The youngest contributor to the pod, Bruce is an out-and-out student of the game. Without the burden of children or a mortgage, his commitment to golf is unwavering – he can usually be found beating balls down on the practice area with his tripod, dissecting swing mechanics at a level of minutiae that is totally impractical and probably down-right unnecessary.

As the ‘graduate’ of the team, Bruce has tried to drag out academia for as long as possible, completing his undergrad degree at St Andrews, his postgrad at Oxford, and now studying a law conversion in the hopes of one day getting an actual job…

The winner of the President’s Putter in 2020 and playing off scratch, Bruce is the strongest ball-striker in the group. He enjoys talking about swing mechanics to anyone who will listen, but also has a keen interest in the history of the game and course architecture. His business card might say ‘Tea Boy,’ but he can offer so much more…

The most garrulous member of the team; he says a lot, but only little carries any real substance. Often guilty on the pod for rambling and a high level of conjecture, he brings an unrivalled passion to golf.

Having spent his formative years playing junior open golf, in recent times Sam has focussed his development inside the clubhouse. He is a self-anointed ‘scratch in the bar,’ and relishes any form of competitive ‘jousting’ on the course. Strong driving and iron play underpins his handicap of 3, and he still maintains that he will play in the Open one day!

Often seen eyeing up the second-hand Bronte Chipmaster on sale at the local shop, golf is always on the mind for Sam. He is a student of ‘Golden-Age’ course architecture and claims to have an appreciation for the unique and quirky traditions of the game – although we are not sure if perfecting the ability to walk-in putts early really counts…

The only member of the pod not to play junior golf, Tom has come to the game later in life, after playing rugby at a very high level. Like all good athletes, he carries a level of expectation that is totally unreasonable but quite necessary for one to achieve the rapid improvement that he has in golf.

As the only person with the technical skill set to actually run the podcast, Tom plays a unique role within the team in providing our listeners with content each week. Whilst his opinions are often ill-informed, the conviction with which he delivers them gives him great credibility with our audience.

Having played on the Trilby Tour back in 2016, he has now refined his golfing ambitions: finding the best stories across the globe to share with our listeners, enjoying some of the best courses in the world with his friends, and becoming a category 1 golfer – an ambition which he calls a ‘pipe-dream,’ but the many people who have recently lost money (or pride) to him on the course will say that this is much closer than he thinks!

Luke joined Cookie Jar in 2024, taking on the role as content producer. We got to know Luke through a few freelance jobs and his relaxed demeanour, competency behind the lens and general disdain for a healthy diet quickly made him a favourite of ours. Luke can often found at a golf club sampling as many meat and bread combinations on their menu, while staying hydrated with just about any sugary drink he can lay his hands on, or making conversation with any innocent bystander within a 2m radius.

Not only an exceptional all rounder with the camera, Luke has spent years competing in multiple fringe-sports at what can only be described as an ‘elite level’. Highlights including being a multiple Great Britain medal winner in Ultimate Frisbee (yes this is a sport Luke tells us), National medalist at Javelin, as well as years representing his county at cricket, and county caps in tennis & basketball. Luke now dedicates his sporting ability to golf, winning multiple club championship titles and order of merits since taking up the sport full time in 2014 while playing off a handicap of 5. Along side his golf, Luke manages to maintain a high standard when it comes to all games that you may find in a frat house or Roxy’s ball room, as well as a devoted dad who is helping his eldest son pick up the game!

The latest addition to the crew, Peter – also known as ‘Pistol Pete’, ‘Half Par Kid’, or maybe now ‘the Half Jar Kid’ – has had a deep love for the game since childhood, nurtured by a steady diet of Open Championships and links golf. His blog article from a couple of years back about half-par holes can be read here.

Before joining us, Peter spent five years in Club Management, following four years as a full-time amateur golfer. His résumé includes two Club Championships at Deal, a career-best WAGR ranking of 600th, and most notably, a front nine 28 on the Gecko Tour where he insists he was “the best player on the planet for a 90-minute period”, reeling off a hole-out eagle then 5 consecutive birdies. Potentially the pound-for-pound longest driver of a ball in England, Peter’s jumpy and seemingly out-of-control manoeuvre is akin to Justin Thomas, although thats where the similarities start and end.

Though his competitive days are behind him, Peter now revels in golf’s finer details: foursomes, long socks, classic course architecture, and travel.

One of Cookie Jar’s oldest friends, Sam first crossed our path when a telegraph summoned us north to Hoylake to make a Story of Golf Club film at Royal Liverpool. Shortly after, in episode 49, he revealed his audacious plan to play every links course in England, Scotland and Wales. We laughed… and then he actually went and did it. Fast forward a few years, and he is now one of the leading authorities on the topic of links golf, and has a knowledge for golf courses that only a few people around the world can hold a candle to.

Sam is now a Course Architect with McDonnell & Cooper, a published author on links golf, and – most importantly for us – the co-host of Golf Badgers. The pod shines a light on the golf industry, exploring the challenges of course management, celebrating success, and sharing conversations with some of the game’s most interesting figures.

Cooper is a very solid player, with an index of 1.3 that suggests he should be scooping up Club Championships, but his real passion lies in finding creative ways to play, none more so than the ground game. Many a good round of Sam’s has been undone by his insistence on manufacturing a 160-yard chip and run when a simple 8-iron to the middle of the green would suffice. A great foursomes partner but an average medal golfer, he’s also a devoted fan of Taylor Swift and Alan Partridge.

One of the most respected course managers in the game, and known across the turf management industry simply as “Bledge”. Though he speaks fondly of his years at Royal Cinque Ports, there’s no disguising his Scottish roots. Born and raised in Dumfries & Galloway, his first appointment took him to Norway at Miklagard, and since then his career has stretched far and wide — from gWest to Sweden, Deal to Hoylake, and beyond.

The ‘course whisperer’ with a knack for presenting the links at Royal Liverpool in impeccable spec where he is the full time course manager, Bledge has become a celebrated voice in the industry. With a can-do attitude and a deep passion for the game. Beyond his day job, he’s a tireless ambassador for the profession, mentoring the next generation of greenkeepers and, through the Golf Badgers podcast, sharing knowledge, best practice, and a good dose of humour with listeners everywhere.

Bledge is your typical Scottish golfer. Brought up on a diet of square sausages, Guiness and windy days on the links. The move through the ball might look a bit agricultural, but he’s a demon on the course and tough opposition off 4 handicap. With a penchant for retro clubs and Ping L8 stand bags, when he turns up on the tee you know his love for the game has never dimmed. Since this profile has been released on the website, Bledge is now on a mission to make his swing more athletic. It feels like a pure vanity exercise.