What is No Laying Up Twitter? Explained in Detail

No Laying Up Twitter has grown into one of the most recognizable voices in the golf community, blending sharp commentary, humor, and cultural insights about the game. What originally began as a simple appreciation for the personalities in golf, as co-founder Chris Solomon describes, has evolved into a unique platform that showcases the sport’s lighter and more entertaining side.

Phil Landes, widely known as Big Randy, captures the brand’s approach as a mix of “sarcasm, hyperbole, and a touch of strangeness,” all delivered in a relaxed and relatable style. Brothers Neil Schuster and Todd “Tron” Schuster further contribute to this dynamic, highlighting the fun, the quirks, and the characters that make golf more than just a game.

By 2026, No Laying Up has transformed from a casual Twitter presence into a full-fledged media brand. Beyond the jokes and banter, it now represents a lifestyle and a thriving online community, proving that even in a traditionally serious sport like golf, there’s space for creativity, personality, and authenticity.

The Origins of No Laying Up

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” admits Tron Schuster. “I laid up on a nice course once. I wanted to play the right way.” The nickname Tron, borrowed from a character on Chappelle’s Show, stuck with him—but so did the moment that defined the group’s entire identity. That single decision, to play it safe, became the butt of countless jokes among his friends. “Now I literally can never lay up again,” he adds with a laugh. What started as a running joke quickly grew into a philosophy that shaped not only their golf game but also their way of approaching life.

A Commitment to the No Laying Up Mentality

Chris Solomon, another co-founder, echoes Tron’s thoughts, but with a touch of seriousness. “I never even remotely lay up,” he explains. “I’ve hit more balls in the water in the last two years than I ever have before.” To outsiders, that might sound reckless, but to Solomon, it represents a deeper commitment. It’s not about playing it safe—it’s about taking risks, pushing boundaries, and embracing the outcome no matter what.

For Solomon, this mindset extended beyond golf. Two years ago, he was offered a full-time job opportunity in Amsterdam, a move that would have provided stability and security. Turning it down was not the easy choice, but in his words: “Staying would have been laying up.” That decision, bold as it was, reshaped his perspective on both career and life. No Laying Up wasn’t just a clever phrase anymore—it was a guiding principle.

From a Group Chat to a Movement

The story of No Laying Up traces back to something simple: a text thread between a few friends who loved golf, sarcasm, and conversation. What began as casual banter soon evolved into something bigger. By the fall of 2013, the group decided to take their inside jokes and commentary public.

“Chris came up with it,” recalls Phil Landes, better known as Big Randy. “It was so quick. ‘Hey, let’s start a Twitter account. We’ll call it No Laying Up.’” There wasn’t a business plan, no grand strategy, just a shared idea that the golf world needed a space where personality, humor, and honesty could coexist.

That simple decision to create a Twitter account planted the seeds for what would eventually become a full-fledged brand, media outlet, and online community. By leaning into their personalities and refusing to take themselves too seriously, the No Laying Up crew captured something the golf world didn’t know it was missing.

Turning a Hobby Into a Full-Time Brand

The rise of No Laying Up is a textbook example of how a simple idea can grow into a full-fledged brand when passion meets opportunity. What began as a few friends joking about golf on Twitter soon attracted thousands of followers who were drawn to the group’s honesty, humor, and willingness to challenge golf’s traditional image. By early 2014, the group launched their website, which quickly began drawing tens of thousands of page views each week. The momentum proved that their blend of humor and sharp commentary filled a real gap in the golf media landscape.

What set No Laying Up apart was its authentic voice. Instead of polished PR soundbites or stiff analysis, they leaned into personality—sarcasm, banter, and genuine fan reactions. This unique style gave golf enthusiasts something they hadn’t seen before: coverage that was both insightful and entertaining. As a result, the account didn’t just attract casual fans, but also earned the respect of professional players and mainstream journalists.

