2021 Wishbone Brawl

pit with Matt Janella. It's the fourth annual Wishbone Brawl at goat Hill Park in Oceanside, California. It's Saturday, November and it's a perfect afternoon for tournament golf at a yard part municipal where everyone in the community is committed to the vibe of world class for the working class classes at the core of the Wishbone Brawl, which was an idea Dean Wilson pitched to John Ashworth five years ago. Four players, two teams, best ball and skins per Simmon Woods,

kids as caddies, no ropes, dogs encouraged. Great attitudes are mandatory and all money raised goes to support Junior Golf. A quick history in Wilson, who lives in San Diego and has invested in goat Hill Park, teamed up with Xander Shaffley, who grew up playing in San Diego and played for San Diego State. They beat Charlie Hoffman and Chris Riley, who were un l V teammates and now both live in San Diego. Brawl to Wilson brought his friend Mike Weir and they beat Shofley and Hoffman in well.

Jeff Ogilvie, paired with Riley, had the walk off ace from a hundred and thirty three yards on the ninth hole in a sudden death playoff against Wilson and Shofly was canceled due to COVID, but this year the brawl was back, bigger and better than ever. Due to a fast flood of early interest, Ashworth had to close ticket sales on Tuesday before the Saturday event, having had roughly four people in the gallery in it was looking like

there would be more than a thousand. Our team at Firepit Collective partnered with the production company of Cuney Pearson to go live on link soul dot com. The edited version of the broadcast, as well as other perspectives on the day, can now be found at fire Pit Collective dot com. In this podcast, you'll get some of the best action and reaction, added perspective and reflections from players,

caddies and people in the crowd. Shaffley and Wilson are paired together again and today they're playing against Fred Couples and Will Crop. Here's John Ashworth, the man responsible for saving Goat Hill Park ten years ago, on how an event like this comes together and how it has grown over the years. I mean, there's definite thought that goes into it, but it's, uh, it's just like the event itself. It's pretty loose. There's no rope and you know, uh we kind of go with the flow, which was our

theme this year. Let's just go with the flow and uh and not a lot of restrictions. And it just seemed to come out amazing. I mean it was I'm still buzzing, you know, I was just going through Morgan's photos and you know it was everybody's just smiling. Here the ere the whole day, you know, the gallery, the caddies, the players that you know, unbelievable. And here's shortly after the round with his perspective on the evolution of the Wishbone Brawl. It's unbelievable. I mean, I think this is

sort of what we all envisioned. We just didn't really know how it was gonna come come to and um with COVID it was sort of a major setback of sort of what we you know, it's one down year of of nothingness. So it's it's awesome to see that

everyone was excited to come back. We had you know, triple or quadruple to turn out the normal, and it makes it so much more exciting for us to sort of playing front everyone and have everyone's rounding the greens and walking with us, sort of exactly what the wish bon ball is all about. The Ryder Cup is with the Ryder Cup is, but this also can happen and it can be something that brings people to the game, right It's I mean, this is more likely going to

bring people to the game versus a Ryder Cup. Unfortunately. This is how this is how it is. This is easy to do, it's quicker, it's more affordable, and so you know, it is our duty to sort of, you know, get as many youngsters to play and some of the Wishbon Ball. You know, I had a kid sort of walking by my ball and eighteen didn't even I was just in the crowd and he was just looking around, you know what I mean, really walking right through my line.

So I feel like that's literally what the tourments about. And it's so awesome to see everyone just kind of cruising around. Fred Couples was cruising around goad Hill Park for the first time. Here he is after the round, on his relationship with Xander, playing Per Simmons and making his debut at the Wishbone Brawl. X and Patrick Cantley and I at the Ryder Cup. We had a great time. I was there, kind of guy in their pod, so

I saw him hit every shot. Um An, Elexander is one hell of a player, and so for him to come out here and show his stuff, get a lot of people to come out support the event and watch him play, and then myself included. But I can't really say enough about you know, I was a good player when I was thirty years old. These guys are They just hit the ball a lot differently, um and you can tell, you know, they're stronger, they hit it further.

The equipments better. But I do get a little chuckle when I see them looking at these clubs that I used to use and they just don't understand because all they've seen is metal woods. Um. But it was fun. I enjoyed the whole day. We're getting to the day, but first, how all of this comes together is always a bit of a puzzle. Ashworth builds the event around

shoff Lee's holiday schedule. Once the date was set, Dean was in Riley and Hoffman were going to be out of town, so Ashworth considered Couples who he has known for thirty five years. Ashworth sent couples of text on Friday September. It was funny because he didn't get back to me right away and so he I felt like he was kind of ghost in me and uh And I think it was about three weeks later I got a text from him out of the blue that said, not sure how I missed this text, but I just

found it. Give me a few days to see where I'm at. It's a Saturday. And then he said, Okay, I talked to X. I'm in. I will definitely be there in November. So Couples was in. As for crop who was an All American at Oklahoma and has been grinding it out and occasionally winning on some mini tours. He tells his story about how he found Goat Hill Park and ultimately ended up as the fourth and this year's Wishbone Brawl before we hear from Will you should Know.

Peter Beams is commonly referred to as the Professor, a former European tour player, he's done books with Gary Player, has a savant like approach to the swing and the game, and is often seen at Goat giving tips to kids or struggling adults. I met Peter Beams on the beach and it was right when COVID started, and he said, hey, you should go volunt you should go pick the range of Sydney. So I just started May started coming out here. My wife and I knew nobody in North County, nobody

in San Diego. We just started. Um. We just knew we loved it here. We knew we love the weather, we knew we loved being by the ocean, and we just said, hey, if we're gonna make it, we'll just keep plugging along. So I started picking the range and then started doing the starting all for free and then started working in the carts, washing the carts, and then started working in the pro shop and now lucky to

be one of the teachers here at North County. And that's why I think this day is so special because it's my day to day to help with the kids, coach the kids out here, and it's just it's this brought so much awareness to that and that's what's so special. You meet Peter Beams on the beach. But how does that how he's walking with golf club he's walking with

golf clubs. Yeah, she struck up. I struck up a kind of in that about a month into COVID, just wanting to see people, you know, just usually probably wouldn't have said anything, but hey, what are you going to play or something? And he said, I'm the head pro and go to hill and I said, oh, no way. And I kind of had met John before through some mutual friends in twenty nineteen, went to the lab and that kind of thing, and I was kind of saying, oh, yeah, yeah,

I kind of know John. And he goes, well, let me tell you. If you want to talk to anybody, you talk to me, and you go out and you uh, you meet with my friend Sydney and you can pick the range, said perfect, I'm in And you had a Peter Beams shirt but didn't know that that was Peter Beam. H. Yeah.

