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Dean Robertson discusses his golf career, coaching work and experience captaining the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team. He has worked at the University of Stirling for 17 years, where he directs golf and develops a structured, performance-focused program for student athletes.

Robertson grew up in Paisley and began playing golf with his father. After studying civil engineering, he took a golf scholarship in the United States and later played professionally for ten years. He recalls his 1993 Walker Cup appearance as an important source of lasting friendships, though the team struggled with the fast greens and course conditions in the United States. He also describes the camaraderie among European Tour players in the 1990s and the support he received from Scottish professionals.

He reflects on the influence of coach Bob Torrance, whose training emphasized discipline and practical responsibility. Robertson recalls collecting, cleaning and washing golf balls, as well as measuring shot distances and learning courses through careful preparation. He applies similar principles at Stirling, where practice is structured around game-like challenges, measurable outcomes and honest performance data.

Robertson says his coaching approach developed through his work at Stirling and collaboration with sports psychologist John Mathers. Training programs have included winter camps, measured practice games and physical speed training. He also describes adapting practices during the COVID period, when the team used TrackMan and other exercises to continue training while socially distanced. Robertson emphasizes the value of learning from athletes in other sports at the university.

After applying for the Walker Cup captaincy in 2023, Robertson focused on selecting players by observing them across tournaments and building relationships with them. He describes the modern amateur golfer as increasingly supported in technical, physical and mental preparation, while noting that the distinction between amateur and professional has become less clear.

He recounts preparing for the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point, including a reconnaissance visit and observations about the course’s greens and changing conditions. In reviewing the matches, he identifies key moments that shifted momentum, including a missed opportunity in the foursomes. He also explains changes to team arrangements at Lahinch, such as positioning the team room and practice area strategically and delaying the singles order until closer to play. Robertson credits the Irish crowd and Stuart Grehan’s contribution with helping energize the team.

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This weeks episode is a fascinating interview with broadcaster and commentator, distinguished amateur player, and son of Diana and Alfred Critchley who shares with us his story in the game of golf. Bruce's voice will be familiar to many as the voice of golf for several decades. 

We talk about Bruce's long connection with Sunningdale Golf Club where he has been a member for 70 years next year. He describes how both of his parents were closely involved with the club before and after the war, and how the family’s history there shaped his own life.

Bruce talks about that his mother, Diana Fishwick, both an accomplished golfer and an important figure in women’s golf. She won the British Ladies championship, later served as Curtis Cup Captain, and spent many years on committees and selection panels. He says Sunningdale supported women’s golf from early on, including through the associate ladies section and other club initiatives.

Bruce also discusses his father’s role in golf and in the club’s development and how he came from The Addington, played in the first Masters, and, with Gerald Micklem, helped support Sunningdale financially in the challenging climate of the 1940's. He also describes the connection between Sunningdale, Addington, and a wider network of golfers and club figures in those days. 

He recalls his childhood memories at Sunningdale, including playing in the boys’ championship and winning a match against a Scottish international boy. He says this convinced him he could play the game, although he did not go on to a professional career. 

The interview then turns to his amateur golf career, including winning the Worplesdon Mixed Foursomes with Bunty Stevens and later the Sunningdale Foursomes with Robin Hunter Scott. He describes the match play, the pressure, and the calmness of Stevens and his partner’s influence on his own performance. He also recalls reaching the Walker Cup in 1969 in Milwaukee.

A final major topic is his broadcasting career, especially coverage of the Masters and later work with Sky. He describes working with Peter Alliss, the style of golf broadcasting in earlier decades, and how television coverage became more crowded. He says his last tournament broadcast was the 2016 FedEx Cup in Atlanta, after which he decided to stop. He closes by discussing the ongoing renovation of Sunningdale’s new course, saying it should be opened up and treated as the club’s championship course, while the old course should be carefully preserved.

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This episode we record a Q&A episode after reaching episode 401, using it to look back on a busy run of golf, travel and listener questions. We also mention upcoming episodes, including a conversation with Walker Cup captain Dean Robertson, and other planned Q&As and features.

We talk about recent trips, including Rossapenna, where we played matches and the club championship finals, and the quality of the pitch and putt there. We also discuss visiting Royal Liverpool for a retirement celebration, and how strong the course was in condition.

A large part of the episode is spent discussing golf course architecture and course types. We compare parkland, heathland and links golf, argue that parkland gets an unfairly bad reputation, and talk about how many great courses fall into that category. We also discuss how modern architecture often focuses on length, while arguing that many of the best everyday courses are shorter, more strategic and more enjoyable for regular play.

We answer listener questions about courses we would play for the rest of our lives, with Blackwell, Hoylake, Royal Porthcawl and Wokefield Park among the courses we mention. We also discuss underrated heathland courses, including Delamere Forest and Rygate Heath, and mention Halifax and Crossland Heath as upcoming visits.

Other questions include snooker comparisons, with Ronnie O’Sullivan and Alex Higgins, the value of expensive green fees, and favorite niche pro shop purchases. We finish by thanking Rossapenna for their hospitality and looking ahead to the next set of episodes and visits.

