The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast
A British take on current affairs in the world of golf. The show covers news, tournaments, players and the broader culture of the sport. Some segments are informative, while others are deliberately light-hearted. It mixes serious golf discussion with humour and informal chat.
Episodes
402 - Bruce Critchley
This weeks episode is a fascinating interview with broadcaster and commentator, distinguished amateur player, and son of Diana and Alfred Critchley who shares with us his story in the game of golf. Bruce's voice will be familiar to many as the voice of golf for several decades. We talk about Bruce's long connection with Sunningdale Golf Club where he has been a member for 70 years next y
401 - Q & A with Sam & Tom
This episode we record a Q&A episode after reaching episode 401, using it to look back on a busy run of golf, travel and listener questions. We also mention upcoming episodes, including a conversation with Walker Cup captain Dean Robertson, and other planned Q&As and features.We talk about recent trips, including Rossapenna, where we played matches and the club championship finals, and the
400 - 95 Holes of Arran in a Single Day
In this episode, we look back on our 95-hole challenge on the Isle of Arran and compare it with the earlier Durness trip. We explain that Arran was more enjoyable largely because of better weather, shorter transfers, and more variety between courses, while Durness was much harder because of wind, rain, and the terrain.We go through the courses we played in order: Whiting Bay, Lamlash, Brodick, Cor
399 - Building a Short Game with Alex Buckner
We speak with Alex Buckner about his work as a short game coach and how he got into coaching after starting golf seriously in his teens. He explains that he reached scratch as a junior, later moved into work and training, and eventually focused on coaching after realizing that specializing in short game was the clearest path for him.We discuss how he built his approach during his time at Swinley F
398 - Kevin Hammer: President of the USGA
Kevin Hammer discusses his path into golf administration and his role as president of the USGA. He says he grew up around golf in South Florida, with a father who played college golf, competed on the PGA Tour, and later worked as a club director of golf. He also says he played junior and college golf, but moved into administration through state and regional golf work before joining the USGA.He exp
397 - Sam Easterbrook: Walker Cup Winner
In this episode, Peter speaks with Sam Easterbrook about winning the Walker Cup at Lahinch and what the week was like behind the scenes. He describes the celebrations after the win, the difficult travel back to the United States, and how quickly the team had to separate and return to their different commitments.We also go through Sam’s golf background, from starting the game as a child to developi
396 - Walker Cup Recap
This episode we reflect on GB&I’s Walker Cup win, their first in 11 years, and the scale of the comeback from a difficult morning session to a dramatic finish on the 18th green.We talk through the setting at Lahinch, which we describe as an excellent venue for the event, with strong support from the club, the town and the crowds throughout the week. We also note the work of captain Dean Robert
395 - Walker Cup Day 1 Recap
Day one of the Walker Cup at Lahinch in the bag, and we're recapping the action. 2 points from Niall Shiels Donegan no doubt the highlight, as well as a stellar comeback from Stuart Grehan against WAGR #1 Preston Stout. A betterball score of 60 from the pair, and carding a -7 round, yet never leading until the final putt was a sign of the standard of that match.Match results from the day belo
394 - Walker Cup Quiz with Dr Darragh Garrahy
With Walker Cup week upon us, we sit down with the Lord of Lag Putting himself, Dr Darragh Garrahy, to talk about one of his favourite subjects.There’s a twist this time, though, as Darragh takes on the role of quizmaster, requiring very little effort to expose Sam & Tom’s rather thin understanding of the Walker Cup.Along the way, he shares a tonne of brilliant titbits from the history of the
393 - Course Diaries: North Berwick East Links (The Glen)
This week's course diaries episode takes us back to East Lothian to visit the East Links at North berwick, otherwise known as The Glen. Widely believed to be the first course ever designed by 5-time Open Champion James Braid, whose work would see him revise, refine or design over 500 courses, as well as reputedly being the first ever Municipal Golf Course. We cover the course’s history, as we
392 - US Amateur & GB&I Walker Cup Team Announced
