Brendon De Jonge, PGA Player Afterhours Encore
The principal focus of this podcast episode revolves around the transition of Brendan DeJonge from a professional golfer to a broadcaster, a journey marked by his insights into the intricacies of both playing and covering the sport. Throughout our dialogue, we explore the nuances of life on tour, including the pressures of competition and the challenges of maintaining personal connections while traveling extensively. Brendan shares his reflections on the evolution of the golfing community, noting a shift towards a more reserved atmosphere, which he attributes to the pervasive influence of social media. Additionally, we engage in a light-hearted exchange regarding personal anecdotes, such as memorable experiences during tournaments and the camaraderie that once characterized the sport. As we conclude, Brendan imparts a heartfelt message advocating for kindness and understanding in our interactions, a sentiment that resonates profoundly in today’s world.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Painted Hills Natural Beef
- Foster
- Ben Hogan
- Nelson Mandela
- Winston Churchill
- Tiger Woods
- Webb Simpson
- Brandt Snedeker
- AC/DC
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Transcript
Welcome to Grilling at the Green After Hours.
Speaker A:The conversation that took place after the show ended.
Speaker A:Hi, everybody, it's jt and this is a special version of Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:Grilling at the Green is brought to you in part by Painted Hills natural Beef.
Speaker A:Beef you can be proud to serve your family and friends.
Speaker A:That's Painted Hill's natural Beef.
Speaker A:Welcome to After Hours here on Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:I'm Jeff.
Speaker A:Of course, nobody else would take this job.
Speaker A:It's this week we're talking with Brendan DeYoung, professional golfer, now professional broadcaster.
Speaker A:He's learning the ropes about when to call home and all that stuff.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:This is just an acement of knowledge, Brendan.
Speaker A:That's all it is, is.
Speaker A:You know, when I started traveling.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker A:Were a kid, we didn't have cell phones.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So you can only call on the hotel phone or pay phone from the event, you know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, yeah.
Speaker B:You know, sometimes I wish we were still back there, Jeff.
Speaker B:That would make things a whole lot easier.
Speaker A:Yeah, you know, you could because, you know, when you get in the room and it's.
Speaker A: supposed to be in the room at: Speaker A:Yeah, that's never a good sign.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Anyway, so these are a bunch of fun questions that I've come up with.
Speaker A:We'll just see how you do.
Speaker A:And if you don't want to answer one, don't answer it.
Speaker A:But there's nothing too.
Speaker A:Nothing too personal.
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:If we declared you Supreme Leader of Golf for one day, Brendan, what would you decree as supreme leader?
Speaker B:That we need to play Foster.
Speaker A:Okay, very good.
Speaker A:If you could play around a golf with one of your golfing heroes, and I'm assuming you've already played a much golf with, you know, Nick and Ernie and those guys.
Speaker A:But if one of your other golfing heroes, who would it be?
Speaker B:Ben Hogan.
Speaker A:Okay, that sounds good to me.
Speaker A:If you could dine with a historical figure, who would it be and what would be on the menu?
Speaker B:Oh, well, steak would be on the menu.
Speaker B:Steak's always on the menu, of course.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah, a good steak.
Speaker B:I would.
Speaker B:I would love to sit down.
Speaker B:Or would have loved to have sat down with Nelson Mandela.
Speaker B:I think that would have been an absolutely fantastic conversation.
Speaker B:And, you know, just obviously one of those, as you say, historical figures.
Speaker A:Yeah, mine would probably be.
Speaker A:I considered Mandela, but Churchill because my dad was in World War II.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Yeah, it kind of made sense there, but I've always thought that it would be.
Speaker A:It would probably be a lengthy, foggy dinner with Churchill after a while, you know.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You might have to have a couple dinners with Churchill because you wouldn't remember anything from the first one.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Good thing we have digital recordings now, but.
Speaker B:Yeah, true.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:When you guys were.
Speaker A:When you were on tour and there was a lengthy weather delay, for whatever reason you.
Speaker A:You mentioned it about at the President's cup and stuff, the weather issues and stuff, what did you do?