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In this episode, we look back on our 95-hole challenge on the Isle of Arran and compare it with the earlier Durness trip. We explain that Arran was more enjoyable largely because of better weather, shorter transfers, and more variety between courses, while Durness was much harder because of wind, rain, and the terrain.

We go through the courses we played in order: Whiting Bay, Lamlash, Brodick, Corrie, Lochranza, Machry Bay, and Shiskin. We describe Whiting Bay as a short but very hilly and quirky course with small greens and dramatic views. Lamlash is presented as similarly hilly and scenic, with a view across to the Holy Isle and a course layout that climbs and drops throughout.

We discuss Brodick as a flatter, more forgiving round that came at a good point in the day, with mountain scenery behind it and a strong morale boost for the group. Corrie is described as a hidden course with a tiny clubhouse and very steep, dramatic holes that drop through wooded terrain. Lochranza stands out as a compact 11-hole campsite course with deer on the fairways and a simple, accessible layout.

We also cover Machry Bay, which we say has been kept going through a lot of effort and feels like a serious but rustic nine-holer. Finally, we talk about Shiskin as the standout course on the island: a true links with firm turf, memorable greens, and a strong finish as the sun set.

Alongside the golf, we talk about the planning, the ferry crossing, the accommodation, the food stops, and the people who helped make the day work, especially Greg and Ian. We close by mentioning the charity fundraising for Arran Cancer Support and how important the donations were.

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We speak with Alex Buckner about his work as a short game coach and how he got into coaching after starting golf seriously in his teens. He explains that he reached scratch as a junior, later moved into work and training, and eventually focused on coaching after realizing that specializing in short game was the clearest path for him.

We discuss how he built his approach during his time at Swinley Forest, especially through COVID, when he gathered a large amount of information from courses, books, online resources, and conversations with other coaches. He describes sorting through that material, simplifying it, and turning it into a clear system he could present to players.

We also talk about his early work with Richard Mansell, which led to more tour coaching and a wider role beyond short game. He explains that his work developed into performance planning and accountability, and that his first major was at St George’s during the COVID year, followed by more tournament experience under stricter conditions at other events.

A major theme is his philosophy on short game. He says it is about adapting body positions, club delivery, and shot selection to the lie, surface, and target rather than following one fixed technique. He stresses that low point control is essential, then distance control, and then the ability to adjust angle of attack and loft for different situations.

We also cover bounce, grind, and wedge fitting. He explains that bounce must match both the player’s low point and the turf conditions, and that the right wedge setup depends on how a player naturally strikes the ball. He adds that ball selection also matters, and says fitting should begin around the green before moving to longer clubs.

Finally, Alex talks about his plans for the future, including building his academy in North London, expanding into Asia, and raising coaching standards. He says he wants players to arrive with clear questions and take more responsibility for understanding what is costing them shots.

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Kevin Hammer discusses his path into golf administration and his role as president of the USGA. He says he grew up around golf in South Florida, with a father who played college golf, competed on the PGA Tour, and later worked as a club director of golf. He also says he played junior and college golf, but moved into administration through state and regional golf work before joining the USGA.

He explains that his interest in administration began in part through helping with junior golf for his daughter and wanting to improve events for all players. He says his family had long given back to the game through charity events and club work, and that this set an example for him. He adds that he still values the game and hopes to remain involved in it for years to come.

Hammer describes the USGA as a broader organization than it once was. He says its traditional roles include championships, rules, and handicapping, but that it now also works in areas such as development programming, internships, environmental research, and a new rules AI tool. He says the USGA’s role is to steward the game, welcome different forms of golf, and protect its traditions.

He also discusses the balance between growing golf and preserving its values. He says the USGA and the R&A need to act as a counterbalance to extremes while accepting increased interest in the game from media, celebrities, and younger players. He says golf should remain respectful, and that how the game is played matters as much as the competition itself.

On championships, Hammer says the USGA plans venues far in advance because long-term partnerships allow for repeated hosting, investment, and improved championship conditions. He says this approach helps clubs and can encourage other clubs to support the game in smaller ways.

He says the golf ball distance issue remains under discussion, and that recent talks with professional players have helped build more agreement that the topic needs to be addressed. He also says the USGA is working to expand match play coverage and is preparing to release a rules AI tool in the next 12 to 24 months.

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In this episode, Peter speaks with Sam Easterbrook about winning the Walker Cup at Lahinch and what the week was like behind the scenes. He describes the celebrations after the win, the difficult travel back to the United States, and how quickly the team had to separate and return to their different commitments.

We also go through Sam’s golf background, from starting the game as a child to developing through England Golf, attending Rossall and then moving on to Purdue. He explains how college golf has helped him both as a player and as a person, and why team environments have been important to him throughout his career.

Sam talks about how the Walker Cup moved onto his radar over the summer, including the training camp, his performances in key amateur events, and the selection call from Dean. He explains the long lead-up to Lahinch, the practice trip to Ballybunion, the time spent preparing on site, and the balance between practice, downtime and team activities.

We also discuss his match play with Luke Poulter, including how the pairing came together and what made it work. Sam recalls specific moments from the matches, the pressure of key putts, the team’s reaction at lunch after a difficult morning session, and the comeback that led to victory. He finishes by reflecting on the celebrations with the team, the members and the crowd, and on the possibility of still being involved in future Walker Cups.

