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FRIED EGG PODCAST

Tiger’s Return and the Status of the Framework Agreement

Golf Channel senior writer Ryan Lavner joins Andy for some professional-golf chat. They check in on the status of the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian PIF, and they discuss how the Tour might need to change going forward. Then they offer some thoughts on Tiger Woods's presser at the Hero World Challenge and the state of his game. After going through some of their favorite memories from the 2023 season, Ryan and Andy finish up with some grill talk.

Tiger’s Return and the Status of the Framework Agreement

Golf and Music with Drew Holcomb

Acclaimed musician Drew Holcomb joins the podcast to talk about music, golf, and the intersection between the two. Drew tells Andy about how he got into golf later in his life, the way his career in music progressed in relation to his golf game, and the new courses he has played this year (along with some musical artist comps for those courses). They also touch on music on the golf course, the holiday-music genre, and which major could use a theme song.

Yolk with Doak 41: Sedge Valley, Pinehurst No. 10, Difficulty vs. “Fun,” and Blind Shots

For the second of our two Thanksgiving-week Yolk with Doak installments, Andy and golf course architect Tom Doak tackle some more listener questions. Among other topics, they discuss Doak's recent Sedge Valley and Pinehurst No. 10 projects, designing short par 4s and shot courses that challenge elite players, difficult vs. "fun" courses, a wild idea for an Olympic course, and the pros and cons of blind shots.

Yolk with Doak 40: High Pointe, Lido, and Playing His Own Designs

Tom Doak is back for the first of two new episodes. In this first one, Tom addresses a variety of listener questions. He talks about the revival of his original High Pointe design outside of Traverse City, Michigan, and how it has been a unique project for Renaissance Golf Design. Andy and Tom then discuss the takeaways Tom has from Lido after a few days on site in October.

Roberto Castro on the TGL and the Direction of the PGA Tour

Former PGA Tour pro Roberto Castro joins the podcast to discuss the TGL, the indoor, tech-infused golf league featuring the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy that will launch in January next year. Roberto has been helping the TGL design its gameplay, and he provides information and perspective on the league's genesis, format, and potential. Before digging into this topic, however, Roberto and Andy discuss Roberto's recent experiences playing with retro equipment. Toward the end of the episode, they talk about the direction of the PGA Tour in the "Framework Agreement" era.

The Evolution of Modern Golf Architecture with Bruce Hepner

Bruce Hepner, former Vice President of Tom Doak's Renaissance Golf Design, was at the forefront of many current trends in golf architecture, from the Golden Age restoration movement to the revival of the design-build method. So we figured he would have an interesting perspective on the evolution of modern golf course design. Bruce and Garrett start by chatting about Bruce's passion for music and his recent renovation of Percy Warner Golf Course, a municipal nine in Nashville. They then discuss Bruce's epoch-spanning career, touching on his work in the early 1990s with Ron Forse, his experiences on Doak projects like Pacific Dunes and Ballyneal, and his thoughts on how the golf course restoration game has changed in recent years.

Gil Hanse Talks Municipal Golf

A couple of weeks ago, Garrett spoke with architect Gil Hanse in front of an audience at the Pearl Street Warehouse in Washington, D.C. Their conversation was part of the National Links Trust Symposium on Municipal Golf, so they focused on Gil's résumé of municipal designs, from Rustic Canyon and Soule Park in the early 2000s, to the recently opened Park in West Palm Beach, to his ongoing projects at Maggie Hathaway in Los Angeles and Rock Creek Park in D.C. Garrett and Gil touch on a variety of larger topics, such as the importance of architectural minimalism to affordable golf course development and the recent changes in both the golf architecture industry and Gil's own workload. Many thanks to the National Links Trust for asking Garrett to be involved in this year's symposium, and for letting us share this conversation with our listeners. Find out more about the NLT's work HERE.

Dream 18: Sand Valley

Garrett joins Andy, aka "Sheddie Hackett," in the Fried Egg Golf Shedquarters for the first multi-person pod recorded entirely within the four uninsulated walls of Andy's backyard shed. They celebrate this momentous occasion by picking a "Dream 18" for Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. They select their favorite holes at each number (1 through 18) from the resort's five existing courses: Coore & Crenshaw's Sand Valley, David McLay Kidd's Mammoth Dunes, Coore & Crenshaw's Sandbox, Tom Doak and Brian Schneider's re-creation of C.B. Macdonald's Lido, and Tom Doak's Sedge Valley. Andy also gets in a few digs at large flagsticks.

Mike Cocking of OCM on Breaking into the U.S. Market and Remaking Medinah

Australian golf architect Mike Cocking returns to the pod for the first time in five years. Along with OCM design partners Geoff Ogilvy and Ashley Mead, Mike has been working more in the U.S. recently, so he and Andy have a lot to catch up on. They cover a variety of topics, including the best Ben Hogan story Mike heard while renovating Shady Oaks Country Club in Texas, how to design and build site-specific bunkers, the differences between Sandbelt golf and American golf, and some off-the-wall design concepts he'd like to try . Mike and Andy also dig deeply into two of OCM's current projects: an ambitious renovation of Course 3 at Medinah Country Club, which will debut at the 2026 Presidents Cup; and a 36-hole new build in Georgia, which will feature both a heathland-style and a Sandbelt-style course.

Reviewing 2023 in Golf with Shane Bacon and Kyle Porter

With the Ryder Cup in the rearview mirror and the competitive season winding down, Andy brings on Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) and Kyle Porter (@kyleportercbs) for a rollicking discussion of the year in golf. They rank the top five people and things that golf has been best to in 2023, and the conversation veers in a variety of directions, touching on playing Augusta National, coaching vs. parenting, and of course Blockie.

Building a Career in Golf Architecture with Dan Hixson

Dan Hixson is a golf architect based in Portland, Oregon, who has designed and built several excellent golf courses in the Pacific Northwest, including Bandon Crossings, Wine Valley, the reversible Craddock/Hankins layout at Silvies Valley Ranch, and the new Bar Run. Sitting in his home office, Dan tells Garrett about his varied career in golf course design. He begins by talking about his ongoing renovation of Lake Oswego Golf Course, a municipal facility in the Portland suburbs. He then delves into how he got interested in golf architecture as a kid, his foray into international competitive golf, his time as a club pro, and his sudden transition into golf course design. In the second half of the episode, Dan and Garrett touch on some of his most significant design projects—all of which are open to the public.

The Uncertain Future of LIV Golf and the Framework Agreement

The interest and intrigue in season two of LIV Golf has waned throughout the year and in the aftermath of the bombshell that was the “Framework Agreement” with the PGA Tour. As its season winds down, LIV is front and center again and Golfweek’s Adam Woodard, who has been on the LIV beat the last two years, joins Fried Egg Golf’s Garrett Morrison to discuss the recent denial of OWGR points and how interest has dropped off severely in its second year. They also discuss the tenuous nature of that framework deal with the PGA Tour and the potential consequences if it does fall through at the year-end deadline. Will we see another round of player movement and defections between the two leagues? And how is that deal uncertainty impacting LIV and its future? They also catchup on the league’s season ending events for both team play in Miami this week and individual play in Saudi Arabia last week.

Mat Goggin on Contending for the 2009 Open and Building 7 Mile Beach in Tasmania

Mathew Goggin has had one of the most interesting careers in golf and he's not yet old enough to play on the Champions Tour. Growing up in Tasmania as the son of legendary golfer Lindy Goggin (née Jennings), Mat played frequently at Royal Hobart Golf Club, which is close to the Hobart International Airport as well as a strip of sand dunes and pine trees called Seven Mile Beach. Mat often wondered why there wasn't a course on this landmass, amid the spectacular dunes. Future Tassie golfers will no longer have to wonder: with the help of architects Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries, Mat is developing a new public golf course at Seven Mile Beach, set to open in late 2024. In addition, he has already begun to plan a second course next door, this one called 5 Mile Beach. Matt gives Garrett the lowdown on these projects and also talks about his outstanding competitive career, highlighted by a victory at the 1995 Australian Amateur, five wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, and a very close call at the 2009 Open Championship. (Yes, that Open—the Tom Watson vs. Stewart Cink one.) Mentioned in the episode: Mat's excellent essay "10 years and counting...," a reflection on his late grandfather's influence on his life in golf

Takeaways from the 2023 Ryder Cup

Another European Ryder Cup, another "surprising" loss for Team USA. In this episode, Garrett offers some analysis of Europe's 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome as well as a few big-picture takeaways. First he is joined by Joseph LaMagna, a Fried Egg Golf contributor and the author of the Finding the Edge newsletter, to perform an autopsy of the U.S. team's performance. For a discussion of the European squad's successful week, Garrett brings on Ben Coley (39:38), the deputy head of content at sportinglife.com. Both Joseph and Ben touch on players who thrived at Marco Simone, players who faltered, and the strategic decisions that led to Sunday's result.

Ryder Cup Predictions… Plus a Little History

Happy Ryder Cup Eve! As the first day of action in Rome approaches, Garrett checks in with three members of the Fried Egg Golf team—Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath, and Joseph LaMagna—to get their predictions for which team will win at Marco Simone, what the final score will be, and who will prove the most and least valuable players. For the second part of the episode (34:15), Garrett is joined by Shane Ryan, author of The Cup They Couldn't Lose, to discuss how the Ryder Cup has changed over time. Garrett and Shane provide historical context for this week's event by exploring how Europe gained the upper hand on the U.S. team starting in the late 1980s, and how Team USA has only recently begun to match its opponent's level of organization and leadership.

A Preview of the 2023 Ryder Cup with Trevor Immelman

CBS lead golf analyst Trevor Immelman joins Andy to preview this week's Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy. The two discuss the big storylines heading into the Ryder Cup, including top-tier European players, the depth of the U.S. team, Justin Thomas's prospects, and Team USA's predictable pairings.

Starting a Golf Tour and Playing on the APGA

This episode focuses on the APGA Tour, which seeks to bring greater diversity to golf by helping African Americans and other minorities to gain access to careers in the game. First, Andy speaks with APGA founder Ken Bentley about how he started the tour, what his original goals were, and what the tour has become. They also touch on some stories of APGA players. For the second half of the episode, APGA Tour and PGA Tour Canada member Aaron Beverly joins Andy to discuss his life in golf (57:45). Aaron talks about how his years of experience in ballet helped his game, and about his path from watching Tiger Woods every weekend as a kid to winning the Charlie Sifford Award and joining Tiger on a panel.

A Chat with the Designer of the Ryder Cup Venue

Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, outside of Rome, Italy, is this year's Ryder Cup host. In preparation for this rather high-profile gig, Marco Simone underwent a redesign by European Golf Design, in cooperation with Tom Fazio II. European Golf Design's lead architect for this project was Dave Sampson, and in this episode, Dave joins Garrett for a deep dive into the course. Dave talks about the most attention-getting holes at Marco Simone, the thought that went into building the spectator and hospitality infrastructure at the venue, whether he believes the course will actually favor the Europeans over the Americans, and some of the criticism Marco Simone has received from European Tour players. Garrett also asks Dave about his general philosophy of championship course design, including his take on the role of narrow fairways and thick rough in challenging elite players.

A Ryder Cup Draft with Shane Bacon

Shane Bacon joins Andy to draft their own Ryder Cup teams: Team Egg vs. Team Bacon. They do a schoolyard pick, drawing from the pool of American and European pros who will compete in the Ryder Cup later this month, ranking them 1-24, and offering insights and critiques on individual players. Banter ensues.

Golf Architecture Mailbag: Most Exciting New Courses, The Lido, and More

Mailbag time! Andy and Garrett address a bunch of golf architecture-related questions from listeners. Among the topics covered: this year's most exciting new-build golf courses, the best courses Andy and Garrett saw for the first time recently, the virtues of the Lido, whether more "Harbour Town-style" courses should be built, why Pete Dye is not "VERY overrated," and whether template holes are lazy and uncreative. Also, Garrett gets a headache trying to answer the following question: If you could play one architect's body of work for the rest of your golfing life, whom would you choose and why?

Sizing Up the U.S. Ryder Cup Team

Zach Johnson made his six captain's picks on Tuesday, so the U.S. Ryder Cup team is now complete. In this episode, Andy and Fried Egg Golf contributor Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) discuss the merits of the ZJ's selections, evaluate Team USA in detail, and give some preliminary takes on the European squad.

Takeaways from the 2023 PGA Tour Season with Kyle Porter

The 2023 PGA Tour season is in the books, so Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) joins Garrett to discuss a few big-picture takeaways from the past year's action. First, though, they touch on Viktor Hovland's dominance in the last two legs of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the hugely promising arc of his career so far. After running through their season-long takeaways, Kyle and Garrett briefly chat about Zach Johnson's upcoming captain's picks for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Bringing the Lido to Life with Superintendent Jimmy Humston

Jimmy Humston is the golf course superintendent at the recently opened Lido in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. He joins Andy for a discussion of what it's like to live in Nekoosa, how he got introduced to Sand Valley, and the various jobs he's held around the resort. Jimmy and Andy dig deep into the story of building the Lido, a reproduction of C.B. Macdonald's famous course on Long Island. They talk about the construction process, the challenges of re-creating a lost design in a different locale, the secrets behind growing grass on the Lido's bold features, and Jimmy's plans for the course's future aesthetic.

The Lowdown on Waverley Country Club with Superintendent Brian Koffler

Host of this week's 2023 U.S. Senior Women's Open, Waverley Country Club is a Golden Age Chandler Egan design, restored in 2012 by Gil Hanse, and—in Garrett's opinion—the best golf course in Portland, Oregon. Garrett sits down with superintendent Brian Koffler to talk about Waverley's history, architecture, best holes, and agronomy. They also discuss the challenges of maintaining turf in the Pacific Northwest and the striking array of top-10 clubs Brian interned at early in his career.

PGA Tour Life with Michael Kim and Building a Lighted Par-3 Course with Grass Clippings

To lead off this episode, Andy sits down with PGA Tour winner Michael Kim (@Mike_kim714) to chat about a variety of topics. They discuss the courses Michael played in the Bay Area while attending UC Berkley, his strong play this season, and his newly vocal presence on Twitter. They also debate the USGA and R&A's proposed Model Local Rule for a reduced-flight competition ball (Andy is for it; Michael, like most PGA Tour members, is against it). For the back half of the episode (1:05:44), Andy brings on Jimmy and Jake Hoselton of the company Grass Clippings (@GrassClippingsc). Jimmy and Jake talk about how they founded Grass Clippings to shed more light on the turf industry, and the company's plans to develop an accessible, lighted par-3 course designed by Jackson Kahn.

The Latest from the Rollback Wars and the Excellence of Bel-Air CC with Geoff Shackelford

Yesterday marked the end of the official "comment period" for the USGA and R&A's proposed Model Local Rule regarding a reduced-flight golf ball for elite competition. That's right, ya missed it. But the PGA Tour and the PGA of America submitted their comments on time, and they're opposed. Why have these organizations rallied against the governing bodies? How have equipment companies put their thumbs on the scale? What's the likelihood that the USGA and R&A will cave? Garrett discusses all of those questions with Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac), the author of the Quadrilateral newsletter as well as the new book Golf Architecture for Normal People. In the second half of the episode, Garrett and Geoff shift to sunnier topics: the delight that was last week's U.S. Women's Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club, the merits of Bel-Air's design and agronomy, and the unexpected two-major season from Lilia Vu, yet another young product of Southern California's public-golf scene.

Richie Ramsay Geeks Out About Golf Architecture

Garrett sits down with Richie Ramsay (@RamsayGolf)—2006 U.S. Amateur champion, four-time winner on the DP World Tour, and golf-architecture aficionado—to discuss a variety of topics. They start with a debrief of Richie's recent trip to Minnesota, where he saw courses like Interlachen, White Bear Yacht Club, Edina, and of course Hazeltine, the site of his U.S. Amateur triumph and subject of an upcoming "reimagining" by Davis Love III's firm. They then discuss Richie's recent play, including his win last year at Hillside Golf Club and his appearance at the 2022 Open, and his thoughts on the direction of the DP World Tour in the context of professional golf's current upheaval. Garrett and Richie wrap up with a little preview of this week's U.S. Women's Open venue Walton Heath.

Growing Grass at Sullivan County and Leveling Up a Golf Architecture Business

For the first interview in this episode, Andy is joined by Shaun Smith (@GorseNod), superintendent at Sullivan County Golf Club, a public nine-holer in upstate New York now operated by author Tom Coyne. Shaun discusses the ups and downs of his life and career, what he's done so far at Sullivan County, and what his hopes are for the future. In the second half of the episode, Andy brings on golf architect Tyler Rae (@TylerRaeDesign). Andy and Tyler talk about what has changed in Tyler's career since he was last on the pod five years ago and the differences he has noticed between restoration and new-build projects. They wrap up by discussing the top three courses they saw in the past year.

A History of Par

The idea of par dominates our thinking about golf. It's how we judge a player's performance. It's how we assess the difficulty of a golf course. It's how we categorize holes and courses. It shapes our perception of the game in way's that we don't even notice; it's the water we swim in. And yet for most of golf history, the idea of par did not exist. Today's guest is Stephen Proctor (@SProctorGolf), a golf historian and the author of Monarch of the Green and The Long Golden Afternoon, as well as a co-host of the podcast The Duffer's Literary Companion. Stephen joins Garrett to discuss why par wasn't a necessary concept in the game's early centuries, how the desire for something like par emerged during Young Tom Morris's time, and how the idea began to gain momentum as golf spread to the United States in the early 1900s. They also talk about the effect that par has had on the game—an effect that neither Stephen nor Garrett sees as particularly positive.

The top 10 players in golf and why the PGA Tour should pay attention to the NBA Cup

Andy Johnson and Joseph LaMagna discuss who their top 10 players in golf are now that the major championships are over. The two chat about where players such as Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele rank as well as the breakout campaign of Viktor Hovland. They also talk about the recent NBA announcement of the NBA Cup, an in-season tournament that adds significance to regular season games and the parallels to the problems golf faces. Each has a unique way that the PGA Tour could look at the NBA Cup and create more interest in their own schedule.

Takeaways from the 2023 Open Championship

The final men's major of the year just wrapped up at Royal Liverpool, and we're back to dig into the most important stories from the 2023 Open Championship. First, Garrett speaks with Sean Martin (@PGATOURSmartin) of PGA Tour dot com about the skill set, personality, and career arc of the new Champion Golfer of the Year, Brian Harman. Then Garrett brings on Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) to share three takeaways about Hoylake, this past week's excellent venue.

A Few Holes to Watch at the 2023 Open Championship (and How They Evolved)

With the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool fast approaching, Garrett is joined by Joe McDonnell (@joemmcdonne11), the Head of Imagery at the golf architecture firm Clayton, DeVries & Pont as well as a longtime Hoylake member. After a quick intro from Garrett addressing the controversy over the "internal" out-of-bounds lines on the championship third and 18th holes, Joe gives a guided tour of the design and history of four holes on Royal Liverpool's back nine: Nos. 12, 13, 14, and 17. Joe and Garrett wrap up with a discussion of the sadistic third (the members' opener). Enjoy the Open!

Five Things About the 2023 Open Championship with Kyle Porter

Kyle Porter of CBS Sports (@KylePorterCBS) joins Andy Johnson to preview the 2023 Open Championship. The two discuss Rory, Scottie Scheffler, and Rickie Fowler, among other favorites, and they break down they're looking for from the course and the tournament. Also, Kyle is really excited about the prospects of Padraig Harrington on the Ryder Cup team.

Royal Liverpool Preview and Music + Golf with Micah Pueschel of Iration

With the Open at Royal Liverpool approaching, Andy brings on Jasper Miners of Evalu18 (7:24) to ring in this year's brief links season. First they chat about some non-links hidden gems around London, then Jasper breaks down the history of Royal Liverpool and describes the differences between the original course and today's version. Andy and Jasper also discuss the new 17th hole and how the course stacks up against other Open rota venues. For the back half of the episode, Micah Pueschel (@Pooshdaddy) of the band Iration joins (58:28) to talk about his life in golf, how he manages to play while on tour, and how he has recruited other members of Iration into his obsession.

What Do We Want Out of a Championship Golf Course?

After a week on site at Pebble Beach for the U.S. Women's Open, Andy joins Garrett to talk about how the course challenged the players, where the setup fell short, and what, more generally, championship golf venues should strive to accomplish in the 21st century.

How Pebble Beach Will Play for the Women and a PGA Tour Check-In

Andy is joined by Fried Egg contributor Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) for a chat about happenings in professional golf. First, they give some thoughts on the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach: how the course should play for the women's field compared to the usual Pro-Am and U.S. Open fields; how courses could and should be set up to challenge and identify the best women golfers; to what extent they're in on the Rose Zhang hype; and whether Nelly Korda is on the comeback trail. Then Andy and Joseph dig into some PGA Tour topics. They talk about which players have done well and flown under the radar, how the Ryder Cup is shaping up, who could be in line for Player of the Year, and what might happen with the future PGA Tour schedule.

A Monterey Golf Guide

Garrett and fellow Fried Egg team member Brendan Porath devote this episode to golf in the Monterey, California, area. First, they discuss some storylines they're tracking going into this week's U.S. Women's Open, held for the first time in the tournament's history at Pebble Beach Golf Links. They touch on some aspects of Pebble Beach that they're looking forward to seeing the women's field tackle. In the back half of the episode (22:56), they offer a guide to golf in and around Monterey. Garrett lived in Pebble Beach for five years, so he provides a local perspective on the various public golf options, from premium to affordable.

2023 Ryder Cup Roster Questions, Mid-Am Golf with Shane Bacon, and Course Changes for Pros

Andy opens this pod with some reflections on the recent news that TPC River Highlands is looking at making course changes after a low-scoring Travelers Championship. He thinks that many people involved are ignoring the real problem, which is the equipment. Andy then brings on Shane Bacon (13:10) to talk about Shane's excellent performance at "The Ike," a big amateur tournament put on by the Metropolitan Golf Association. They also discuss what the 2023 Ryder Cup teams look like right now, and which players they expect to be on the teams in September.

Reflecting on the Women’s PGA and Yearning for a Euro Tour Links Season

Garrett and Meg kick off this Tuesday show with some thoughts on the Women's PGA Championship: the background and playing style of Ruoning Yin, the 20-year-old champion; the continued excellence of Rose Zhang; and the continued failures of the networks to air women's major championships in a suitable fashion. Garrett then checks in with Ben Coley (@BenColeyGolf) of Sporting Life about the state of the DP World Tour (28:31). Garrett and Ben talk about the (increasingly distant) possibility of a "links season" consisting of the Irish, Scottish, and British Opens as well as the tour's uncertain positioning in—or perhaps outside of—the burgeoning alliance between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. To go out on a more lighthearted note, Garrett and Ben wrap up with some recommendations (1:00:36).

Final U.S. Open Thoughts and a New Alister MacKenzie Book

Fresh off a week at Los Angeles Country Club for the U.S. Open, Andy gives his closing thoughts on the course and contenders. Following the U.S. Open talk, Andy is joined by Josh Pettit, author and creator of The MacKenzie Reader, a new book on the great golf architect Alister MacKenzie. Josh talks about what drew him to MacKenzie, how he put together the book, and his favorite anecdotes from MacKenzie's life.

Takeaways from the 2023 U.S. Open

Garrett launches this U.S. Open recap show by asking Los Angeles resident and ESPN staff writer Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) whether L.A. has the worst fans in sports. After settling that issue, Garrett and Paolo review the final day of the 2023 U.S. Open, touching on Wyndham Clark's championship-winning shotmaking, Rory McIlroy's frustrating runner-up finish, and the much-discussed atmosphere on the limited-capacity North Course at L.A. Country Club. For the back half of the episode, Garrett is joined by Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), Fried Egg contributor and Finding the Edge author, to evaluate the USGA's setup of LACC and talk about its architectural strengths and weaknesses (28:38). Garrett and Joseph wrap up by giving recommendations (53:24).

U.S. Open Thursday Thoughts and the Philadelphia School of Golf Architecture

Garrett opens this mid-week U.S. Open episode by emptying his notebook from a Wednesday walk around Los Angeles Country Club. He talks about three spots on the North Course's back nine that he's looking forward to watching. Then he brings on golf historian Wayne Morrison (no relation) to discuss the Philadelphia School of Golf Architecture, the influential group of golf course designers in which LACC architect George Thomas learned his craft.

Five Things About the 2023 U.S. Open (ft. Geoff Shackelford)

The 2023 U.S. Open, hosted by the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, is approaching. Geoff Shackelford, who partnered with Hanse Golf Course Design on the restoration of L.A. North, joins Andy to discuss storylines.

The PGA Tour, Presented by Saudi Arabia

Some weeks are more hectic than others. On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced that it intended to partner with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the financial backer of LIV Golf, to create a new for-profit entity. If this agreement becomes a reality, the war between the Tour and LIV will come to an end, with the sides merging interests. This episode of The Fried Egg Podcast attempts to make sense of the whole mess. First, Andy runs through the basics of what happened and gives some initial takes. Then former PGA Tour player (and member of the player advisory council and policy board) Joe Ogilvie joins Andy (11:50) to discuss his thoughts on the deal, how the coming months and years might unfold, and where the Tour went wrong in the past. Later, Andy brings on Fried Egg contributor Joseph LaMagna (1:09:20) to talk about the future of LIV and how the dynamics between players might play out.

The Rose Zhang Hypecast

Rose Zhang won her first LPGA Tour start as a pro. That calls for a full episode of discussion. Garrett and Meg kick things off by talking about Rose's most impressive shots at the Mizuho Americas Open, her playing style, and her attitude. They also caution against putting absurd expectations on her 20-year-old shoulders. Later, Justin Ray joins the pod (20:07) to talk about his favorite Rose Zhang stats, and Brendan Quinn drops in (36:40) to discuss his excellent recent profile of Rose. Garrett and Meg close the episode (1:08:34) with a couple of recommendations.

U.S. Open Favorites, Turf in L.A. with Lauren Lasocha, and KFT Life with Logan McAllister

Andy starts this episode off by giving his 10 favorites for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. He is then joined by Lauren Lasocha, senior agronomist at Bel-Air Country Club (12:37). Lauren tells Andy about working at not only Bel-Air but also LACC, the expectations those clubs have for big-time tournaments, and her experiences as a woman in the turf industry. For a final segment, Andy talks with Korn Ferry Tour player Logan McAllister (1:01:42) about his career and the challenges of progressing in professional golf.

A Preview of LACC North (ft. Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford)

With the 2023 U.S. Open two weeks away, Garrett and Andy sit down to discuss the host venue, the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club. They agree that this is one of the best golf courses in the country, and they've had this tournament circled on their calendars for years. First they get some details about the restoration of L.A. North from two of the leaders of that project, Geoff Shackelford (8:15) and Gil Hanse (17:07). Then Garrett and Andy reconvene (23:58) to give their own thoughts on the course.

Top Five Golfers of the Post-Tiger Era, NCAA Golf Championships, and Golden Age Auctions

Andy opens this mega-episode by running through his top five players of the post-Tiger era. Brentley Romine then joins the show (18:50) to talk all things NCAA Golf, including the men's and women's national championships, Rose Zhang's next steps, and players to look out for in the men's tournament. For a final segment, Ryan Carey of Golden Age Auctions chats with Andy (1:00:23) about how he started and built his golf-centric auction house and some of the intriguing items and stories he has encountered along the way.

Takeaways from the 2023 PGA Championship

Brooks Koepka is your 2023 PGA champion. Fried Egg contributor and Finding the Edge author Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) joins Garrett to talk about Koepka's resurgence, skill set, and strategic approach. They also touch on the performances of second-place finishers Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler. In the back half of the pod, Joseph and Garrett give their final thoughts on this year's PGA venue, the East Course at Oak Hill.

A Short-Game Wizard vs. a Ball-Striking Prodigy at the 1938 PGA Championship

For this mid-week PGA Championship episode, we go back to 1938, when the tournament was still a match-play competition. In that year's final match, a 26-year-old Sam Snead, one of the most imposing ball-strikers the game has ever seen, faced off against the diminutive, short-hitting Paul Runyan. What happened that day is at the heart of Little Poison, John Dechant's new biography of Runyan. John joins Garrett to discuss Runyan's hardscrabble childhood, unusual playing style, short-game genius, success on the Depression-era PGA Tour, and showdown with Slammin' Sammy in 1938. John Dechant, Little Poison

Five Things About the 2023 PGA Championship with Ryan Lavner

Ryan Lavner, senior writer at Golf Channel, joins Andy to preview the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Ryan, who grew up near Rochester, and Andy both share five things they're paying attention to in the run-up to the tournament. Ryan also offers some Rochester food recommendations, including something called "the Garbage Plate."

