About Peter Handcock

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So far Peter Handcock has created 114 blog entries.

September 2025

058 – Nine, Twelve, or Nothing: Rethinking Golf’s Next Chapter

2025-09-24T10:37:46+00:00September 24th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down to kick around what golf might look like in ten years’ time: fewer tired 18s, more brilliant 9s and 12s, and multi‑use hubs with sand‑capped, fescue‑forward turf that stays open when the rain never stops. Spurred by Alistair Beggs’ warning on chemicals and heavy soils, the lads pull apart a model that turns a failed 18 into a free‑draining nine plus a range, 3G football, padel, a Himalayas‑style putting green, nature trails and a buzzy food court—keeping green fees closer to £35 than £350 by letting the profitable bits subsidise the golf. Along [...]

339 – Ryder Cup Week

2025-09-24T10:33:44+00:00September 24th, 2025|Podcasts, Tour Takes|

The greatest event in sport? Not sure, but one of the many questions we unpack as we head towards the Ryder Cup this week at Bethpage. As Luke Donald leads Team Europe into battle against Team USA with only 14 points needed to retain the Ryder Cup, we cannot wait for the spectacle that will no doubt unfold. Latest Products

057 – From Kent to Hoylake: Fletcher’s Golf Bug (and Those High Bunkers)

2025-09-04T07:16:17+00:00September 4th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down with young Fletcher Bledge to talk growing up 200 yards from the 7th at Royal Liverpool, bagging two aces on the club’s pint-sized par-3, and why towering bunkers are the ultimate kid kryptonite. They dig into the mini-course with holes named Natterjack, Liverbird, Pineapple and Racing Horse, the Husqvarna robots that keep it buzzing, and the apprentice-led maintenance project that doubles as a training ground. LIV vs The Open gets a junior verdict (music on tee shots? pass), plus the case for screens-off golf, GS3 ball rolling, and a dream hole involving… bamboo [...]

Walker Cup at Cypress Point: 5 things to keep an eye on

2025-09-04T15:08:43+00:00September 3rd, 2025|Blog, Walker Cup|

Words by Peter Handcock, the Half Par Kid With all eyes on Cypress Point this weekend, Half Par has taken a deep dive into the course and the players to pull together 5 things for viewers to look out for - or keep in mind - while watching the 50th Walker Cup. Table of Contents The Walker Cup is nearly here, and few events in golf stir the soul quite like it. No prize money, no 7,700-yard resort course, just 20 of the world’s best amateurs, representing [...]

336 – Obscure Walker Cup Stories w/ Dr Darragh Garrahy

2025-09-03T07:28:28+00:00September 3rd, 2025|Golf History, Podcasts, Sam's favourites, Walker Cup|

Dublin’s leading authority on pace putting and amateur golf joins the podcast this week to share his top five Walker Cup stories from the previous 49 editions of the venerable matchplay tournament between GB&I and the USA, as well as his All-Star squad of 10 players. Darragh is obsessed with the Walker Cup, collecting artefacts from its history, including 48 programmes, crockery from Ganton, blazers from half a century ago, coasters — you name it. While we’re grateful to him for giving up his time to join the podcast, deep down we know he needs no encouragement to [...]

335 – The History of The Walker Cup w/ Richard Fisher

2025-09-03T07:28:55+00:00September 1st, 2025|Golf History, Podcasts, Sam's favourites, Walker Cup|

Sam travels to a baking hot committee room at Huntercombe to sit down with previous guest and friend of the show, Richard Fisher, to recap the history of The Walker Cup, including a statistical deep dive into the sessions that make and break a GB&I performance. A huge thanks to Richard for his research and exceptional insight in this podcast. It’s a cracker! Latest Products

334 – Fintan Bonner

2025-09-01T11:12:03+00:00September 1st, 2025|153rd Open, Podcasts|

Bruce heads to the Auld Grey Toon to catch up with Fintan Bonner, Senior Instructor at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy. A close friend of Bruce’s for over a decade (and patient recipient of countless swing questions), Fintan has become one of the most respected coaching voices in the game. Passionate about nurturing young talent and guiding elite players such as Gregor and Conor Graham, his work speaks to both his tenacity and expertise. In this episode, we dive into Fintan’s journey in golf, his coaching philosophy, and what it takes to develop players at every level. [...]

August 2025

056 – Lee Strutt – Sowing Seeds and Breaking Ground

2025-08-29T08:49:20+00:00August 29th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

James Bledge and Lee Strutt sit down on the banks of Loch Lomond to reflect on Struttie’s unique journey through golf course management—from grassroots beginnings to directing a world-class estate. They dig into leadership, trials, robots, and how to engineer not just a golf course, but a culture. Latest Products

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