Speaker A:When did you just go in the clubhouse and chill out and have a sandwich and.
Speaker A:Or whatever?
Speaker A:Did you.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:What happened with Brendan when that happened?
Speaker B:I always tried to find Boo weekly because if you sit with Boo for long enough, you're going to sit there and you're going to be belly laughing by the end of it.
Speaker B:You don't have to talk a whole lot.
Speaker B:You can just sit and listen.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So if Boo was around, I would kind of gravitate towards Boo and.
Speaker B:And pull up a seat near where he was.
Speaker A:I've got it.
Speaker A:I've got a friend like that.
Speaker A:You just have to kind of say hi and.
Speaker A:And then they take it from there.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Brendan, if we put your skills to music, what would the music be?
Speaker B:It would have to be country music, Jeff, because it would be something very simple.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Older country, then.
Speaker B:Older country, Definitely older country.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:Maybe.
Speaker B:Well, not too old, though.
Speaker B:Maybe 90s country.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:George Strait.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker A:Alan Jackson.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Good.
Speaker A:That's all good.
Speaker A:You've been doing some broadcasting.
Speaker A:Now.
Speaker A:What's the dumbest thing you've seen while covering a tournament?
Speaker A:Not playing in one, but covering a tournament?
Speaker A:Because you.
Speaker A:You guys in the booth and I know this, you see a different perspective of the tournament than the people do at home.
Speaker A:A little bit.
Speaker A:You're really watching it on monitors and you've got other things going on there.
Speaker A:So you've always got the B roll camera over here that you can see stuff in that you can't see at home.
Speaker B:Somebody got mad.
Speaker B:I cannot remember who it was.
Speaker B:Somebody got mad and tried to throw a ball in a water hazard and he missed and the ball kind of went chasing down the fairway and he had to jog after his ball and go pick it up.
Speaker B:So it was kind of a double whammy.
Speaker B:Got mad, missed the hazard, and then had to go get his ball out of the fairway while the group behind waited.
Speaker B:I don't remember who it was.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was.
Speaker B:It was pretty entertaining.
Speaker B:For us to watch, though, I bet.
Speaker A:It was Lisa was probably laughing her head off there.
Speaker A:How have things changed since you started in professional golf?
Speaker B:The characters are gone, for one.
Speaker B:Unfortunately, the I, I, I don't know whether to blame the fact that we have so much social media around, but everything's kind of a lot more buttoned up.
Speaker B:You know, we've lost a lot of the characters, and so a lot of the camaraderie is gone as well.
Speaker B:I remember vividly finishing around maybe my rookie year or maybe my second year, and I sat after the round, had four or five beers with Cole Peterson, Retief Goosen and Ernie Elson.
Speaker B:We just sat there and talked.
Speaker B:You know, as I got later in my career, that that didn't happen.
Speaker B:Guys finished around and they were either straight to the range or back to the hotel.
Speaker A:Oh, that's unfortunate.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's really unfortunate.
Speaker A:When you were playing, if you could have gotten a lesson from one other touring pro, who would you have picked?
Speaker B:Tiger woods would certainly have been one.
Speaker B:I think he has an absolutely wonderful eye.
Speaker B:I have been hitting balls close enough where he's been talking to.
Speaker B:I can't even remember who it was.
Speaker B:Webb Simpson.
Speaker B:And just watching Webb Simpson hit some balls, he had a wonderful eye.
Speaker B:He was one.
Speaker B:And then another pro that I actually did get some lessons from was Brand Snedeker on the putting green.
Speaker B:I thought Brandt on the, on the putting green had a wonderful simplistic view of how to putt.
Speaker B:And, you know, obviously I'm a little surprised that we don't see more copycats of the way Brand Snedeker potted out there.
Speaker A:Yeah, he, he's not touring anymore, is he?
Speaker B:He's still playing.
Speaker B:Yeah, he's, he's dealt with a bunch of injuries, a whole, whole ton of injuries the last few years, but he's, he's starting to play some more now.
Speaker B:Not playing great at the moment, but I, I have, you know, I have belief that he'll, he'll find it again.