What to Know About Donald Ross (ft. Bradley Klein and Chris Buie)

Just one week left until the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. As we gear up for the event, we’re looking at the architect behind Oak Hill, Donald Ross. Andy chats with authors Bradley Klein and Chris Buie about Ross’s life and work. Andy and Brad start by talking about the strengths, weaknesses, and evolution of Ross's courses. Then, Chris tells us about Ross’s life, his Scottish influences, and why he was so good at his job. To wrap up, Andy, Chris, and Bradley each share their top five Ross courses. Bradley Klein is the author of Discovering Donald Ross. Chris Buie is the author of The Life and Times of Donald Ross.

LIV’s Major Complaints and How the PGA Tour Monitors Slow Play

Garrett and Brendan start this Tuesday show with a discussion of Talor Gooch's ongoing battle with the USGA over an exemption-category change that may keep him out of the 2023 U.S. Open (4:18). They touch on the various sides of the conflict, from the potential rationales for the USGA's position to the behavior of Gooch, Phil Mickelson, and other LIV players during the conflict. Garrett and Brendan also address whether the USGA could have avoided this fight—or at least prevented it from staying in the news for weeks. For the second segment, Garrett brings on Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) to discuss his recent on-the-ground reporting on how the PGA Tour enforces its pace-of-play standards (32:48). Read Shane's article for Golf Digest HERE. Finally, Brendan returns to talk with Garrett about the storylines they're tracking this week in golf (1:04:13).

PGA Championship Favorites and Oak Hill Insights

To paraphrase Bill Belichick, we're on to Rochester! In this solo pod, Andy runs through his top 10 picks for the PGA Championship and explains what style of play will do well at this year's venue, the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club. Before diving into those topics, though, he offers some reflections on this past week's U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open media days at Los Angeles Country Club and Pebble Beach.

A Preview of Oak Hill (ft. Andrew Green and Fred Beltz)

In this episode, Andy and Garrett discuss the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club, the host of the 2023 PGA Championship. First they bring on Fred Beltz, the club historian, and Andrew Green, the architect behind the recent historical renovation of the East, to talk about the history and character of the golf course. Then Andy and Garrett give their own takes on Oak Hill East, covering its strengths, weaknesses, and how it might play in the upcoming PGA Championship.

Slow Play in Golf and Baseball’s Pitch Clock

Washington Post sports columnist Barry Srvluga joins Andy to discuss the impact of baseball's new rules on the sport. Barry delves into the challenges baseball faced and the factors that led to its major overhaul. He and Andy then explore how these changes connect to issues in golf, particularly the pace-of-play issue in the professional game. Barry has written about both baseball and golf for the Post, and has authored two books on baseball, The Grind: Inside Baseball's Endless Season and National Pastime: Sports, Politics, and the Return of Baseball to Washington, D.C.

Rodeo Dunes Insights with Michael Keiser and Reflections on New-Coke Dinah Shore

Garrett and Meg kick off this Tuesday show by briefly tackling the age-old question, Which event felt more like a real golf tournament: the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic or LIV Adelaide? Garrett then brings on Dream Golf Resorts developer Michael Keiser (5:07) to talk about his project Rodeo Dunes, a soon-to-be-built resort outside of Denver, Colorado, which will join a Keiser-family collection that includes Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley. Michael talks about how he found the dunesy prairie property where Rodeo Dunes will sit, the process behind selecting Jimmy Craig and Coore & Crenshaw as the architects of the first two courses, how he hopes the new courses will stand out from others in the Dream Golf portfolio, and his thoughts on where golf architecture might go in the future. After that, Meg rejoins the podcast (35:38) to chat with Garrett about the first women's major of the year, the Chevron Championship—formerly known as the Dinah Shore—which took place outside of the Palm Springs area for the first time this past weekend. Lastly, Garrett and Meg run through the golf storylines they're tracking this week (59:52).

Introducing The Park with Jim Wagner of Hanse Golf Course Design

The Park in West Palm Beach is one of the most exciting municipal golf course projects in recent memory. Designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, The Park opened on Monday and brings high-quality public golf architecture to South Florida. Andy saw the course last week, and he opens this episode by giving his reactions to the design and his thoughts on its innovative business model. To discuss The Park further, Andy sits down with Jim Wagner, the Vice President and Design Partner at Hanse Golf Course Design. Andy and Jim talk about the site in West Palm Beach, the concept for the course, the style of the greens, the inspiration behind the design, and Dirk Ziff's involvement with the project.

Andy and Garrett Go to Augusta National

Andy got to play Augusta National for the first time the day after the 2023 Masters. Garrett got to walk around Augusta National for the first time on Saturday at the 2023 ANWA. In this episode, they discuss.

Masters Takeaways: Rahm vs. Koepka and a Mailbag with Shane Bacon

Garrett and Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) kick off this post-Masters Tuesday episode by guessing what TFE founder Andy Johnson will shoot in his media-lottery round at Augusta National. They then give a thorough rundown of the Sunday duel between Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka at the Masters, touching on Rahm's strategy, ball-striking, and historic outperformance at Augusta, as well as Koepka's final-round lapses and outlook for the future. For the next segment, Garrett brings on Shane Bacon (@shanebacon), who spent the past week calling the action on the Featured Groups feed on Masters.com. Garrett and Shane discuss the ins and outs of broadcasting at Augusta National and run through a few mailbag questions from listeners. Lastly, Garrett is rejoined by Joseph to talk about the storylines they're tracking this week in golf.

Masters Presser Reactions and an Alternative History of Augusta National’s Design

This midweek Masters episode starts with Garrett offering some solo thoughts on the pre-tournament press conferences at Augusta National (0:34). He touches on ANGC chairman Fred Ridley's announcement of a partnership with a local muni as well as Ridley's diplomatic but telling comments on the USGA and R&A's efforts to roll back the golf ball in elite competitions. Also assessed are Dustin Johnson's and Jon Rahm's reactions to the newly lengthened 13th hole. Garrett then brings on golf historian Bob Crosby (@otey71) to explore an alternative take on the history of Augusta National's course design (14:49). Bob takes Garrett through the origins and evolution of the third, eighth, seventh, and 10th holes at the Masters venue and offers a compelling interpretation of why they changed—or, in the case of the third hole, didn't change—and what it all meant.

Fives Things About the 2023 Masters with Trevor Immelman

Trevor Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion and current CBS lead analyst, joins host Andy to provide a preview of the upcoming 2023 Masters. Immelman brings fresh insights from his recent weekend spent at Augusta National, including an in-depth analysis of the changes made to the 13th hole and their impact on this year's tournament. Other topics discussed include Rory's pursuit of the Grand Slam, Scottie Scheffler's suitability for Augusta National, and how the preparation of LIV players will affect their performance in this year's first major championship.

The Uncertain State of the LPGA Tour and a Trio of ANWA Player Profiles with Anne Walker

Garrett and Meg Adkins (@megadkins_TFE) launch this Tuesday show by sharing their favorite memories from the erstwhile WGC-Dell Match Play. They then dig into the current state of the LPGA Tour, offering takeaways from this past week's Drive On Championship; thoughts on the players who are currently top tier (and almost top tier); criticisms of the awkward, momentum-free start to the LPGA schedule; and analysis of the quiet power struggle between the LPGA Tour, the Ladies European Tour, and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. For the next segment, Garrett brings on Anne Walker, head coach of the stellar Stanford women's golf team, to talk about the NCAA season so far and get some inside info on the three Stanford players who will participate in this week's Augusta National Women's Amateur: Brooke Seay, Megha Ganne, and the dominant Rose Zhang. Garrett and Meg then wrap up by discussing the golf storylines they're tracking this week.

Masters Favorites, Golf Architecture Chat, and a Ranking of Golf Areas in Great Britain

Andy opens the episode by running through his favorites for the 2023 Masters. He is then joined by golf architect Jaeger Kovich for a wide-ranging conversation. They talk about how Jaeger builds greens, the challenges of running his own firm, how he does master plans and presentations for clubs, and his thoughts about the potential impact of the Model Local Rule ball. They wrap up with Jaeger doing a power ranking of the different golf regions of Scotland and England.

A Farewell to the Match Play and a Rollback Chat with Dean Snell

At the top of our Tuesday show, Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) calms Garrett's fears about the state of Jordan Spieth's game. They then talk about the PGA Tour's WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, which will no longer exist after this year (4:59). They review Austin Country Club, the excellent venue for the tournament, and run through the various (frustrating) reasons that the Match Play fizzled out. For the next segment, Garrett brings on Dean Snell, the founder of Snell Golf as well as one of the engineering minds behind the Titleist Professional and ProV1 golf balls, to discuss the governing bodies' new Model Local Rule from an equipment-industry perspective (29:45). Dean is, to say the least, not pro-rollback. Finally, Joseph and Garrett give their storylines to track in the golf world this week (1:09:52).

A Rollback Extravaganza

On Wednesday, the USGA and R&A announced a Model Local Rule (MLR) that, if adopted, would reduce the flight of the golf ball in high-level tournaments. This is a historic move that deserves the mega-pod treatment. To kick things off, Andy and Garrett discuss the basics of the MLR and why the governing bodies have gone this route in tackling the distance issue (4:03). Then Andy brings on a series of guests: golf architect Tom Doak to explore the impact that the MLR might have on golf course design (30:04), former PGA Tour pro Roberto Castro to talk about the change from a player's perspective (48:34), and analytics whiz Joseph LaMagna to explore the effects that rollback could have on course management and strategy at the elite competitive level (1:09:23).

The Tao of Scottie Scheffler and Rank-and-File Rumblings at the 2023 Players

Our Tuesday show covers a variety of topics related to the past week's Players Championship. First, Garrett talks with Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) about whether Scottie Scheffler's win should count as 0.5 of a major (0:35). Then Garrett brings in the PGA Tour's Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) to discuss Scheffler's mindset and approach to the game (8:05). Garrett and Sean touch on, among other things, the relationship between scrambling and faith. After that, Brendan rejoins the pod to chat with Garrett about the discontent that some rank-and-file players feel about the PGA Tour's new designated event model (33:21), and they close with two golf storylines to track in the coming week (56:55). NOTE: We recorded this podcast on Monday morning, before the USGA and R&A announced their plan to limit distance at the elite levels of the game by rolling back the golf ball. We will cover that subject in depth on our Thursday episode this week.

Assessing the PGA Tour’s New Structure with Joe Ogilvie

Over the past week, the PGA Tour has released details about the structure of its new "designated event model." To sort it all out, Andy sits down with former tour player Joe Ogilvie (@ogilviej). Joe talks about his time on the Tour's player advisory council and policy board, the past 18 months in golf, his thoughts on the Tour's proposed changes, and what he would do if he were commissioner.

Four Things About the 2023 Players Championship with Shane Bacon

It's Players week! Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) joins Andy to preview the action at TPC Sawgrass. They discuss how designated events will affect the 2023 Players and future tournaments, the Tour's response to LIV defectors (including last year's Players champion Cameron Smith), which players might have a breakout week, and the uniqueness of the Stadium Course's design. Shane and Andy wrap up by giving their picks to win.

LIV Ratings, PGA Tour Telecast Changes, and Other Golf-on-TV Topics

LIV Golf is getting some brutal-sounding ratings on the CW, the PGA Tour's TV partners are changing things up, and golf broadcasting has become a hot topic lately. To break it all down, Garrett talks with Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter), an assistant managing editor at Sports Business Journal. Josh is also, as will become apparent in this episode, a golf nut. He and Garrett discuss LIV's disappointing debut performance on the CW, what golf ratings can and can't tell us, and how the breakaway league's business prospects look in year two. In the second half of the episode, they dig into the attempts by CBS and NBC to freshen up PGA Tour telecasts and the potential effects of the new designated-event structure on the Tour's bottom line.

Superintendent Series: Javier Campos of Cal Club

Javier Campos (@CalClimbingSoup) is the golf course superintendent at the California Golf Club of San Francisco, more commonly known as Cal Club. Javier sits down with Andy to discuss, among other things, how he worked his way up the ranks of Cal Club's grounds crew, the influence of his mentor Thomas Bastis, the difficulties of the past winter in Northern California (which included a Caddyshack-like invasion of gophers), the intricacies of managing fine fescue and bentgrass surfaces on the West Coast, and his thoughts about autonomous maintenance equipment. Before getting to his chat with Javier, Andy goes through what the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup top 10 would be if the FEC were determined by designated-event results only.

The PGA Tour Season So Far

Andy starts this episode by running through his 10 (early) favorites to win the 2023 Masters. He is then joined by Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) to talk about a variety of topics: their takeaways from the West Coast swing, the players on the PGA Tour who have stood out so far, the debate around the 10th hole at Riviera, the distinction between short par 4s and drivable par 4s, and Sports Illustrated's highly questionable new world ranking.

Andrew Putnam Talks About Making It on the PGA Tour

Thirty-four-year-old Andrew Putnam is a pro's pro. He has quietly put together an impressive career on the PGA Tour, winning once (at the 2018 Barracuda) and establishing himself as one of the best putters in the game. He joins Andy to discuss what it's like to be a tour pro living in the Pacific Northwest, what he thinks of the new designated-event series, why he plays with no swing coach, and what it takes to be a great on the greens.

Full Swing Reactions with Megan Schuster

The much-anticipated Netflix docuseries on professional golf has arrived. Full Swing debuted yesterday with eight episodes on the 2022 PGA Tour (and LIV) season. For some honest reactions to the show, Garrett calls up Megan Schuster (@megschuster), who covers golf and Formula 1 for The Ringer. Garrett and Megan start off by talking about what made Drive to Survive, Netflix's F1 series, so effective and popular. They then delve into Full Swing, discussing its strengths, most and least appealing characters, funniest random moments, and various shortcomings. For more on Full Swing, check out The Fried Egg's new podcast Full Swing Thoughts, in which Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath, and Joseph LaMagna break down the series episode by episode. Search for it wherever you get podcasts, or: Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Spotify

The State of LIV Golf

LIV Golf, the upstart golf tour backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, will start its second season next week in Mexico. It's been an odd, somewhat rough offseason for Greg Norman's organization, with executives fleeing and no big-name player signings. To get a sense for what's going on in LIV-land, Garrett sits down with Adam Woodard (@AdamWoodard), who covers the league for Golfweek. Garrett and Adam talk about LIV's major successes and failures in 2022, its seeming loss of momentum in the past few months, and its prospects for 2023. They also discuss Adam's approach to and feelings about doing traditional, neutral-voiced reporting about a sports league associated with real-world ills.

Why We’re (Cautiously) Optimistic About the PGA Tour’s Designated Events

This week's Waste Management Phoenix Open is the PGA Tour's first full-field "designated event." The designated-event series, created in response to LIV Golf's attempts to lure the world's top male players with guaranteed paydays, will transform the Tour's structure in ways that are hard to predict. After discussing the Phoenix Open and its better-than-you-might-think venue, Andy and Garrett explain why they're excited about designated events, both as a product and as a catalyst for change on the PGA Tour. In the second half of the episode, they address some of their lingering questions about the series, and Andy lays out a pitch for each event's field size and qualification criteria.

Thad Layton on Taking Arnold Palmer Design Company into the Future

Thad Layton has worked for Arnold Palmer Design since he graduated from college 23 years ago, and today he is the Senior Golf Course Architect and Vice President at the company. He joins Andy to talk about working with Arnold Palmer and building golf courses all over the world, including getting his first lead-design gig on a project in Kazakhstan. In recent years, Thad has done a lot of compelling work under the APDC umbrella, and he tells Andy about guiding the company into a new era. Before getting to his conversation with Thad (5:45), Andy shares some thoughts about the play stoppages at last weekend's Pebble Beach Pro-Am and how America's obsession with fast greens is partly to blame.

How Digital Tech and AI Could Change Golf Course Design

Lately Garrett has been wondering how recent technological advances, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, may change golf architecture in the coming decades. So he called up Peter Flory (@nle_golf), whose digital modeling was a key component of the Lido project in Wisconsin. Peter tells Garrett how he researched the history of the C.B. Macdonald-designed Lido Golf Club and which technological methods he used to help architect Tom Doak re-create the course in Wisconsin. Peter and Garrett then discuss the various effects that advances in digital and AI rendering may have on golf course design as a business and an artform.

Golf Architecture Mailbag: Rollback Possibilities, Pet Peeves, and Public Golf Problems

You asked, we answered. Andy and Garrett tackle a variety of golf architecture-related questions from listeners, including ones about the impact a potential equipment rollback will have on championship courses, which practices in modern golf course design are most objectionable, Robert Trent Jones II's pot-stirring Golf Magazine interview, why the Covid boom has not translated into widespread muni renovations, whether great architecture is becoming elitist and unaffordable, and more.

Catching Up with Zac Blair

After a two-year layoff to recover from shoulder surgery, Zac Blair is back on the PGA Tour this season. He's also back on the podcast, chatting with Andy about his return to professional golf. They also discuss the final stages of his Tree Farm project in South Carolina and the different contributions that he, Tom Doak, and Kye Goalby brought to the design and construction process. Finally, they turn their attention to the future, touching on potential golf developments Zac wants to be involved in and a golf trip that he'd like to take.

The Superintendents’ Masters

The GCSAA Golf Championships, held annually in conjunction with the GCSAA Convention and Trade Show, is the biggest tournament of the year for golf course superintendents who play competitively. We attended last year’s edition and found it to be a fun, impressive event. With this year’s GCSAA Golf Championships approaching (February 4-6 in Orlando), we decided to tell the story of the 2022 tournament. Garrett talks to three different people in this episode: Scott Hollister, editor-in-chief of Golf Course Management magazine; and two players who contended for last year’s title, Tanner Westbrook and Seth Strickland. First Garrett discusses the history and identity of the tournament with Scott, then he speaks with Tanner and Seth about their backgrounds and careers in golf. Finally, we weave all three voices together in an account of the 2022 GCSAA national championship’s exciting finish. This episode is brought to you by the Toro Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Collins Returns

It has been over six years since Rob Collins's first appearance on The Fried Egg podcast. He was guest No. 4 back in 2016, and a lot has happened for his architecture firm King-Collins Golf since then. Rob talks with Andy about his busy 2022, which included the opening of Landmand Golf Club in Nebraska and his ongoing work at Red Feather Golf and Social Club in Lubbock, Texas. He reflects on how his life changed after the success of Sweetens Cove, and how he has handled the transition from struggling architect to one of the most prominent and in-demand names in the business. Rob and Andy wrap up with a discussion of projects and concepts Rob would like to pursue in the future, including his proposal (originally made for the Pinehurst No. 10 job) for five golf courses in one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who Can Win a Major in 2023?

With the 2023 golf season underway, we're already thinking ahead to the four men's major championships. Joseph LaMagna, who writes the excellent Finding the Edge newsletter, joins Andy to discuss which players have the best chance of winning a big one this year. They sort players into tiers ranging from "No Contention = Major Failure" to "Lightning in a Bottle." And yes, some LIV guys are in the mix! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Waugh on Frisco, LIV, and the PGA of America’s Recent Moves

Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, joins Andy to talk about a range of recent happenings and hot-button issues. They discuss the decisions the PGA made when Covid-19 hit, how the organization goes about selecting host sites, the Ryder Cup, and the emergence of LIV Golf. Seth also gives details on two major golf course developments that the PGA is spearheading: the construction of the massive PGA Frisco complex and the renovation of West Palm Beach Muni by Gil Hanse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yolk with Doak 39: Ballyneal and Listener Questions

We're back with another edition of the Yolk with Doak, our series with golf architect Tom Doak. Andy and Tom devote a portion of this episode to discussing Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club, Tom's acclaimed 2006 design in the Chop Hills of Colorado. They talk about Ballyneal's conception, how the owners influenced the final product, comparisons to Coore & Crenshaw's Sand Hills, and the holes that required the most earthmoving. In the second part of the episode, Tom fields listener questions about Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes, whether par 3s can be strategic, holes with two greens, and the notion of playing a hole down another hole's fairway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yolk with Doak 38: Pinehurst

Yesterday, Pinehurst announced that Tom Doak will design the resort's 10th 18-hole course on a dramatic property in Aberdeen, NC. Tom joins Andy to talk about the factors that will make No. 10 unique, including its elevation changes and the fast timeline for the project (his crew has already broken ground). They also discuss Pinehurst more generally, touching on the strengths of Donald Ross's No. 2 course and the importance of Coore & Crenshaw's 2010 restoration of it. In non-Pinehurst talk, they chat about how busy Tom is right now, when he says no to opportunities, and how he makes the most of his time on site. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What We Enjoyed in 2022 and What We’re Looking Forward to in 2023

In the first pod of the new year, Andy and Garrett spend some time reflecting on their favorite golf moments from 2022 before looking ahead and picking a few things they're excited about in 2023. First they revisit memories from the biggest tournaments of the past year and relive casual rounds that exceeded expectations. Then they each choose a couple of events and projects that have them enthusiastic about the months to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Great English Golf Boom

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, golf caught on outside of Scotland for the first time. The game became especially popular in England, where the number of clubs skyrocketed in the 1890s and the first decade of the 1900s. Michael Morrison’s new book The Great English Golf Boom, 1864-1914: A History chronicles these developments with unprecedented detail and insight. He joins Garrett to discuss golf’s initial spread in England, the various differences between the English and Scottish games, and the pivotal innovations in golf course architecture and agronomy that English clubs introduced around the turn of the century. You can find Michael Morrison on Twitter at @golfhistorymike, and to purchase a copy of his book, simply email him at mike.morrison57@outlook.com.

What to Know About Walter Travis (ft. Brian Schneider)

There’s an argument to be made that Walter Travis, the Australian-born American golfer who lived from 1862 to 1927, is the most underrated golf architect of the Golden Age. To learn more about Travis’s life and work, Andy sits down with Renaissance Golf Design associate Brian Schneider, who has done restoration work at several Travis courses. Andy and Brian discuss Travis’s impressive playing career, his relationship with legendary designer C.B. Macdonald, his bold and unique approach to green design, and his facility for creating reversible courses. They also talk about which Travis designs are the best preserved and most worth seeing.

Let’s Talk About the OWGR

The Official World Golf Ranking has unexpectedly become a lightning rod for debate this year because of its decisions to overhaul its formula and turn down the upstart LIV Golf league's request for immediate membership. To sort through this mess, Garrett sits down with Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), co-founder of Optimal Approach Golf and author of the Finding the Edge newsletter. Joseph and Garrett tackle the ins and outs of the OWGR, explaining the new formula, the criteria LIV needs to meet to be granted world-ranking points, and the overall importance of the system to the world of professional golf.

Why Golf?

Garrett welcomes author Bob Cullen to the podcast to help explain the mysterious ways in which golf can transform a beginner into an addict overnight. Bob examined the subject in his book Why Golf?, which was published over 20 years ago and happens to be one of Garrett's favorite books on the game. Bob also talks about how his experience as a golfer has changed for him over the years and what he learned from writing a series of bestsellers with Dr. Bob Rotella.

An Announcement from The Fried Egg

The Fried Egg is launching a membership! It's called Club TFE. Starting on January 2, 2023, members will have access to exclusive content, along with a variety of other perks. In this episode, Andy and Garrett dive into the details of what Club TFE will offer. They also chat about the history of The Fried Egg and how they think the company fits into the current media landscape. To learn more about Club TFE and to sign up, go to thefriedegg.com/membership.

Designing a Clubhouse

If you're a regular listener to The Fried Egg, chances are you've spent a fair amount of time thinking about golf course architecture. But have you ever looked at clubhouses—and other kinds of vertical structures often found on golf courses—and thought about how they're designed? Garrett has been curious about this subject for a while, and that's why he got in touch with Alex Warr (@alex_warr on Instagram), the lead designer of the clubhouse and other buildings at Zac Blair's Tree Farm project in Aiken, South Carolina. Alex tells Garrett about how he Instagram DMed his way into the job, the place-based philosophy behind the structures at the Tree Farm, why many building architects don't love golf, and the many parallels between appreciating golf courses and appreciating pretty much any other type of built environment.

Assembling Retro Sets with Nick Sherburne of Club Champion

Nick Sherburne, founder of Club Champion, brings decades of experience as a club maker and fitter to the podcast as he and Andy put together sets of their favorite clubs from the 80s, 90s, and early aughts. If the mention of names like Orlimar, Adams, Zebra, and Sonartec give you pangs of nostalgia, you'll enjoy Nick and Andy's lively Black Friday discussion of some of the best (Scotty Cameron Teryllium) and worst (TaylorMade Nubbins) clubs from past generations.

Yolk with Doak 37: Scotland Travels, Restorations, and Listener Questions

In today's edition of the Yolk with Doak, Tom and Andy begin by reminiscing about their visits to Scotland earlier this year. A discussion of restorations, including Tom's own work at the Lido, takes up the middle part of the episode, and they finish with Tom answering listener questions about balancing client demands, handling criticism, choosing his favorite bunkers, and more.

Yolk with Doak 36: Tom’s New Projects (feat. the Return of High Pointe)

The Yolk with Doak is back! After a busy few months of travel for both Andy and Tom, they had a lot to catch up on. They start by talking about the revival of High Pointe, the first course Tom designed. He shares details about the routing, timeline, and whether he'll once again be the one shaping the greens. Next, some updates on the other ongoing projects, including Sedge Valley, Punta Brava in Mexico, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. Look for part two of this conversation with Tom, which digs into listener questions, next week.

Golf’s Scientific Revolution

In his new book The Science of Golf, golf broadcaster Will Haskett (@willhaskett) delves into the scientific revolution that golf has experienced over the past quarter century. The book breaks down everything from launch-monitor technology and strokes-gained analytics to neuroscience and agronomy. Will joins Garrett to describe the enormous impact science has had on golf in the 21st century and to discuss the positive as well as potentially negative effects of certain scientific advances.

The Many Shane Bacons

You can now add "children's book author" to Shane Bacon's (@shanebacon) lengthy résumé. The TV personality and host of the Get a Grip podcast just released his first book, "The Golfer's Zoo." He talks with Garrett about why he wanted to write golf book geared toward kids, the ways that becoming a parent changes one's relationship with the game, and the nature of the "golf guilt" that many moms and dads feel. The second half of the episode delves into Shane's career and how the field of golf media has evolved since he started out as a blogger in the late aughts. "The Golfer's Zoo" is available for purchase at back9press.com/bacon.

The Players That the PGA Tour Can’t Afford to Lose to LIV

Only days after LIV's first-year finale in Miami, the high-stakes game of player recruitment for the Saudi-backed league's second season has ratcheted. Building on a recent piece by Andy in The Fried Egg Newsletter, Andy and Garrett discuss the top remaining players on the PGA Tour and their value in the tussle between the Tour and LIV. Andy and Garrett also reflect on the Tour's battlefield strategy this past year and how it might affect the future of both professional circuits.

Superintendent Series: Brendan Parkhurst of Cape Arundel

Brendan Parkhurst, superintendent at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, Maine, joins Andy as the latest guest in our Superintendent Series. Brendan has been at Cape Arundel for over 20 years and has helped guide the Walter Travis-designed course through its restoration. The special care needed for Cape Arundel's dramatic greens, how a tidal river flood impacts the grass, and the pros and cons of taking care of a 5,800-yard course are all discussed. Brendan also shares some tips for how to handle the security detail and motorcade when the President of the United States is a frequent visitor.

What’s Next in Golf Course Architecture?

Golf course architecture is experiencing its biggest boom in almost 20 years. With demand for new courses and restoration/renovation work ramping up, the industry is at an important juncture. Andy and Garrett each share three things they hope and/or expect to see from golf course design in the near future. They explore possibilities for less suitable land, shorter courses, and experimental shaping as well as predictions for how the economy and climate change will shape trends.

The New Yorker Goes Deep on LIV Golf

Zach Helfand’s main job is editing The New Yorker’s “Talk of the Town” section, but for the past few months he has been working on a feature story about the battle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. That article appears in this week’s print edition of the magazine and was published online under the title “Will the Saudis and Donald Trump Save Golf—or Wreck It?” Zach (@zhelfand) tells Garrett about his reporting process, the benefits of his outsider status in the golf world, and what he observed at the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship and LIV’s events at Trump Bedminster and the International. He also reveals how he wrangled a now-widely-aggregated interview with Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and one of the major decision makers behind LIV.

