Meet Athlon Sports' New Senior Golf Writer
My name is Brendon Elliott. I'm a PGA professional based in Central Florida and a new, proud member of AARP—just turned 50 this past May. Starting now, I'll be your new senior golf writer for Athlon Sports and the Morning Read newsletter.
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Honestly, I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. But before we dive into all the golf content coming your way, I figured you should know who's behind these articles.
In 1980, in the small town of Norwich, New York, in the middle of nowhere, Chenango County, I was a snot-nosed 5-year-old kid watching my dad and grandfather head out for their weekly golf league. Even at 5, I was completely mesmerized by this game I didn't understand but desperately wanted to be part of. When they finally let me tag along and swing those ridiculously oversized clubs, something just clicked.
Forty-five years later, I'm still that same kid inside—just with a few more aches and a lot more experience.
Growing up in a small upstate town, golf wasn't exactly the cool thing to do. But I didn't care. I spent every free moment at Riverbend Golf Club in New Berlin, then later at Canasawacta Country Club when my dad joined there. By high school, I was good enough to make varsity as a freshman, though a broken hip and foot slowed me down for a while. In my senior year, I managed a 10th-place finish at the Conference Championship with an 80 in brutal conditions. Not bad for a kid from Norwich.
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Here's the thing about golf — it's the people who make all the difference. In the late 1980s and early '90s, I was this goofy teenager working at Canasawacta's pro shop. The head pro, Fred Zahner, could have easily dismissed me as just another kid looking for a summer job. Instead, he saw potential and gave me real responsibilities. Fred taught me that golf was about more than just playing—it was about serving others and growing the game.
My first real coaches, Bob and David Branham, opened my eyes to what proper instruction looked like. These guys didn't just teach me how to swing; they showed me how to think about the game strategically. Looking back, they planted the seeds for my eventual career as a teaching professional.
Then there was my younger brother, Graham. Smart as a whip and a trained journalist who worked at Golfweek in the early 2000s before becoming a school teacher. Watching him craft stories with such precision made me appreciate good writing long before I ever thought I'd be doing it myself.
In 1996, it was my time to put up or shut up. I'd graduated from SUNY Delhi with a degree in golf course operations, but I knew if I was serious about making golf my career, I couldn't do it from upstate New York. So I packed everything I owned into a beat-up car and drove to Central Florida with about $1,000 to my name and zero guaranteed job prospects.
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Scared? Absolutely. But sometimes you've got to bet on yourself.
Those early years in Florida were a crash course in the golf business. I worked my way up from the ground floor, eventually spending 13 years at Winter Park Country Club, where I served as both general manager and head professional for the final five years. It was there that I really learned how to run a golf operation from top to bottom.
But the real game-changer came in 2008 when I left that comfortable position to start Little Linksters Golf Academy. People thought I was crazy — walking away from a good job to teach 3-year-olds how to play golf. Turns out, it was the best decision I ever made.
For 16 years, my wife, Melisa, and I built something special with Little Linksters. We introduced thousands of kids to golf, many starting as young as 3 years old. The program earned national recognition, and I was honored to receive the PGA of America's National Youth Player Development Award in 2017. Just this past December, I transitioned ownership to my former head coach, Ricky Collado, knowing the academy was in great hands.
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Throughout my career, I've been surrounded by incredible PGA Professionals who shared their knowledge freely—guys like Jay Kennedy, Ken Wayend, Steve Lundblad, John Hughes, Brad Turner, and Alan Flashner. Each taught me something different about the game and the business. Their influence runs through everything I do.
About three years ago, I started writing more seriously through my company, One More Roll Golf Media. What began as a side project has evolved into partnerships with prominent outlets, including PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX, and MyGolfSpy, among others. Well over 1,000 articles later, I'm still learning something new with each piece I write.
What I am not: Let me be crystal clear about something: I'm not a trained journalist. My brother Graham is—I'm not. I have tremendous respect for professionally trained sports writers who've honed their craft through years of education and experience. They deserve recognition for their expertise.
What I am: What I bring you is different. I'm a guy who's lived in the golf world for nearly three decades, wearing just about every hat you can imagine—player, teacher, coach, manager, entrepreneur, and now writer. I've seen this industry from angles most people never get to experience.
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I'm still that 5-year-old kid from Norwich at heart, getting excited about a well-struck 7-iron or a perfectly read putt. The thrill I felt watching my first professional tournament (the B.C. Open, if you're curious) is the same feeling I get covering tour events today.
My new role with Athlon Sports and Morning Read isn't just a job—it's a chance to share this incredible game through the eyes of someone who's experienced it from the ground up. I'll cover everything from breaking news to equipment reviews, from course management to the business side of golf.
But here's my promise: whether I'm writing about the latest tour drama or breaking down a new training aid, it'll come from an authentic place. No corporate speak, no manufactured enthusiasm. Just honest perspectives from someone who genuinely loves this game and the people who play it.
From that first swing in Norwich to whatever comes next, golf has been my constant companion. Now I get to share that journey with you, week after week, story after story.
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Thanks for letting me introduce myself.
Related: How to Increase Club Head Speed With Your Driver
Related: Ask a Golf Caddie: What's the Most Common Mistake Rec Players Make?
Related: Want to Hit a Stinger Golf Shot? Just 3 Adjustments Make it Easy
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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