In episode 14 of Finding Your Game, I had the chance to sit down with Coach Walter for a wide-ranging conversation about player development, performance, and the lessons I’ve learned over decades of coaching. Walter introduced me with enormous generosity, touching on my background as a former No. 1 junior, U.S. Junior Amateur champion, Stanford captain, and now a coach to players across the PGA Tour, LIV, LPGA, and Korn Ferry Tour. What we talked about, though, went far beyond résumés. I reflected on my years running Nike Golf Schools and my junior camps at Pebble Beach, where helping young players build complete games—short game, course management, emotional skills, family dynamics—became the foundation of my approach to coaching.

A big theme we explored is something I believe deeply: performance is everything. Too many players live in a cycle of mechanical fixes, especially in junior golf, when they should be building full scoring skills. Junior golf is the window for true development; college golf, with its academic and competitive demands, becomes more about getting the most out of what’s already been built. We also discussed how the best athletes train their minds—using meditation, breath work, and intentional practice—to let go of mistakes, stay present, and compete freely. These tools matter just as much as technique, and they shape how players show up under pressure.

I also shared some thoughts for juniors, college players, and parents. Golfers at every level benefit from shifting the focus from “fixing the swing” to learning how to score, practicing with purpose, and understanding how life, academics, and golf all intersect. And for parents: your support is powerful. Kids don’t always hear coaching the same way from a parent as they do from a coach, and the best progress happens when parents, players, and coaches work together in partnership. When that triangle is strong, players not only improve—they thrive.

Walter Chun is a prominent figure in collegiate golf, known for his long tenure as the Head Coach for the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) Men’s Golf team, where he was a former player and developed top pros like Collin Morikawa. He’s recognized for coaching success, earning Pac-12 Coach of the Year, and his deep ties to Cal as both a star player and now focusing on junior golf development and consulting.