The Bracket Is Back

This week: The field of 64 is set. Race for the Crown Year 4 wrapped its qualifying round this week, and four courses punched their ticket to the bracket. Meanwhile, the Bigfoot of golf media finally resurfaces, Ben "Lurch" Severance joined the show with Gotterup stories, Prestwick bathroom confessions, and the most entertaining rapid fire we've ever had.

— The DROP Podcast

#GolfingInTheGardenState

Four years in, and the search for the best public course in the garden state has taken on a life of it’s own.

What started in Episode 22 as a 32-course bracket dropped during a Dan Hicks interview has become one of the most anticipated traditions on the DROP Podcast calendar. Seaview Bay won Year 1. Ballyowen took Year 2. Somerset Hills claimed Year 3. Now the field of 64 is locked for 2026, and the qualifying round delivered.

Sixteen courses fought for four spots. Here's who punched their ticket:

With more than 150 public courses in New Jersey. Locking 64 into a bracket means some good ones get left out. But that's what the qualifying round is for.

The full bracket is live now, start voting for your favorite.

And remember: Winning bracket gets a DROP Pod Hat + a Dunning Polo of their choosing with the winning course getting a visit from The DROP.

Which DROP Podcast guest chose Rumson Country Club as his favorite NJ course this week, because his grandfather was a member there?

A) Chris Gotterup
B) Ben "Lurch" Severance
C) James Nicholas
D) Max Greyserman

(Answer at the bottom)

Q: I have the opportunity to play Hollywood this summer. How does it stack up against the best in the state?

A: Chris didn't hesitate, Hollywood is the only course south of the Driscoll Bridge he'd choose over Manasquan River. He put it in the same tier as Plainfield, Ridgewood, and Baltusrol for architecture and hole-to-hole consistency. The one knock: the quirky dogleg-left 13th. His advice for Tom: don't skip the standalone locker room building, warm up on the grass-tee practice facility, and check out the short game area behind the golf shop near the first tee. The DROP dedicated a full episode to Hollywood back in November, the Walter Travis design restored by Tom Doak, with 42 bunkers on the famous "Heinz 57" 12th hole.

It had been over 500 days since Ben "Lurch" Severance appeared on a podcast. The former Fore Play co-host and Barstool Sports personality has been off the grid — living in Boston, working full-time at Axon, and occasionally surfacing on Instagram like the Bigfoot Mike called him in the intro.

But Lurch is a Jersey kid. Grew up going to the same beach as the Gotterup family. And the connections run deeper than most people realize. While working at Axon, the public safety tech company behind Taser and smart body cameras, he recruited Chuck Anttonen and Sean Farren to the company. Golf fans will recognize those names: Anttonen and Mort Gotterup won the state four-ball together, with Farren on the bag.

The Gotterup stories were the highlight. Lurch remembers the first time he played with Chris at Rumson, the first hole, 370 yards. Lurch striped one and had 75 yards in. Then Gotterup stepped up.

That was years ago. CBA kid, Rutgers commit, not many college offers. Now he's the 4th in the FedEx Cup with two wins in 2026. Lurch called it "a steady in-line of getting better and better." He also agreed with Chris' longstanding take that Gotterup got snubbed for last year's Ryder Cup, "it was a little bit of keeping the old guard just in front."

The DROP first had Gotterup on the show back in Episode 15 in January 2023, days before his Korn Ferry Tour debut. That kid is now world No. 7.

The interview also delivered the week's best gambling story. Lurch had Gotterup at +15,000 to win the Waste Management. A hundred bucks to win $15,000. He cashed out at $1,600 when Matsuyama dunked his approach into the greenside bunker on 18. Gotterup won the playoff. "I took it like an absolute loser."

Oh, and the Prestwick story. We'll let you listen to that one yourself. Just know it involves a flat white, a dairy issue, a Scottish marsh, and a drone. Mike's offer to Lurch for his next NJ round: "We'll make sure there's port-a-johns in the area."

The DROP's first live event is filling up fast. Sixteen teams, two-man better ball, Saturday March 21st from 6-9 PM.

$75 per person gets you simulator golf, pizza, wings, prizes, and a chance to meet Mike in person. only 8 spots remaining.

Register now to claim your spot

Looking to show your Jersey golf pride this season. Check out our selection of shirts, hoodies, and hats in The DROP pro shop. Find quality gear like the DROP rope hat. Lightweight, comfortable, and perfect on or off the course.

Co-host Chris Dymek dropped his Masters pick early this week: Jordan Spieth, "100% my pick for Augusta." Said he's saving it and refused to use Spieth on any other event.

Here's the question: if you had to make one weekly pick for the rest of the season — one golfer, one event, which event are you saving your best pick for? The Players? The Masters? The U.S. Open at Oakmont?

Hit “reply” with your picks..

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TRIVIA ANSWER: B) Ben "Lurch" Severance. Lurch's grandfather was a member at Rumson Country Club, making it his pick for favorite NJ course during the rapid fire. When you've got that kind of family history at a course like Rumson, it's hard to argue.