Yolk with Doak 44: Links Travel, Analytics in Golf, and Short Par 4s

Andy Johnson sits down with Tom Doak for the first of two October Yolk with Doak episodes. To start, Tom shares travel tips for golfers headed to Australia, New Zealand, and links courses throughout Ireland and the U.K. Andy and Tom then talk through Tom’s first round at Sedge Valley and his experiences playing his own design for the first time. They then discuss the strategy around designing and playing short par fours, debating on whether longer hitters should resist temptations to reach the green in one. This leads into a conversation about the prevalence of analytics in golf, as younger golfers now have access to more data and information about their own games and swings than prior generations. This episode wraps with Tom talking through the pros and cons of working on private or resort courses and more accessible public courses, and how the feedback he’ll receive is different based on how often golfers play a course.

Match Play and Professional Golf

After the conclusion of another team match play event, Andy Johnson is joined by Shane Bacon to discuss the place of match play in the professional game. The two recap last week’s Presidents Cup, evaluating the format and what changes need to be made in order to improve the event. They then turn to the concept of match play as a whole, advocating for more match play events in the professional game. They highlight the format of match play forcing players to become more aggressive throughout a round, often making for more compelling television than a 72-hole stroke play event. Andy and Shane brainstorm ideas for potential match play tournaments, such as a mixed-gender event with the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, a professional event based on college alumni, and more.

Stanley Thompson and Canadian Golf Architecture

It’s Canada week on the Fried Egg Golf Podcast, so Garrett Morrison is joined by Toronto-based golf architect Ian Andrew for a look at the history of Canadian golf. After a brief discussion of Royal Montreal Golf Club and Ian’s work with Mike Weir, the two unpack the career of Stanley Thompson and his work at courses such as Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, and more. The episode wraps with a look at some of Ian’s projects, including a potential book with even more stories from Stanley Thompson’s life in golf.