The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

The Players That the PGA Tour Can’t Afford to Lose to LIV

<p>Only days after LIV's first-year finale in Miami, the high-stakes game of player recruitment for the Saudi-backed league's second season has ratcheted. Building on a <a href="https://mailchi.mp/cf6189decaac/sweet-home-chicago?e=%5BUNIQID%5D">recent piece</a> by Andy in The Fried Egg Newsletter, Andy and Garrett discuss the top remaining players on the PGA Tour and their value in the tussle between the Tour and LIV. Andy and Garrett also reflect on the Tour's battlefield strategy this past year and how it might affect the future of both professional circuits.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Brendan Parkhurst of Cape Arundel

<p>Brendan Parkhurst, superintendent at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, Maine, joins Andy as the latest guest in our Superintendent Series. Brendan has been at Cape Arundel for over 20 years and has helped guide the Walter Travis-designed course through its restoration. The special care needed for Cape Arundel's dramatic greens, how a tidal river flood impacts the grass, and the pros and cons of taking care of a 5,800-yard course are all discussed. Brendan also shares some tips for how to handle the security detail and motorcade when the President of the United States is a frequent visitor.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What’s Next in Golf Course Architecture?

<p>Golf course architecture is experiencing its biggest boom in almost 20 years. With demand for new courses and restoration/renovation work ramping up, the industry is at an important juncture. Andy and Garrett each share three things they hope and/or expect to see from golf course design in the near future. They explore possibilities for less suitable land, shorter courses, and experimental shaping as well as predictions for how the economy and climate change will shape trends.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The New Yorker Goes Deep on LIV Golf

<p>Zach Helfand’s main job is editing <em>The New Yorker</em>’s “Talk of the Town” section, but for the past few months he has been working on a feature story about the battle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. That article appears in this week’s print edition of the magazine and was published online under the title “<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/24/will-the-saudis-and-donald-trump-save-golf-or-wreck-it">Will the Saudis and Donald Trump Save Golf—or Wreck It?</a>” Zach (<a href="https://twitter.com/zhelfand">@zhelfand</a>) tells Garrett about his reporting process, the benefits of his outsider status in the golf world, and what he observed at the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship and LIV’s events at Trump Bedminster and the International. He also reveals how he wrangled a now-widely-aggregated interview with Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and one of the major decision makers behind LIV.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Sugarloaf Social Club Bought a Golf Course

<p>Ian Gilley is the co-founder and president of Sugarloaf Social Club, which is a golf society, a popular <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sugarloafsocialclub/?hl=en">Instagram account</a>, a merchandising operation, and now a part-owner of a golf course. Ian and Andy start by chatting about searching for hidden gems in Kansas and Nebraska and creating golf logos that stand the test of time. They then delve into why and how Ian and business partner David Cronheim recently purchased a six-hole course in Upstate New York. The course, which will soon be enjoyed by members of the Sugarloaf Field Club, has holes inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews and a clubhouse inspired by Augusta National. Ian and Andy wrap up by talking about the three golf courses they think about the most.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

First Impressions of PGA Frisco

<p>PGA Frisco is one of the most important golf-development projects of the past two decades. It consists of two 18-hole golf courses, lighted par-3 and putting courses, an ambitious hotel and retail enterprise, and a new "home" for the PGA of America. In the next 12 years, Frisco will host six PGA majors: two PGA Championships, two Senior PGAs, and two Women's PGAs. Andy visited the complex recently and joins Garrett to discuss everything he saw. The two cover the overall development and partnership between the PGA, Omni Hotels and Resorts, and the city of Frisco, Texas; and they break down the Gil Hanse-designed East course and the Beau Welling-designed West course. There's praise for the PGA's efforts to bring golf to a major metropolitan area as well as critiques of some architectural details and concerns about the cost of the sprawling compound.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Sandy Reid of St. Andrews

