Episodes

  • 056 - Lee Strutt - Sowing Seeds and Breaking Ground
    Aug 28 2025

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    James Bledge and Lee Strutt sit down on the banks of Loch Lomond to reflect on Struttie’s unique journey through golf course management—from grassroots beginnings to directing a world-class estate. They dig into leadership, trials, robots, and how to engineer not just a golf course, but a culture.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 055 - From North Wales to Deal: Ben Williams’ Linksland Journey
    Aug 22 2025

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    Bledge and Ben Williams sit down to trace Ben’s path from a golf‑mad childhood in North Wales to course manager at Royal Cinque Ports—via ultra‑exclusive Double Eagle in Ohio, an overseed bootcamp at Sea Pines, and a love affair with New South Wales GC. They dig into mentorship, the FTMI programme, and why a touch of spring granular on the fairways can be a links lifesaver. Expect talk of dunes, dogs, and doing the little things right.

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 054 - Alistair Beggs - Practical Greenkeeping and the Art of Sustainable Golf
    Aug 14 2025

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    Sam and Bledge sit down with Alistair Beggs for a deep dive into a lifetime in golf course agronomy, from growing up at Hoylake to consulting on multiple Open Championships. They discuss the legendary Jim Arthur, the evolution of greenkeeping, tales from the driest Open in history, and why sustainable practices are shaping the future of the game.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • 053 - Team Culture, Turf, and Tour Standards: Inside John McLoughlin’s Career
    Aug 7 2025

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    Sam and Bledge sit down with John McLoughlin to trace his 30-year career in golf, from Gleneagles to Royal Melbourne, and onto leading Wallasey’s greenkeeping team. They dive deep into tour-level course setups, team culture, and the management philosophies that have transformed clubs into championship venues.


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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • 052 - Listener Question Time: Rain, Drought & Drainage
    Jul 31 2025

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    Sam and Bledge sit down to reflect on the growing extremes in UK weather and how this affects course maintenance and playability. From rainfall stats to reservoir builds and soil importation, it’s a deep dive into the future of sustainable golf course management.

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    52 mins
  • 051 - Beyond Turf: Golf’s Role in Biodiversity & Balance
    Jul 24 2025

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    Sam and James sit down to chat about why golf courses aren’t just about perfect turf—they’re thriving ecosystems. Join them as they explore how managing gorse, trees, and ponds can support nesting birds, red squirrels, toads, and more, plus how modern agronomy balances playing quality with environmental stewardship.

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    58 mins
  • 050 - Listener Question Time: Course Difficulty & Rainfall
    Jul 11 2025

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    Sam and Bledge sit down and take listener questions, kicking off with a cracker about how to toughen up a golf course. From the science of rainfall to the sorcery of seaweed, it’s a deep dive into maintenance, architecture and a wee bit of punk rock nostalgia from Dumfries.

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 049 - Solo Greenkeeping at Durness with Ali Morrison
    Jul 3 2025

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    Sam and Bledge sit down with Ali Morrison, head greenkeeper of Durness Golf Club, to uncover what it takes to run one of the most remote and dramatic golf courses in the UK. From sheep grazing on fairways to the possibility of Coore & Crenshaw dropping by, they explore the quirks, history, and breathtaking beauty of this nine-hole wonder on the edge of the Highlands.

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    50 mins