We could have taken the easy way out and made this two episodes to chip away at our goal of 26 for the year, but instead here's two and a half hours of listening spanning four topics.

We open with a chat about sanity prevailing at Sandringham with the men's and women's Aussie Opens to be contested separately again from 2025 after a failed three-year experiment co-sanctioning the two. Where to for both tournaments after so much damage was done to their standing?

The main event is an hour-long deep dive on Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne, which has experienced an absolute renaissance thanks to a full course rebuild by Brian Slawnik. Scott and Matt were both crestfallen by what had become of Commo before the facelift and could not be more boyant about the club's future now with the course brought back to its best. If you want even more Commo content, head back to Ep 55, and immediate reaction which we recorded just an hour or so after throwing our clubs in the boot after our round.

And on top of that we have a chat with Eric from The Fliers Club, one of the many new-millennium golf societies that has brought passionate golfers together, and in this case on a bucket list trip to the great courses of Australia.

And finally, we've enjoyed talking golf balls so much with Dean Klatt from Seed since he came on board as a sponsor of the pod that we asked him to come for a chat on air about how and why he founded Seed, how you even go about designing your own golf balls, the work that's already underway at Seed to prepare for the coming rollback, and more.

Seed Golf has provided an introductory 20% off for listeners to Australian Golf Passport.  Head to ⁠https://seedgolf.com.au/and enter AGP at checkout to get your hands on some premium golf balls at a super low price point.  Thanks so much to Dean and all at Seed. Some of you have already tried Seed balls - thanks for supporting those who support us!

As always – special thanks to Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their insta feed and website for some new stuff - AAGGG are making some of the best golf apparel on the planet. And if you're in Melbourne, head to Middle Park Bowling Club on Sat 22 February from 1-6pm for the pop-up shop and Fliers Club x AAGGG collab event.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.c⁠om

We've been working on something exciting, and we're pumped to share it with you.

First cab off the rank for 2025 allows us the chance to formulate some new goals for the coming 12 months and reflect on the previous year.

This is an enjoyable and rewarding process - shamelessly based on the famous NoLayingUp annual Goals Pod. Not without its challenges, the job of identifying some targets and working towards them through the year is definitely something we suggest you all undertake. We'd love you to share your goals and hopes for 2025. 

As you'll hear, reflecting on goals set for 2024 has led Scott to some major life changes.

This year looms a landmark twelve months for Australian golf, with a series of course renovations approaching completion and the imminent opening of 7 Mile Beach. We have plans to meet it head on and this episode contains an exciting announcement involving new activities for Australian Golf Passport.

Our new supporter Seed Golf has provided an introductory 20% off for listeners to Australian Golf Passport.  Click on the link - https://seedgolf.com.au/discount/AGP  - to get your hands on some premium golf balls at a super low price point.  Thanks so much to Dean and all at Seed. We look forward to sharing more about them in the year ahead.  Some of you have already tried Seed balls - thanks for supporting those who support us!

As always – special thanks to Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their insta feed and website for some new stuff - AAGGG are making some of the best golf apparel on the planet.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

Our final episode for 2024 takes a look back at the year that was - with awards for a range of fantastic courses, great performances and favorite moments of the year.

Superintendents, pro shops, renovated courses and playing partners all come in for a little love and affection. We'd love to hear who you think deserves some praise for a great year too!

2025 looks like being an awesome twelve months for Australian golf, with a series of course renovations completing, and the imminent opening of 7 Mile Beach. We chat briefly about what lies ahead, and can't wait to get into it...

Towards the end of this episode, Scott provides a great wrap of some of the year's highlights for Australian Golf Passport - calling out some of the episodes you could go back and listen to, especially if they slipped by through a busy work year.

Our new supporter Seed Golf has provided an introductory 20% off for listeners to Australian Golf Passport.  Click on the link - https://seedgolf.com.au/discount/AGP  - to get your hands of some premium golf balls at a super low price point.  Thanks so much to Dean and all at Seed. We look forward to sharing more about them in 2025.  In short – their golf balls are excellent and the fast, easy, direct to consumer purchasing method has now kicked off in Australia. Do yourself a favour and grab some!

As always – special thanks to Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for some Summer specials. The recently released AAGGG long sleeve polos are light and breathable and sun smart – and they look great! As do the shorts, and Golf Daddy caps. Visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington) to get some of the best golf apparel around.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A massive Christmas holiday edition for you to take in over a long festive season car trip, or during a relaxing lie down in the sun over the Christmas break.