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This episode we reflect on GB&I’s Walker Cup win, their first in 11 years, and the scale of the comeback from a difficult morning session to a dramatic finish on the 18th green.

We talk through the setting at Lahinch, which we describe as an excellent venue for the event, with strong support from the club, the town and the crowds throughout the week. We also note the work of captain Dean Robertson and the wider team around the side.

We cover how the morning foursomes went badly for GB&I, with the Americans controlling play in the wind and taking a clear lead into lunch. We say the mood was flat at that point, but that the team room changed things and GB&I came out with much more energy in the afternoon singles.

A big part of the discussion is the series of key matches that turned the contest. We talk about Stuart Grehan’s comeback win over Preston Stout, Luke Poulter’s result against Ethan Fang, Jack Whaley’s dominant victory over William Jennings, and the pressure moments involving Tyler Weaver, Niall Shiels-Donegan, Elliot Baker, Conor Graham and Josh Hill.

We finish with the decisive final sequence, where Josh Hill held his nerve to win the hole that secured the Walker Cup. We describe the celebrations, the emotion around the green, and the sense that this was a remarkable team win built on resilience and momentum.

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Day one of the Walker Cup at Lahinch in the bag, and we're recapping the action. 2 points from Niall Shiels Donegan no doubt the highlight, as well as a stellar comeback from Stuart Grehan against WAGR #1 Preston Stout. A betterball score of 60 from the pair, and carding a -7 round, yet never leading until the final putt was a sign of the standard of that match.

Match results from the day below, and roll on day 2!

Morning Foursomes (GB&I 2½ – 1½ USA)

1 | Stuart Grehan / Eliot Baker | Halved | Preston Stout / Ethan Fang
2 | Connor Graham / Tyler Weaver | 1 up | Kihei Akina / Jay Leng
3 | Sam Easterbrook / Luke Poulter | 1 up | Miles Russell / Tyler Watts
4 | Niall Shiels Donegan / Josh Hill | 4 & 3 | Ryder Cowan / Josiah Gilbert

Afternoon Singles (GB&I 4 – 4 USA)

1 | Stuart Grehan | 1 up | Preston Stout
2 | Jack Whaley | 1 up | Ethan Fang
3 | Connor Graham | 1 up | William Jennings
4 | Tyler Weaver | 2 & 1 | Jay Leng Jr.
5 | Ben Bolton | 2 & 1 | Stewart Hagestad
6 | Luke Poulter | 2 & 1 | Miles Russell
7 | Niall Shiels Donegan | 3 & 2 | Tyler Watts
8 | Eliot Baker | 3 & 2 | Josiah Gilbert

After Day 1: GB&I 6½ – 5½ USA)

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With Walker Cup week upon us, we sit down with the Lord of Lag Putting himself, Dr Darragh Garrahy, to talk about one of his favourite subjects.

There’s a twist this time, though, as Darragh takes on the role of quizmaster, requiring very little effort to expose Sam & Tom’s rather thin understanding of the Walker Cup.

Along the way, he shares a tonne of brilliant titbits from the history of the match and this year’s host venue, Lahinch, with stories featuring some of the great characters to have graced the contest. From John Burke, Leonard Crawley, Bernard Darwin and JB Carr, to Frank Stranahan, Stiggy Hodgson and Don Cherry, plus plenty more besides.

A fun one, packed with stories, and a quiz you can play along with in the car!

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This week's course diaries episode takes us back to East Lothian to visit the East Links at North berwick, otherwise known as The Glen. Widely believed to be the first course ever designed by 5-time Open Champion James Braid, whose work would see him revise, refine or design over 500 courses, as well as reputedly being the first ever Municipal Golf Course.

We cover the course’s history, as well as the dillema facing The Glen, with the reported buyout talks involving Ancient Links Golf Company, whose mission is to protect the ancient Scottish links for the future, and who have recently taken control of Scotscraig as well as Forfar Golf Club. 

Ownership strcuture aside, we also talk about the course. An exceptional site for golf, above the shore with views of Bass Rock, Tantalon Castle, and the coastline. We had an absolute blast here, and strongly encourage anyone travelling through to stop off and visit this historic part of the golfing landscape in East Lothian!

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With Jack Whaley becoming on the third Englishman to win the coveted Havemeyer Trophy on Sunday evening at Merion (behind Matt Fitzpatrick & Harold Hilton), Sam, Tom & Peter wax lyrical about his performance, the venue, the event and what feels like an increased level of attention the golf world is paying to elite amateur golf. 

As well as his exemption into both the US Open, Open Championship, and an invitation to the Masters (provided he behaves himself between now and April), Jack Whaley also picks up a Walker Cup selection. The news comes with the announcement of the team that will head to Co. Clare in the first week of September where Dean Robertson's GB&I side are looking to prevent USA from their sixth consecutive title. The full team can be found below, and an article from the half par kid ca be found here profiling the two teams. 