Sugarloaf Social Club Bought a Golf Course

Ian Gilley is the co-founder and president of Sugarloaf Social Club, which is a golf society, a popular Instagram account, a merchandising operation, and now a part-owner of a golf course. Ian and Andy start by chatting about searching for hidden gems in Kansas and Nebraska and creating golf logos that stand the test of time. They then delve into why and how Ian and business partner David Cronheim recently purchased a six-hole course in Upstate New York. The course, which will soon be enjoyed by members of the Sugarloaf Field Club, has holes inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews and a clubhouse inspired by Augusta National. Ian and Andy wrap up by talking about the three golf courses they think about the most.

First Impressions of PGA Frisco

PGA Frisco is one of the most important golf-development projects of the past two decades. It consists of two 18-hole golf courses, lighted par-3 and putting courses, an ambitious hotel and retail enterprise, and a new "home" for the PGA of America. In the next 12 years, Frisco will host six PGA majors: two PGA Championships, two Senior PGAs, and two Women's PGAs. Andy visited the complex recently and joins Garrett to discuss everything he saw. The two cover the overall development and partnership between the PGA, Omni Hotels and Resorts, and the city of Frisco, Texas; and they break down the Gil Hanse-designed East course and the Beau Welling-designed West course. There's praise for the PGA's efforts to bring golf to a major metropolitan area as well as critiques of some architectural details and concerns about the cost of the sprawling compound.

Superintendent Series: Sandy Reid of St. Andrews

Sandy Reid (@SandyReidGK), the Director of Greenkeeping at St. Andrews Links, is today's guest for our Superintendent Series. Sandy has one of the busiest jobs in the turf industry: he oversees all seven courses at St. Andrews. This year was busier than ever for him, with the 150th Open and the Dunhill Links both taking place at the Old Course. Sandy shares how he and his team managed the infrastructure necessary for the events and the inevitable wear and tear to the course. He and Andy also talk about Sandy's time at Carnoustie, how he maintains courses that rarely shut down, what it's like having the property turn into a park on Sundays, and much more. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Mailbag: All of Your Golf Course Architecture Questions

Andy and Garrett are back with another mailbag episode recorded in the midst of their trip through Massachusetts, Maine, and Upstate New York. This one is focused on all of your golf course architecture questions. Well, maybe not *all* of them, but Andy and Garrett do tackle some serious subjects, including which architect has done the most damage to golf course architecture. They also make time for not-so-hard-hitting topics such as the effectiveness of periscopes and bells and the correct distribution of on-course restrooms. The episode wraps up with advice on how to discuss golf course architecture with sane people and thoughts on course rankings and the crucial gap between "favorite" and "best."

Mailbag: Presidents Cup Reactions and Burgerdog Musings

From the living room of an A-frame house in Massachusetts, three members of the Fried Egg team—Andy, Garrett, and Will—reach into the mailbag and answer a batch of your questions. The boys cover a variety of Presidents Cup-related topics: surprises and disappointments from this past week’s event at Quail Hollow, venues they’d like to see in the future, whether they’re annoyed with Justin Thomas’s antics, and more. They wrap up with a rollicking discussion of burgerdogs, pickles, and future TFE events.

The Presidents Cup: Past, Present, and Future

Team golf is back this week with the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. To celebrate, Garrett and Andy take a walk down memory lane and examine the history of the event. From the split between the PGA of America and what would become the PGA Tour to the failure of other team competitions, the series of events that led to the Presidents Cup's creation is a fascinating study. The second half of the episode is dedicated to the present state and potential future of the tournament. Garrett and Andy go over what ails the event, the distractions surrounding this year's edition, and their own proposals to breathe some life into the Presidents Cup.

Ranking the 2022 Major Championships with Geoff Shackelford

Anticipation for men's major championship golf this year was sky-high. Tiger was returning to the Masters, the PGA Championship had been moved to Gil Hanse-restored Southern Hills, the U.S. Open was visiting the Country Club for the first time since 1988, and St. Andrews was hosting the 150th edition of the Open. To the delight of golf fans everywhere, the tournaments lived up to the hype. Andy Johnson welcomes Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac), author of The Quadrilateral, a Substack newsletter dedicated to golf's majors, to relive the four biggest weeks in golf, reminisce on early- and late-round memories, and give their rankings of each major.

Is Golf Still Booming?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, recreational golf saw a major uptick. Rounds went up and equipment sales boomed. Have those boom times continued in 2022? Or has there been a regression to the mean? To take the temperature of the golf industry as a whole, Garrett speaks with Greg Nathan, the Chief Business Officer of the National Golf Foundation. Garrett and Greg discuss the nature of golf's "Covid bump," the overall health of the golf business, the future of golf course development, and more.

The Uncertain Future of the European Tour

At this past week's BMW PGA Championship, multiple players who have signed with LIV Golf aired their grievances about the direction of the DP World Tour, formerly know as the European Tour. Ian Poulter, Sergio García, and other Euro vets feel that the proud, historic tour has become a mere "feeder tour," and that DPWT CEO Keith Pelley's negotiation of a "strategic alliance" with the PGA Tour is significantly to blame. They might have a point. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss the recent history of the European Tour, the decisions that led to its current status, how it should position itself in the new world order of professional golf, and whether it has any hope of returning to its former glory.

Denny McCarthy on Putting Prowess, LIV, and the New PGA Tour

Denny McCarthy (@_dennymccarthy) just had his most successful year ever on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a T-7 finish at the U.S. Open. He joins Andy Johnson to talk about his outlook for next season, getting hot just in time for the U.S. Open, and the recent work he put in to up his game. He also shares his thoughts on LIV Golf and the sweeping changes the PGA Tour introduced last week. Lastly, for listeners struggling with the flatstick, Denny, who has never finished worse than T-22 in Strokes Gained: Putting, talks through his process on the greens and shares a few tips.

Andy’s Scottish Adventure, Part 2: North Berwick, The Old Course, Dunbar, Kilspindie

In the second of two episodes recapping his first visit to Scotland, Andy Johnson gives Garrett Morrison his thoughts on two legendary courses—North Berwick Golf Club and the Old Course at St. Andrews—and two lesser-known gems in the East Lothian region, Dunbar Golf Club and Kilspindie Golf Club. They discuss the brilliance of North Berwick's hole designs, the uniqueness of the Old Course's terrain, the drama of Dunbar's routing, and the advantages of playing Kilspindie with hickories. Andy also offers some general advice on planning a golf trip to Scotland. (Hint: don't overbook yourself!) Time stamps for course discussions: (2:16) North Berwick (37:07) The Old Course (52:29) Dunbar (1:01:58) Kilspindie

Reviewing the PGA Tour’s Big Changes

Earlier this month, Andy Johnson and Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) talked through the changes they'd like to see the PGA Tour make in order to compete with LIV Golf. After this week's onslaught of news and announcements about real alterations that the Tour will make to its structure, Andy welcomes Joseph back to break it all down. They discuss PIP, LIV, TMRW, and probably a few other acronyms; the effects they think the changes will have; and the importance of the Tour getting the details right as it moves into a new era.

Superintendent Series: Jeff Austin on Reviving Yale Golf Course

Our Superintendent Series is back with Jeff Austin, superintendent at Yale Golf Course (@Yale_GolfCourse). Prior to taking over at Yale, Jeff was an assistant superintendent at Augusta National, and he humors Andy with a few stories from his time there, including an interaction with a former president. Just over two years ago, Jeff took over at the Seth Raynor-designed Yale Golf Course, which had seen better days after a long Covid-related shutdown. Jeff talks about the challenges he tackled when he came aboard, explains how his workforce adds to the uniqueness of the job, and shares what they're doing to prepare for a Gil Hanse-led restoration starting at the end of 2023. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

What’s Next in the Legal Fight Between LIV and the PGA Tour?

The courtroom phase of the conflict between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour began last week with a win for the Tour: a federal judge denied an effort by LIV players to obtain a temporary restraining order that would have allowed them to take part in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. But the legal battle between the two golf leagues is far from over. To learn more about the LIV players’ ongoing antitrust lawsuit and its prospects of success, Garrett Morrison talks to Gabe Feldman (@SportsLawGuy), a professor at Tulane University who specializes in antitrust and sports law and hosts the podcast Between the Lines. Gabe explains the legal basis of the players’ claim against the PGA Tour, assesses the case’s merits, and predicts where the litigation between LIV and the Tour might go next.

It’s Time for Chambers Bay to Get Another Major (But Can It?)

Garrett Morrison spent this past Sunday watching Japanese sensation Saki Baba become the latest U.S. Women's Amateur champion. He joins Andy Johnson to share his impressions of the course where all the action took place, Chambers Bay, and its role in future USGA championships after the controversial 2015 U.S. Open. With "anchor sites" like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst No. 2 booked into the 2050s, there's not much room for underdog courses to elbow their way in. Andy and Garrett dig into the why the USGA (and, to a slightly lesser extent, the PGA of America) have pursued this model of venue selection, the issues it's creating, and what they'd like to see change.

Bandon Deep Dives: Bandon Dunes

Our fifth and final deep dive into the 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes is here! Since we’ve gone in reverse-chronological order, we have finally arrived at the OG, the 1999 David McLay Kidd design that launched Mike Keiser’s outpost in the Oregon dunes and changed the way everyone in the golf industry thought about the destination-resort business. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about Keiser’s bold vision for Bandon Dunes and the collaborative—or, more accurately, combative—nature of the construction process. They then explain why they believe the original Bandon course is, by a substantial margin, the weakest 18 at the resort. The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by Zero Restriction.

To Fend Off LIV, the PGA Tour Needs to Change. Here’s How.

On Monday, the PGA Tour released its 2022-23 schedule, and… well, it looks pretty much the same as this year’s schedule. That’s a problem, Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) argues in a new article on The Fried Egg website. If the PGA Tour expects to compete with the insurgent LIV league, it needs to rethink the structure of its season and especially its playoff series. Joseph joins Andy Johnson to discuss specific ways that the Tour can adjust its schedule to become a better, more competitive product.

Andy’s Scottish Adventure, Part 1: Muirfield, Gullane, Elie

After wrapping up his first visit to Scotland a couple of weeks ago, Andy Johnson is ready to relive it with two podcasts recapping the trip. In this first installment, he and Garrett Morrison start with an in-depth discussion of Muirfield, the site of this week's AIG Women's Open. They touch on the history of the course, standout holes, and what to watch for at the tournament. Andy and Garrett then discuss the wealth of quality golf at Gullane Golf Club and an evening for the memory books at Elie. Look for part 2—which will cover North Berwick, the Old Course, Kilspindie, and Dunbar—in the coming weeks. Read more about Andy's lunch and afternoon round at Muirfield in his first Scotland journal.

What Saudi Arabia Really Wants Out of LIV Golf

This week, the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational series is holding its third-ever tournament, LIV Bedminster, at a golf course owned by former president Donald Trump. Now there’s a sentence that our 2015 selves—even our 2020 selves—couldn’t have imagined writing. But here we are, and we need to come to grips with some complex topics. That’s why Brendan Quinn’s article “LIV Golf and the king-sized ambition behind a game on the bring,” published yesterday in The Athletic, is so valuable. It calls on the expertise of those who have been studying Saudi Arabia and its royal family for decades, and presents a clear, detailed picture of where LIV Golf came from, how it’s financed, and how it fits into the Saudi government’s plans for the future. Brendan discusses all of this and more with Garrett Morrison in this episode.

James Duncan on Working with Coore & Crenshaw and Building Brambles

James Duncan has had over 30 years of experience in golf course architecture and has worked with Tom Doak and Gil Hanse in addition to being a longtime associate with Coore & Crenshaw. He joins Andy Johnson to talk about how he got his start in the business and what brought him from his native Denmark to America. He and Andy discuss his experiences at Austin Golf Club, Hidden Creek, and the ill-fated Dos Pueblos project, and they wrap up with an update on the Brambles project outside of Napa, California, which will open in the coming months.

Takeaways from the 2022 Open Championship

Given the turmoil that has dominated men’s professional golf this year, a Rory McIlroy victory in the Open Championship at St. Andrews would have been a storybook ending to the major season. Well, too bad. Cameron Smith, as he reminded us in the process of dismantling the Old Course on Sunday, is really, really good at golf. To break down all of the action as well as the deeper storylines, Garrett Morrison speaks with Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir), golf correspondent for Sky Sports; Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), the analytical mind behind the Finding the Edge newsletter; and The Fried Egg’s own Andy Johnson, who was on site all week in St. Andrews.

The Evolution of the Old Course

How did the Old Course at St. Andrews become what it is today? Garrett Morrison takes a break from the action at the 150th Open Championship to chat with historian Bob Crosby (@otey71) about how golf’s most famous and influential course changed—in surprisingly radical ways—during the second half of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th. This evolution, Bob argues, has a lot to teach us about the nature of strategic course design. It also accounts for why the Old Course continues to fascinate us today.

Five Things About the 2022 Open Championship with Michael Clayton

The 150th Open Championship is almost here, so Michael Clayton (@mikeclaytongolf) joins Andy Johnson to run through five storylines to watch for this week. Tiger, Rory, and the biggest star of week, St. Andrews, are all covered. Michael also discusses which fellow Australians he hopes to see in contention and tells some stories about his experiences playing in three Opens at the Old Course. There's also some LIV chatter, but only a few minutes' worth... promise!

On My First Visit to St. Andrews…

Andy Johnson will take his maiden voyage to St. Andrews for next week's Open Championship. To prepare, he talks with a series of guests about their first visits to the Old Course. Tom Doak, James Duncan, Shane Bacon (@shanebacon), Michael Clayton (@mikeclaytongolf), Gil Hanse, and Zac Blair (@z_blair) all talk with Andy about their first impressions, what surprised them, and what they took away from their first trip to the Home of Golf. Time stamps: (1:40) Tom Doak (5:27) James Duncan (9:04) Shane Bacon (15:48) Michael Clayton (22:34) Gil Hanse (24:01) Zac Blair

We Regret to Inform You That LIV Golf’s Product Does Not Stink

This past weekend, the second event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series was staged at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, Oregon. The Fried Egg's own Garrett Morrison was on site, and he joins Andy Johnson to reflect on what he saw. Garrett and Andy talk about the shotgun start, the team format, player attitudes, and a variety of other topics. They also make some projections about the futures of both LIV and the PGA Tour. Warning: if you'd rather not see men's professional golf be taken over by an autocracy's reputation-laundering scheme, things are starting to look a little grim. Read "Smashing Pumpkin," Garrett's story about the battle that broke out within Pumpkin Ridge's membership when the LIV Portland event was announced in March.

Yolk with Doak 35: All Things St. Andrews

With the 150th edition of the Open kicking off at the Old Course in a little less than two weeks, Tom Doak and Andy Johnson devote an entire episode to St. Andrews. Tom has gotten to know the course deeply over multiple decades, so he has a lot of thoughts on what first-time visitors should do and what makes the Old Course one of a kind. The bunkers, the reverse routing, and the evolution of the course are all discussed in depth. We hope this gets you excited for the final men's major of the year!

Yolk with Doak 34: Saudi Golf Issues, Cabot Highlands, and Listener Questions

In the latest installment of the Yolk with Doak, golf architect Tom Doak covers a wide range of topics with Andy Johnson. First, they spend some time examining Saudi Arabia's role in golf outside of the LIV tour, namely the kingdom's massive investment in golf course construction. Tom also provides updates on his current activities, which include the recently announced second course at Cabot Highlands, formerly known as Castle Stuart. Finally, Tom and Andy run through listener questions about the playability trend in design, changes to Tom's early projects, and the delicate balance that's required when imitating another architect's work. Look for part two of this conversation, which will focus on St. Andrews, this coming Friday.

Superintendent Series: Pete Wendt of Congressional Country Club

With the KPMG Women's PGA Championship underway, Andy Johnson welcomes Pete Wendt (@PeteWendtCCC) to the latest edition of our Superintendent Series. Pete is the Director of Golf Courses and Grounds at Congressional Country Club, which is hosting the third women's major of the year this week. The Blue Course will be showing off its new look after an extensive renovation by Andrew Green that was completed last year. Pete talks about how Green's vision became reality and which aspects of the course he's most excited to see in action at the Women's PGA. Pete and Andy also cover other topics, ranging from Pete's schedule this week to how technology might be able to ease the industry's labor shortage. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Takeaways from the 2022 U.S. Open

The 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline was an instant classic. It had all the key ingredients: a great course, a tough setup, a variety of big names in contention, a dramatic final-round duel, and a champion who sealed victory with an extraordinary shot on the 72nd hole. To discuss all of this and more, Garrett Morrison talks with four guests. First up is Nick Hardy (@NickHardy8), an up-and-coming tour pro who, at one point on Sunday afternoon, found himself two shots off the lead. Garrett then touches base with Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti), a staff writer at ESPN.com; Ryan Barath (@RDSBarath), a senior equipment editor at Golf.com; and Bradley Klein (@BradleySKlein), a journalist and golf architecture historian.

Where Did Country Clubs Come From?

The late 1800s saw the invention of an important institution: the American country club. This week’s U.S. Open venue, The Country Club in Brookline, was the first—or at least one of the first. By the beginning of the 20th century, most major cities east of Chicago had several golf-focused clubs. What were the reasons for this proliferation? And what can we learn from the origins of country-club life in America? To get some answers, Garrett Morrison talks to Richard J. (“Pete”) Moss, a retired history professor and the author of the excellent Golf and the American Country Club.

Five Things About the 2022 U.S. Open with Tron Carter

It's U.S. Open week! To give a preview of the action, Andy Johnson sits down with Tron Carter (@TronCarterNLU) and runs through five things they'll be watching for at The Country Club in Brookline. They touch on the virtues of the host city, the challenges of the course, the players who might be best prepared to take on TCC's small greens and heavy rough, the potential activities of Team Reed, and the long shadow cast by the insurgent LIV league. The Fried Egg and No Laying Up have team members on site in Boston this week, so there will be plenty of #content to consume. For some visuals of the course, check out our preview video as well as NLU's.

Fried Egg Stories: How to Slay a Monster (The Open Doctor and His Monster, Part 3)

This episode concludes our series “The Open Doctor and His Monster,” which chronicles the origins, rise, and end of the Robert Trent Jones era in golf. Today, we tell the story of the movement that challenged Jones’s ideas and revived the reputations of Donald Ross and other golf architects of the “Golden Age.” Ultimately, this movement led to a battle of ideas at Oakland Hills Country Club, where Jones had initially established his reputation as the “Open Doctor” in 1950. Our guests in this episode are Richard Howting, Bradley Klein (@BradleySKlein), Gil Hanse, and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Further reading: Bradley Klein, Discovering Donald Ross Geoffrey Cornish and Ron Whitten, The Golf Course

Fried Egg Stories: Ben Hogan vs. the Monster (The Open Doctor and His Monster, Part 2)

In this second installment of our documentary series “The Open Doctor and His Monster,” we focus on the 1951 U.S. Open, in which Ben Hogan did battle with Robert Trent Jones’s modern architecture at Oakland Hills Country Club. Our guests in this episode are Ed Gruver (@EdGruver), Richard Howting, James Hansen, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Bradley Klein (@BradleySKlein). Further reading: Ed Gruver, Bringing the Monster to Its Knees: Ben Hogan, Oakland Hills, and the 1951 U.S. Open Richard Howting, “Defining Moment: The 1951 U.S. Open” Bradley Klein, “Forever in Tweed, Amen: Herbert Warren Wind’s contributions to golf know no word count” in The Golfer’s Journal No. 13

Fried Egg Stories: How to Make a Monster (The Open Doctor and His Monster, Part 1)

Today, we kick off a three-part documentary series called “The Open Doctor and His Monster,” in which we chronicle the Robert Trent Jones era in golf: its origins in Rochester, New York; its breakthrough moment at Oakland Hills Country Club; and its recent fall from favor. In this first installment, we tell the story of how Robert Trent Jones rose from a blue-collar background to the status of “Open Doctor”—and how, in the process, he came up with ideas that would dominate golf course design for decades. Our guests in this episode are Robert Trent Jones Jr., James Hansen, Richard Howting, and Bradley Klein (@BradleySKlein). Further reading: James Hansen, A Difficult Par: Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the Making of Modern Golf Bradley Klein, Discovering Donald Ross: The Architect and His Golf Courses

Chatting Pine Needles and U.S. Women’s Open with Kyle Franz

Golf architect Kyle Franz (@KyleFranzGolf) returns to the podcast to share his wealth of knowledge of Pine Needles, the site of the ongoing 2022 U.S. Women's Open. Kyle carried out a restoration of the Donald Ross course in 2017 and is on the grounds at Pine Needles this week. He chats with Andy Johnson about holes to watch for and what he learned from following Ingrid Lindblad and Annika Sörenstam during Thursday's first round. On the back half of the episode, Kyle provides an update on the busy summer he has ahead of him, which will include projects at Lookout Mountain and Cabot Citrus Farms.

A Preview of The Country Club (ft. Gil Hanse)

With the U.S. Open a little over two weeks away, we are well into the "from many, one" process. The 2022 edition will be held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, for the first time since 1988.* Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about the deep history of professional golf at the course, the maze that is the championship routing, and the USGA’s planned setup. Gil Hanse stops by (26:45) to share insights from more than a decade of working at The Country Club, then Andy and Garrett wrap up with some holes to keep an eye on and a few critiques of the course’s weaknesses. * A number of times in this pod, we mistakenly refer to the 1988 U.S. Open as the 1989 U.S. Open. TFE regrets the error.

Takeaways from the 2022 PGA Championship

The final two days of the 2022 PGA Championship were generally a bit of a slog. The big names were going in the wrong direction, and the rest of the leaderboard wasn't producing much excitement. But then the final hour gave us Justin Thomas's playoff win, and all was forgiven. To recap the storylines of what ended up being a fun week, Garrett Morrison talks with three guests: Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn), sportswriter for The Athletic; The Fried Egg's own Andy Johnson; and Stephen Britton (@sbrittonturf), golf course superintendent at the Chevy Chase Club. Time stamps: (3:28) Brendan Quinn (28:44) Andy Johnson (54:30) Stephen Britton

On-the-Ground Observations from the 2022 PGA Championship

After a day of walking around Southern Hills Country Club and watching the first round of the PGA Championship, Garrett Morrison and Meg Adkins convene in the media center (right next to KVV as he did a guest spot on The Shotgun Start!) to discuss it all. Garrett and Meg offer observations on the tournament, the course, and the fans, and they wrap up with a few things they'll be watching for over the weekend.

Five Things About the 2022 PGA Championship with Kevin Van Valkenburg

It's PGA Championship week! ESPN.com's Kevin Van Valkenburg (@kvanvalkenburg), who will be on site at Southern Hills, talks with Andy Johnson about all the major storylines heading into the second men's major of the year. From the challenges of the Perry Maxwell design to the players they think have the best chance to succeed, Andy and Kevin dive deep into all things PGA, including some suggested requirements for the club pros in the field this week. Note: This podcast was recorded before it was announced that Phil Mickelson had withdrawn from the PGA Championship.

Reminiscing About Phil’s Win at the 2021 PGA Championship

It's Flashback Friday: Fried Egg Edition! With the 2022 PGA Championship next week, Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath join Garrett Morrison to look back Phil Mickelson's victory last year at the Ocean Course. Andy and Brendan were on site at Kiawah Island all week. They reminisce about the lead-up to the event, the excitement around the venue, and the wild Sunday finish, which included a broadcast appearance by Andy himself. The group also reflects on what's transpired for Phil since his win and how the events of the past 12 months have colored their recollections of that historic week.

Superintendent Series: Tyler Marcotte of Brambles

Today's guest on our Superintendent Series is Tyler Marcotte, the Head Superintendent at Brambles in Middletown, California. Tyler has one of the more interesting jobs in turf right now. He is currently overseeing the grow-in at Brambles, a new Coore & Crenshaw design just north of Napa Valley, and he has some unique co-workers: sheep! He shares details with Andy Johnson on how he plans to use sheep instead of mowers and what long-term benefits he hopes the sheep will bring. Tyler also provides an update on the grow-in and explains how his experiences working all over the country have aided him at Brambles. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Bandon Deep Dives: Pacific Dunes

With our fourth deep dive into the five 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes, we arrive at Tom Doak’s Pacific Dunes, which opened in 2001. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss the course’s intricate strategic puzzles; its use of the “sandy bowl,” the “gorse plain,” and a spectacular stretch of cliff-side land; its collection of short par 4s; and the way that Pacific Dunes, more than any other course at the resort, demands smart, precise golf. Tom Doak himself makes a cameo (16:30) to tell the story of how he discovered the portion of the property that would become the famous 13th hole. The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by Zero Restriction.

Can Course Design Change Golf Culture?

Golf's accessibility problem isn't new, and fixing it won't happen overnight. Golf architect Christine Fraser (@cfgolfdesign) knows this, but she also believes that good course design can chip away at the issue. She talks with Garrett Morrison about how tee positions, fairway lines, maintenance practices, and even entrances into golf facilities can all be designed to encourage an inclusive culture. Christine has worked on courses all over the world, including Lahinch, Royal Birkdale, and the Toronto Golf Club, and as one of the few women in golf architecture, she offers a fresh and important perspective.

A Southern Hills Preview (ft. Gil Hanse)

The 2022 PGA Championship, which starts in three weeks, will be held at Southern Hills Country Club, a 1936 Perry Maxwell masterwork that has recently undergone a historical renovation by Hanse Golf Course Design. In this episode, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about what makes Southern Hills an exciting major venue and chat with Gil Hanse himself about his team’s work on the course.

Superintendent Series: Justin DePippo of Bel-Air Country Club

For the latest edition of our Superintendent Series, Andy Johnson talks with Justin DePippo, the Director of Golf Course and Grounds at Bel-Air Country Club. Andy and Justin discuss Tom Doak's recent restoration of George Thomas's design at Bel-Air, the unique challenges of maintaining turf in the California canyons, the complex logistics behind golf course construction, and a variety of other topics. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

How Golf Courses Can Conserve More Water

Happy Earth Day! As we did last year at this time, we asked Dr. Cole Thompson to come on the podcast and chat about golf's relationship with the environment. Cole is the assistant director of Green Section Research at the USGA, and he helps run the Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program. In this episode, Cole talks with Garrett Morrison about what may be the golf course industry's single biggest problem in the 21st century: water. Cole and Garrett address the optics issues around using water for recreational purposes in an era of climate change before delving into the many ways that golf courses can conserve more water and even offer H2O-related benefits to their communities.

Pasatiempo Is So, So Good

After a recent visit to Pastiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison figured it was time to dedicate a full podcast to this brilliant (and publicly accessible!) Alister MacKenzie design. From the underrated front nine to the controversial finishing holes, Andy and Garrett dig into the features that make the course a must-visit for any golfer. They wrap up their chat by turning an eye to the future and discussing their hopes and concerns regarding last week's news that Pasatiempo will undergo major rebuild of its heralded MacKenzie greens.

Justin Ray Uses Numbers to Tell the Story of the PGA Tour Season So Far

Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) has an unrivaled ability to present statistics and historical facts in a way that gives golf fans a better understanding of players and their performances. He and Garrett Morrison chat about Justin’s methods and his background in media before diving into the key storylines of the 2021-22 PGA Tour season so far. They explore some numbers and notes related to Scottie Scheffler’s rise, Collin Morikawa’s incredible early-career performance in majors, and Rory McIlroy’s [fire emoji] final round at the 2022 Masters. They also discuss some of the big questions they hope to see answered as the year unfolds. More of Justin's work can be found at Twenty First Group, where he is Head of Content, as well as on The Athletic and PGATour.com.

Takeaways from the 2022 Masters

Scottie Scheffler played so brilliantly at the 2022 Masters that, for much of the final round, the outcome wasn’t in doubt. But what this Masters may have lacked in competitive tension, it made up for in rich storylines. To think through some of these deeper narratives, Garrett Morrison speaks with three guests: Jaime Diaz (@JaimeDiazGC), a veteran golf writer who is currently an analyst for Golf Channel; Bob Crosby (@Otey71), a golf historian; and Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), the analytics whiz behind the Finding the Edge newsletter. For more reflections on the Masters from the Fried Egg team, go to our Masters hub. Timestamps: (3:40) Jaime Diaz interview (29:11) Bob Crosby interview (49:18) Joseph LaMagna interview

Advice for Spectating at the Masters

What should I know before going to the Masters? What are the most underrated and overrated vantage points at Augusta National? How can I best appreciate the course architecture? Should I actually avoid the merch tent? If you’re planning to attend the Masters sometime in the future, these are questions you might ask yourself. To get some answers, Garrett Morrison talks with Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath, and Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat), all of whom are deeply familiar with the lay of the land at Augusta National. They give recommendations for what a first-time Masters spectator should do (and not do), and they discuss their favorite spots on the property. For more Fried Egg Masters coverage, check out our Masters hub.

