The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

Roberto Castro on the Wild 2022 Players Championship

<p>Former PGA Tour player Roberto Castro (<a href="https://twitter.com/cicioCASTRO">@cicioCASTRO</a>) talks with Andy Johnson about the marathon that was the 2022 Players Championship. From the weather to the final putt on Monday, Roberto shares his insights into what makes the tournament so difficult to predict, how Saturday gave us a glimpse into what a rollback might look like, and what he thinks the most difficult shot on the course is. The current state of golf course development is also discussed in the back half of the episode. </p> <p>In addition to hosting the <a href="https://courserecordshow.com/">Course Record Show</a> podcast, Roberto runs his own golf consulting business, <a href="https://www.castrogolfconsulting.com/">Castro Golf Consulting</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Jerry Pate on Early TPC Sawgrass and His 1982 Players Win

<p>In February 2020, Garrett Morrison interviewed 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate about his win at the 1982 Players Championship, the first Players held at TPC Sawgrass. Jerry talked about his first impressions of the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course, his post-victory leap into the pond next to the 18th green, and his fond memories of his friends Pete and Alice Dye. We used excerpts from Jerry and Garrett's conversation in our documentary podcast “<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fried-egg-stories-rerelease-alligator-pit-making-tpc/id1131723994?i=1000511862549">Making TPC Sawgrass</a>.” Since it’s now the 40th anniversary of the '82 Players, we figured it was a good time to air the interview in full.</p> <p>Check out our <a href="https://youtu.be/m4jbZUUfQF8">video on the history, design, and evolution of TPC Sawgrass</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Four Things About the 2022 Players Championship with Sean Martin

<p>It’s tradition around here to release a “Five Things About...” episode on Tuesday before a major championship. Since the Players Championship, in spite of the PGA Tour’s best efforts, isn’t <em>quite </em>a major, we thought “Four Things” would suffice. Andy Johnson calls up Sean Martin (<a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOURSMartin">@PGATourSMartin</a>), the newly anointed king of editorial at PGATour.com, to chat about the latest happenings on tour and the most interesting storylines going into the week at TPC Sawgrass.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Let’s Not Learn the Wrong Lessons from Phil Mickelson’s Downfall

<p>Things have been moving quickly for Phil Mickelson. After his comments about the Saudi-backed Super Golf League made headlines, he was dropped by most of his major sponsors and pilloried by both the media and his PGA Tour colleagues. The backlash was surprisingly severe, even if much of it was well deserved. Mickelson’s knowing involvement with Saudi sportswashing was indefensible. But that doesn’t mean that everything he said about the SGL was nonsense. In fact, his basic position that the PGA Tour needs to be challenged is worth taking seriously. So in this episode, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss how competition from rival leagues could force the Tour to improve its product. </p> <p>Here is Garrett’s article “<a href="https://thefriedegg.com/phil-mickelson-leverage-super-golf-league-pga-tour/">Phil Mickelson and the Uses of Leverage</a>.” </p> <p>Also, check out the <a href="https://www.golfgenius.com/ggid/rqnpsm/customerdirectory/8175953014239026490">Fried Egg Events page on Golf Genius</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Joshua C.F. Smith of Orinda Country Club and FlagBag Golf Co.

<p>Joshua C.F. Smith (<a href="https://twitter.com/joshuacfsmith">@joshuacfsmith</a>) has worn many hats in golf. From playing competitively in college to serving as superintendent at Orinda Country Club outside of Oakland, California, he has seen many aspects of the industry. He has also found time to become a renowned painter of golf landscapes and help found FlagBag Golf Co. (<a href="https://twitter.com/FlagBagGolf">@flagbaggolf</a>). In the latest installment of our Superintendent Series, Josh sits down with Andy Johnson to share stories about his wide-ranging career.</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>

A Primer on Sportswashing in Golf (ft. Will Bardwell and Dr. Helen Lenskyj)