With Jack Whaley becoming on the third Englishman to win the coveted Havemeyer Trophy on Sunday evening at Merion (behind Matt Fitzpatrick & Harold Hilton), Sam, Tom & Peter wax lyrical about his performance, the venue, the event and what feels like an increased level of attention the golf world is paying to elite amateur golf. As well as his exemption into both the US Open, Open Champions
391 - Jamie Van Wyk: English Amateur Champion
Jamie reflects on winning the England Golf Men’s Amateur Championship (as well as being part of back to back success in the Home Internationals). He talks about the week after the English Amateur, where England won the men’s event, as well as his walk-off hole-in-one he made in matchplay against Wales, on the 17th hole to secure the match. We talk about his English Amateur win, the importance of c
390 - Course Diaries: Royal Ashdown Forest w/ Colin Strachan
In this episode we speak with Colin Strachan, club historian and author of "Fair Ways at Ashdown Forest", about the history of Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club and its place in early golf in England. We discuss how golf was played in Brighton as early as 1817, and how that activity links to the later development of the club at Forest Row.We talk about the railway connections that helped sh
389 - The Golfing Year of 1926 w/ Richard Fisher
In this episode we are joined by Richard Fisher (3-peat on the pod) looking back at 1926 as a pivotal year in golf, tracing the season from winter through autumn. We focus on the amateur game, the professional events, and the way golf fit into the wider sporting and political landscape of the year.We begin with the early amateur season, including the shared President’s Putter at Rye and the Varsit
388 - Open Championship Roundup
We look back on a dramatic finish at Royal Birkdale, where Ryan Fox closed with a strong Sunday round and won on the 72nd hole. We say he stayed composed under pressure, kept executing shots, and handled some very unlucky breaks on the closing holes without letting them affect him.We also discuss how the course played over the week. We say it was firm, dry and much harder in the afternoon, while t
387 - Open Championship Preview
This episode we discuss the setup for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, with particular focus on the firm, fast conditions and how much water the course is losing each day through high wind and heat. We talk about how the greens are being monitored and adjusted with modern technology, and how the course presentation is being kept under control.We also look at how players may adapt their str
386 - The Price is Wrong
In this episode we play a price-guessing game based on merchandise and food from the Open Championship site. We set up the rules, use a match-play style scorecard, and compare the prices of items the listeners would not have seen.We start with some reference prices, then move through a yellow Open mug, a boxed Vice golf ball, and a small navy pen holder shaped like a tall bag. We also price a Malb
385 - The Open Last Chance Qualifier Recap
From within the media centre at Royal Birkdale, Sam and Peter recap the Monday last-chance qualifier at the Open Championship, where 12 players competed for one place in the field. The format, the field, and a first look at the course conditions are all discussed, alongside a recap of the first ever Last Chance Qualifier - an event we think was a resounding success. Send us a message if you liked
384 - The Hawtree Dynasty
In this episode we discuss the Scottish Open at Renaissance Club and the experience around the event, including the relaxed atmosphere for players, the links-style setting, and the way the course routing was changed. We also talk about nearby courses on the East Lothian coast, including Gullane, Winterfield, Craigielaw and Longniddry.We then begin the final part of our series on major golf course
383 - East Lothian Eclectic 18
In this episode, we speak from Renaissance in East Lothian, where we discuss the golf on the coast and how many different courses there are in the area. We talk about the quality of the turf, the variety of links courses, and how the region keeps surprising us even when we think we know it well.We also discuss golf shoes and metal spikes, including why spectators wear golf shoes at events and why
382 - Recovering from The Yips w/ Will Dugdale
Will Dugdale discusses starting golf as a child, playing junior, county, Oxford and Cambridge golf, and turning pro in 1999. He also covers early career ups and downs, the putting yips, changes to his grip, and his work helping other golfers.Will has a genuinely fascinating story in the game of golf, and his relationship with the flat stick will no doubt resonate with many. For those who want to l
381 - Final Qualifying Roundup
In this episode we cover final qualifying for the Open Championship across four venues, with reports from Dundonald, Burnham & Berrow, Royal Cinque Ports, and West Lancashire. We compare the atmosphere at each course, noting that the day drew strong crowds, with many volunteers managing scoring, marshalling, parking and course presentation.We discuss how the golf courses were set up and how th
