Spring; Brooks, a retired business owner from Damascus; and Brown, a former Air Force veteran and current defense contractor from Upper Marlboro, discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service.
On a recent episode, the trio interviewed Dave Mattes, general manager of the Links at Challedon in Mount Airy. A discussion on the links-style course evolved into an on-air taste test of the clubhouse’s crabcakes, chicken wings and fries — much to Mattes’ delight.
“We focused a lot on the menu, which is great because that was kind of what we wanted to promote,” he said. “We of course want people to come to the golf course and play the golf course, but we think that the thing that makes us relatively unique is a really good restaurant and a nice event facility in a place where people can come. And so there were multiple reasons for us to want to do this other than people getting to know our golf course.”
Jennings Jr. and Brooks launched the podcast almost nine years ago as a way to continue to feed their passion for golf.
“The whole premise was just to talk about golf in the DC area — essentially playing the courses and covering anything here in the DC metropolitan area,” said Jennings Jr., who is also the show’s executive producer. “And each show, it would be me just having all my friends who I played with, GMs, superintendents, instructors, just people around the DMV.”
Mattes was happy to host the Golf DMV podcast for a round on July 11. He said Challedon hosts 45,000 rounds per year, but is competing with other area courses for business.
“There’s a lot of competition out there,” he said. “So I think it’s great. It’s a win-win for everybody — for us to be able to promote us, our golf course and for them to showcase what we have. Anything that promotes the game of golf is better for us because it’s our livelihood.”
Jennings Jr., Brooks and Brown — who became a co-host in 2019 — usually spend much of the 45-to-60-minute-long podcast reviewing past performances. With an 8.6 handicap, Brown is the best player among the ********* and has carded career-low 77s at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana and Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace this year.
“I look forward to doing the shows. I always have,” said Brooks, who owns a 17.8 handicap while Jennings Jr. is at 17.6. “At the end of the day, these guys are my friends. Who doesn’t like talking to their friends?”
That friend group has grown. The co-hosts play weekend rounds and arrange golf trips for as many as 20 friends — some of whom did not know the trio until they began listening to the podcast.
Brown, who is in charge of organizing trips to destinations such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina, said adding golfers to the group has been rewarding.
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“When we went to Whistling Straits with a lot of these guys, and they were blown away by the property and all this stuff, that’s the coolest part to me because no matter how you play, when it’s all said and done, I’ll have the memories of these trips, of the experiences with these guys,” he said. “Those are the things that are going to stick with me when I’m old, and I can’t play anymore.”
Until then, the ********* envision a vibrant future for their golfing futures. Jennings Jr. said he would like to include women in their weekend rounds, and Brown said he would like to continue to teach the unwritten rules of golf such as wearing the proper attire and instructing golfers where to stand when others are about to hit their balls.
Brooks, however, might have the boldest plan for the podcast: a time slot on the Golf Channel.
“I think that’s probably unrealistic,” he said with a grin. “But on the other hand, I don’t see why not. Because I’ve seen some of the content that’s on cable television and some of the stuff I see is no better than what we’re doing.”
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
Once per week, Lawrence Brooks, pictured, Claude Jennings Jr. and Vernon Brown co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.. Once per week, Vernon Brown, pictured, Lawrence Brooks and Claude Jennings Jr., co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.. Show Caption1 of 3Once per week, Claude Jennings Jr., pictured, Lawrence Brooks and Vernon Brown co-host the Golf DMV podcast. The trio discuss in-person or online results from the men’s and women’s professional tours, interview general managers and teaching pros from area golf courses, and provide reviews of courses’ upkeep, food and beverage menus and customer service. They also have built a growing community of golfers who hit the links on weekends and take trips to golf meccas such as Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits..Expand
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