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So far sam has created 462 blog entries.

October 2023

207 – Course Diaries: Portstewart

2023-10-17T05:00:37+00:00October 17th, 2023|Course Diaries, Podcasts|

On a recent visit to Northern Ireland, Sam, Tom & Charlie dropped by Portstewart. Often known as something as a 'hidden gem', the club now sits firmly in the itinerary for the travelling golfer only 10 minutes from Royal Portrush. Regarded as having the possibly the most dramatic opening nine in golf, Portstewart is a club with a lot of history, 3 courses and has played host to The Irish Open in 2017 when a cleanly shaven Jon Rahm won. For more on Portstewart head over to our website for a recent blog article. Shoutout to our official [...]

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Premium Inclusive: The Family Experience at Sunningdale Heath

2023-10-12T11:17:34+00:00October 12th, 2023|Blog, Golf History|

Since 2018, when Wentworth professionals Kristian Baker and Tom Reid had a bright idea to revitalise and transform this charming plot of land adjacent to Sunningdale Golf Club, I have often heard about its remarkable inclusivity and warm atmosphere. Such an image, for many, might seem surprising considering its proximity to its revered and distinguished neighbour. Yet, originally formed in 1902 as Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club, this Harry Colt design has been providing golf in a shorter format for over a century. A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time up at Sunningdale Heath for the very first time, [...]

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206 – Building a Retro Bag w/ James Day from Sounder Golf

2023-10-10T13:21:59+00:00October 10th, 2023|Podcasts|

As part of the lead up to our collaboration event at West Byfleet on the 19th October with SounderGolf, we sit down with James Day to run through the iconic clubs from the last 40 years. eBay and used club retailers can be over-facing at times with the vast array of equipment from yesteryear, so this episode is a great peak behind the curtain on what to keep an eye out for online and why building a set of pre-loved clubs is not just rewarding, but often more beneficial for your game than you might think. [...]

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Cookie Crumbs #7 – Ronan Rafferty on the Ryder Cup

2023-10-06T13:16:06+00:00October 6th, 2023|Cookie Crumbs, Podcasts, Tour Takes|

With the recent fun of The Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, it got us thinking about this episode with one of our favourite all time guests. One of our anecdotes from an early episode with Ronan Rafferty, sharing just how nervous he was when he hit the opening tee shot at The Belfry in 1989. Ronan was a brilliant guest of the podcast and someone we need to get on again! Stories for days, a decorated European Tour player and someone who has spent a lifetime around the game of golf and still loves it as much as [...]

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Portmarnock Golf Club: 5 Things You Should Know About Dublin’s Masterpiece

2023-10-06T10:18:05+00:00October 6th, 2023|Blog, Tour Takes|

Today, the news was officially announced that Portmarnock Golf Club, the historic Dublin links, is seeking government support to host the AIG Women's Open and The Open in the coming years. It would be the first time the trophies are taken outside of the United Kingdom and to the Emerald Isle. Yet, golfing purists would not be surprised by the decision to go to Portmarnock. It is an elite championship links with a rich history and is already due to host the Women’s Amateur Championship next year. (Image Credit: Portmarnock Golf Club) In light of the news, [...]

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Five Meditations on Rome’s Ryder Cup

2023-10-05T11:35:50+00:00October 5th, 2023|Blog|

Ahead of this year’s staging of the biggest celebration in golf, I must admit to being apprehensive about the on-the-ground experience on offer at Marco Simone for The Ryder Cup. Hearing of the Herculean crowd to be expected (250,000) and with the relative lack of groups on the course, I was not optimistic about being able to witness much golf. Having experienced the crowds at last year’s Open at St Andrews and once again this year at Hoylake, the type of fan within me that just wants to watch loads of golf shots has been left underwhelmed. Et Romae, this [...]

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205 – Ryder Cup Recap

2023-10-02T13:14:06+00:00October 2nd, 2023|Podcasts, Tour Takes|

Sam, Tom & Bruce convene for a rambling recap of the action at the weekend at Marco Simone in Rome. We'll save the hat puns this time, but it was a special weekend of golf which we enjoyed from the comfort of our own armchairs from start to finish! An emphatic win for Team Europe with 16.5 points versus 11.5. A comeback from Team USA which fell just short on 16 with Rickie Fowler finding the water, followed only moments later by a spectator who seemed high on life (and Peroni). Our roving reporter Charlie was on the [...]

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September 2023

204 – Ryder Cup Special

2023-09-28T13:11:25+00:00September 28th, 2023|Podcasts, Tour Takes, Uncategorized|

Bruce, Sam & Tom discuss the history of the Ryder Cup through three lenses. Sam discusses the importance of the Captains in previous Ryder Cups, Bruce discusses the importance of Captain's picks and Tom discusses the importance of the World #1 during the Ryder Cup. Niche prevails. Latest Products

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203: Course Diaries – Worcestershire Golf Club

2023-09-26T09:26:50+00:00September 26th, 2023|Podcasts|

We sit down with friend GCA guru and member of The Worcestershire - David Thomas - to hear more about the history of the oldest club in our own county. Golf goes all the way back in Malvern to the 1870’s and a young H.S. Colt lived here from the age of 2, meaning this is where it all began for the young man who would go on to become one of the most influential course architect in history. Mackenzie would later become the course architect when the club moved site in the 1920’s, and Colt despite being [...]

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On-Call, on the Course.

2023-09-20T09:19:23+00:00September 20th, 2023|Blog, CJG Ramblings|

Alister MacKenzie gained the nickname ‘The Good Doctor’- he served as a field surgeon in the Boer War not long after graduating from Cambridge, then it was time to ply his trade around Leeds, his hometown.  He traded the scalpel for topography maps and golf course design after World War One. Harry Colt gave up his Law career after a couple of years to design courses, while MacKenzie saw out nearly twenty (intermittently) as a Doctor. I suspect the Good Doctor was less-than-full time at the Doctoring during these years; he [...]

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