This episode starts with a little rundown on the recently completed Sandbelt Invitational to kick things off before sinking our teeth into the discussion with Ross Flannigan. 

Ross will be well known to many through his photography and his long-running podcast – My Love of Golf. He joins us from Scotland to talk about his beloved Peninsula Kingswood, his time in golf retail, recent move to Edinburugh and loads more. 

Ross was the franchisee at the Drummond Golf Melbourne city store for years, and shares his experiences from the world of Big Box retail golf, and more. His perspectives on the courses at PK from before and after the landmark renovation are really interesting too.  Ross is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guy with a ton of experience in golf. We know you’ll enjoy listening to him!

He mentioned Steve Smith’s podcast (The Golfing Greenkeeper) with PK super Glenn Stuart – link is below: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-101-keeper-of-the-greens-glenn-stuart/id1511508487?i=1000680428136

Our new supporter Seed Golf has provided an introductory 20% off for listeners to Australian Golf Passport.  Click on the link - https://seedgolf.com.au/discount/AGP  - to get your mits of some premium golf balls as a crazy low price point.  Thanks so much to Dean and all at Seed. We look forward to sharing more about them in 2025.  In short – their golf balls are excellent and the fast, easy, direct to consumer purchasing method has now kicked off in Australia. Do yourself a favour and grab some!

As always – special thanks to Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for some pre Christmas specials. The recently released AAGGG long sleeve polos are light and breathable and sun smart – and they look great! Visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington) to get your hands on some of the best golf apparel around.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

We thought we'd get on our bikes and up the rate at which we publish, as the finish line for 2024 nears. After having recorded a long episode in which we quickly review the goals for the year, this episode features heaps of responses to a great range of listener questions.

During the edit process - Matt spilt a coffee over his laptop, and was offline for a fortnight. The episode was saved, but late to air. So the stuff about Black Friday & the Australian Open? - Expired (obv).

Thanks to those who provided all the stimulating topics for discussion. We enjoyed mulling over all the questions. As usual - the AGP Pod audience remains undefeated in the mailbag department - you're a discerning and intelligent bunch.

Don't forget the Sandbelt Invitational is being staged in the week before Christmas. December 16-19 inclusive, over Commonwealth, Yarra Yarra, Woodlands, and Royal Melbourne's famed West Course. Block the days out in your calendar and take in one of the best events in the country.

As always – special thanks to our podcast supporter Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for any remaining sale items, and some new garments fresh for summer. Eyelet polos are heavily discounted, along with loads of other fantastic apparel. Visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington), and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world. And who could forget the last few Australian Golf Passport caps. 😊

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com⁠

Hot on the heels of the release of a plan by the Save Moore Park Golf Course alliance to keep the course at 18 holes, we chat with the driving force behind that alliance, Jared Kendler.

Jared talks us through the issues and the plan that the golf community is hoping will be embraced by the NSW Government, which owns the site.

His group has proposed a sophisticated, thorough, sensible and economically sustainable proposal to manage the issue of recreational space and the existing golf course in central Sydney. 

Go support this group's push to retain 18 holes and realise a proper solution to the issues raised for the broader public space in Moore Park. Visit the website below and sign the petition:

https://savemooreparkgolfcourse.com.au/

Prior to chatting with Jared about Moore Park and the broader issue of public golf, Matt & Scott chat about a range of topics. Not least of which is a little member unrest at Metropolitan, regarding proposed changes to their 16th hole.

Young phenom Jeffrey Guan and his tragic injury are briefly discussed - click below to donate to his gofundme - any assistance in covering medical expenses would be dearly appreciated.

https://asf.org.au/projects/jeffrey-guan/support-for-jeffrey-guan

The reworking of Huntingdale continues apace. Below is the link to the Vimeo of continuing construction, along with Mike Cocking's narration.

https://vimeo.com/1011896112/0008ced89f

The Australian Open is on the horizon - visit the link below for tickets, You won't want to miss the chance to see Kingston Heath and Victoria with a good field over both courses.

https://www.golf.org.au/ausopen/tickets/

Lastly - don't forget the Sandbelt Invitational is being staged in the week before Christmas. December 16-19 inclusive, over Commonwealth, Yarra Yarra, Woodlands, and Royal Melbourne's famed West Course. Block the days out in your calendar and take in one of the best events in the country,

As always – special thanks to our podcast supporter Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for the latest on Black Friday sale items - including 60% off their world famous shorts and pants. Eyelet polos are heavily discounted, along with loads of other fantastic apparel. Visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington), and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world. They have some brilliant pieces in stock currently – including limited remaining stock of the Australian Golf Passport caps. 😊

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

The longest episode we've ever done! There was a lot to discuss...

