Shane offers a broad base of knowledge and understanding of golf, having been involved with the game in a variety of capacities. In 2006, he spent the summer working as a caddie at the historic St. Andrews links course in Scotland and also later caddied in tournament events for LPGA tour professionals Irene Cho and the late Erica Blasberg. A low-single-digit handicap player, he also competed on the mini-tour circuit for a short time between 2007 and 2008.
Shane also hosts his weekly podcast "The Clubhouse With Shane Bacon (https://art19.com/shows/the-clubhouse-with-shane-bacon)". We highly recommend giving it a listen (after you've binge-listened to every single ModGolf Podcast episode, of course).
Bacon began his coverage of the sport as a writer for the AOL FanHouse website in 2008. He held that position until 2010 when he began contributing to the Yahoo Sports Devil Ball Golf blog and later accepted a full-time writing position for the CBS’ Eye on Golf blog in 2011. In 2012, he assumed editor duties for the Yahoo Devil Ball site, penning columns, conducting interviews with tour professionals, covering tournament action and producing video content, while also planning the blog’s editorial calendar and overall content strategy. In 2014, he made his first foray into television, joining DirecTV’s upstart “Back9Network,” a golf and lifestyle cable channel, as an on-air personality. During his time with Back9, he co-hosted the show, “The Turn” from the channel’s Connecticut studios.
An experienced digital scribe and former mini-tour competitor, Shane Bacon is now a golf reporter for FOX Sports. In his dynamic role, Bacon serves as an on-course contributor during the network’s digital presentations of all eight USGA Championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open, in addition to producing columns and videos throughout the year for FOXSports.com.
On this episode Shane and Colin talk about:
• Shane's early days as a sports blogger and his first time is front of the camera at Back9 Network.
• his 'big break' opportunity to join the FOX Sports Golf team.
• why Shane had to "had to readjust my thinking about golf" when considering the future of the game.
• European Tour CEO Keith Pelley's Golf Sixes, match play and team events.
• how other sports love the underdog but golf fans do not.
• what young people think about Tiger Woods.
• the innovative culture at FOX Sports that gives their golf staff the creative freedom to experiment.
• that people need to remind themselves golf is an escape and we play to get away from everyday life.
• Shane's desire to publish a golf game pamphlet (Shane’s Games perhaps?) as a fun, social alternative to 18 hole stroke play.
Special Guest: Shane Bacon - FOX Sports Golf Reporter.