380 - Stuart Grehan
Sam chats with Stuart Grehan fresh of his Amateur Championship win at Royal Liverpool and West Lancs last week. The 131st Amateur was also the 19th time this event has been hosted at Royal Liverpool - more than any other venue. We talk about his wins in the knockout, the adjustments from 18 to 36 hole matches, as well some of the trickier matches that lay between him and his final against Matt Mal
379 - US Open Roundup
In this episode we reflect on the US Open at Shinnecock Hills and the course setup, including the firm greens, the undulations, and how the test shifted the emphasis toward short game and putting. We discuss the USGA’s explanation of why the greens were managed the way they were, and how the event played gradually from Thursday through Sunday.We also talk about Wyndham Clark’s win, his reception f
378 - William Flynn (part 2)
Tom is in the chair this time to bring to life the story of William Flynn, one of the more forgotten architects in the American Golden age.In part 2 we discuss the construction firm of Toomey & Flynn, his design work into middle life and going on to designing the renovation of Shinnecock Hills. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please l
377 - William Flynn (part 1)
Tom is in the chair this time to bring to life the story of William Flynn, one of the more forgotten architects in the American Golden age.In part 1 we discuss Flynn's childhood, his upbringing and his relationship with Frederick Pickering. We also discuss his work at Marion and his founding of the construction firm Toomey & Flynn. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf
376 - Jim Hartsell: A Round of Scottish Courses
It’s hard to believe its 3 years since Jim joined the pod to talk about his last book - When Revelation Comes - which went on to become a Herbert Warren Wind award finalist, and this time we’re joined to talk about another exciting project. To get a hold of a copy of Jim’s latest book, make your way to Back9Press or head to Amazon where we’ve hyperlinked them for your own ease.A round of Scottish
375 - Course Diaries: Original Prestwick 12-hole Routing
Tom & Sam discuss playing the original 12-hole routing at Prestwick, where the first Open Championship was held in 1860, and how the course has been restored for a limited period. We explain that the layout has been brought back with heavy marshalling, temporary and restored greens, and significant logistical work to keep play safe.We talk through the history of Prestwick and the role of Old T
374 - PGA Championship Recap
Tom, Sam & Half Par sit down to discuss Aaron Rai's amazing victory at the 108th PGA championship at Aronimink. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
373 - Donald Ross
Sam & Tom both do some homework on Dornoch man Donald Ross, who would go on from an upbringing on the ancient Scottish links to become the most prolific golf course architect in the United States. Designing and working on over 400 courses, his journey is a fascinating one.With the US PGA taking place this week at Aronimink, it is our third instalment on biographies of some of the game’s most c
372 - The Tiger Slam Pt 4: The Masters
Sam & Tom sit down for Part IV of their deep dive into the Tiger Slam. 25 years on from the fourth leg of Tiger's historic run — and his sixth major victory overall — we revisit the 65th Masters at Augusta National, where he clinched the infamous Tiger Slam.For more on the Tiger Slam, we highly recommend Kevin Cook’s book, which captures the era in microscopic detail. You can grab a copy
371 - Course Diaries: Royal Birkdale w/ Mike Howard
Sam sits down at Royal Birkdale Golf Club with Mike Howard, Senior Design Associate at MacKenzie & Ebert, to discuss his long-standing relationship with the club.A lifelong member with an intimate knowledge of the North West coast, Mike has played a central role in the recent course changes, working alongside Tom MacKenzie to prepare Birkdale for The Open Championship this summer.A longstandin
370 - Masters Recap
Sam, Tom and Peter sit down to discuss the 90th Masters at Augusta National, Rory's historic back-to-back victory, and the big winners and losers of the week in Georgia. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Y
369 - Masters Quiz with Simon Haines
Returning guest Simon Haines sits down to be quiz master with Sam and Tom about the early days of Augusta National and the Masters. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
368 - Alister MacKenzie (part 2)