Speaker B:He, he works, still, still works hard at it.
Speaker A:Brandon, what's one thing you miss about your twenties besides not hurting, not hurting when you wake up.
Speaker B:That, that was, that was going to be it.
Speaker B:How, how I felt.
Speaker B:The, I wish that I still had that energy now that my kids are to an age at 15 and 13, where all they want to do is be out there kicking a soccer ball, you know, playing whatever.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm tuckered out after about 20, 30 minutes now, so a little bit more energy would be great.
Speaker A:Me, I'D be in the lawn chair.
Speaker A:Uncle Jeff, just wait.
Speaker A:You're doing great.
Speaker A:You're doing.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm getting to that point too.
Speaker A:You're doing great.
Speaker A:I know you're kind of early in your career, but what's the biggest mistake you've made or one that sticks in your mind while you were on the air?
Speaker B:Luckily, knock on wood, Jeff, I haven't said anything too stupid yet.
Speaker B:I think it was.
Speaker B:Was the first time I did radio and I.
Speaker B:And for a couple, like maybe the first segment, I kept on seeing saying, as you can see, and I think Taylor Zaza was.
Speaker B:Taylor Zaza was my host, and he kept getting in my ear and saying, well, they really can't anything.
Speaker B:They're listening.
Speaker B:Yeah, so I, I did that a few times, but luckily, as I say, I haven't.
Speaker B:Haven't really stuck my foot in my mouth yet.
Speaker A:Theater of the mind.
Speaker A:Just remember that.
Speaker A:Theater of the mind.
Speaker A:What's the worst.
Speaker A:We call them pressers.
Speaker A:You're one of us now, so you call you oppressor.
Speaker A:What's the worst presser that you think you've either were part of or have attended?
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:I don't know if it's anyone that I was a part of or over.
Speaker B:Tennis was one that I've seen.
Speaker B:I, I think any time Patrick Cantlay speaks might be one of the worst presses I've ever seen.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's terrible.
Speaker B:He.
Speaker B:He make.
Speaker B:He makes it difficult.
Speaker B:He makes it seem like he doesn't want to answer any questions and almost looks at the guys that are asking the questions with the disbelief that the.
Speaker B:How could you have the, the balls to ask me this question?
Speaker A:Yeah, like, what'd you have for lunch?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:What's the.
Speaker A:Brenda, what's the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Speaker B:I will get up and make a cup of coffee as soon as I wake up.
Speaker A:Jeff, you got to.
Speaker A:You got to.
Speaker A:Yeah, I don't drink coffee, but I, I drink some other stuff.
Speaker A:And no, it's not single malt scotch at that time of day, but I'm.
Speaker B:Just saying I wouldn't judge you.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
Speaker B:A buffalo.
Speaker A:A water buffalo or an American buffalo?
Speaker A:Bison.
Speaker B:A water buffalo.
Speaker A:They're.
Speaker A:They're tough.
Speaker B:They're tough.
Speaker B:They're mean.
Speaker A:Now, how would your wife put up with that?
Speaker B:She'd probably throw me out to posture and shoot me.
Speaker A:If you.
Speaker A:Brendan, if you could erase one mistake from your past, what would it be?
Speaker B:Geez, Jeff.
Speaker B:Not.
Speaker B:Nothing.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:I don't have any major regrets, to be honest.
Speaker A:That's good.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's actually the answer I'm always looking for.
Speaker A:But they usually.
Speaker A:Well, you know, I didn't.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, I've got no major regrets.
Speaker A:You lived your life.
Speaker A:That's a good thing.
Speaker A:What's the worst concert you've ever been to?
Speaker B:I went to an ACD concert.
Speaker B:ACDC concert that wasn't very good.
Speaker B:And I don't know if it was just the.
Speaker B:The acoustics or if the concert wasn't great.
Speaker B:They were.
Speaker B:They were also kind of old at the time, but I'd say probably an AC DC concert.
Speaker A:You talk about needing energy.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Way those guys perform or.
Speaker A:Yeah, a couple of them are gone now, but.
