x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Golf Badgers

By Cookie Jar Golf

Golf Badgers (ɡɒlf bæʤə) - noun: A group of golfers obsessed with the game.Does this sound like you? If so, you"re in the right place.Sam Cooper (Golf course architect) and James Bledge (Course Manager @ Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake) invite some of their friends from across the architecture and green keeping industries to join them for a deep dive on all things golf.Feasting on a gluttonous diet of golf course architecture, greenkeeping, agronomy and all of the topics usually too dull for

sports golf

All Episodes

48:11

044 - Badgers are Back

Golf Badgers ·

2025/06/03

Send us a text Sam & James sit down to discuss their much anticipated return after their hiatus with some exciting news! Now part of the Cookie Jar Golf, the team will be helping with editing and publishing of episodes, while still keeping the same great insight and lo-fi jazz intro that listeners will be familiar with. In this episode, Sam & James talk about what's been going on with them, the exciting news and of course the rdrought which has taken many courses to the edge thi...

en

01:15:10

043 - First Green with Jenny Bledge. PLUS Badger...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/12/06

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

en

01:21:52

042 - Making BIGGA better? - Scott Reeves

Golf Badgers ·

2024/11/14

Link to survey 👇👇👇https://www.bigga.org.uk/news-listing/greenkeeper-survey-amazon-voucher.htmlWelcome 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

en

00:55:51

041 - Part 2 - What's Been Happening At Birkdale? -...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/10/29

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

en

01:10:20

040 - What's Been Happening At Birkdale? Part 1 of 2...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/10/16

Guest from episode 6 of this podcast (December 2022!) joins us again to discuss first his preparation for Royal Birkdale's Open Championship in 2026, but also the extraordinary suite of changes to the famous links last winter and next. I also give a shameless plug for Volume 1 of my Links from the Road series. It's been a labour of love (and sometimes despair) over the past couple of years, but today is publication day. Fortunately a lot of talented people have been working on the series, and I

en

00:45:23

039 - Pinehurst #2 - Working on a US Open course set...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/09/26

Our loyal Badgers, you might have wondered where the promised second half of Episode 36 ended up. After a few weeks on the road, travelling up to the Arctic Circle in our camper van, I must admit to the grievous crime of forgetting to post it. Logging into the podcast dashboard, there it was - ready to entertain and educate our legions of Badgers. So I can only apologise for the oversight. Even with the delay, I hope it doesn't reduce your enjoyment of Graeme's experience. It was so

en

00:53:05

038 - North & back again (or maybe not) - Bledge and...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/09/04

I think most of you are aware that over the past 3 weeks I (Sam Cooper) have been on a trip in my campervan to the Arctic.You'll remember the previous episode with Jerry Mulvihill about Lofoten Links, but perhaps you've also seen the YouTube Vlog series that Bledge and I discuss in the pod. If not, you can find the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PKP4wyE1K8&list=PLm3MFP6NZX3DsZbWVhJE-WI1rZLv_ETL0 In the pod, Bledge and I also discuss the exciting Norvangr project

en

01:02:44

037 - Jerry Mulvihill of Lofoten Links - Arctic Special

Golf Badgers ·

2024/08/28

Badgers,It's been a little while since our last conversation, but I've been a bit preoccupied. I think most of you will be aware that poor Producer Harriet has been persuaded to go on another adventure in our trusty campervan. This time, we've gone north. About as far north as you can go really. It took almost 2 weeks but we finally drove from our home in Hoylake to the Arctic Circle, and then on to the famous course of Lofoten Links. I've been doing daily vlogs on my YouTube

en

00:51:26

036 - From Pinehurst to Hayling, and back again -...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/07/01

We are delighted to welcome Graeme back to the podcast for the third time. We discuss the challenges he faces with the weather at Hayling Golf Club and the trade-off between meeting membership expectations and managing the golf course ecosystem.Stay tuned for Part 2, where we talk more about his experience on the voluntary support team for the US Open at Pinehurst. As always, thanks for listening! Sam and Bledge Sam's video of Hayling Golf Club

en

01:32:34

035 - Badger & Badger - some of our favourite things,...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/05/12

Bledge and I do tend to agree on things. So much so one of you guys asked us to put it to the test. In reality, we tend to bicker and disagree on many things. But both value an other perspective and share many of the same philosophies that underpin golf (and, indeed, life). So Producer Harriet put us to the test. Here we discuss some of our favourite things. Some, in typical Golf Badger fashion, are inane and inconsequential. Our favourite Instagram accounts, beers, spike bars. Others are a bit

en

01:12:15

034 - Greenkeeping for Dummies - the right way (and...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/05/02