<p>The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making major inroads in professional golf. It holds lucrative annual events, funds a 10-event series on the Asian Tour, and hopes to lure the world’s best male players to a proposed Super Golf League. Recently, the SGL initiative has taken a hit because of Phil Mickelson’s loose lips, but Saudi Arabia appears committed to its golf strategy, and it’s clear that the country is engaged in a practice known as “sportswashing.” As one of our guests, Dr. Helen Lenskyj, defines it, sportswashing involves “attempts on the part of authoritarian regimes to improve their tarnished global reputations through sport.” It is important for golf fans to understand this concept because the Saudis aren’t going anywhere.</p> <p>We have two guests today: Dr. Lenskyj, an academic researcher who focuses on the relationship between sports and global politics; and Will Bardwell, a civil rights attorney and golf writer.</p> <p>Time stamps:</p> <p>2:49—Will Bardwell interview, part 1</p> <p>13:11—Helen Lenskyj interview</p> <p>30:25—Will Bardwell interview, part 2</p> <p>Reading material:</p> <p>Will Bardwell, “<a href="https://www.lyingfour.com/conversations-blog/2022/2/3/zmvtkq7npo3njfimn8uwpx9977h3k8">Blind Men and Blood</a>”</p> <p>Helen Lenskyj, <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/doi/10.1108/9781838677732"><em>The Olympic Games: A Critical Approach</em></a></p> <p>Check out <a href="https://www.golfgenius.com/ggid/rqnpsm/customerdirectory/8175953014239026490">The Fried Egg Events page on Golf Genius</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Bandon Deep Dives: Bandon Trails

<p>The third of our deep dives into the five 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes focuses on Bandon Trails, built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2005. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about how the construction of Bandon Trails fit into the resort’s history, and they play an interview clip in which Coore discusses the origins of the course’s three-part identity. Andy and Garrett then launch into a wide-ranging discussion of Bandon Trails’ (many) strengths and (few) weaknesses. They cover, among other things, their favorite green-to-tee transitions, the controversy around the 14th hole, and the course’s similarities to <em>Saving Private Ryan</em>, <em>The Princess Bride</em>, and Bruce Bowen. (All of that will make sense in context, we promise.)</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>

Reflecting on the PGA Tour’s First Month of 2022 and Previewing Riviera with Joseph LaMagna

<p>With the final tournament of the West Coast swing upon us, it's a good time to catch up with Joseph LaMagna (<a href="https://twitter.com/JosephLaMagna">@JosephLaMagna</a>), Fried Egg contributor and author of the biweekly newsletter <a href="https://findingtheedge.substack.com/">Finding the Edge</a>, about the early part of the 2022 PGA Tour season. Andy Johnson grills Joseph on who has impressed and disappointed thus far and what he makes of the very low scores we've seen almost weekly. They wrap up their chat with what to expect at Riviera later this week and the specific skill sets the course will test.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Eric Richardson of Essex County Club

<p>In the latest edition of our Superintendent Series, Andy Johnson meets up with Eric Richardson (<a href="https://twitter.com/erichturf">@erichturf</a>), Director of Grounds at Essex County Club, at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Conference and Trade Show in San Diego, California. Along with architect Bruce Hepner, Eric has worked to return Essex County to its Donald Ross roots. He has overseen projects such as enlarging greens, changing mowing lines, reshaping bunkers, giving the course a minimalist look and feel, and maintaining ideal playing conditions on the property's unique terrain. Andy and Eric also discover they have a similar disdain for ball washers.</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>

Ben Cowan-Dewar on Founding Cabot and Becoming a Golf Course Developer

<p>Ben Cowan-Dewar is the co-founder and CEO of Cabot, the company that developed Cabot Cape Breton and recently purchased World Woods Golf Club in Florida. Ben talks with Andy Johnson about Cabot’s first U.S.-based property, which will be rebranded as Cabot Citrus Farms. They also discuss Ben’s unconventional path to becoming a golf course developer, the early days of Cabot Links, and his experiences working with Bill Coore and other great architects.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What to Know About Perry Maxwell (ft. Chris Clouser and Colton Craig)

<p>In the latest installment of our “What to Know About…” series on golf’s greatest architects, we focus on Perry Maxwell, the designer of many courses, including Prairie Dunes, Southern Hills, and Old Town Club. Garrett Morrison and Andy Johnson kick off the episode by talking about The Fried Egg’s upcoming event at Dornick Hills Country Club, the first course Maxwell built. We then present two conversations: one between Garrett and biographer Chris Clouser on Perry Maxwell’s life and work, and another between Andy and architect Colton Craig (<a href="https://twitter.com/craig_colton">@craig_colton</a>) on Colton’s quest to play every Maxwell course in existence. Toward the end of the podcast, we return to Chris for some closing reflections on Maxwell’s architectural legacy. (Time stamps below.)</p> <p>The Banker, our June 6 event at Dornick Hills in Ardmore, Oklahoma, opens for registration on Monday, February 7. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.golfgenius.com/ggid/rqnpsm/customerdirectory/8175953014239026490">new events page on Golf Genius</a>.</p> <p>Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Associate-Life-Perry-Maxwell/dp/141207746X"><em>The Midwest Associate</em></a>, Chris Clouser’s biography of Perry Maxwell.</p> <p>Time stamps:</p> <p>0:35—Discussion of Dornick Hills and The Banker</p> <p>7:04—Chris Clouser interview</p> <p>36:34—Colton Craig interview</p> <p>54:05—Final thoughts with Chris Clouser</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Catching Up with Bill Coore

