The Firm & Fast Golf Podcast

Keith Cutten from WAC Golf joins us today to explore the historical evolution of golf course design.

Keith is a golf course architect who has worked with design build practitioners such as Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, Rod Whitman, Dave Axland and Jeff Mingay.

As part of his Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph in 2012, Keith carried out extensive research into the evolution of golf course design. This research was later (2018) repurposed into an exellent book entitled The Evolution of Golf Course Design.

Link available below to Amazon listing.

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James Henderson of Top100golfcourses.com joins us on this episode to discuss, rankings, ranking criteria, panel hierarchies and more.

Hendo won the golfing lottery when he was born into an East Lothian golfing family. As a result of this happy accident of birth he has been steeped in a culture of brisk two-ball play, slow lunches and matchplay.

He's a well travelled character, not without an opinion or two!

Many thanks to James for his time - we hope you enjoy our chat.

Roundbook

[Top100golfcourses.com](top100...

Gavin Bottrell joins me on this episode to reflect on a twenty year odyssey to perfect the lost craft of Feathery Ball making.

Gavin is an engineer by profession and became fascinated with how one might reverse engineer the process of developing a modern day feathery ball. Over the course of a 90 minute chat Gavin shares his learnings from the bottom of a very deep rabbit hole, from where he has perfected a skill that was lost to time and progress as the development of the gutta percha golf ball superceeded the feathery in the 1850's.

Bradley Klein joins us today to take a look at the life and times of one of Dornoch's favourite sons.... none other than Donald Ross.

Over the course of our conversation we explore young Donald's early days in the Scottish Highlands and in the East Neuk of Fife under the guidance of OTM. His appointment as keeper of the green and professional at Dornoch GC and the chance visit of a well connected Harvard Professor to Dornoch in late 1898 which led to life altering opportunities in Boston and later throughout the USA.

We take a...

Ally McIntosh joins us for another adventure down the rabbit hole of golf course architecture.

Over the course of this past winter Ally and his design partner James Coughlan have been busy overseeing the implementation of their Strandhill masterplan. They also commenced phase one of significant improvements to Carne Golf Links.

Ally runs us through the specifics of the work at both sited and explains how they utilise specific site specific solutions to fit the needs of these cery different coastal sites.

We also pay tribute to Pat Ruddy, look at some new...

Joe McDonnell from McDonnell Cooper joins us to discuss the recent improvements to the 7th hole at Formby Golf Club which has recently reopened for member play. Please click on the link for an instagram video where Joe & Sam give us a sneak peak of the fruits of their labour. You can also check out this link where they detail the issues that the club asked McDonnell & Cooper to address.

Joe also walks us through some of the holes that have been lost to coastal erosion, please click on this link to a video that has been...

David Normoyle is a respected golf historian who works closely with heritage golf clubs to harness the story telling power of their historical assets.

Over the course of our chat, David makes a case for the significance of golf heritage and history - emphasising the need for active conservation of club histories.

We look at the distinct difference between tradition and traditionalism, the role of myths and proven fact in golf culture, the danger of recency bias and how the development of a deep understanding a club's past informs and supports future direction. Our conversation...

Gavin Caldwell joins us on this episode to take a look at the history of golf at Trinity College Dublin.

Over the course of this episode we explore the main drivers of the foundation of both the Dublin University Golf Club and later the Society for Alumni that was first established in 1909.

We also profile many of the elite amateur golfers who were associated with Trinity through their studies and afterwards as part of the DUGS alumni.

Gavin has been associated with Trinity Golf for the past 60 years and co-wrote College Courses and...

Friend of the pod Richard Pennell returns to chat about his new book Common Grounds.

Over the course of the episode we chat about Richard's focus on slightly more rustic golfing adventures throughout the UK, Ireland and farther afield.

Common Grounds is published by those lovely people at Grant Books, if you are interested in purchasing the book, please follow the link below:

https://pitchmarks.bigcartel.com/category/books

Remember to enter the competition to be in with a chance of winning one of two copies of Common Grounds that we...

In this episode I am joined by Royal Adelaide member and all round good egg Terry Thornton, our chat today focuses on his first trip to Ireland for golf during this passed summer which included 22 rounds over 27 days.

Over the course of the episode we discuss favourite Irish courses and holes from his recent trip in addition to many other rabbit holes that come our way,

Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show.

