Amateurs Aren't Lazy. They Practice Too Hard. - Nate Smith

Amateurs Aren't Lazy. They Practice Too Hard. - Nate Smith

Author: Isaak Ramsey & Hayden Zimmerer | Smarter Golf Practice in Less Time July 3, 2026 Duration: 38:30

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FIND NATE

Mountain Creative Construction, licensed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Teton Valley, Idaho

Nate on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ndizzle4shizzle/⁠

Nate Smith made it to pro golf, then walked away at 30 because he did not like who the game was turning him into. He got an MBA, moved to Idaho, built a construction business, and barely touched a club for eight years. Then he came back as an amateur and started winning, beating players half his age who practice every day.

If you love golf but cannot give it your whole life, this one is for you. Nate plays a few weeks a year and still competes at the top of the amateur game. He breaks down how he practices with intent, why not being obsessed with results is his biggest edge, and what he would tell anyone trying to get better with limited time.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Walking away from a Tour card at 30

01:48 What eight years away taught him

04:23 The hardest lesson, he was not always first

05:53 What pulled him back in 2022

07:36 Coming back after eight years off

09:56 Winning right away, and why it did not surprise him

10:41 Competing while running a construction business

13:26 How much you should actually practice

15:04 Practice with intent, hit 20 balls and leave

18:04 Taking your practice to the course

20:12 North and South week, identity over outcome

22:10 Playing at elevation versus sea level

24:36 Grass League and the Hollywood Hitters

28:06 The truth about amateur reinstatement

33:48 What he would tell his 25 year old self

35:14 What is next on his schedule

38:03 Where to find Nate


There's a common frustration that settles in when you love golf but feel stuck, watching your scores plateau despite your effort. Play Ready Golf is built on a simple, powerful idea: real improvement doesn't require endless hours or expensive gear you might not have. Instead, this podcast digs into practical, actionable strategies that fit into a regular life. You'll hear straightforward conversations about smarter practice, mental approaches that actually work on the course, and how to make the most of your existing game. The focus is always on tangible takeaways-the kind you can try during your next range session or round. It’s for anyone tired of generic advice and ready for a clearer path to lower scores. Each episode feels like a focused chat with a knowledgeable friend who cuts through the noise, all dedicated to helping you play better with what you've already got. Tune in and start transforming the time and resources you already invest into noticeable, satisfying progress on the fairway.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 38

Play Ready Golf | Strokes Gained for the 9 to 5 Golfer
Podcast Episodes
Practice Is Cheaper Than Golf. That's the Trap. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
7-Day App Trial:⁠ https://onelink.to/93ggkv⁠59-Minute Practice Plan: ⁠https://onelink.to/59minplan⁠30-Hacks for Busy Golfers: ⁠https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/30hacksin30⁠Chapters:0:00 A $12 bucket vs a $40 round1:48 W…
He Got Better Practicing Less - Cody Sundberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
Try Play Ready Golf free for 7 days and use code PRGPOD for 20 off your annual plan for life: https://onelink.to/93ggkvFree 59 minute practice plan: https://onelink.to/59minplanVirgil Abloh Foundation: https://thevirgila…
Amateurs Practice Too Much. They Play Too Little. - Nate Gahman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
The App (use code PRGPOD): https://onelink.to/93ggkvNate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_gahman/Identify over outcome: https://www.id-outcome.com/Last year an insurance agent with 2 kids walked into the Georg…
You Are Almost As Straight As Scheffler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:42
Use code PRGPOD for $20 off your first year. Link below for a free 7-day trial.https://onelink.to/93ggkvYour driver pattern is almost the same width as Scottie Scheffler's. About 5 yards apart.You don't have a swing prob…
More Practice Won't Lower Your Scores. Less Will. - Jon Weiss Jr. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:42
House of Hope of The Pee Dee: https://hofh.org/Play Ready Golf 7-Day Trial (use code "PRGPOD): ⁠https://onelink.to/93ggkv⁠Most golfers grind for hours and never drop a shot. Jon Weiss does the opposite. He runs a 50-empl…
Amateurs Aren't Bad Putters. They're Bad From 150. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:49
Try the Play Ready Golf app free for 7 days. Use code PRGPOD at checkout for $20 off your annual plan for life: https://onelink.to/93ggkvGrab the free stat tracker and proximity benchmarks PDF mentioned in the episode: h…
He Just Made a PGA Tour Cut. ft. Connor Doyal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:55
Connor Doyal is a 26 year old caddy at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. He almost never goes to the range. 3 weeks ago he won the Terra Cotta Invitational against a stacked junior field. Last week he Monday qualified i…
The Approach Shot Lie Costing Amateurs 3 Strokes A Round [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6752723937 Most amateurs think they know how far they hit their irons. The Arccos data says they don't. The average 20 handicap thinks their 5 iron flies 187 yards. The actual median car…
74 Million Shots Prove You're Not a Bad Putter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
You watched four days of the Masters and decided your putting is broken. It's not.74 million shots say amateur golfers miss more than 60% of putts from 8 feet. Tour pros miss 3 out of 4 from 15 feet. A scratch golfer mis…