• Eliot Baker, England, Tiverton, 23

• Ben Bolton, England, Enville, 19

• Sam Easterbrook, England, Olton, 21

• Connor Graham, Scotland, Blairgowrie, 19

• Stuart Grehan, Ireland, County Louth, 33

• Josh Hill, England, Fox Den, 22

• Luke Poulter, England, Woburn, 22

• Niall Sheils Donegan, Scotland, Meadow Club, 21

• Tyler Weaver, England, Bury St Edmunds, 21

• Jack Whaley, England, Rotherham, 22

Reserves:

1. Thomas Higgins, Ireland, Roscommon, 23

2. David Howard, Ireland, Fota Island, 27

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Jamie reflects on winning the England Golf Men’s Amateur Championship (as well as being part of back to back success in the Home Internationals). He talks about the week after the English Amateur, where England won the men’s event, as well as his walk-off hole-in-one he made in matchplay against Wales, on the 17th hole to secure the match. 

We talk about his English Amateur win, the importance of conservative play in the strokeplay qualification rounds, as well as his course strategy and mental appraoch. 

We also discuss his background, from starting golf around age 13 after playing cricket, into county golf and now representing England, taking an altogether different pathway to many kids these days who head to the states to play collegiate golf. We also talk about how this impacts WAGR and how he manages his schedule around the points on offer.

Finally, Jamie talks about balancing elite amateur golf with work and the path toward turning professional. Working bar jobs , taxi licenses and all other things to fund his golf.

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In this episode we speak with Colin Strachan, club historian and author of "Fair Ways at Ashdown Forest", about the history of Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club and its place in early golf in England. We discuss how golf was played in Brighton as early as 1817, and how that activity links to the later development of the club at Forest Row.

We talk about the railway connections that helped shape the club, including the role of people connected to the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Colin explains how the club drew in members from different backgrounds, and how the conservators of the heathland influenced the course’s natural layout and limited changes to the land.

We also cover several of the club’s key figures, including Horace Hutchinson, Abe Mitchell, Freddie Tate, Alf Padgham and Jack Rowe. Colin describes Hutchinson’s influence on golf in Britain and America, his role in shaping the course, and his later decline. We also discuss Mitchell’s self-taught game, his family’s long connection to the club, and Tate’s reputation as a fine amateur and soldier.

Another major topic is the role of women at Ashdown Forest. We discuss the early Ladies’ club, its connection to the broader history of women’s golf, and the importance of members such as Mrs Lucas and Joyce Weathered. Colin also explains how the ladies’ course developed into an important short course and how the women’s side of the club became central to its identity.

We finish with more recent memories of the club, including the clubhouse interior, the honours boards and photographs, and the stories associated with A.A. Milne and the landscapes of Winnie the Pooh. 

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In this episode we are joined by Richard Fisher (3-peat on the pod) looking back at 1926 as a pivotal year in golf, tracing the season from winter through autumn. We focus on the amateur game, the professional events, and the way golf fit into the wider sporting and political landscape of the year.

We begin with the early amateur season, including the shared President’s Putter at Rye and the Varsity match at Burnham & Berrow, where Cambridge win. We also discuss how much golf's leading amateurs play, the importance of caddies, and the many club and society matches that shape the year.

We then move to the spring championships, including the arrival of Glenna Collett and other American women ahead of the Ladies’ Championship, which is delayed by the General Strike.

The episode also covers the amateur and professional championships in detail. We discuss Bobby Jones’s remarkable Open qualifying round at Sunningdale, his victory at Royal Lytham & St Anne's, the Amateur Championship at Muirfield, George Von Elm’s win in the US Amateur, and major professional events involving Walter Hagen, Abe Mitchell, and Sandy Herd... and of course the proto-Ryder Cup. 

We finish with the late-season fixtures, including the English Amateur, the US PGA and US Ladies’ Championship, and the mixed foursomes at Worplesdon. We also reflect on the broader context of 1926: the rise of international golf, the role of the media, and how different the sport’s structure and calendar were from today.

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We look back on a dramatic finish at Royal Birkdale, where Ryan Fox closed with a strong Sunday round and won on the 72nd hole. We say he stayed composed under pressure, kept executing shots, and handled some very unlucky breaks on the closing holes without letting them affect him.

We also discuss how the course played over the week. We say it was firm, dry and much harder in the afternoon, while the morning wave had the best scoring conditions. We note that the changes to the course produced strong championship golf, with several holes forcing players to choose different clubs and strategies.

We reflect on the other main contenders, especially Sam Burns, Tommy Fleetwood and Scottie Scheffler. We say Burns started well but made a series of errors that took him out of the lead, Fleetwood had a very strong week but faded late, and Scheffler struck the ball well but lost many strokes on the greens.

A large part of the discussion focuses on the Bryson DeChambeau ruling and the difference between that incident and Scottie Scheffler’s ruling on 17. We say the rules were applied in different ways, that the evidence and intent were debated, and that the decisions raised questions about consistency and about how golf polices itself.

We finish with the wider context of Fox’s win, including his New Zealand sporting background, the significance of the result for New Zealand golf, and a few lighter notes on the week’s other winners and losers, including the event’s attendance, the amateur performances, and the people behind the tournament setup.

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This episode we discuss the setup for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, with particular focus on the firm, fast conditions and how much water the course is losing each day through high wind and heat. We talk about how the greens are being monitored and adjusted with modern technology, and how the course presentation is being kept under control.

We also look at how players may adapt their strategy, with many expected to leave driver out in favor of irons, mini drivers or three-woods. The discussion covers wedge bounce, firm fairways, bunkers, and how the course conditions create difficult equipment decisions for the field.

We spend a lot of time on the holes that could shape the championship, especially 1, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 18. We talk about the challenge of the opening stretch, the reachable but dangerous par 5s, the narrow closing hole, and how wind direction could change the approach on several key holes.

We then turn to likely scoring and possible outcomes, with the group largely agreeing that the winning score is more likely to be in the high single digits rather than very low. We also discuss which players may suit the test, including Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Reed, Matt Fitzpatrick, Harris English and others.

Finally, we cover the “Tooting Beck” low-round prediction for British and Irish players, and close with a brief exchange about England’s football match against Argentina.

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In this episode we play a price-guessing game based on merchandise and food from the Open Championship site. We set up the rules, use a match-play style scorecard, and compare the prices of items the listeners would not have seen.

We start with some reference prices, then move through a yellow Open mug, a boxed Vice golf ball, and a small navy pen holder shaped like a tall bag. We also price a Malbon quarter zip and a Malbon bucket hat, which lead to some of the larger early swings in the score.

We continue with a silver claret jug-style jug, a 99 ice cream with a flake, a Future Open Champion baby bib, and a straw sun hat with a claret jug ribbon. We also cover Open-logo socks in a presentation box and a large Vessel carry bag.

Later, we guess the cost of a Hugo Boss cap for marshals, an Adidas tracksuit top with Open branding, and a special-edition Stewart remote-control trolley. We then move to a Peter Millar cashmere V-neck and a player’s yardage book for the course.

In the closing stretch we price a Vessel rucksack, a yellow kids’ flag, an Open T-shirt, and a metal ball marker with hole yardages. The episode ends with a final score update and a quick wrap-up after the last item.

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From within the media centre at Royal Birkdale, Sam and Peter recap the Monday last-chance qualifier at the Open Championship, where 12 players competed for one place in the field. 

The format, the field, and a first look at the course conditions are all discussed, alongside a recap of the first ever Last Chance Qualifier - an event we think was a resounding success.

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In this episode we discuss the Scottish Open at Renaissance Club and the experience around the event, including the relaxed atmosphere for players, the links-style setting, and the way the course routing was changed. We also talk about nearby courses on the East Lothian coast, including Gullane, Winterfield, Craigielaw and Longniddry.

We then begin the final part of our series on major golf course architects, focusing on the Hawtree family. We explain that the Hawtrees span three generations and have worked for over a century, with Frederick George Hawtree as the practical founder, Frederick William Hawtree as the more golf-focused writer and consultant, and Martin Hawtree as the modern restorer and consultant.

We trace Fred Senior’s early career from greenkeeping at Sundridge Park to his first design work with James Braid at Sundridge Park and Croham Hurst. We also cover the founding of his practice in 1912, the interruption caused by World War I, and his later partnership with J.H. Taylor.

A major theme is Hawtree’s work on municipal and public golf. We discuss the Artisan Golfing Society, the National Association of Public Courses, and their role in courses such as Richmond Park and several municipal courses around Birmingham, including Lickey Hills and others.

We then cover Fred Senior’s purchase and rebuilding of Addington Court in the early 1930s, making it the first privately owned public golf course in Britain and the firm’s headquarters for decades. We also discuss the 1932 rebuilding of Royal Birkdale, including the new routing through the dunes and the course’s later refinements.

Finally, we cover Fred Jr.’s education, wartime service and post-war consultancy work, then Martin Hawtree’s role from the 1970s onward. We mention his work at venues such as Lahinch, Ballybunion, Royal Aberdeen, Trump International and Royal Liverpool, and his comments about growing up around the family business and continuing the Hawtree tradition.

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In this episode, we speak from Renaissance in East Lothian, where we discuss the golf on the coast and how many different courses there are in the area. We talk about the quality of the turf, the variety of links courses, and how the region keeps surprising us even when we think we know it well.

We also discuss golf shoes and metal spikes, including why spectators wear golf shoes at events and why professionals still use metal spikes, even though many clubs do not allow them. We compare different styles of shoes and talk about the practical and visual side of wearing them around a golf course.

A major part of the conversation is our Eclectic 18 for East Lothian. We explain why holes from Musselburgh, Winterfield, Dunbar, Archerfield, Muirfield, Gullane, North Berwick, Luffness New and the Glen made the cut, and we talk through several of the choices, including standout par threes, par fours and par fives. We also note that some courses appear multiple times because of the strength of the holes.

We finish by discussing which three East Lothian courses we would recommend to someone visiting the area, excluding North Berwick and Muirfield. We mention Dunbar, Winterfield, Musselburgh, Gullane 3, Luffness New and the Glen as strong options, and we end by saying how impressed we were with the trip and the golf across the region.

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Will Dugdale discusses starting golf as a child, playing junior, county, Oxford and Cambridge golf, and turning pro in 1999. He also covers early career ups and downs, the putting yips, changes to his grip, and his work helping other golfers.

Will has a genuinely fascinating story in the game of golf, and his relationship with the flat stick will no doubt resonate with many. For those who want to learn more, we'd encourage you to head to Will's website, best-putter.com. 

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In this episode we cover final qualifying for the Open Championship across four venues, with reports from Dundonald, Burnham & Berrow, Royal Cinque Ports, and West Lancashire. We compare the atmosphere at each course, noting that the day drew strong crowds, with many volunteers managing scoring, marshalling, parking and course presentation.

We discuss how the golf courses were set up and how the weather affected play. Burnham and Barrow was described as especially well presented, while West Lancashire played firm and fast with strong runoff areas and difficult greens. We also talk about how the draw and weather conditions made a major difference to scoring, especially later in the day.

We go through several of the main qualifiers and near misses. James Nicholas qualified comfortably, Tom Sloman played well at home to get through, and Caleb Surratt, Alejandro de Castro Piera and Austin Truslow also advanced. At West Lancashire, Sam Bairstow, Kazuma Kobori, Jose Ballister, Tiger Christensen, Sam Easterbrook and Matt Jordan featured prominently, while at Royal Cinque Ports Bard Bjornovic Skogen and MJ Defoe led the way.

We also cover notable players who missed out, including Owen Edwards, John Goff, Fraser Jones and Brandon Robinson Thompson. There is discussion of withdrawals, players stopping after lunch, and the mix of amateurs, club players and touring professionals in the field. We note that many players had caddies, family members, or partners on the bag, and some chose to carry their own clubs.

We finish by explaining the new Monday last-chance qualifier at Royal Birkdale, which will give a small group of players another route into the Open.

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Sam chats with Stuart Grehan fresh of his Amateur Championship win at Royal Liverpool and West Lancs last week. The 131st Amateur was also the 19th time this event has been hosted at Royal Liverpool - more than any other venue. 

We talk about his wins in the knockout, the adjustments from 18 to 36 hole matches, as well some of the trickier matches that lay between him and his final against Matt Maloney which went all the way to the 36th hole. We also talk about his career, from pitch and putt as a kid, to turning professional, regaining his Amateur status and now looking forward to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a Masters invitation and a spot in the US Open next year at Pebble Beach. 

In the aftermath of his win, we also talk about some of the criticism Stuart has come in for from the likes of Dan Rapaport, going from Professional to Amateur, as well as his experiences at Cypress Point last year in the Walker Cup, and looking ahead to Lahinch in September. Stuart says that the movement back to amateur golf was all about the lifestyle.... well what a lifestyle it is!

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In this episode we reflect on the US Open at Shinnecock Hills and the course setup, including the firm greens, the undulations, and how the test shifted the emphasis toward short game and putting. We discuss the USGA’s explanation of why the greens were managed the way they were, and how the event played gradually from Thursday through Sunday.

We also talk about Wyndham Clark’s win, his reception from the crowd, and how he held onto the lead despite not playing his best golf at the weekend. We compare his performance with Scottie Scheffler’s, and we discuss the idea of players chasing a major-title milestone under intense pressure from a strong field.

A substantial part of the conversation is about fan behaviour and whether golf should accept more crowd noise and needle at big events. We discuss the contrast with other sports, the difference between a normal tournament and a Ryder Cup atmosphere, and whether Clark’s situation was more about his lead and persona than about golf becoming less traditional.

We then move on to players and others who stood out at Shinnecock, including Keith Mitchell, Tom Kim, and the course superintendent Joe Jennings. We also mention some of the week’s disappointments and controversies, including bunker conditions, Joaquin Niemann’s penalty, and Harry Higgs arriving without trousers before his round.

Finally, we cover regional qualifying and the Amateur Championship. We talk about the scale of qualifying venues around the country, Peter’s attempt at Ferndown, and several players who advanced. We also review the Amateur at Hoylake, where Stuart Grehan won after a 36-hole final, and we note the strong coverage of the event online.

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Tom is in the chair this time to bring to life the story of William Flynn, one of the more forgotten architects in the American Golden age.

In part 2 we discuss the construction firm of Toomey & Flynn, his design work into middle life and going on to designing the renovation of Shinnecock Hills.

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Tom is in the chair this time to bring to life the story of William Flynn, one of the more forgotten architects in the American Golden age.

In part 1 we discuss Flynn's childhood, his upbringing and his relationship with Frederick Pickering. We also discuss his work at Marion and his founding of the construction firm Toomey & Flynn.

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It’s hard to believe its 3 years since Jim joined the pod to talk about his last book - When Revelation Comes - which went on to become a Herbert Warren Wind award finalist, and this time we’re joined to talk about another exciting project. 

To get a hold of a copy of Jim’s latest book, make your way to Back9Press or head to Amazon where we’ve hyperlinked them for your own ease.

A round of Scottish courses is a book charting 18 of Jim’s most beloved but often less celebrated courses. Some courses people will be familiar with but others less so. The likes of Aberfoyle are not on many bucket lists (until now), places like Iona and Harris require some serious commitment to get to, and some bigger names like Cruden Bay and Prestwick rightly hold a place in Jim’s heart. 

We also talk about the process of uncovering the history of these lesser-known courses, collecting old postcards images and the beautiful architecture of the buildings that often accompany these smaller well-preserved courses. 