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Shoreline Serenade - Dye O.1.1

Roderick Ritchie, the current course chairman at Utrechtse Golf Club, joins us today to explore the evolving story of 'de Pan' and what can be learned from the sort of careful and considered custodianship on show at Bosch en Duin.

UGC is one of Europe's best golf courses... hidden away amongst a sandy expanse of heather and pine in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, a nature reserve of some 120 hectares, originally formed by glacial sand deposition during the last ice age.

'de Pan' was Harry Colt's second design commission in the Netherlands. Initially opened in 1929 as a 9...

Stephen Proctor returns to F&F to chat about Matchless, his new book, which charts the rise of formal womens golf from the late 1860's until the 1930's. The title of the book refers to the titanic battle between England's Joyce Wethered and Glenna Collet of the USA in the 36 hole final of the British Ladies Championship of Great Britain in 1929. This Championship was held at St. Andrews where the two premier players of the competed in what is widely considered to be the Greatest Women's golf match ever played.

Prior to a précis on the 1929 f...

Sam Williams from the [Cookie Jar Golf Podcast](www.cookiejargolf.com) joins us on this episode to explore how CJG have grown from a crumb trail in 2020 into one of the largest UK golf podcasts.

Over the course of an hour or so we take a look back through some highlights, recurring guests, expansions and look forward to what the future might hold for Sam, Tom, Bruce & Cal.

It was great to finally catch up with Sam properly, we hope you enjoy our chat.

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
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James Bledge the Links Manager at Royal Liverpool joins us in this episode to talk about his love for links golf, vocational green keeping, RCP @ Deal, Hoylake, drainage & irrigation, technology, STEM and inspiring the next generation.

It was great to catch up with him again, we hope you enjoy the episode.

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Shoreline Serenade - Dye O.1.1

Special Guest: James Bledge.

This is the final instalment focussing on Sir Anthony Babington's reminisences. In this episode he remembers his great friend Harry Shapland Colt. They were first introduced in 1919 by the Secretary of The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Cecil Barcroft. The relationship would prove fruitful for both men over the following decades.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound
A Single Dance - Jon Bjork

In this episode Sir Anthony shares his memories of the purchase of the the Holyrood Hotel and its transformation into the current clubhouse at Royal Portrush. He also details the R&A's decision to host the 1951 Open Championship at Royal Portrush which was won by Max Faulkner.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound
A Single Dance - Jon Bjork

In this episode Sir Anthony details the modernisation of the Royal Portrush Links under the combined efforts of HS Colt, JSF Morrison, Franks Harris, ABB & Hugh McNeill.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound
A Single Dance - Jon Bjork

In this episode of the continuing series, we learn about Sir Anthony's early golfing days on the North Coast of Portrush. He also covers the consequential matters of extended tenure, security and opportunity that access to additional golfing grounds to the east of the town afforded the wider membership.

The thorny history of Sabbatarianism also raises its head through a golfing lense as he teases out how this matter was resisted, debated and resolved over the course of the mid 1920's.

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic...

Over the course of the next number of short episodes we wilI take a look at another character that influenced the early development and growth of golf in Ireland.

Anthony Babington was a native of Co. Derry, educated at Glenalmond in Perthshire and Trinity College Dublin.

Babington was introduced to golf at Lisfannon in Donegal and Royal Portrush. He was a scratch player of some repute, competing extensively in the elite national amateur championships of the day. However, it was in the administration of the game that he really excelled, influencing golf at Trinity College...

Chris Breen has been the Superintendent at Rosapenna Golf Resort since 2019. A recent trip to Downings enabled us to sit down for a chat that we've been meaning to have for the past 12 months or so.

We take a look at how he's ended up back home in Donegal overseeing the 63 hole, 1200 acre property.

The importance of getting "your homework right" from a course setup perspective.
How an easterly wind is less than optimal for growing grass early in the season.
Why he's not praying for rain.... just yet.
Grass paths and...

Thomas Gilroy contributed greatly to the growth of the game of golf in Ireland over the period from 1885 to 1895.

During his time in Ireland he was recognised as the best player in the country, holding a handicap between scratch and +6.

Gilroy was a founding member at Dollymount, Portrush, Mornington & Baltray.

A serial winner and course record setter, he spread the gospel a gift from Scotland.

I hope you enjoy his story!

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound
Sweet Embrace...

In celebration of St. Patricks Day it seemed fitting to feature the story of Michael Moran (1886-1918).

