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So far Claude has created 171 blog entries.

September 2026

Playing Every Hole on the Isle of Arran

2026-09-29T17:00:16+00:00September 29th, 2026|Video|

Every hole on the Isle of Arran in one day. Seven courses, 95 holes, played for Arran Cancer Support. Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cookie-jar-golf-1?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL Arran has seven golf courses, and we wanted to play all of them between sunrise and sunset. We did it to raise money for Arran Cancer Support, a charity that has done a huge amount for people on the island. If you enjoy the film, a donation of any size would mean a great deal to them and to us. We arrived a week after No Laying Up had been on the island filming Tourist Sauce. Great minds [...]

400 – 95 Holes of Arran in a Single Day

2026-09-29T04:00:00+00:00September 29th, 2026|Podcasts|

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 [...]

399 – Building a Short Game with Alex Buckner

2026-09-24T07:00:00+00:00September 24th, 2026|Podcasts|

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, [...]

087 – Sophie Olejnik

2026-09-17T04:00:00+00:00September 17th, 2026|Golf Badgers|

We speak with ecologist Sophie Olejnik about how she moved from an ecology degree and traineeship work on nature reserves into golf course ecology, and how her role now is almost entirely focused on golf. She explains that she first came into the sector through a job at STRI, encouraged by her father, and that her early experience included visiting Montrose with Bob and learning about gorse management, coppicing and fungi.We discuss the ecological value of links and heathland courses, with Sophie saying these sites can support a wide range of habitats because of their structural diversity and [...]

Playing Prestwick’s Original 12-Hole Routing with Hickories

2026-09-15T17:00:19+00:00September 15th, 2026|Video|

In 1860, eight professional golfers gathered at Prestwick Golf Club to play three rounds of its 12-hole course and contest the very first Open Championship. The idea was simply to find out who the best golfer was, following the passing of Allan Robertson. The title of being The Champion Golfer of The Year as they would become known, was held at Prestwick for 12 years consecutively until young Tommy Morris retired the belt, winning it three times in a row. Now, as part of the club's 175th Anniversary celebrations, that original course can be played again, and in September it [...]

398 – Kevin Hammer: President of the USGA

2026-09-15T04:00:00+00:00September 15th, 2026|Podcasts|

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 [...]

397 – Sam Easterbrook: Walker Cup Winner

2026-09-16T18:27:46+00:00September 12th, 2026|Podcasts|

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 [...]

396 – Walker Cup Recap

2026-09-07T06:00:00+00:00September 7th, 2026|Podcasts|

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 [...]

395 – Walker Cup Day 1 Recap

2026-09-05T20:00:00+00:00September 5th, 2026|Podcasts|

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 [...]

086 – Walker Cup Volunteering with Bledge and Jason Meersman

2026-09-03T18:00:00+00:00September 3rd, 2026|Golf Badgers|

In this episode we are in Flanagan’s Pub in Lahinch during the 2026 Walker Cup, setting the scene for a week of volunteering and course work. We describe the pub, the atmosphere in town, and the contrast between the old, dark setting and the event taking place nearby.We introduce Jason Meersman from the Patterson Club in Connecticut, who comes from a family of golf course superintendents. He explains his background, his club, and the recent renovation there, including the long hours, the construction challenges, and the work on infrastructure, bunkers, and playing surfaces.We talk through the renovation process [...]

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