<p>Legendary golf course architect Bill Coore returns to the podcast for the first time in over two years. He and Andy Johnson have a lot to catch up on, and they cover a number of past and present Coore &amp; Crenshaw projects, including Old Sandwich Golf Club, Bandon Trails, the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, and Brambles in Northern California. Bill shares his insights on the current boom in golf course construction and how it differs from the last upturn in the 90s and early 00s. He finishes with some reflections on what keeps him going and what he loves most about designing golf courses.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Bandon Deep Dives: Old Macdonald

<p>In the second of their five Bandon Dunes deep dives, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss what may be the resort’s most polarizing course: Old Macdonald, built by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina in 2009. Andy and Garrett start with a historical rundown, touching on the origins of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor’s “ideal holes,” the decision to make Old Mac a tribute to those templates, and the unusual collaborative process behind the construction of the course. Then Andy and Garrett dig into the nitty-gritty of Old Mac’s design. They talk about the holes they love (and don’t quite love), and they try to figure out why this unique, brilliant course sometimes rubs people the wrong way.</p> <p>The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by <a href="https://www.zerorestriction.com/">Zero Restriction</a> (code: OLDMAC).</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Challenging Golf Course Architecture’s Status Quo with Tim Jackson and David Kahn

<p>While visiting Scottsdale, Arizona, Andy Johnson met up with Tim Jackson and David Kahn of Jackson Kahn Design (<a href="https://twitter.com/jkdgolfdesign">@JKDgolfdesign</a>). Tim and David got their start working for Tom Fazio’s organization, founded their own firm in 2009, and went on to do striking, ambitious work at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Scottsdale National Golf Club. In this episode, they describe their design style, share stories of working for Bob Parsons (“kaboom, baby!”), and explain how a video game helped them conceptualize the Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National. They also have some choice words about the current state of golf course architecture as an art.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 33: Listener Questions and the State of the Industry

<p>In this second part of his most recent conversation with Andy Johnson, Tom Doak answers more listener questions, including ones about the upcoming Sedge Valley project at Sand Valley and the non-golf literature that has influenced him. Tom and Andy also discuss how golf course architecture finds itself at a crossroads, with established architects approaching retirement just as construction has started to boom. Finally, Tom answers the hardest question in Yolk with Doak history.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Building an Affordable Set of Used Golf Clubs with Ryan Barath

<p>As the supply-chain crisis escalates, new golf equipment is becoming pricier and harder to get ahold of. So it might be a good time to take an interest in used clubs. Ryan Barath (<a href="https://twitter.com/RDSBarath">@rdsbarath</a>), lead content strategist at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TXGTourExperienceGolf">Tour Experience Golf</a>, is one of the industry's most knowledgeable resources on that subject. Ryan talks with Garrett Morrison about how his golf nerdery started and how the equipment business has changed during his career. In the second half of the episode, Ryan and Garrett give their picks for two sets of used clubs: one that can be had for under $750 total, and another that consists of equipment made before 2005. This exercise allows them to delve deeper into the products, innovations, and trends that have, for better or for worse, shaped 21st-century golf.</p> <p>On The Fried Egg website: <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/how-to-assemble-a-great-set-of-used-golf-clubs/">How to Assemble a Great Set of Used Golf Clubs</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 32: New Year’s Resolutions and Unconventional Course Concepts

<p>In the latest edition of our interview series with golf course architect Tom Doak, Tom answers listener questions about New Year's resolutions, forward-tee placement, and accounting for climate change in his designs. He also shares with Andy a number of new concepts and projects he'd like to explore, including a modern replica of Pine Valley, a course specifically for women, and a fresh take on residential golf. Look for part two of this conversation in the coming weeks.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Devon Carroll on Women in Turf

<p>Why aren’t there more women in the turf industry? What changes would be necessary for there to be more? Devon Carroll (<a href="https://twitter.com/turfgirl24">@turfgirl24</a>), a doctoral candidate in turfgrass science at the University of Tennessee, has looked deeply into these questions. Recently she has been interviewing women who hold leadership roles in turf and finding out how more women might be recruited and retained. This topic has taken on additional urgency over the past several months as workplaces everywhere, including those in golf, have struggled to find labor. Devon joins Andy Johnson to talk about her background in golf and golf course maintenance, her experiences in the male-dominated field, and the ways that the industry can improve its gender diversity. </p> <p>Check out Devon’s new peer-reviewed research paper, “<a href="https://www.jae-online.org/index.php/volume-62-number-4-2021/2437-women-in-turf-a-qualitative-study-examining-how-women-have-sustained-their-leadership-role-in-the-turfgrass-industry">Women in Turf: A Qualitative Study Examining How Women Have Sustained Their Leadership Role in the Turfgrass Industry</a>.”</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>