To this day, Moran, holds the record for the number of wins in the Irish Professional Golfers Championships.

That he did this all before turning 27 is all the more remarkable.

His story is indelibly linked to that of my home club at Dollymount,

I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks for tuning in and Happy St. Patricks Day!

Episode music supplied under licence from Epedemic Sound
I Want You to Stay...

Mike Morrison joins us on this episode to introduce the upcoming R&A Heritage Conference which will take place in St. Andrews on March 11th & 12th 2025. The event has been organised through the longstanding partnership between the R&A and the British Golf Collectors Society.

'History is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of the fire' - Philip Truett (Founding Member of BGCS.).

The Conference is focussed on providing Historic Golf Clubs with the tools, resources and support to further the collection, documentation, preservation and presentation of their unique histories some of which...

Mat Goggin joins us on this episode to chat all things 7 Mile Beach.

Listeners will undoubtedly be aware that Mike De Vries and Mike Clayton of CDP Golf Architects have been toiling away on Mr Goggin's behalf over the last few years massaging a sandy waterfront site into one of the most eagerly anticipated golf developments of the past few years.

Mat fills us in on the three years that have passed since his last appearance on the show, providing us with updates on the ongoing grow in, a likely opening timeline, an interesting story...

Neil Crafter and Dr John Green published the definitive biography of Alex Russell in 2016. Neil joins for this episode to delve into the life and times of arguably Australia's greatest home-grown golf architect.

We take a look at the Russell family's Scottish heritage and what prompted their subsequent move to Australia. Alex's education in Geelong, Glenalmond and Cambridge, his service during WW1 & WW2, his exploits as a Champion Golfer, partnership with Dr. Mac & utilising the undoubted construction talents of Mick Morcom... plus the design of a few decent golf courses for good measure..

Thanks for...

Ryan Noades joins us today to take a look at what may very well be JF Abercromby's design opus. The Addington was of course a collaboration between Abercromby and Harry S Colt, expertly routed to circumnavigate a sand and gravel hilltop heathland site some 9 miles due south of central London.

The Noades' have owned the Addington since 2006 and have lovingly curated the course ever since. Over the years it became apparent to Ryan and his family that a world class golf course was hiding in plain site beneath the organic detritus that had invaded playing corridors, reduced...

Scotsman Iain Forrester has been a golf professional since 1983, moving to The Netherlands to become the Head Professional at Hoenshuis Golf & Country Club in Limburg.

Iain believes that
“……a PGA Professional needs to have a diverse skillset – a jack of all trades and a master of one or two. That’s what I’ve tried to do with my career, to be as flexible as possible, learn as many skills as possible and then have a niche that separates you from others.”

Iain’s particular niche of choice focusses on maintaining and preserving the history of golf...

Iain Forrester is a Scottish Golf Professional who has been based in The Netherlands since 1988. He joined me recently for an extensive chat about Hickory Golf, Golf in the Netherlands and his life in golf. This is a story he forgot to tell us, thankfully I managed to press record again before we ended our time together. The preceding conversation was most enjoyable and will be released over the coming days... keep an eye out for it!

If you're enoying the pod, I would be very grateful if you could submit a review on your podcast hosting...

Aspiring honorary Irishman, Richard Pennell, joins us on this episode to reminisce about four golf trips he undertook to Ireland over the past 12 months.

The North Coast & Donegal featured heavily and rightly so. The intrepid traveller also found time to schedule two whistle stop visits to County Mayo on the very Wild Atlantic Way, while also visiting a smattering of what the Dublin area has to offer from a golfing perspective.

It amounted to a links overload which left Richard energised and plotting an imminent return. We hope the pod may give you some ideas...

Mike Clayton joins me on this episode to provide us with an update on grow in at 7 Mile Beach, The Sandbelt Invitational, the Australian Summer of Golf and some local projects that Clayts, Harley Kruse and Lukas Michel have been working on recently.

We also explore; the challenges that flatter sites present to the course designer, the relative under appreciation of English Golf, Tom Simpson, CDP in France, why routing and flow are important elements in course design and some bucket list design projects.

Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show!<...

After a summer break filled with a research project (which is almost assuredly going to translate into an episode), F&F are back with a new episode recently recorded with Colin Byrne...

Many listeners will recognize Colin's name as bag man supremo with more than 40 years logged thus far as a globe trotting golfing sherpa. He has caddied for many of the modern greats including Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Darren Clarke and Fred Couples.