Five Things About the 2022 Masters with Shane Bacon

Masters week is here! To preview the upcoming action, Andy Johnson welcomes Shane Bacon (@shanebacon), co-host of Golf Today on Golf Channel and host of the recently revived Get a Grip podcast, to discuss the five things they're looking forward to seeing at Augusta National. From Scottie Scheffler to Justin Thomas to a potential Tiger return, Andy and Shane cover the top storylines going into the 2022 Masters.

A Rundown of the Latest Changes to Augusta National

With the Augusta National Women’s Amateur wrapping up tomorrow and the 2022 Masters approaching, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison sit down to discuss the latest changes to America’s most influential golf course. They touch on the tree removal along the right side of No. 11, the lengthening of No. 15, and the short-grass expansions on several holes. They also talk about which renovations they hope to see next, and how the club’s philosophy of course design and presentation may be shifting. Read Andy’s article on the changes at Augusta National and Meg Adkins’s piece on how the format on the ANWA could be improved.

Emilia Migliaccio on Nearly Winning the ANWA—and Then Deciding Not to Turn Pro

The 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur begins tomorrow, and who better to talk to about it than Emilia Migliaccio (@emiliamigliacc1)? Emilia played in the inaugural ANWA in 2019, finished second last year, and will be in the field again this week. She talks with Garrett Morrison about the unique aspects of the event, the different challenges of the two host courses, her strategies for negotiating Augusta National’s greens, and the lessons she learned after coming up short in a playoff last year. In addition to being an elite amateur golfer, Emilia is also an accomplished writer and a Golf Channel reporter, and she explains why she has decided to pursue a career in journalism instead of turning professional in golf.

A History of the Stymie

Today we tell the story of one of the great lost elements of match-play golf: the stymie. A stymie occurred when one player’s ball on the green ended up between the hole and the opponent’s ball. Unless the balls were within six inches of one another, the ball closer to the hole could not be lifted. The player who was away simply had to figure out what to do next. When the governing bodies eliminated the stymie in 1952, more than a curious little quirk of match play was lost, according to our guest Stephen Proctor. In a conversation with Garrett Morrison, Stephen argues that the stymie embodied a larger attitude toward the game—an attitude that fell out of favor in the mid-20th century, but one that is worth remembering, and perhaps reviving, today. Stephen's book The Long Golden Afternoon is available for pre-order now.

Is an Equipment Rollback on the Horizon?

With last week's Distance Insights update from the USGA and R&A, it made sense to bring in Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac) to discuss the latest developments. Geoff has been writing about and covering the distance issue in golf for over 20 years. In this episode, he chats with Andy Johnson about what's coming, how players and equipment companies will be affected, and whether bifurcation has finally arrived. Andy and Geoff also catch up on two timely topics: the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league and the Masters. You can read more of Geoff's musings in his Substack newsletter The Quadrilateral.

Mailbag: Promoting Shot-Shaping on the PGA Tour, Improving Golf Telecasts, Renovating Augusta National, and More

Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison sit down (in person this time!) to discuss an array of listener questions. They talk about how the PGA Tour can better assess shot-shaping skills, which musical artist TPC Sawgrass resembles, how golf telecasts can improve, which golf books they would recommend, whether big-name architects are getting too busy, and what changes they would make to Augusta National’s course if they had their druthers. Many thanks to our followers on Twitter and Instagram for the questions!

Roberto Castro on the Wild 2022 Players Championship

Former PGA Tour player Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) talks with Andy Johnson about the marathon that was the 2022 Players Championship. From the weather to the final putt on Monday, Roberto shares his insights into what makes the tournament so difficult to predict, how Saturday gave us a glimpse into what a rollback might look like, and what he thinks the most difficult shot on the course is. The current state of golf course development is also discussed in the back half of the episode. In addition to hosting the Course Record Show podcast, Roberto runs his own golf consulting business, Castro Golf Consulting.

Jerry Pate on Early TPC Sawgrass and His 1982 Players Win

In February 2020, Garrett Morrison interviewed 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate about his win at the 1982 Players Championship, the first Players held at TPC Sawgrass. Jerry talked about his first impressions of the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course, his post-victory leap into the pond next to the 18th green, and his fond memories of his friends Pete and Alice Dye. We used excerpts from Jerry and Garrett's conversation in our documentary podcast “Making TPC Sawgrass.” Since it’s now the 40th anniversary of the '82 Players, we figured it was a good time to air the interview in full. Check out our video on the history, design, and evolution of TPC Sawgrass.

Four Things About the 2022 Players Championship with Sean Martin

It’s tradition around here to release a “Five Things About...” episode on Tuesday before a major championship. Since the Players Championship, in spite of the PGA Tour’s best efforts, isn’t quite a major, we thought “Four Things” would suffice. Andy Johnson calls up Sean Martin (@PGATourSMartin), the newly anointed king of editorial at PGATour.com, to chat about the latest happenings on tour and the most interesting storylines going into the week at TPC Sawgrass.

Let’s Not Learn the Wrong Lessons from Phil Mickelson’s Downfall

Things have been moving quickly for Phil Mickelson. After his comments about the Saudi-backed Super Golf League made headlines, he was dropped by most of his major sponsors and pilloried by both the media and his PGA Tour colleagues. The backlash was surprisingly severe, even if much of it was well deserved. Mickelson’s knowing involvement with Saudi sportswashing was indefensible. But that doesn’t mean that everything he said about the SGL was nonsense. In fact, his basic position that the PGA Tour needs to be challenged is worth taking seriously. So in this episode, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss how competition from rival leagues could force the Tour to improve its product. Here is Garrett’s article “Phil Mickelson and the Uses of Leverage.” Also, check out the Fried Egg Events page on Golf Genius.

Superintendent Series: Joshua C.F. Smith of Orinda Country Club and FlagBag Golf Co.

Joshua C.F. Smith (@joshuacfsmith) has worn many hats in golf. From playing competitively in college to serving as superintendent at Orinda Country Club outside of Oakland, California, he has seen many aspects of the industry. He has also found time to become a renowned painter of golf landscapes and help found FlagBag Golf Co. (@flagbaggolf). In the latest installment of our Superintendent Series, Josh sits down with Andy Johnson to share stories about his wide-ranging career. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

A Primer on Sportswashing in Golf (ft. Will Bardwell and Dr. Helen Lenskyj)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making major inroads in professional golf. It holds lucrative annual events, funds a 10-event series on the Asian Tour, and hopes to lure the world’s best male players to a proposed Super Golf League. Recently, the SGL initiative has taken a hit because of Phil Mickelson’s loose lips, but Saudi Arabia appears committed to its golf strategy, and it’s clear that the country is engaged in a practice known as “sportswashing.” As one of our guests, Dr. Helen Lenskyj, defines it, sportswashing involves “attempts on the part of authoritarian regimes to improve their tarnished global reputations through sport.” It is important for golf fans to understand this concept because the Saudis aren’t going anywhere. We have two guests today: Dr. Lenskyj, an academic researcher who focuses on the relationship between sports and global politics; and Will Bardwell, a civil rights attorney and golf writer. Time stamps: 2:49—Will Bardwell interview, part 1 13:11—Helen Lenskyj interview 30:25—Will Bardwell interview, part 2 Reading material: Will Bardwell, “Blind Men and Blood” Helen Lenskyj, The Olympic Games: A Critical Approach Check out The Fried Egg Events page on Golf Genius.

Bandon Deep Dives: Bandon Trails

The third of our deep dives into the five 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes focuses on Bandon Trails, built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2005. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison talk about how the construction of Bandon Trails fit into the resort’s history, and they play an interview clip in which Coore discusses the origins of the course’s three-part identity. Andy and Garrett then launch into a wide-ranging discussion of Bandon Trails’ (many) strengths and (few) weaknesses. They cover, among other things, their favorite green-to-tee transitions, the controversy around the 14th hole, and the course’s similarities to Saving Private Ryan, The Princess Bride, and Bruce Bowen. (All of that will make sense in context, we promise.) The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by Zero Restriction.

Reflecting on the PGA Tour’s First Month of 2022 and Previewing Riviera with Joseph LaMagna

With the final tournament of the West Coast swing upon us, it's a good time to catch up with Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), Fried Egg contributor and author of the biweekly newsletter Finding the Edge, about the early part of the 2022 PGA Tour season. Andy Johnson grills Joseph on who has impressed and disappointed thus far and what he makes of the very low scores we've seen almost weekly. They wrap up their chat with what to expect at Riviera later this week and the specific skill sets the course will test.

Superintendent Series: Eric Richardson of Essex County Club

In the latest edition of our Superintendent Series, Andy Johnson meets up with Eric Richardson (@erichturf), Director of Grounds at Essex County Club, at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Conference and Trade Show in San Diego, California. Along with architect Bruce Hepner, Eric has worked to return Essex County to its Donald Ross roots. He has overseen projects such as enlarging greens, changing mowing lines, reshaping bunkers, giving the course a minimalist look and feel, and maintaining ideal playing conditions on the property's unique terrain. Andy and Eric also discover they have a similar disdain for ball washers. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Ben Cowan-Dewar on Founding Cabot and Becoming a Golf Course Developer

Ben Cowan-Dewar is the co-founder and CEO of Cabot, the company that developed Cabot Cape Breton and recently purchased World Woods Golf Club in Florida. Ben talks with Andy Johnson about Cabot’s first U.S.-based property, which will be rebranded as Cabot Citrus Farms. They also discuss Ben’s unconventional path to becoming a golf course developer, the early days of Cabot Links, and his experiences working with Bill Coore and other great architects.

What to Know About Perry Maxwell (ft. Chris Clouser and Colton Craig)

In the latest installment of our “What to Know About…” series on golf’s greatest architects, we focus on Perry Maxwell, the designer of many courses, including Prairie Dunes, Southern Hills, and Old Town Club. Garrett Morrison and Andy Johnson kick off the episode by talking about The Fried Egg’s upcoming event at Dornick Hills Country Club, the first course Maxwell built. We then present two conversations: one between Garrett and biographer Chris Clouser on Perry Maxwell’s life and work, and another between Andy and architect Colton Craig (@craig_colton) on Colton’s quest to play every Maxwell course in existence. Toward the end of the podcast, we return to Chris for some closing reflections on Maxwell’s architectural legacy. (Time stamps below.) The Banker, our June 6 event at Dornick Hills in Ardmore, Oklahoma, opens for registration on Monday, February 7. For more information, visit our new events page on Golf Genius. Check out The Midwest Associate, Chris Clouser’s biography of Perry Maxwell. Time stamps: 0:35—Discussion of Dornick Hills and The Banker 7:04—Chris Clouser interview 36:24—Colton Craig interview 54:05—Final thoughts with Chris Clouser

Catching Up with Bill Coore

Legendary golf course architect Bill Coore returns to the podcast for the first time in over two years. He and Andy Johnson have a lot to catch up on, and they cover a number of past and present Coore & Crenshaw projects, including Old Sandwich Golf Club, Bandon Trails, the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, and Brambles in Northern California. Bill shares his insights on the current boom in golf course construction and how it differs from the last upturn in the 90s and early 00s. He finishes with some reflections on what keeps him going and what he loves most about designing golf courses.

Bandon Deep Dives: Old Macdonald

In the second of their five Bandon Dunes deep dives, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss what may be the resort’s most polarizing course: Old Macdonald, built by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina in 2009. Andy and Garrett start with a historical rundown, touching on the origins of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor’s “ideal holes,” the decision to make Old Mac a tribute to those templates, and the unusual collaborative process behind the construction of the course. Then Andy and Garrett dig into the nitty-gritty of Old Mac’s design. They talk about the holes they love (and don’t quite love), and they try to figure out why this unique, brilliant course sometimes rubs people the wrong way. The Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by Zero Restriction (code: OLDMAC).

Challenging Golf Course Architecture’s Status Quo with Tim Jackson and David Kahn

While visiting Scottsdale, Arizona, Andy Johnson met up with Tim Jackson and David Kahn of Jackson Kahn Design (@JKDgolfdesign). Tim and David got their start working for Tom Fazio’s organization, founded their own firm in 2009, and went on to do striking, ambitious work at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Scottsdale National Golf Club. In this episode, they describe their design style, share stories of working for Bob Parsons (“kaboom, baby!”), and explain how a video game helped them conceptualize the Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National. They also have some choice words about the current state of golf course architecture as an art.

Yolk with Doak 33: Listener Questions and the State of the Industry

In this second part of his most recent conversation with Andy Johnson, Tom Doak answers more listener questions, including ones about the upcoming Sedge Valley project at Sand Valley and the non-golf literature that has influenced him. Tom and Andy also discuss how golf course architecture finds itself at a crossroads, with established architects approaching retirement just as construction has started to boom. Finally, Tom answers the hardest question in Yolk with Doak history. Use code TFE at Goodr.com to get 15% off a new pair (or multiple pairs!) of sunglasses.

Building an Affordable Set of Used Golf Clubs with Ryan Barath

As the supply-chain crisis escalates, new golf equipment is becoming pricier and harder to get ahold of. So it might be a good time to take an interest in used clubs. Ryan Barath (@rdsbarath), lead content strategist at Tour Experience Golf, is one of the industry's most knowledgeable resources on that subject. Ryan talks with Garrett Morrison about how his golf nerdery started and how the equipment business has changed during his career. In the second half of the episode, Ryan and Garrett give their picks for two sets of used clubs: one that can be had for under $750 total, and another that consists of equipment made before 2005. This exercise allows them to delve deeper into the products, innovations, and trends that have, for better or for worse, shaped 21st-century golf. Check out our 2022 Fried Edd events, including The Banker at Dornick Hills in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Yolk with Doak 32: New Year’s Resolutions and Unconventional Course Concepts

In the latest edition of our interview series with golf course architect Tom Doak, Tom answers listener questions about New Year's resolutions, forward-tee placement, and accounting for climate change in his designs. He also shares with Andy a number of new concepts and projects he'd like to explore, including a modern replica of Pine Valley, a course specifically for women, and a fresh take on residential golf. Look for part two of this conversation in the coming weeks.

Superintendent Series: Devon Carroll on Women in Turf

Why aren’t there more women in the turf industry? What changes would be necessary for there to be more? Devon Carroll (@turfgirl24), a doctoral candidate in turfgrass science at the University of Tennessee, has looked deeply into these questions. Recently she has been interviewing women who hold leadership roles in turf and finding out how more women might be recruited and retained. This topic has taken on additional urgency over the past several months as workplaces everywhere, including those in golf, have struggled to find labor. Devon joins Andy Johnson to talk about her background in golf and golf course maintenance, her experiences in the male-dominated field, and the ways that the industry can improve its gender diversity. Check out Devon’s new peer-reviewed research paper, “Women in Turf: A Qualitative Study Examining How Women Have Sustained Their Leadership Role in the Turfgrass Industry.”

Previewing the 2022 PGA Tour Season with Joseph LaMagna

Let’s be honest: the PGA Tour season doesn’t really start until the serene seascapes of Kapalua fill our TV screens in the first week of January. To prepare for the occasion, Andy Johnson calls up Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna), the sharp mind behind the Finding the Edge newsletter, to discuss what to expect from Ponte Vedra’s princes in 2022. They talk about the youth wave in men’s professional golf, the keys to Collin Morikawa’s success, and whether Rory McIlroy is “back.” Andy and Joseph finish by running through several players who are primed for breakout years and a few who could regress to the mean. While you’re here, check out our 2022 Fried Egg events, the first batch of which opened for registration on Monday.

Fried Egg Events, Explained

For our final episode of 2021, we talk about The Fried Egg’s roster of 2022 events. First, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison run through some FAQs: Why do we hold these events? How do we choose the venues? What’s the format? Can I register as a single? What if I’m not a particularly competitive player? (To address the latter two questions briefly: absolutely, and it doesn’t matter.) Then Andy and Garrett have an in-depth discussion of Lawsonia Links, site of the annual Steamshovel event. Lawsonia was designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau in 1930, and it is an important course both to Andy and to The Fried Egg. We finish up with two clips from past episodes: a portion of Andy’s interview with architect Troy Miller about Charleston Municipal Golf Course, host of the King Tide; and a conversation between Andy and Garrett about Soule Park, host of the Boomerang. Sign-ups for the first four Fried Egg events of 2022 open on Monday, January 3! Those events: the King Tide at Charleston Muni in Charleston, South Carolina; the Boomerang at Soule Park in Ojai, California; the Steamshovel at Lawsonia Links in Green Lake, Wisconsin; and the Coup de Grâce at the Dunes Club in New Buffalo, Michigan. For details, visit our EVENTS PAGE. Here are some time stamps in case you’d like to skip around in the episode: (0:37) Explanation of Fried Egg events and next year’s events in particular (24:40) Discussion of Lawsonia Links (40:50) Interview with Troy Miller about Charleston Muni (55:10) Discussion of Soule Park

Bandon Deep Dives: Sheep Ranch

Over the next several weeks, we plan to record deep-dive discussions for all five 18-hole courses at Bandon Dunes. First up, in reverse-chronological order: Sheep Ranch. Before it was officially part of the resort, Sheep Ranch was a free-form course on which players could choose their own routings. Its 13 greens were designed by Tom Doak and the team at Renaissance Golf Design. When owners Mike Keiser and Phil Friedman decided to incorporate Sheep Ranch into Bandon Dunes, they hired Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to transform it into a traditional 18-hole layout. Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss the course’s history and evolution before giving their assessment of its current design. (Spoiler: they like it.) Our Bandon Deep Dives are brought to you by Zero Restriction.

Bees Can Guide Us to the Future of Golf (Seriously)

One of the most pressing issues in golf right now is the relationship between the game and the environment. As temperatures rise and water supplies dwindle, courses need to reevaluate the way they use resources and interact with their ecosystems. Sorting through these complexities is Parker Anderson’s specialty. Parker is the founder (and head beekeeper) of Greener Golf, a company that helps golf facilities quantify and improve their impact on the environment. In this episode, he talks with Garrett Morrison about the surprising benefits that a well-tended bee colony can offer a course and its surroundings. They also discuss the stigmas against the game, the potential for short courses to be ecological laboratories, and how golf can strive to be regenerative, not just sustainable.

Which U.S. Golf Courses Still Need to Be Restored?

Earlier this week, Andy Johnson wrote an article for The Fried Egg website on the great remaining restoration opportunities in American golf. It generated a lot of discussion, so Andy and Garrett decided to sit down and discuss the topic further. They go in depth on Andy’s top four restoration candidates—Augusta National, Riviera, Pebble Beach, and the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass—and they touch on the 12 other courses that made the list as well as a few notable ones that were left off. Andy and Garrett wrap up with some thoughts on what the future might hold for restoration and renovation in the golf course industry. Article: America's Great Remaining Golf Course Restoration Opportunities

Superintendent Series: Ken Nice of Bandon Dunes

Ken Nice, Senior Director of Agronomy at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, joins Andy Johnson to discuss… basketball, of all things! Once the hoops chat is over, Ken shares some stories from his experience as the assistant superintendent during the construction of David McLay-Kidd's Bandon Dunes. Ken and Andy then talk about the evolution and growth of the resort, how he's handled overseeing the unique maintenance challenges at each course, his favorite spots on the property, and how he deals with the rare snow day and a packed tee sheet.

Fried Egg Stories: The Hickory Open

For the latest installment of our audio documentary series, Garrett Morrison heads out to the Oregon coast for the 2021 U.S. Hickory Open. At this event, players must use wooden-shafted clubs either made before 1935 or faithfully based on those models. Garrett spends the day walking around Gearhart Golf Links, talking to a variety of characters, including John Henry Williams, a club repair specialist who has set up a workshop on site; Tad Moore, a renowned club builder and a co-founder of the Society of Hickory Golfers; and Colin McNamara, who is in contention to win the tournament. Garrett’s main purpose is to understand 21st-century hickory golf: where it came from, how it’s played, and why some people get absolutely hooked by it. Season 2 of Fried Egg Stories is brought to you by Precision Pro Golf.

Dream 18: Bandon Dunes

After a six-day stint at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, a trio of tired Eggs (@the_woke_yolk, @gfordgolf, @willknightsTFE) sit down to hash out their "Dream 18": a composite course consisting of their favorite holes from the five 18-hole courses on the property. For each hole number, they choose a winner and an honorable mention, and some lively debate ensues. This discussion should provide an accessible introduction to our upcoming deep dives into each course. The Fried Egg’s trip to Bandon Dunes was made possible (and, at times, survivable) by Zero Restriction, makers of fine outerwear.

Yolk with Doak 31: Municipal Golf, the Renaissance Cup, and Apache Stronghold

Our series with golf architect Tom Doak continues as he and Andy Johnson catch up in Washington D.C., where they attended the National Links Trust Symposium on Municipal Golf. In addition to discussing sustainability and course maintenance in the municipal golf world, they talk about the few golf course restorations left that would interest Tom, how his design style has evolved over the years, and the origins of the Renaissance Cup. Lastly, Apache Stronghold Golf Club, a course of Tom’s that hasn't been mentioned much in the Yolk with Doak series, gets some overdue attention.

What to Know About George C. Thomas Jr. (ft. Geoff Shackelford)

George C. Thomas Jr. is the golf architect behind Riviera Country Club, Bel Air Country Club, the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, and the classic 1927 book Golf Architecture in America. To learn more about Thomas, Andy Johnson sits down with Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac), who is the author not only of the Substack newsletter The Quadrilateral but also the book The Captain: George C. Thomas Jr. and His Golf Architecture. Geoff and Andy discuss various aspects of Thomas’s compelling albeit short life, including his diverse hobbies, contributions to Pine Valley, partnership with Billy Bell, and ever-evolving design style.

Trevor Immelman on the Presidents Cup, Ernie Els, and What It Takes to Win on Today’s PGA Tour

Trevor Immelman is the 2008 Masters champion, a TV analyst, and the incoming captain of the International Presidents Cup squad. In this episode, he chats with Andy Johnson about what it takes to be a winner on the PGA Tour today, his experience as an assistant captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, and how things are looking for the International team going into 2022. Trevor also looks back at the beginning of his golf career in South Africa and the role Ernie Els played as a mentor-turned-competitor.

Superintendent Series: Ryan Tuxhorn of Somerset Hills Country Club

Ryan Tuxhorn (@r_tuxhorn) joins Andy Johnson for the latest edition of our Superintendent Series. Ryan went straight from college to working as an intern and making his way through the ranks at Merion Golf Club. He shares how his experiences there shaped his philosophies on everything from course maintenance to green speeds, and prepared him for his job as superintendent at Somerset Hills Country Club, where he has been for the past 13 years. He and Andy discuss the restoration work at Somerset Hills, how his approach has changed over the years, and his budding maple syrup business, which keeps him busy through the long New Jersey winters. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

What to Know About William Flynn (ft. Wayne Morrison)

Wayne Morrison is the author of The Nature Faker, a monumental biography of William Flynn. It’s safe to say that no one on earth knows more about Flynn, the architect behind Shinnecock Hills and many other great courses. In this episode (which is the first of a few we have planned on specific architects), Wayne goes in depth with Andy Johnson on Flynn's life and work during the Golden Age of golf course design. Wayne talks about how he became interested in Flynn and how his massive book came together. He and Andy also touch on Flynn's involvement with many courses that have stood the test of time, including not only Shinnecock but also Pine Valley, Merion East, Cherry Hills, Rolling Green, Lancaster, and Indian Creek. You can order your own copy of The Nature Faker by emailing Wayne at wsmorrison@hotmail.com.

A Keiser-Backed Renovation in Madison, the Doak Internship, and Women in Golf Course Design with Sara Mess

Sara Mess joins Garrett Morrison to discuss her involvement in the Glenway Golf Park renovation in Madison, Wisconsin. This unique project, spearheaded by Michael Keiser and his wife Jocelyn, will both revive the Glenway course and engage the Madison community in a number of creative ways. Sara also discusses her time working at Renaissance Golf Design, her collaboration with Tom Doak on his recent books, and her insights on how access and inclusivity (and proper tee placement!) can help create more diversity in both golf and the field of golf course architecture. If you're so inclined, subscribe to The Fried Egg Newsletter HERE.

A Pair of Golden-Age Munis: George Wright and Swope Memorial

Andy Johnson’s recent travels have taken him to two municipal golf courses with A-1 architectural pedigrees: Donald Ross’s George Wright Golf Course near Boston, Massachusetts; and A.W. Tillinghast’s Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri. In this episode, Andy sits down with Garrett Morrison to reflect on what makes these courses special. They discuss Ross’s clever drainage methods at George Wright and Tillinghast’s adventurous use of hilly land at Swope Memorial. They also debate whether the restoration trend in the golf course industry, which has primarily affected private clubs so far, will soon filter down to municipal facilities.

Vince India Talks Life on the Korn Ferry Tour and Getting Through Q-School

Korn Ferry Tour player Vince India (@vince_india) catches up with Andy Johnson and discusses the grind that is the Second Stage of Q-School. Vince has made it through every level of Q-School for six years running. He shares some of his favorite stories and explains how his mindset going into qualifying has changed over the years. Andy and Vince also discuss the rising importance of physical conditioning in pro golf and how to actually improve your weaknesses.

Superintendent Series: Rodney Hine of Boston Golf Club

Rodney Hine got his start in the turf industry as an assistant superintendent at Winged Foot Golf Club. He then moved into golf course design, serving as the grow-in superintendent at Tom Doak's Stonewall and eventually as a designer and agronomist for Hanse Golf Course Design. After helping Gil Hanse build Boston Golf Club in 2003, Rodney decided to stay on as the course's first superintendent, and he has been there ever since. In this installment of our Superintendent Series, he and Andy Johnson chat about Rodney's fascinating career, the quirky challenges of BGC, the importance of varied plant life on a golf course, and more. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Three Big Takeaways from the Ryder Cup

This past weekend, Team USA won the Ryder Cup in dominant fashion, beating the European side 19-9. To get a handle on what this victory means, Garrett Morrison called up three different people—Ben Coley of Sporting Life, Joseph LaMagna of the Finding the Edge newsletter, and Shane Ryan of Golf Digest—and asked each for one big takeaway from the action at Whistling Straits.

Five Things About the Ryder Cup with Lawrence Donegan

Lawrence Donegan (@lawrencedonegan) is a longtime golf journalist who has worked for The Scotsman and The Guardian. He co-founded the excellent McKellar Magazine and hosts the McKellar Golf Podcast. With the 2020 (not a typo) Ryder Cup approaching, Lawrence joins Andy Johnson to share five things to watch for at Whistling Straits. They discuss Steve Stricker’s uninspired start to his week-of captaincy, the reasons behind Team USA’s chronic underperformance, the looming succession drama on the European side, and more.

Thoughts on the Design of Whistling Straits

To get ready for this week’s Ryder Cup, Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison chat about the design of host venue Whistling Straits. Andy recently shot the Straits Course for a new Fried Egg video, so Garrett asks for his thoughts on Pete Dye’s routing, par-3 concepts, and outrageous shaping. They also discuss the PGA of America’s hefty build-outs, the reasons behind Andy’s hatred of catch basins, and the simple pleasure of gazing at a big ol’ lake all day.

Mike Whan, the USGA‘s New CEO, on the Future of Golf

After a well-regarded run as LPGA commissioner, Mike Whan started two months ago as the CEO of the USGA. Earlier this week, he sat down with Andy Johnson at Chicago Golf Club to discuss a variety of topics. They cover Whan's thinking about the USGA's priorities, championship host selection, and the potential of bringing the U.S. Open back to Chicago and the Midwest. Whan also weighs in on the hottest topic of the day: the distance increases golf has seen over the past few decades, and the USGA's role in securing the future health of the game.

Mapmaking with Don Placek

In this wide-ranging conversation, Don Placek, Partner at Renaissance Golf Design, and Andy Johnson cover the complexity and challenges of the golf architecture consulting business, compare finding new golf courses to discovering new music, and discuss Don’s passion for drawing, maps, and art in general. Don shares how his passions and talents outside of golf improve Renaissance Golf Design’s work and how his routing maps help visualize the 3D world for their clients.

Affordable Golf as a Family Business

Located in Northern Lower Michigan, Champion Hill Golf Course and Pinecroft Golf Course are both within a 30-minute drive of the world-famous Arcadia Bluffs and Crystal Downs. Champion Hill and Pinecroft are public, affordable, well-designed, and—here's the key—owned and operated by one family. Is this the ideal business model for affordable golf? Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison address that question in this episode, but first they spend some time chatting about the Solheim Cup, which took place at Inverness Club this past weekend. After Andy and Garrett finish up, they throw it to a conversation Andy recently had with Lee Stone, the owner of Champion Hill and Pinecroft, and Jim Cole, the longtime superintendent of both courses.

