The Cookie Jar Library

I got this book for Christmas following a number of recommendations, and I was taken in by it to such an extent, I couldn’t resist reaching out directly to Tom which meant we were lucky enough to get him onto the podcast (Episode 012) to talk about his experiences. Firstly, Tom is a superb writer and I suspect he would make a good page-turner of making his cereal in the morning, or checking his tyre pressures on the car if the need were to arise, however the adventure he sets out on in Ireland before the days of iPhones and having access to GPS and accommodation bookings at the touch of a button is simply incredible. This needed meticulous preparation and an ability to throw caution to the wind. Driven partly by nostalgia and wanting to acquaint himself with the land of his ancestors, Tom sets out to walk [...]

You could be forgiven for thinking that books in Golf Architecture that hark back to the golden era of course design are a somewhat turgid read, with a lot of famous books dating back to the early years from the architects of the day (Simpson, Mackenzie et al). I picked this up on a recommendation from one of our friends @EnglandGolfProject and I’m so glad I did! In this modern take on Golf architecture, Tom talks about the founding principles of course design when the game was first developed on the shores of the British Isles, a landscape that was of little use aside from recreational activities and farming sheep. The early pioneers simply created a series of holes (it didn’t matter how many), and players were invited to play their way however it suited their eye. Tom talks a lot about how the modern era presents a risk [...]