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So far sam has created 462 blog entries.

November 2024

Ocean’s Thirty Eight – The 38th Walker Cup at Ocean Forest

2025-09-03T07:29:45+00:00November 24th, 2024|Blog, Book Reviews, Uncategorized, Walker Cup|

Following our recent podcast with Walker Cup legend Nigel Edwards, our very own Walker Cup correspondent and self-proclaimed Professor of Pace Putting - Dr Darragh Garrahy - took to his library and did some more digging on the 38th playing of The Walker Cup at Ocean Forest. 'Ocean's Thirty Eight' words by Darragh Garrahy A.K.A 'Dr Lag' Table of Contents The Lindy Effect Something called the Lindy Effect theorizes that the longer a non-perishable item is around, the more sure their future is- if a golf course has [...]

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277 – Nigel Edwards

2024-12-10T06:43:31+00:00November 19th, 2024|Golf History, Players, Podcasts|

After a chance encounter at The Curtis Cup, Tom sits down with Nigel to discuss his career as one of the most decorated amateurs in British golf. Nigel isn't just one of the most successful Duncan Putter winners in the history of Southerndown, he’s also: Represented GB&I in 4 Walker Cups (01, 03, 05 & 07) Holed the winning putt at Ganton in 2003 Captained GB&I in the Walker Cup in 2011, 2013, and was reappointed captain at Lytham in 2015 Represented Wales in seven European Team Amateur Championships Played for GB&I in 3 St Andrews Trophies and [...]

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275 – Coul Links

2024-11-19T18:13:00+00:00November 19th, 2024|Behind the Scenes, Golf Course Architecture, Podcasts|

 Sam & Tom get together with Chris Haspell & Gordon Sutherland on the eve of the hearing that is taking place this week.The ongoing planning and permissions for this exciting Bill Coore design has been the subject of a lot of coverage over the last 7 years, and the passionate locals who have taken on the mantle - ‘Communities for Coul’ - have led it to this point. It’s a fascinating insight into the sustainability considerations that go hand in hand with any new development, as well as what this development would mean for the local residents of Sutherland.   [...]

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042 – Making BIGGA better? – Scott Reeves

2025-06-03T17:05:02+00:00November 14th, 2024|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Welcome back Badgers, This week we’ve been joined by Scott Reeves, Head of Membership for BIGGA. We try and get to the bottom of what problems the Greenkeeping Industry is facing in Britain - but more importantly, Scott wants to know what you think. Whether you’re a BIGGA member or not, please do follow the link above and fill out the survey. Thanks for listening, Sam & Bledge Latest Products

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Secret Diary of a Club GM: vol. II – Annual Subscriptions

2024-11-15T08:22:28+00:00November 13th, 2024|Blog, Diaries of a GM, Uncategorized|

Amidst huge speculation among the golf community as to the identity of our mystery General Manager, our secret agent behind the desk has found time to tap out some more thoughts on a timely and particularly thorny topic… Annual subs as we head into Annual General Meeting (AGM) season here in the UK! Annual Subscriptions - The Elephant in the AGM. Table of Contents Members & Consumers Golf Club Committees and General Managers across the land will be in the process of drawing up their annual subscriptions for their [...]

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October 2024

273 – Halloween Special Eclectic 18: Simon Haines (pt 2)

2024-10-30T21:41:32+00:00October 30th, 2024|Course Diaries, Eclectic 18, Golf History, Podcasts|

In this special two-part podcast, Simon unpacks his Eclectic 18 from holes that no longer exist. Please see our show notes on our blog here to view some of these holes, beautifully compiled by Simon. While the link to Halloween might be tenuous, we hope that doesn't deter you from enjoying what is an exceptional podcast. In the first part, we go through Simon's back nine. Par 32, 2,456 yards 10 - Sunningdale (New) - Par 3 - 160 yards 11 - Hangar Hill - Par 4 - 430 yards 12 - Chadwick Manor - Par 4 - [...]

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Holes that No Longer Exist – Eclectic 18 w/ Simon Haines

2024-11-02T07:14:17+00:00October 30th, 2024|Blog, Eclectic 18, Golf History|

Simon Haines sat down with us to record this epic two-part Eclectic 18 special with us, chronicling some of the most interesting holes which ‘no longer exist’.   We are enormously grateful for the research and time taken to pull this together, especially these archive images which he has kindly shared with us for publication. The podcasts can be found on this page, and on all major podcasting platforms.  Simon Haines is a Midlands-man, a good friend of ours and one of the most respected golf course historians out there, who - over many many years now - has [...]

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041 – Part 2 – What’s Been Happening At Birkdale? – Sean McClean

2025-06-03T17:06:07+00:00October 29th, 2024|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Last week we heard from Royal Birkdale's Course Manager Sean McClean. This week he's back to talk in some detail over the course changes that many of us watched develop over social media. It was an extraordinary amount of work, especially for a course hosting the world's oldest Major Championship in 2026. This year, Sean and his indefatigable team and back at it - completing Phase 2 of an ambitious project. We hope you enjoy the second half of this conversation and, as ever, please do share with anyone else who might too. [...]

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272 – Halloween Special Eclectic 18: Simon Haines (pt 1)

2024-10-30T21:39:18+00:00October 29th, 2024|Course Diaries, Eclectic 18, Golf History, Podcasts|

In this special two-part podcast, Simon unpacks his Eclectic 18 from holes that no longer exist. Please see our show notes on our blog here to view some of these holes, beautifully compiled by Simon. While the link to Halloween might be tenuous, we hope that doesn't deter you from enjoying what is an exceptional podcast. In the first part, we go through Simon's front nine. Par 34, 2,845 yards 1 - Prestwick - Par 5 - 578 yards 2 - Headingley - Par 4 - 407 yards 3 - Royal St George's - Par 4 - 267 [...]

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