Travis Key joins Chris and Gregg to talk about growing up around golf, falling in love with competitive golf later in life, and how a frightening dehydration incident on the course led to the launch of Strokes Gained. Travis shares the origin of the brand, how they developed the product, what makes it different, and what it has been like building a golf business while raising a son who is now deep into junior golf. This is a conversation about golf, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and the realities of trying to build something in the game.

Show notes

This week in the Cart Barn, Chris and Gregg welcome Travis Key, co-founder of Strokes Gained, for a conversation that goes far beyond hydration.

Travis talks about:

• how his dad introduced him to the game
• why competitive golf hooked him later in life
• what he has learned from watching and caddying for his son in junior golf
• the frightening on-course dehydration incident that sparked the idea for Strokes Gained
• how he and his partner built the brand, developed the formula, and secured the trademark
• what it has been like scaling from a startup idea to placement in clubs around the country

This episode is part golf story, part founder story, and part reminder that the game has a way of teaching lessons well beyond the scorecard.

Short episode description

A dehydration scare on the golf course led Travis Key to build Strokes Gained. He joins Chris and Gregg to talk golf, fatherhood, competitive golf, and what it takes to build a brand in the industry.

Keywords

Cart Barn Podcast, Travis Key, Strokes Gained, golf hydration, junior golf, golf business, golf entrepreneurship, competitive golf, Alabama golf, PGA Show, golf founder story, hydration for golfers, golf lifestyle, golf stories

Chris and Gregg spend a few minutes talking Masters Week, why Augusta still feels different from every other tournament, the traditions that make the event special, favorite memories, and Gregg’s firsthand stories from covering the Masters during Stewart Cink’s early career.

Full show notes

Masters Week hits different, and this episode is a quick conversation about why.

Chris and Gregg talk about what separates the Masters from every other event in golf: the familiarity of Augusta National, the traditions, the music, the visuals, Amen Corner, the Par 3 Contest, and the way the week feels like the true start of golf season.

They also get into some favorite Masters moments, memorable shots, favorite holes at Augusta, and Gregg shares stories from covering the tournament early in Stewart Cink’s career — including the “pink badge of shame.”

If you love the Masters, this one will feel like a conversation you’d have sitting around the clubhouse or watching coverage with a cup of coffee.

What’s covered in this episode

• Why the Masters feels different from every other major
• Augusta traditions that still stand out
• The food, atmosphere, and no-cell-phone experience
• Why the Par 3 Contest is such a unique part of the week
• Gregg’s credential story from covering the Masters
• Favorite Masters moments from Jack, Tiger, Phil, Bubba and more
• Favorite holes at Augusta National
• Quick picks for who could contend this year

Keywords

Masters Week, Masters Tournament, Augusta National, golf podcast, Cart Barn Podcast, golf traditions, Amen Corner, Par 3 Contest, Masters memories, Augusta stories, Jack Nicklaus 1986, Tiger Woods 1997, Phil Mickelson Masters, Bubba Watson Masters, Stewart Cink, golf in Alabama, major championship golf

Jason Deegan of Golf Pass joins The Cart Barn to break down the Golfers Choice rankings for Alabama’s best public golf courses. The conversation covers how the list is built from real golfer reviews, why Alabama continues to offer exceptional value, and how the RTJ Trail remains the foundation of golf in the state while other courses continue to gain recognition.

This week in the Cart Barn, Chris and Gregg welcome Jason Deegan of Golf Pass to discuss the Golfers Choice rankings for Alabama’s top public golf courses.

Unlike traditional rankings, these lists are built from reviews by everyday golfers, offering a different perspective on course quality, value, and overall experience.

But this episode goes beyond a list.

It highlights something bigger: the depth of golf across Alabama.

While the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail remains the backbone and premier golf experience in the state, this conversation explores how a number of other public courses are earning strong reviews and creating great experiences for players across all skill levels.

In this episode:

• How Golf Pass builds the Golfers Choice rankings
• Why player-reviewed lists differ from expert rankings
• What golfers actually value: greens, service, pace, and overall experience
• Why Alabama is one of the best value golf destinations in the country
• Hidden gem public courses across the state
• How accessibility and affordability are shaping golf travel decisions

The takeaway is clear:
Alabama golf is not just strong—it’s deep, accessible, and built for real golfers.

alabama golf, golf pass, jason deegan, public golf, golf rankings, golfers choice, rtj trail, robert trent jones golf trail, golf travel, value golf, golf podcast, cart barn podcast