iSeekGolf Podcast

Can the Vic Open format work elsewhere? Does it need the presence of big name players? Will continued growth see the tournament lose the very things that have made it uique and special in the world of golf? All these questions and more when former player turned architect and commentator Mike Clayton joins Episode 95 of the ISG Pod.

On January 16, English golfer Meghan Maclaren sent out a tweet noting the difference in prize funds between a Ladies European Tour event and a men's European Tour event being played in Abu Dhabi a week apart. What followed was a three day uproar over whether the game's top professional women get a raw deal from sponsors, equipment manufacturers and fans alike. Meghan and fellow LET player Felicity Johnson join Rod Morri on Episode 94 of the iSeekGolf podcast to talk about that incident and the broader issue of gender inequity in the game. It's more fun than it sounds and there's some other golf chat along the way as well.

Special Guests: Felicity Johnson and Meghan Maclaren.

In 2016 the rebuilding of a small, run down public golf course in suburban Florida probably seemed unlikely to have much impact on the broader golf world but how wrong that perception turned out to be. The Winter Park 9, as it is now known, has come to symbolise everything that is possible for public golf in the future, the facility now a thriving community hub which has reinvigorated interest in the game and returns a profit to the local council that owns it. Keith Rhebb was one half of the redesign and build team alongside Riley Johns and joins Episode 93 of the iSeekGolf podcast to discuss one of the more interesting - and important - golf projects of the past two decades. Thanks to listener Nick Watson for sending through the link to the No Laying Up video on Winter Park which you can watch here.

Special Guest: Keith Rhebb.

The European Tour's inaugural Saudi International will be played next week featuring some of the biggest names in world golf but it's a move that isn't sitting well with some. We chat about that plus the possibility of the Ryder Cup one day being played in Dubai (or Mangrove Mountain!), whether the game is edging closer to a World Tour, the likelihood of the new rules leading to drama on the fairways and some thoughts on Matt Kuchar and 'caddiegate'.

Special Guest: John Huggan.

If you like golf course architecture there is plenty of content on Twitter but who should you follow? ISG Pod co-host Adrian Logue donned his 'geek' hat at the end of last year and for the third time ran the numbers on the 50 most influential GCA Twitter accounts. But what are the broader implications for the game and what can we glean from those who are having the most impact? Did you make the list and if so how can you do better? Did you get left off when you should have been on? We answer all this and more on episode 91 of the ISG Podcast.

View the top 50 Golf Course Architecture Twitter Accounts

Subscribe to the Twitter list of all the tweets from the top 50 GCA accounts.

The Fried Egg's article on Golf and the Craft Culture

Follow Derek Duncan on Twitter!

Direct Message Adrian for feedback and suggestions on the list

Forest Fezzler is all too often remembered for donning a pair of shorts on the 72nd hole of the 1983 US Open at Oakmont. The protest stunt was legendary and in keeping with Fezzler's personality but his contribution to the game - particularly in his design partnership with Mike Strantz - was so much more than that one incident. American golf writer Jay Revell penned one of 2018's most thoughtful and beautiful stories in a two part piece on the partnership between Stantz and Fezzler (highly recommended reading. Part one here and part two here). He also wrote a touching and heartfelt obituary when Fezzler died in shortly before Christmas. Revell got to know Fezler both professionally and personally in the last year of his life and he joins Episode 90 of the ISG podcast to reflect on the life, times and legacy of one of the game's underappreciated characters.

Special Guest: Jay Revell.

Is golf really a case of mind over matter? Kind of, says former PGA Tour winner Richard Zokol who has spent the best part of 20 years studying the brain and mind and how it impacts golf performance. Richard joins the show, alongide special guest co-host Mike Clayton, to discuss that aspect of golf as well as course architecture and the state of the game more broadly.

Special Guest: Richard Zokol.

Golf all too often exists 'over there', outside of communities in both geography and culture. But American course designer Andy Staples says that needs to change, especially if the game is to survive - and thrive - into the future. On episode 88, Staples outlines just some of the myriad reasons why golf is the perfect community pastime - as well as why it isn't seen that way by golfers and non golfers alike. Also, co-host Adrian Logue reveals his plan to take part in the Longest Day of golf for the second consecutive year as he helps raise funds for cancer research. It's an impressive commitment and you can find out more, and donate, here.

Special Guest: Andy Staples.

Golf courses don't evolve in a bubble and Canadian course architect Keith Cutten's new book - The Evolution of Golf Course Design - explores the influences that have shaped the game for more than 200 years. Filled with brilliant photographs and illustrations, Cutten explains how economics, wars, social tastes and even chance meetings have an impact on the types of layouts architects design. The book is a worthwhile addition to any golf library and personally signed copies are available to purchase from Cutten's website. Cutten is an interesting guest with well thought out takes on numerous topics, from the importance of media to the health of the game through the ages to what the future of golf might look like.

Special Guest: Keith Cutten.

With the Australian summer of golf coming to an end and the European Tour just getting started it's an ideal time to look at how Australian - and global golf - is faring. From the possibility of the PGA Tour taking over world golf to the extraordinary rise of Lucas Herbert on the European Tour and everything in between John Huggan and Bruce Young bring fabulous insight into the world of golf. If you're a fan of the game and the bigger picture then this is 'must listen' analysis of some of the biggest issues confronting golf.

Special Guest: John Huggan.