The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast
A British take on current affairs in the world of golf. Some of it interesting, most of it not.Â
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.Â
We talk about Bruce's long connection with Sunningdale Golf Club where he has been a member for 70 years next year. He describes how both of his parents were closely involved with the club before and after the war, and how the family’s history there shaped his own life.
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 quality of the pitch and putt there. We also discuss visiting Royal Liverpool for a retirement celebration, and how strong the course was in condition.
A large part of 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, Corrie, Lochranza, Machry Bay, and Shiskin. We describe Whiting Bay as a short but very hilly and quirky course with small greens and dramatic views. Lamlash is presented as similarly...
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 Forest, especially through COVID, when he gathered a large amount of information from courses, books, online resources, and conversations with other coaches. He describes sorting through...
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 explains that his interest in administration began in part through helping with junior golf for his daughter and wanting to improve events for all players. He...
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 developing through England Golf, attending Rossall and then moving on to Purdue. He explains how college golf has helped him both as a player and as a person, an...
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 Robertson and the wider team around the side.
We cover how the morning foursomes went badly for GB&I, with the Americans co...
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 below, and roll on day 2!
Morning Foursomes (GB&I 2½ – 1½ USA)
1 | Stuart Grehan / Eliot Baker | Halved | Preston Stout / Ethan Fang
2 | Co...
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 match and this year’s host venue, Lahinch, with stories featuring some of the great characters to have graced the contest. From John B...
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 well as the dillema facing The Glen, with the reported buyout talks involving Ancient Links Golf Company, whose mission is to protect the ancient Scottish links for the future, an...
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.Â
As well as his exemption into both the US Open, Open Championship, and an invitation to the Masters (provided he behaves himself between now and April), Jack Whaley also picks up a Walker Cup selection. The news comes with the announcement of the t...
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.Â
We talk about his English Amateur win, the importance of conservative play in the strokeplay qualification rounds, as well as his course strategy and mental appraoch.Â
We also discuss his background, from starting golf around...
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 shape the club, including the role of people connected to the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Colin explains how the club drew in members from different backgrounds...
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 Varsity match at Burnham & Berrow, where Cambridge win. We also discuss how much golf's leading amateurs play, the importance of caddies, and the many club and society ma...
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 the morning wave had the best scoring conditions. We note that the changes to the course produced strong championship golf, with several holes forcing...
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 strategy, with many expected to leave driver out in favor of irons, mini drivers or three-woods. The discussion covers wedge bounce, firm fairways, bunkers, and how the course...
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 Malbon quarter zip and a Malbon bucket hat, which lead to some of the larger early swings in the score.
We continue...
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.Â
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.
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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 architects, focusing on the Hawtree family. We explain that the Hawtrees span three generations and have worked for over a century, with Frederick George Hawtree as the practical founder, Frederick William Hawtree as...
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 professionals still use metal spikes, even though many clubs do not allow them. We compare different styles of shoes and talk about the...
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 learn more, we'd encourage you to head to Will's website, best-putter.com.Â
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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 the weather affected play. Burnham and Barrow was described as especially well presented, while West Lancashire played firm and fast with strong runoff areas and difficult greens. We also talk about how the draw and weather...
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.Â
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 Maloney which went all the way to the 36th hole. We also talk about his career, from pitch and putt as a kid, to turning professional, r...
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 from the crowd, and how he held onto the lead despite not playing his best golf at the weekend. We compare his performance with Scottie Scheffler’s, and we...
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.
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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.
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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.Â
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 courses is a book charting 18 of Jim’s most beloved but often less celebrated courses. So...
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 Tom Morris in setting out the 12-hole course, how it gave birth to The Open Championship and try to give you a sense as to what the course is like. You can...
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 Tom Morris in setting out the 12-hole course, how it gave birth to The Open Championship and try to give you a sense as to what the course is like. You can...
374 - PGA Championship Recap
Tom, Sam & Half Par sit down to discuss Aaron Rai's amazing victory at the 108th PGA championship at Aronimink.Â
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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 celebrated architects.
Having studied under Old Tom Morris in St Andrews, a chance encounter with Harvard professor Robert Wilson would see him take the le...
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 here.
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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 longstanding friend of the podcast, Mike brings both insight and perspective to the conversation. Widely respected for his work in golf course design, he is also a fine golfer and a highly regarded...
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.
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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.Â
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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.Â
In 1926, MacKenzie travelled to Australia on what would become a career defining two months helping to shaope the Melbourne Sand belt and many other courses around the country, as well as New Zealand, and how MacKenzie would become involved in shaping golf on the West Coast of A...
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.Â
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 and the outbreak of WWI having finished designing Sitwell park. Â
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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 member Dr Frank Stableford's defining contribution to the club game with the invention of the Stableford scoring system on the second tee just a year later.Â
S...
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 behind the microphone calling some of the sport’s most dramatic moments for audiences around the world.
In this conversation, Ian reflects on his journey through the professional game, from t...
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 golfing calendar.
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