Great to own. Great for a gift. 

Side note: out charity link for our upcoming 95 hole challenge around Arran can be found here. All donations hugely appreciated.

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Tom & Sam discuss playing the original 12-hole routing at Prestwick, where the first Open Championship was held in 1860, and how the course has been restored for a limited period. We explain that the layout has been brought back with heavy marshalling, temporary and restored greens, and significant logistical work to keep play safe.

We talk through the history of Prestwick and the role of Old Tom Morris in setting out the 12-hole course, how it gave birth to The Open Championship and try to give you a sense as to what the course is like. You can expect a film to follow on YouTube in the coming weeks. 

Road to Rosapenna leaderboard from our match here

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Tom, Sam & Half Par sit down to discuss Aaron Rai's amazing victory at the 108th PGA championship at Aronimink. 

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Sam & Tom both do some homework on Dornoch man Donald Ross, who would go on from an upbringing on the ancient Scottish links to become the most prolific golf course architect in the United States. Designing and working on over 400 courses, his journey is a fascinating one.

With the US PGA taking place this week at Aronimink, it is our third instalment on biographies of some of the game’s most celebrated architects.

Having studied under Old Tom Morris in St Andrews, a chance encounter with Harvard professor Robert Wilson would see him take the leap of faith and move to the US, working at Oakley Country Club. He would then turn another chance encounter with an attorney into a career-defining move, as he set up his winter office at Pinehurst, designing four of the courses over many decades and using it as a base from which he met and took on numerous commissions from travelling golfers across America.

For more on Ross, Bradley Klein's magnus opus on Ross can be sourced here. 

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Sam & Tom sit down for Part IV of their deep dive into the Tiger Slam. 25 years on from the fourth leg of Tiger's historic run — and his sixth major victory overall — we revisit the 65th Masters at Augusta National, where he clinched the infamous Tiger Slam.

For more on the Tiger Slam, we highly recommend Kevin Cook’s book, which captures the era in microscopic detail. You can grab a copy here.

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Sam sits down at Royal Birkdale Golf Club with Mike Howard, Senior Design Associate at MacKenzie & Ebert, to discuss his long-standing relationship with the club.

A lifelong member with an intimate knowledge of the North West coast, Mike has played a central role in the recent course changes, working alongside Tom MacKenzie to prepare Birkdale for The Open Championship this summer.

A longstanding friend of the podcast, Mike brings both insight and perspective to the conversation. Widely respected for his work in golf course design, he is also a fine golfer and a highly regarded figure within the industry.

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Sam, Tom and Peter sit down to discuss the 90th Masters at Augusta National, Rory's historic back-to-back victory, and the big winners and losers of the week in Georgia.

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Returning guest Simon Haines sits down to be quiz master with Sam and Tom about the early days of Augusta National and the Masters. 

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In part two of this needlessly detailed look at the life and times of Dr Alister MacKenzie, Sam takes us through life after WWI and MacKenzie's partnership with Harry Colt and Charles Hugh Allison, as well as the work that leads him to travelling to furthest reaches of the globe. 

In 1926, MacKenzie travelled to Australia on what would become a career defining two months helping to shaope the Melbourne Sand belt and many other courses around the country, as well as New Zealand, and how MacKenzie would become involved in shaping golf on the West Coast of America. His work at Cypress point is rightly lauded above all others in the world, as well as Pasatiempo where he would spend his final few years. We also touch on his lifestyle, and his controversial divorce, and most importantly the legacy that he leaves behind. 

Further reading, the MacKenzie chronology is well worth some reading and can be found here, as well as his book - Golf Architecture - in 1920, The Spirit of St Andrews which was published after his death, and the many podcasts and articles that have been dedicated to his work. 

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Sam is in the chair this time to bring to life the good Dr - Alister MacKenzie - considered by many to be the most influential golf course architect in history. 

In part 1 we discuss MacKenzie's childhood, his education, going to Cambridge and serving in the Boer war. We also discuss the formation of Alwoodley and his golfing career leading into that, as well as Moortown and through to 1914 and the outbreak of WWI having finished designing Sitwell park.  

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Ahead of our Story of a Golf Club film over on YouTube, Sam & Tom sit down with Wallasey club archivist Simon Coombs to talk about the fascinating history of the club. Starting with the foundation of the club, to the design of Old Tom Morris and the golden age greats that followed him, Bobby Jones' round in Open Qualifying on his march to completing The Grand Slam, as well as Wallasey member Dr Frank Stableford's defining contribution to the club game with the invention of the Stableford scoring system on the second tee just a year later. 

Simon also shares his story in helping to develop a plan for history at his club and what it's like starting from scratch! It's a great episode. 

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Sam sits down with 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch. A player whose name is woven into both the history of the game and the soundtrack of its most memorable moments.

Best known for his remarkable victory at Royal Birkdale, Ian’s story extends far beyond that week in 1991. After his playing career, he became one of golf’s most recognisable and respected broadcasters, spending more than 25 years behind the microphone calling some of the sport’s most dramatic moments for audiences around the world.

In this conversation, Ian reflects on his journey through the professional game, from the pressure and triumph of winning The Open Championship to the challenges that followed, and how he ultimately found a second life in the commentary box. 