In twenty nineteen, after the corn Ferry season ended, John had gave given me that Peter Beam shirt and I had worn it for a whole year before I met him, and uh kind of put two and two together, and it just seems like fate at this point that I was meant to be here for sure. So h Peters obviously a legend in his own right, and it was awesome to have him out there. But the story, I can't make the story up. I can't make it up.

It's just it's incredible. Having now observed Crop at the Goat for over a year, it's as though Beams is passing him the baton of playing and teaching the game with a focus on feel, fun and spirituality. I mean, golf is my life and it's taught me everything I know, and it's just so cool to see somebody like Peter Beams who's had a similar journey. He's kind of gone through the ranks and just live that golf life and it's just so cool to meet him. I think that

you hit on a perfect point. That the Goat Hill, the top of this hill, it's an energy vortex, it's it draws people in. And um, I'm excited for the future of Goad Hill. I'm excited for the future of North County. I'm excited for all of it. I feel like it's just this is just the start of something super special. People like you coming in. I think it's it's just unbelievable. I can't even And then to top it off with today and I just couldn't draw a

better script. It's incredible to crops point, it was a compelling script and an incredible day. But before we get to the first t shots, we want to thank link Soul, who's a sponsor of a lot of what we do here at fire Pit Collective, the lifestyle brand started by John Ashworth and Jeff Cunningham, permeates out of goad Hill Park where they lead by example. Oh, by the way, it's all that I wear on and off the course. Use promo code at fire Pit the next time you

shop link Soul dot com and enjoy a discount. We'd also like to thank part Points for their support. The app provides an alternate way to score your next round, which is conducive to beginners, family golf or buddies trips looking to mix up the formats for betting, Download the part Points app today and go make Park. And we'd

like to thank bag Boy for their support. Good Hill Park isn't the easiest venue for a push card, but when I use one, it's bag Boy Nitron Auto Open push card, which I believe is the best out there. And for me, it's not even close. What was close was wish Bone Brow. Who better to lead us into

the opening ceremony than John Ashworth? So as far as the match goes, So yeah, so you know, I'm always again nervous, and we got to go on the first tea and there's the crowds filling in and we know there's going to be at least a thousand people and shure enough, I mean there was at least a thousand people there and everyone's were making our way over to the first team and you know, you and I are

doing a little dog and pony over there. And I will tell you that in all the places I've been and all the places I've seen as I've traveled the

world of golf, and golf destinations. Uh, it's hard to say that golf courses can boast the idea that every day for the last seven years, this golf course has gotten better and that's really because of John Ashworth, his commitment to the community, his vision and if and if you think that he's just the visionary behind it, if you come out here late afternoon as the sun's going down, the guy with the shovel with the flatbed making his

way down the maintenance shed is John Ashworth. So let's give it up for the caretaker of goat Hill Park. John Ashworth. Thanks you, he's on. Hey. I just want to welcome everybody here to goat Hill Park. This is an amazing event for such a good cause. You know, a little backstory. This place has been around since nineteen two. It was originally a nine hole golf course and it was way before the five freeway went in, so it's

been around a while. Uh. It was rerouted into an eighteen hole golf course in the late eighties and it fell on hard times about ten years ago and the city was put an RFP a request for proposal out to a big, big time developers. So this was going to be condos and strip malls and all that kind

of thing. We had just started Link Soul down on the Coast Highway and and my partner, co founder Jeff Cunningham of Link Soul and goad Hill Park, we said, you know, we can't just sit back and watch that happen. So we put our own proposal in to save Goat Hill Park cleaning up, make it the home of the North County Junior Golf Uh, put in a little kids course over there that's free for kids, and uh and here we are, you know, ten years later. So thanks to them, you, my wife and I moved from Orlando

to San Diego in November. We're incredibly grateful to be benefiting from the camaraderie and the commitment to all that's good about golf and life. Our kids are growing up learning from people like Ashworth, Beams, Crop Wilson, the Stocktons, Guy Burgers, watching legends like Kelly Slater, Byron Scott and Bill Murray who occasionally show up and tee it up at the Goat on any given day. But as for who's teeing it up on this day, we go back out to the first team. Dean Wilson obviously, winner on

the PGA Tour twenty one top tens. He had six wins on the Japanese Tour, two of those were majors. He's in both the Hawaii and Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, and he's two time winner of the Wishbone Brawl. Dean Wilson coming out of DA Caddean for Dean will be Ethan Lee. Ethan is a freshman at the College of Palomar. Ethan has been a stalwart out here and UH and an anchor to the caddy program. He's an amazing kid. His low round here at god Hill Park

is sixties seven. Come out out, Ethan. This is Ethan Leon. Finding out he was in as a caddy at this year's brawl. So I found out from from John. I asked him, who's gonna caddy for the Wishbone and he's like, I'm thinking about putting you your sisters in Cayden, And I was like, Wow, that's that's gonna be a lot of fun for sure, And I was very thankful that he chose us and and Kate and out of all

