[upbeat piano music] Welcome to the Basic Golf Podcast. I have the 2026 Mass Four-Ball champions, Shane Walsh and Chris Gatcum.
Came out of nowhere, won an event, uh, out at Indian Pond in Waverly Oaks. Guys, welcome to the Basic Golf Podcast. Yeah, thanks for having us. Yeah. Thank you, Sean. This is great. So
I, I, I, I wanna start with just that day, and actually, no golf. I wanna talk about you finishing your second round. You shot seven under par. You post a number that looked very difficult to get to. I think it was...
I think 12 ended up being the, the score that ended up in a playoff, but you guys looked pretty safe and comfortable. The weather was cold. It was just a miserable day to play golf. You went out early.
Chris makes a hole in one. [chuckles] Uh,
how did you spend the window of time between finishing your round and then having to go and hit golf balls at Waverly Oaks and try to win a playoff against Matt Parziale and Herbie Aikens, who are, like, kind of Mass Golf legends in, in a lot of respects?
Let's go with Chris. I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll ask Chris. Oh, well, I was gonna ask 'cause it's like, uh, we could... This is p- I don't know if this is PG or not, but, like, I mean, we went to the bar and had some beers.
[chuckles] And, you know, we were kinda just, like, refreshing Golf Genius and kinda just saw them climbing. Um, there was another team, too, that, that made a good run. Forget their names.
But, uh, yeah, I mean, after the hole in one, we... I was like, "We gotta go in and have a beer, right?"
I th- I, I don't think we, like, felt super comfortable with knowing that Parziale and, and Aikens were, like, out there, and we c- we saw their start, and they, they started hot, too.
So we were just kinda, like, sitting there, like, kept refreshing, and we might have to, uh, might have to go over to Waverly and, and put the spikes back on. When did the waters start? I mean, those started...
We, I think we finished... So we were in Indian Pond the, the second day, and I think we finished at around, like, 1:00, 1:30. Yeah.
And like you said, like, we posted a good score, so we kinda knew that we, we had a chance.
And yeah, obviously Chris had made a hole in one, so it's like, we're not gonna, we're not gonna not do beers inside for a little bit. And I think we saw Parziale and Aikens, like, get off to a hot start.
I think they had teed off, like, right around 1:30 or 2:00. Uh, so we had lunch. We're just kinda watching them go. A couple other teams were right there.
And once we saw that they got it to, like, nine or 10 under, this had to have been, like, 5:00, 6:00. Um, they had told us that the- [chuckles]... the ceremony and the playoff would be at Waverly.
So at that point we were kinda like, "Okay," like, "Let's, let's head over to Waverly, uh, chill there for a little bit. Whatever happens, happens."
And then obviously, uh, you know, they had, they had reached 12 under, and we kinda had to wait for the whole field to finish, which was, like, another 45 minutes.
And then, you know, someone from Mass Golf grabbed us and was like, "Hey, we're gonna, we're gonna start the playoff around 7:00 PM. Go hit some balls, hit some putts, and we'll, we'll just kinda get going."
So yeah, it was a, it was a long day. I think we were at, uh, we were at Waverly, uh, around, like, 6:45, 7:00 AM. Or no, sorry, at, at Indian Pond for, uh, for the second round.
And yeah, we left Waverly at, like, 8:00, 8:30. So it was, it was quite the, uh, quite the marathon of a day. What's, uh, what's warming up for a playoff like that?
Like, are you guys just kind of head spinning, just trying to... It's so cold. I mean, you were in w- winter hats. It's hard to believe it's, it's, like, almost 90 today, um, that it was that cold a few weeks ago.
Yeah, I mean, I know I had a coffee and went out and, like, took some putts and... I don't know.
It's like, you have to rewarm up, but also, like, I don't need to hit, like, a ton of balls 'cause I just, I don't have that many swings in me in one day. So it's like [chuckles] I gotta, I gotta, I gotta save these.
But yeah, we, I don't know, we had, like, 20 minutes or so and hit some putts. Went out, hit a s- you know, half of a small bucket. Drove to the 18th. And Chris, you made- Yeah, I think it was two. Yeah. Sorry.
