In the final installment of our three-part conversation with 1985 U.S. Women’s Open champion Kathy Guadagnino (Baker), we explore life beyond the ropes as Kathy reflects on the transition from professional golf to a new season of purpose, faith, and service. With her signature warmth and humility, Kathy takes us on a journey through her years playing in Japan—including typhoon-tossed flights, memorable karaoke bus rides, and questionable culinary adventures with Laura Davies.

She candidly shares the internal shift that came with motherhood, faith, and recognizing that golf was no longer her top priority. From her final years on tour to her unexpected calling as a coach and mentor, Kathy’s story is one of rediscovering identity and purpose. A serendipitous moment after a painful golf injury even reshaped her swing—and her understanding of the game.

We also celebrate Kathy’s work beyond the course, including her and husband Joe’s founding of Solid Rock Christian Church, her time at the helm of collegiate golf programs, and the spiritual calling that has always guided her journey. As always, we close with our signature three questions—offering Kathy a chance to reflect on what she would do differently, her one career mulligan, and how she hopes to be remembered.

This heartfelt and inspiring conversation wraps up a truly special profile of one of golf’s quiet champions. Kathy Guadagnino’s story is a powerful reminder that life’s richest victories often come after the final putt drops.

Listen in as we celebrate a life well played—on and off the course.

🎙️ FORE the Good of the Game — Preserving the voices and stories of golf’s greatest generation.

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About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

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In this second installment of our three-part conversation with 1985 U.S. Women’s Open champion Kathy Guadagnino (Baker), we journey deep into the most defining moment of her golf career—and the faith that carried her through it.

Kathy recounts the pivotal decision to pursue professional golf, guided by a strong spiritual calling and a leap of faith at LPGA Q-School. Listeners will be drawn into the tension and triumph of that qualifying experience, where she tied for low honors alongside Juli Inkster. Her vivid storytelling brings to life the unique pressures of playing for your future, and the fierce internal battles that often define great performances.

The heart of the episode is Kathy’s inspiring and emotional retelling of her 1985 U.S. Open win at Baltusrol. From a quiet moment listening to a cassette tape that seemed to foreshadow something bigger, to the surreal vision during a Tuesday practice round, Kathy shares how her faith and focus shaped the outcome. With candor and warmth, she reveals the tension of the final round, her strategic mindset, and how birdies and bogeys mixed with divine nudges and personal resolve led her to a career-defining victory.

Beyond the ropes, Kathy opens up about life on tour as a mother, balancing professional competition with raising children, including playing while pregnant and pushing for better accommodations for moms on tour.

This episode is more than a recap of a great golf win—it’s a heartfelt look at purpose, resilience, and a deep belief that golf was just one part of a greater plan.

Join us for an unforgettable conversation with one of the game’s most grounded and gracious champions.

Give Bruce & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our Website https://www.forethegoodofthegame.com/reviews/new/

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fore-the-good-of-the-game/id1562581853

Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/0XSuVGjwQg6bm78COkIhZO?si=b4c9d47ea8b24b2d

About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

Thanks so much for listening!

In this first episode of our three-part conversation with 1985 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Kathy Guadagnino (Baker), we tee off with a delightful surprise—singing happy birthday to Kathy on the very day of our interview. What follows is a heartfelt and revealing look at the early chapters of a champion’s life.

Born in Albany, New York, Kathy reflects on her childhood split between upstate New York and Florida, where her father’s love of golf first planted the seeds of her future in the game. She shares colorful memories of backyard putting contests, nickel wagers to hit past a tree, and the backyard bunker that shaped her early skills. Listeners will hear how her father’s gentle persistence and passion for sports—not to mention his role as CEO of a swimming pool company—steered Kathy toward golf.

Kathy recounts the story of her reluctant but steady climb into competitive golf, from family vacations to her first state tournament, where she surprised even herself with a runner-up finish. She candidly discusses the challenges of being a latecomer to the game and the pivotal role her father played in recognizing and nurturing her talent.

We follow her rise through amateur golf—state wins, national events, and early U.S. Women’s Open experiences—culminating in her time at the University of Tulsa. Along the way, Kathy reflects on her early struggles with match play, her mixed emotions about golf during her teen years, and the faith that would eventually reshape her purpose and passion for the game.

From Ferris wheels to fairways, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the formative years of a major champion whose journey was anything but conventional. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 as Kathy’s inspiring story continues to unfold.

Give Bruce & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our Website https://www.forethegoodofthegame.com/reviews/new/

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fore-the-good-of-the-game/id1562581853

Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/0XSuVGjwQg6bm78COkIhZO?si=b4c9d47ea8b24b2d

About

"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”

Thanks so much for listening!