September 2025

059 – Crafting Royal Portrush: Graeme Beatt on Fescue, Robots & Links Magic

2025-09-24T10:37:28+00:00September 24th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Bledge and Graeme sit down at Royal Portrush after a dawn ferry crossing to dig into Graeme’s journey from Scotscraig and Kingsbarns to course manager at one of the world’s great links. Covering fescue-first green conversions, managing anthracnose and dollar spot, reimagining bunkers, and the build-out ahead of Portrush’s Open where Scottie Scheffler lifted the Claret Jug. Latest Products

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 [...]

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 [...]

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

055 – From North Wales to Deal: Ben Williams’ Linksland Journey

2025-08-26T11:04:16+00:00August 26th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Bledge and Ben Williams sit down to trace Ben’s path from a golf‑mad childhood in North Wales to course manager at Royal Cinque Ports—via ultra‑exclusive Double Eagle in Ohio, an overseed bootcamp at Sea Pines, and a love affair with New South Wales GC. They dig into mentorship, the FTMI programme, and why a touch of spring granular on the fairways can be a links lifesaver. Expect talk of dunes, dogs, and doing the little things right. Latest Products

054 – Alistair Beggs – Practical Greenkeeping and the Art of Sustainable Golf

2025-08-15T12:35:41+00:00August 15th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down with Alistair Beggs for a deep dive into a lifetime in golf course agronomy, from growing up at Hoylake to consulting on multiple Open Championships. They discuss the legendary Jim Arthur, the evolution of greenkeeping, tales from the driest Open in history, and why sustainable practices are shaping the future of the game. Latest Products

053 – Team Culture, Turf, and Tour Standards: Inside John McLoughlin’s Career

2025-08-07T09:36:10+00:00August 7th, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down with John McLoughlin to trace his 30-year career in golf, from Gleneagles to Royal Melbourne, and onto leading Wallasey’s greenkeeping team. They dive deep into tour-level course setups, team culture, and the management philosophies that have transformed clubs into championship venues. Latest Products

July 2025

052 – Listener Question Time: Rain, Drought & Drainage

2025-07-31T13:38:23+00:00July 31st, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down to reflect on the growing extremes in UK weather and how this affects course maintenance and playability. From rainfall stats to reservoir builds and soil importation, it’s a deep dive into the future of sustainable golf course management. Latest Products

051 – Beyond Turf: Golf’s Role in Biodiversity & Balance

2025-07-31T13:37:43+00:00July 31st, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and James sit down to chat about why golf courses aren’t just about perfect turf—they’re thriving ecosystems. Join them as they explore how managing gorse, trees, and ponds can support nesting birds, red squirrels, toads, and more, plus how modern agronomy balances playing quality with environmental stewardship. Latest Products

050 – Listener Question Time: Course Difficulty & Rainfall

2025-07-31T13:36:54+00:00July 31st, 2025|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

Sam and Bledge sit down and take listener questions, kicking off with a cracker about how to toughen up a golf course. From the science of rainfall to the sorcery of seaweed, it’s a deep dive into maintenance, architecture and a wee bit of punk rock nostalgia from Dumfries. Latest Products

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