Pat Jones has spent his life lobbying on behalf of and telling the stories of turf specialists at every level. Last month he took exception to a column written by Good Good co-host Rod Morri about water use at the US Open at Torrey Pines. So, in the interests of entertainment and education, we did the only decent thing and invited him on the pod to thrash it out.

Links:

Friend of the pod and one of the game's most popular young players Meg MacLaren returns to Good Good this week to talk her victory on the Symetra Tour, what it's REALLY like trying to win, the murky world of fist pumps, writing, golf, mental strength and much, much more.

Links mentionedon this episode:

Logue snapped his fingers and the below link appeared like magic!

Meg's outstanding post victory blog

We talk a lot about the problems confronting women in the world of golf but on episode 82 we get an insight into what some of the solutions might be. Melbourne based journalist Karen Harding produced a lengthy and thoughtful piece for the June issue of Golf Australia magazine laying out the current state of affairs for women in golf but importantly also noting some of the potential ways forward.

Links mentioned on this epsidoe:

Karen Harding's excellent in depth article on women and golf

Follow Karen on Twitter

One of life's great luxuries is to talk golf with Mike Clayton. Running a close second is to listen to Clayton talk about golf. We did the former on Episode 81 so you could do the latter. Topics include Peter Thomson's writings from 1981, last week's US Open, Australians under performing, Hannah Green, Su Oh and a couple of rabbit holes as well.

It's been six weeks since the golf course in the small country town of Dunedoo in NSW was severely damaged in a vandalism attack. This week we turn away from the US Open at Torrey Pines to get an update on the remarkable generosity that has seen Dunedoo start the journey to recovery with Club President Mark Gallagher and GM Ricky Bush. The third men's major of the year does get some air time but in typical Good Good fashion not in the way you'd think.

Links mentioned on this episode:

The GOLF NSW article by David Tease which put Dunedoo Golf Club firmly in the global golf spotlight

It was a ground breaking week at the 76th US Women's Open with almost half the volunteer grounds staff made up of women from all over the US. Minnesota based golf architect Kari Haug was among that number and joins the pod this week to talk about that experience plus some thoughts on golf and its place in the community, why she wants to build a course with canal canoes and what Scotland taught her about making golf interesting.

Links metnioned on this episode:

Kari's website or if you want to get straight to the brilliant factoid page head here

Sky Sports commentator Richard Kaufman joins episode 78 to chat about the US Women's Open but it wouldn't be Good Good if we didn't fall down some rabbit holes and this week the Naomi Osaka situation was one of them.

An eclectic mix of topics might be the best way to describe Episode 77 when we are joined by John Huggan for a PGA wrap. That plan, however, soon went completely off the rails and descended into a discussion about world affairs and how to deal with Saudi Arabia and how the Masters might be key to fixing the Australian Open.

Two time Australian Open and Australian PGA champion Greg Chalmers is known as one of the nicest guys in the game and that's as it should be. But the man they call Snake reveals his dark side on Episode 76 when he talks this week's PGA at Kiawah Island. Chalmers was in the field last time a major was played here in 2012 and well remembers just what a nasty experience the Pete Dye creation can be. Unlike nine years ago, though, this week he is hoping the course bares its teeth and gives the best in the world an examination like the game hasn't seen for some time.

Links mentioned on this episode:

Greg Chalmers on The Thing About Golf podcast

Our network sponsor The Golf Society. donlt forget to ente TG at checkout of a 20% discount

The TalkinGolf Network

Eamon Lynch's brilliant GolfWeek article on the Saudi backed Super League

The Unoficial Partner Podcast episode on The Champions's League

It's not the glamorous side of golf course design but in broad terms vegetation management might be the most important aspect of the job. Course architect Harley Kruse joins Ep 75 to talk about all things golf courses and environment including the difference between native and indigenous plants and why removing trees that should never have been planted is a win for nature. There is also an update on the intriguing Kameruka project in southern NSW.

Links mentioned on this episode:

As always, our sponsor The Golf Society . Don't forget to use code TG at checkout for a 20% discount!

The TalkinGolf Network

Course atchitect Harley Kruse

The story of Kameruka Golf

The Sydney Moning Herald story featuring Harley Kruse