Bledge and I started this podcast to whitter away about not much in particular, meet some interesting folk, and share the odd bit of insight into the greenkeeping and architecture that underpins British golf.We are always so humbled by the number of you who tune in to the pod, and especially those who write in to ask questions or simply offer some feedback. In typical Badger fashion, we blunder around trying to re-introduce one another, mainly for the benefit of some of our more recent

en

00:42:01

033 - Jim Price - Contracts Director at MJ Abbott

Golf Badgers ·

2024/04/24

A few weeks ago, Bledge and I were lucky enough to sit down with Jim Price of MJ Abbott. Jim will be well known to anyone who has completed an irrigation project in recent years - and offers a great insight into the contractor's perspective. Things have undoubtedly changed in recent years, especially with more dramatic droughts and wet seasons. We talk about this, how Covid and Brexit have affected the landscape and his own career at MJ Abbott.

en

01:00:34

032 - How a Course Manager and Architect first...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/04/10

Welcome back, Badgers.This week is the first of our new style of podcast. Most importantly this week, Bledge pays tribute to friend to many in the greenkeeping industry in Bobby McDougall. A poignant reminder of how trivial many of the day to day things that occupy our minds actually are. Bledge and I discuss the freakish weather that continues to plague the UK, before entering into the first of our question topics. This week, Dominic Absolon asked us how each of us would approach a golf course

en

01:01:50

031 - Scott Aitchison - (Many) Seasons in Dornoch

Golf Badgers ·

2024/04/03

It's safe to say that Scoosh is one of the industry's characters. Known by many for his humour and individuality, he's also a fiercely loyal and talented member of the greenkeeping industry. We hope you enjoy this (overdue) conversation with Scott as much as we enjoyed recording it.

en

01:28:06

030 - Sam & Bledge discuss Spring on the Links,...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/03/21

After a few weeks of bringing you the insight of our wonderful guests, Sam and Bledge are back to chat away about this and that, and ask for your ideas on future episode ideas.We also have a new email address! Please do get in touch with us: hello@golfbadgers.com We can't wait to hear from you!

en

01:03:48

029 - The Roberts' Brothers - Scott and Graeme Roberts

Golf Badgers ·

2024/03/11

Scott and Graeme Roberts' really couldn't have been anything but greenkeepers.The brothers' grew up 'on the tools' at Hankley Common Golf Club, where their father Gareth was Course Manager for almost thirty years. Now, they are both Course Managers themselves. Scott is currently overseeing the multi million pound reconstruction of Basingstoke Golf Club's new golf course, while Graeme (a repeat guest of the pod) is now the Course Manager at Hayling Golf Club (a personal

en

01:32:59

028 - The UK's leading Irrigation Specialist: Adrian...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/03/04

Adrian says he's a specialist, not an expert. We'll let you settle on the semantics.However you badge him, Adrian Mortram has helped design countless irrigation systems throughout the world. Not just golf, his CV is as rich and varied as they come. We talk about his career, how irrigation systems have changed and how they might change still. We also touch on his passion for adventure and his plans down the line. We really hope you enjoy this episode. It was a pleasure to have Adrian on

en

01:31:55

027 - Andy Ewence - CM at Woking on (re)building the...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/02/23

Andy Ewance has had a fascinating career.Andy joins James Bledge and Sam Cooper to share anecdotes and insights from his previous role at the Buckinghamshire, including persuading the club's Japanese owners to invest in a significant overhaul. Now, Andy is at Woking - helping to enhance one of the most architecturally significant courses in England. From improving the agronomy of the site, managing the woodland and restoring the heathland, we hope you find this interview as interesting to

en

01:30:22

026 - Harrogate and Phoenix debrief. Tractors,...

Golf Badgers ·

2024/02/12

January is never a great month in Britain, even less so if you work on a golf course. Fortunately, it's the time of year for the big trade shows and conferences. Bledge and Sam give their thoughts and recollections of a packed BTME in Harrogate and GCSAA show in Phoenix, Arizona. The importance of attending, what they can both get out of it, technology and advancements worth keeping an eye on as well as what they were both up to in America. One of the things we discussed was the Husqvarna

en

00:57:00

025 - Bledge talks to Lee and Sami Strutt

Golf Badgers ·

2024/01/20

There are few couples out there who have contributed more to the greenkeeping industry than Lee and Sami Strutt. Lee, a previous guest on this pod, is the Director of Agronomy at Cabot Cape Breton. Sami has spent over 30 years working for the greenkeeping association, BIGGA. She joined the association in 1993 as an admin assistant but is leaving it in 2024 as its' Chief Operating Officer for a new role as Education Director at the Bernhard Academy. Lee and Sami discuss not just their

en

64 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN