Guests of the Pod
209 – Player Profile: Sir Michael Bonallack OBE w/ Peter Dawson CBE
Sam & Bruce are joined by Peter Dawson CBE to talk about the life and career of Sir Michael Bonallack OBE. Arguably Britains best ever amateur golfer and one of the most respected administrators in the game of golf, Sir Michael passed away on the 26th September 2023. Past secretary for the R&A, he was succeeded by Peter who just so happens to know him from years before where they played county golf together in Essex. Sir Michael’s amateur record is simply incredible; - 5x Amateur Championships (he won 3 consecutively between 1968 & 1970) - 5x English Amateurs - 4 Brabazon, 2 Lytham & 6 Berkshire Trophies - 7 Eisenhower and 9 Walker Cups - 2 Silver Medal for leading amateur in the Open Championship (68 & 71) In November & December we have teamed up with Spornia.uk, the no.1 golf net as rated by MyGolfSpy and Golf [...]
Urban Golf x Cookie Jar: A Christmas Party
With Christmas once again fast approaching we're proud to be hosting our third Christmas Party with Urban Golf for some festive fun in London! An evening of music, refreshments and a bit of fun and games in the simulators with our good friends at Urban Golf. This event is a big thank you for all of your support throughout the year, and we’d really like it if you can attend. If you are interested in attending please fill in the form below. We expect the event to be fully subscribed, so if you later realise you are unable to make it, please notify us so that your spot can be made available. We will also be running a simulator-based competition on the night to win a Limited Edition Cookie Jar x Mackenzie Golf Bag. Entry for this will be £10 and collected on the night. The format of the event [...]
208 – David Bonsall
From our time up in St Andrews for the Walker Cup, Sam & Bruce sit down with David Bonsall to talk about his work in the game, from university golf, to working on the R&A rules committee and bringing in a modernised version of the rules back in 2019. in addition to an impressive legal and finance career, David has dedicated a number of years to helping the game of golf in administrative capacity and was also the referee responsible for the 17 minute long episode on the range at Royal Birkdale back in 2017, when Jordan Spieth went on to win the Claret Jug. Latest Products
CJG x Sounder Golf Retro Extravaganza: West Byfleet Golf Club
People from all over the country descended on West Byfleet Golf Club on the 19th October for our second Retro Event. Everyone playing took things seriously, carefully curating their sets with persimmon, blades, wands and clubs of special meaning. West Byfleet is a wonderful course for such an event, playable and relatively generous off the tee, but with all the intricacy to ensure players wishing to be in the prizes needed all the shots. Huge congratulations to ex Touring Pro Josh White for his 67 and winning the gross, as well as nearest the pin leaving it inside an inch. Bernie Scotland won the nett, despite his son Zane playing with 'his irons' in the event! Thanks again to West Byfleet and Sounder Golf for helping make this event possible, as well as everyones generosity for providing clubs to Entebbe Golf Club in Uganda to help support the growth of [...]
Top Hat Tens
Tom Simpson used to say the best holes were the ones that caused the tiger (scratch man) pain and the rabbit (bogey golfer) pleasure. I play my golf at Portmarnock Golf Club (PGC) in Dublin and when I play alone, I often start on the 10th, my favourite hole on the course. Royal St. George’s (RSG) 10th hole has often been my starting hole in matches at RSG. Walking up the 10th at RSG I remember admiring the magnificence of the green with my opponent Dr. Alistair Wells (uncle of Nicola - 5* podcast guest) which falls off mostly on all sides, with some reprieve on the right. The green is hard to hit - cold and blustery conditions are the staple accompaniments of holes like this and make the hitting of the green a celebration. Both holes are an allegory for links golf really - freedom is achieved when [...]
Portstewart Golf Club and a Dance with Dunes
“I think the golf course is amazing. It’s probably one of the most beautiful golf courses I’ve ever seen, if not the most.” – Jon Rahm I’ve often heard that Portstewart Golf Club is a ‘hidden gem’. Yet having had the privilege to play at this magnificent golf course twice this year, there is absolutely nothing ‘hidden’ about it. Sam’s feeling that it was miles away from Portrush may be a common misconception, however in reality it is a mere 10 minute drive up the road. Indeed, it’s one vertex of the colloquially known ‘Triangle’ – made up of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine. For us, the journey to Portstewart Golf Club was a quick hop across the county border from Portrush into County Londonderry, an area replete with holiday homes and hugely popular with visitors, surfers and golfers throughout the year. The arrival at Portstewart is nothing short of breath-taking. [...]
