Bro Golf is Here to Stay. What Now? | The Whole Pro Podcast

The game of golf is changing fast. In this episode of The Whole Pro Podcast, Virgil Herring and Jim Vernon dig into the rise of “bro golf,” influencer culture, and the post-COVID boom that brought a wave of new players — and new problems — to courses everywhere. From Barstool events and YouTube golf to bachelor parties, cart chaos, pace-of-play nightmares, and the challenge of protecting a club’s culture, this is a real-world conversation about where golf is headed next. Jim brings the operator’s perspective, breaking down what facilities are dealing with behind the scenes, while Virgil tackles the bigger question: how do you grow the game without losing what made it great in the first place? They also get into customer service, staff training, handling bad behavior, setting expectations before groups ever arrive, and why preparation matters more than reaction when things start going sideways. If you care about the future of golf — whether you love the modern entertainment side of it or hate what it’s doing to the game — this episode is for you. Among the topics: bro golf culture, influencer golf, pace of play, bachelor party blowups, golf course etiquette, customer service under pressure, alcohol on the course, staff preparation, protecting club culture, and the future of the game.