Sorry, Sean. Go ahead, Shane. No, go ahead. No, I, I mean, it's just unique 'cause it's like you, you played a, a set of greens, like, earlier in the day at, uh, at Indian Pond. Yeah, sure.
And then you get to Waverly for a different day that, you know, you had played the day before.
Um, I know we spent a couple minutes on the putting green just kinda figuring out the pace and, and if it was similar to, to Indian Pond or not. But yeah, like Chris said, like, it, it was a long day.
We had been sitting for a while, so I think just, just kinda getting the body going for a few minutes and then, you know, just kinda going to the, to the playoff tee and, and just get ready to go.
Clearly did not take enough putts because the first putt I hit in the first playoff hole was about seven feet short. [chuckles] And I handcuffed my partner a little bit.
[chuckles] So I was like, "Oh, didn't get that one there." Yeah, so the first playoff hole you guys split with a par, and Shane makes the par. Mm-hmm. Yeah, we had, uh...
I think I had a look for actually a pretty good look. I think it was, like, probably 10, 10, 12 feet. Um, it just kinda, just kinda slid by, but, um, yeah, we had a good look for the first hole.
I kinda handcuffed you, though, with, with my putt. Like- No, that's all right...
you couldn't, like, you couldn't be aggressive with that putt, which, I don't know, pissed me off a little bit 'cause I was like, I wanted, I wanted Shano to, like, drain one first hole, his home state.
True, true competitor, too. Just wanted to, wanted to get it right, Chris. Like, had to hit it. And then Chris, you make birdie on the, on the second one. Knock it to, like, what?
You probably had a- another seven-foot putt. I think I had... So I di- actually didn't take that putt that I left short on the first hole, but I literally, it was probably in the same exact spot. Yeah.
Um, and I remember looking at it and being like, "I think this is just inside the right edge." But I didn't actually hit it 'cause Shane just, uh, you know, tapped in a, tapped in a par putt. So,
um, but yeah, I was lucky to not have too much of a, of a knee-knocker. And Parziale, like, runs his just by the cup for birdie, too. Like, one of those- Yeah, two, two- One of those holes... two holes in a row.
Like, it was crazy. It was like they were both kind of from the same spot. It had to have been 50, 60 feet. I mean- Under those circumstances- It, it was crazy... to hit those two putts was, like, nuts. Yeah.
I, I thought he made the first one. I thought he gutted the first one, and then the second one just slid by the right edge. Yeah. I mean, he shot 64 on his own ball, I think, on that second round at, at Waverley.
What were your expectations going into the week? I, uh- Did you have any, anything? Just have fun. Well, I mean, this was, this was the first kinda, kind of event that, that Chris and I played in together.
We had, we had played some golf before. Obviously we're, we're both decent players and enjoy each other's company out on the golf course, so... I know I...
Personally, I kinda thought it would be a, a good team dynamic for us. We, we both play similar games. And no, I mean, as far as expectations, like, I don't think we had, we had too many expectations, Chris.
I think we just wanted to go out there and, you know, try to make as many birdies as, you know, as we could, which is, you know, kind of the, the name of the game in a, in an event like that.
Um, I think we just, uh, we played off each other so well the, the, the two days. You know, I think- I don't think we birdied the same hole, which was crazy. Whenever I was out of a hole, Chris was in the hole.
Chris made big po- par, par saves when I was out making a bogey or a double bogey, and, and vice versa.
You know, we, we, we truly did play, like, really great team golf, and I think that's how, you know, we got to a score, uh, that was able to eventually win it. Yeah, and it's super helpful when you have, like, a partner.
Like, we hit our irons very similar distances, so basically having each other, like, caddy for one another the entire time,
and be able to, like, have two, you know, two minds look at, what, what are we hitting here on a p- what's the number on a par three, winds off the right, when we could both kinda, like, come to a conclusion for that.
I think that's really helpful as well. Who went first on the... Chris, did you hit after Shane when you made the hole in one? Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, so he hit wedge- So Shane basically got you a hole in one, is what you're saying. Yeah, ex- exactly. Yeah. 100%. That's the reason why Chris, yeah, Chris got a h- Yeah, I think that hole was, what, Chris?