In part two of this needlessly detailed look at the life and times of Dr Alister MacKenzie, Sam takes us through life after WWI and MacKenzie's partnership with Harry Colt and Charles Hugh Allison, as well as the work that leads him to travelling to furthest reaches of the globe. In 1926, MacKenzie travelled to Australia on what would become a career defining two months helping to shaope the
367 - Alister MacKenzie (part 1)
Sam is in the chair this time to bring to life the good Dr - Alister MacKenzie - considered by many to be the most influential golf course architect in history. In part 1 we discuss MacKenzie's childhood, his education, going to Cambridge and serving in the Boer war. We also discuss the formation of Alwoodley and his golfing career leading into that, as well as Moortown and through to 1914 an
366 - Course Diaries: Wallasey Golf Club
Ahead of our Story of a Golf Club film over on YouTube, Sam & Tom sit down with Wallasey club archivist Simon Coombs to talk about the fascinating history of the club. Starting with the foundation of the club, to the design of Old Tom Morris and the golden age greats that followed him, Bobby Jones' round in Open Qualifying on his march to completing The Grand Slam, as well as Wallasey mem
365 - Ian Baker-Finch
Sam sits down with 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch. A player whose name is woven into both the history of the game and the soundtrack of its most memorable moments.Best known for his remarkable victory at Royal Birkdale, Ian’s story extends far beyond that week in 1991. After his playing career, he became one of golf’s most recognisable and respected broadcasters, spending more than 25 years be
364 - 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes
Sam & Peter sit down to discuss this year's Sunningdale Foursomes. Peter was our man on the ground following all the action. Congratulations to Jamie McGeoch and Ellie Lichtenhein on surviving seven rounds of match play to win the 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes.Ellie is the first Sunningdale member to win the event since 2009 - a fitting finish to one of the finest weeks in the British golfin
363 - Pete Dye (pt 2): 'The Kid Who Played With Clay'
In part 2, Tom takes us through Pete's trip to Scotland that inspired his work with Alice as a course designer. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
362 - Pete Dye (pt 1): 'The Kid Who Played With Clay'
Pt 1 of our 2 part special on the life and legacy of Peter Dye: 1925 - 2020. In part one, Tom takes us through the first 38 years of the life of Pete Dye, beginning with his early years in Ohio and growing up on a course built by his father Paul. Pete would go on to quite school early, enlist in the Army and take a career defining trip to Scotland with wife Alice. This is part of an exciting serie
361 - Course Diaries: Conwy Golf Club
Sam & Tom sit down to review their visit to Conwy Golf Club on the north coast of Wales. With a history stretching back to 1869, and Hoylake professional Jack Morris the man behind the initial design, Conwy is a breathtaking piece of land on which to play golf. We had a great time here, settling a club championship match in a four-club wind.In more recent years, Frank Pennink re-designed much
360 - Kim is back! (Morikawa too)
Tom and Sam sit down to discuss the golf over the weekend, with Anthony Kim winning for the first time in fifteen years and Colin Morikawa prevailing at Pebble Beach for the first time in two and a half years. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargol
359 - 652 Courses in 365 Days - Josh Simpson
Josh Simpson joins the podcast (a.k.a 'the Ginger Golfer') to talk about his world record breaking effort over the last 12 months playing 652 courses in a year, eclipsing the previous 581 World Record. We talk about Josh's introduction to the sport, and how he turned a tragic chapter in his life into a force for good, raising nearly £100,000 for two wonderful charities: Macmillan Ca
358 - Richard Pennell on ‘Common Grounds’
Sam sits down for a catch-up with friend of the pod, West Byfleet membership secretary and exceptional writer Richard Pennell. Together, they cover a wide range of topics, including Richard’s latest book, Common Grounds, which chronicles his journeys to some of the rawest and purest forms of the game.Building on the success of his first book - Grass Routes - you can secure a copy through the wonde
357 - BTME with James Bledge
Tom sits down with Golf Badgers’ James Bledge at BTME in Harrogate to discuss the event. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
356 - Course Diaries: West Sussex w/ Tom Mackenzie
Sam and Tom sit down in the West Sussex clubhouse to chat to one half of Mackenzie & Ebert - Tom Mackenzie - about his love affair with landscapes, and a career in course architecture. We talk about West Sussex and making alterations to your home course, as well as work further afield. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us
355 - Motorway Services & Golf
