192 – 151st From Hoylake – Day 2
GIVEAWAY IN THIS PODCAST - details enclosed within. Tom & Sam are joined by returning guest James Day to chat through the events of day 2. Latest Products
July 2023
Talk to the Sand
The course on Day 1 made a statement to the players that they best keep their ball out of the bunkers. After plenty of build-up about the greenkeeper’s use of the hay rake, which with wider teeth can cause the ball to nestle a little further down in the sand, the players found the sand traps to be penal hazards indeed. Perhaps more noticeably challenging on Day 1, was the way in which the bunkers have been dug flat, with balls getting trapped in the corners and up against the faces. With 81 traps in total on the links, we [...]
5 things From Day 1 at The Open
A wonderful start to The 151st Open Championship. Alarms were set for 5:30am to ensure we were in the grandstand in good time to watch local boy Matthew Jordan hit the opening tee shot. The group - also featuring friend of the jar Richie Ramsay, and Brandon Grace along with a strong showing from the Royal Liverpool membership to support their man - would be the one we’d follow. Here are the top 5 takeaways from the morning’s action: 1. The bunkers are no joke. The work by James Bledge and team to flatten the base of the sand and [...]
Little Eye’s First 30
So much has been said about the new 17th hole here at Hoylake and the unique challenge it will pose the players this week. As Cookie Jar’s roving reporter for the day, I headed over there to see how the first 30 players took on the challenge and how they fared. After seeing Michael Kim’s tweet late last night with the Round 1 Pin Sheet attached, before I had even arrived at Little Eye, I knew that the pin was going to be tucked front right. Just as I arrived at the greenside stand, the greenkeepers were finishing cutting it [...]
The 151st Open: Amateur Hour
With play at the 151st commencing at 6.35am tomorrow, all eyes appear to be on Rory, Scottie, Jon and the host of big names coming into the week with form and pedigree. Whilst anticipation is through the roof for seeing how the game’s elite fare around Hoylake in some rather changeable weather, less has been said of the cohort of amateurs who are not only vying for the Claret Jug, but also the Silver Medal. Competed for since 1949, the Silver Medal has seen a host of illustrious winners: Sir Michael Bonallack, José María Olazabal, Tiger Woods, Justin Rose [...]
191 – 151st from Hoylake – Wednesday Practice
Sam & Tom sit down to discuss The Open from the grounds at Hoylake. Having wandered around all morning and soaked up the play and the atmosphere, we dive into course setup, conditions, how the players were playing holes and good vantage points on the course. Tomorrow the 151st Open Championship will begin and Matthew Jordan - Hoylake-hero - will be hitting the opening tee shot. We'll be joining them at 6:30am! Latest Products
The 151st Open: The Champion Bag of the Year
Before you start reading, I must warn you that I’m about to enter down a very niche and rather weird golf equipment rabbit hole, but its Open week and I’m here for it. During a brief escapade on the course during today’s practice round, the mad dashes of colour bobbing down the fairways of Royal Liverpool were offering up a stark, but welcome contrast to the menacing clouds drawing in overhead. The Open staff bags have arrived. Am I really writing this? Yes. We march on. Here at Cookie Jar Golf, we love stash, and it is a central [...]
190 – 151st From Hoylake – Course Manager James Bledge
Tom sits down with course manager James Bledge on the Tuesday of The Open to discuss how the course is shaping up and the fantastic work the greens team are doing. As you will hear, things haven't exactly gone to plan with the weather, but the team have worked incredibly hard to present the course in immaculate condition for the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Latest Products
Hoylake to Hong Kong: Two Clubs Intertwined
Words by Charlie. In December of 1857, in Greenock, on the south bank of the River Clyde, a boy was born who would etch his name into the history of Hoylake and who would play a pivotal role in the transporting of the Royal and Ancient game to Asia. His name has understandably been overshadowed by the greats that line the oak-panelled walls at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, but he was a golfing pioneer, nonetheless. That bonnie lad was Gershom Stewart. The young Gershom’s stay in Scotland was to be a mere sojourn for he was moved to [...]
189 – The Great Players of Royal Liverpool with Stephen Proctor
Tom sat down with Stephen Proctor to discuss the great players of Royal Liverpool. John Ball Jr and Harold Hilton were true legends of the club and two of only three amateurs to win the Open Championship. "And now sir, you may catch your boat" Latest Products
