Dylan Deither : Author, Podcast Host, Citizen of the Game
Dylan Deither is an accomplished writer having written the best selling book, 18 in America, when he was just 22 years old. He's on staff at Golf Magazine covering all things related to the tours, while co-hosting one of the best golf podcasts out there: The Drop Zone. Dylan's become a voice for golfs newest generation and he's helping bridge the gap between those who love the game and aspire to understand greatness, and those who play the game at its highest level. A scratch golfer himself, and local Seattle transplant, we caught up with him in between tour stops to get some behind the scenes info on him and a few of his favorite players.
What’s in the Bag:
Driver — Callaway Epic Max LS
Irons — Titleist T100s
Wedges — Vokeys, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚
Putter — An old YES model I found in the back of GOLF Magazine’s storage closet. Turns out it was Aaron Baddeley’s backup at one point, so it must have some magic…
Ball — Titleist ProV1
Accessory you couldn’t live without — I’m a pretty minimalist golfer. Pretty happy with just a ball and a club. So I guess I could live without any of ‘em!
Your Desert Island Course: If I could only bring one course to my desert island it would be Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Mass. I grew up 10 minutes away (8 minutes if I was late for a tee time) and played college golf there, which meant 18 holes every day there was good enough weather. I’m not convinced there are many better golf courses.
The Course that Changed your Life Forever (or at least how you see the game of golf): Blue Hill Country Club is a nine-holer on the Maine coast where I learned the game with my older brother Evan. It looks different at every tide, it’s shabby in all the right ways, it’s six par-3s and three short par-4s so it’s the perfect size, too. Proper soul.
Favorite Hole: The next one! This changes weekly, so right now I’ll say No. 10 at Chambers Bay. You hit up an epic chute, stare out at the Puget Sound, look for trains and boats coming ‘round the corner.
Dream Foursome: My brother and my parents. They don’t play much golf but enough to enjoy it!
Most amazing thing you’ve seen while covering Golf professionally? Tiger Woods winning the 2019 Masters. And that one’s going to be tough to top.
What most people don’t realize about a PGA Tournament? How much work these guys put in on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday. There’s plenty about being a professional golfer that’s fairly boring, like hitting 25 extra chips around the 14th green during a pro-am round.
Most Admired Player on Tour (Not including Tiger)? Jon Rahm. Guys are in awe of his game.
Most Likable? Joel Dahmen. What’s not to like?
Best Ballstriker? Let’s go most underrated: Keegan Bradley. If he can figure out the putter a few weeks per year, he’d be a regular Tour winner.
Best Putter? Denny McCarthy. Butter stroke.
Greatest lunch/meal (eg. HotDog) you’ve ever eaten at a golf course? What course? Interbay Golf Course (Seattle, WA) Where hot dogs are a lifestyle.
Most important thing you hope to pass on to your children about the game of golf? Aim for the gap in the trees. Even if you miss, you might get a good bounce!
Someone once asked me if I liked to catch or if I liked to fish. I think a similar metaphor can be used for golf. Which do you prefer these days? I still like to catch. I just wish I was slightly better at doing so.
Favorite RADMOR item? My sage green Drop Zone crew neck. But I’m basically wearing a RADMOR sweatshirt of some kind every waking hour.
Here are a few of his favorites ... look for him wherever the tour is headed, and you'll find him wearing RADMOR.