Sam & Tom head to where it all began for the British motorway service station: Watford Gap. Not only the official north–south divide, but the birthplace of what has grown to become a staple of travel culture in Great Britain — none more so than in our world of planning stops at service stations on the road to and from the links.This is an episode we’ve wanted to do for some time. And while the
354 - Jean van de Velde
Sam talks to Jean van de Velde about his career in the game, which began as a six-year-old in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Pyrenees in south-west France. Growing up in the era of persimmon drivers and balata balls, Jean turned professional in 1987 and went on to compete at the highest level of the game for several decades. He is perhaps best known for his performance at the 1999 Open Championship at Car
353 - Kington Course Diaries
Sam & Tom sit down to discuss their recent trip to Kington in Herefordshire. The highest course in England, Kington offers spectacular views and great architecture from C. K. Hutchison. We talk tangential historic tidbits and the style and playability of the course. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Pod
352 - Sam's Year in Review and Eclectic 18
This time its Sam's turn to sit in the hot seat and take pot-shots from our regular host Tom, on all things related to his year in golf. From travel, to performance on the links, foursomes match-ups and the honest review of a burger-dog. Here's his new course eclectic 18 from 2025 below, a comfy par 62, 4,000 yarder!1: Olympic (Cliff's Course) - Par 3 | 1802: Streamsong Black - Par
351 - Eclectic 18 Year in Review w/ Tom Mills
Sam interrogates Tom about his 2025, his golf, his travels and his outlook on the game. Most importantly takes us on his journey through the year in a form of an eclectic 18, from Merion to Maple Leaf, nd from St Endodoc to Streamsong! Even Cumberwell Park to Cabot, and back again! Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review
350 - Course Diaries: Golden Gate Park Par 3 w/ Jay Blasi & Dan Burke
Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
349 - Course Diaries: Pasatiempo w/ Jim Urbina & Brett Hochstein
Following on from our Thanksgiving extravaganza about Pasatiempo and the work of MacKenzie and Hollins, Sam sits down with Jim Urbina and Brett Hochstein. A link to our film can be found here. Jim has been working on the restoration of Pasatiempo for 25 years now, and knows the course about as well as Marion and the good Doctor would have. His love and care over the last quarter of a century has h
348 - Player Profile: Marion Hollins w/ Emily Chorba
In this episode we sit down in the second clubhouse at Pasatiempo, overlooking the 1st and 9th holes, with Emily Chorba – archivist at Pasatiempo Golf Club – to talk about the life and legacy of Marion Hollins, who founded Pasatiempo in the roaring twenties following her successes at Pebble Beach and Cypress Point.Hollins' career in the game is quite sensational, yet at times overlooked. An e
347 - Golf & Cricket w/ James Woods
With the Ashes kicking off this Friday, Sam heads to an undisclosed location near Ormskirk to sit down with a very good friend of the jar — and first-timer on the show — James Woods, to talk about golf’s close relationship with the game of cricket. We explore the connections between the two sports, how they have overlapped over time, and the characters who excelled in both.A huge thank you to Jame
346 - Course Diaries: Old Petty w/ Clyde Johnson
Tom travels about as far from Cabot Highlands as is humanly possible on the British mainland in Cornwall to sit down with Clyde Johnson and talk about the newly opened second course at Cabot Highlands. Old Petty, designed by Tom Doak opened for preview play this summer, and no sits proudly alongside its older sibling Castle Stuart. Tom and Clyde chat about the routing, the construction process, an
345 - Course Diaries: Formby Golf Club w/ Ian Jamson
Sam sits down with Formby Golf Club archivist and past Captain - Ian Jamson - to talk about the history of the club. Founded in 1884, Formby is one of the oldest courses on the north west coast and has some fascinating and eclectic tales, which Ian recounts beautifully in this episode.From Horace the Hippo to a clock tower gifted by Sir Bruce Ismay of Titanic fame, and through the evolution of the
344 - Halloween Eclectic 18 Special w/ Simon Barrington
In this in-depth Eclectic 18 special, previous guest and friend of the show Simon Barrington takes us on an odyssey of obscure connections with some of his favourite holes and courses around the world, and their links to the macabre. It’s not just an assortment of holes with cemeteries nearby — we go back to medieval battles, haunted castles, greens built on ancient burial grounds, and even draw s
343 - Eclectic 18: A half-par scorecard with the Half Par Kid.
Sam is joined by Peter Handcock aka @thehalfparkid to do an eclectic 18 scorecard comprised of solely of half par golf holes. As a reminder, this fun exercise requires you to fill the card with holes you've played, but they can only go in the position in which they sit on the scorecard, and you can only use one course once! His scorecard:1 - Woking - 3.5 275yds2 - San Francisco - 4.5 455yds3
342 - The Story of Joyce Wethered & Glenna Collett w/ Stephen Proctor
Stephen Proctor rejoins the pod to discuss his latest book, Matchless — a captivating account of one of golf’s great interwar rivalries. Joyce Wethered, the finest player of her generation in England, and Glenna Collett, the leading light of the American women’s game, were born just 18 months apart and dominated their respective sides of the Atlantic.Stephen’s work as an author is exceptional — me
341 - The 2025 Grafton Morrish
Sam and Tom sit down in the office to catch up on silly season. Sam takes — frankly far too long — to commemorate his school’s highest-ever finish in the Grafton Morrish, played last weekend at Royal West Norfolk and Hunstanton. Huge thanks to both clubs for hosting such a special event, and to the volunteers who make it all possible.We also recap our latest event at Sunningdale Heath, which close
340 - Ryder Cup Recap
After one of the squeakiest Sunday singles sessions for a long time, Sam, Tom & Bruce sit down to recap the action from an unforgettable few days at Bethpage, where Team Europe squeezed out a 15–13 win despite going into the singles session with 12 points already secured. Lots of things to unpack here: from Luke Donald to Loro Piana, Bradley to Bryson, the course set-up, and some of the events
339 - Ryder Cup Week
The greatest event in sport? Not sure, but one of the many questions we unpack as we head towards the Ryder Cup this week at Bethpage. As Luke Donald leads Team Europe into battle against Team USA with only 14 points needed to retain the Ryder Cup, we cannot wait for the spectacle that will no doubt unfold. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode,
Cookie Crumbs #18: Monty on the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup week calls for Ryder Cup stories — so we’ve clipped together Monty’s best from part two of our Colin Montgomerie podcast (episode 320), 15 mins packed with his memories from the event. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Fa
338 - 50th Walker Cup recap
Sam, Tom & Bruce sit down to relive the last three days at Cypress Point for the 50th Walker Cup.Final scores: USA 17 & GB&I 9 Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
337 - Walker Cup Opening Ceremony ft surprise guests
Sam, Tom & Bruce report from Cypress Point on the final practice day of the 2025 Walker Cup. As we embrace the chaos, we report on our initial impressions of the venue and are joined by the great and the good as we recorded the podcast from the practice grounds of Cypress Point. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a revie
336 - Obscure Walker Cup Stories w/ Dr Darragh Garrahy
Dublin’s leading authority on pace putting and amateur golf joins the podcast this week to share his top five Walker Cup stories from the previous 49 editions of the venerable matchplay tournament between GB&I and the USA, as well as his All-Star squad of 10 players. Darragh is obsessed with the Walker Cup, collecting artefacts from its history, including 48 programmes, crockery from Ganton, b
335 - The History of The Walker Cup w/ Richard Fisher
Sam travels to a baking hot committee room at Huntercombe to sit down with previous guest and friend of the show, Richard Fisher, to recap the history of The Walker Cup, including a statistical deep dive into the sessions that make and break a GB&I performance.A huge thanks to Richard for his research and exceptional insight in this podcast. It’s a cracker! Send us a message if you liked the s
334 - Fintan Bonner
Bruce heads to the Auld Grey Toon to catch up with Fintan Bonner, Senior Instructor at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy.A close friend of Bruce’s for over a decade (and patient recipient of countless swing questions), Fintan has become one of the most respected coaching voices in the game. Passionate about nurturing young talent and guiding elite players such as Gregor and Conor Graham, his work