We take a trip down memory lane with Colin to explore writing, winning US Opens at Shinnecock Hills, bad...

A recent trip to Walton Heath afforded me an opportunity to meet with Philip Truett at his home at Walton on the Hill. Philip recently co-authored a biography on William Herbert Fowler, entitled 'A Matter of Course'. The book paints a brilliant picture of a life well lived, not without a modicum of drama. Fowler by all accounts was a by-product of his time and social standing, who undoubteldy left an indelible mark on golf both in the UK and the USA.

We mainly stay on topic or at the very least always return to the vicinity...

Recorded 1/5/2024

Nathan Bennett comes from counrty Victorian farming stock, so he's not afraid of hard yakka ('hard work' for non Australians). His can do approach has seen him on a green keeping journey which started in Murray Downs and would go on to include Metropolitan, Moonah Legends, The Sands and finally Royal Adelaide Golf Club.

We take a look at Nathan's journey while also lingering upon the Royal Adelaide story, since the clubs foundation back in 1892. The clubs centenary book is a great read (if you can get your hands on it.... its out of...

The stars finally aligned recently in providing me with an opportunity to spend some time with Angela Moser - golf course architect, shaper and world traveller!

There was no sign of either a dozer or a digger.... although I am absolutely sure that one of those is undoubtedly in her immediate future.

In this episode we take a deep dive on Renaissance's only current Irish course, St Patricks Links @ The Rosapenna Golf Resort, where Angela, Tom Doak, Eric Iverson, Clyde Johnson, Brian Schneider, Brian Slawnik, Blake Conant, Don Placek & Co. have created what in all...

Angela Moser has just completed the #10 Course at Pinehurst for Tom Doak's Renaissance Golf Design - she joined me recently for golf at St Patricks Links (no surprise, she's a baller) and a number of conversations, one of which we recorded for your enjoyment.

Our full conversation takes a look at Angela's career to date, which includes significant involvement at St Patricks @ Rosapenna, The Renaissance Club in Edinburgh, The Loop at Forest Dunes, Pinehurst #10 and much much more...

Editing is still in the works, however, this piece is too good not to share immediately as...

Royal Portrush hosted it's first Open Championship in 1951, with Max Faulkner triumphing over Harry Colt's Dunluce Course... at the time Bernard Darwin was minded to write that Colt's design of the Dunluce links was 'a monument more enduring than Brass'.

As listeners will know the Open Championship returned to Royal Portrush in 2019. In advance of the 148th staging of the Championship MacKenzie & Ebert undertook improvement and revision works on both the Dunluce & Valley courses at RP. With the club due to host the 153rd Open in 2025, members at Royal Portrush approved a comprehensive improvement plan for the...

County Sligo Golf Club celebrates 130 years of existence in 2024. Club members recently approved a course development plan, prepared by course designers M&E. In this episode we catch up with Council member David Dunne to hear about the scope of these plans, which will be implemented over the coming years.

David has an interesting back story which we explore in parallel with our chat about the Rosses Point links.

Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show!

Epiosde imagery courtesy of County Sligo Golf Club

Episode music used...

Friend of the pod Mark Millar, the Superintendent at County Sligo Golf Club, joined us for a chat in the Ewing Room in the clubhouse at Rosses Point during a recent visit to the home of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship. The Club has hosted the event since its inaugural hosting of the event in 1923.

We take a look at the site at Rosses, discussing some of the challenges that Mark faces through the seasons and tke a look at his well travelled career. We also look forward to the clubs hosting of the Irish Amateur...

The First in a four part series that cover the F&F Spring Break to Counties Sligo and Mayo. Myself and a good mate set off from Dublin to the Atlantic West Coast of Ireland to explore the delights of links golf at Rosses Point, Strandhill, Enniscrone & Belmullet.

Please take a look at the F&F Instagram page to view a number of reels showing County Sligo, Strandhill, Enniscrone and Carne in all of their early season splendour.

Please find a few links below for accommodation, eating and non golfy stuff that might be of...

Tony Cunningham is a long standing member at County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point. While visiting recently we sat down with him to explore the origin story of ine of the grand old dames of Irish Golf. Founded by members of the Sligo Militia in 1894, the club celebrates 130 years in 2024.

The Club has hosted the West of Ireland Championships since its introduction/inception in 1923 - the West heralds the beginning of the elite amateur golf season and is held over the course of a week every Easter. Former champions include Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington...