I was introduced to BombTech Golf through their social media posts. The bold black and green logo, and the cool Grenade Headcover caught my eye. I reached out to Willis Varno to learn more about the brand, and he was gracious enough to join the show and talk about how the company is making golf more accessible and fun for the everyday golfer.

BombTech Golf is a direct-to-consumer golf club manufacturer that has built a reputation for offering performance-driven—and surprisingly affordable—clubs. Their product lineup includes drivers, irons, wedges, and putters designed with an emphasis on forgiveness and distance, making them especially popular among beginner golfers and high-handicappers. The brand backs its products with a 60-day on-course guarantee, reflecting their confidence in the quality and performance of their clubs.

The company’s origins are often described as grassroots. One narrative explains that BombTech Golf started out of modest beginnings—with accounts crediting founder Tyler Sullivan, an ex-engineer who launched the company from his garage with the help of college students. Another account, however, attributes its founding in 2012 to Zachary Barlow, who set out to challenge the traditional golf equipment market by eliminating hefty retail markups and ensuring high performance at direct-to-consumer prices3. Although the details differ slightly between sources, both stories underscore BombTech Golf’s innovative, do-it-yourself beginnings and its commitment to disrupting the status quo by making premium golf clubs more accessible.

Today, BombTech Golf continues to appeal to golfers looking for a blend of quality, performance, and value. By leveraging modern manufacturing techniques and a direct sales model, the company has garnered a loyal following among players who appreciate the balance of distance, forgiveness, and affordability in their clubs. If you’re a golfer seeking equipment that combines solid performance with an inclusive price point, BombTech Golf is definitely a brand worth considering.

It's the week of the 2025 US Open and the boys from the Tin Cup Club join the show to talk about Oakmont Country Club and the event being held there this week!

The U.S. Open is one of golf’s four major championships, organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). It was first played on October 4, 1895, at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island, featuring just 11 competitors. The tournament has since grown into one of the most prestigious events in golf.

Oakmont Country Club, located in Pennsylvania, is one of the most historic and challenging golf courses in the United States. It has hosted the U.S. Open a record 10 times, making it the most frequent venue for the championship2.

Oakmont’s Legacy in the U.S. Open

• First U.S. Open (1927): Won by Tommy Armour, defeating Harry Cooper in a playoff.
• Jack Nicklaus vs. Arnold Palmer (1962): Nicklaus won his first major by defeating Palmer in a playoff.
• Johnny Miller’s Historic Round (1973): Miller shot a final-round 63, one of the greatest rounds in major history.
• Dustin Johnson’s Victory (2016): Johnson won despite a controversial penalty ruling.

Course Characteristics

• Church Pew Bunkers: Famous hazards that make Oakmont one of the toughest courses.
• Lightning-Fast Greens: Often considered the fastest in championship golf.
• Brutal Rough & Narrow Fairways: Designed to test even the best players.

The 2025 U.S. Open is currently being held at Oakmont, and experts predict it will be one of the most difficult tournaments in recent years

Founder and CEO of GIVR Packaging, Jeremy Bower, joins the show to talk about how he and his company are helping their customers avoid potential tariffs, reduce their overall cost of goods sold, and source local, made in the USA products while improving their impact on the environment.

GIVR Packaging specializes in sustainable, custom packaging solutions for businesses, particularly in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and beverage industries. They offer a range of packaging options, including:

• Custom Inserts: Protective corrugated and folding carton inserts for direct-to-consumer shipping.
• Shippable Mailers: Designed for shipping without an outer shell.
• Retail Ready Packaging: Shelf displays and master cases for retail environments.
• Boutique Beverage Solutions: Custom packaging for beverage brands, including various can sizes and case counts.
• POP Displays: Point-of-purchase retail displays and case stacks.

Givr Packaging also emphasizes sustainability, committing to 20x fiber replacement for every box they produce. Their structural engineers work with businesses to create innovative and protective designs that enhance branding while ensuring product safety.

Ping's own Fitting Science Manager, Chris Broadie, joins Making Cents of It All with Jesse Stakes and Wes Altice to talk about Ping's Ballnamic online golf ball fitting tool. Katie Goodwin joins along the way to talk about how they are leveraging their social media to inject fun into teaching the general golfing public about the benefits of playing the right ball for your game!

Ballnamic is a virtual golf-ball fitting tool developed by PING. It helps golfers find the best ball for their game by analyzing performance characteristics across different models. The tool uses proprietary flight models and algorithms to suggest the top five ball matches based on a golfer’s preferences and playing style

Tee-to-Green Fitting Experience
Their fitting process evaluates every aspect of your game. You’ll enter information from your driver launch conditions down to how you like the ball to feel off your putter.

Industry-Leading Fitting Technology
Every ball in the Ballnamic database undergoes hundreds of test shots on PING’s state-of-the-art swing robot, and the data is analyzed by PING’s Fitting Scientists.

Data-Driven Fitting Results
Your results are packed with detailed performance insights that includes an overall match percentage for each ball and ball flight projections.

Yeliza Centeio joins the show to talk about how the Marketing Profession and their clients are being affected by the changing economy, tariffs, and new administration's direction in 2025.

Yeliza Centeio is a veteran marketing and advertising leader known for her candid, innovative, and results-driven approach. With over fifteen years of industry experience, she honed her craft at leading agencies in cities such as Boston, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale, as well as in in-house roles within the direct-to-consumer and fashion sectors. This extensive background laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey, empowering her to establish an agency that reflects her bold style and deep media expertise.

Integral Marketing & Advertising, the firm she founded, embodies a commitment to innovation, authenticity, and strategic excellence. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, the agency prides itself on tailoring solutions to each client’s unique challenges. Their multidisciplinary team—comprising media planners, creative designers, copywriters, analytics experts, and producers—develops comprehensive strategies that span media planning and buying, creative campaign development, digital marketing, website development, and even public relations. The agency’s philosophy, captured in the notion of being “integral,” reflects its mission to offer well-rounded, innovative, and ROI-focused marketing solutions.

Yeliza is often described as honest, bold, and direct in all things media. By leveraging strong industry partnerships and an unapologetic approach to disrupting conventional advertising methods, she has positioned Integral Marketing & Advertising as a forward-thinking player in the field. Her leadership is not just about crafting compelling brand narratives but also about fostering genuine connections between brands and their target audiences. This blend of creative insight and strategic execution has made her a respected figure in the marketing community, especially in the Orlando business landscape where she has been recognized for her impactful work.

If you are interested in speaking with Yeliza about your business, please contact her and her team here.

The Tin Cup Club joins the show to discuss this week's PGA Championship, the venue, and show much more!

Former PGA Tour player Hunter Mahan was critical of this week's PGA Championship venue. The 42-year-old acknowledged the course was in great shape but added that he feels it’s missing something.

“I guess I would say Quail Hollow is like a Kardashian,” Mahan said. “It’s very modern, beautiful and well-kept. But it lacks a soul or character.”

Agree or disagree?

The PGA Championship is one of golf’s storied majors, rich with tradition and evolution that mirrors the growth of professional golf itself. Here’s a deep dive into its history:

Origins and Early Years

The PGA Championship was inaugurated in 1916 by the PGA of America with the goal of unifying and advancing professional golf. Initially conceived as a tournament for club professionals, its first edition was held at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. The early days of the PGA Championship were marked by a competitive spirit among local professionals, setting the stage for the tournament’s future prominence. This event signaled a move toward greater organization and recognition for professional golfers who had long been overshadowed by the more established amateur events.

The Match Play Era

For the first five decades of its existence, the PGA Championship was contested using a match play format. This head-to-head style of competition not only underscored the one-on-one skills of the competitors but also introduced dramatic duel scenarios that captivated audiences. During this period, legendary golfers like Walter Hagen and Sam Snead emerged and made their marks on the tournament. Their repeated successes helped to build the championship’s reputation and contributed to its growing prestige within the golf community.

Transition to Stroke Play

A pivotal change occurred in 1958 when the tournament switched from match play to stroke play. This shift was more than just a change in format; it was a strategic move to align the PGA Championship with evolving broadcast requirements and the increasing appetite for a more straightforward format. Stroke play provided a clearer measure of consistency over the entire tournament and brought the championship closer in line with the other major tournaments. The new format allowed for larger fields and emphasized the importance of every shot taken over the course of four days, thereby enhancing its appeal to both players and spectators.

Evolution and Notable Champions

As the tournament evolved, so too did its roster of champions. The PGA Championship has been won by some of the most iconic names in golf history. The dominance of early champions like Walter Hagen paved the way for future legends. Later, as the event expanded in scope and recognized worldwide, champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and more recently Tiger Woods have added chapters to its rich legacy. Each era of winners has contributed to the narrative of endurance, skill, and strategic excellence.

Modern Era and Significance

Over the decades, the PGA Championship has transitioned from a regional contest for club professionals into one of the four major championships in golf. Its rotation among premier golf courses across the United States—and occasionally abroad—has showcased the diversity and beauty of golf course architecture. The modern PGA Championship is celebrated not only for its competitive rigor but also for its role as a bellwether for the sport. The tournament's scheduling, the infusion of modern sponsorships, and extensive media coverage have all played a role in making it an integral part of the global golf calendar.

The boys from the Tin Cup Club stop by the show to talk about their 2025 trip, thoughts on the McLemore Resort, and how it was to do a buddy's trip on Masters Weekend.

According to the National Golf Foundation, over 12 million U.S. adults embarked on golf trips last year, marking a 20% increase over the historical average and expected to grow. This surge reflects a growing desire for experiential travel, with golf. The Buffalo Groupe reported 44% of their survey plans to increase golf travel spending in 2025. The growth is driven by the increasing popularity of golf as a leisure activity and the development of golf tourism infrastructure worldwide.

Key Insights:

• Market Size & Growth: The global golf tourism market was valued at approximately $25.34 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2025 to 2030.
• Popular Destinations: Countries like Scotland, the United States, Spain, and Thailand are renowned for their prestigious golf courses and scenic landscapes.
• Economic Impact: In the U.S., golf tourism is a $6 billion industry, with $4 billion coming from international visitors.
• Trends & Innovations: The industry is seeing a rise in experiential travel, luxury golf resorts, and eco-friendly practices to attract environmentally conscious travelers.
• Government Support: Many governments are investing in golf tourism to boost local economies. For instance, Canada allocated $4.4 million to promote professional golf tournaments.

Golf tourism is expected to expand significantly, driven by increasing interest in outdoor sports, government funding, and the growing number of young golfers.

This is truly a story of Making Cents of It All. Dennis Balonze joins the show to share his story of how he parlayed his career as a barber into a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio over three states.

He and his team currently manage a portfolio of profitable multi-family and
commercial properties. They are always looking to broaden the portfolio, which would include the continuing acquisition and management of multi-family units and commercial buildings, with regional expansion throughout the southern United States.

Dennis also utilizes his talents area barber in putting together a very unique, interesting YouTube show, BarberUpp. It's a great watch and it only lasts...as long as a haircut! Check it out.