How Everyone Misunderstands Team Match Play

Team match play is the most entertaining format in golf, but we might not understand it very well. What factors should team captains consider when pairing players up for foursomes and four-ball? How much does a player's past match-play record matter? In alternate shot, how should teammates decide who tees off on which holes? Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) believes that the conventional answers to these questions rely on faulty reasoning. Joseph runs Optimal Approach Golf, which advises PGA Tour pros on strategy, and writes an excellent newsletter called Finding the Edge. In this episode, he and Garrett Morrison dig into the intricacies of team match play and the tactics that Team USA and Team Europe should use in the upcoming Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup.

Superintendent Series: Jordan Caplan on Belvedere and Golf in Michigan

Belvedere Golf Club superintendent Jordan Caplan joins the podcast to talk about the Willie Watson course and his role as the club's fourth superintendent in its almost 100-year history. Jordan and Andy Johnson discuss the challenges of course maintenance in harsh Northern Lower Michigan winters and the differences between the Belvedere job and Jordan’s past work at Philadelphia Cricket Club. They also chat about trends in golf architecture vs. building architecture, the abundance of quality golf in Michigan, and how to get your kids interested in the game. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Andrew Green on Restoring (and Renovating) Inverness Club

Andrew Green is one of the busiest golf architects in the business. He recently completed a restoration of Oak Hill's East Course and a renovation of Congressional's Blue Course, and he's currently doing work at Scioto, Wannamoisett, and Interlachen. Andrew's best-known project to date may be his bold 2017 restoration of Inverness Club, a 1919 Donald Ross design that has hosted six major championships. Next week, Inverness will appear on your TV as the host of the Solheim Cup, so Garrett Morrison figured it was a good time to call Andrew up and chat about Inverness's strengths, its complicated architectural history, Andrew's approach to balancing restoration with renovation, and his affection for a well-executed chocolate drop.

Superintendent Series: Nick Nate on St. Andrews and South Bend

Nick Nate, superintendent at South Bend Country Club, talks with Andy Johnson about his career in turf, which has taken him from his hometown in South Bend, Indiana, to the Old Course and back home again. They discuss Nick's start in the business at Warren Golf Course when it first opened, the perks of his internship at St. Andrews and his stint in Scotland, prepping Medinah Country Club for the 2006 PGA Championship, and the challenges and rewards of bringing South Bend CC back to its George O'Neil roots. Nick also shares his Notre Dame gameday tips and predictions for the upcoming college football season. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Fried Egg Stories: Bobby Clampett and His Golfing Machine

Today, Homer Kelley's 1969 book The Golfing Machine is a standard text for those who study the science of the golf swing. Famous instructors cite it, as do tour pros like Bryson DeChambeau and Steve Elkington. But in 1982, The Golfing Machine was most associated with 23-year-old Bobby Clampett, who had been schooled in Kelley's system. Clampett had compiled a stellar amateur résumé, and after two rounds of the '82 Open Championship, he led by five shots. He was on the verge of validating what he had once told a reporter about The Golfing Machine: "It's the Bible of golf." In this edition of our audio documentary series, we tell the story of Homer Kelley, Bobby Clampett, and their quest to prove that science could solve the mysteries of the game. The second season of Fried Egg Stories is brought to you by Precision Pro Golf (coupon code: FriedEgg20). This episode was produced by Garrett Morrison and mixed by Cameron Hurdus.

Olympic Golf Is Great (But Could Be Better)

The men's and women's golf competitions at the Olympic Games took place over the past couple of weeks, with Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda earning gold medals for the United States. The action from Tokyo was fun to watch, but we couldn't help but wonder if it could be even more exciting. So Andy Johnson called up Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg), a senior writer for ESPN, and talked with him about what Olympic golf gets right and what it could do better. They also commiserate about the Chicago Bears' quarterback woes, if you're into that kind of thing. Make sure to check out Kevin's outstanding piece on taking his daughter to see Simone Biles at the Olympic gymnastics trials.

What to Know About Golf in Japan

With the golf competitions underway at the Tokyo Olympics, Garrett Morrison sits down with Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) to learn more about Japan's distinctive golf culture. Michael is a golf architecture and history nut who has traveled and played golf extensively in Japan. He and Garrett talk about the customs of Japanese golf clubs, Michael's techniques for traveling within the country, and the top courses he has played there, including Olympic host Kasumigaseki Country Club. They also discuss the historical origins of golf in Japan and the flowering of Golden Age architecture in the country that resulted from Charles Hugh Alison's visit in the early 1930s. This episode is brought to you by B. Draddy. Check out the Draddy Sport line at bdraddy.com and use the promo code TFE25 at checkout.

Yolk with Doak 30: What’s Happening at the Lido and Dornick Hills

In the latest installment of our interview series with Tom Doak, Tom gives an update on the progress at the Lido, the Keiser family’s latest course near Sand Valley. He and Andy discuss the pros and cons of the technology used to build the course, and they speculate on how it might be used in future restoration projects and in golf course architecture in general. They also chat about Tom’s ongoing work at Perry Maxwell's Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Yolk with Doak 29: The Opening of St. Patrick’s and the Making of Pacific Dunes

The Yolk with Doak returns! In the first of two new episodes of our interview series with golf architect Tom Doak, we cover the recent grand opening of St. Patrick's Links at the Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in Ireland. Tom and Andy chat about where the course would land on the Doak Scale and the unique challenge of finishing the project during a global pandemic. They also discuss Tom's new book, The Making of Pacific Dunes, which is available for purchase at doakgolf.com.

Five Things About the Open Championship with Jaime Diaz

Golf Channel's Jaime Diaz joins Andy to discuss this week's Open Championship at Royal St. George's. Jaime has over 30 years of experience in golf journalism, and he shares his favorite memories from the Open and how writing about it differs from covering it for TV. He and Andy also talk about Bryson, Rory, Rahm, and other players hoping to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday.

The Battle over Royal St. George’s

When Royal St. George's Golf Club, the host of the upcoming Open Championship, opened in the late 1880s, it looked a lot different than it does today. The earliest iteration of the course embodied the Victorian principles of its designer, Laidlaw Purves. Over the next few decades, those principles—and Royal St. George's itself—came under fire from a new school of golf writers and architects. Historian Bob Crosby joins Garrett Morrison to discuss this debate and its far-reaching consequences.

Superintendent Series: Brendan Byrne on Llanerch Country Club, The 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline and Philadelphia Sports and Cheesesteaks

Brendan Byrne, superintendent and co-general manager at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, PA, chats with Andy about his 20+ year career in golf from starting out at Rolling Green Golf Club to overseeing the recent restoration at Llanerch. He shares stories from his unique experience at the 1999 Ryder Cup, offers his expertise on managing staffs, and provides insight on how the golf industry has changed over the years. He and Andy also cover the Philly sports scene and opinions on the best cheesesteaks in the area.

Shane Ryan on His New Ryder Cup Project and the State of Golf Media

Shane Ryan is a contributor for GolfDigest.com and the author of Slaying the Tiger, an account of the 2014 PGA Tour season. He sits down with Garrett Morrison to talk about the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, which he covered last week; his new book project and podcast series on the Ryder Cup; and how the golf world has changed since he went out on tour in 2014. They also touch on the current discourse around athletes' mental-health struggles, the reasons Team Europe kicks Team USA's butt in three out of every four Ryder Cups, and the decline of traditional golf journalism.

2021 U.S. Open Recap with Shane Bacon

Shane Bacon, co-host of Golf Today and the Get a Grip podcast, joins Andy for a recap of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The two discuss Jon Rahm's breakthrough major win, Bryson's claim of not caring about his 44 on the final nine, and the bizarre series of events on the 13th hole on Sunday. They also chat about what they're looking forward to at the upcoming Open Championship and Olympic Games.

Stretching Routines and Host Family Stories with the PGA Championship’s Breakout Club Pro

PGA professional Brad Marek joins Andy to discuss his great run at last month's PGA Championship. Brad played for years on the mini tours before becoming a well-regarded teaching pro at Corica Park in the Bay Area. In this episode, he and Andy delve into that transition. They also talk about everything from Brad's brush with stretching-themed social media fame to his experience at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

Five Things About the U.S. Open with Geoff Ogilvy

You probably know that Geoff Ogilvy won the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. What you may have forgotten is that he also contended for the 2008 edition at Torrey Pines. In fact, at one point on Sunday, he was tied with eventual winner Tiger Woods. Now, 13 years later, the U.S. Open returns to the South Course at Torrey Pines, and Geoff joins Andy to preview the tournament. They run through five things that Andy will be watching for, and they also discuss Phil Mickelson's surprising win at Kiawah Island, Geoff's equally surprising affection for Torrey Pines South, and—of course—the mysteries of hang-gliding.

Superintendent Series: Rich McIntosh on Torrey Pines, the U.S. Open, and Funny Farmers Insurance Open Incidents

Rich McIntosh, superintendent of the South Course at Torrey Pines, joins Andy to discuss how preparations are going for the 2021 U.S. Open. Rich has an incredibly difficult job: taking one of the busiest municipal courses in the world and getting it ready for a national open. But it's not just a grind; Rich talks a lot in this episode about what he loves about preparing for big championships. He and Andy also touch on the recent renovation work at Torrey Pines, what to expect from the facility in the future, and some fun stories from the annual Farmers Insurance Open.

Mike Clayton on Phil’s Win, World Tours, and the U.S. Women’s Open

Time for a supersized episode! Last week, Andy called up Mike Clayton—former tour pro, current golf architect, and general voice of reason—to talk about Phil Mickelson’s victory at the PGA Championship, ideas for a world golf tour, and Mike’s upcoming project on Seven Mile Beach in New South Wales. They also previewed the U.S. Women’s Open, which was contested at the Olympic Club this past weekend. To follow up on that part of conversation, the Fried Egg boys (Andy, Garrett, and Will) got together to chat about their takeaways from Yuko Saso’s win and Lexi Thompson’s collapse.

Fried Egg Stories: The Qualifier

On April 26, 73 players arrived at Half Moon Bay Golf Links with hopes of qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club. One of them was Juli Inkster, Hall of Famer and seven-time major champion. Now 60 years old, Inkster was paired with two teenagers who hadn’t been born when she last won a major. Also in the qualifier field was Lucy Li, who in 2014 became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. In this edition of Fried Egg Stories, we follow all four contestants through a 36-hole day at Half Moon Bay. Who, in the end, will be the qualifier? This episode is brought to you by the U.S. Women’s Open.

Five Things about the PGA Championship with Kyle Porter

Kyle Porter, golf writer for CBS and co-host of the First Cut podcast, joins Andy Johnson to preview this week's PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. Kyle and Andy each run through five things they'll be paying attention to as the action gets underway at the Ocean Course. They speculate on who will thrive at the difficult Pete Dye design and why so many top players don't seem to be in particularly good form.

Superintendent Series: Jeff Stone on Preparing the Ocean Course for the PGA Championship

Jeff Stone has worked for the Kiawah Island Golf Resort since before the Ocean Course was built, and he has been the golf course superintendent at the Ocean Course since 2003. For this edition of the Superintendent Series, Jeff takes some time out of his hectic schedule to chat with Andy Johnson about getting the course ready for this week's PGA Championship. They discuss the differences between resort and championship conditions, the Ocean Course's transition from Bermudagrass to Paspalum, Jeff's memories of Pete Dye, and whether it's ever snowed on Kiawah Island. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Fried Egg Stories: Making the Ocean Course

In September 1989, a devastating hurricane hit South Carolina. Directly in its path was Kiawah Island, where Pete Dye had just begun to build a new golf course. And this wasn't just any course: in two years, it was supposed to host the Ryder Cup. To kick off the second season of Fried Egg Stories, we dig into drama behind the making of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, host of next week's PGA Championship. Fried Egg Stories is produced by Garrett Morrison, co-hosted by Andy Johnson, and mixed and engineered by J Vierck. Thanks to Meg Adkins for transcript help, and to Troy Miller for connecting us with interviewees for this story. This episode—indeed, this entire season—of Fried Egg Stories is made possible by Precision Pro Golf.

What’s New About the Ocean Course for the 2021 PGA Championship

Golf architect Scot Sherman joins Andy Johnson to discuss recent renovation work at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island for the 2021 PGA Championship. Scot talks about how being at the Ocean Course has brought his career full circle, and he explains some of the magic behind Pete Dye's design. He and Andy then dig into another recent project: along with Davis Love III and Mark Love, Scot completed an ambitious renovation of the municipal Belmont Golf Course in Richmond, Virginia. The work included a restoration of 12 of A.W. Tillinghast's original holes and a new six-hole short course and driving range for the First Tee of Richmond.

Two Championship Golf Courses in California (and a Lovely Muni)

Last week, the Fried Egg team went on a whirlwind tour of California, and in this episode Andy and Garrett break down the highlights. First they discuss Soule Park, host of the Fried Egg's Boomerang event and one of the best public courses on the West Coast. They then talk about two storied championship venues that you'll soon see on TV: San Francisco's Olympic Club and San Diego's Torrey Pines, upcoming sites of the U.S. Women's Open and the U.S. Open, respectively. Andy and Garrett dig into the undeniable strengths of these courses as well as their substantial weaknesses.

Golfers and Environmentalists Are Not Enemies

A common knock on golf courses is that they're bad for the environment. But that's an over-simplified view—and in some cases, a flat-out incorrect one. With Earth Day coming up, we thought it was time to sort through these issues with an expert, so Garrett Morrison sat down with Dr. Cole Thompson, the Assistant Director of Green Section Research at the USGA. In this episode, Garrett and Cole dig into current USGA-funded research on golf course sustainability, address a few popular criticisms of golf's ecological impact, and discuss how golf courses can become more environmentally beneficial and sustainable.

Reviewing Hideki’s Masters Win with the U.S. Media’s Leading Hideki Expert

For the past decade, Sean Martin, senior editor at PGA Tour dot com, has been covering Hideki Matsuyama's career with more depth and nuance than any other golf writer. So who better than him to sit down with Andy Johnson and review Matsuyama's triumph at the 2021 Masters? Sean and Andy discuss the action down the stretch at Augusta National; Hideki's backstory, personality, potential, and relationship with the press; and the story behind Sean's appreciation of the new Masters champion's game.

Five Things about the Masters with Shane Bacon

Golf Channel host Shane Bacon joins Andy Johnson to discuss the upcoming Masters Tournament. Shane and Andy each run through five things they're looking forward to seeing at Augusta National this week. They touch on Jordan Spieth's reemergence, Rory McIlroy's struggles, and the predictive power of name length, among other topics. On most weeks, you can catch Shane on Golf Today, the Golf Channel show he co-hosts with Damon Hack, and Get a Grip, his podcast with PGA Tour pro Max Homa. This week, you can watch Shane not only on Golf Channel's Live from the Masters broadcast but also on Masters.com coverage of the tournament.

The Lost Masters with Curt Sampson

When the world is in disarray, what, if anything, is the role of professional sports? Specifically, what's the role of the Masters, a tournament that has always felt like an escape from everyday life? To explore those questions, Garrett Morrison talks with Curt Sampson, the author of several books on golf history. Garrett and Curt focus on the 1968 Masters, which took place at a time—like 2020—when society seemed to be unraveling. Ultimately, that edition of the tournament failed to provide the comfort many fans sought.Reading material: Curt's Golf Digest essay on the town of Augusta during the 2020 Masters; The Lost Masters: Grace and Disgrace in '68; and The Masters: Golf, Money, and Power Augusta, Georgia

Jim Wagner on Contours, Cavemen, and Hanse Golf Course Design’s Latest Projects

Jim Wagner is the longtime design partner at Hanse Golf Course Design and the head of the firm’s Caveman Construction crew. With the design-build approach on the rise in golf course architecture, Jim’s on-the-ground knowledge is more relevant than ever. He took some time away from an in-progress build at Jonathan’s Landing in Florida to chat with Andy Johnson about working with contractors, mentoring shapers, crafting contours, and staying hands-on as the Hanse name gets bigger. They also touch on new projects at PGA Frisco and West Palm Beach.

Superintendent Series: Jim Huntoon on Mowing Lines and Myrtle Beach

Jim Huntoon is the Golf Course Superintendent at the Heritage Club in the Myrtle Beach area and a contributor to the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association. For this installment of our Superintendent Series, Jim speaks with Andy Johnson about finding creativity in his daily routine, the impact of the pandemic on his operation, his memories of Mike Strantz, the best spots (for golf and other activities) in the Myrtle Beach area. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

An Insider’s View of Golf Course Rankings

For many people, golf course rankings published by major magazines provide an introduction to golf course architecture. They communicate the basic notion that some courses might (or should) be considered "greater" than others. Since 1996, Jonathan Cummings has served on one of the panels responsible for those rankings. Last year, he gathered up his tremendous knowledge about the rating process and published it in the form of a book, The Rating Game. He and Garrett Morrison discuss the book, the different approaches taken by the magazines to the rankings, and whether the entire course rating industry has done more harm than good. Jonathan Cummings, The Rating Game

How Your Personality Shapes Your Golf Game

Kiel Alderink is a PGA Professional and one of Golf Digest's top instructors under the age of 40. Along with mental coach John Weir, he founded Mental Golf Type, a company that uses personality psychology to help golfers practice and play better. Kiel also happens to be Andy Johnson's longtime golf coach. In this episode, Kiel and Andy discuss the underrated influence of personality type on teaching and performance in golf. They also talk about that time Andy hit it so far left at the U.S. Mid Am that a bus tried to pick them up. Check out Kiel's work at mentalgolftype.com.

Fried Egg Stories (Rerelease): Alligator Pit – The Making of TPC Sawgrass

Programming note: We first released this episode on Thursday, March 12, 2020. That evening, the Players Championship was canceled in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. So with the 2021 Players approaching, we thought we'd give this story another chance. In this installment of our audio documentary series, we detail how PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman and golf course architect Pete Dye turned an alligator-infested swamp in Ponte Vedra Beach into a new kind of tournament venue. We also tell the story of the pros' first encounter with TPC Sawgrass at the 1982 Players Championship. This episode features interviews with Deane Beman, Jerry Pate, Vernon Kelly, Tom Doak, Sean Martin, and Adam Schupak.

A Way Forward for Municipal Golf

Today we wrap up our deep dive into Andy Johnson's visit to North and South Carolina with a hybrid episode. The first half is devoted to a conversation that Andy had with Troy Miller at Charleston Municipal Golf Course. Troy recently completed a Seth Raynor-inspired renovation of Charleston Muni. After that interview, Andy and Garrett Morrison return to finish their chat about the courses Andy saw in the Carolinas. They talk not only about courses like Charleston Muni and Asheville Muni, but more generally about municipal golf in America and how it might find a way forward in the 21st century.

Tony Jacklin on the Ryder Cup, the Yips, and the Concession (Golf Club)

In collaboration with Jack Nicklaus, English golf legend Tony Jacklin designed the Concession Golf Club, which will host the WGC-Workday Championship this week. Ahead of that event, Jacklin joined Andy Johnson to discuss his long, decorated career. They talk about his tenure as Ryder Cup captain, his relationships with Seve Ballesteros and other European stars, his triumphs at the 1969 Open and 1970 U.S. Open, and his eventual battles with exhaustion and nerves.

Episode 205: Geoff Ogilvy – Instruction, Reed, Potential Rollback, and mixed events

Geoff Ogilvy is back! He joins Andy to talk about he recent golf news, including the USGA’s potential adjustments to equipments standards and Patrick Reed’s rules incident at Torrey Pines. They also chat about the new Players Series events in Australia, which are mixed tournaments in which male and female pros as well as amateurs play for the same prize money. Geoff hosted one recently, and he discusses the concept's potential long-term impact on the game.

Episode 204: John Houck – Disc Golf Architecture

Disc golf has a lot in common with golf. It's usually played over nine or 18 holes; there are tees and targets; there are drives, approaches, and putts; and scores are often calculated according to par. But Fried Egg listeners will be particularly interested to know that disc golf, like "ball golf," has its own history, style, and philosophy of course design. To find out more about disc golf architecture, Garrett talks with John Houck, the leading architect in the sport. They discuss Houck's approach to design, his thoughts on naturalness and strategy, and his hopes for the future of his craft.

Episode 203: Thomas Pagel – USGA Distance Insights Project

Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior managing director of governance, joins Andy to discuss the USGA and R&A’s latest announcement regarding their years-long Distance Insights Project. Last year the governing bodies released a major Distance Insights Report, and last week they provided an update on new research topics and proposed changes to equipment standards. These efforts have garnered headlines and driven debate in the golf world about the possibility of "rolling back" equipment. Pagel takes Andy through the ins and outs of the USGA's most recent announcement and what it means for the future of golf.

Episode 202: Andy’s Carolina Trip, Part 1 – Kiawah

Garrett and Andy sit down to discuss Andy's recent trip through the Carolinas. In this first part of their conversation, they open with some thoughts on the events and content projects The Fried Egg has on the schedule for 2021. Then they delve deeply into Pete Dye's Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. They talk about the chaotic origins of the course, its spectacular debut at the 1991 Ryder Cup, and how its architecture holds up today. There are also some digressions into Webb Simpson's recent comments on course design and Mike Strantz's place in the lineage of provocative golf architecture, among other topics. Oh, and make sure to visit The Fried Egg Pro Shop: https://proshop.thefriedegg.com/.

Episode 201: Zac Blair, The Tree Farm

Zac Blair makes his long awaited return to the podcast to discuss the latest news on his golf course project in Aiken, SC, The Tree Farm. Zac discusses his decision to hire Tom Doak and Kye Goalby as well as the membership structure and much more at the Tree Farm.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 28: The Lido Club

Tom Doak joins to discuss his latest project, rebuilding the Lido Club near the Sand Valley Golf Resort. Andy and Tom discuss the history of the great Lido course, the challenges rebuilding it will present and how they are planning to recreate the historic course.

Episode 200: Sean Martin – 2021 PGA Tour Preview

Sean Martin, Senior Editor at PGA Tour dot com, joins Andy to discuss the 2021 PGA Tour season. Both Sean and Andy identify five things they will be watching for this year. They talk about the youth wave on tour, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, and much more.

Superintendent Series, Episode 14: Bob Ranum

The Long Island legend Bob Ranum joins the podcast to talk about his career in golf course maintenance. Bob discusses his two superintendent jobs at Garden City Golf Club and Atlantic Golf Club. Topics include helping to restore Garden City with Tom Doak, building a course with Rees Jones, and hanging out with Mike Strantz.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 27: Tom’s 2020 American Road Trip

Tom Doak joins the podcast to discuss more his recent road trip across the United States. Among his travels, Tom visited two upcoming projects, Dornick Hills and Sandpiper GC. He and Andy also discuss how beauty impacts a hole's reputation, memorable Superintendents, and much more.

Superintendent Series, Episode 13: Preparing for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open

Chris Ortmeier, Director of Agronomy at Champions Golf Club, and Darin Bevard, Director of Championship Agronomy for the USGA, join Andy to discuss this week's U.S. Women's Open. Chris and Darin detail the unique challenges associated with the December date of this year's tournament. They also describe the two 18-hole courses at host venue Champions Golf Club and talk about what viewers can expect. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by the Toro Company.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 26: Houston Open Redux

In the latest installment of our series with the golf course architect Tom Doak, he talks about his month-long road trip across America. One of his most prominent stops came at the PGA Tour's 2020 Houston Open at Memorial Park, a municipal course he recently redesigned. Tom reflects on what he learned from watching some of the world's best players tackle his work.

Episode 199: Mike Young

Golf course architect and owner Mike Young joins Andy to talk about his career in golf. Mike discusses getting his start in golf turf equipment sales and making the leap into design and eventually ownership at the Fields Golf Club in Georgia. He and Andy delve into how golf is changing and how Mike has adapted at his courses.

Episode 198: Data Golf

Data Golf, founded by brothers Matt and Will Courchene, is on a mission to make sense of the piles of data coming out of professional golf today. In this episode, Garrett Morrison speaks with Matt about how advanced statistics might help us understand golf course design in a different way. Check out Matt and Will's website at datagolf.com. Brought to you by The Fried Egg Pro Shop.

Episode 197: Geoff Ogilvy – 2020 Masters

Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to break down the 2020 Masters. Geoff tells some stories about playing with this year's champion Dustin Johnson and discusses DJ's great mental approach to golf. The conversation also touches on the excellent play from several members of the 2019 Presidents Cup Team, and on the reasons why Rory McIlroy might struggle getting out of the gate at major championships.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 11: Always Greener – The American Pursuit of Perfect Turf

Even in November, Augusta National looks flawless. But why is it that we get so excited about green, uniform grass? In this edition of our audio documentary series, we dig into the backstory of America’s obsession with perfect turf. Our guests are Russ Myers, Ted Steinberg, George Waters, Derek Duncan, and John Jeffreys. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Engineered by J Vierck. Transcript assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode 196: Geoff Ogilvy – All 18 at Augusta National

Before the last year's Masters, we released a two-part discussion with Geoff Ogilvy about Augusta National Golf Club. Here, we present a condensed, one-episode version of that conversation. Andy and Geoff cover every hole at the course, delving into the details of the design as well as the strategies used by Masters contestants.

Episode 194: Lukas Michel – 2020 Masters Prep and playing America’s best golf courses

2019 U.S. Mid Am Champion Lukas Michel joins the podcast to discuss his preparations for the Masters as well as his travels in the U.S. since the U.S. Amateur. Lukas details his work on Mike DeVries' restoration crew at Bloomfield Hills and the great golf he has played all over the country. Lukas last appeared on The Fried Egg Podcast after his U.S. Mid Am win in Episode 155.

Episode 194: Luke Reese – One for the Memory Banks

Author Luke Reese joins the podcast to talk about his new book One for the Memory Banks. Luke reflects on his experiences learning the game late in life as an American in Scotland and the friendships he made along the way. One for the Memory Banks can be purchased using the following link and will include a $10 donation to the National Links Trust: https://www.thememorybanks.com/TheFriedEgg.

Superintendent Series, Episode 12: Josh Mahar – Wild Horse GC

Wild Horse Golf Club Superintendent Josh Mahar joins the podcast to discuss his involvement from the beginning of world class golf in the Nebraska Sand Hills. Josh was a part of the grow in team at both Sand Hills and Wild Horse two of the country’s finest golf courses. He talks about the experience of growing in these courses and his life in turf. The Superintendent Series is brought to you by Toro.

School of Golf Architecture, Part 5 (2): Routing with Jeff Mingay

This is the second part of Garrett’s discussion with golf architect Jeff Mingay (@jeff_mingay) about how golfers can “read” the routing of a course. Having laid out the shared traits of good routings, they dig into a few famous examples. They also tackle a couple of big questions: How have routing practices changed over time? And does the future hold any new possibilities?

School of Golf Architecture, Part 5 (1): Routing with Jeff Mingay

Routing is perhaps the most important step in designing a golf course, but it’s a difficult concept for non-architects to understand. How can a regular golfer “read” the routing of a course that has already been built? Garrett explores this question with golf architect Jeff Mingay (@jeff_mingay) for the fifth edition of the School of Golf Architecture. In the first of two episodes, Garrett and Jeff discuss the basic elements of effective golf course routing—elements that any golfer can recognize during a round.

Episode 193: Jaeger Kovich – Aronimink Golf Club

Golf architect Jaeger Kovich joins the podcast to recall his time as a shaper for Hanse Golf Course Design during the firm's 2016 restoration of Aronimink Golf Club. This week, Aronimink plays host to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Superintendent Series, Episode 11: Stephen Britton

Stephen Britton, Superintendent at Chevy Chase Country Club joins the podcast this week. He discusses his beginnings at Royal Melbourne and how it spurned an eventual move to America, his time working for TPC Potomac and hosting PGA Tour events, and what it was like to work at Wimbledon.

Episode 192: Geoff Ogilvy – 2020 U.S. Open Recap

Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to breakdown the 2020 U.S. Open. The pair focus in on the setup of Winged Foot and how it amplified DeChambeau’s talents while also discussing the future of golf given Bryson’s style of play. Geoff also talks about Sandy Links, the municipal course he grew up playing, its recent renovation.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 10: The Test – Hale Irwin at Winged Foot

The 1974 U.S. Open, better known as the "Massacre at Winged Foot," has become a touchstone in the debate over what a golf championship should be. Depending on your perspective, it's either the U.S. Open at its best or the U.S. Open at its worst. With the national championship returning to Winged Foot this week, we ask what it means for a tournament venue to be insanely difficult. Our guests for this episode are Hale Irwin, Neil Regan, Mark Mulvoy, and Jeremy Schaap, reading from his father's classic book about the tournament.Brought to you by the U.S. Open Victory Club. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Transcript assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode 191: John Bodenhamer – 2020 U.S. Open Setup

John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director, Championships, joins the pod this week to discuss all things U.S. Open! Andy and John work through this week’s setup, differences we’ll notice between this event and the ‘06 U.S. Open, managing championships without fans, and close the conversation with a few thoughts on the USGA’s new anchor site.