the other caddies. Partnering with Dean is UH gold medal winner four time winner on the PGA Tour recent Ryder cover where he had a record of three and one. Uh. He is San Diego's own Xander Shoply. Xander is a one time winner of the Wishbone Brawl. He's got as many wishbones as gold medals. That's cold, man, that's cold. It's just the facts. Caddying for Xander is Cade Fisher. He's a junior at Carl's Bad High, plays one or two on that team. Again, another one of the great

kids out here in the caddy program. Cade's low round at goad Hill Park is even part. Here's Cade Fisher on finding out he was in as a caddy. I'd say probably like a month ago. I somebody told me that I possibly have the chance to do it, and so I got kind of excited over that. And then but like only the monday before I think you were there. Uh, John Ashliff came up and he was like, hey, I got you a spot on the bag. And I didn't know who yet until like the day of, but that's

when I found out that I was cattying. And I don't really I just wanted to carry like that was super cool to be able to have that opportunity. And then so I found out that Monday and I found out that I was cattying for Xander Um like while we were doing the pick up around the course, so like two or three hours before the event started, and

what do you think? Oh my gosh, I was so excitedly, I don't think the smile left my face for like two hours, like because I think one of the least sisters actually told me and I was like, Oh my goodness, that's just insane, perfect scenario. Oh yeah. By the way, Cage's father is an F thirty five pilot in the Marine Corps based here in Mirror, Maor how about a

round of applause for K's falling. Second team will be led by local boy Will Crop, captain at Oklahoma, turned pro and he's one on the Adams Tour, the Latin American Tour. He played on the web dot Com Tour Will Crop, Will Crop the ladies. John here's the current gold Hill Park Club champion. As John said, he owns

the course record at ten under par. Expect good things that are will and that was with the Percentam was yeah, but I was with Per Simmon to write with Per Simmons, that's the only way to get the official course record is your christ. Caddying for Will is annabel Lee. Annabel Lee fifteen years old Annabelle. Annabelle's a sophomore in high school. Her low round out here at god Hill Park is also annabel You had Will Crop, Yeah, and what did

you think when you found out you were caddying? Well, I was not too surprised because I've kind for him before, like during the hundred Ahle hikes, so I kind of knew like what clubs he would hit or like just how he would act, So I was kind of prepared. Actually, kind of an odd set of circumstances for me and

probably a lot of people in the crowd. Kind of your whole life coming full circle growing up being a huge fan of Fred Couples wearing ash Worth, pulling up the sleeves and now here I'm standing on the first team introducing the Masters Champion, fifteen time winner on the PGA to two time players championte time on the Champions Show World Hall of Favor Couples Caddy and for Freddie is Aida League. Aida and Annabelle are twin sisters. You

might have guessed. Ada, also a sophomore admission Vista High School. Her low score out here is sixty eight. And by the way, Ethan is the older brother to Aida and Annabelle and their father, Tony, is a retired police officer for the San Diego Police Department. What did you think when you found out you were going to caddy for

Fred Couples? I was, actually I was also very surprised because I knew he was really big back like when my dad was I was younger, and when a lot of the adults were there, like people kept saying that he was like the tagger Woods of their generation. So I was like really surprised and excited, mhm, and excited, very excited. Observing the competition today is the Professor Peter Beams Uh, former European tour player, absolute living legend. Actually met Will Crop on a beach one day and say, hey,

you should go check out goad Hill Park. That's why Will Crop is here and he is now playing in this event. Peter Beams is a bit of the spiritual guide in the heart and soul to goad Hill Park, and you appreciate him. He'll be observing today's competition. He will be Uh observing the coin toss so why don't we give Zander the option of calling the coin heads tales? It is Fred Couples will Crop on the first team.

Please let the games begin. So here they are the first shots in order, Will Crop, Fred Couples, Xander Shotley, then Dean Wilson. The sweet sound of Persimmons's as good as it gets shot before there we go. That we go and they're off. Four players, kids as caddies, no ropes. Here's Ashworth on course conditions, and we tried to set the course up pretty easy. We want to see a lot of Birdie's right. But the first hope we kind of we tucked the pin in the back on the

first hope, which isn't an easy pin placement. Nobody got it close. Um and Fred made about a up the hill to get things gone. Just boom right out of the gate, bam, Fred makes a birdie, Fred Couples for Birdie and hid a nice three girls. After having the second hole with Pars, it was Wilson who had the last look at Bertie on the short part four third hole teen. Notorious for binding one of the best putters on tour again had six wins on the Japanese Tour

won the Sprint International. Makes Bertie here at three parted, and this match is all square after a bunch of irons into the fairway at the par four fourth, which has one of the toughest greens to hold on the course and is protected by an extreme slope that funnels down into a large grass bowl in front of the green. We go to Xander's approach shot. It looks really good, got the wind hit it right as it got a lot of spin stopped. There is a swell and it's

the over and take it. The goat, the goat. Take What's what's that called? What's that called? Xander? God? To get goaded is when you miss in the wrong spot and paid dearly for it. Now we're around the fourth green. Couples has a ten footer for Bertie shockly hit the cup with his chip. He is in for a par. Wilson is up chipping from just off the greens for Bertie. It's Dan Wilson chips in, called Birdie. Now Freddie has gotta make it of tidy. After Wilson chips in, Couples

makes his putt. They're all square going into the fifth. Here's Kade Fisher. Xander's caddy. After the fourth green five, as we're walking up, I was like, I was telling Xander. I was like, well, on this whole, I mean, this is the hole in one pin position. And he was like, yeah, I think I remember I remember someone saying that. And I was like, yeah, so if it's gonna happen, it's

probably gonna happen here. And then you go on the te He hits his and we thought he was a really good ball, but it ended up being a little bit short. And here's Ethan Lee Wilson's caddy. So the yard it was, it was one five yards. Um, there wasn't much wine, a little bit helping win. Um dean one do you wanted to pull out the night? So we pulled the eight out. Here's Ashworth with his reflections

