Next on the Tee: Mike McGee discusses hometown East Palestine, father’s golf success

Tribune-Review | Thursday, January 11, 2024 12:59 p.m.

Annika Sorenstam, of Sweden, talks with her husband and caddie, Mike McGee, on the 18th green during the second round for the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Friday, July 7, 2023, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

On this episode of Next on the Tee, host Chris Mascaro is joined by Mike McGee, managing director of the Annika brand; Jeff Smith, a Golf Magazine Top 100 instructor and Golf Digest’s top instructor in Indiana; and Evan Schiller, a PGA and renowned golf course photographer.

McGee, a native of East Palestine, Ohio, is the son of Jerry McGee, a four-time winner on Tour and a Western Pa. PGA Section Hall of Famer. He is also the managing director of the Annika brand and Annika Sorenstam’s husband. He also was an all-conference baseball player at Mount Union. McGee shares stories about growing up in East Palestine in the early ‘80s and reflects on the Annika Fore East Palestine campaign that helped that community recover from the tragic train derailment and chemical spill last year. Also hear about his father’s career, including playing in the 1977 Ryder Cup, multiple appearances in The Masters, and what it was like to induct his father into the Hall of Fame last fall. The Steelers fan also weighs in on this weekend’s playoff matchup against Buffalo.

Smith has been named a Golf Magazine Top 100 instructor each of the last four years. He also co-hosts a podcast alongside John Ashton called “Those Weekend Golf Guys.” He talks about how his wife, Kathy, who played at Indiana University, got him started playing golf. He shares the story of what it was like for him when he got the call that he was named a Top 100 instructor. Also hear of his winter seasonal jobs at Bonita Bay Club outside of Naples, Fla., and summering at Eagle Springs Golf Club in Wolcott, Colo. We also get a couple of playing lessons for how to transition to playing on Bermuda grass if you’re going to Florida this winter and why we should consider leaving our 3-wood in the garage and replacing it with a 5-wood.

Schiller talks about his 2024 calendar and how he went about deciding which courses to include. He talks about his use of drone videos and what it was like shooting the seventh hole at Pebble Beach, plus the range of clubs people have used on that short par 3 depending on the wind. He also discusses some of the incredible courses he’s photographed overseas, including Old Head in Ireland plus which courses remain on is bucket list.

Listen: Next on the Tee with Chris Mascaro