The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

Fried Egg Stories: The Pursuit of Perfect Turf

Even in November, Augusta National looks flawless. But why is it that we get so excited about green, uniform grass? In this edition of our audio documentary series, we dig into the backstory of America’s obsession with perfect turf. Our guests are Russ Myers, Ted Steinberg, George Waters, Derek Duncan, and John Jeffreys. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Engineered by J Vierck. Transcript assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.<p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Geoff Ogilvy - All 18 at Augusta National

<p>Before the last year's Masters, we released a two-part discussion with Geoff Ogilvy about Augusta National Golf Club. Here, we present a condensed, one-episode version of that conversation. Andy and Geoff cover every hole at the course, delving into the details of the design as well as the strategies used by Masters contestants.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Lukas Michel on His Travels and His Preparations for the Masters

<p>2019 U.S. Mid Am Champion Lukas Michel joins the podcast to discuss his preparations for the Masters as well as his travels in the U.S. since the U.S. Amateur. Lukas details his work on Mike DeVries's restoration crew at Bloomfield Hills and the great golf he has played all over the country. Lukas last appeared on The Fried Egg Podcast after his U.S. Mid Am win in Episode 155.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Luke Reese - One for the Memory Banks

<p>Author Luke Reese joins the podcast to talk about his new book <em>One for the Memory Banks</em>. Luke reflects on his experiences learning the game late in life as an American in Scotland and the friendships he made along the way. <em>One for the Memory Banks</em> can be purchased using <a href="https://www.thememorybanks.com/TheFriedEgg">THIS LINK</a> and will include a $10 donation to the National Links Trust.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Josh Mahar on Wild Horse and Sand Hills

<p>Josh Mahar, Superintendent at Wild Horse Golf Club, joins the podcast to discuss his longtime involvement in world-class golf in the Nebraska Sandhills. Josh was part of the grow-in team not only at Wild Hose but also at the renowned Sand Hills Golf Club. He and Andy talk about those experiences as well as Josh's overall career in the turf industry. 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>

School of Golf Architecture: Routing with Jeff Mingay, Part 2

<p>This is the second part of Garrett’s discussion with golf architect Jeff Mingay (@jeff_mingay) about how golfers can “read” the routing of a course. Having laid out the shared traits of good routings, they dig into a few famous examples. They also tackle a couple of big questions: How have routing practices changed over time? And does the future hold any new possibilities?</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

School of Golf Architecture: Routing with Jeff Mingay, Part 1

<p>Routing is perhaps the most important step in designing a golf course, but it’s a difficult concept for non-architects to understand. How can a regular golfer “read” the routing of a course that has already been built? Garrett explores this question with golf architect Jeff Mingay (<a href="https://twitter.com/jeff_mingay">@jeff_mingay</a>) for the fifth edition of the School of Golf Architecture. In the first of two episodes, Garrett and Jeff discuss the basic elements of effective golf course routing—elements that any golfer can recognize during a round.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Jaeger Kovich on Aronimink Golf Club

<p>Golf architect Jaeger Kovich joins the podcast to recall his time as a shaper for Hanse Golf Course Design during the firm's 2016 restoration of Aronimink Golf Club. This week, Aronimink plays host to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Stephen Britton on Royal Melbourne and TPC Potomac

<p>Stephen Britton, Superintendent at Chevy Chase Country Club joins the podcast this week. He discusses his beginnings at Royal Melbourne and how it spurned an eventual move to America, his time working for TPC Potomac and hosting PGA Tour events, and what it was like to work at Wimbledon.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Geoff Ogilvy - 2020 U.S. Open Recap

<p>Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to breakdown the 2020 U.S. Open. The pair focus in on the setup of Winged Foot and how it amplified DeChambeau’s talents while also discussing the future of golf given Bryson’s style of play. Geoff also talks about Sandy Links, the municipal course he grew up playing, its recent renovation.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: The Massacre at Winged Foot

<p>The 1974 U.S. Open, better known as the "Massacre at Winged Foot," has become a touchstone in the debate over what a golf championship should be. Depending on your perspective, it's either the U.S. Open at its best or the U.S. Open at its worst. With the national championship returning to Winged Foot this week, we ask what it means for a tournament venue to be insanely difficult. Our guests for this episode are Hale Irwin, Neil Regan, Mark Mulvoy, and Jeremy Schaap, reading from his father's classic book about the tournament. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Transcript assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p> <p>Brought to you by the <a href="https://www.usopen.com/victoryclub.html">U.S. Open Victory Club</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