on five. We get up on five tea, it's all square and then uh, Zander hits a really good one right at the spot that you want to hit too. You we obviously put the hole in one pin, and you know when we were setting the pins, you know, I was out there with Wardy and we were really we had this two foot radius that we put you know, we went back and forth on the exact perfect spot for a hole in one, because you want to see

a hole in one if you could. But you're just dreaming at that point, right, I mean, come on, it's still still a hundred and fifty yards. So xanderd comes up short and I remember, staying on the t I go, well, that's the hole on once. But something's gonna happen, you know, Boom and then the next shot, Dean, how good does that sound? This is good? This is good? This has hold hold one fifth Wilson holding. We've had a chip

in and a hole in one. Other than that, not much happening in the first five holes in the wrist on. Do you know how many hold ones? Is that for somebody? Eleventh? Eleventh holding one? How many holding ones at the goat have my first? That's your first first, Dean Wilson's first at Goat Hill Park. It's amazing, of course, time, Oh my god, thank god, unbelievable. What do you remember about fifteen? Oh? It was holding super loud after he hold it, yeah, yeah,

and they all had great shots afterwards. It was super loud. The first thing I thought when I had gone to the teams, like, this is a hole in one pin? Yeah, That's what I said. It was a hole in one right, Yeah, it was crazy to chance to do che hole in one. That is the hole in one pin place. It can't be too surprised. R I kind of called this, to be honest with you. I mean, I said, hey, that's a holy one pin on the tea and boom, swish, swish. Unbelievable.

This is a hundred forty eight yards and uh, you know a little breeze behind here. We go on to six. After the t shots on the sixth hole, I had time to walk with red couples. First impressions of Goat Hill Park. I love it. You know, only handful of people know. I grew up at Jefferson Park in Seattle and we used to call it Jeffmont after Oakmont, and uh, it played really hard and fun and I'm a public golfer and I love this place. First time. I love it.

John Ashworth a get a long time relationship. When you hear about John doing good for the community and investing all of these proceeds back into kids and Caddy Academy is probably not a surprise to You've given what you know of Johnson. No, and I'm embarrassed that I haven't come down here. John has a couple of friends that we we both know when they've come down a both times. And I don't play a whole lot of golf, but

I'll be coming back here. But John Ashworth is a good man, his whole family, and like you said, he started with Jerry Montiel with Ashworth and you know he He's put a lot of dinners on my table Ashworth Golf. So it's nice to see and it's a pleasure for me to be here. I hope I am invited back next year with these guys and enjoy it. I think I can speak on behalf of John and the rest of Oceanside and go to Hill Park and say that you're invited. I'm gonna go out on a limb there,

go get him. Freddie, thank you. Xander was the only one to bertie the sixth hole. Shoffly and Wilson go to up walking to the seventh green. I had time to talk with golf's gold medalist. I'll tell you in the Wishbone brawls of the past, it's probably been one third or one fourth the amount of people out here. It's pretty amazing to watch this grow organically and authentically to Mini municipal, especially after John Ashvill has put so much work into the golf course over the course the

last two years. Xander, do you can recognize this golf course having not been here much in the last two years? Is it amazing? It looks it looks great. All all the tracks that are put out. You can tell a bunch of brand new sauce been laid. Greens are an unbelievable shape. It looks, it looks I was gonna say it's called goat Hill. We don't we don't want to make it too nice, you know what I mean? Going

hell a country club, Yeah, go to health country. This is it's it's hard to believe they charged thirty five and forty dollars for green fees out here, right, kids had such a reduced rate. I mean that's you know, that's why it starts feeling like this is the bleeprint for what municipal golf can and shouldn't. Absolutely, yeah, they're they're putting all the all the money in the right places.

And obviously there's certain individuals working over time to pick up some slack where you know, maybe they need some help. But you can tell that they've been doing a lot of hard work just to get it ready for something like this, but just for everyone that comes out to play. What was your memories of playing junior golf here? I remember, Um,

I grew up playing with uh to my buddies. Nick Larson, he doesn't play golf anymore, and my other friend Rix Sugimoto is actually um he's close to leading that the japan Ternam don't done law Phoenix right now. It's texting him this morning. Funny enough. So I remember just playing, getting excited to go out to the course to play with my two friends, and we'd always play competitions. I remember trying to collect pennies and nickels and stuff like that.

So that's kind of where I started. Do you see yourself in the faces of these kids around this? Oh yeah, it's notice to see everyone just smiling and happy to be out here. Yeah, well make him smile a little more here, you down here, go to What do you think, John Ashworth? You're feeling pretty proud of what's happening here today over the moon. Over the moon really, I mean, the guys are having a blast, they're hitting a lot of good's a great match. The crowds, super mellow and

in control. And yeah, I feel my stomach starting to ease a little bit. I asked Ander if he sees himself in the faces of the kids that are surrounding these greens. As he grew up playing golf in the San Diego as, you've got to feel the same. Oh, absolutely, yeah. No, I've played in the North County Junior golf when I was in nine year olds, you know, nineteen sixty nine. I hate to age myself, but it's a long time ago. Same year the padre started by the lights right, and

I went to a lot of games too. Back to the action, real quick, seventh green couples for Bertie and to get back within one. Freddy got a good little let's ready couples. That's twice now he had the last one down, Freddy, how you get one down? We got a lot of golf left, so I mean, what a what a match it was? Really? Bam bam bam. You know, um crazy, I'm behind fred Couples, whistle and crops. Really get us a little insight into how you're feeling right now,

feeling good. My partner is just getting hot. I'm just setting him up and we're just about to run him down. How about the fact that Freddie is using the same person used to win the ninety two Masters that Augustin Abson was playing in the two thousand wish he's a legend. What do you expect? I don't expect anything different. They have the eighth hole with Bertie's and after their tea shots on the ninth I caught up with Peter Beam's.