It was, like, playing, I wanna say, like, right around 150. I think we settled on 144, and you hit wedge first. Um, and you didn't, you didn't hit it great, but you were like, "That... Dude, it's the number." And
I just got up and trusted it, and, uh, just one-hopped it. One-hopped it and trusted it, trusted it pretty well, I think. [chuckles] Yeah, I mean...
But, like, when you can freely get up and just know that you have the right club in your hand after, you know, like, talking it through with your partner, it's, it's just such a different, like, mindset.
With putting too, right? I mean, when you know the next one's good 'cause your partner's in for par, like, you can, you can be aggressive and... Yeah, just, I mean, it worked out, so.
How much, how much golf do you guys play together in general? Even just wa- like, you guys kind of, even as you're talking here, like, one goes, the other goes. You're very, you kind of can read each other a little bit.
I mean, we started, I think, Chris, we started playing golf together, I wanna say, like, close to two years ago, uh, right around that, that timeframe.
Yeah, like, Chris, uh, Chris and I play up at, uh, at George Wright, um, a little bit.
And it hasn't been super long we've pl- been playing together, but we have a, kind of a good group of buddies that are all around the same handicap, so we get out and have good games together.
And, and like Chris said, I think, I think we have similar games where we hit our irons the same length, you know, driver the same length, play a similar style.
So, you know, I, I just thought he'd be a great partner to, to team up with, and, you know, I'm happy that, you know, we, we showed well, and I know we're excited to, to do a couple more events together and, and just kinda see where we can go as a, as a team.
You guys gonna defend your title next year if it works out? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're not, you're not out looking for other partners, trying to- Shane's being modest, by the way, too.
He hits his driver way by me, but- [laughs]... our irons are, are pretty similar. He, he bombs the driver, though. What, uh, what are your, like, individually, your competitive backgrounds in, in golf? W- did you guys...
Have you, do you guys play competitively as, at a younger age? Did you get into the game later on? Where does that kinda fit for both of you? Let's start with Shane.
Yeah, I mean, for me, I played c- like, high school golf. It was always golf and, and hockey for me growing up.
I went to Catholic Memorial, you know, mostly for, for hockey, and I played golf, uh, my freshman and sophomore year, and then stopped playing to, to focus on hockey.
And yeah, I w- I was fortunate enough to, to go on and play hockey in college, and then play professionally for a couple years after college.
And then, you know, kinda towards my end of my hockey-playing career, I started looking into, you know, competitive golf just because I'd always played golf.
You know, whether it be during the season, in the summertime, it w- it was something that I loved. You know, mentally, physically, it's nice to get out there and walk.
It's a, it's a great social, you know, few hours that you spend with your buddies. So golf was always big in, in my life.
And yeah, I think, uh, you know, three or four years ago, I, I, I started to sign up for some of the qualifiers for Mass Golf.
And, um, you know, I'm super, I'm a super competitive guy, and there really is nothing like competitive golf.
Um, it, it truly is, like, you, you versus the course, and, you know, you kinda g- have to go out there and, and think through different shots and different rounds and, you know, go post a score.
So I fell in love with the competitive side of golf, like, pretty early, um, once I started to do it.
And then, yeah, the last few years, I've just been trying to sign up for as much as I can, and, um, you know, I'll continue to start playing in, in all these events if I can get in.
Yeah, I mean, I had a similar kinda upbringing. Um, played golf, started when I was, like, six. Actually, I... So I got into golf, funny enough, 'cause, like, my dad was, like, a huge baseball player growing up.
And my older brother, he got him, he got him into Little League, but he, like, couldn't stand watching Little League.
So as soon as I was old enough to start Little League, my dad was like, "No, we're not doing, I'm not doing however many more years of this. Like, we're, we're getting you into golf." Because he started...
That's when he started to play too, kinda later in life. You know, I got lucky in, in that sense. And, uh, my brother and I, he was 10, I was 6, we started playing. And, um, we had a local place that we,
that we went to and kind of just lived at all summer. And, uh, then we ended up working at that same course. So we essentially had, like, free golf from, you know, early childhood through college.
