We’re starting to see more and more shows launched in some level of partnership with sports leagues and organizations. The latest example is Skratch and its new weekly video show on YouTube, Dan Rapaport’s Dan on Golf.

A digital golf and culture brand, Skratch was initially majority-controlled by the PGA Tour itself soon after its 2015 launch. But Pro Shop (a new company founded by Full Swing executive producer Chad Mumm and former Puck CEO Joe Purzycki last year, which raised almost $20 million in startup funding last spring, including funding from the Tour) acquired majority control of Skratch from the Tour as part of that funding deal.

Rapaport then joined Skratch last fall after exiting Barstool Sports, and began doing various projects for them. Several of those combine on-course player interviews and highlights, which are usually reserved for Tour rightsholders, but are available to Skratch thanks to that continued Tour stake in the company. And Rapaport told AA via email ahead of Dan on Golf‘s debut Monday those highlights and graphics will help his show stand out amidst the waves of golf content out there.

“It’s going to look and feel very different from what’s already in the space,” he said. “It’s a show; we’re in a studio, we’re live, we are using graphics and highlights and all the fun stuff. This felt like the right time, as it’s right around the time that golf season really picks up. There are a ton of legacy Tour events now, and I want to utilize our highlight rights and deliver a fresh product as the season ramps up.”

As mentioned, there have been several league partnerships with podcasts and other shows recently. Particularly, iHeartMedia’s done that with a wide lineup of shows in conjunction with the NBA beginning in 2023, with a recent extended deal with NFL Media’s NFL Podcast Network, and with two recent podcasts in conjunction with the NHL, NHL Unscripted (with Adnan Virk and Jason Demers) and Energy Line with Nate and JSB (with Nate Thompson and Julie Stewart-Binks). This somewhat fits into that trend, and Rapaport said working at a place with a Tour partnership is a massive benefit for him, especially when it comes to those highlight rights.

“It’s a game-changer. Before, I talked about golf shots. Now I can talk about golf shots while I show them. And we’ve already seen the Tour acting as a willing partner. They understand our mission, and they’re doing their best to accommodate.”

He said it’s also helpful to be under the larger Pro Shop umbrella, given the ties to the Full Swing team and the Sugarloaf Social Club retail brand.

“It allows us to have—and pardon the use of this word—synergies across the different companies. We’re going to wear Sugarloaf Social Club while we make content. We’re going to tap into the Studio’s expertise to help us with production. Hopefully as we add more to the Pro Shop umbrella, more of those opportunities present themselves.”

With golf in particular, it seems like there could be potential challenges with league ownership considering the still-unsettled PGA Tour-LIV Golf situation. But Rapaport said the Tour’s minority stake in Skratch won’t prevent them from covering LIV Golf events and athletes.

“We’re independent, and that’s been made very clear to me. There’s not nearly as much tension between the two sides as there was before that Framework Agreement. We’re going to create content with LIV Golf players if it makes sense editorially.”

Rapaport added he’s thrilled to get back to hosting a regular show, and he thinks he’ll be able to dive deeper into more technical golf discussions here than he was while hosting Fore Play for Barstool.

“It’s a return to my roots in a way. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Barstool and Fore Play and the amazing behemoth they’ve built. But I just felt an itch to get back into the harder-core golf stuff, the inside the ropes content. Chad Mumm has become a friend and mentor and I really believe in the vision.”

But this show isn’t intended solely for golf experts. Indeed, Skratch has a stated wider goal of “bridging the game with broader cultural touchpoints like style, travel, and unique experiences, building vibrant communities of fans who share a passion for the game and its culture.” And Rapaport said the company overall wants to appeal to a wide range of those interested in golf, and capitalize on the current wave of athletes and celebrities playing.

“For all the negativity about the Tour and its ratings, golf is in a tremendous spot. It’s cooler than ever to play: celebrities, athletes, musicians, they’re all obsessed. It’s impossible to get a tee time anywhere. Golf is having a cultural moment, and we think we’re uniquely positioned as a company to bridge the gap between the professional game and the recreational game.”

And, around that cultural moment, Rapaport said he can’t wait to kick this show off.

“I’m just really excited to get this show off the ground. I’ve learned so much from journalists/broadcasters in other sports, and I’m excited to bring some of those lessons to my coverage of golf. We have a lot more stuff coming in the Dan on Golf universe, and I hope all the golf sickos out there will join me on this inside-the-ropes journey.”

The Dan on Golf show can be found on YouTube here, with new episodes set to air live Mondays at 1 p.m. ET.