What's your take on on the day so far, Professor, Well, I think it's a normal goat giving us miracles holes and ones. Um, incredible shots. I mean, we're so lucky to see Will famous golfer is here and Will is keeping his own He's doing great. Um, it's just wonderful. I don't know who's gonna win. It's Have you ever seen the golf course look as good as it is today, professor Um? I just think that we're going to be chuckle block in the next couple of days because the

greens are so perfect. See them rolling as good as as as good as Augusta. You hearing it here first, the professor, the greens here at go Hill Park are as good as that the greens at Augusta. And he might not be wrong. It might not be an exaggeration. After having the ninth with Pars, they made the turn, Wilson and Shotley were still one up. They both birdied the tenth, while Crop and Couples made par So playing

the eleventh, Couples and Crops are two down. They have eleven with a par and on twelve the dog leg left par four things got interesting. Xander tried to drive the green, taking it over the eucalyptus trees on the left and never found it. Freddie got a bad kick from the fairway and into a bush on the right. Wilson spun his approach shot back off the front of the green and into this s wale. Crop ends up winning the hole with a par. Back to Ashworth for

some commentary. The twelve old just the idea that you know, amongst those four players and par wins. The whole made me feel good about like our matches totally. Yeah, friends, Deans short sighted him to you spot it back on that it was like, this is like watching us totally totally. You know. Another significant point is everybody got goaded during

the day at some point. You know, you gotta respect the goat will could you have ever imagined that you'd be partnering with Fred Couples against Sander Schoffley and Dean Wilson and playing goat Hill Park. Absolutely not. You know, it was only a year ago that I was volunteering on the range for free, and I didn't know anybody here in San Diego, and now it is surreal. It's a win win regardless for me and my wife, and we're just so grateful to be here and it is

a dream come true. Well in behalf of We're grateful to have you. So the have the hold with pars Crop and Couples are still one down playing the uphill and reachable par four hole. Xander was in a little trouble off the tea chipped up and made par Crop and Couples failed to get up and down for Bertie before Wilson had his put for Bertie. I caught up with Alan Schipnuk, who was in town writing the game

story for Firepit Collective dot com. Alan, since your first wish bomb it is I'm so stoked to be here. I mean, what a fun energy like. This place is a time machine. You know, you got no gallery robes, the persimmon, just the atmosphere. I feel like I went back to you know, I'm watching Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson in the fifties or something that's so good. Have you heard that Fred Couples is using his driver that

he used to win the ninety two Masters. I mean, how classy is that he had to get it back from a collector. It's so great. Wilson makes it birdie at fourteen and goes to up more from Ashworth. After Wilson and Shotly go two up through fourteen. That was a disappointing part for Will and Fred because they were both in pretty good shape and they they didn't hit good chips at all. Uh So, yeah, they went two up there and here's Kate Fisher Shuffle's caddy with the

strategy going into the finishing stretch. Every single hall from like I want to say, fifteen to eighteen, we were like, let's just end them. Let's just end him right now, That's what we would say. After drives on fifteen, the only part five on the course. I had time with Dave Emeric, an instructor at goat Hill Park who, along with his wife Marcia, run the North County Junior Golf Association.

The money being raised out here today between the Skins game and the online auction and and everything that's happening

in donations, straight donations. Where's it all going, Dave, Well, you know our mission statements keep the golf fun affordable at competitive So you know our goals and John and I has always going to boards, always bring back tournament junior all so that's our goal with all the health with sponsors and obviously're gonna do the uh Sanders hopping out with the Junior North d Junior Golf Clubhouse right and U Clad Academy, and you know it's starting all

kind of programs so kids can go for green. Right. It's a beautiful thing. Keep up the great work. Maybe just passing it on. That's ad for me in Cleveland, Ohio. Pay it forward baby, Thanks David. Between ticket sales, donations and the online auction, Wishbone Brawl raised over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, an incredible effort by everyone involved. Now back to Ashworth for a summary of what happened on the fifteen hole where crop Shop, Lee and Wilson

all made Birdie's. There was some I mean Dean hit it probably the best shot of the day on fifteen from that right bark next to the eucalyptus tree. He had to be two hundred ten yards out, and he put it up there in perfect shape. Uh, and then of course will hit the green and that There was some pretty generous gifts on that hole, which is, you know, part of the part of the charm. So at least they went to sixteen, you know they had there were

two down going into sixteen. Sixteenth is the number one handicap hole, a true part four that generally plays into the wind. The fairway pinches in at about two hundred yards and slopes down into a very narrow collection ary that's about a hundred yards from an elevated green. They all had decent looks at Bertie, but no one converted. They have the hole with four pars. Wilson and Shofly stay two up with two to play. Yeah, so seventeen anything can happen on seventeen. It's a crazy little shot

and green and everything. Wilson and Shofly were both a little long and left of the pin on the seventy yard part three seventeen, which would leave them fast and tough. Two potts cropping couples would be on a similar line below the hole. While walking to the seventeenth green, I had more time with couples. Freddie, you're almost got your full look at goat Hill Park now I am, and your thoughts, well, I think that, uh a, it's very

fun to play. Be at eight and I were talking about you better learn to chip around here because if you don't, you're never gonna have a great round because you're gonna have a lot of greens that when you don't, you're gonna makes so is perfect in the greens are as good as honestly as good as country club greens. I'm not saying they're pure. People are making putts in

our group from everywhere. You can see why a lot of high level players end up calling this home and playing here quite often, because it just makes you a better culture. Yeah no, I mean, you know you're I look. I grew up again on a par three course too, and nothing like this. I mean we had fools d ten to one seventy five, but the greens were teeny

and so I had more. I would have more fun here that we're on a big course if I was working in my game, and that's you know if you take a couple of weeks off, you come out here and you're not zeroed in your irons, you're gonna know it when you leave that driver using from that's the one you used for the mass it is. It is my old McGregor M A D five iomatic. I love it. How did that feel when you pulled that? Not good yesterday? Did not feel good? Good luck, buddy. Okay, back to

cade Xander's caddy on the seventeen green. So yeah, we had that put up top. We we It was just a really hard pots. We didn't stick it super close. And then you see fred go and he almost makes that butt and then Will goes because he's almost in the same spot. Thanks to think the fund of the seven, everybody knew wild cop I was gonna do something special that they just didn't know to Puck. They don't call it a brow for nothing, Zander call that. Let's go.