<p>Sandy Reid (<a href="https://twitter.com/sandyreidgk">@SandyReidGK</a>), the Director of Greenkeeping at St. Andrews Links, is today's guest for our Superintendent Series. Sandy has one of the busiest jobs in the turf industry: he oversees all seven courses at St. Andrews. This year was busier than ever for him, with the 150th Open and the Dunhill Links both taking place at the Old Course. Sandy shares how he and his team managed the infrastructure necessary for the events and the inevitable wear and tear to the course. He and Andy also talk about Sandy's time at Carnoustie, how he maintains courses that rarely shut down, what it's like having the property turn into a park on Sundays, and much more.</p> <p>The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.</p> <p>NOTE: There was an issue with the originally posted version of this episode; you may need to re-download it.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Mailbag: All of Your Golf Course Architecture Questions

<p>Andy and Garrett are back with another mailbag episode recorded in the midst of their trip through Massachusetts, Maine, and Upstate New York. This one is focused on all of your golf course architecture questions. Well, maybe not *all* of them, but Andy and Garrett do tackle some serious subjects, including which architect has done the most damage to golf course architecture. They also make time for not-so-hard-hitting topics such as the effectiveness of periscopes and bells and the correct distribution of on-course restrooms. The episode wraps up with advice on how to discuss golf course architecture with sane people and thoughts on course rankings and the crucial gap between "favorite" and "best."</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Mailbag: Presidents Cup Reactions and Burgerdog Musings

<p>From the living room of an A-frame house in Massachusetts, three members of the Fried Egg team—Andy, Garrett, and Will—reach into the mailbag and answer a batch of your questions. The boys cover a variety of Presidents Cup-related topics: surprises and disappointments from this past week’s event at Quail Hollow, venues they’d like to see in the future, whether they’re annoyed with Justin Thomas’s antics, and more. They wrap up with a rollicking discussion of burgerdogs, pickles, and future TFE events.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Presidents Cup: Past, Present, and Future

<p>Team golf is back this week with the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. To celebrate, Garrett and Andy take a walk down memory lane and examine the history of the event. From the split between the PGA of America and what would become the PGA Tour to the failure of other team competitions, the series of events that led to the Presidents Cup's creation is a fascinating study. The second half of the episode is dedicated to the present state and potential future of the tournament. Garrett and Andy go over what ails the event, the distractions surrounding this year's edition, and their own proposals to breathe some life into the Presidents Cup.</p> <p>Notes:</p> <ul> <li>The World Series of Golf-like tournament that Garrett and Andy discuss was called the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and it ran from 1979 to 2014.</li> <li>Garrett's account of the origins of the Presidents Cup draws extensively from Adam Schupak's book <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deane-Beman-Golfs-Driving-Force/dp/0615458793">Deane Beman: Golf's Driving Force</a></em>.</li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Ranking the 2022 Major Championships with Geoff Shackelford

<p>Anticipation for men's major championship golf this year was sky-high. Tiger was returning to the Masters, the PGA Championship had been moved to Gil Hanse-restored Southern Hills, the U.S. Open was visiting the Country Club for the first time since 1988, and St. Andrews was hosting the 150th edition of the Open. To the delight of golf fans everywhere, the tournaments lived up to the hype. Andy Johnson welcomes Geoff Shackelford (<a href="https://twitter.com/GeoffShac">@geoffshac</a>), author of <a href="https://quadrilateral.substack.com/">The Quadrilateral</a>, a Substack newsletter dedicated to golf's majors, to relive the four biggest weeks in golf, reminisce on early- and late-round memories, and give their rankings of each major.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Is Golf Still Booming?

<p>During the Covid-19 pandemic, recreational golf saw a major uptick. Rounds went up and equipment sales boomed. Have those boom times continued in 2022? Or has there been a regression to the mean? To take the temperature of the golf industry as a whole, Garrett speaks with Greg Nathan, the Chief Business Officer of the <a href="https://www.ngf.org/">National Golf Foundation</a>. Garrett and Greg discuss the nature of golf's "Covid bump," the overall health of the golf business, the future of golf course development, and more.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Uncertain Future of the European Tour