Yeah, I played high school golf, and then I played one semester at Sacred Heart, one semester at Quinnipiac. Um, and then Quinnipiac ended up, like, the program got canceled after my freshman year. Yeah.
So, um, that was essentially the end of the golf career. I was a little, like... You know, I was, like, 19 years old, and I just didn't wanna go make a, a new group of friends at a new school.
Third school in three semesters, so I kinda, I kinda hung it up. But, you know, I was able to study abroad and do a lot of fun things in college that I wouldn't have been able to do if I was an athlete.
Did you, did you kinda keep playing golf through college, or did you just...
There's a lot of people who, like, c- in college I talk to, even c- competitively, and if they didn't play in college, like, on a team, they just didn't really play a lot of golf, whether it was, like, they just didn't have the money or they just had other things that they were doing.
Did you keep playing, or did you kinda, like, just stop playing for a bit? Yeah, I kept playing. Not, like, at that same level, obviously, but, you know, I would do, like, CSGA qualifiers. I would do...
I played in, like, my, like, local club championship and, and stuff like that. But, um... And then, and then after college, I, you know, I worked for, like, a year, and then I joined the Coast Guard.
That's when I kinda didn't play for, like, call it four years almost. I, I probably played four rounds of golf in four years. Um, something in that range.
And then when I got out, I, like, fell back in love with it and started playing a bunch again. And then have you competed for the Coast Guard? Have you played in some, in kind of, like, the military games stuff?
I don't even know if that's the right term, but I know they have kind of a, a league within the service. Yeah. So the, I play in this thing called the VGA, which is, like, the Veteran Golfers Association.
Um, and that's not really associated with... So, like, there's a, there's a Coast Guard team, and it's typically for active duty- Got it... um, Coasties to play on. And I know a few people on their team.
Um, but I play in this thing called the VGA, and it's kinda like a nationwide thing where you can, you play in, like, local events, you earn points, and you kinda have, like, your own handicap within that realm.
And then you can, based on, like, how you play, you can qualify for, you know, regionals, like state championships, and then nationals, which is all individual.
Or you can qualify for, like, different team events, like the Armed Forces Cup, where, you know, you have eight or, eight or 10 guys or, and gals from, from each service compete against each other in, like, a Ryder Cup style event.
So yeah, I've been doing that the last few years, kinda just adding to the competitive side.
It's, it's, you know, it's good, it's good for your game to play a lot of, like, events where you have to put the ball in the hole. [laughs] Like, higher end match play stuff.
I think it's, like, it shows when you get into, like, those higher pressure situations if you have those reps of having to make putts when it matters, even if it's either for a few bucks, like, with your buddies on the weekends, or if it's in a situation like that where you're, there's nothing on the line except just pride for your branch of service, so.
Yeah. Yeah, the, just putting, you're putting the ball in the cup is, is definitely a skill. It's a different game. It's, it's a completely different game. Yeah.
And if you don't do it enough, like, or you play in, like, one or two qualifiers a summer and you're like, "Oh, why, why is this so hard?" It's like, well, you just don't do it enough. [laughs] Yeah, yeah.
It's really, really hard. You gotta get the reps. What part of Chris's game, Shane, would you want to steal, and vice versa? So what's, what's a part of each oth- each other's games that you're like, "Oh man, this is...
I love this part of, of his game"? Yeah. I think, uh, I think for Chris it's, like, it's inside of... If he has a wedge in his hand, like inside 125, 130,
uh, I mean, I think especially those two days that we played together, I wanna say he was no further than, you know, eight feet away for, for a birdie putt.
And, you know, Chris putts the lights out too, so I think just the ability to, to stuff one in there, like, kinda on cue and, you know, give it a, a good aggressive roll.
You know, that's something that I'm, I'm definitely working on in my game. Uh, I think just being a little more aggressive with, uh, with birdie putts and giving it a chance, I guess. You know?