We go to the eighteen poll. It's about five yard par four, very drivable, small green pines, six off the back, six from the right. They'll be gunning four here. The place is buzzing, obviously as it should be. Freddy fist pumping under the teeth and Will was able to roll it in and just grab the right edge and and and circle in and uh, that was a huge moment. I mean, he had such support from the crowd, you know, the home home crowd was really pulling for for Will,

and uh, that was a magic moment right there. For sure. Give me that scene, give me that read, give me you know. So Fred first gave him the read. And then when when Will putt, I thought I was low. Yeah, I thought he hit it too low. And then it barely trickled in. It was a very very sketchle that was about a therount, honestly. But then it sunk and everyone went crazy. Yeah, and like it's up the hill. It's really it's probably one of the harder plucks on

the course. And he goes up and he drains it, and I just like like dropped my head. I was like, oh my gosh, that's really cool for him. But like, man, we almost had him at that moment. I wanted to end it. I wanted to end it. Here's another rip of the sounds of their Persimmon drivers. It goes crop Couples, Shuffly and Wilson after they all hit their tea shots short and right of the eighteenth green. We're back out to the eighteenth fairway. What do you think this is? Uh,

this is as good as it gets, you know. Walking here with John Ashworth, we two years ago Zandrew Shofley walking up this very fair way, one up to Ogilvie and rather sorry, one down to Ogilvie and Riley and looked over to me and said, hey, how can we grow this thing but also maintain the charm of the Wishbone Brawl. I think mission accomplished here today. This is this might be twelve people, I would say it's in that neighborhood. Yeah, definitely north of thousand at this point

and growing all day. People are storming the gate at least a hundred dogs, probably kids. And you've got to be proud of all the work that not only you've done, but your whole crew, your whole team. The golf course looks as good as I've ever seen it. Yeah, I'm so proud of the crew here, man. They all care, They keep it real. It's you know, it's all about to hang up here. Really, I mean it just builds, you know, ye builds momentum for the city of course everything.

What's next, John? Where? How can you keep making this place better? We've got a few projects up with sleeves, We've got a few more bunkers. We're gonna put it up. In the eighteenth green Crop almost dumped his chip and it rolled by on the same line as Shoffle in couples. After three birdie putts didn't go in once again, it was up to will Crop. He'd need the birdie to force a playoff, but he finished birdie birdie and played more golf. John Ashbury just said, why not? It's a

fair question, will Crop for more golf. Yeah. The left side the Wishbone Brawl is won by Dean Wilson and Xander shot verything. Oh my god, what a put partner. Right one up. Some post round comments, we'll start with the Lee twins, then their brother Ethan, who caddied for Dean Wilson, and then we hear from Ashworth again. So with Fred's putt, his was only low because he hit a little bit short. Goes like a really good line. I don't know how it went that short of the hole.

And then with Wills he actually had a perfect line and it didn't turn at the end. It didn't. Yeah, it was crazy. And then he didn't hit that much harder. I still can't believe that didn't go in. It seemed like we were right on the edge. It was a bit of relief, honestly, it was. Um. It was a very long, hard day for sure, and with all the people around and everything, and when they when they missed, we just knew that it was over and that everyone

actually just played good. Honestly, it wasn't. It wasn't that. It wasn't a blowout, for sure. It was. It was a hard fought victory. Both Fred and Will had great putts. Uh. Will's for some reason just did not come down. And I thought his speed was perfect and it should have come down, and it just stayed on that top edge and and uh and and that was it. Back out to the eighteenth Green one more time. Thanks for coming out, man, What a great day for golf, What a great day

for junior golf and the Catty Academy. Again, I can't thank each of these guys enough. It's just amazing. You guys come out. So I know, the food guys are still here. If you guys want to party, you know, let's do it. And then to have, you know, at the end, have Fred say to you, hey, let me have that megaphone. I want to say a few words. I was just you know, I just loved it, blown away and and and he gave such a nice little speech there at the end. All right, I've got one

thing to end with. We all know John Ashworth, I've known him forever. But I want to thank John and his crew for getting so many people, forgetting so many people that come watch us today. But the main thing I will say is you hung out with us for eighteen holes. Alexander will tell you we do a lot of these and by the tenth hole it's dwindling down and dwindling down. But you guys hung out phenomenal crowd. I can't thank you enough. I hope to be back

next year. And then I'll end it with this. My partner and I had the best two caddies in San Diego. That is the truth. As we get into the reflections section of this podcast, and which we'll hear from Ashworth, all four players and their caddies, plus some favorite fire pits, We'll start with Ashworth on the caddies and what he thought about how they conducted themselves that day. I was very very proud of all of them. Uh, they all

did a great job. I think they all. I mean, that's got to be an experience that for the rest of their life, they're gonna be talking about that and dreaming about that. So uh yeah, it was. It was really it was really something really was And uh, I can't wait to see your little program on this whole thing. By the way, how about the fact that you were looking and your you know, your fifteen year old sisters are over there with Fred Cupp was a will crop.

