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So far tom has created 227 blog entries.

February 2023

170 – Netherlands Tour Pod Part 1

2023-02-04T12:08:49+00:00February 4th, 2023|Course Diaries, Golf Course Architecture, Podcasts|

First instalment of our two part tour podcast from The Netherlands. We talk about why we went to visit the Dutch courses, the adventures on getting there, the rounds and the courses themselves and a few good stories along the way. We talk about Rye, Eindhovensche Golf & Utrechtse Golfclub De Pan. Pt II will be with you on Thursday morning, so you won't have to wait long! Appreciate this is a beast of an episode and only Joe Rogan can really get away with 3 hour podcasts! Big thanks to our series sponsor Footjoy for making this [...]

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December 2022

164 – Eclectic 18: Martin Ebert

2023-02-06T11:48:21+00:00December 29th, 2022|Eclectic 18, Podcasts|

On a recent visit to the Kent coast, Tom managed to sit down with architect Martin Ebert from Mackenzie & Ebert. Mackenzie & Ebert advise many of the most highly ranked existing courses in the world, including eight of the ten Open venues, so sitting down with Martin to get his thoughts into what makes good golf was a real interest to us. This was a fascinating insight into what type of architecture makes Martin tick and we hope you enjoy. hello and welcome back to another episode of the cookie jar golf podcast a few days [...]

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158 – John McLoughlin: Leadership in Greenkeeping

2023-02-06T11:59:25+00:00December 13th, 2022|Behind the Scenes, Podcasts|

Course Manager at Wallasey Golf Club - John McLoughlin - joins us for a chat about his career, what has led him to working back on The Wirral and his philosophy on greenkeeping. It's a frank and refreshing take on his role with a focus on leadership, marginal gains and brilliant basics! Much of it sounds like something you would normally find in management consulting, except John is applying it to his work on the course! We had a great day at Wallasey with John, learning more about the history at the club; the creation of the Stableford [...]

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157 – The Original 12 Holes at Prestwick with Ken Goodwin and Dave Edmondson

2023-02-06T11:58:41+00:00December 13th, 2022|Course Diaries, Podcasts, Tom's favourites|

On the 162nd anniversary of the first ever Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club, we chat through the original 12 hole course, that Tom was lucky enough to play. We talk to club Secretary Ken Goodwin and course manager Dave Edmondson about reviving the routing and the efforts that have gone into it.  and welcome back to another episode of the cookie jar golf podcast I am Tom Mills and today I'm joined by Sam Williams and today we're not doing a Sam plays golf Tom played golf today Tom plays golf pressed once I was absolutely gutted I [...]

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October 2022

3 reasons why Castle Stuart 3rd is one of the great short par 4’s

2022-10-05T10:29:03+00:00October 5th, 2022|Blog|

words by Sam When I was about 11 or 12, I used to draw imaginary golf courses. Each would be a strong contender to host a Ryder Cup. Excessively long and littered with penal hazards, demanding one heroic shot after the next. There would scarcely be enough space between the trees to walk your dog, let alone play golf. Wind the clock on 20 years and I’m stood on the 3rd tee of Castle Stuart. It represented a watershed moment in my appreciation for golf course architecture. We weren’t actually meant to be there. We had been en route [...]

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September 2022

155 – Matt McLean: US Mid-Am Champion 2022

2023-10-31T11:20:00+00:00September 27th, 2022|Players, Podcasts|

Sam & Tom catch up with recent mid-Am champion Matt McClean following his epic win over in Erin Hills a week ago. Matt now becomes one of only 4 Irish players to have won a coveted USGA title, adding his name to Graeme McDowell, Rory Mcilroy and Padraig Harrington. Matt played in an all Irish final with travel buddy, roomie and friend Hugh Foley who has also enjoyed a stellar season on the amateur circuit.  The final was interestingly played over two days owing to a rain delay from earlier in the week which involved the finalists heading [...]

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154 – Course Diaries: Royal North Devon or Westward Ho! w/ historian Robert Fowler

2023-02-06T11:55:13+00:00September 23rd, 2022|Course Diaries, Podcasts|

Sam & Bruce re-live some of the fun from Devon a few weeks ago where they played in the Silver medal (the oldest medal in English Golf) and The Kashmir Cup. 2 parts of a legendary week of golf played at Westward Ho! annually. This is a 2-part podcast with Sam & Bruce talking about the course specifically and trying to figure out why the links split opinion so heavily, as well as our interview with club historian Robert Fowler who wrote the history book for Royal North Devon as part of their 150th anniversary year. Robbie is [...]

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5 things… that will bring you back to Porthcawl time and time again

2022-09-20T15:35:20+00:00September 20th, 2022|Blog|

words by Sam I’ve been visiting Porthcawl since I was about 9 or 10 years of age, and there is a certain magic about any club that you see infrequently over what is sadly now more than a quarter of a century. Every time I return I find myself saying the same; ‘it’s the best I’ve ever seen it’ by which I do not mean just the course itself but the club as a whole.   Royal Porthcawl which is situated in the small seaside town between Cardiff and Swansea happens to be famous the world over for their annual [...]

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153 – Course Diaries: Church Stretton

2023-02-06T11:54:22+00:00September 12th, 2022|Course Diaries, Podcasts|

Church Stretton: Course Diaries Rugged, provocative and downright memorable. Three terms I would use to summarise a visit to Church Stretton. It’s a course that has been on the wish list for some time now, and a recent Instagram poll back in August, when we asked where people would like to see a future Course Diaries feature, made me get in the car and head out to Shropshire to see why.  I came in anticipation of minute greensites stitched into the hillside and an abundance of quirk, and whilst Church Stretton didn’t disappoint in that sense, the quality [...]

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152 – Reflections on The Pro Game

2023-02-06T11:53:03+00:00September 12th, 2022|Podcasts, Tour Takes|

All three of the squad get together for a brief catch and up and round off the fairly insane developments over recent weeks’ across LIV and the PGA tour. Elevated events, PIP driven pool of players, a barnstormer of a finish in Boston which seemed to pass without much fanfare and more… Your Content Goes Herehello and welcome back to another episode of the cookie jargo podcast I am Tom Bales and today I'm joined by Bruce Fitzpatrick good day or good evening and Sir Sam Williams have a gentlemen Asia since we've potted together absolutely bloody ages yeah [...]

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