On the Mark Golf Podcast

What if the secret to better golf is not another swing theory, launch-monitor number or technical rabbit hole—but learning how to truly play the game?
Mark Immelman sits down with 3x PGA TOUR winner, NCAA National Champion, Texas State Golf Hall of Famer and respected golf broadcaster Billy Ray Brown for an honest conversation about the lessons Billy Ray wishes he had understood earlier in his career. His biggest realization? You do not have to be perfect to play great golf.
Billy Ray explains why golf is a game of recovery, how an uncomfortable Christmas Day practice session transformed his short game and why players must learn to solve problems without immediately turning to a coach or a collection of data. Mark and Billy Ray also explore the importance of grip, setup, ball position, clubface awareness and active hands.
They discuss Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Jackson Suber, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and the Harmon family while examining how great players build swings that perform under pressure.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why chasing perfection can keep golfers from playing their best.
How Billy Ray transformed his short game in only a few months.
Why golf should be viewed as a game of recovery.
The difference between productive practice and simply filling time.
Why golfers should practice the shots that make them uncomfortable How feel and technique work together.
Why self-discovery builds adaptable, resilient players How technology and data can help—and when they become distractions.
Why grip, stance, alignment and ball position still matter.
How clubface awareness allows great golfers to save imperfect swings.
Why different grips require different body motions and matchups.
How course conditions should influence the swing and shot, and
Why the ultimate goal is to play golf rather than chase a perfect-looking motion.
Key Takeaways:
You Do Not Have to Be Perfect - Great golf is not produced by hitting every shot perfectly. Every player will miss greens, struggle with portions of the game and face situations that require creativity. The best players accept that reality and become skilled at recovering.
Build a Short Game That Travels - Billy Ray recalls entering college as an excellent tee-to-green player who was not good enough around the greens. After his coach contacted his father, Billy Ray spent a cold Christmas Day working alone on his chipping. That experience began a transformation that helped him earn a place in the University of Houston lineup and win an NCAA championship later that spring.
Practice What Makes You Uncomfortable - Golfers naturally gravitate toward clubs and shots they already hit well. Productive practice requires the opposite approach. Work on the awkward lies, partial wedges, flighted irons, recovery shots and uncomfortable situations that will eventually appear on the course.
Learn to Figure It Out - Players who always turn to someone else after a poor shot can become dependent on external feedback. Billy Ray believes golfers must spend time experimenting, observing the ball and learning what their own motions feel like. That self-awareness gives players the ability to make adjustments during competition.  Fundamentals Provide the Foundation Modern technology offers valuable information, but Billy Ray continually returns to the same fundamentals: Grip Stance Alignment Ball position, Distance from the ball, Clubface control, A consistent setup gives the swing a better opportunity to organize itself naturally.
The Ball Does Not Lie - Launch monitors can provide useful measurements, but the flight of the golf ball remains the clearest form of feedback. Golfers should learn to recognize why the ball curved, launched too high, spun too much or started offline.
Play the Shot the Course Requires - Firm ground, wind, changing green speeds and difficult lies require adaptation. A golfer’s motion should respond to the shot and environment—not remain locked into one predetermined swing model.
Play Golf, Not Golf Swing - The objective is simple: get the ball into the hole in the fewest possible strokes. Technique matters, but only when it helps the golfer accomplish that goal.
Memorable Quotes:
“You do not have to be perfect in this game.”
“The most complex thing about learning to play the game is keeping it simple.”
“The ball doesn’t lie.”
“You have to go to the most uncomfortable situations and put yourself in there.”
“Play the game, not swing the golf club.”
This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman and leave a comment.

In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman is joined by newly professional golfer Dax Isbell for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about competitive golf, pressure, faith, failure, process, and what it really takes to access your skills when the stakes are high.
Dax recently earned his first professional victory on the GPro Tour in just his fourth start. He shares what he has already learned from making cuts, missing cuts, playing for money, handling pressure, and trying to stay aggressive when the natural temptation is to protect.
Mark and Dax discuss why the pressure of making a cut can sometimes feel heavier than the pressure of trying to win, and Dax explains how golfers can get trapped in “prevent defense” instead of continuing to play with freedom and intent. The conversation also goes deeper than swing mechanics. Dax shares how his faith shapes his approach to golf, why he believes identity cannot be tied to scores or results, and how his daily system of belief, consistency, preparation, and execution is helping him grow as both a player and a person.
This episode is packed with wisdom for competitive golfers, junior golfers, parents, coaches, and any player who wants to better understand how to practice, compete, fail, reset, and keep pursuing the game with purpose.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
🎙️ What Dax learned from making his first professional cut.
🎙️ Why missed cuts can become distracting if golfers attach too much identity to them.
🎙️ How playing for money changes the pressure of professional golf.
🎙️ Why the Friday cut line can create more tension than Sunday contention.
🎙️ The danger of playing “prevent defense” on the golf course.
🎙️ Why aggressive intent matters under pressure.
🎙️ How to play in alignment with the way you are designed as a golfer.
🎙️ Why golf is what you do, not who you are.
🎙️ How faith helps Dax process success, failure, frustration, and expectation.
🎙️ Why skill development and skill access are two different things.
🎙️ What Dax believes are the key skills in golf: driving, wedges, approach play, chipping, and putting.
🎙️ Why wedges are one of the most important money-making skills.
🎙️ Why players should practice in ways that force them to compete.
🎙️ The four layers of Dax’s system: belief, consistency, preparation, and execution.
🎙️ How language and belief shape competitive performance.
🎙️ Why “sucky practice” is not necessarily bad practice.
🎙️ Why every shot needs to matter, but not destroy you if it goes wrong.
🎙️ How nutrition and hydration can save shots during a round.
🎙️ Why junior golfers should understand how their behavior affects opportunity, and
🎙️ What Dax would tell his future self if his golf career ended tomorrow.
Key Takeaways:
Golfers lose more than they win, so identity cannot be tied to scores, cuts, or trophies.
The pressure to make a cut can cause players to steer the ball instead of swinging with commitment. Playing smart does not mean playing scared.
Golfers must learn how they personally perform best under pressure.
Developing skill is only part of the equation; accessing skill when the lights come on is another skill entirely.
Wedges, putting, chipping, driving, and approach play all require specific attention.
Competitive practice should include winning and losing, not just hitting pretty shots.
Belief is built through the stories you tell yourself about who God is, what He has done, and how He made you.
Every shot should matter enough to earn your full attention, but not so much that it wrecks you emotionally.
Fuel matters. Eating and drinking consistently during a round can help players think clearly and compete better.
Golf exposes character, which is why it can be such a powerful teacher.
The goal is not just to play better golf, but to pursue the game faithfully and authentically.

In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman is joined by golf coach and content creator Brandon Bauman, known online as @coach_bauman, for a practical and entertaining conversation about simplifying the golf swing and playing better golf with clearer intention.
Brandon shares his approach to mental resets, swing balance, tempo, timing, leg action, speed, wind management, and playing smarter golf. His coaching style is simple, direct, and easy to apply, making complex golf concepts easier to understand for players of all levels.
The conversation begins with one of the most important parts of scoring: how to reset mentally after mistakes. Brandon explains how he breaks a round into three-hole matches, uses physical restart cues, and “reintroduces” himself on the tee to create a fresh start during competitive rounds.
From there, Mark and Brandon dive into the four pillars of the golf swing: timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance. Brandon explains why tempo does not mean slow, why a balanced finish still matters, how relaxed arms can create more speed, and why golfers should stop forcing speed with tension and handle drag. They also cover practical drills for better sequencing, improved leg action, more efficient speed, and better wind strategy.
If you want to simplify your golf swing, reset your mind, and play with more conviction, this episode is packed with takeaways you can bring straight to the range or course.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How to reset mentally after a bad shot, hole, or stretch of holes
Why Brandon plays six three-hole matches during a round
How physical reset cues can help you start fresh mid-round
Why golfers need to learn how to “plug in” and “plug out” mentally
Why balance remains one of the key pillars of the golf swing
What a good finish position can tell you about your swing
Why tempo does not mean swinging slowly
How your personality can influence your ideal swing tempo
Why handle-dragging can actually slow the clubhead down
How timing and sequence can improve with a simple pause drill
Why relaxed arms can help you swing faster
How to use leg action correctly for power
Why "sitting down" in the backswing can hurt your downswing sequence
How one-handed swings can improve speed and release
Why throwing the club can help golfers understand the “slot”
How to adjust properly for wind, and
Why golfers should play to carry numbers, not total distance.
Key Takeaways:
Mental resets are a skill, and they can be trained.
Breaking a round into three-hole matches can help golfers stay present.
Physical cues like changing gloves, changing tees, or marking the scorecard can signal a fresh start.
You cannot stay fully “plugged in” for four or five hours, so learn when to focus and when to relax.
The four pillars of the golf swing are timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance.
Tempo does not mean slow; it means the club and body are working together efficiently.
Your swing tempo should fit your personality and natural pace.
A balanced finish is still one of the best indicators of an efficient swing.
Speed comes from sequence, leverage, release, and relaxation — not brute force.
Pause drills and one-handed swings can help golfers find better timing.
The legs should work in the correct order: load, move down, then extend through impact.
Into the wind, the ball loses more distance than many golfers expect, and Downwind does not help as much as the wind hurts into you.
Playing to carry numbers instead of finish numbers can improve decision-making and scoring.