It was. It was amazing to see. Honestly. I was very proud for them. And even though you did end up on top, they did a really good job, I'm sure, um, especially for Fred who has never played out there. And I know, I know you know as well that they also are great caddies and they give really good information about the course. Yeah, they're good readers of the greens too, And obviously that came into play because Fred made a lot of putts and those are not good easy greens

to make puts on, No they aren't. Right after the round, I got some reflections from the four competitors. We start with Zander you go off your global you're you know, you're you're winning, You're you're on you know, podiums, getting global gold medals. You're what Ryder Cup, you know, partying with your teammates. But does it feel like it kind of grounds you to come back here and kind of remember you remember of course, yeah, you always remember where

you come from. And um, it is so nice to give back, and it is such a feel good thing for me. And I'm sure I can speak for you know, Will, and you know Will's dedicate himself to this property and then Dino as well, and Freddie coming in coming in hot now too, So it is so it's so cool for us to sort of give back in the position we're in. And um, it is, like I said, it's just selfishly, it's such a feel good thing for me to do number five in the world gold medal winner,

Ryder Cup married. Now, what's next for you? What? What are your goals here? Coming into the new season? A lot? You know, it's been a hectic year really, like you said, global year for me to travel a lot and pretty worn down from it. But um, I was really looking forward to this. You've met, you know, it's been two

years and I'm looking forward the next one. But in the meantime, yeah, I can snatch up a major and you know, I'd love to walk up and here and strolling up here in a green jacket or was some sort of massive trophy in front of all these people. Well it's safe to say everybody's rooting for you. We all are sending, you know, good vibes your way every time you tee it up and and just in life in general. Thanks for doing what you do man, and appreciate it and we'll see you next year. Yeah, keep

up the good work, Freddie. I mean, what just took place here today? Yeah, it was awesome. Um, you know, I knew it was a big deal because the little X man was texting me telling him here, we're gonna have a blast. And Will I never met what a partner. And then obviously Dean Wilson I've known a long time. But the main thing, you know, was John Ashworth and you helping, and uh, you know, I didn't I didn't

do much except tell John I'm all in. And one of the funniest things is, I mean, and we do a lot of these and by the you've seen him by the fifteen hold or sixty people watching, and it kind of takes a lot of the sting out of it. And then my man Will made that bomb on seventeen to get us right there and the place went crazy. But um, you know, I stunked the back nine, I did well the front nine, and Will bertie a couple of the last five holes to keep us in it.

But we had a great day. What are your thoughts? What a day? What a day? I can't even put into words. It was incredible, incredible Dean was able to I mean Dean's the rightfully, so I mean the star of the show, and that was awesome. The hole one started the day off, and really Freddie's put started the day off on the first hole, just straight from a bang, and it just kept riding and building from there. So

it was incredible. Bred couples with your partner, and he couldn't have been any nicer, and we just felt like

we jelled the whole way around. And he was so welcoming and just so nice, and he was like playing with anybody else, just another guy, and we were just trying to take him down and he was so couraging and it felt like we had known each other forever, and it was I think that's probably one of his gifts that he has is to be able to make people feel comfortable, and that's why he's a legend in his own right. And I was on that wave today and it was incredible. Comes down to that put. You

obviously made seventeen. I'm going Will's birdie, birdie, We're gonna have more golf. Yeah, that's what I thought too. That's what I thought too. I mean, I thought I dunked it on the first shot coming into the green. I thought that was going to go in, and then I had a great put. I guess nothing you can do about that. Just didn't move. Didn't move like they're too they're too just slid kind of right off. I put it just a tiny bit extra out to the left

and I hit the perfect put. And sometimes they don't go. But today is not about the winner of the loss. It's a win win either way. And uh, Dean and them were certainly worthy champions, and I think the real winners go to Hill in North County. Dean Wilson shot a three under sixty two with an ace and at least four birdies. Fourth ones in the books unbelievable, right, what are great turnout, awesome energy, having Freddie and Xander here supporting um everything in the community. It couldn't have

been a better day. It's it's it just never ceases to amaze me. We think after every year we said, well that's it, you can't get any bigger or better than that. I mean that's after people are still on a high from that whole thing. And yet we show up here and it's like gold medal, champ Hall of Famer, you know, uh, Master's Champions and then you ace the fifth and it will Bertie's it will clutches up at the end, and Bertie's uh at fifteen and seventeen to

send it to the last sole. I mean, it's so exciting, you know, really really good they do. You find yourself sometimes looking around, seeing yourself in the faces of the kids around the ground. Obviously, Yeah, I mean that's that's to me, that's what it's all about. I grew up at a public course and and I knew what it

was like to see the pros walk around. I didn't miss a Sony Open when I was a kid, and and so you know, for John that put this tournament together and make it so the kids can walk the fairways with Xander and Freddie and and see everything. It's it's it's it's awesome. I don't know, I'm I'm gonna lost for words there, Maddie. When it go when the fifth hole, when the ball disappears, now what what do you? Oh?

My gosh, pure just craziness, right, I mean, you know, I've I've been there where you hit one and it starts to go to the right and you go, come on, get in, get in, and it never goes in. And then this time it goes in. It's just unbelievable. It's truly back to me when someone said, oh, they hit that one on the screws, it's actually because they hit on the I mean, it's it's turned back the clock time. And it feels like, isn't this what it's all about?

That's to me what it's all about. You know. I used to feel a little weird being inside the ropes and being so uh divided from the gallery, and and and people making sure people stay away from me. It's

very uneasy, you know. It's like it's like being a fish bowl and everybody's watching you and you can't participate with them, and then having something like this is just fantastic, you know, walking around with with these players, with the kids, with the community at a place like this, it's awesome.

More reflections from Ashworth. I think it would be everything that's good in golf and good for golf, you know, when you combine pros and junior golf and you know, a caddy academy and a local community and everybody's doing everything for the right reason. And honestly, for me personally, to have Fred, you know, come and be so generous and so kind and have such a good time, I mean that that's my own person, you know. I I

go back with him. We were we met each other, you know, when we were twenty seven years old, when we started, when we started Ashworth together. So I mean we're both sixty two. We were born in the month of October. You know, we're We've always been good friends. Were not super close at I mean, right when he showed up and he got out of the car and we just had a big hug, you know, and it was just I just I mean I got goose umps

right now, just because I love the guy. You know, he's just such a he's such an icon, and you know, he's such a he just fits with Goat Hill Park. He grew up on a muni like Goat Hill the Jefferson Park in Seattle. So I feel like for for him it was coming home a little bit and for me, for me to have a reunion with him at the Goat was just I mean, that was the special thing for special sauce for me. I guess you know. Ashworth shared the text exchange he had with Freddie after the

round that day. I just said, you're the best, Thanks so much for an awesome day, you know heart emoji, and he said, Ash, I cannot tell you how much fun that was today. First of all, I love X Man Dean Wilson, I've known a long time and my partner Will what a superstar. The crowds were incredible to

perfect day. I will be tweeting soon. Fred's tweet at Fred Couple's golf the day after the event quote great day at the Goat, Dean Wilson's hole in one, Xanders Olympic gold medal and lots of money raised for junior golf. Fun playing with Will, even though we lost one down. Before we get to the player's favorite fire pits. I asked a few of the caddies what their lives would be like without goat Hill Park. We start with Ethan

Lee and then Cave Fisher. Go Hill Park has been a big part of my life for the last two years, um, and it's just it's where I It's basically the only spot that I play golf now. Um. But the Caddy Academy has been It was very good this year. We had a lot more caddies to come out and I think that helped with like everyone and growing, growing the

Caddy Academy was amazing, um. And then teaching all these all these high school kids how to caddy that it actually improves their like social skills and how they interact with anyone really on the golf course and off the golf course. Have you seen growth and not only yourself, but like in your sisters, Yes, I have. UM. You know they were like the last two years ago, Um, they were really shy. They didn't really know how to talk to people honestly, and they were just you know,

more introverted. Um. But now after the two years of candy that we've done, um, they have a better understanding of how to talk to people. How to start conversations and you know, basically just talking to people in general. What would you do without life and go Hill Park? Oh, I mean I don't know. I started going there, Like I started going there when I first moved to there.

I went like once, didn't come back for a while, and then I found out about the candy op opportunity, and like from that, I go ho this every day and like without that place, I mean, I wouldn't have half the friends I have here, and then I wouldn't have all these relationships with people like you or coach coach John or asked for the any of those people.

I mean, I mean I've gotten to be around like Kelly Slater, Xandra Shopley, Fred Couples, Dean Wilson, all these great players and really cool people in the in the world. And then without that, I mean, without good Hill, like that wouldn't happen. So like it's about so many opportunities and then also like experiences that like I'll probably remember

for the rest of my life. And finally I asked all four caddies for their biggest takeaway from the day, well the whole in one for sure, that was that's a big thing that I don't think anyone forget um. But it's just watching four great players and all their swings. They're all just a little bit different, but they all are very good. Um. So just picking it up on the little things that they do, um would, I think

helped me later in my game. I kind of saw like how like what golf can do and how it can bring so many people together, Like I don't know how many people were there, a couple of hundred, and then also like the people who were watching, and then how people have like that level would come to go to hill and like, I just thought it was really cool how this is all one big group of people and they're all doing it for something other than themselves. I thought that was really really cool. What is your

biggest takeaway, guys? What is what is the thing that you think you'll remember for the rest of your life about that particular day, in that moment and that opportunity. The crowd, the crowd and the whole one was a big one too. Yeah. The crowd was like the cheering like the first hole when Fred made that Bertie it was like the loudest like cheer I've ever heard. And then the whole one was even louder like. It was crazy. Also, the gold medal that Xander brought out was crazy. Oh

that's unforgettable seeing that. How about the fact that Fred Couples after the round, grabbed a bullhorn and basically basically declared the fact that you two are the best caddies in San Diegan. Oh, yeah, that is also unforgettable. I wasn't expecting that. Yeah it was. It was great. It's a big compliment. Thank you. We ask everybody on the fire Pit podcast, what's your favorite fire pit? Do you have a place that you go and hang out. It might not even be an actual firebit of place where

you listen to stories or tell stories. Um, it's a like kind of a honestly, I mean it's somewhere in my It's probably in my house in all honesty, or in my backyard. There's an actual fire pit back there. It's pitch black, and you know, turn the fire on a low not so it's not too bright or too hot. Now we'll just kick it back there. I got my Friendshie with me and my other ausie Doodle, and if they want to hang out with me for long enough. She doesn't like the heat, so usually he's the one

kind of hogging on me. But that's usually my like zen Zen area is just hanging, hanging with the dogs of my wife, my big getaway. It's usually at my house so as private as possible. Man, Thank you so much, appreciate thanks. Thanks man. You know, I don't drink, so it's usually sitting around. We do have a fire bit right outside where I'm pointing. Um, it probably is there because it's supposed to be there. It's just kind of

a fixture. Well, I've been to your fire pit in your backyard, which is one of the most epics places on planet. There's a great fire pit here. Do you have a favorite fire pit? Do you have a place where you say, this is the place I like to sit around and listen to total It's got to be right here at the goat right. You can have a better background, and you're sitting here looking at the Pacific Ocean on sunset. It's it's it's the best. I love being here and and uh not a better place. Three

and one in the Wishbone braw his eleventh ace. Other than that, not much going on form today. Yeah, I would say probably right now and be I mean this fire pit up here obviously is one um that is hard to be. I think that once you you can get you can get stuck and get a flat tire up in the fire pit right here at go to hill with the view in the sunsets that I don't think it gets much better. Not to mention, you're always going to be sharing a beer with somebody that's just

an incredible human. Yeah, and maybe it's a fire pit. Pills always is Dean's behind today, Yeah, no doubt about it. Some special boating part of the land itself, and that fire pit, I think it is in the whole sense, you know, and uh, the whole you know, every morning beams in town and so it's the wintertime, you know, every morning beams in town. You know, so it's the wintertime.

It's seven am. So nice to go up to start the fire going, and you know it's seven am and smell the fire going and you know, sort of welcome everybody with the fire and it sort of welcomes everybody. You know, how many we had, Yeah, and then you know how many fist a fire pit? So yeah, that is my number that fire pit. So yeah, that is my number one for sure. Put another log on the fire. Nobody years to get the time