The keenly anticipated chat on one of the most dramatic, and visually striking courses in the land. Following on from Scott's whirlwind trip to Melbourne a fortnight back, we do a deep dive on PK North. More than a good looker, this course is a gem in every way. Playable and strategically engaging with artful hazards, and intricate greens. No wonder this is a crowd favourite - we're happy to finally discuss PK North with you. It's a high quality, fun and memorable layout.

Scott & Matt talk about all facets of the course - routing, greens, vegetation, mix of holes, topography, turf and conditioning (which was remarkable considering the deluge that fell the day before we played!).  Where does it sit in relation to other high-end Australian courses?  What are the standouts and what really left a mark with us? We hope you like the discussion - feel free to leave a comment if there's something you disagree with, or want more detail on when we next record.

The PK website's course tour of North - https://www.peninsulakingswood.com.au/cms/course/hole-1/

Visitor information for those wanting to visit Peninsula Kingswood - https://www.peninsulakingswood.com.au/cms/visitor-golf-enquiries/

As always – special thanks to our podcast supporters – Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for latest apparel and product drops. You can also visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington), and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world. They have some brilliant pieces in stock currently – including remaining stock of Australian Golf Passport caps. 😊

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

Three days, five rounds, two course walks, 65,000 steps each. We're cooked. But before Scott gets on a plane home, we've got a quick recap of our rounds at Peninsula-Kingswood North and South, and a hotly anticipated lap of the newly renovated Commonwealth.

Shoutout Angus & Grace Go Golfing.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A quick debrief on the first day of our Melbourne Sandbelt golf trip. Not the day we had planned thanks to a 50mm drop of rain, but we still saw plenty and had a lot to discuss.

As always – special thanks to our podcast supporter – Angus & Grace Go Golfing. Check their website for latest apparel and product drops. You can also visit their Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (William Street Paddington), and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A super special guest for the long overdue next episode of the podcast. Chris Solomon from No Laying Up joins us to share his views on all things golf Down Under. Soly has travelled here several times over the years, with his visits bookended by Tourist Sauce Seasons #1 and #9. Between those visits he got to play the Composite course at Royal Melbourne at the time of the most recent Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. Links to all these on YouTube are below.

Soly shares his views on what he loves about great golf, and touches on Aussie golf’s highlights – the people and culture, turf conditions, strategy, and courses. We chat about Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, Cape Wickham, Barnbougle, and others. We pick his brains on what he’s not yet seen but would like to when he next travels this way.  The chat surrounding his own game and improvements despite burgeoning career demands, and escalating fatherhood duties will no doubt strike a chord with many of you.

Links to the Premiere episodes of Tourist Sauce Australian series

Season #1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x90o8J8cQy8

Season #9 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x90o8J8cQy8

Ben takes on Soly around Royal Melbourne Composite -

https://youtu.be/qxPZMqqOmqI?si=D72QaL3mM0ytMKRM

This link to John Sabino and his reviews - https://www.top100golfcourses.com/reviewer/8318?page=1

We thank Angus and Grace Go Golfing for their continued support. Matt and his team at AAGGG have been working hard on a small run of Australian Golf Passport hats – we’re really pleased with them and hope you are too! Check them out at – https://www.angusandgracegogolfing.com/product-page/australian-golf-passport-cap-navy-nylon

While you’re browsing – take a look at the apparel, including polos and shorts, and a full range of mens and womens wear for golf as the days get longer and the sun shines. The No Laying Up range of apparel and accessories is superb.

And as per the ad read in the episode - we’re sad to share the news that Burnley Brewing has ceased operations. In a tough market, with many small brewers closing up shop, Burnley have unfortunately brought an end to their multi-year operations. We thank all the guys there for the support of the podcast, and urge those of you who love their stuff to take your last chance and grab what little of their stock remains on retail shelves wherever you see it.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com