Sam sits down in a busy Loch Lomond restaurant to speak to David Jones, better known as the UK Golf Guy. David's journey into golf is truly unconventional. From a highly successful corporate background to one of the most successful inward, luxury tour operators in just a few short years. This is an episode not to be missed, as we discuss how to approach a career in golf, golf course ranking lists, favourite trips to go and much more. A slightly different podcast to the course...

Welcome back to Part 2 of Question Badgers. In the previous episode, Sam and Bledge took questions from you lovely listeners. So many, where there, that we thought breaking it into two parts might be better. Of course, the second part has the better questions in. The Badgers' discuss the best new course in GB&I, career advice and how to get top level experience as a greenkeeper. They also take up other sides of the Course Presentation vs Design debate. Finally, a serious note about...

Welcome back to another question and answer special of Golf Badgers. The first version of 'Question Badgers' was one of the most listened to episodes we've done so far. Last week, we asked for you to send in some more questions for the Badgers' and this is Part 1 of the answers. Part 2 will follow shortly, before we bring a more regular schedule of upcoming guests to the podcast. As ever, please do follow or subscribe to the podcast. If there's a Golf Badger in your life, perhaps you...

Welcome back, Badgers! If you have been following us for some time, you might be familiar with the name Jim Croxton. We released a short podcast with him back in January, which was recorded at BTME. Jim is the CEO of BIGGA - the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association and is hugely passionate about the greenkeeping industry. In this episode, we dive deeper into the greenkeeping industry, its future prospects and all BIGGA do to support it. If you are a greenkeeper, this...

Those of you who have followed my Links from the Road Tour will already know my thoughts on Hayling Golf Club. I made an 'under the radar' film on Hayling called 'The Ground Game'. As you'll hear, it's an incredibly difficult site to manage, but Course Manager Greig - ably assisted by deputy Graeme - manage to present a wonderful links experience in the face of it all. The film can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5kVKcWNjok We hope you enjoy this episode. We learn...

A slightly different episode this time round. We asked for a few questions for Bledge and myself and you kindly obliged. We've ended up with a diverse episode, covering all manner of topics. Releasing on Masters (and Easter, but mainly Masters) Sunday means we naturally compare Augusta to links courses. But we also discuss our favourite courses and where we'd both love to work. Bledge gets technical talking about fertiliser and I learn a few things. Please do let us know what you think of...

Welcome back, Badgers! It's been a busy few weeks in the Badger Sett. Bledge has been getting his course ready for Spring, while I've been incredibly busy at CDP in the architecture world. Just as we like it! Fortunately, spring is on its way. The nights are lighter and we're slowly warming up. This episode was recorded a little while back, at BTME in Harrogate. It will almost conclude the episodes we recorded there. I'll be getting the last few out soon. Hope all is well with...

Hello Badgers, Welcome to Episode 11 of Golf Badgers. Its been a busy start to the year. We've been to Harrogate for BTME and then to Orlando for GIS. We thought we'd have a catch up together to talk about our experiences at them both and give you some of our thoughts.  It was meant to only be short, but we got a little distracted at times. We discuss the architecture and maintenance side of bunkers, and find out the firmness of Bledge's office floor. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to...

Episode 10! A bit of a milestone for Golf Badgers. Please forgive the self indulgent intro but Bledge and I would like to thank you all for listening to the podcast so far. It has been enormous fun putting this together, and we'll certainly be carrying it on. You find us back at BTME in the quietest corner of the hotel we could find. A hive of activity, it's not quite 'recording studio' standard - but hope that doesn't detract from what I am convinced is a fascinating conversation. Matt...

Welcome back Badgers, Bledge and I have just got back from an excellent week in Harrogate for BTME 2023. We managed to record a few episodes which we'll release over the coming weeks, but thought we'd share with a brief overview of BTME with Jim Croxton. Jim is CEO of BIGGA - the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association. BTME is the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, held each year in Harrogate.  As I found out over the week, it's far more than just the exhibition itself....

Welcome back Badgers! It's been a long time since our Christmas special, but we're back! With BTME on the horizon, Bledge and I will be taking our microphones down and recording a bunch of episodes - so hopefully plenty to come. We hope you enjoy this chat with Lee Strutt.  Bledge worked for Lee when he was a young greenkeeper. Lee's one of the most experienced guys out there, working in a broad range of roles over his years in the industry. It's a little longer than usual, but we got...

Merry Christmas, Badgers! We hope everyone's had a great Christmas. Between the snow storms in the UK, some technical issues and a big dose of man flu for Bledge, we've been a little quiet recently. Well we're back with a bang for our Christmas special, and were delighted that Zac Blair and Kye Goalby joined the pod to discuss (amongst other things) The Tree Farm. Enjoy the rest of this weird spell between Christmas and New Years where every day feels like a Sunday, and we'll be back in...

Welcome back Badgers. This week we're joined by a few special guests. First, Sean McClean the 'new' Course Manager at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Birkdale is one of the most famous links courses in the world, and both Bledge and I were looking forward to speaking to Sean and asking his opinions, ideas and plans for this great Open venue. We also talk about his career to date, including 13 years at Princes with guest of episode 2, Rob McGuirk. Sean was also asked a couple of questions by...

This week Bledge and I were joined by Ryan Noades of The Addington. Ryan's family have owned this exceptional heathland course for a while now, and it is currently going through a multi-year restoration process with my firm of CDP. We talk about Ryan's life, when he realised The Addington was special, how far it had fallen and the work ongoing to bring it back. It's a truly special place and Ryan's knowledge of architecture is matched by his enthusiasm for the project. We hope you enjoy...

Welcome back Badgers. For a change of pace, Mr Bledge is interviewing me (Sam Cooper) on my transition into the golfing industry, thoughts on architecture and the culmination of my 2 year road trip around the coastline of Great Britain. We hope you enjoy and, as ever, please feel free to tell us how we're doing on our respective social media accounts. Thanks for listening! Sam

Welcome back to the Podcast, Badgers. I'm on the road this week, and I've left Bledge back in Hoylake. I popped into Ganton Golf Club to play their esteemed 'inland links' (more on that later) and meet Course Manager, Simon Olver. As you'll hear, Simon is another intelligent, passionate and ambitious course manager. I asked him about his career to date and plans for the historic course at Ganton. I hope you enjoy the conversation and as ever, don't forget to get in touch with me on...

Badgers, welcome back to the podcast. This week, we're in conversation with our great friend Rob McGuirk. Rob's family have owned the famed links of Princes for a good while now, and recently acquired Chart Hills Golf Club. We have a wide ranging chat about his career, particular interests within the game, the evolution of Princes and their work at Chart Hills. We wanted to provide a slightly different perspective on the industry, so were delighted Rob was able to provide the owner and...

Golf Badgers (ɡɒlf bæʤə) - noun: A group of golfers obsessed with the game. Episode 1 is a chat between the hosts. Sam Cooper is a golf architect with Clayton, DeVries & Pont whilst James Bledge is Links Manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake). With 9 months to go until the 151st Open Championship returns to Hoylake, Bledge tells us about his career to date and gives his feelings on how preparations are going. We hope you enjoy our ramblings!