Chris Breen has been the Superintendent at Rosapenna Golf Resort since 2019. A recent trip to Downings enabled us to sit down for a chat that we've been meaning to have for the past 12 months or so.

We take a look at how he's ended up back home in Donegal overseeing the 63 hole, 1200 acre property.

The importance of getting "your homework right" from a course setup perspective.

Many thanks to Chris for his time, we hope you enjoy the listen.

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Chris Breen.

Thomas Gilroy contributed greatly to the growth of the game of golf in Ireland over the period from 1885 to 1895.

During his time in Ireland he was recognised as the best player in the country, holding a handicap between scratch and +6.

Gilroy was a founding member at Dollymount, Portrush, Mornington & Baltray.

A serial winner and course record setter, he spread the gospel a gift from Scotland.

I hope you enjoy his story!

Many thanks for tuning in.

Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

In celebration of St. Patricks Day it seemed fitting to feature the story of Michael Moran (1886-1918).

To this day, Moran, holds the record for the number of wins in the Irish Professional Golfers Championships.

That he did this all before turning 27 is all the more remarkable.

His story is indelibly linked to that of my home club at Dollymount,

I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks for tuning in and Happy St. Patricks Day!

Episode music supplied under licence from Epedemic Sound

Mike Morrison joins us on this episode to introduce the upcoming R&A Heritage Conference which will take place in St. Andrews on March 11th & 12th 2025. The event has been organised through the longstanding partnership between the R&A and the British Golf Collectors Society.

'History is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of the fire' - Philip Truett (Founding Member of BGCS.).

The Conference is focussed on providing Historic Golf Clubs with the tools, resources and support to further the collection, documentation, preservation and presentation of their unique histories some of which may have been forgotten or misremembered through time.

We hope we've cast a little light on some of the interesting sessions scheduled for attendees over the course the two days in St Andrews.

Please follow this link for the full Heritage conference agenda.

Mike also gives us an introduction to some of his own research, writing and current research interests.

If you would like to order a copy of Mike's book, The Great English Golf Boom, please contact him directly via email at [email protected].

Stephen Proctor's book, The Long Golden Afternoon (mentioned as a great companion piece to The Great English Golf Boom) can be purchase directly from the Publisher, Birlinn Books.

Please also find links to Mike's 3 part series on Tom Dunn below for which he was awarded the 2023 BGCS Presidents Medal

Through the Green March 2023

Through the Green June 2023

Through the Green September 2023

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat!

Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Mike Morrison.

Mat Goggin joins us on this episode to chat all things 7 Mile Beach.

Listeners will undoubtedly be aware that Mike De Vries and Mike Clayton of CDP Golf Architects have been toiling away on Mr Goggin's behalf over the last few years massaging a sandy waterfront site into one of the most eagerly anticipated golf developments of the past few years.

Mat fills us in on the three years that have passed since his last appearance on the show, providing us with updates on the ongoing grow in, a likely opening timeline, an interesting story of Mr De Vries and his bullet cut - unsurprisingly this particular shot type works quite well around the course that he built! We also get the low down on the North course development that King Collins Dormer are planning on the city side of the 7 Mile Beach site.

It was great to welcome Mat to the pod again, thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the chat.

The 7 Mile Beach proshop can be visited by clicking here.

Episode music supplied under license from Epedemic Sound

Special Guest: Mat Goggin.

Neil Crafter and Dr John Green published the definitive biography of Alex Russell in 2016. Neil joins for this episode to delve into the life and times of arguably Australia's greatest home-grown golf architect.

We take a look at the Russell family's Scottish heritage and what prompted their subsequent move to Australia. Alex's education in Geelong, Glenalmond and Cambridge, his service during WW1 & WW2, his exploits as a Champion Golfer, partnership with Dr. Mac & utilising the undoubted construction talents of Mick Morcom... plus the design of a few decent golf courses for good measure..

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the listen!

A link to Neil's recent update of the Alister MacKenzie Chronology can be found here

You can also find more information on Neil's books below

Discovering Alex Russell

The Good Doctors Prescriptions

Episode music supplied under license from Epedemic Sound

Special Guest: Neil Crafter.

Ryan Noades joins us today to take a look at what may very well be JF Abercromby's design opus. The Addington was of course a collaboration between Abercromby and Harry S Colt, expertly routed to circumnavigate a sand and gravel hilltop heathland site some 9 miles due south of central London.

The Noades' have owned the Addington since 2006 and have lovingly curated the course ever since. Over the years it became apparent to Ryan and his family that a world class golf course was hiding in plain site beneath the organic detritus that had invaded playing corridors, reduced strategic options and hampered firm and fast playing conditions.

In 2019 in conjunction with the design firm Clayton De Vries & Pont a course correction was undertaken to commit fully to a faithful restoration of The Addington to its' former glory.

We endeavour to explore a small part of this journey today, hopefully leaving you with a better feel for both the place and indeed a driven individual who is equally besotted, energised and excited by all of the possibilities that The Addington represents.

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show!

I've visited The Addington twice thus far and took some time to write about what I've found, please click on this link to have a read.

Episode music used under license from Epedemic Sound

Special Guest: Ryan Noades.

Scotsman Iain Forrester has been a golf professional since 1983, moving to The Netherlands to become the Head Professional at Hoenshuis Golf & Country Club in Limburg.

Iain believes that

Iain’s particular niche of choice focusses on maintaining and preserving the history of golf, in particular the way it was played in the past with wooden hickory clubs.

Iain repairs and restores hickory equipment for fellow collectors while also suppling sets for hickory events throughout Europe.

As if that’s not enough he has also written extensively about hickory golf and golf history in general. Safe to say he’s a great man to have on the pod to talk about on all things relating to hickory and Dutch golf.

Iain's website can be found here

The Golfika article on the history of British Handicapping mentioned in the show can be found here - pages 6 - 11.

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy listening.

Episode music supplied under license from Epedemic Sound

Iain Forrester is a Scottish Golf Professional who has been based in The Netherlands since 1988. He joined me recently for an extensive chat about Hickory Golf, Golf in the Netherlands and his life in golf. This is a story he forgot to tell us, thankfully I managed to press record again before we ended our time together. The preceding conversation was most enjoyable and will be released over the coming days... keep an eye out for it!

If you're enoying the pod, I would be very grateful if you could submit a review on your podcast hosting platform of choice. It really would be appreciated.

Trailer sound track supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Iain Forrester.

Aspiring honorary Irishman, Richard Pennell, joins us on this episode to reminisce about four golf trips he undertook to Ireland over the past 12 months.

The North Coast & Donegal featured heavily and rightly so. The intrepid traveller also found time to schedule two whistle stop visits to County Mayo on the very Wild Atlantic Way, while also visiting a smattering of what the Dublin area has to offer from a golfing perspective.

It amounted to a links overload which left Richard energised and plotting an imminent return. We hope the pod may give you some ideas as to where you might travel to in 2025, however, word of warning it might also make you a little envious that Richard passes these visits off as 'work'.....

Either way, many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat!

One of the last few copies of Richard's first book Grass Routes can be purchased by following this link

The Links Diary

Richard has written some great pieces on his @pitchmarks substack account and elsewhere. Please find a few links below to musings on some of his travels around Ireland:

County Louth - currently a blank piece of paper.... he has promised us one, just as soon as inspiration arrives

The North Coast - an Article that appeared in Golf Today

Episode music used under license from Epidemic Sound

Special Guest: Richard Pennell.