<p>At this past week's BMW PGA Championship, multiple players who have signed with LIV Golf aired their grievances about the direction of the DP World Tour, formerly know as the European Tour. Ian Poulter, Sergio García, and other Euro vets feel that the proud, historic tour has become a mere "feeder tour," and that DPWT CEO Keith Pelley's negotiation of a "strategic alliance" with the PGA Tour is significantly to blame. They might have a point. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss the recent history of the European Tour, the decisions that led to its current status, how it should position itself in the new world order of professional golf, and whether it has any hope of returning to its former glory.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Denny McCarthy on Putting Prowess, LIV, and the New PGA Tour

<p>Denny McCarthy (<a href="https://twitter.com/_dennymccarthy">@_dennymccarthy</a>) just had his most successful year ever on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a T-7 finish at the U.S. Open. He joins Andy Johnson to talk about his outlook for next season, getting hot just in time for the U.S. Open, and the recent work he put in to up his game. He also shares his thoughts on LIV Golf and the sweeping changes the PGA Tour introduced last week. Lastly, for listeners struggling with the flatstick, Denny, who has never finished worse than T-22 in Strokes Gained: Putting, talks through his process on the greens and shares a few tips.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Andy’s Scottish Adventure, Part 2: North Berwick, The Old Course, Dunbar, Kilspindie

<p>In the second of two episodes recapping his first visit to Scotland, Andy Johnson gives Garrett Morrison his thoughts on two legendary courses—North Berwick Golf Club and the Old Course at St. Andrews—and two lesser-known gems in the East Lothian region, Dunbar Golf Club and Kilspindie Golf Club. They discuss the brilliance of North Berwick's hole designs, the uniqueness of the Old Course's terrain, the drama of Dunbar's routing, and the advantages of playing Kilspindie with hickories. Andy also offers some general advice on planning a golf trip to Scotland. (Hint: don't overbook yourself!)</p> <p>Time stamps for course discussions:</p> <p>(2:16) North Berwick</p> <p>(37:07) The Old Course</p> <p>(52:29) Dunbar</p> <p>(1:01:58) Kilspindie</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Reviewing the PGA Tour’s Big Changes

<p>Earlier this month, Andy Johnson and Joseph LaMagna (<a href="https://twitter.com/JosephLaMagna">@JosephLaMagna</a>) <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-fend-off-liv-the-pga-tour-needs-to-change-heres-how/id1131723994?i=1000575137330">talked through</a> the changes they'd like to see the PGA Tour make in order to compete with LIV Golf. After this week's onslaught of news and announcements about real alterations that the Tour will make to its structure, Andy welcomes Joseph back to break it all down. They discuss PIP, LIV, TMRW, and probably a few other acronyms; the effects they think the changes will have; and the importance of the Tour getting the details right as it moves into a new era.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Jeff Austin on Reviving Yale Golf Course

<p>Our Superintendent Series is back with Jeff Austin, superintendent at Yale Golf Course (<a href="https://twitter.com/Yale_GolfCourse">@Yale_GolfCourse</a>). Prior to taking over at Yale, Jeff was an assistant superintendent at Augusta National, and he humors Andy with a few stories from his time there, including an interaction with a former president. Just over two years ago, Jeff took over at the Seth Raynor-designed Yale Golf Course, which had seen better days after a long Covid-related shutdown. Jeff talks about the challenges he tackled when he came aboard, explains how his workforce adds to the uniqueness of the job, and shares what they're doing to prepare for a Gil Hanse-led restoration starting at the end of 2023.</p> <p>The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What’s Next in the Legal Fight Between LIV and the PGA Tour?

<p>The courtroom phase of the conflict between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour began last week with a win for the Tour: a federal judge denied an effort by LIV players to obtain a temporary restraining order that would have allowed them to take part in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. But the legal battle between the two golf leagues is far from over. To learn more about the LIV players’ ongoing antitrust lawsuit and its prospects of success, Garrett Morrison talks to Gabe Feldman (<a href="https://twitter.com/SportsLawGuy">@SportsLawGuy</a>), a professor at Tulane University who specializes in antitrust and sports law and hosts the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-the-lines-a-podcast-about-sports-and-the-law/id1525109223">Between the Lines</a>. Gabe explains the legal basis of the players’ claim against the PGA Tour, assesses the case’s merits, and predicts where the litigation between LIV and the Tour might go next. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