Known as one of golf’s most generous and well-liked characters, Ian was kind enough to give us his time while enjoying some well-earned rest and relaxation in New Zealand. The result is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about resilience, perspective, and a lifetime in the game.

A link to Ian's wonderful biography written by Geoff Suanders can be found here and we highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself.  

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Sam & Peter sit down to discuss this year's Sunningdale Foursomes. Peter was our man on the ground following all the action. Congratulations to Jamie McGeoch and Ellie Lichtenhein on surviving seven rounds of match play to win the 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes.

Ellie is the first Sunningdale member to win the event since 2009 - a fitting finish to one of the finest weeks in the British golfing calendar.

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In part 2, Tom takes us through Pete's trip to Scotland that inspired his work with Alice as a course designer. 

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Pt 1 of our 2 part special on the life and legacy of Peter Dye: 1925 - 2020. 

In part one, Tom takes us through the first 38 years of the life of Pete Dye, beginning with his early years in Ohio and growing up on a course built by his father Paul. Pete would go on to quite school early, enlist in the Army and take a career defining trip to Scotland with wife Alice. 

This is part of an exciting series we are running this year where we explore the life and legacy of the architects that have shaped the 4 major venues in 2026 (+ the players)!

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Sam & Tom sit down to review their visit to Conwy Golf Club on the north coast of Wales. With a history stretching back to 1869, and Hoylake professional Jack Morris the man behind the initial design, Conwy is a breathtaking piece of land on which to play golf. We had a great time here, settling a club championship match in a four-club wind.

In more recent years, Frank Pennink re-designed much of the course following the two World Wars in the first half of the 20th century. Most recently, Mackenzie & Ebert’s work with the club has seen gorse removed, green sites enlarged, and bunkers returned to more naturalised shapes.

For those of you who follow the trials and tribulations of our matches on the road, the ‘Club Championship’ section of the website is filled with match reports as we go, along with a league table tracking our performance records.

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Tom and Sam sit down to discuss the golf over the weekend, with Anthony Kim winning for the first time in fifteen years and Colin Morikawa prevailing at Pebble Beach for the first time in two and a half years. 

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Josh Simpson joins the podcast (a.k.a 'the Ginger Golfer') to talk about his world record breaking effort over the last 12 months playing 652 courses in a year, eclipsing the previous 581 World Record. 

We talk about Josh's introduction to the sport, and how he turned a tragic chapter in his life into a force for good, raising nearly £100,000 for two wonderful charities: Macmillan Cancer Support and Tapping House. We've put the link for further donations here so you can contribute to the money raised.

We also discuss the trials and tribulations of life on the road, some of his favourite courses and also his - soon to be trademarked - shower rating system. The 10 point rating criteria can be found below:

• 2.5pts: Shower Pressure
• 2pts: Temperature (consistency & warmth)
• 2pts: 'Look'
• 1pt Towel Provided (yes or no)
• 1pt: Privacy / Draft / Space
• 0.5pts: Amenities (0.1pt for each amenity provided)
• 0.5pts: Dials accessed without getting hands wet
• 0.5pts: No need to keep pushing to activate

(Only Sunningdale & The Caversham have swept up 10 points so far!)

Follow Josh and his adventure along here. 

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Sam sits down for a catch-up with friend of the pod, West Byfleet membership secretary and exceptional writer Richard Pennell. Together, they cover a wide range of topics, including Richard’s latest book, Common Grounds, which chronicles his journeys to some of the rawest and purest forms of the game.

Building on the success of his first book - Grass Routes - you can secure a copy through the wonderful folks over at Grant Books here. 

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Tom sits down with Golf Badgers’ James Bledge at BTME in Harrogate to discuss the event.

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Sam and Tom sit down in the West Sussex clubhouse to chat to one half of Mackenzie & Ebert - Tom Mackenzie - about his love affair with landscapes, and a career in course architecture. We talk about West Sussex and making alterations to your home course, as well as work further afield. 

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Sam & Tom head to where it all began for the British motorway service station: Watford Gap. Not only the official north–south divide, but the birthplace of what has grown to become a staple of travel culture in Great Britain — none more so than in our world of planning stops at service stations on the road to and from the links.

This is an episode we’ve wanted to do for some time. And while the connection with golf is extremely tenuous, it’s fascinating to explore the evolution of the motorway service network — from the early days of the M1, through how service stations have changed over time, and what the future might hold.

Of course, we talk about some of our favourites, but now you can rank your own as well. The link below will take you to a ranking website specially created by Tom, where you can leave reviews and help us shine a light on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

https://cookiejarservices.com/

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Sam talks to Jean van de Velde about his career in the game, which began as a six-year-old in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Pyrenees in south-west France. Growing up in the era of persimmon drivers and balata balls, Jean turned professional in 1987 and went on to compete at the highest level of the game for several decades. He is perhaps best known for his performance at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, where he slept on a five-shot lead going into the final round.

Jean has also been involved in the administration of the game and was instrumental in bringing The Ryder Cup to France in 2018.

A huge thank you to Jean for his time on the podcast. His reputation as one of the game’s great characters — and as a wonderfully honest, funny, and brilliant storyteller — remains fully intact after this epic episode.

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