Guests of the Pod
158 – John McLoughlin: Leadership in Greenkeeping
Course Manager at Wallasey Golf Club - John McLoughlin - joins us for a chat about his career, what has led him to working back on The Wirral and his philosophy on greenkeeping. It's a frank and refreshing take on his role with a focus on leadership, marginal gains and brilliant basics! Much of it sounds like something you would normally find in management consulting, except John is applying it to his work on the course! We had a great day at Wallasey with John, learning more about the history at the club; the creation of the Stableford system by Dr Frank Stableford, Bobby Jones and his time there in 1930, as well the course and the work that they are beginning to embark on with the help of CDP so John welcome back the podcast a repeat second one yeah how you feeling yeah uh privileged yeah [...]
157 – The Original 12 Holes at Prestwick with Ken Goodwin and Dave Edmondson
On the 162nd anniversary of the first ever Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club, we chat through the original 12 hole course, that Tom was lucky enough to play. We talk to club Secretary Ken Goodwin and course manager Dave Edmondson about reviving the routing and the efforts that have gone into it. and welcome back to another episode of the cookie jar golf podcast I am Tom Mills and today I'm joined by Sam Williams and today we're not doing a Sam plays golf Tom played golf today Tom plays golf pressed once I was absolutely gutted I would say Wednesday this week was the most gutting day ever known that you were doing that and we were going to talk about it but the one 50th open celebration obviously the 1860 open at presswick uh the the work they've done to to build that 12-hole course as [...]
156 – Course Diaries: Corballis Links w/ Darragh Garrahy
Our latest Course Diaries episode takes us across the Irish Sea to Corballis. Golf has been played at Corballis Golf Links for over 100 years, and whilst its previous occupants may have moved onto to larger acreage further inland, its current use a local pay & play facility just 20 minutes from Dublin airport makes it the epitome of fun, affordable and provocative golf design within easy reach of the capital. Sam is joined by Darragh Garrahy, professor of pace putting and chairman of greens at Portmarnock in Dublin who has been enjoying this local course for many years and who Sam enjoyed playing with back in May 2022! I probably played it twice a year for six years like and it's a fun distraction but I first heard of it because guys from senior top team Jeff and James and would go and practice their shipping there and Bernard [...]
3 reasons why Castle Stuart 3rd is one of the great short par 4’s
words by Sam When I was about 11 or 12, I used to draw imaginary golf courses. Each would be a strong contender to host a Ryder Cup. Excessively long and littered with penal hazards, demanding one heroic shot after the next. There would scarcely be enough space between the trees to walk your dog, let alone play golf. Wind the clock on 20 years and I’m stood on the 3rd tee of Castle Stuart. It represented a watershed moment in my appreciation for golf course architecture. We weren’t actually meant to be there. We had been en route to Boat of Garten instead. As the rain continued to thunder down on the M6, we did wonder if golf that day was slightly ambitious. The Secretary at the appropriately named ‘Boat’ almost laughed when we asked if we were still on. The sheer volume of water that had fallen [...]
155 – Matt McLean: US Mid-Am Champion 2022
Sam & Tom catch up with recent mid-Am champion Matt McClean following his epic win over in Erin Hills a week ago. Matt now becomes one of only 4 Irish players to have won a coveted USGA title, adding his name to Graeme McDowell, Rory Mcilroy and Padraig Harrington. Matt played in an all Irish final with travel buddy, roomie and friend Hugh Foley who has also enjoyed a stellar season on the amateur circuit. The final was interestingly played over two days owing to a rain delay from earlier in the week which involved the finalists heading out for a steak dinner in the evening and no doubt discussing the day ahead. Matt now looks forward to a big year in 2023 with a spot in the US Open at LACC, no doubt an invitation for the 2023 Masters at Augusta National and selectors will find it [...]
155 – Matt McClean: US Mid-Am Champion 2022
Sam & Tom catch up with recent mid-Am champion Matt McClean following his epic win over in Erin Hills a week ago. Matt now becomes one of only 4 Irish players to have won a coveted USGA title, adding his name to Graeme McDowell, Rory Mcilroy and Padraig Harrington. Matt played in an all Irish final with travel buddy, roomie and friend Hugh Foley who has also enjoyed a stellar season on the amateur circuit. The final was interestingly played over two days owing to a rain delay from earlier in the week which involved the finalists heading out for a steak dinner in the evening and no doubt discussing the day ahead. Matt now looks forward to a big year in 2023 with a spot in the US Open at LACC, no doubt an invitation for the 2023 Masters at Augusta National and selectors will find it tricky [...]