A pivotal moment came at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, when co-founder Chris Solomon was granted special access by the PGA Tour. Walking inside the ropes alongside Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas, Solomon experienced firsthand how far No Laying Up had come from its humble beginnings. The highlight arrived when Thomas, frustrated after a tough round, acknowledged Solomon and later tweeted directly at the No Laying Up account:

“@NoLayingUp I wanted to make a 1 🙁” — Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34), June 3, 2016

Even Rory McIlroy joined the lighthearted exchange, proving that the players themselves were not only aware of No Laying Up, but were engaging with them in real time. In that moment, No Laying Up wasn’t just an outside observer—it was part of the conversation. That shift marked the brand’s transition from hobby project to legitimate force in the golf world, laying the foundation for everything that followed.

The Key Voices Behind No Laying Up

Every successful brand has its personalities, and No Laying Up is no different. The group’s humor, storytelling, and unique perspectives come from a mix of experiences that shaped each member’s voice.

Chris Solomon, often considered the driving force, first brought his golf banter from the fairways to Twitter. He and his friends would joke about being better players than they really were, creating a tone of self-awareness mixed with playful exaggeration. That blend of humor and honesty became a foundation for the brand.

For Neil Schuster, the influence came from a very different place—the football film room at Columbia University. As a student, he listened to an intense defensive coach bark out aphorisms and expletives with raw energy. One line—“Lack of pop can’t play! Ejected!”—left a lasting impression. The coach’s mix of passion and blunt delivery would later echo in the unfiltered style Neil brought to NLU.

Meanwhile, Phil Landes found his voice in an unlikely setting: an overcrowded off-campus house at Miami University (Ohio). The six-bedroom home had countless tenants, piles of empties, and not a single bathroom door. In this chaotic environment, Landes, who shared the space with Todd “Tron” Schuster, stumbled into his alter ego. During an awkward encounter in the house’s only bathroom, he jokingly introduced himself as “Randy” rather than Phil. The name stuck, and Big Randy was born—now one of the most recognizable personalities in the No Laying Up community.

Together, these voices—Solomon, Neil, Tron, and Big Randy—did more than just launch a Twitter account. They gave No Laying Up its character: a mix of humor, boldness, and authenticity that continues to resonate with golf fans around the world.

What Makes Their Approach to Golf Different?

After college, Tron Schuster and Big Randy tried life in Breckenridge, Colorado. When money and energy ran out, they headed south to the Phoenix Open before returning to Ohio. For Randy, that trip was pivotal:

“That was a defining moment. I really fell in love with watching golf.”

Humor as the Spark

Back home, the group’s banter grew sharper. Chris Solomon recalls:

“We had a group text going for years. The stuff Tron and Randy came up with was hilarious.”

From Group Chat to Twitter

The constant back-and-forth became too good to keep private.

Randy: “It was firing off like crazy… we had so much fun. It’d be so fun to start tweeting.”
This led to the creation of the No Laying Up Twitter account, a space to share their wit with a wider audience.

Standing Out in Golf Media

Their approach broke from golf’s often serious tone. Instead of stiff commentary, NLU embraced:

Humor and sarcasm
Casual storytelling
Direct engagement with fans and players

This unique style caught the attention of early supporters like Kyle Porter, Shane Bacon, and Troy Klongerbo, proving their voice in golf media was both fresh and disruptive.

Humor as the Core of the NLU Community

From the start, No Laying Up built its identity on humor, wit, and inside jokes that resonated with both golfers and casual fans. When the Twitter account began gaining traction, the team realized they needed more than just banter—they needed a blog. That’s when Neil Schuster stepped in to handle the technical side, buying hosting in late 2013 and helping launch the site in early 2014.

Neil’s first post—a quirky story about a Georgia murder suspect caught hitting balls at a PGA Superstore—set the tone. It was offbeat, funny, and uniquely “NLU.” As Chris Solomon explains, “At first, we took a lot of pride in what we put on the website. We wanted to get it right.”

Their humor quickly became community-driven through running gags and hashtags that shaped their online culture:

#TourSauce – celebrating and mocking exaggerated golf mannerisms.
YOTTO (Year of the Takeover) – a rallying cry for their growing influence.
#PrayforTedScott – a tongue-in-cheek jab at Bubba Watson’s treatment of his caddie, Ted Scott, which even caught Bubba’s attention on 60 Minutes.