Previewing the 2022 PGA Tour Season with Joseph LaMagna

<p>Let’s be honest: the PGA Tour season doesn’t really start until the serene seascapes of Kapalua fill our TV screens in the first week of January. To prepare for the occasion, Andy Johnson calls up Joseph LaMagna (<a href="https://twitter.com/JosephLaMagna">@JosephLaMagna</a>), the sharp mind behind the <a href="https://findingtheedge.substack.com/">Finding the Edge</a> newsletter, to discuss what to expect from Ponte Vedra’s princes in 2022. They talk about the youth wave in men’s professional golf, the keys to Collin Morikawa’s success, and whether Rory McIlroy is “back.” Andy and Joseph finish by running through several players who are primed for breakout years and a few who could regress to the mean.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Events, Explained

<p>For our final episode of 2021, we talk about The Fried Egg’s roster of 2022 events. First, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison run through some FAQs: Why do we hold these events? How do we choose the venues? What’s the format? Can I register as a single? What if I’m not a particularly competitive player? (To address the latter two questions briefly: absolutely, and it doesn’t matter.) Then Andy and Garrett have an in-depth discussion of Lawsonia Links, site of the annual Steamshovel event. Lawsonia was designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau in 1930, and it is an important course both to Andy and to The Fried Egg. We finish up with two clips from past episodes: a portion of Andy’s interview with architect Troy Miller about Charleston Municipal Golf Course, host of the King Tide; and a conversation between Andy and Garrett about Soule Park, host of the Boomerang.</p> <p>Sign-ups for the first four Fried Egg events of 2022 open on Monday, January 3! Those events: the King Tide at Charleston Muni in Charleston, South Carolina; the Boomerang at Soule Park in Ojai, California; the Steamshovel at Lawsonia Links in Green Lake, Wisconsin; and the Coup de Grâce at the Dunes Club in New Buffalo, Michigan. For details, visit our <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/category/2022-events/">EVENTS PAGE</a>.</p> <p>Here are some time stamps in case you’d like to skip around in the episode:</p> <p>(0:37) Explanation of Fried Egg events and next year’s events in particular</p> <p>(24:40) Discussion of Lawsonia Links</p> <p>(40:50) Interview with Troy Miller about Charleston Muni</p> <p>(55:10) Discussion of Soule Park</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Bandon Deep Dives: Sheep Ranch

<p>Over the next several weeks, we plan to record deep-dive discussions for all five 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes. First up, in reverse-chronological order: Sheep Ranch. Before it was officially part of the resort, Sheep Ranch was a free-form course on which players could choose their own routings. Its 13 greens were designed by Tom Doak and the team at Renaissance Golf Design. When owners Mike Keiser and Phil Friedmann decided to incorporate Sheep Ranch into Bandon Dunes, they hired Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to transform it into a traditional 18-hole layout. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss the course’s history and evolution before giving their assessment of its current design. (Spoiler: they like it.)</p><p>Our 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>

Bees Can Guide Us to the Future of Golf (Seriously)

<p>One of the most pressing issues in golf right now is the relationship between the game and the environment. As temperatures rise and water supplies dwindle, courses need to reevaluate the way they use resources and interact with their ecosystems. Sorting through these complexities is Parker Anderson’s specialty. Parker is the founder (and head beekeeper) of <a href="https://www.greener.golf/">Greener Golf</a>, a company that helps golf facilities quantify and improve their impact on the environment. In this episode, he talks with Garrett Morrison about the surprising benefits that a well-tended bee colony can offer a course and its surroundings. They also discuss the stigmas against the game, the potential for short courses to be ecological laboratories, and how golf can strive to be regenerative, not just sustainable.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Which U.S. Golf Courses Still Need to Be Restored?