There's no- nothing worse than having a, a good birdie look and, you know, get, not getting the ball to the hole or, you know, missing the cup completely, which is something that, uh, certainly happens in my game.
But, yeah, I think, I think for Chris it's like whenever Chris has a decent birdie look, like, it, it has a chance to go in, and that's, that's a, a great skill to have.
Well, Shane, you said that, but, I mean, you, you knocked in five in 10 holes- [laughs]... at Waverley. Our last 10 holes, so I was trying to think of, like- Yeah, we had, we had, we were getting on.
You just rubbed off on him. We were getting on a little bit. Yeah, getting on. You know? Yeah. I, so, I mean, I think Shane hits his, like, his woods just so pure. Um, like, really consistent off the tee.
Like, doesn't, like... Like, his misses aren't huge misses, whereas, like, if I start missing the driver, I'm hitting it off the planet. And I feel like Shane's really consistent off the tee. And then even with,
like, three wood, five wood, it's always just a pure, nice and straight, like, right at, right at target. I mean, the shot you hit on, uh, what hole is that where we were par five?
Well, I'm all back, I'm all mixed up 'cause we started on the back at, at Waverley, but I think it was, like, the third or fourth hole at Waverley on our, it was our back nine. Yeah, that was the, the fourth hole.
The one the, over the water, the par five. Yeah. I mean, like, I was further back. I laid up, and I kinda said to him, I was like, "Dude, I'm gonna, I'm gonna have a birdie look."
He kind of had like a, a little bit of a weird lie, but at like, what was that? Like 250, like into the wind, and he just roasted a three wood like to 17 feet, 18 feet. I was like, "Okay."
[laughs] Yeah, that was, uh, [laughs] that was, uh- Yeah... I was happy.
I was, I was happy I hit that one well, 'cause yeah, that was, uh, it was kind of sitting down in a, a little bit of like a trench, almost like a, a pipe underneath the fairway. Yeah.
But yeah, no, that, that one, I'm happy that that one, that one got to the, got to the green and cleared the water. You were like, what, three weeks after the win at this point. You got a hole in one. You obviously won.
Make birdie in a playoff to beat Parson, Akins.
Are there any little moments that, like Chris, you kind of just even shared the shot on at Waverly, but are there any little moments that you guys have either like talked about or just pop in your head like, "Oh man, that was super cool," or like, "Man, if this didn't happen, we probably are not in that playoff"?
I think for me, it's just like looking back on those two days, it's... I mean, I think it's the length of, of day two, obviously. Like, that was something that's like so crazy. You don't, you don't prepare for that.
You can't really prepare for that. So I, I, I think just looking back for me, it's like, it's cool to
be able to draw on that a little bit and know that after a little adversity of sitting around and not doing anything, hitting two good tee balls off of the playoff hole, I thought that that was cool.
And then I think another thing, too, is just the weather. It was, it was crazy. I mean, it was...
I think the first day, uh, we teed off, the forecast looked decent, but then you get up to Waverly, and it was an afternoon, afternoon time for us, and it was just windy and cold. And I'm like, oh my- Just blowing 25.
Yeah. Like- And like, you just, you weren't expecting it to be that cold. And then the next day, when we tee off in the morning, it was the same thing. It was like raining kind of a little bit.
I hate playing in the rain. There's nothing worse- [laughs]... than playing in the cold rain.
So yeah, I think just kind of not having that affect, you know, our ability to just go out there and, and ha- one, have a good time and, and just kind of feed off each other, but also play some, some good golf in there, too.
Yeah, I think like a moment for me was like what I just described, like that shot that he, that sh- what was it? Three or four, I'm forgetting.
But I think at that moment, and then he, a- and then he like just barely missed the eagle putt
and like tapped in a birdie, and I was like, at that point I was like, "I think we can, I think we can do something cool here." And then he, you know, proceeded to rattle off like two more coming in.
The one shot I wish we had back, Shane, was, um, our tee shot on 17 at Waverly. We both like- Yeah, the long, long par three. Yeah. Uh, like that crazy elevated green
with the, uh, yeah, there's like a bunker short, but it's like a two... I mean, it had to have been like a two- That's a monster par three. Oh, yeah. Yeah. [laughs] It's like 210, 215 carry, like straight up the hill.