John Bodenhamer on Setting Up the 2020 U.S. Open

<p>John Bodenhamer, the USGA's Senior Managing Director of Championships, joins the pod this week to discuss all things U.S. Open! Andy and John work through this week’s setup, differences we’ll notice between this event and the 2006 U.S. Open, and how the USGA manages championships without fans. They close the conversation with a few thoughts on the USGA’s new anchor site.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Geoff Ogilvy - Winged Foot, the U.S. Open, and the FedEx Cup

<p>Geoff Ogilvy, winner of the last U.S. Open contested at Winged Foot, joins the podcast to preview the 2020 U.S. Open. Andy and Geoff start by discussing the FedEx Cup Finals and Geoff's thoughts on the format. Then they delve into Geoff's winning effort in 2006 and his predictions for the 2020 edition.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: Jackie Robinson the Golfer

<p>In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first Black man to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century. You're probably familiar with that story. What you may not know is that the baseball diamond was not the only playing field where Robinson advocated for racial equality. He also did so on the golf course. In this edition of our audio documentary series, we tell the complicated, sad, even inconvenient story of Jackie Robinson the golfer. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Production assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p> <p>Sponsored by the U.S. Open Victory Club. <a href="https://www.usopen.com/victoryclub.html">Sign up for free</a>!</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The History of Winged Foot with Neil Regan

<p>Neil Regan, Winged Foot Golf Club's historian, sits down with Andy to discuss Winged Foot's rich history, from Babe Ruth's exploits at the club to Monty's struggles on the 18th hole in 2006. Regan was extensively involved in Hanse Golf Course Design's recent restoration of the course, and he tells Andy about the thinking behind the green expansions.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Stewart Hagestad on Bandon Dunes and the 2020 U.S. Amateur

<p>One hundred and seventy-nine episodes after his first appearance, Stewart Hagestad rejoins The Fried Egg Podcast to discuss his run to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Amateur last week. Andy and Stewart talk not only about the tournament but also about how Bandon Dunes compares to other competitive venues, how match play contrasts with stroke play, their favorite amateur events, and the upcoming U.S. Open, which Stewart is preparing for right now.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

TPC Harding Park and the ”Mega Muni” Model

<p>After an exciting PGA Championship, Andy and Garrett get together to discuss how TPC Harding Park fared in its major championship debut. They contemplate both  virtues and flaws of its design, routing, and setup, and they compare it to Winged Foot, the host of the upcoming U.S. Open. Also, they get into some broader trends in municipal golf, specifically the contrast between "mega munis" and "mini munis" that Garrett explored in <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/state-of-the-mega-muni-tpc-harding-park/">a recent article for The Fried Egg website</a>.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: Remaking Harding Park

<p>In this edition of our audio documentary series, we tell the story of Harding Park, a course that has, at different points in its history, represented both the best and the worst of municipal golf. This week, it hosts the 2020 PGA Championship, but just 22 years ago, it served as a parking lot for the 1998 U.S. Open. We talk to Bo Links, Ron Kroichick, Sean Elsbernd, Joe Shasky, and Sasha Perigo about these highs and lows, and also about the benefits and drawbacks of city golf in general. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Geoff Ogilvy - Bryson‘s Transformation, Harding Park, and Young Guns

<p>Geoff Ogilvy returns to catch up with Andy Johnson about the latest happenings on the PGA Tour and to discuss the upcoming PGA Championship. Geoff talks about his fascination with the golf swing, which grew during the quarantine, and what he thinks the keys will be at Harding Park.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Tony Nysse on Mountain Lake and Friar’s Head

<p>Tony Nysse, the Director of Golf Course and Grounds at Mountain Lake, joins the podcast to discuss his affinity for golf course architecture and his career in the turf industry. Tony's many stories include giving architectural advice to a developer while in college, interning at Friar's Head, and restoring Old Marsh.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Kerry Haigh on PGA Championship Setup

<p>Kerry Haigh, the Chief Championships Officer of the PGA of America, joins Andy to discuss next week's PGA Championship at Harding Park. The conversation centers on Kerry's approach to setting up major championship golf.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 25: Is Donald Ross Overrated? and Other Questions

