How to Actually Qualify for a USGA Four-Ball

How to Actually Qualify for a USGA Four-Ball

Author: NewClub Golf Society July 13, 2026 Duration: 1:09:31

Everyone tells you golf is an individual game. Zach Healy and Jack Larkin Jr. are quietly proving how much better it gets when it isn't.

The two former University of Georgia golfers — roommates for all five years, four-ball partners ever since — join Matt and The Professor to talk about the format that's given them a second golf life: USGA Four-Ball. They've made a habit of tearing up the amateur scene, and this year they finished T2 in stroke play and came a single shot shy of the championship's single-round record with a 63.


What the conversation dives into:

  • Why the best four-ball teams aren't the perfect ones — and how one early bogey stopped mattering
  • The 63 in the Arizona desert: six birdies in the first eight holes, cocktails in hand, trading who could one-up the other
  • The unglamorous re-navigation back into competitive golf after college, and why you have to be willing to shoot 80 in a qualifier to get sharp again
  • Getting smarter as you get older: swapping a 15-year putter for a "spaceship," and checking the ego at the door
  • Gamesmanship inside the ropes — walking fast, talking a lot, and where the line actually is
  • Jack Larkin Sr., the family blueprint for playing high-level golf at 65, and who wins when three Larkins tee it up

Connect with our guests

Zach Healy — 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/z_jhealy | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-healy/

Jack Larkin —  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlarkin_uga | 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-larkin-b738a4126/



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Connect with Matt & The Professor

🎙️ Matt Considine — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/consequential85 | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consequence18/ | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-considine-103bb21/

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Chapters:
00:00 One season, one complaint — doormen, summer, and the Midwest golf report
05:30 Meet Zach & Jack: how the Professor first crossed paths with the Georgia team
06:08 The Professor's teach: which clubs have hosted the U.S. Amateur most
09:16 Partner spotlight: Titleist, the GTS, and matching your ball
10:41 How do you actually qualify for the USGA Four-Ball?
12:35 Why the best teams aren't perfect
13:31 Steady Eddie vs. the EKG machine: how partners complement each other
17:00 The 63: six birdies in eight holes and a run at the record
19:45 Birdie juice — transfusions, screwdrivers, and desert superstitions
22:49 How they met, and five years as roommates
25:19 Walking into UGA and realizing you're not the best guy anymore
30:32 What makes a great teammate
34:29 Zach's shot at pro golf, and the pay-phone moment he hung it up
39:44 Jack the working man, and the hard road back to competitive golf
45:00 Getting smarter with age: efficiency, ego, and the spaceship putter
52:24 Jack Larkin Sr. and the family blueprint for golf longevity
56:08 Course selection, home-site traps, and football-weekend regrets
1:01:00 Match play, momentum, and a two-down-with-two-to-go comeback
1:04:30 Gamesmanship: walk fast, talk a lot, never cross the line
1:09:00 Why team golf makes the whole thing more fun

What is The Bag Drop?

The Bag Drop features weekly stories from the culture, community and characters shaping golf today. Produced by NewClub Golf Society, each episode blends authenticity and expert insights for passionate golfers at all levels. Special guests from clubs, courses and every corner of the changing landscape join us for thoughtful, in‑depth discussions on all things golf.


What is NewClub?

Founded in 2017, NewClub is the premier private golf society in the United States. It blends the community and access of a private club with the variety and affordability of public golf. Members enjoy thousands of reserved tee times, competitions and events at exceptional partner courses across our local chapters, as well as signature trips and exclusive perks. NewClub is revolutionizing golf membership, making the game more meaningful for those who love it.


There's a whole world of stories that never make it to the leaderboard or the final green, and that's exactly where The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf finds its voice. This isn't just a series about swings and scores; it's a weekly exploration of the people, places, and moments that truly define the game's rich culture. You'll hear from greenkeepers, historians, passionate amateurs, and tour veterans, all sharing perspectives that go far beyond the typical post-round interview. Produced by the NewClub Golf Society, the podcast is built on a foundation of authentic conversation, digging into the connections between life on and off the course. Every episode feels like pulling up a chair in the clubhouse after a round, where the talk is as much about character as it is about character. It’s for anyone who feels that golf is about more than just a number on a card-it's about community, legacy, and the unexpected lessons found in a walk across eighteen holes. Tune in for thoughtful, often surprising discussions that remind us why this game continues to captivate so many.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf
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