Episode 12 - The Hill Unscripted, host Bob Kitchen sits down with his father, Rich Kitchen, for a candid, wide-ranging chat about the game, the business, and the people who play it.
The episode opens with Bob previewing his upcoming trip to the Ryder Cup, before diving into a thoughtful conversation with Rich about the current health of golf. Rich argues the sport is stronger than ever thanks to the post-COVID boom, but also warns about challenges like rising prices, shrinking course availability, and limited tee times.
Together, Bob and Rich tackle topics including:
Simplifying golf’s rules – why bunker penalties and stroke-and-distance don’t work for average players
Course accessibility – the importance of properly placed tees for women, juniors, and seniors to keep the game fun
Dominant players in history – and why Tiger Woods still stands alone as the most dominant golfer ever
Club fitting realities – Rich’s recent fitting session, learning when it’s time to switch from a 3-wood to a 5-wood
Golf ball quality – Bob’s defective Maxfli find and why sticking with major brands matters
Club pricing myths – what really drives up costs, and why expensive clubs won’t magically fix your swing
The episode closes with reminders about Maple Hill’s Fall Tent Sale (September 12–30, with a special tent event September 25–27) and the always-popular Big Hole Four Person Scramble on October 12.
If you care about where golf is headed, what’s working and what needs to change, and how to make smarter equipment decisions, this conversation between father and son is one you won’t want to miss.