Episode 190: Geoff Ogilvy – Winged Foot, the U.S. Open, and the FedEx Cup

Geoff Ogilvy, winner of the last U.S. Open contested at Winged Foot, joins the podcast to preview the 2020 U.S. Open. Andy and Geoff start by discussing the FedEx Cup Finals and Geoff's thoughts on the format. Then they delve into Geoff's winning effort in 2006 and his predictions for the 2020 edition.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 9: Jackie Robinson the Golfer

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first Black man to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century. You're probably familiar with that story. What you may not know is that the baseball diamond was not the only playing field where Robinson advocated for racial equality. He also did so on the golf course. In this edition of our audio documentary series, we tell the complicated, sad, even inconvenient story of Jackie Robinson the golfer. Sponsored by the U.S. Open Victory Club. Sign up for free! Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Production assistance from Jay Fischl. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode 189: Neil Regan – Winged Foot history

Neil Regan, Winged Foot Golf Club's historian, sits down with Andy to discuss Winged Foot's rich history, from Babe Ruth's exploits at the club to Monty's struggles on the 18th hole in 2006. Regan was extensively involved in Hanse Golf Course Design's recent restoration of the course, and he tells Andy about the thinking behind the green expansions.

Episode 188: Stewart Hagestad – 2020 U.S. Amateur and Bandon Dunes

One hundred and seventy-nine episodes after his first appearance, Stewart Hagestad rejoins The Fried Egg Podcast to discuss his run to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Amateur last week. Andy and Stewart talk not only about the tournament but also about how Bandon Dunes compares to other competitive venues, how match play contrasts with stroke play, their favorite amateur events, and the upcoming U.S. Open, which Stewart is preparing for right now.

Episode 187: PGA Championship Reflections – TPC Harding Park and the “Mega Muni” Model

After an exciting PGA Championship, Andy and Garrett get together to discuss how TPC Harding Park fared in its major championship debut. They contemplate both virtues and flaws of its design, routing, and setup, and they compare it to Winged Foot, the host of the upcoming U.S. Open. Also, they get into some broader trends in municipal golf, specifically the contrast between "mega munis" and "mini munis" that Garrett explored in a recent article for The Fried Egg website.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 8: Golf and the City – Harding Park

In this edition of our audio documentary series, we tell the story of Harding Park, a course that has, at different points in its history, represented both the best and the worst of municipal golf. This week, it hosts the 2020 PGA Championship, but just 22 years ago, it served as a parking lot for the 1998 U.S. Open. We talk to Bo Links, Ron Kroichick, Sean Elsbernd, Joe Shasky, and Sasha Perigo about these highs and lows, and also about the benefits and drawbacks of city golf in general. Produced and hosted by Garrett Morrison. Edited and engineered by J Vierck. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode 186: Geoff Ogilvy – Bryson’s transformation, the 2020 PGA, and the young guns

Geoff Ogilvy returns to catch up with Andy Johnson about the latest happenings on the PGA Tour and to discuss the upcoming PGA Championship. Geoff talks about his fascination with the golf swing, which grew during the quarantine, and what he thinks the keys will be at Harding Park.

Superintendent Series, Episode 10: Tony Nysse

Tony Nysse, the Director of Golf Course and Grounds at Mountain Lake, joins the podcast to discuss his affinity for golf course architecture and his career in the turf industry. Tony's many stories include giving architectural advice to a developer while in college, interning at Friar's Head, and restoring Old Marsh.

Episode 185: Kerry Haigh

Kerry Haigh, the Chief Championships Officer of the PGA of America, joins Andy to discuss next week's PGA Championship at Harding Park. The conversation centers on Kerry's approach to setting up major championship golf.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 25: Is Donald Ross overrated? Lost Dunes and favorite Scottish holes

In the latest talk with Tom, we dive into a number of listener questions. Tom talks about whether or not Donald Ross is overrated and some of the greens at Lost Dunes. The conversation wraps up with Tom choosing which par 3, 4 and 5 from Scotland he would have in his backyard.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 24: St. Andrews Beach, Covid-19, and East Potomac

In the second part of his recent conversation with Andy, Tom Doak explains why St. Andrews Beach—a design of his outside of Melbourne, Australia—is one of his favorite courses in the world. Later, he and Andy discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the design business and the golf world in general, and how this moment compares to 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. The episode wraps up with a discussion of the potential of East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., which Tom is set to restore.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 23: Getting to 18, Pacific Dunes, and the original Sheep Ranch

Tom Doak is back! The lead architect at Renaissance Golf Design joins Andy to talk about his latest book project, Getting to 18. They discuss the writing process, a few excerpts from the book, the story of how Tom met Bill Coore, and the secrets behind the routings of Pacific Dunes and the original Sheep Ranch. To purchase Getting to 18, a limited-edition book, visit doakgolf.com .

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 3 – Better

This is the third and final episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It explores how advanced plastics made their way into the modern, solid-core ball, bringing the promise of “better things for better living through chemistry” to the game. Guests: Harry Brown, Joe Henley, Mark O’Meara, and Dean Snell. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Brown, Golf Ball

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 2 – Wound

This is the second episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It recounts the advent of the wound ball—the Haskell—and the ensuing debate over the future of the game. Guests: Bob Crosby and Brett Cyrgalis. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Through the GreenCyrgalis, Golf’s Holy War

Fried Egg Stories: The Ball, Part 1 – Gutty

This is the first episode of our miniseries on the design, history, and impact of the golf ball. It focuses on the invention of the gutta percha ball and the surprising backstory of gutta percha itself. Guests: Harry Brown, Stephen Proctor, and Helen Godfrey. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Brown, Golf BallProctor, Monarch of the GreenGodfrey, Submarine Telegraphy and the Hunt for Gutta Percha

Episode 184: Curtis Strange

Hall of Famer Curtis Strange joins Andy Johnson to discuss his storied career as well as recent events on the PGA Tour. Curtis tells Andy about his closing eagle to win the NCAA Championship, his back-to-back U.S. Open wins, and his near-miss at the 1985 Masters. The conversation also touches on the rise of a beefed-up Bryson DeChambeau and the recent split between Fox Sports, where Curtis was an analyst, and the USGA.

Superintendent Series, Episode 9: Aaron McMaster

Aaron McMaster, the Superintendent at Orchard Lake Country Club, joins Andy to talk turf. They discuss the ins and outs of making agronomic changes to a golf course before diving into the story of Orchard Lake’s renovation by Keith Foster.

Episode 183: Michael McCartin and Will Smith of National Links Trust

Last week, the National Park Service announced that it would begin negotiations with National Links Trust to operate three municipal golf courses in Washington, D.C. A non-profit founded by Michael McCartin and Will Smith, NLT has partnered with architects Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and Beau Welling in hopes of renovating the East Potomac, Rock Creek Park, and Langston golf properties. Andy speaks with Mike and Will about this exciting development in a story that The Fried Egg has been tracking since last year. Among other topics, they discuss the RFP process, the NLT’s visions for the courses, the importance of compelling municipal golf architecture, and the role that D.C. golf facilities can play as community gathering spots and agents for social change.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 22: Confidential Guide and the Maha Project

In the latest edition of the Yolk with Doak, Tom discusses the ideology behind the Confidential Guide, randomness in design, and a unique new project near Napa Valley he is working on.

School of Golf Architecture, Part 4: Collaboration

n this edition of our audio introduction to golf course design, Garrett speaks with architect Andy Staples (@buildsmartrgolf) about collaboration on construction projects. They discuss how Andy works with owners, contractors, and shapers; what “design-build” means and how people often misunderstand it; and whether architects get too much credit. For more on these topics, check out the post for this episode on The Fried Egg website.

Superintendent Series, Episode 8: Steve Cook

Steve Cook, the Director of Grounds at Medinah Country Club, joins the podcast. Andy and Steve talk about his long career, including his time in France and his experience prepping courses for major championships. They also discuss Steve’s management style, which has helped produce a number of up-and-coming leaders in the turf industry today.

Episode 182: John Bodenhamer – USGA Senior Managing Director, Championships

John Bodenhamer, the USGA's Senior Managing Director, Championships joins Andy Johnson on the podcast. The two talk about John's golf background and his time on some of the great early 80s BYU teams before diving into championship setup. The discussion finishes with a conversation about 2020's USGA Championships and how they will go about filling the fields without qualifying.

Episode 181: Stephen Proctor on challenge matches

As an appetizer for the upcoming Tiger-Phil (plus Manning and Brady) match, Andy and Garrett speak with golf historian Stephen Proctor about the history of challenge matches. They discuss the importance of rowdy, big-money matches to early golf culture in Scotland, the eventual ascendancy of stroke play as the dominant competitive format, and the ways that today's televised matches might recapture some of the magic of the past. Stephen is the author of Monarch of the Green, a biography of Young Tom Morris.

Episode 180: Nathaniel Crosby

2019 and 2021 Walker Cup Captain Nathaniel Crosby joins the podcast to talk about last week’s match at Seminole, his days on the European Tour and looks ahead to the next Walker Cup.

Yolk with Doak, Episode 21: Linksland, Mike Strantz, and environmentalism

This episode of the Yolk with Doak features the final part of the conversation Andy and Tom had this past January in Traverse City, Michigan. They discuss a variety of topics, including the challenges of building on linskland, Mike Strantz, Woking Golf Club, stymies, and how golf might mesh with environmentalism.

Episode 179: Seminole Golf Club with Bill Coore and Zac Blair

On Sunday, May 17, four of the best golfers in the world will take on one of the best courses in the world. Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, and Matthew Wolff are set to play in TaylorMade Driving Relief, a televised charity skins match at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. The rarely publicized Seminole is known as one of Donald Ross's most subtle and brilliant designs. To understand the course better, Andy talks to architect Bill Coore, who along with Ben Crenshaw restored Seminole in 2017, and PGA Tour pro Zac Blair, who has played the course several times in the annual Seminole Pro-Member.

Episode 178: Brian Schneider

Renaissance Golf Senior Associate Brian Schneider joins Andy to talk golf course architecture. The discussion starts with Brian's work at North Jersey C.C. a Walter Travis design and ranges from above ground features at Llanarch to Augusta National to Langford & Moreau's bold shaping. Follow Brian on Twitter @bschneider126 and Instagram @bschneidergolf.

Superintendent Series, Episode 7: Rich Shilling

Rich Shilling, superintendent of Jeffersonville Golf Course, joins the podcast. Andy and Rich discuss Jeffersonville’s improvement during his time there and the unique challenges of upgrading a course while continuing to allow public play. They also talk about his future plans and how the municipality approaches budgeting for renovations.

School of Golf Architecture, Part 3 – Tie-Ins with Riley Johns

In the third installment of our serialized introduction to golf course design, we explore how architects and shapers make courses feel at home in their surroundings. Specifically, we discuss tie-ins, the features that connect the manmade landforms of a golf hole to the preexisting surroundings. To learn more about this subtle art, Garrett speaks with Riley Johns (@IntegrativeGolf), one of the architects behind the Winter Park Nine and the new short course at Forest Dunes. After listening to the episode, check out the accompanying post on The Fried Egg website.

Episode 177: Christina Kim

LPGA player Christina Kim joins the program this week. She discusses the importance of individuality, the Ladies European Tour vs. the LPGA, her quick rise as a junior player, her favorite courses around the world, and much more!

The Fried Egg Podcast, Episode 176: Joel Dahmen

PGA Tour player Joel Dahmen takes time out of his Arizona quarantine to join Andy Johnson this week. The two talk about Mario Kart, qualifying for the U.S. Open after a trip to the bar, playing with big-name players, and just what he is doing during all this time off.

Yolk with Doak – Episode 20: Sedge Valley, drivable par 4s and the evolution of restoration projects

Tom Doak returns to the podcast to discuss a variety of podcasts with Andy Johnson. The pair talk through topography maps, his first impressions of greens books, drivable par 4s, the evolution of restoration projects, and a quick update on his new project at Sand Valley. They also get Tom’s opinions on some listener questions.

School of Golf Architecture, Part 2 – Linksland with George Waters

The second part of our serialized introduction to course design profiles the first and most influential golf architect: the linksland. Coastal dunescapes gave the sport its first fields of play as well as its founding ethos. To learn more about how terrain has shaped the game, Garrett talks to George Waters (@gwatersgolf), the Manager of Green Section Education for the USGA and the author of the book Sand and Golf. Make sure to check out the accompanying post on The Fried Egg website; there you will find additional resources on the topic and outtakes from the interview with George.

Superintendent Series – Episode 6: Josh Lewis

Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club's Superintendent Josh Lewis joins the podcast. Andy and Josh talk about the impact COVID-19 has on the turf industry and get into Josh's many experiences in turf including Josh's early days at Coos Bay and Bandon Dunes as well as Pasatiempo, Chambers Bay and Sharon Heights. Follow Josh on Twitter @theturfyoda.

Episode 175: Geoff Shackelford – COVID-19 and golf

Geoff Shackelford joins Andy to discuss the whirlwind of coronavirus news and the likely short- and long-term effects of the pandemic in golf.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 4 – Alligator Pit: The Making of TPC Sawgrass

In this installment of our audio documentary series, we go back to a time when the PGA Tour operated out of a four-bedroom home in Ponte Vedra Beach. Not far from that home was a flat expanse of swampy jungle. We tell the story of how commissioner Deane Beman and architect Pete Dye turned that land into a new kind of golf venue—and how the pros reacted when they competed on it for the first time. This episode features interviews with Beman, U.S. Open and Players champion Jerry Pate, architect Tom Doak, TPC Sawgrass project manager Vernon Kelly, and journalists Adam Schupak and Sean Martin. It includes music from Assaf Ayalon, Avi Goldfinger, Maya Johanna, Ian Post, and Swirling Ship (artlist.io), as well as from Kevin McLeod (incompetench.filmmusic.io).Sean Martin, “Leap of faith: Behind the Stadium Course’s wild debut at the 1982 Players Championship”Adam Schupak, Golf’s Driving Force (

Episode 174: Michael Keiser Jr.

Michael Keiser Jr., the Managing Partner at Dream Golf, joins the podcast. The Keiser family and Dream Golf have been behind some of today's premier resorts, including Bandon, Sand Valley, and Cabot. Michael and Andy discuss working outside of golf, the failed Bandon Muni project, collaborating with some of today's greatest golf course architects, pushing the boundaries of an industry, and more.

School of Golf Architecture, Part 1 – Place with Blake Conant

Welcome to School of Golf Architecture, The Fried Egg’s serialized introduction to golf course design. In this first installment, Garrett digs into the notion of place. He speaks with architect and builder Blake Conant about “place-based design” and the various ways in which a golf course can cultivate a strong sense of place. Toward the end of the discussion, Blake leads Garrett to a realization about the importance of building and preserving unique places in the modern world.

Episode 173: Nick Mackay – The business side of professional golf

Current Georgia State University Assistant Golf Coach and former Golf Agent Nick Mackay joins Andy to talk about his years as a golf agent. The two discuss what Nick looks for in young players, the intricacies of the business side of professional golf from sponsorship deals to costs of trying to "make it". The pair finish with a discussion on Patrick Reed's antics and the PGL.

Superintendent Series – Episode 4: Roger Null

Renowned golf course superintendent and architect Roger Null joins Andy for the latest installment in our Superintendent Series, brought to you by The Toro Company. Roger has nearly a half century of experience in the golf business, serving as a superintendent at Cedar Rapids CC and Old Warson CC, a design consultant at many courses in the Midwest, and even a general manager at Boone Valley GC. He is also an accomplished amateur player, with three GCSAA National Championships to his name (though Andy suspects the actual number is higher). Roger and Andy talk about how Roger got his start as a greenskeeper, what has changed in course maintenance in the past few decades, the difficulty of growing grass in St. Louis, how his work as an architect influenced his approach as a superintendent, and many other topics.

Yolk with Doak – Episode 19: Pete Dye, Bandon vs. Scotland, and ways to make money as a golf architect

Our series with golf architect Tom Doak continues with another segment of Andy and Tom’s recent conversation in Traverse City, Michigan. They begin with a series of listener questions, covering topics like green-to-tee transitions, golf culture in Africa, the pros and cons of Bandon Dunes and Scotland as golf destinations, Tom’s ongoing links project in Ireland, his growing interesting in the business side of golf development, and the importance of not pretending every new thing is the best thing ever. A discussion of common misinterpretations of well-known golf architects leads to an extended reflection on Pete Dye. They talk about how Tom would split 10 rounds at Dye-designed courses, the Dye family’s willingness to share knowledge and help Tom jump-start his career, and Pete Dye’s influential insistence on studying a variety of far-flung courses.

Episode 172: Barrett Stover – Golf Fitness

Revolution Sports Performance Founder Barrett Stover joins Andy to discuss golf fitness. The two talk about the common misconceptions and easy ways golfers can stay more active and improve their golf games.

Episode 171: Mike DeVries – Designing affordable golf, Maxwell and MacKenzie, and working on difficult sites

For the first time since Episode 46, golf course architect Mike DeVries joins Andy on the podcast. DeVries was introduced to the game at Crystal Downs Golf Club in Michigan, and he worked for Tom Doak and Tom Fazio before starting his own design business. His best-known work is Cape Wickham Links on King Island in Tasmania, but he has also built several excellent, affordable public courses in his home state of Michigan. Mike and Andy discuss two of his accessible designs in the Grand Rapids area, Diamond Springs and The Mines, before speaking more broadly about the dual influences of Perry Maxwell and Alister MacKenzie, the joys of walking, and the challenges of routing courses on severe sites, such as the one where Mike’s stunning Greywalls course sits.

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 3 – Hello Milwaukee: Tiger’s Pro Debut

The latest edition of our audio documentary series focuses on Tiger Woods’s first tournament as a professional, the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. But this isn’t a story about what happened on the course. Instead, we dig into the action in the press room, in front of the cameras, and during commercial breaks. It was in those spaces that the public image of Tiger, the myth of him as a professional golfer, began to be invented. And not everything went smoothly at first. This episode features interviews with two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange, Wieden+Kennedy ad man Jim Riswold, GMO tournament director Tom Strong, and journalists Jaime Diaz and Gary D’Amato. It includes music from Tristan Barton, Sebastian Borromeo, D Fine Us, Kevin Graham, Kloyd, and Ian Post (artlist.io), as well as from Kevin McLeod (incompetech.filmmusic.io). Check out our sponsor, Visit Milwaukee, at visitmilwaukee.org/golf.

The Fried Egg Podcast: Superintendent Series – Episode 4: Edric Funk and Matthew Wharton

At the GCSAA Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Andy recorded a live episode with The Toro Company’s Edric Funk (@EdricFunk) and Carolina Golf Club superintendent Matthew Wharton (@CGCGreenkeeper). The trio discussed the process behind innovation, the role of #TurfTwitter, the future of labor in the turfgrass industry, and the advent of robotics and automation in greenkeeping. Big thanks to our sponsor Toro for making the Superintendent Series possible

Episode 170: Geoff Shackelford – The Distance Insights report and the Premier Golf League

Lately, the biggest news in the golf world has revolved around topics that Golf Channel contributor Geoff Shackelford knows better than anyone. So Andy met up Geoff to get his thoughts on the bombshell USGA/R&A Distance Insights report, which represents a major shift in the governing bodies' rhetoric about golf's distance problem. They also discuss the emergence of the Premier Golf League as a potential disruptor in professional golf. Geoff broke this story two weeks ago on his blog geoffshackelford.com and continues to report on fresh revelations about the proposed world tour.

Yolk with Doak – Episode 18: Templates, an upcoming book on routing, modern green speeds

The Yolk with Doak, our series with golf architect Tom Doak, returns with Andy visiting Tom in Traverse City, Michigan, and sitting down for a wide-ranging conversation. In this first installment, they field a variety of reader questions. Among other things, they talk about how Tom uses (or resists over-using) template concepts in his work, how his book project on routing has led him to reassess some of his past courses, whether we should look to state golf associations as potential champions of affordable and interesting courses, and how modern green speeds have changed the way we design greens and play the game.

Episode 169: Brad Faxon

During his long playing career, Brad Faxon won eight PGA Tour events, participated in two Ryder Cups, and became known as one of the best putters in golf history. Currently he serves as an analyst for Fox Sports’ USGA telecasts and a putting consultant to tour pros. Brad joined Andy at the PGA Show to discuss the art of the interview, the mental and emotional dimensions of golf, the importance of good architecture at tournament courses, and Brad’s memories of growing up in Rhode Island and learning about Golden Age design.

Episode 168: Billy Draddy

At the PGA Show, Andy sits down with Billy Draddy, the creative director at Summit Golf Brands and founder of B. Draddy. They chat about Billy’s youthful days as a caddie at Winged Foot and Brookline before getting into his background in the clothing business. They cover his failures and success, the links between garment and golf course design, the challenges of pushing an against-the-grain product, and the wonders of alpacas.

Episode 167: Bill Coore – Pete Dye, Sheep Ranch, and underappreciated holes

For the first time since May 2018, we welcome Bill Coore back to the podcast. Andy and Bill discuss the lack of sand bunkers and the tight, intricate routing at Sheep Ranch, Coore & Crenshaw's upcoming course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. In addition, they talk about the late Pete Dye, Bill's mentor, and Bill's own Dye-like willingness to hire associates who have little to no golf experience. Andy and Bill cover various other topics, including the recent removal of Trinity Forest, a Coore & Crenshaw design, from the PGA Tour rota; what Bill learned from watching the pros at his recently renovated Plantation Course at Kapalua; and his thoughts on some of golf's most under-appreciated holes.

Episode 166: A Tribute to Pete Dye

In honor of the great golf architect Pete Dye, who passed away last week, Andy and Garrett play and discuss several clips from past podcast episodes in which the guests discussed their experiences with Dye. Anecdotes include how Dye’s work inspired Bill Coore to get into golf course design, how Tom Doak’s experience on Dye’s construction crew caused him to turn down an offer from Robert Trent Jones, and how an aerial photo of PGA West changed the direction of Brian Silva’s career. Also featured is a segment from a yet-to-be-released podcast with Kohler Co. (Blackwolf Run, Whistling Straits) Director of Grounds Mike Lee.

Episode 165: The Oldest Golf Course in Wisconsin Eagle Springs

Mike Bolan the owner of the Eagle Springs Golf Resort, the oldest golf course in Wisconsin joins Andy on the podcast. Andy and Mike talk about the golf course and its history and how Mike's family has owned the course since 1893. Mike opens up about the difficulties of ownership in today's golf landscape and how he has gone about keeping Eagle Springs afloat over the years.

Episode 164: Geoff Ogilvy – President’s Cup, Royal Melbourne and the new decade

Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to talk about his experience being an Assistant Captain at the 2019 President's Cup. The two talk about the competition and how the brilliance of Royal Melbourne. Geoff talks about why Royal Melbourne stood out from the typical Tour stop and why it allowed the best players to elevate their games. Beyond the President's Cup Geoff tells the story of his recent walk-off hole in one and Andy and Geoff talk talk about the next decade of golf and make some predictions.

Superintendent Series – Episode 3: Michael Vessely

Culver Military Academy Superintendent Michael Vessely joins Andy on the podcast. Michael and Andy start by talking about Michael's recent old tee box discoveries on the property and the historical deep dive its led. Michael then talks about how his perspective on maintenance has changed as he has understood architecture more. The conversation then moves to Michael's career and the journey to Culver and the benefits and challenges of the job. The pair wraps up talking about Michael's future plans and how he enjoys the experimental aspect of the job. Follow Michael on Twitter @mdvessely

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 2: The Doctor Goes Down Under

The second installment of our new audio documentary series digs into the history behind the venue of this week's Presidents Cup, Royal Melbourne Golf Club. This Australian gem exists in its current form because, in 1926, the famous British architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie decided to sail across the world and spend two and a half months down under. During his visit, he not only drew up plans for the West Course at Royal Melbourne but also consulted at many golf clubs throughout Australia. His apparent influence on golf in the country was enormous. So the question we ask in this episode is, essentially, how in the world did MacKenzie do all of that in 10 weeks? Or are we all giving him too much credit?Many thanks to Mike Clayton (@mikeclaytongolf), Mike Cocking (@OCMGolf), Neil Crafter (golfstrategies.com.au), and Sean Tully (@tullfescue) for contributing to this story. This episode features music from Kevin McLeod (incompetech.filmmusic.io) as well as Low Light and Borrtex (artlist.io).

Fried Egg Stories, Episode 1: Meghan MacLaren – Q-School and Women’s Golf

Something new on The Fried Egg podcast today! This episode has a documentary format. That is, rather than the usual interview, it takes the form of a story, with voice-overs from Garrett Morrison and excerpts from a conversation with Ladies European Tour player Meghan MacLaren. Think Revisionist History, but without the golf hatred. This is not a permanent format change, obviously—just a new direction we’re exploring.This past year, Meg MacLaren won the Women’s New South Wales Open and placed fifth on the LET Order of Merit, but she's still looking for a way onto the LPGA Tour. In October, she came to the U.S. for LPGA Qualifying School, which culminated with the two-week, 144-hole Q-Series at Pinehurst Resort. This episode tells the story of Meg’s Q-School experience. It also explores her thoughts about Harry Potter, blogging (which she does very well at megmaclaren.com), and the state of the women’s game. This episode was created and hosted by Garrett Morrison and edited by J Vierck. It features music from Kevin MacLeod, Yehezkel Raz, Borrtex, and Oak and Cherry.

Episode 163: Keith Rhebb

Golf course architect Keith Rhebb joins Andy at Winter Park for a chat about his recent work. The two start by discussing the continued success of Winter Park, which was slammed on an early Thursday afternoon. The conversation moves to some of Keith and Riley Johns' new work, their short course at Forest Dunes as well as the continued restoration efforts at Rolling Green. Keith also opens up to how it is to juggle his growing independent design business with his shaping work at Coore & Crenshaw as well as what he learned about Bill Coore from his time at Old Town.

Superintendent Series – Episode 2: Tom Feller

Cedar Rapids Country Club Superintendent Tom Feller joins Andy to discuss his life in turf. Tom and Andy start by talking about his morning routines which include no breakfast and regular walks of the golf course. The conversation then moves to how Tom got into turf and his early career in Myrtle Beach and Quincy, Illinois. Cedar Rapids C.C.'s transformation has been well-documented and Tom has had a big hand in the improvements made both architecturally and agronomically. Andy asks how Tom was able to accomplish the massive tree removal and restoration work for such a low cost while not shutting down the course. The conversation ends with Tom spreading virtues on the tree management and flood mitigation work they have done at Cedar Rapids. Our Superintendent Series is brought to you by Toro Golf.

Episode 162: Nick Hardy

Former University of Illinois standout, Nick Hardy joins Andy on the podcast to discuss his experience making the transition from college to the professional game. Nick talks about building structure to his practice sessions, dealing with some early disappointment, playing in his 3rd U.S. Open and breaking through 2nd stage of Q-School.

Episode 161: Jaeger Kovich Part II

In part two of our podcast with golf architect Jaeger Kovich, he and Andy discuss critiques in golf architecture, Jaeger's Mt. Rushmore of golf architects and whether or not Seth Raynor is overrated. Jaeger also gives some advice for how he goes about seeing golf courses and planning his visits as well as his pet peeve in golf architecture. If you missed part 1, be sure to check it out to learn about Jaeger's background and how he got into golf architecture as a kid from New York City.

Episode 160: Jaeger Kovich

Golf Course Architect Jaeger Kovich joins Andy to talk about his career to date. Jaeger talks about how he got into architecture and cracked through despite graduating into the economic downturn in '09. The pair then talks about Jaeger's childhood playing golf in New York City, Jaeger's recent experience in France and architect Tom Simpson as well as the great A.W. Tillinghast courses in NY.

Superintendent Series- Episode 1: Alex Beson-Crone

Blue Mound Golf and Country Club's Superintendent Alex Beson-Crone joins the podcast. Andy and Alex discuss how Alex got into the turf industry and his early career at Erin Hills through its construction. The conversation then centers on Alex's transition from Erin Hills to the Seth Raynor-designed Blue Mound Golf and Country Club. Our Superintendent Series is brought to you by Toro Golf.

