November 2025

064 – From seed to sale: How Inturf Service Sports Pitches

2025-11-10T10:36:10+00:00November 10th, 2025|Golf Badgers|

Bledge and Stephen sit down to dig into the real business of growing turf — from supplying Wembley and Wimbledon to feeding the nation’s show homes. They chat about soil science, family legacy, precision tractors and why rolling contact is everything. A deep dive into turf farming you’ll never look at your lawn the same way again. Latest Products

063 – From Stimp to USGA Smart Ball: Measuring What Matters on Modern Greens

2025-11-10T10:35:19+00:00November 10th, 2025|Golf Badgers|

Bledge and Sam sit down with the USGA’s Jeff Kinney and Wes Stewart to dig into GS3—the Bluetooth “smart ball” that reads speed, firmness, smoothness and trueness—and why firmness might be the ultimate defence of great golf. They get into Deacon's role as the data hub, a new moisture meter that maps watering decisions, and how better metrics help communicate with golfers, not just set up championships. Latest Products

062 – Royal Liverpool’s Robot Revolution with Craig Stoba (Husqvarna)

2025-11-10T10:33:58+00:00November 10th, 2025|Golf Badgers|

Sam Cooper and James Bledge sit down with Husqvarna’s Craig Stoba to unpack how lightweight GPS-guided mowing robots are changing daily set-ups, from virtual boundaries and millimetre-precise heights to 24/7 schedules that improve turf health and free up greenkeeping time. We get into worm-cast wins, winter cutting on wet sites, and that headline week when fairways were cut autonomously at the Women’s Open. There are app alerts, “goblin goat” selfies, and a candid look at how architecture and maintenance choices evolve when robots take care of the grind.   Latest Products [...]

061 – From Cattle Stations to Toro: Bradley Taylor’s Greenkeeping Rise

2025-11-10T10:30:57+00:00November 10th, 2025|Golf Badgers|

Sam and Bledge sit down with newly crowned Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Bradley Taylor to unpack a whirlwind few years: Australia’s outback, a Belfry apprenticeship, tournament stints from Celtic Manor to Yas Links, and a move to Beau Desert Golf Club. They dig into a tough winter of disease and snow, the sand-heavy recovery, the switch to creeping bent, and the power of transparent comms with members. Plus the small matter of axe throwing and archery at the finals. Latest Products [...]

060 – From Valderrama to Blackwell: Ben Lovett’s Greenkeeping Adventure

2025-11-10T10:29:30+00:00November 10th, 2025|Golf Badgers|

Bledge and Ben sit down in the boardroom at Blackwell GC to unpack a life in turf— from junior days at Trevose and Valderrama to East Lake, Troon North, Australia, Spain and the Turkish Airlines Open. Ben lifts the lid on Blackwell’s quirks: port and brandy in the clubhouse, the legendary 12th “snake” bunker, and a downhill par‑3 on 13 that inspired Bobby Jones. We get into widening fairways to ~15 hectares, clever tee moves that flip hole angles, drought realities with limited irrigation, and a thoughtful tree plan with Frank Pont and co. It’s proper strategic parkland [...]

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

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