333: The Tiger Slam Pt 3: PGA Championship
Sam & Tom sit down for Part III of their deep dive into the Tiger Slam. 25 years on from the third leg of Tiger's historic run — and his fifth major victory overall — we revisit the 82nd PGA Championship at Valhalla, where he clinched the Wannamaker in a thrilling three-hole playoff over Bob May to secure his second straight PGA.For more on the Tiger Slam, we highly recommend Kevin Cook’s
332 - Phil Kenyon (part 2)
In part two, Tom sits down with putting coach Phil Kenyon to explore his approach to helping golfers of every level, from weekend players to the world’s best, find confidence on the greens.They discuss the common challenges amateurs and elites share, the importance of pace control and line, and how green reading and technique must all blend together seamlessly to produce great putting. For more on
331 - Phil Kenyon (part 1)
Tom speaks to one of the world’s leading authorities on putting - Phil Kenyon - to talk about his career in golf, his route into coaching and working with some of the best in the world.Huge thanks to Phil for finding time to sit down and record this cracking two parter! You can follow Phil and his journey via his socials here! Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've e
330 - Iona Stephen
Brought to you in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Spirit of The Open.Tom speaks with Iona Stephen — broadcaster, golf obsessive, and content creator extraordinaire — to talk about her journey in the game. From becoming an elite player from a standing start, to building @ontheroadwithiona through to handing over the Ryder Cup to Team Europe back in 2023, it's a great chat!Huge tha
329 - AIG Women’s Open Recap w/ Tom Abbott
Sam and Tom are joined by NBC Golf broadcaster and commentator Tom Abbott to recap the action from the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. Miyu Yamashita claimed her first major title — and her first victory outside Japan — with a stellar display on Sunday, seldom putting a foot wrong as she held off a charging Charley Hull, who recorded her 10th top-10 finish in a major.Huge thanks to Tom Abbott
328 - Course Diaries: Royal Porthcawl w/ Peter Evans
Sam speaks to Peter Evans — Professional at Royal Porthcawl — about his time at the club and his experiences on the links, as excitement builds for the AIG Women’s Open this week.Royal Porthcawl is a truly special place in world golf, and while we could have talked for hours about the shower pressure, the incredible clubhouse, and the famously warm welcome, this episode is strictly about the cours
327 - The Tiger Slam Pt 2: Bunkerless at The Old Course
Sam & Tom sit down for Part II of their deep dive into the Tiger Slam. 25 years on from the second leg of Tiger's historic run — and his fourth major victory overall — we revisit the 129th Open Championship at St Andrews, where he clinched the Claret Jug by a record-equalling eight shots. The parallels with the current Champion Golfer of the Year, Scottie Scheffler, are hard to ignore — b
326 - 153rd Open Championship Recap
Sam, Tom & Peter sit down to recap an unforgettable week at Royal Portrush. We cover Scottie Scheffler’s dominant win, Rory McIlroy’s performance, standout moments from across the championship, and break down the big winners and losers. We also dive into The Open rota — and much more.Big Headlines:🏆 Scottie Scheffler wins The Claret Jug📈 Totting Bec Cup Winners: Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy,
325 - From The 153rd Open: Day 2 Round Up
Sam & Tom sit down after Friday of the 153rd Open to discuss the cut and the big news stories coming out of Royal Portrush. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website
324 - From The 153rd Open: "The Price is Right"
A much-anticipated feature from 2024, The Price is Right returns this year — with Peter having surveyed the merch tent in excessive detail and bringing us 14 items to guess the correct price of. Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Fa
