January 2025

285 – The President’s Putter

2025-01-13T18:38:29+00:00January 6th, 2025|Bruce's favourites, Golf History, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

A matchplay marathon marks the start of the golfing year for the Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society. One of the most historic amateur knockout tournaments around, The President's Putter has been played for since 1920 at Rye Golf Club, in East Sussex. For more on Rye, please head to our film here. Previous winners of this event include Ernest Holderness, Bernard Darwin, Roger Wethered, Ted Dexter, Leonard Crawley, Gerald Micklem, Cyril Tolley, Donald Steel... and of course, our very own Bruce Fitzpatrick, who won it in 2020 on his first-ever attempt. We sit down to discuss the history of [...]

December 2024

283 – James Braid – Part 3: The Professional w/ Philip Truett

2025-01-20T13:57:35+00:00December 26th, 2024|Golf Course Architecture, Golf History, Podcasts|

In this third and final instalment of podcasts about the life of James Braid, we finish up at Walton Heath talking about his life as the club's professional, a position he held for nearly 50 years. Braid took up the role in 1904 when the club was only just starting off, and continued in post until his death in 1950. We couldn't think of anyone better than Philip Truett to help us bring this season to a close; A lifelong member of Walton Heath and one of the most passionate historians in the game, Philip has spent countless [...]

282 – James Braid – Part 2: The Architect w/ Simon Barrington

2025-01-20T13:57:30+00:00December 23rd, 2024|Golf Course Architecture, Golf History, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

In Pt II of our series exploring the life of James Braid, we look at his contributions as a Golf Course Architect. With over 500 courses shaped in some way by Braid, his legacy on the British Golfing landscape is undeniable, and while the likes of Simpson, McKenzie or Colt are often lauded above Braid, his approach to building thought provoking designs which were strategic in nature is something worthy of more celebration. Huge thanks go to Simon Barrington, an independent researcher of historical architecture, for his hard work in helping us bring this episode to life, and [...]

281 – James Braid – Part 1: ‘The Player’ w/ Simon Barrington

2025-01-20T13:57:08+00:00December 23rd, 2024|Golf Course Architecture, Golf History, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

Pt I of our exciting new series, exploring the life of James Braid. James Braid was part of the great triumvirate which also included Harry Vardon & JH Taylor. In his career he would go on to win 5 Open Championships. Growing up in Earlsferry, before emigrating south of the border, Simon Barrington brings to life his playing career in vivid detail. Huge thanks go to Simon Barrington, an independent researcher of historical architecture, for his hard work in helping us bring this episode to life, and we look forward to releasing part two about the courses which [...]

278 – Bobby’s Open: The 1926 Open Championship with Dr Steven Reid

2024-12-10T06:53:56+00:00December 10th, 2024|Golf History, Player Profiles, Players, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

Sam & Tom sit down in the members' bar at Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club to meet with Dr Steven Reid, lifelong member at Lytham and author of Bobby's Open, charting the tale of how Bobby Jones came to win his first Claret Jug. He would go on to defend it successfully in 1927, as well as winning at Royal Liverpool in 1930 on his way to completing the 'impregnable quadrilateral'. Steven's book - foreworded by Jack Nicklaus - is a captivating read and brings to life in viivd detail the struggles Jones went through, not [...]

November 2024

The Berrie Portrait, words by Dr Steven Reid

2024-12-10T06:54:50+00:00November 29th, 2024|Blog, Golf History, Uncategorized|

Dr Steven Reid is a lifelong member of Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club, an author and historian with more than a slight interest in the life of Bobby Jones. After our podcast discussing the 1926 Open Championship (brilliantly chronicled in his book; 'Bobby's Open', talk turned to the famous Berrie portrait which was commissioned by Wallasey member and ex-captain Sir Ernest Royden, and painted by John A.A.Berrie. In this excellent article, Steven takes us closer to how a portrait from 1930 came to become the most iconic image of Bobby Jones and one that we all [...]

277 – Nigel Edwards

2024-12-10T06:43:31+00:00November 19th, 2024|Golf History, Players, Podcasts|

After a chance encounter at The Curtis Cup, Tom sits down with Nigel to discuss his career as one of the most decorated amateurs in British golf. Nigel isn't just one of the most successful Duncan Putter winners in the history of Southerndown, he’s also: Represented GB&I in 4 Walker Cups (01, 03, 05 & 07) Holed the winning putt at Ganton in 2003 Captained GB&I in the Walker Cup in 2011, 2013, and was reappointed captain at Lytham in 2015 Represented Wales in seven European Team Amateur Championships Played for GB&I in 3 St Andrews Trophies and [...]

October 2024

273 – Halloween Special Eclectic 18: Simon Haines (pt 2)

2024-10-30T21:41:32+00:00October 30th, 2024|Course Diaries, Eclectic 18, Golf History, Podcasts|

In this special two-part podcast, Simon unpacks his Eclectic 18 from holes that no longer exist. Please see our show notes on our blog here to view some of these holes, beautifully compiled by Simon. While the link to Halloween might be tenuous, we hope that doesn't deter you from enjoying what is an exceptional podcast. In the first part, we go through Simon's back nine. Par 32, 2,456 yards 10 - Sunningdale (New) - Par 3 - 160 yards 11 - Hangar Hill - Par 4 - 430 yards 12 - Chadwick Manor - Par 4 - [...]

Holes that No Longer Exist – Eclectic 18 w/ Simon Haines

2024-11-02T07:14:17+00:00October 30th, 2024|Blog, Eclectic 18, Golf History|

Simon Haines sat down with us to record this epic two-part Eclectic 18 special with us, chronicling some of the most interesting holes which ‘no longer exist’.   We are enormously grateful for the research and time taken to pull this together, especially these archive images which he has kindly shared with us for publication. The podcasts can be found on this page, and on all major podcasting platforms.  Simon Haines is a Midlands-man, a good friend of ours and one of the most respected golf course historians out there, who - over many many years now - has [...]

272 – Halloween Special Eclectic 18: Simon Haines (pt 1)

2024-10-30T21:39:18+00:00October 29th, 2024|Course Diaries, Eclectic 18, Golf History, Podcasts|

In this special two-part podcast, Simon unpacks his Eclectic 18 from holes that no longer exist. Please see our show notes on our blog here to view some of these holes, beautifully compiled by Simon. While the link to Halloween might be tenuous, we hope that doesn't deter you from enjoying what is an exceptional podcast. In the first part, we go through Simon's front nine. Par 34, 2,845 yards 1 - Prestwick - Par 5 - 578 yards 2 - Headingley - Par 4 - 407 yards 3 - Royal St George's - Par 4 - 267 [...]

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