In this episode, we talk about a recent solo format, some listener questions, and a few updates from our work and travel. We also reflect on the Walker Cup at Lahinch, where we volunteered and spent the week working on course preparation, especially fairway cutting and daily maintenance.

We describe Lahinch as a memorable venue with a strong team atmosphere, a busy volunteer setup, and a course that was presented in excellent condition. We also talk about the town, the social side of the week, and how the event came down to a dramatic finish on the 18th green.

We then cover some visits to other courses, including Adare Manor and Doonbeg, and note the quality of the surfaces, greens, bunkering, and maintenance facilities. We also mention taking practical ideas back from these places, such as storage systems, equipment organisation, and sustainability practices.

A major topic is the difficult year at Hoylake, especially the effects of drought, irrigation issues, and loss of fairway coverage. We explain the work being done with catch cans, overseeding, and grass selection, and we outline how autumn becomes the busiest planning period for winter projects, budgeting, and course changes.

We also discuss the Future Turf Managers Initiative, where we have taken part as a mentor. We explain how the programme focuses on management skills, interviews, presentations, motivation, and career development, and we say how valuable it has been for both students and mentors.

Finally, we answer listener questions about Brora, our name, advice for young greenkeepers, and course characteristics we would like to improve. We close by mentioning an upcoming trip to Philadelphia to visit several major courses and by stressing how important volunteering, networking, and continuous learning are in our profession.

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We discuss Bledge’s golf trip to Philadelphia and New Jersey with friends John and Sean. The trip was originally planned around Pine Valley, and connections through golf clubs and greenkeepers helped shape the itinerary after the initial plans changed.

We describe Pine Valley as a standout experience, from its pine-framed holes, sandy areas in place of conventional rough and fast greens to its caddies, clubhouse and practice facilities. We also discuss the course’s history, its named features and the 10-hole short course.

We visit Philadelphia Cricket Club, Golf Mills and Philadelphia Country Club. We compare their layouts, turf and rough, and talk about meeting superintendents and seeing maintenance facilities. At Aronimink, we discuss its challenging greens, course preparation and the organization of the maintenance operation.

We compare American course presentation with conditions in the UK, including the effects of climate, irrigation, soil and grass types. We also discuss how very fast greens and thick rough shape the playing experience, while noting the value of variety between courses.

At Merion, we talk about its wicker-basket flags, distinctive features, caddies and the experience of playing the course. We also share memories from the trip, including a memorable putt on the 10th hole, the group’s time in Philadelphia and Bledger’s return to golf after dealing with back problems.

We explain how SubAir systems use the drainage network to move air and water through greens, helping with drainage and firmness. We discuss where the system may be useful and note that its effects on dew are uncertain.

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In this episode we are without Bladge, so we answer listener questions on our own and begin by explaining what we have been working on. We describe our architectural work since leaving our previous firm, including consulting for more than a dozen clubs, work on links and heathland courses, projects tied to Harry Colt and Tom Simpson, and new courses in the UK and abroad. We also say that we prefer to keep the details quiet and let the finished work speak for itself.

We then discuss whether Alister MacKenzie’s idea of naturalism is disappearing in modern links architecture. We argue that it is not, but that it is difficult to achieve. We talk about making golf courses look as though they belong to the land, while actually using careful design, shaping, and working areas to create that effect. We explain that good golf design involves subtle trade-offs, strategic hazards, and the aim of making features appear natural rather than forced.

We also reflect on what makes a golf course feel authentic. We mention the importance of variety, fairness, and the way a course can play differently from day to day. We use the idea of an “uncanny valley” to describe shapes or landforms that look almost natural but not quite right, and we say that true naturalism requires a high level of skill, judgment, and patience.

Later, we answer a question about five courses that represent England. We name Royal North Devon, Royal St George’s, Sunningdale, and Old Woodley, and we explain how each reflects different parts of English golf, from early seaside links to heathland and moorland styles. We also choose municipal golf as a category, stressing its importance in making the game accessible and helping golf avoid becoming only the preserve of the wealthy.

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