In Pt II of our series exploring the life of James Braid, we look at his contributions as a Golf Course Architect.
 
With over 500 courses shaped in some way by Braid, his legacy on the British Golfing landscape is undeniable, and while the likes of Simpson, McKenzie or Colt are often lauded above Braid, his approach to building thought provoking designs which were strategic in nature is something worthy of more celebration.
 
Huge thanks go to Simon Barrington, an independent researcher of historical architecture, for his hard work in helping us bring this episode to life, and we look forward to releasing part two about the courses which James Braid designed or reimagined in episode two later this week.
 
For any further consultation around the proivenance of Braid designs around the UK, Simon can be contact on [email protected] or via his X profile: @CambridgeGrey

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Pt I of our exciting new series, exploring the life of James Braid.
 
James Braid was part of the great triumvirate which also included Harry Vardon & JH Taylor. In his career he would go on to win 5 Open Championships. Growing up in Earlsferry, before emigrating south of the border, Simon Barrington brings to life his playing career in vivid detail.
 
Huge thanks go to Simon Barrington, an independent researcher of historical architecture, for his hard work in helping us bring this episode to life, and we look forward to releasing part two about the courses which James Braid designed or reimagined in episode two later this week.
 
For any further consultation around the proivenance of Braid designs around the UK, Simon can be contact on [email protected] or via his X profile: @CambridgeGrey

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This week, Bruce and his better half—‘Cookie Jar Lady Captain’—Grace, found some time to catch up with Lottie Woad to talk about her truly stellar year in the game, with her win at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), ascension to the top of the Women’s Amateur Golf Rankings, and, of course, being part of the GB&I side's victory in The Curtis Cup at Sunningdale.

Lottie’s career has been one of the great stories of 2024, and it was great to have her on the pod to talk us through it all!

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Sam & Tom chat through the courses they have visited this year, and look at their composite Eclectic 18 scorecards in a straight up matchplay format. Who has made the best selection, you'll have to listen to the end to find out!

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Sam & Tom sit down in the members' bar at Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club to meet with Dr Steven Reid, lifelong member at Lytham and author of Bobby's Open, charting the tale of how Bobby Jones came to win his first Claret Jug. He would go on to defend it successfully in 1927, as well as winning at Royal Liverpool in 1930 on his way to completing the 'impregnable quadrilateral'.

Steven's book - foreworded by Jack Nicklaus - is a captivating read and brings to life in viivd detail the struggles Jones went through, not only with his health but his temper and his putting as he clawed his way out of the 'lean years' into 7 (or perhaps 8) 'fat years', where he was unstoppable.

A link to get a copy of Steven's book can be found here, and we hope you enjoy the pod! 

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After a chance encounter at The Curtis Cup, Tom sits down with Nigel to discuss his career as one of the most decorated amateurs in British golf.

Nigel isn't just one of the most successful Duncan Putter winners in the history of Southerndown, he’s also:

• Represented GB&I in 4 Walker Cups (01, 03, 05 & 07)
• Holed the winning putt at Ganton in 2003
• Captained GB&I in the Walker Cup in 2011, 2013, and was reappointed captain at Lytham in 2015
• Represented Wales in seven European Team Amateur Championships
• Played for GB&I in 3 St Andrews Trophies and captained 3 more

Nigel is also the GB&I Team Manager for in the Olympics and currently works for England Golf. 

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Sam & Cal catch up on a Friday morning for some little insights into the recently concluded DP World Tour Q School, which - among other things - includes the first ever Armenian DP World Tour player.... (or so Cal believes)! 

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Sam & Tom get together with Chris Haspell & Gordon Sutherland on the eve of the hearing that is taking place this week.

The ongoing planning and permissions for this exciting Bill Coore design has been the subject of a lot of coverage over the last 7 years, and the passionate locals who have taken on the mantle - ‘Communities for Coul’ - have led it to this point. 

It’s a fascinating insight into the sustainability considerations that go hand in hand with any new development, as well as what this development would mean for the local residents of Sutherland. 

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Live from the committee room at West Byfleet where 'the Dame' learnt to play much of her golf in her teenage years, we sit down to talk about Laura's career in the game. 
 
A few highlights from a career that spans over 40 years of playing golf at the highest level:

• 87 professional wins worldwide (including 20 on the LPGA & 4 majors)
• 7x order of merits in a period that spans 3 separate decades
• Turning pro in 1985, she won ‘rookie of the year', won The British Open in 1986, and the US Women’s Open - her maiden major - in 1987 
• In 1988 she became the first woman to win on all three major tours in the same calendar year. 
• Even more remarkably, in 1994 she became the first golfer (male or female) to win on FIVE DIFFERENT professional tours around the world in the same calendar year (Japan, Australia, the Asian Tour, the LPGA and the LET)
• Laura is the all-time point scorer in the Solheim Cup, and played for the European side since the events inception in 1990, right through until 2011 
• Awarded an MBE in 1988, and CBE in 2000 prior to being made a Dame in 2014. 
• Laura was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

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In this special two-part podcast, Simon unpacks his Eclectic 18 from holes that no longer exist. Please see our show notes on our blog here to view some of these holes, beautifully compiled by Simon.

While the link to Halloween might be tenuous, we hope that doesn't deter you from enjoying what is an exceptional podcast. In the first part, we go through Simon's front nine.
 
10 - Sunningdale (New) - Par 3 - 160 yards
11 - Hangar Hill - Par 4 - 430 yards
12 - Chadwick Manor - Par 4 - 365 yards
13 - Sunningdale (Old) - Par 4 - 270 yards
14 - Royal Birkdale - Par 3 - 202 yards
15 - Lido - Par 4 - 404 yards
16 - Augusta National - Par 3 - 145 yards
17 - Swinley Forest - Par 3 - 180 yards
18 - Wentworth - Par 4- 300 yards

Par 32
2,456 yards

IMAGERY OF HOLES

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