I, I thought we had, I thought we had a good number and we both hit the same club, and we kind of both landed in the exact same spot, I think like probably three feet short of, of clearing that, that lip on the green.
Yeah. And, uh, we ended up bogeying that hole. Chris made a great bogey, actually, from, from that bunker down there. I think we both- So Chris-... just took two, like, aggressive lines.
If, if you play that hole out to the left and it ends up on that apron short, it's a f- fairly straightforward up and down for par.
But if it hits where it's supposed to and kind of like goes long left and like cambers off that hill, like then you potentially have like a good birdie look.
So I think that's the one I'd like to have back, but I mean, I'm not, not complaining. So Chris, you felt like the back nine on the first day, once you...
Like four, five towards the end of the round at least, that's when you started to feel like, "Oh, we actually, we're playing well enough to, to kind of be in this thing." That was the moment for you?
Yeah, I mean, I, we... So we started on the back nine at Waverly, so- Yeah... we, so we bogeyed 17, and that, we were like two under. We bogeyed 17, we go back to one, and then Shane birdied 18,
1, 4, 7, and 8. 7 or 9. Something like that. Yeah, it was like, yeah, 6 or 7 or 8. Something like that, yeah. He had like five birdies.
I just, I just made pars and he just rattled off like five, and we posted six under, which was, I think, T2. I was like, "Let's just go do the same thing tomorrow, and I think we'll be in pretty good shape, you know?"
So. Yeah. Yeah, it's funny too, like Chris- Is that what you felt too, Shane? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I, I, I thought like,
you know, before these, the- these tournaments start, like you always get asked to do the, the golf genius, like live scoring, and I know some people hate it. I don't, I mean, I don't, it doesn't...
[laughs] I know, I mean, they're, I mean, you...
I look at like some of my buddies that play in these tournaments and I'm always like trying to like, you know, check up on them and, and see where they're at, and once I see that there's no scores being posted for, you know, that first hour, I'm like, "Okay, like they're in a group where no one wants to do this," which is totally fair.
[laughs] But I'm, I'm honestly, I don't, I don't, it doesn't really, uh, bother me too much. Uh, I don't, I don't mind kind of...
It's almost distracting a little bit, I think, in, in my world as far as on the golf course.
So I had the, the live scores going for our group both days and, you know, I'd put our scores in, uh, you know, kind of as we went through holes. And yeah, I knew that we were,
we were kind of right in the mix that first day, and then I think we, once we started birdieing, you know, some of those holes in the back, I knew where we were and that we were in a good spot.
And then even the second day, you know, we got off to a good start. I think Chris birdied the first hole. I think a couple of the guys that were right at the lead with us had bogied or made two bogeys.
And then kind of throughout that whole day, too, you know, I just kept checking the scores and we kind of stayed around the top of the, the leaderboard.
And then, you know, Chris obviously makes that, that hole in one [laughs] on, you know, the hole on our back nine, and then it's like, "Okay, like we're in a, we're in a really good spot here."
And then we posted a good number and, you know, a couple teams were behind us, but we had a, a decent, you know, size, you know, lead after we posted, so.
Yeah, but I, I do think that, going back to your question, yeah, like I, I kind of knew
if you get off to a good start, and I feel like in these things, especially after day one, like Chris said, like if you just show up to the next day and, and kind of have the same game plan and, and you're able to make some birdies, then you're gonna give yourself a chance, and that's kind of all we wanted to do, uh, the second day.
Awesome. Well, I, I wanna honor time. I asked for 30 minutes. We've hit, we've hit that window, and it's a, it's a morning. I wanna let you get back to your day. So congratulations.
We will likely see you out on the course somewhere down the road here. Summer's just starting, competitive golf is just starting, and you guys are off to a, a nice start this season.
So congrats, and, uh, we'll, we'll see you down the road. Thanks for joining. [upbeat music] Right on. Thanks, Sean. Appreciate it, man. Yeah. Thank you, Sean. Appreciate it.