<p>Earlier this week, Andy Johnson wrote an article for The Fried Egg website on the great remaining restoration opportunities in American golf. It generated a lot of discussion, so Andy and Garrett decided to sit down and discuss the topic further. They go in depth on Andy’s top four restoration candidates—Augusta National, Riviera, Pebble Beach, and the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass—and they touch on the 12 other courses that made the list as well as a few notable ones that were left off. Andy and Garrett wrap up with some thoughts on what the future might hold for restoration and renovation in the golf course industry.</p> <p>Article: <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/americas-great-remaining-golf-course-restoration-opportunities/">America's Great Remaining Golf Course Restoration Opportunities</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Ken Nice of Bandon Dunes

<p>Ken Nice, Senior Director of Agronomy at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, joins Andy Johnson to discuss… basketball, of all things! Once the hoops chat is over, Ken shares some stories from his experience as the assistant superintendent during the construction of David McLay-Kidd's Bandon Dunes. Ken and Andy then talk about the evolution and growth of the resort, how he's handled overseeing the unique maintenance challenges at each course, his favorite spots on the property, and how he deals with the rare snow day and a packed tee sheet.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: The Hickory Open

<p>For the latest installment of our audio documentary series, Garrett Morrison heads out to the Oregon coast for the 2021 U.S. Hickory Open. At this event, players must use wooden-shafted clubs either made before 1935 or faithfully based on those models. Garrett spends the day walking around Gearhart Golf Links, talking to a variety of characters, including John Henry Williams, a club repair specialist who has set up a workshop on site; Tad Moore, a renowned club builder and a co-founder of the Society of Hickory Golfers; and Colin McNamara, who is in contention to win the tournament. Garrett’s main purpose is to understand 21st-century hickory golf: where it came from, how it’s played, and why some people get absolutely hooked by it.</p> <p>Season 2 of Fried Egg Stories is brought to you by <a href="https://www.precisionprogolf.com/">Precision Pro Golf</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Dream 18: Bandon Dunes

<p>After a six-day stint at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, a trio of tired Eggs (<a href="https://twitter.com/the_woke_yolk">@the_woke_yolk</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/gfordgolf">@gfordgolf</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/willknightsTFE">@willknightsTFE</a>) sit down to hash out their "Dream 18": a composite course consisting of their favorite holes from the five 18-hole courses on the property. For each hole number, they choose a winner and an honorable mention, and some lively debate ensues. This discussion should provide an accessible introduction to our upcoming deep dives into each course.</p> <p>The Fried Egg’s trip to Bandon Dunes was made possible (and, at times, survivable) by <a href="https://www.zerorestriction.com/">Zero Restriction</a>, makers of fine outerwear.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 31: Municipal Golf, the Renaissance Cup, and Apache Stronghold

<p>Our series with golf architect Tom Doak continues as he and Andy Johnson catch up in Washington D.C., where they attended the National Links Trust Symposium on Municipal Golf. In addition to discussing sustainability and course maintenance in the municipal golf world, they talk about the few golf course restorations left that would interest Tom, how his design style has evolved over the years, and the origins of the Renaissance Cup. Lastly, Apache Stronghold Golf Club, a course of Tom’s that hasn't been mentioned much in the Yolk with Doak series, gets some overdue attention.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What to Know About George C. Thomas Jr. (ft. Geoff Shackelford)

<p>George C. Thomas Jr. is the golf architect behind Riviera Country Club, Bel Air Country Club, the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, and the classic 1927 book <em>Golf Architecture in America</em>. To learn more about Thomas, Andy Johnson sits down with Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac), who is the author not only of the Substack newsletter <a href="https://www.thequadrilateral.golf/">The Quadrilateral</a> but also the book <em>The Captain: George C. Thomas Jr. and His Golf Architecture</em>. Geoff and Andy discuss various aspects of Thomas’s compelling albeit short life, including his diverse hobbies, contributions to Pine Valley, partnership with Billy Bell, and ever-evolving design style.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Trevor Immelman on the Presidents Cup, Ernie Els, and What It Takes to Win on Today’s PGA Tour

<p>Trevor Immelman is the 2008 Masters champion, a TV analyst, and the incoming captain of the International Presidents Cup squad. In this episode, he chats with Andy Johnson about what it takes to be a winner on the PGA Tour today, his experience as an assistant captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, and how things are looking for the International team going into 2022. Trevor also looks back at the beginning of his golf career in South Africa and the role Ernie Els played as a mentor-turned-competitor.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Ryan Tuxhorn of Somerset Hills Country Club

<p>Ryan Tuxhorn (<a href="https://twitter.com/r_tuxhorn">@r_tuxhorn</a>) joins Andy Johnson for the latest edition of our Superintendent Series. Ryan went straight from college to working as an intern and making his way through the ranks at Merion Golf Club. He shares how his experiences there shaped his philosophies on everything from course maintenance to green speeds, and prepared him for his job as superintendent at Somerset Hills Country Club, where he has been for the past 13 years. He and Andy discuss the restoration work at Somerset Hills, how his approach has changed over the years, and his budding maple syrup business, which keeps him busy through the long New Jersey winters.</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>