In “The Teacher and The Pro,” host Nathan Rarick interviews Nick Iacono, the lead instructor at Merion Golf Club, about his path into golf and teaching.
Nick explains how he started golf late after some skateboarding injuries, walked onto a college team while studying to be a math teacher and then became a PGA Professional through the apprenticeship program.
As a PGA HOPE national trainer, Nick outlines how the program provides veterans an alternative therapy in the form of golf and certifies professionals to teach through the VA.
As the 2026 U.S. Amateur will be hosted at Merion, Nick also previews the golf course’s strategic demands and identifies key U.S. Amateur match play holes: 4, 7, 8, 10 and 14.
Chapters:
[00:00] Meet Nick Iacono: From Skateboarding to PGA HOPE
[02:06] Becoming a PGA Professional
[03:18] Science of Teaching
[07:04] Life at Merion Golf Club
[10:14] The PGA HOPE Mission
[13:30] Philadelphia PGA Community
[15:51] Highs and Lows of Being a PGA Pro
[18:00] LeBron and Philly Sports
[20:04] Previewing the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion
[23:19] Key Match Play Holes at Merion
[27:08] Rapid Fire Questions