<p>In our latest talk with golf architect Tom Doak, we dive into a number of listener questions. Tom addresses whether Donald Ross is overrated, the ideas behind some of his greens at Lost Dunes, and which par 3, 4, and 5 from Scotland he would put in his backyard.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 24: St. Andrews Beach, Covid-19, and East Potomac

<p>In the second part of his recent conversation with Andy, Tom Doak explains why St. Andrews Beach—a design of his outside of Melbourne, Australia—is one of his favorite courses in the world. Later, he and Andy discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the design business and the golf world in general, and how this moment compares to 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. The episode wraps up with a discussion of the potential of East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., which Tom is set to restore.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 23: Getting to 18, Pacific Dunes, and the Original Sheep Ranch

<p>Tom Doak is back! The lead architect at Renaissance Golf Design joins Andy to talk about his latest book project, Getting to 18. They discuss the writing process,  a few excerpts from the book, the story of how Tom met Bill Coore, and the secrets behind the routings of Pacific Dunes and the original Sheep Ranch. To purchase Getting to 18, a limited-edition book, visit <a href="http://doakgolf.com/">doakgolf.com</a> .</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 3 - Better

<p>This is the third and final episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It explores how advanced plastics made their way into the modern, solid-core ball, bringing the promise of “better things for better living through chemistry” to the game.</p> <p>Guests: Harry Brown, Joe Henley, Mark O’Meara, and Dean Snell.</p> <p>Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p> <p>Brown, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Object-Lessons-Harry-Brown/dp/1628921382/">Golf Ball</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 2 - Wound

<p>This is the second episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It recounts the advent of the wound ball—the Haskell—and the ensuing debate over the future of the game.</p> <p>Guests: Bob Crosby and Brett Cyrgalis.</p> <p>Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p> <p><a href="http://www.golfcollectors.co.uk/through-the-green">Through the Green</a></p> <p>Cyrgalis, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Golfs-Holy-War-Battle-Science/dp/1476707596/">Golf’s Holy War</a> </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 1 - Gutty

<p>This is the first episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It focuses on the invention of the gutta percha ball and the surprising backstory of gutta percha itself.</p> <p>Guests: Harry Brown, Stephen Proctor, and Helen Godfrey.</p> <p>Music by Blue Dot Sessions.</p> <p>Brown, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Object-Lessons-Harry-Brown/dp/1628921382/">Golf Ball</a> Proctor, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Monarch-Green-Morris-Pioneer-Modern/dp/1909715751/">Monarch of the Green</a> Godfrey, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Submarine-Telegraphy-Percha-Economic-History/dp/9004344330/">Submarine Telegraphy and the Hunt for Gutta Percha</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Curtis Strange

<p>Hall of Famer Curtis Strange joins Andy Johnson to discuss his storied career as well as recent events on the PGA Tour. Curtis tells Andy about his closing eagle to win the NCAA Championship, his back-to-back U.S. Open wins, and his near-miss at the 1985 Masters. The conversation also touches on the rise of a beefed-up Bryson DeChambeau and the recent split between Fox Sports, where Curtis was an analyst, and the USGA.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Superintendent Series: Aaron McMaster on the Renovation of Orchard Lake

<p>Aaron McMaster, the Superintendent at Orchard Lake Country Club, joins Andy to talk turf. They discuss the ins and outs of making agronomic changes to a golf course before diving into the story of Orchard Lake’s renovation by Keith Foster.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Michael McCartin and Will Smith of National Links Trust

<p>Last week, <a href="https://thefriedegg.com/community-project-national-links-trust-selected-to-manage-dc-courses/">the National Park Service announced</a> that it would begin negotiations with <a href="https://www.nationallinkstrust.com/">National Links Trust</a> to operate three municipal golf courses in Washington, D.C. A non-profit founded by Michael McCartin and Will Smith, NLT has partnered with architects Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and Beau Welling in hopes of renovating the East Potomac, Rock Creek Park, and Langston golf properties. Andy speaks with Mike and Will about this exciting development in a story that The Fried Egg has been tracking since last year. Among other topics, they discuss the RFP process, the NLT’s visions for the courses, the importance of compelling municipal golf architecture, and the role that D.C. golf facilities can play as community gathering spots and agents for social change.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>