Speaker A:Yeah, boy.
Speaker A:What's your favorite movie?
Speaker A:This is a People magazine section right here that we're doing.
Speaker A:What's your favorite movie?
Speaker B:Wedding Crashes probably.
Speaker B:I'm good for all those dumb, stupid comedies.
Speaker B:I love to sit there where you don't have to think too hard while you're watching a movie.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:Would you be considered a sweatshirt guy or a formal wear guy?
Speaker B:Sweatshirt.
Speaker B:100%.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:If this is kind of a head scratcher.
Speaker A:Really.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Do you think golf can help kids that have trouble with math or social skills?
Speaker B:Yes, 100%, I think.
Speaker B:I think golf is.
Speaker B:Is wonderful for so many things.
Speaker B:I think it can certainly help kids and I think it's.
Speaker B:It can help as you get older as well, make some.
Speaker B:Certainly some great business relationships.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Short answer is yes, I do think it can help.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I do too.
Speaker A:Two parter here.
Speaker A:Brendan, what's the best part of travel?
Speaker A:When you were traveling all the time.
Speaker A:And what was the worst part?
Speaker A:We talked about traveling and when to call home properly, but there's other parts to it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I would say best part is that you certainly get to do what you want when you want.
Speaker B:For the most part, you know, you're.
Speaker B:You're on your own outside of, obviously when you're playing golf, but you get to do what you want when you want.
Speaker B:You're not worried about anybody else.
Speaker B:And the worst part is that you're leaving home and you're missing everything that happens at home while you're gone.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Couple more here, then I'll release you from the harness as we.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:What do you want to do when you retire?
Speaker B:When I retire again?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, when your wife says it's okay this time.
Speaker B:I honestly as.
Speaker B:As weird as this might sound.
Speaker B:I'd actually.
Speaker B:I'd like to start traveling a little bit more.
Speaker B:Going to see some places that I haven't seen.
Speaker B:You know, when everyone talks about how much you travel as a golfer and.
Speaker B:Sure, you do, but typically, you see the inside of the hotel room and the golf course, you're not going out there and being a tourist, so.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:I'd like to go out and see some cool places.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Well, you got a lot of them in this country.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah, very much so.
Speaker A:In my job, sometimes there was a layover between events, so I could.
Speaker A:I could go see a historical site or, you know, a famed restaurant or something.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I got to do a lot of that, which is very fortunate.
Speaker A:Brendan, what would be your last meal if you were on death row?
Speaker B:It would be a.
Speaker B:A.
Speaker B:A big wedge salad to start.
Speaker B:Jeff.
Speaker B:A certainly a ribeye steak with.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Baked potato with everything.
Speaker B:Some cream spinach, and, I don't know, some kind of dessert.
Speaker B:And anything for dessert would be good.
Speaker A:Well, at that point, you're not counting calories, so.
Speaker B:No, you're not.
Speaker A:Who gives a rip?
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker B:That's right.
Speaker A:So, all right, this is the one we're close with here.
Speaker A:And then, Brendan DeYoung, what would be your message to the world?
Speaker B:Would love to tell everybody to just be a little bit nicer to your friends.
Speaker B:Your not friends to anybody, just everybody be a little bit nicer to each other.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think that's a good idea, Brendan.
Speaker A:Stick with us when we sign off here, but I want to thank you again.
Speaker A:You can find him on social media on X, formerly known as twit, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, I think.
Speaker A:Is that what you said?
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm on all of them now, Jeff.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:God, he's going to be a social media mogul before he knows it here.
Speaker A:Anyway, I really appreciate you agreeing to do this show.
Speaker A:You didn't know me from Adam, and I had a lot of fun talking with you.
Speaker A:We can talk barbecue sometime, too.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Sounds wonderful.
Speaker B:Thanks very much for having me.
Speaker A:No problem.
Speaker A:We'll be back next week with another edition of After Hours here on Grilling at the Green.
Speaker A:Go out, have some fun, play some golf, and most of all, be kind.
Speaker A:Take care, everybody.