Episode 159: Roaring Gap, Aiken, and Palmetto

Continuing their debriefing of their early-October Southern swing, Andy and Garrett review their visit to Roaring Gap Club in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the North Carolina-Virginia border. A 1925 Donald Ross design, Roaring Gap is charming and faithfully restored—an old-fashioned hideaway. Andy and Garrett talk routing, topography, mowing lines, and whether Ross courses can be compared to Bruce Springsteen albums. They wrap up the conversation with a tribute to maybe the best golf town in America: Aiken, SC, home to the public Aiken Golf Club as well as the private Palmetto Golf Club. They touch on not only the outstanding architecture of these two courses but also the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere that defines them and the town in the general.

Episode 158: Reynolds Park and Old Town Club

In the first part of a conversation about their recent trip to the Carolinas, Andy and Garrett dig into two fascinating Perry Maxwell courses in Winston-Salem, NC: Reynolds Park Golf Course and Old Town Club. First, though, Andy reviews his visit to Mooresville Golf Club, a very good affordable course near Charlotte. Andy and Garrett then talk about Reynolds Park, a striking municipal course that they both regard as one of the top candidates for restoration in the country. They finish the episode with an in-depth discussion of Old Town Club. From its routing to its simple yet ingenious greens, this 1939 Perry Maxwell design, beautifully restored by Coore & Crenshaw in 2013, has a lot to teach any golf architecture enthusiast.

Episode 157: Kevin Moore – Tournament Course Setup and Analytics-Driven Strategy

Kevin Moore joins Andy and Garrett to discuss Rory McIlroy's surprising and intriguing comments about soft course setups on the European Tour. Kevin is a former Division 1 college golfer, a professor of Mathematics Education, and the founder of a golf course analysis company called Squares2Circles, so he has some keen insights into what McIlroy means when he talks about "playing with strategy." Kevin, Andy, and Garrett also discuss how equipment technology has changed the way the best players interact with golf architecture, and they dig into whether Kevin himself senses a conflict between his rational, competitive side and his romantic, architecture-loving side. They close with a brief discussion of Aiken Golf Club, the venue for the upcoming Fried Egg event The Thoroughbred. Follow Kevin on Twitter at @kevcmoore and his company Squares2Circles at @Squares2Circles.

Episode 156: Robert Crosby, Golf Historian and John Low Biographer

Joining first-time host Garrett Morrison is golf historian Robert Crosby, who is working on a book about the great John Low. Garrett and Bob touch on Bob's tumultuous college days and his thoughts about the escapist character of golf before delving into his research on the fascinating life and work of John Low. In the early 20th century, Low played an influential role in debates about golf architecture, equipment, and rules. His way of thinking about the game, as Bob eloquently describes, is just as relevant today as it was a century ago.Robert Crosby on John Low in the journal Through the Green:Part 1 - http://www.golfcollectors.co.uk/u/cms/TTG_90_2009September.pdf#page=34Part 2 - http://www.golfcollectors.co.uk/u/cms/TTG_93_2010June.pdf#page=10

Episode 155: Lukas Michel 2019 U.S. Mid Am Champion

Last week Lukas Michel became the first international winner of the U.S. Mid Am at Colorado Golf Club, he joins Andy to talk about his week in Colorado and his golf career. The pair talk about amateur golf, how Lukas got prepared for his Mid Am run at Sand Hills, the awkward moment on the final hole of the match and his plans for the future.

Episode 154: Geoff Shackelford – Part 2: Player empowerment era and golf architecture’s future

In part two of Andy's discussion with Golfweek and Golf Channel contributor Geoff Shackelford they discuss the new player empowerment era where golf has seen its biggest names speaking up on hot topics. The two discuss slow play and driver technology before Andy gets Geoff's take on the future of golf course architecture.

Episode 153: Geoff Shackelford – Part 1: Brooks & Rory and new schedule review

Geoff Shackelford joins the podcast to catch up with Andy on what's been going on in professional golf. Geoff answers important questions such as was the new schedule a success? Should Brooks have won Player of the Year and what we might see in with the TV contract negotiations.

Episode 152: Craig Moore Superintendent at Marquette Golf Club

Golf Course Superintendent Craig Moore joins the podcast to discuss maintaining turf on the United States Northern Border. Craig and Andy discuss the brilliant and varied architecture behind the 36 holes at Craig's facility the Marquette Golf Club. Craig discusses what it was like to build a course in the Upper Peninsula and some of the struggles maintaining turf that he faces.

Episode 151: Perry Maxwell, Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills

The Fried Egg's Managing Editor Garrett Morrison joins Andy to discuss their recent trip to Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills. Garrett and Andy talk about their takeaways on Perry Maxwell and how he is an underappreciated architect. The two then dive into Prairie Dunes, comparing Maxwell's original 9 to his son Press' work building the second 9. The two then dive into Southern Hills and the recent renovation work by Gil Hanse. The upcoming major host wowed both Garrett and Andy.

Yolk with Doak – Episode 17: The consulting business, the growing distance gap and architect’s biases

In the third installment of our recent recording session Tom Doak dives into some of his work at Stonewall Golf Club in Philadelphia. Then the conversation moves to Tom's future in the consulting business and what interests him for the final stage of his career. Tom brings up a good point about distance of amateurs and Tour pros comparing playing with Ben Crenshaw to Brooks Koepka.

Episode 150: Jaeger Kovich and Clyde Johnson – The Eclectic 18 of the UK

Golf course architects Jaeger Kovich and Clyde Johnson join the podcast to discuss their travels and new series on thefriedegg.com, The Eclectic 18. Both Jaeger and Clyde have traveled a great deal throughout their careers working for the likes of Tom Doak and Gil Hanse as well as their own projects, making a point to see all the areas courses. In this podcast, we discuss some of those travels and how they came up with the Eclectic 18 of the UK.

Episode 149: Geoff Ogilvy – Lowry’s win, Xander’s driver and what’s ahead

Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast to discuss the week of golf at the Open Championship. Geoff and Andy start by talking about Shane Lowry's impressive win and how tough it is to sleep on the lead. Rickie Fowler notched another high finish and Andy asked Geoff's perspective on top 5's in majors versus wins. Their conversation moved to the week's big controversy, the non-conforming drivers and if and how more rigorous testing should be administered. They wrap up the podcast talking about the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the new format this year and the possible other formats for the Tour and Playoffs.

Episode 148: Geoff Ogilvy – Open Championship, Trackman and improving as a professional

Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to discuss the 2019 Open Championship. Before they hit on Royal Portrush and the tournament, Geoff and Andy discuss Matthew Wolff, his golf swing and how Trackman has led to more unique motions. Then Andy asks Geoff about getting better as a Tour pro and how difficult it is to do. Finally they close with discussion of Geoff's history at the Open Championship and how it differs from the other majors and who he expects to play well at Portrush.

Episode 147: Arron Oberholser – The Wolff – Morikawa showdown, today’s young stars and the Open Championship

Golf Channel Analyst and Former PGA Tour winner Arron Oberholser joins the podcast to talk about new youth on Tour, Matthew Wolff, Colin Morikawa and Victor Hovland. Oberholser and Andy then discuss the difference between today's young stars and when Arron was a young player and the tools available. The conversation wraps with Arron talking about this year's schedule and the upcoming Open Championship.

Episode 146: Russ Myers

Southern Hills Country Club’s Golf Course Superintendent Russ Myers joins Andy to discuss subjects ranging from his work at Southern Hills to his time working grounds at Augusta National. Russ has a long history with championship golf and tells stories from cutting cups in front of Greg Norman to restoring LACC and Southern Hills with Gil Hanse.

Yolk with Doak – Episode 16: St. Patrick’s and building from scratch vs renovating

In the latest episode of the Yolk with Doak, Tom Doak and Andy Johnson discuss what is more difficult building from new vs renovating a course. Tom brings to light his experience renovating at The National but also talks about what the easier business is. Then Tom talks about his newest project, a links course in Ireland where he is partnering with Rosapenna Resort to build St. Patrick's.

Yolk with Doak Episode 15: A new course at Tara Iti, a Memorial Park update and Renaissance Club

In the return of the Yolk with Doak, Tom Doak joins to talk about his recent news. Tom and Andy talk about his new planned public course at Tara Iti in New Zealand, the Renaissance Club and the progress of Houston's Memorial Park and how it's been working with Brooks Koepka.

Episode 145: Charlie Danielson

Charlie Danielson joins the podcast after making the cut at the 2019 U.S. Open. Charlie and Andy discuss his qualifying for the U.S. Open after a major knee surgery that has kept him out of competition for the past year. Charlie goes into the transition from 4-time All-American at the University of Illinois to playing professionally and how the injury has made him reflect. Charlie also talks about his Saturday pairing with Phil at Pebble Beach and how it setup differently from his 2016 U.S. Open venue, Oakmont.

Episode 144: Geoff Ogilvy – U.S. Open, Pebble, Winged Foot and life as a pro

Geoff Ogilvy stops by in Monterey to talk the U.S. Open. Geoff and Andy discuss the U.S. Open's identity, his win in 2006, how par has changed and much more.

Episode 143: Pebble Beach Golf Links with Garrett Morrison

The Fried Egg's Managing Editor Garrett Morrison joins the podcast to talk about his new role with The Fried Egg and this week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Garrett and Andy discuss what makes Pebble Beach a great golf course and a championship test that has endured 100 years.

Episode 142: Ryan French – Sectional Qualifiers

In part two of our conversation with Monday Qualifier Founder Ryan French we zero in on the U.S. Open and its Sectional Qualifying. Ryan and Andy kick off the discuss the Web.com Tour putting an event opposite the U.S. Open and the difficult position it puts its players in. Then Ryan dives into some of the players who qualified and their interesting back stories which include funding their golf careers through Golden Tee.

Episode 141: Ryan French – Monday Q Info – Part 1

The man behind the famed Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) Twitter account, Ryan French joins Andy to discuss how he started his account and Monday Qualifiers and Mini Tour golf. Ryan discusses where his interest in Monday Qualifiers and Mini-Tour stems from and some of his favorite stories since starting the account. In part two Ryan and Andy discuss the U.S. Open Sectional qualifying and some of the back stories behind the lesser known players.

Episode 140: Seth Raynor & CC of Charleston with Anthony Pioppi

Author, historian, Executive Director of the Seth Raynor Society and podcast host Anthony Pioppi joins Andy to discuss Seth Raynor and this week's U.S. Women's Open host, Country Club of Charleston. Anthony discusses Raynor's career and how he got into golf as well as his famed template holes and what he expects from this week's tournament.

Episode 139: Blake Conant – PGA Championship setup and Brooks’ win

Andy is joined by up and coming architect Blake Conant to discuss the 2019 PGA Championship. Blake and Andy talk about the week at Bethpage and the PGA's setup of the course and how it effected the championship. They also discuss it compared to Erin Hills and Blake talks about what he would like to see more of in the professional game.

Episode 138: Geoff Ogilvy – 2019 PGA Championship, Bethpage Black, Brooks Koepka and more

The second half of Andy's latest conversation with Geoff Ogilvy centers in on the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage. Geoff gives his thoughts on the new schedule and the PGA's place in golf. They then discuss Brooks Koepka and his unbelievable run in majors and public perception. They close with a discussion on Bethpage Black, what type of players will succeed and what makes it a special venue.

Episode 137: Geoff Ogilvy – Tiger’s win, putting & Trinity Forest

Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast to chat Tiger's win at the Masters and what he thought of Sunday. Andy and Geoff then discuss par and its relation to Trinity Forest.

Episode 136: David Zinkand

Golf course architect David Zinkand joins the podcast to talk about his career. Andy and Dave discuss his time in college at Cornell and the Dreer Award and the opportunity to study abroad that came with it. Dave talks about how that experience altered his perception of golf course architecture and served as the foundation for his career. The conversation then flows through the distinct differences Dave experienced working for Arthur Hills versus architects such as Gil Hanse and Coore & Crenshaw. Andy and Dave then talk about a few of Dave's project work at Desert Forest, Old Elm and upcoming work to Canal Shores.

Episode 135: Geoff Shackelford – Rustic Canyon, Municipal Golf, Superintendents and Photography

In part two of our latest podcast with Geoff Shackelford, Andy and Geoff discuss the design of Rustic Canyon. They discuss the role of affordable golf and more importantly, municipal golf as well as the superintendent industry. Geoff also asks Andy about the progression of his drone photography. If you missed part one check it out as the two talk about the recent happenings in golf.

Episode 134: Geoff Shackelford – Part I

Golf Channel and Golfweek contributor Geoff Shackelford joins the podcast to discuss the recent happenings in golf. Part one of Andy and Geoff's conversation starts with thoughts on Augusta's setup before meandering to the youth invasion in the game and technology. They then talk about the schedule and the good and bad of the condensed season. Part Two of the podcast will air later this week.

Episode 133: The California Golf Club

Former California Golf Club President Allan Jamieson and revered Golf Historian David Normoyle join the podcast to discuss the California Golf Club and their ambitious renovation effort in 2006. The podcast starts with an interview with Allan Jamieson discussing the politics of the club and dynamics of the club before and after the renovation. Following Allan's interview, David Normoyle joins to discuss the intricacies of the California Golf Club's history and all the aspects that went into the renovation with Kyle Phillips.

Episode 132: Introducing the National Links Trust

Michael McCartin and Will Smith join Andy to discuss their new non-profit The National Links Trust. They discuss the importance of municipal golf and the organizations vision and goals. To sign up for the National Links Trust's newsletter, visit their website here: https://www.nationallinkstrust.com/

Episode 131: 2019 Masters Recap with Shane Bacon

Fox Sports’ Shane Bacon joins Andy as they recap the 2019 Masters Tournament. They talk Tiger, his legacy, his style of play, Francesco, and others who had a chance this week. The two also discuss what lies ahead for the rest of 2019 and who has the best chances in majors moving forward.

Epiosde 130: Geoff Ogilvy – Final 9 at Augusta National

Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast to talk about Augusta National. Geoff breaks down each hole and what makes it an unbelievable closing stretch.

Episode 129: Geoff Ogilvy – The Front 9 at Augusta National

Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast for another Masters episode. Andy and Geoff dive deep into playing Augusta National detailing the subtle design aspects that make the course a masterpiece. In this episode they discuss the front nine at Augusta National, the psychology of playing the course as a competitor and much more.

Episode 128: Geoff Ogilvy – Playing in the Masters

Geoff Ogilvy joins The Fried Egg podcast to discuss all things Masters. Geoff and And talk about what it’s like to be a rookie at Augusta, the feeling of being in contention on Sunday, how he learned to prepare for the event, and much more. They also discuss the agronomy at Augusta National and how the course sets up unlike any other on tour.

Episode 127: 2019 Masters Preview with Sean Martin

PGA Tour Senior Editor Sean Martin joins the podcast to preview the Masters. Andy and Sean discuss the biggest surprises from the 2019 season thus far and dive into the nitty gritty on the 2019 Masters. Learn why Sean is just lukewarm on Tiger's chances and the pair retell Monty's reaction to the 1997 Saturday pairing with Woods.

Episode 126: Aiken Golf Club

Andy is joined by Aiken Golf Club owner Jim McNair and golf course architect Blake Conant. Andy talks with Jim about how he and his family came to be owners of Aiken Golf Club and its rich, eventful history. Jim goes into detail about the renovation that he led in 1996 despite having no experience in architecture or construction and a small staff of 3. Following Jim, Andy calls Blake Conant to talk more about the golf course and what stuck most with Blake.

Episode 125: Eric Lippert – Head Professional at Pebble Beach

Andy recaps his visit to Pebble Beach Golf Links for the Summit and is joined by Pebble Beach's Head Pro, Eric Lippert. They discuss Eric's path to Pebble, his playing career, this year's U.S. Open and advice for a first timer to the resort.

Episode 124: Loss aversion in professional golf

University of Denver Professor Andrew Urbaczewski and Ryan Elmore join the podcast to discuss their paper on Loss Aversion in Professional Golf. Andrew and Ryan took a look at the effect that the change in par on the 2nd hole at Pebble Beach and 9th hole at Oakmont had on scoring in the U.S. Open. Read their paper here and listen to the podcast to learn about how changing the way you view par could change your scores for the better.

Episode 123: Ran Morissettt

Golf Club Atlas Founder Ran Morrissett joins the podcast. Ran and Andy discuss dogs on golf courses, the founding of Golf Club Atlas, critiquing golf courses, Ran's 147 Custodians and much more.

Yolk with Doak: Episode 14: Confidential Guide Volume 5 and visiting courses

In the latest edition of the Yolk with Doak, Andy and Tom Doak discuss his latest book, The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses: Volume 5. Tom discusses traveling through India and the unique golf courses and cultures. Tom also talks about a future book project centered around the topic of routing.

Episode 122: Geoff Ogilvy – The Players, Majors and The Vic Open

In part two of our most recent podcast with Geoff Ogilvy we discuss the PGA Tour's developing classes of events. Geoff talks about what he likes about invitationals and bigger events as a player. Andy and Geoff also talk about the PLAYERS and its attempt to become a major. The conversation wraps up talking about Geoff's most recent tournament playing the Vic Open a congruent event with the European Tour and LPGA Tour.

Episode 121: Geoff Ogilvy – Riviera, Slow Play & Adapting to modern equipment

Former U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast to discuss the latest happenings in golf. Andy and Geoff discuss the transition to the modern equipment including the low-spin and modern ball. They then talk about the weekend at Riviera, Geoff lends insight into what makes Riviera a course where veterans thrive and the two discuss potential solutions for slow play. Part two of the podcast will be released later this week.

Episode 120: Luke Donald

PGA Tour star Luke Donald joins the podcast to talk about his career. Luke and Andy discuss how he got to world #1, his favorite courses on Tour, how he practices, his top moments and much more.

Episode 119: LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan

LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan joins the podcast. Mike talks about his aggressive approach to improving the LPGA Tour and what has succeeded and fallen short. He also discusses a few future ideas and what he's looking forward to in 2019. Listen to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify.

Episode 118: Ian Fillmore – Economist and co-author of Technological Change and Obsolete Skills: Evidence from Men’s Professional Tennis

What effect does technology have on golf? Maybe the question lies not in golf but elsewhere... Economist Ian Fillmore joins us to discuss how the change from wooden racquets to composite racquets in tennis parallels the game of golf. Ian is an associate professor at Washington University of St. Louis and earned his PHD from the University of Chicago. You can read he and Jonathan Hall's paper Technological Change and Obsolete Skills: Evidence from Men’s Professional Tennis (link) and follow his website (link).

Episode 117: Curtis James

Old Elm Club's Director of Agronomy Curtis James joins the podcast. Andy and Curtis discuss his background, how agronomy and turf work together, how a municipal course could improve on a shoestring budget and the transformation of the Old Elm Club.

Episode 116: Geoff Ogilvy – Scotland,and challenging vs hard golf

Geoff Ogilvy and Andy talk about Geoff’s recent trip to Scotland and the allure of links golf. Geoff talks about the compelling aspects of women’s professional golf and how their game showcase architecture. Then the two discuss the idea of challenging versus hard golf.

Episode 115: Geoff Ogilvy – Hawaii Swing, New Rules and challenging pros

In the first episode of our new series with former U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy, Andy and Geoff discuss Waialae and Kapalua and their unique challenges. They also dive into what they like and don't like about the new rules in golf as well as testing the world's best players.

The Yolk with Doak – Episode 13: Memorial Park and the PGA Tour

Tom Doak joins Andy to discuss his new project redesigning Houston’s Memorial Park Golf Course. The popular municipal design is planning on hosting the 2020 Houston Open. Doak talks about his plans for the site, working with Brooks Koepka and some of his thoughts on testing Tour pros.

Episode 114: Roberto Castro Part II

PGA Tour player Roberto Castro joins The Fried Egg podcast for part 2. He and Andy talk how he builds his schedule, golf design trends, pace of play on the PGA Tour and much more.

Episode 113: Roberto Castro Part I

PGA Tour player Roberto Castro joins the podcast. In part one, Andy and Roberto talk about the role of golf course architecture in golf, Roberto's time on the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour and how distance has changed the game. Roberto also discusses the difference in major championship setups to the regular week setup and how winning is underrated.

Episode 112: Michael McCartin & East Potomac Park GC

Andy is joined by golf course architect Michael McCartin to talk about municipal golf, specifically Washington DC's East Potomac Golf Course. The conversation starts with Michael's background and how he got into golf course architecture working for Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design. The two then get into a discussion about Michael's graduate school thesis (read here) on Washington DC's East Potomac Park Golf Course. Upon opening, the reversible Walter Travis design became one of the nation's most popular and greatest municipal golf facilities. Today, it's a shell of its original self but has an opportunity (thanks to an upcoming change in management) that will allow for capital improvements.

Episode 111: Patrick Boyd Part II

Patrick Boyd is the founder of National Custom Works and Boyd Blade and Ferrule. Patrick is one of the few people in golf making hand-crafted irons and also sports a wealth of golf course architecture. In part two we discuss fun golf courses, the fair police and take a trip down memory lane talking golf equipment of the yesteryear. If you missed part one, check it out and learn about Patrick's background and how he got into the equipment industry.

Episode 110: Patrick Boyd Part I

Andy is joined by Patrick Boyd founder of National Custom Irons and golf course architecture nut. They discuss Patrick’s company, custom irons, his role at Sweetens Cove and much more.

The Yolk with Doak – Episode 12: Sand Valley, golf in England and listener Q&A

In the latest edition of the Yolk with Doak, Tom Doak discusses his new project at Sand Valley. The two discuss Tom's desire to do different types of projects, his affinity for golf in England and then answer some listener questions.

Episode 109: Colin Sheehan Part III

Andy and Colin discuss the start of the Outpost Club, developing courses, caddying and much more. If you missed Part I or Part II of our podcast with Colin check them out.

Episode 108: Colin Sheehan Part II

In part two of a three part podcast, Colin and Andy discuss Colin's career as a writer, golf architecture, golf in the UK and much more.

Episode 107: Colin Sheehan Part I

The Fried Egg podcast is back with Yale Golf Coach Colin Sheehan. In part one, Andy and Colin discuss a wide range of topics from collegiate golf to golf course architecture. Part two will air on Monday, November 5th.

Episode 106: Cobbs Creek Golf Course

Joe Bausch and Mike Cirba join the podcast to discuss their work on the Cobbs Creek restoration project. Joe and Mike have been working tirelessly to get the Hugh Wilson municipal design restored over the past 11 years. We discuss the course's history, what spurred the restoration effort and the future of Cobbs. For more information on Cobbs check out following links Friends of Cobb's Creek Golf Club Atlas Thread Bausch Photo Collection Bausch History Collection

Episode 105: Shane Bacon

Fox play-by-play commentator and host of the Clubhouse podcast Shane Bacon joins the podcast. We talk about how Shane got into the golf business, the USGA calendar, the upcoming Ryder Cup and much more.

Episode 104: 2018 PGA Championship Recap

SB Nation's Brendan Porath and ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg join the podcast to recap a wild 2018 PGA. We discuss, Brooks Koepka, Tiger's run, Adam Scott's close call, the golf course and much more.

Episoode 103: 2018 PGA Championship Preview

SB Nation's Brendan Porath and ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg join the podcast to preview the 2018 PGA Championship. We discuss last week's Bridgestone, who has the most to gain from a win at Bellerive and even have a drop in weather report from Gary Player.

Episode 102: Changing golf with Kevin Van Valkenburg

ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg joins Andy Johnson to discuss the changes each one of them would make to golf if they had the chance. They also discuss the recent happenings on Tour and look ahead to the PGA Championship.

Episode 101: 2018 Open Championship Recap

Brendan Porath and Sean Martin are back to recap the thrilling 2018 Open Championship. We talk Molinari's win, Tiger's surge, Rory, Spieth Xander and look ahead to the PGA.

Episode 100: Open Championship Preview

Brendan Porath and Sean Martin are back to preview this week's Open Championship! Sean gives us his on the ground report while Brendan breaks down the keys to staying awake for the whole Open.

Episode 99: Chicago Golf Club

Chicago Golf Club Historian John Moran and Superintendent Scott Bordner join the podcast to discuss their historic course and the 2018 U.S. Senior Women's Open.

Episode 98: Andrew Green Part II

The second part of our podcast with golf course architect Andrew Green is live. In part two we discuss Andrew’s restoration projects which include Inverness, Oak Hill and Scioto among others.

Episode 97: Andrew Green – Part I

Golf course architect Andrew Green joins the pod for the first of a two part podcast. In part I Andrew discusses how he got into golf, how he approaches his business, his recent trip to Scotland and much more.

Episode 96: Casey Krahenbuhl

Casey Krahenbuhl joins the podcast to talk golf course architecture. We discuss the whether today's architects would design better courses than the golden age architects, Casey's recent work for David McLay Kidd at Mammoth Dunes and much more.

Episode 95: U.S. Open Recap with Brendan Porath and Sean Martin

Brendan Porath and Sean Martin join the podcast to discuss the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. We discuss Brooks Koepka's win, the course setup, Phil and much more.

Episode 94: U.S. Open Preview Podcast with Brendan Porath and Sean Martin

The PGA Tour's Sean Martin and SB Nation's Brendan Porath joined the podcast to preview the 2018 U.S. Open. We discuss Shinnecock Hills, players we like, dream U.S. Open rotas and much more.

Episode 93: U.S. Open Picks with Paulie

Our resident picks expert Paulie drops by the podcast to talk U.S. Open. We talk one and done, draftkings, longshots and strategy for this week's U.S. Open

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 11: Michigan Golf

Tom Doak and Don Placek join the podcast to discuss their favorite golf courses in the state of Michigan.

Episode 92: Eamon Lynch

While attending Mammoth Dunes’ opening day, Golfweek contributor Eamon Lynch joined the podcast to discuss the Sand Valley resort, golf in the UK vs US, the PGA Tour schedule to date and the upcoming U.S. Open.

Episode 91: Geoff Shackelford

Golf analyst and noted golf course architecture expert Geoff Shackelford joins the podcast to discuss the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest, the upcoming PGA Tour schedule and the future schedule.

Episode 90: Gil Hanse Part II

In part two of the Gil Hanse podcast, Andy and Gil discuss some of Gil’s latest projects, how he’d split ten rounds of golf across America and much more.

Episode 89: Gil Hanse Part I

Golf course architect Gil Hanse joins the podcast for a two-part podcast. In part one he discusses his career to date, golden age architecture, the Olympic Course in Rio and much more.

Episode 88: 2018 Players Preview

The PGA Tour's Sean Martin and SB Nation's Brendan Porath join the podcast to preview the 2018 PLAYERS Championship. We talk about players who have surprised and disappointed, the course and our picks for this week's tournament.

Episode 87: Bill Coore and Jim Craig at Sand Valley

Live from Sand Valley’s opening day festivities Andy Johnson is joined by Bill Coore and Jim Craig of the renowned Coore & Crenshaw design firm. They talked about their brand new par-3 course The Sandbox, their 18-hole Sand Valley design, working for the Keisers and more.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 10: The Loop

In this episode, Andy Johnson and Tom Doak are joined by Renaissance Golf Design Associate Don Placek to discuss the Loop, the revolutionary reversible golf course in Michigan.

Episode 86: Geoff Ogilvy – Part II

In this episode, Geoff talks about how he got into golf course architecture, strategy, PGA Tour setups, his thoughts on TPC courses, and much more. If you missed part I be sure to check it out!

Episode 85: Geoff Ogilvy Part I

2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy joins the podcast. Geoff and Andy talk about his career on the PGA Tour, whether winning is overrated, why the Masters is the greatest event in golf and much more.

Episode 84: Tyler Rae

Golf course architect Tyler Rae joins the podcast to talk about his career. We begin our conversation with a lengthy discussion on the brilliance of Donald Ross, his most under the radar designs, his best designs and talents. The conversation then moved to Tyler’s career and experiences working for Keith Foster, Coore & Crenshaw and Ron Prichard.

Episode 83: Andy Staples

Golf course architect Andy Staples joins the podcast to discuss his career. We dive into his affinity and passion for Community golf, his restoration of Meadowbrook C.C. and what he learned about Willie Park, courses that have inspired him, restoration and renovation and much more.

2018 Masters Recap with Brendan Porath

Brendan Porath joins the podcast to discuss the 2018 Masters. We talk Patrick Reed, Rickie, Spieth, Rory and much more.

2018 Masters: Sunday Preview

Will Knights joined the podcast to breakdown Saturday's action and look ahead to Sunday's final round.

