Ben Adelberg spends a lot of time around elite college golf programs, a far cry from his college golf days with a “motley crew of guys” at St. Thomas University, an NAIA school in Miami Gardens, Florida.
After a college career in which he was never a consistent starter, Adelberg went to work for LexisNexis, a data analytics company. The Kansas native stayed in Florida and played in statewide amateur events in his free time. He was good enough to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur, although he did not make it to match play.
When not playing golf or sitting behind a desk, Adelberg kept his pulse on the high-level amateur game; he never really had any interest in the world of professional golf. Amateur golf proved to be a nice hobby.
Even in January of 2018, when he picked up a microphone and recorded the first “The Back of the Range” podcast episode with Steve Anderson, a legendary Florida amateur golfer, the amateur game was still a nice hobby.
Yet, after a few years of podcasting, Adelberg found that the amateur game wasn’t a hobby anymore. He kept podcasting week after week, and his listener base consistently grew. Adelberg made a name for himself as he published episodes with the likes of Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, and Ludvig Åberg before they turned professional. He had Joe Buck and Jack Nicklaus come on to discuss their experiences with amateur golf. It was quite impressive for a guy doing it in his free time.
“In amateur and college golf, you have such a close connection to the players and access; that’s what really excites me about it. ... seeing the future stars and building relationships with them.”
ben adelberg
Eventually, Adelberg started traveling to collegiate and amateur tournaments on weekends and when he had time off from his day job. He’d take pictures and videos of players while developing personal relationships with them, their coaches, and their parents.
By the time of the 2020 U.S. Amateur in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adelberg had made enough of a name for himself to be the tournament’s official social-media content provider for the USGA.
In 2021, Adelberg quit his job with LexisNexis and went full-time with “The Back of the Range,” continuing his ascent as the top multimedia promoter in high-level amateur and collegiate golf.
“In amateur and college golf, you have such a close connection to the players and access; that’s what really excites me about it,” Adelberg said. “Plus, you’re going to be seeing the future stars and building relationships with them.”
Adelberg has done an excellent job of building those relationships, not just with players but with college coaches and parents as well. These connections, combined with his constant presence seemingly everywhere there is high-level amateur golf being played, are why he has been so successful in just three years of “The Back of the Range” being a full-time gig.
He made it clear that he’s not a journalist. He’s simply someone who wants to spread the gospel of amateur golf to the wider world.
“I want to see more out there. I want to get more of these personalities and stories in the forefront,” Adelberg said, “so until that gets close to where I want it to be, there’s more work to do.”
Adelberg is especially excited about the second year of his partnership with the Elite Amateur Golf Series, which includes this year’s inaugural Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series. For all 12 events in the series – seven men’s and five women’s – Adelberg will do a little bit of everything.
He’ll coordinate and conduct videography, photography, player interviews, podcasts, graphic design and social-media management to showcase the talent of the male and female amateurs in their quest for the Elite Amateur Cup.
“Our tagline is ‘the best of the best,’ and that’s really who Ben is,” said Andy Priest, chairman for the Elite Amateur Golf Series, which began with last week’s Sunnehanna Amateur, with Adelberg on the scene. “We’re certainly thrilled that we are able to work with him and know and love the content that he provides.”
Adelberg believes this series has the chance to do something special for amateur golf. He loves the fact that it’s like traveling on tour as the players bounce between cities, looking for exemptions into the U.S. Amateur and professional events as well as amateur golf glory.
While they’re just in year two of their partnership, Adelberg and the Elite Amateur Golf Series have the makings of a perfect match. Their sole goal is to promote and support amateur golf in any way possible. They’re looking to innovate: Adelberg on the media side and the Elite Amateur Golf Series with playing opportunities. They are relatively new but making massive waves in the game.
With Adelberg’s relationships and talent as a promoter, plus the Elite Amateur Golf Series’ growing reputation, amateur golf is certain to grow in popularity.
Their efforts might be exactly the salve needed by the sport during this time of conflict and confusion in professional golf.
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Top: John Yerger (from left), co-chair of the Sunnehanna Amateur; Ben Adelberg; and Andrew Bailey, the 2023 Ohio Amateur champion
courtesy ben adelberg