It’s Time for Chambers Bay to Get Another Major

<p>Garrett Morrison spent this past Sunday watching Japanese sensation Saki Baba become the latest U.S. Women's Amateur champion. He joins Andy Johnson to share his impressions of the course where all the action took place, Chambers Bay, and its role in future USGA championships after the controversial 2015 U.S. Open. With "anchor sites" like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst No. 2 booked into the 2050s, there's not much room for underdog courses to elbow their way in. Andy and Garrett dig into the why the USGA (and, to a slightly lesser extent, the PGA of America) have pursued this model of venue selection, the issues it's creating, and what they'd like to see change.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Bandon Deep Dives: Bandon Dunes

<p>Our fifth and final deep dive into the 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes is here! Since we’ve gone in reverse-chronological order, we have finally arrived at the OG, the 1999 David McLay Kidd design that launched Mike Keiser’s outpost in the Oregon dunes and changed the way everyone in the golf industry thought about the destination-resort business. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about Keiser’s bold vision for Bandon Dunes and the collaborative—or, more accurately, combative—nature of the construction process. They then explain why they believe the original Bandon course is, by a substantial margin, the weakest 18 at the resort.</p> <p>The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by <a href="https://www.zerorestriction.com/">Zero Restriction</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

To Fend Off LIV, the PGA Tour Needs to Change. Here’s How.

<p>On Monday, the PGA Tour released <a href="https://www.pgatour.com/news/2022/08/01/pga-tour-full-schedule-2022-23-season-fedexcup-playoffs.html">its 2022-23 schedule</a>, and… well, it looks pretty much the same as this year’s schedule. That’s a problem, Joseph LaMagna (<a href="https://twitter.com/JosephLaMagna">@JosephLaMagna</a>) argues in a <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/pga-tour-schedule-fedex-cup-format/">new article on The Fried Egg website</a>. If the PGA Tour expects to compete with the insurgent LIV league, it needs to rethink the structure of its season and especially its playoff series. Joseph joins Andy Johnson to discuss specific ways that the Tour can adjust its schedule to become a better, more competitive product.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Andy’s Scottish Adventure, Part 1: Muirfield, Gullane, Elie

<p>After wrapping up his first visit to Scotland a couple of weeks ago, Andy Johnson is ready to relive it with two podcasts recapping the trip. In this first installment, he and Garrett Morrison start with an in-depth discussion of Muirfield, the site of this week's AIG Women's Open. They touch on the history of the course, standout holes, and what to watch for at the tournament. Andy and Garrett then discuss the wealth of quality golf at Gullane Golf Club and an evening for the memory books at Elie.</p> <p>Look for part 2—which will cover North Berwick, the Old Course, Kilspindie, and Dunbar—in the coming weeks.</p> <p>Read more about Andy's lunch and afternoon round at Muirfield in his <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/eggman-in-scotland-part-1-muirfield-golf-travel/">first Scotland journal</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What Saudi Arabia Really Wants Out of LIV Golf

<p>This week, the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational series is holding its third-ever tournament, LIV Bedminster, at a golf course owned by former president Donald Trump. Now there’s a sentence that our 2015 selves—even our 2020 selves—couldn’t have imagined writing. But here we are, and we need to come to grips with some complex topics. That’s why Brendan Quinn’s article “<a href="https://theathletic.com/3435280/2022/07/27/liv-golf-saudi-arabia-pga-tour/">LIV Golf and the king-sized ambition behind a game on the bring</a>,” published yesterday in <em>The Athletic</em>, is so valuable. It calls on the expertise of those who have been studying Saudi Arabia and its royal family for decades, and presents a clear, detailed picture of where LIV Golf came from, how it’s financed, and how it fits into the Saudi government’s plans for the future. Brendan discusses all of this and more with Garrett Morrison in this episode.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

James Duncan on Working with Coore &amp; Crenshaw and Building Brambles

<p><a href="https://www.jhduncan.com/james-bio">James Duncan</a> has had over 30 years of experience in golf course architecture and has worked with Tom Doak and Gil Hanse in addition to being a longtime associate with Coore &amp; Crenshaw. He joins Andy Johnson to talk about how he got his start in the business and what brought him from his native Denmark to America. He and Andy discuss his experiences at Austin Golf Club, Hidden Creek, and the ill-fated Dos Pueblos project, and they wrap up with an update on the Brambles project outside of Napa, California, which will open in the coming months.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Takeaways from the 2022 Open Championship

