GWAA Podcast

Episode 25, Karen Stupples

Golf Channel on-course reporter Karen Stupples joins the podcast to share the details of how she prepares to cover a major championship as she explains how she goes about learning a new venue like Memorial Park Golf Course, the site of the Chevron Championship. The major champion turned television reporter explains how she made the transition from competing to working in radio and then television and shares insights into who she has learned from throughout her career, including legendary broadcaster Judy Rankin. Stupples also discusses what the next chapter of her career may look like as she turns her focus to helping the next generation of players looking to make their own way in the professional ranks.

Episode 24, Bill Fields

Veteran golf journalist Bill Fields details the process that went into writing his memoir, A Quick Nine Before Dark, A Life in Golf. Fields shares the reasons for wanting to share not just his professional journey but the details of his personal life, the challenges that came with writing a book, and what he hopes readers will take away from reading his memoir. Fields begins his book with a fascinating story about Tiger Woods, and later describes experiences flying with Arnold Palmer, covering the 1986 Masters, and the misadventure that came after covering Jean van de Velde's misfortune at The Open in 1999.

Episode 23, Meet Nolan and Daniel

Nolan Clay and Daniel Polce have been named the Herbert V. Kohler/GWAA Journalism Scholarship recipients for 2025-2026. The two students join this month's podcast to share how they were attracted to covering golf. Clay, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, was inspired by watching fellow Texan, Jordan Spieth. Clay also discusses how the game of golf, he says, has changed his life and helped him cope with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. Polce shares how he has made the transition from studying to become a PGA Professional at Florida Golf Coast University to creating his own digital magazine en route to making a career in golf media.

Episode 22, Kelly Okun

Former professional golfer Kelly Okun explains why she exited the professional ranks in order to create her own media company, Fairway to Green. Okun describes how she made that transition, shares her goals for the future, and some advice for not just other professionals who may be looking to make a career change but also offers some educational programming for junior golfers to help them and their parents navigate the world of golf.

Episode 21, Kevin Van Valkenburg

Kevin Van Valkenburg joins this episode to discuss his new role as the Director of Content for Fried Egg Golf. Van Valkenburg also shares details of his career journey from the Baltimore Sun, to ESPN, to No Laying Up and explains how Rick Reilley has inspired his own work. Van Valkenburg also discusses a recent piece he wrote for the Fried Egg in which he took an unexpected angle on Rory McIlroy achieving the career grand slam, and passes along some honest advice for aspiring journalists hoping to break into the industry.