These inside jokes turned into touchpoints that fans could rally around, proving that NLU wasn’t just about golf—it was about creating a shared sense of humor and community.

Balancing Fun With Professionalism

As No Laying Up grew in influence, the team found themselves navigating a delicate balance: staying true to their humor-driven voice while maintaining relationships with the players they covered. Chris Solomon, who runs the main Twitter handle, admits the challenge:

“I have the hardest time being critical of players that follow me. I don’t want to lose them as followers. I don’t want to offend them.”

This is no small concern when the account is followed by stars like Jordan Spieth, who counts @NoLayingUp among the mere 304 accounts he follows—despite having 1.6 million followers of his own. Solomon recalls hesitating once:

“I wanted to make fun of Jordan for wearing the Curry 2 Low’s. If it was Thomas, I would have. He would’ve understood I’m kidding.”

Evolving Beyond the College Days

When Solomon, Phil Landes, Tron Schuster, and Neil Schuster launched NLU, they were fresh out of college—four friends turning their golf fandom into a platform. Today, they’ve grown into professionals scattered across the globe, juggling careers with their shared passion project:

Neil Schuster works in San Francisco’s start-up scene.
Big Randy coaches basketball in Columbus.
Solomon lives in Amsterdam, approaching his two-year anniversary there.
Tron Schuster resides in Boston with his wife.

This shift has created new challenges. Their production output has slowed compared to the early days, yet their popularity and audience engagement have only continued to rise.

The Role of Twitter in Their Growth

Success brought unexpected challenges for No Laying Up. As Tron Schuster admits, “You’re always a victim of your success. It’s turning into something that we never expected. Like, we all have real jobs. That’s why I haven’t been writing as much. I’m progressing my career. It’s just kind of trying to keep our heads above water.”

Redesigning for Growth

To keep pace with demand, the team launched a site redesign that delivered two benefits:

A more professional look and stronger technical stability against high traffic.
Renewed motivation to publish content consistently.

Expanding Their Content

Twitter remained the core of their identity, but the group broadened their reach:

TrapDraw Podcast – launched by Tron and Big Randy.
Merchandise – driven by Neil, which became the brand’s only revenue stream.

Notably, the team chose not to run ads, prioritizing authenticity and community trust over quick monetization.

Staying True While Looking Ahead

As their influence continues to grow, both Solomon and Tron stress the importance of remaining organic and selective with opportunities.

Tron: “My vision is just to keep growing organically as long as we can, and be judicious about which opportunities we take.”
Solomon: “If we had the resources to help make us full-time, I’d love that.

What’s Next for No Laying Up in 2026?

One thing is certain—No Laying Up isn’t slowing down. As Chris Solomon often says, “We’re all about that take life.” What began as an irreverent Twitter account has now left an unmistakable mark on golf culture. Their humor, catchphrases, and perspective have become part of the sport’s mainstream conversation.

From Jokes to Culture

The NLU influence is everywhere:

Weekend broadcasts now echo phrases the group made popular.
Fans wear “No Laying Up” t-shirts in tournament galleries.
On Twitter, their commentary has become a must-follow supplement to any PGA Tour event.

Even Bubba Watson—nicknamed “Bagdad Gerry” by Tron—hasn’t escaped their impact. What started as lighthearted fun has grown into a cultural thread woven through professional golf.

Voice of the People

For all their success, the team still frames themselves as fans first. “The concept is the voice of the people,” Solomon explains. “That’s it. We think No Laying Up is good for the game. We’re just fans. We are not journalists, and we’re not experts.”

This authenticity remains their biggest strength, setting them apart from traditional golf media.

Taking the Next Shot

Looking forward, the question becomes: will NLU take the next big leap? Their growing influence suggests it’s only a matter of time before they decide to push further—whether through larger media projects, live events, or even making No Laying Up a full-time career. As Neil Schuster reflects, “It is a lifestyle, isn’t it? Who knows? Maybe No Laying Up will become my No Laying Up

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