<p>Given the turmoil that has dominated men’s professional golf this year, a Rory McIlroy victory in the Open Championship at St. Andrews would have been a storybook ending to the major season. Well, too bad. Cameron Smith, as he reminded us in the process of dismantling the Old Course on Sunday, is really, really good at golf. To break down all of the action as well as the deeper storylines, Garrett Morrison speaks with Jamie Weir (<a href="https://twitter.com/jamiecweir">@jamiecweir</a>), golf correspondent for Sky Sports; Joseph LaMagna (<a href="https://twitter.com/JosephLaMagna">@JosephLaMagna</a>), the analytical mind behind the <a href="https://findingtheedge.substack.com/">Finding the Edge</a> newsletter; and The Fried Egg’s own Andy Johnson, who was on site all week in St. Andrews.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Evolution of the Old Course

<p>How did the Old Course at St. Andrews become what it is today? Garrett Morrison takes a break from the action at the 150th Open Championship to chat with historian Bob Crosby (<a href="https://twitter.com/Otey71">@otey71</a>) about how golf’s most famous and influential course changed—in surprisingly radical ways—during the second half of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th. This evolution, Bob argues, has a lot to teach us about the nature of strategic course design. It also accounts for why the Old Course continues to fascinate us today.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Five Things About the 2022 Open Championship with Michael Clayton

<p>The 150th Open Championship is almost here, so Michael Clayton (<a href="https://twitter.com/mikeclaytongolf">@mikeclaytongolf</a>) joins Andy Johnson to run through five storylines to watch for this week. Tiger, Rory, and the biggest star of week, St. Andrews, are all covered. Michael also discusses which fellow Australians he hopes to see in contention and tells some stories about his experiences playing in three Opens at the Old Course. There's also some LIV chatter, but only a few minutes' worth... promise!</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

On My First Visit to St. Andrews...

<p>Andy Johnson will take his maiden voyage to St. Andrews for next week's Open Championship. To prepare, he talks with a series of guests about their first visits to the Old Course. Tom Doak, James Duncan, Shane Bacon (@shanebacon), Michael Clayton (@mikeclaytongolf), Gil Hanse, and Zac Blair (@z_blair) all talk with Andy about their first impressions, what surprised them, and what they took away from their first trip to the Home of Golf.</p> <p>Time stamps:</p> <p>(3:15) Tom Doak</p> <p>(7:02) James Duncan</p> <p>(10:31) Shane Bacon</p> <p>(17:19) Michael Clayton</p> <p>(24:04) Zac Blair</p> <p>(29:10) Gil Hanse</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

We Regret to Inform You That LIV’s Golf Product Does Not Stink

<p>This past weekend, the second event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series was staged at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, Oregon. The Fried Egg's own Garrett Morrison was on site, and he joins Andy Johnson to reflect on what he saw. Garrett and Andy talk about the shotgun start, the team format, player attitudes, and a variety of other topics. They also make some projections about the futures of both LIV and the PGA Tour. Warning: if you'd rather not see men's professional golf be taken over by an autocracy's reputation-laundering scheme, things are starting to look a little grim.</p> <p>Read "<a href="https://thefriedegg.com/liv-portland-pumpkin-ridge-controversy/">Smashing Pumpkin</a>," Garrett's story about the battle that broke out within Pumpkin Ridge's membership when the LIV Portland event was announced in March.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 35: All Things St. Andrews

<p>With the 150th edition of the Open kicking off at the Old Course in a little less than two weeks, Tom Doak and Andy Johnson devote an entire episode to St. Andrews. Tom has gotten to know the course deeply over multiple decades, so he has a lot of thoughts on what first-time visitors should do and what makes the Old Course one of a kind. The bunkers, the reverse routing, and the evolution of the course are all discussed in depth. We hope this gets you excited for the final men's major of the year!</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>