December 2024

278 – Bobby’s Open: The 1926 Open Championship with Dr Steven Reid

2024-12-10T06:53:56+00:00December 10th, 2024|Golf History, Player Profiles, Players, Podcasts, Sam's favourites|

Sam & Tom sit down in the members' bar at Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club to meet with Dr Steven Reid, lifelong member at Lytham and author of Bobby's Open, charting the tale of how Bobby Jones came to win his first Claret Jug. He would go on to defend it successfully in 1927, as well as winning at Royal Liverpool in 1930 on his way to completing the 'impregnable quadrilateral'. Steven's book - foreworded by Jack Nicklaus - is a captivating read and brings to life in viivd detail the struggles Jones went through, not [...]

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043 – First Green with Jenny Bledge. PLUS Badger Merch is live!

2025-06-03T17:02:42+00:00December 6th, 2024|Golf Badgers, Podcasts|

This episode is particularly important. We heard in the previous episode (042 with Scott Reeves) how one of the biggest issues faced in the greenkeeping industry is recruitment. Well, fortunately Bledge's much better half Jenny Bledge is out there working on a solution. First Green is a wonderful initiative that BIGGA has brought over the Atlantic from the GCSAA. It's all about introducing golf, and particularly careers in this part of the golf industry, to school kids of different ages. It might not help recruitment today, but it could make an enormous difference for tomorrow. Additionally, after literal [...]

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November 2024

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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274 – Dame Laura Davies

2024-11-08T17:19:21+00:00November 8th, 2024|Behind the Scenes, Bruce's favourites, Player Profiles, Podcasts|

Live from the committee room at West Byfleet where 'the Dame' learnt to play much of her golf in her teenage years, we sit down to talk about Laura's career in the game. A few highlights from a career that spans over 40 years of playing golf at the highest level: 87 professional wins worldwide (including 20 on the LPGA & 4 majors) 7x order of merits in a period that spans 3 separate decades Turning pro in 1985, she won ‘rookie of the year', won The British Open in 1986, and the US Women’s Open - her [...]

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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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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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