This episode of the OntheMark Podcast is loaded with simple, beneficial and easy to learn and apply golf-improvement insights.  Share it with your friends and watch it on YouTube to see some of the demonstrations.  Search for and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman is joined by New York Times bestselling author Steve Eubanks to discuss his latest book, Godball — a powerful look at the growing movement of athletes speaking openly and boldly about their Christian faith.
Steve shares how the idea for Godball came from noticing a major shift in sports culture. What was once often limited to quick post-game “thank you” moments has become something much deeper: athletes using interviews, press conferences, social platforms, and public moments to share their faith stories with clarity, conviction, and courage.
Mark and Steve explore why this movement is happening now, how athletes are helping lead a renewed interest in faith, and why performance, trophies, wins, and careers can never fully define a person. From Scottie Scheffler and Bernhard Langer to Rose Zhang, Kirk Cousins, Dusty Baker, Dottie Pepper, and Betsy King, the conversation highlights athletes who understand that what they do is not who they are. This episode is a thoughtful conversation about faith, identity, peace, pressure, grace, revival, and the unique platform sports provides for sharing something eternal.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
What inspired Steve Eubanks to write Godball
Why athletes are becoming more outspoken about their faith
How sports have become a platform for revival and spiritual conversation
Why modern athletes are moving beyond surface-level faith comments
How Scottie Scheffler models identity beyond performance
Why trophies and wins cannot fill the deeper spiritual need
How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are responding to authentic faith
Why young men are helping drive a renewed interest in church and Scripture
How COVID changed many athletes’ view of time, calling, and platform
Why peace is essential for athletes performing under pressure
How faith helps competitors handle failure, transition, and identity loss
Why grace, redemption, and spiritual grounding matter in sports and life.
Key Takeaways: 
Athletes are using their platforms more intentionally to share their faith.
Performance may define what an athlete does, but it should never define who they are.
Sports reveal merit, pressure, failure, discipline, and resilience in a very public way.
Many athletes are discovering that trophies do not provide lasting peace.
True peace does not come from positive thinking alone, but from a deeper spiritual foundation.
Younger generations are drawn to authenticity, and they can quickly recognize what is real.
Faith gives athletes a way to process success, failure, pressure, and life after competition.
The current faith movement in sports is not isolated — it is visible across golf, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, and more.
This podcast is also available on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman returns from Scotland with fresh insight from a week of Links Golf, the Genesis Scottish Open, and Open Championship week. Mark breaks down Tom Kim’s impressive victory at the Genesis Scottish Open and shares what golfers of all levels can learn from his patience, maturity, shot-making, routine, and renewed approach to the game. After a period of searching, coaching changes, and mental clutter, Tom Kim found his way back by simplifying his swing, trusting his process, and accepting that even great work does not always produce immediate results.
Mark also dives into the unique demands of links golf: firm fairways, tight lies, pot bunkers, wind, trajectory control, creativity, patience, recovery, and attitude. Whether you are preparing for a golf trip, watching The Open Championship, or simply trying to improve your everyday game, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What Tom Kim’s Scottish Open victory teaches golfers about patience and maturity.
Why good practice does not always guarantee good results.
How expectations can hurt your performance.
The “Golf Life Cycle” of good, indifferent, bad, indifferent, and good play.
Why you should not panic when your game starts trending downward.
How to identify your strengths, habits, and tendencies as a golfer.
Why short game and recovery skills are essential when your ball striking is off.
What Tom Kim changed in his swing to create more consistency.
How quiet wrists can help stabilize the club face.
A simple centered pivot drill you can do at home.
Why “Operation 30” can help golfers stop overthinking.
How to play firm, fast links conditions.
Why the chip-and-run is so valuable on tight lies.
How to vary trajectory and club selection in changing conditions.
When to use the putter from off the green, and
How to better understand and manage wind on the golf course.
Key Takeaways:
Golf improvement is holistic. Fitness, energy, walking endurance, mindset, and swing mechanics all affect performance.
Links golf rewards patience, creativity, recovery, and smart decision-making.
Tom Kim’s win was a lesson in maturity, patience, conviction, and simplifying the mind.
When your game gets shaky, return to your fundamentals instead of trying every quick fix.
Great players make their bad days decent by relying on short game, putting, and smart course management.
Quiet wrists can help improve club face control and ball striking consistency.
A centered pivot can help improve contact, especially in wind.
Doubt creates tension, and tension wrecks golf swings.
A confident swing with the wrong club is often better than a doubtful swing with the right club.
Wind hurts more than it helps, so plan accordingly, and
Practicing different trajectories, uneven lies, and wind conditions can prepare you for real golf. 
This podcast is a one-stop shop where you will get game improvement insights, Links Golf insights and a nugget or two on how to deal with the inevitable slumps in golf.  Watch it on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.