October 2025

344 – Halloween Eclectic 18 Special w/ Simon Barrington

2025-10-30T09:55:52+00:00October 30th, 2025|Eclectic 18, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

In this in-depth Eclectic 18 special, previous guest and friend of the show Simon Barrington takes us on an odyssey of obscure connections with some of his favourite holes and courses around the world, and their links to the macabre. It’s not just an assortment of holes with cemeteries nearby — we go back to medieval battles, haunted castles, greens built on ancient burial grounds, and even draw some tenuous links between bunkers and the afterlife. Follow Simon on x here or get in touch with him on jamesbraidresearch@gmail.com. His scorecard is below. #1 Ballybunion #2 West Hill #3 Old Petty [...]

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343 – Eclectic 18: A half-par scorecard with the Half Par Kid.

2025-10-21T07:59:38+00:00October 21st, 2025|Eclectic 18, Podcasts|

Sam is joined by Peter Handcock aka @thehalfparkid to do an eclectic 18 scorecard comprised of solely of half par golf holes. As a reminder, this fun exercise requires you to fill the card with holes you've played, but they can only go in the position in which they sit on the scorecard, and you can only use one course once! His scorecard: 1 - Woking - 3.5 275yds 2 - San Francisco - 4.5 455yds 3 - Dumbarnie - 3.5 310yds 4 - Royal St George’s - 4.5 495yds 5 - Royal Worlington & Newmarket - 3.5 [...]

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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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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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August 2024

250 – Tron Carter (Part 2) – Eclectic 18

2024-08-16T10:12:42+00:00August 16th, 2024|Eclectic 18, Podcasts, Tom's favourites|

Our 250th episode just so happens to be a cracker! The seocnd part of our Eclectic 18 with No Laying Up's Tron Carter. He went all out for this one, and not only that he had to pick his Eclectic 18 only from courses featured on Tourist Sauce. Season 9 of Tourist Sauce has recently concluded which saw the team head back to Australia. His Scorecard: 1. Sheep Ranch 2. Lofoten Links 3. Old Macdonald 4. Bandon Trails 5. Brora 6. Royal Dornoch 7. Pacific Dunes 8. Cruden Bay 9. Lahinch (Old) out: par 35 Halfway house: Nairn [...]

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249 – Eclectic 18: Tron Carter – Part 1

2024-08-16T10:11:33+00:00August 16th, 2024|Eclectic 18, Podcasts, Tom's favourites|

Tom sits down with Tron Carter from No Laying Up to discuss his eclectic 18. Following the conclusion of season 9 of Tourist Sauce, Tron puts to better his eclectic 18 with the condition the courses he picks can only be from courses he’s played on his travels with tourist sauce. Latest Products

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244 – Sophie Walker – Eclectic 18

2024-08-16T10:06:05+00:00August 16th, 2024|Eclectic 18, Players, Podcasts|

Following on from the podcast, Sophie surprised us with her eclectic 18, which we thought we’d throw out as a bonus pod. I hope you enjoy. Scorecard below: 1 - Alwoodley 2 - Evian Resort 3 - Kingston Heath 4 - Cruden Bay 5 - Walton Heath (Old) 6 - Old Course 7 - Royal Dornoch 8 - Emirates Golf Club (Majlis) 9 - Turnberry 10 - Sunningdale (Old) 11 - Hillside 12 - Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) 13 - Royal County Down 14 - Stockport 15 - Kingsbarns 16 - Blairgowrie (Rosemount) 17 - Royal Melbourne 18 - [...]

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November 2023

212 – Eclectic 18: Zane Scotland

2023-11-21T10:13:12+00:00November 21st, 2023|Eclectic 18, Podcasts|

A good friend of the jar, the youngest person to ever qualify for The Open, sky sports presenter, radio commentator, and coach - Tom sat down with Zane Scotland at the Zane Scotland Academy in Leatherhead to go through his eclectic 18: 1 - Woodcote Park 2 - Prince’s (Shore) 3 - Carnoustie 4 - The Addington 5 - Sunningdale (New) 6 - Walton Heath Old 7 - Crans Sur Sierre 8 - Oaks Park 9 - Wisley (Church) 10 - The Belfry (Brabazon) 11 - Golf de el Salam 12 - Wentworth 13 - Queenwood 14 - [...]

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February 2023

175 – Jim Hartsell: When Revelation Comes

2023-02-21T09:24:08+00:00February 21st, 2023|Eclectic 18, Golf Course Architecture, Podcasts, Tom's favourites|

Jim joins the podcast this week to talk about his recent book: When Revelation Comes. The book is a story about his travels through Scotland following the tragic death of his son Jordan. Jim is one of the leading authorities on West Coast golf in Scotland, and the various nine hole / honesty box courses that seem to have been walked into existence over recent centuries. The book is hugely emotional, uplifting, and interesting, as well as being a great read on golf travel to some of the more remote corners of Scotland. Listeners can get 20% off this [...]

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