2018 Masters Preview

I am joined by the PGA Tour's Sean Martin, SB Nation's Brendan Porath and the Creative Director for Summit Golf Brands Billy Draddy. We talk about what we love about the Masters, our favorite storylines going into the week, Phil's practice round outfit, Masters scripting and who we like to win the 2018 Masters.

2018 Masters: Paulie’s Picks

Paulie joins the podcast to discuss strategies and players for DraftKings, office pools and one and done leagues.

Augusta Archives: Stewart Hagestad

2017 Masters low amateur winner Stewart Hagestad joins the podcast. We discuss his run in the 2017 Masters, how he prepared for the week, his favorite holes at Augusta National and much more.

Augusta Archives: Craig Stadler

1982 Masters Champion Craig Stadler joins the podcast to talk about Augusta and the Masters. A few of the topics we discuss include the Champions dinner, Craig's win, what about Augusta fit his game, the future of the Masters and much more.

Augusta Archives: Steve Scott

Welcome to the Augusta Archives, conversations with present and former Masters competitors. In this episode 1997 participant Steve Scott joins the podcast to talk about his experience in the Masters, the golf course and his favorite memories from his week at Augusta.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 9: Routing Part II

Welcome back for part two of our discussion with Tom Doak and Don Placek about routing, one of the most difficult and important aspects of golf course design.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 8: Routing Part I

Tom and I are joined by Renaissance Golf Associate Don Placek. Besides aiding in the every aspect of projects, Don is also responsible for Renaissance's artwork. Don, Tom and I jump into the endless discussion that is routing. Enjoy.

Episode 82: Superintendent Roundtable

A few of the brightest young stars in the superintendent industry join the podcast. Shoreacres' Brian Palmer, Glen View Club's Brian Moore, Bob O' Link's Scott Pavalko and fellow golf nerd Jason Way joined for the first ever live podcast at Oak Park C.C.. We discussed their careers, working with architects, restoring Golden Age courses and much more.

Episode 81: Zac Blair

PGA Tour player Zac Blair joins the podcast to talk about Northern California golf, Jack Nicklaus stories, PGA Tour setups and best golf cities.

Episode 80: Recapping Tiger at the Valspar

SB Nation’s Brendan Porath and the PGA Tour’s Sean Martin join the podcast to talk about Tiger’s performance, what we expect going forward, Sam Burns, Augusta and much more.

Episode 79: Arron Oberholser

Arron Oberholser joins the podcast to catch up about the start of the PGA Tour season. We kick off the conversation discussing a few San Francisco golf courses and the notion of score to par vs. shot values for professional golf. We then dive into Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, the WGC schedule and much more.

Episode 78: Ed Loar

Web.com Tour professional Ed Loar joins the podcast to talk about his career. Ed is one of the older guys on the Web.com Tour and has played golf on almost every Tour in the world. We discuss the ups and downs of golf, his recent stretch of great play on the Web.com Tour and how professional golf has changed over the years.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 7: Renaissance Golf, George Thomas and Bel-Air CC Part III

The third and final part of the latest episode of the Yolk with Doak is live. In this episode we continue to discuss George Thomas, Bel-Air CC and golf course architecture as a whole with Tom Doak and his associates.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 6 – Renaissance Golf, George Thomas and Bel-Air CC Part II

In part II of the Renaissance Golf, George Thomas and Bel-Air CC episode, Tom and his associates Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Blake Conant and Kye Goalby discuss the career of George Thomas and his Bel-Air design.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 5 – Renaissance Golf, George Thomas and Bel-Air C.C.

In the latest edition of the Yolk with Doak, Andy Johnson talks with Tom Doak and Renaissance associates Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Kye Goalby and Blake Conant. In part one of the three part podcast they cover how Renaissance Golf and golf course construction works before diving into George Thomas and Bel-Air C.C. in part two.

Episode 77: Sean Tully

Zac Blair and I are joined by golf course superintendent and historian Sean Tully. We discuss Northern California golf, Alister MacKenzie, technology, Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, robot mowers and much more.

Episode 76: Michael Weaver

Kyle Nathan and Andy Johnson are joined by Web.com Tour Player Michael Weaver. We discuss how Michael got into golf, the Latin American Tour, his run at the 2012 U.S. Amateur, playing in the Masters and much more.

Episode 75: 2018 Waste Management Open

Paulie and Kyle Nathan join to breakdown who to pick for one and done leagues and DraftKings at TPC Scottsdale.

Episode 74: Brandel Chamblee

Kyle Nathan and Andy Johnson are joined by Golf Channel Analyst, former PGA Tour player and author Brandel Chamblee. We discuss Jon Rahm's ascension, the modern golf swing, technology, Tiger Woods and much more.

Episode 73: 2018 Farmers Insurance Preview

Kyle Nathan and Paulie join the podcast to discuss last week's CareerBuilder and Abu Dhabi events. We then discuss Tiger's return and the rest of the field at Torrey Pines for this year's Farmers Insurance

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 4 – Streamsong

In this episode, we discuss the building of the Florida golf mecca, Streamsong. The building of Tom's Blue course and Coore & Crenshaw's Red course was one of the most unique and collaborative in the history of golf.

Episode 72: Mike Cocking

Australian Golf Course Architect Mike Cocking joins the podcast to discuss his career. Mike works with Michael Clayton, Geoff Ogilvy and Ashley Mead (OCCM), we discussed how he got into design, some of their recent projects, the history of Australian architecture and the ideal itinerary for an Australian golf trip.

Episode 71: 2018 CareerBuilder Preview

Paulie and Kyle Nathan join the podcast to recap the Sony Open and preview the CareerBuilder. Paulie lends his expertise navigating the field and picking out some players for one and done and DraftKings. We also dive into some listener questions and overrated/underrateds.

Episode 70: Richie Ramsay

European Tour winner and former U.S. Amateur champion Richie Ramsay joins the podcast. We discuss Richie's career, turning pro before a Walker Cup, Anthony Kim and his favorite courses in the British Isles.

Episode 69: 2018 Sony Open Preview and Picks

Our resident fantasy expert Paulie joins the podcast to talk about the Tournament of Champions, who to pick for one and done and Draftkings at the Sony and some predictions for 2018.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 3 – Waialae C.C., The Sony Open and Seth Raynor

In the latest episode of The Yolk with Doak, we discuss Tom's consulting work at Seth Raynor designed Waialae Country Club, host course of the Sony Open. We talk about the changes to Waialae over the years, what he learns from PGA Tour players, Seth Raynor and much more.

Episode 68: Jim Urbina Part II

In part two of the Jim Urbina podcast we discuss Jim's background, C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor's use of templates, the importance of superintendents and the building of Old Macdonald.

Episode 67: Jim Urbina Part I

Golf course architect Jim Urbina joined the podcast for a two part episode. We discuss restoration, easy things courses can do to improve, Perry Maxwell, Alister MacKenzie, his California courses and much more.

Episode 66: Jon Cavalier & Zac Blair – 2017 Golf Season Rehash

Jon Cavalier and Zac Blair join the podcast to discuss the 2017 golf year. We breakdown the ten best "new to us" courses that we saw, a few courses that surprised us, architecture, our plans for 2018 and much more. We discussed Jon's calendar in the podcast, to purchase the calendar check out these instructions - https://twitter.com/LinksGems/status/940726753152131075 If you enjoy the podcast please rate and review us in your podcast player of choice.

Episode 2: The Yolk with Doak: Golf Course Architecture 101 Part II

In part two of Golf Course Architecture 101, Tom Doak discusses what makes a great green complex, front to back sloping greens, best golf course architecture books for beginners and dive into some overrated/underrateds.

Episode 65: Mark Broadie

Mark Broadie joins Kyle Nathan and Andy Johnson to talk about golf statistics. We discuss how he came up with the strokes gained statistics, how they work, the world rankings, who he expects to breakout in 2017 and much more.

The Yolk with Doak: Episode 1 – Golf Course Architecture 101 Part I

Tom Doak and Andy Johnson discuss Golf Course Architecture 101. In the first of a two part episode, Tom elaborates on what golf course architecture is, the different schools of design, routing and much more.

Episode 64: Hero Debrief with Adam Sarson and Brendan Porath

Brendan Porath and Adam Sarson joined the podcast to talk about Tiger’s return at the Hero and what to expect in 2018. We also touch on our favorite moments of 2017, make predictions for 2018 and talk about Tiger’s Monster sponsorship.

Episode 63: Paul Goydos

PGA Tour Champions star and 2-time PGA Tour winner Paul Goydos joins the podcast to talk about his career, Tiger Woods, bifurication and much more!

Episode 62: Mailbag Podcast

Kyle Nathan joins the podcast to answer your questions. The conversation hits extensively on the ball and today's professional game, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose's career, the Hall of Fame and architects, and a slew of overrated/underrateds.

Episode 61: Keith Foster

Golf course architect Keith Foster joins the podcast to talk about his career. Our discussion includes trees, the restoration process, his solo work, Colt and Alison and A.W. Tillinghast.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy it, please rate and review the podcast!

Episode 60: Bill Coore Part II

In part II, Bill discusses the concept of par, Trinity Forest and challenging the world's best and answers some listener questions. If you missed part I listen to it here. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy it, please rate and review the podcast!

Episode 59: Bill Coore Part I

Legendary golf course architect Bill Coore joins the podcast to talk about his career in golf. In part I, we discuss the architects and courses who have had the most influence on his career and go into detail in some of his most famous projects. Listen to part 2 of the podcast here. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy it, please rate and review the podcast!

Episode 58: Kyle Franz Part II

In part II of the Kyle Franz podcast we talk about golf in the British Isles, the ground game and professional golf, desert golf and overrated/underrated. If you haven't checked out Part I, listen here. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 57: Kyle Franz Part I

Golf course architect Kyle Franz joins the podcast to discuss his career and golf course architecture. In part I, Kyle talks about his background, working with some of today's great architects and Donald Ross and other great golden age architects.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 56: A Design Discussion with Jay Blasi & Brett Hochstein

Architects Jay Blasi and Brett Hochstein join the pod to discuss the dark ages of golf course architecture and what the future holds for those courses.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 55: Curtis Tyrrell

I am joined by Medinah Country Club's Director of Grounds Curtis Tyrrell. We talk about how he got into the industry, his experience renovating courses with Rees Jones and Tom Doak, stories from hosting a Ryder Cup and much more.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 54: The Buck Club

I am joined by Zac Blair and DJ Piehowski to talk golf course architecture and The Buck Club.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 53: Post Presidents Cup Mailbag

Kyle Nathan (@drawsnfades) joins the podcast to answer your questions about the Presidents Cup, the new PGA Tour season, mid am regulations and much more.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 52: Kyle Hegland

Sand Hills Superintendent and golf course architecture nut Kyle Hegland and I sat down to talk in the Sand Hills library over the weekend. We talk about the drastic temperatures and unique challenges of maintaining Sand Hills, the genius of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, golf course architecture and much more. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 51: PGA Tour Season Review & Presidents Cup Preview

SB Nation's Brendan Porath and the PGA Tour's Sean Martin join the podcast to talk about the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season, the young stars of the PGA Tour, the Presidents Cup and much more. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 50: FedEx Cup Mailbag

Kyle Nathan (@drawsnfades) joins the podcast to talk FedEx Cup and answer mailbag questions. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. If you enjoy please rate and review the podcast it helps us out greatly!

Episode 49: Patrick Newcomb

Mackenzie Tour and Latin American Tour star Patrick Newcomb joins the podcast to talk about his strong 2017 season. We talk about bucket hats, his start at this week's Portugal Masters, playing around the world and much more.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.

Episode 48: Mailbag III

Kyle Nathan @drawsnfades joins the podcast to answer listener questions. We talk about Augusta National's new Chairman Fred Ridley, the FedEx Cup, the U.S. Am, the Walker Cup selections and much more. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.

Episode 47: Jay Blasi

I am joined with golf course architect Jay Blasi. Jay and I discuss the future of golf course design, technology, Sharp Park, the reaction to Chambers Bay and much more.Listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.

Episode 46: Mike DeVries

I am joined by golf course architect Mike DeVries. We talk about his background and how he got into architect, the philosophy of routing, golden age architects and much more.Listen on iTunes or Stitcher and if you enjoy please leave a review!

Episode 45: 3 Man Weave with DJ Piehowski & Tron Carter

DJ Piehowski and Tron Carter join the pod to talk about the battle for the final top 125 spots We talk about relegation, the idea of a Death Panel and to answer listener questions.Listen on iTunes or Stitcher and if you enjoy please leave a review! Join our newsletter Never miss a beat in the golf world through our Monday, Wednesday & Friday email newsletter. The easiest way to stay in tune with golf. Email Address Sign Up Our subscribers make more birdies. Thank you!

Episode 44: Post PGA Championship Mailbag Podcast

Kyle Nathan @drawsnfades joins the podcast to answer mailbag questions and recap the PGA Championship. We discuss Justin Thomas, Louis Oosthuizen, some golf course architecture and Mid-Am Golf. If you want to ask a question for the next mailbag do so here and as always if you enjoy the podcast please rate and review us in iTunes and Stitcher.

Episode 43: Mailbag Pod

Kyle Nathan @drawsnfades joins the pod to answer the latest mailbag questions. We talk PGA Championship coverage, future PGA sites, a potential PGA Tour stock market and much more. Listen and subscribe on:iTunes or Stitcher

Episode 42: Talking PGA, U.S. Am & Walker Cup with Sean Martin

The PGA Tour's Sean Martin comes on the podcast to discuss the U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup and PGA Championship. The conversation floats between the subjects and also touches on technology, the business side of amateur golf and much more. Sean mentioned a piece he wrote on Brian Harman at the end of the podcast, here's the link to it.

Episode 41: PGA Championship Picks with Paulie

Our resident picks guru @friedeggpaulie joined the podcast to breakdown who he likes at this week's PGA Championship. We talk about the changes made to Quail Hollow and who it should help at 2017's final major championship.

Episode 40: Brian Silva

Golf course architect Brian Silva joins the podcast to talk about his career. The conversation meanders from how he got his start in the industry, the essence of strategy and template holes.

Episode 39: 2017 Open Championship Recap

DJ Piehowski and Tron Carter joined the pod to recap what we saw at Birkdale. We talked extensively about Kuchar's tough loss and what Spieth's trajectory is.

Episode 38: 2017 Open Championship Preview

Skratch's DJ Piehowski and No Laying Up's Tron Carter join the podcast to preview this year's Open. We dive into Royal Birkdale, Bryson's big win at the Deere, Rory's struggles and our picks to win. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review it in the iTunes store. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Episode 37: Dr. Greg Cartin

Sports psychologist Dr. Greg Cartin joins the podcast to speak about how to think while on the golf course. Dr. Greg works with a handful of PGA and Web.com Tour players to get them to maximize their results on the course. Listen on iTunes Listen on Stitcher

Episode 36: Geoff Shackelford

Golf writer and golf course architecture expert Geoff Shackelford joins the podcast. We discuss a variety of topics including golf course architecture, technology and professional golf.Also listen on iTunes and Stitcher. (If you enjoy please leave us a review).iTunes linkStitcher

Episode 35: Scott Fawcett

Scott Fawcett joins the podcast to talk about how he works with Tour professionals and elite amateur players to manage their games better. Scott's DECADE system is being used by 25 Tour players and many of the top college programs. We talk about what the DECADE system is, how he came up with it and how he puts it in practice with his students and himself.

Episode 34: U.S. Open Recap

DJ Piehowski and Brendan Porath join the pod to rehash the 2017 U.S. Open. We discuss Brooks Koepka's win and his future major championship prospects, JT and Rickie, who impressed and Erin Hills.

Episode 33: U.S. Open Preview

I am joined by DJ Piehowski and Brendan Porath to discuss this week's U.S. Open at Erin Hills. We dive deep into the hoopla which is the U.S. Open, Erin Hills, the superstars, young guys trying to get a major and the older players who are trying to add to their legacies.

Episode 32: David Esler

I am joined by golf course architect David Esler to talk about his career, his playing days at Ohio State and what has come of the Scarlet Course, some of his projects including his new Oregon coastline course Pacific Gales and much more.

Episode 31: Lance Ringler

I am joined by Golfweek's Lance Ringler to recap what's happened so far at the NCAA Men's Championship and look ahead to the final three days. Lance talks about how he got into college golf, some of his favorite players and we discuss what has surprised us and impressed us from this year's championship. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Episode 30: Wyndham Clark

College's top ranked player, Oregon's Wyndham Clark joins the podcast to talk golf before this weekend's NCAA Championship. We talk about how he got into golf, what it's like to play at Oregon and his plans after graduation.

Episode 29: Zac Blair, Tron Carter and DJ Piehowski

Zac Blair joins the three man weave to discuss his Players, the 9 he made on 17, Johnny Miller and much more.

Episode 28: Steve Wenzloff

The PGA Tour's VP Of Design Services Steve Wenzloff joins the podcast to discuss the changes made at TPC Sawgrass and how they approach renovations and builds to PGA Tour venues.

Episode 27: PLAYERS Preview

The pod is onsite as I am joined by No Laying Up's Tron Carter and Skratch's DJ Piehowski to discuss the PLAYERS and the mystery of Ken Duke's snub.

Episode 26: Jeff Mingay

Golf course architect Jeff Mingay joins the podcast to talk about his career, TPC Sawgrass and Augusta National, overlooked great architect AV Macan, music and much more. Also available on iTunes and Stitcher.Follow @jeff_mingay Love golf? Sign up for our newsletter, written for the true fan and the easiest way to stay in the know on all things architecture, PGA Tour and other big news. Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 25: Jake Nichols

Jake Nichols joins the podcast to talk about analytics and stats on the PGA Tour. Topics covered include who he expects to breakout, how he and the 15th club work with clients, how amateurs can use stats better and much more.Follow @jalnichols Also available on iTunes and Stitcher. Love golf? Sign up for our newsletter which will make you feel like you are inside the ropes, even if you are far from them. Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 24: NOLA Preview with Tron Carter & DJ Pie

No Laying Up's Tron Carter and Skratch's DJ Piehowski join the podcast to talk about the Heritage, Valero and to preview the PGA Tour's team event the Zurich Classic. Also listen on iTunes and Stitcher.

Episode 23: Riley Johns

I am joined by Riley Johns, a up and coming golf course architect who recently finished his first solo project with Keith Rhebb at Winter Park. Before Winter Park, Riley worked for great architects such as Tom Doak, Coore & Crenshaw and Rod Whitman.

Episode 22: Masters Recap with Tron Carter, Adam Sarson & DJ Piehowski

To breakdown Sergio's major triumph I am joined by Sergio's biggest fan Adam Sarson as well as No Laying Up's Tron Carter and Skratch's DJ Piehowski. Golf news right to your inbox Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with the golf world through our quick and easy newsletter. Email Address Sign Up Our subscribers make more birdies Thank you!

Episode 21: Masters Sunday Preview with Tron Carter & Young Neil

I am joined by No Laying Up's Tron Carter and Young Neil to talk about Saturday's action and preview what to expect from Sunday's.

Episode 20: Tron Carter & DJ Piehowski

No Laying Up's Tron Carter @troncarter and the PGA Tour's DJ Piehowski @djpie join the podcast to discuss the first two rounds of the Masters and what to expect this weekend.

Episode 19: Arron Oberholser

Arron Oberholser joins the podcast to talk golf. We talk about how equipment has changed the game, the upcoming Masters, golf courses and architecture, Tiger Woods chances of playing at Augusta and the Grayson Murray situation.

Episode 18: Nick Hardy & Dylan Meyer

I am joined by two of Illinois golf stars Nick Hardy and Dylan Meyer. I talk to each of them for a half hour about their golf careers, life in college and Illinois' golf teams. Follow Nick and Dylan on Twitter.Follow @NickHardy8Follow @DJ_DFunk Love golf but short on time? Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the know on all things PGA Tour and college golf! Sign me up! New Form Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 17: Tom Doak – Part II

Part two of the Tom Doak podcast focuses on Tom's life as a golf course critic and we debut our new regular segment of overrated/underrated. If you missed it here is part 1 of our conversation.Listen on iTunes Stay up to date with the latest from the golf world and get fresh golf course architecture content delivered right to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. Sign me up! Enter your email below! Email Address Sign Up Our subscribers make more birdies. Thank you!

Episode 16: Tom Doak

I host the illustrious architect Tom Doak. Because of Tom's generosity with his time, we split the podcast into two parts.Part I focuses on Tom's background, projects and architectural philosophies and in Part II which will be published on Friday, March 17th, we focus on his life as a golf critic and golf courses to see around the globe. Listen to Part IITom recently joined Instagram and is a great follow, his profile is here @doakgolf. And be sure to check out his books if you enjoy golf course architecture and golf courses here. Listen on iTunes Love golf course architecture and golf courses? Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a post or a podcast. Sign me up! New Form Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 15: Sean Martin

I am joined by the PGA TOUR's Sean Martin. Sean is a longtime scribe for the golf industry and we chat in detail about the PGA TOUR, the future of golf, names of the past and splice in some golf course architecture talk. Follow @PGATOURSMartinA link to Sean's Bryan Brothers piece he mentioned on the Podcast.

Episode 14: Josh Gregory

Two-time National Champion coach at Augusta State and now PGA Tour coach Josh Gregory joins to talk golf, specifically his approach to coaching and his students John Peterson, Kelly Kraft, Patrick Reed and Henrik Norlander. Love golf? Stay up to date on all the latest with our newsletter, sent every Monday, Wednesday and Friday it keeps you up to date with everything happening in just a couple of minutes. Sign me up! New Form Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 13: Zac Blair & Jon Cavalier

National Golf Links of America Photo Credit: Jon Cavalier @linksgems I am joined by Zac Blair and Jon Cavalier to talk golf courses and architecture. Topics range from Cypress Point and the Monterey Peninsula to architects to template holes and much more. Love golf courses and architecture? Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a post! Sign me up! New Form Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 12: Tee-K Kelly

I talk golf with former Ohio State star golfer Tee-K Kelly. Tee-K recently turned professional after a standout amateur and college career, earning full-status on the PGA Tour Latin American Tour for 2017. We talk about how he got into the game, his amateur career, favorite courses and what he is working on to take his game to the next level. Follow Tee-K on TwitterFollow @teekkelly Love golf? Sign up for our Monday, Wednesday & Friday newsletter. It's a quick and easy way to stay up to date with everything going on in the golf world. Sign me up! New Form Name * Name First Name Last Name Email Address * Thank you!

Episode 11: Michael Clayton

I chat with Australian golf legend Michael Clayton. We discuss Michael's long career on the European Tour and what it was like to play with Seve Ballesteros, along how technology has been a detriment to the game, and OCCM's latest projects. Never miss a beat Sign up for our Monday, Wednesday and Friday newsletter and feel like a golf insider in just minutes. Email Address Sign Up We treat your inbox with tender loving care. Thank you!

Episode 10: David McLay Kidd

Our latest guest is one of today's finest architects, David McLay Kidd. David has designed the likes of Bandon Dunes, Nanea Golf Club and Gamble Sands to name a few and is currently working on projects at Sand Valley and Rolling Hills C.C. Our talk covered a wide variety of topics including how he got into architecture, his experience building Bandon Dunes as an unknown architect in his 20s, his Sand Valley and Rolling Hills projects and some nitty gritty architecture talk. Follow David on Twitter using the button below.

Episode 9: Stewart Hagestad

We talk with the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion Stewart Hagestad. Stewart had a thrilling victory at Stonewall in September over Scott Harvey and with the win earned himself an invitation to Augusta National for the 2017 Masters. We talk with Stewart about the win at Stonewall, his prep for Augusta, his Walker Cup chances and his friendships with some PGA Tour players. Here's the famed Barstool Video that we discussed on the podcast.

Episode 8: Jon Cavalier

We talk golf, photography, golf course architecture and golf courses with the man behind @LinksGems, Jon Cavalier. Get to know Jon better and pick up a few tips on golf course photography and golf courses along the way. Follow Jon on Instagram and Twitter.Follow @LinksGems More golf course and architecture content...

Episode 7: Keith Rhebb

Keith and Riley at Winter Park GC We talk with Keith Rhebb, one of golf's up and coming architects. Keith has worked for over a decade as an Associate for Coore and Crenshaw and recently finished up his first solo project teaming up with Riley Johns and Blake Conant to build Winter Park GC in Orlando Florida. Keith came on podcast and we talked about how he got into golf course architecture, his experience working with Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the Winter Park project and his goals for the future. Follow @KeithRhebb More on Winter Park from the Golf Channel

Episode 6: Zac Blair

We talk PGA Tour and golf course architecture with PGA Tour pro Zac Blair! Topics range from Zac's unique path to the PGA Tour, his upcoming 2017 schedule, his golf course The Buck Club and a lot of golf course architecture talk. If you don't already follow Zac and the Buck Club on Twitter below. Follow @z_blairFollow @TheBuckClub Previous podcasts...

Episode 5: Vince India

We talked with Web.com Tour member Vince India about life as a professional golfer, both on and off the course. From the podcast, here is John Peterson's Christmas decorations. Yeah, I lost my mind again this year. New house, new scheme. #took5days #wortheveryminute A video posted by John Peterson (@jpetepga) on Nov 26, 2016 at 4:43pm PST

Episode 4: Rob Collins

We talk golf course architecture with golf course architect, Rob Collins. Rob is the principal designer of King Collins Design and responsible for the build and design of Sweetens Cove Golf Club. Listen here: Some materials referenced in the podcast: Montane ClubJason Way Geeked on Golf Article

Episode 3: USC Golf Coach Justin Silverstein

We bring back the podcast to talk some college golf with USC's Justin Silverstein! We cover a bevy of topics including USC's program and their fall season, the most impressive college players in the country, how college golf changed in the recent years, and what Justin expects from National Championship site Rich Harvest Farms.

the fried egg podcast: Episode 2 – Jim Herman

We spoke with PGA Tour winner Jim Herman about his career thus far, his win at the Shell Houston Open, how he's preparing for the Open Championship, life on tour and golf course architecture. Hope you enjoy!

SHOTGUN START PODCAST

Tiger returns, more Rahm-LIV rumors, and Golf Advice

It’s Friday! And the first of the month! And Brendan’s internet is absolutely awful. But Andy and he march on through the spotty connection to get to the weekend with some initial reactions on the first round of the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s first 18 holes, Will Zalatoris’s new broomstick, Collin Morikawa learning how to sit down again, and Spieth’s potential “momentum” narrative taking root. Then they get to some more rumors that Jon Rahm may go to LIV, or may have a deal soon. They react to Jay Monahan’s comments at the CNBC summit as well and ponder more on where the Tour may be headed in this dark month of December. The field for the LIV qualifying event is also dissected in great detail with appreciation for many favorites and familiar names. They close it out with a Golf Advice on a boss potentially trading a trip to Pebble Beach for … a “Chicago-area” course.

Tiger returns, more Rahm-LIV rumors, and Golf Advice

Tiger talks, Framework Deal gridlock and blame game, JT’s diet

Andy and Brendan pause the progress in the Year in Review for this “regular” Wednesday episode to celebrate the return of Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s health and 2024 prognosis, which seems promising, and then transition to his less-than-promising update on Framework Agreement and PGA Tour investment negotiations. Why do things seem gridlocked and “murky” to use Tiger’s term? It does not sound like the year-end deadline will be met. Is this a matter of PGA Tour players simply unable to get over their colleagues who took the LIV bag and allow them back? Is LIV even in a better spot right now? This unplanned detour then whips back to an amusing article on JT’s gluten-free diet potentially being the cause of his tumble down the world rankings this year. They also hit on the schedule for the week and Paul McGinley taking Paul Azinger’s chair, at least for the time being.

Tiger talks, Framework Deal gridlock and blame game, JT’s diet

The 2023 Year in Review, Part 3

Andy and Brendan are back from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend a little worse for the wear, but they jump right back into the annual favorite Year in Review series. After a few comments about current events, they dive back into the Swamp Swing starting at Bay Hill, where the details of the designated events structure came out and the mules revolted. This part also covers The Players, with some intriguing comments from Commissioner Jay and others debating the future of the tour structure. Also included is Valspar week, which occurred during the rollout of the USGA’s MLR rollback proposal and all the reaction that followed. They close with the swan song for the WGC Match Play. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

The 2023 Year in Review, Part 3

Rahm LIV rumors and Year in Review, Part 2

Andy and Brendan recorded this prior to the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, planning for primarily a Year in Review episode. But news and rumors intervened, so they discuss Jordan Spieth joining the PGA Tour board in Rory’s seat, rampant “rumors” of Jon Rahm going to LIV, and the schedule release for that LIV tour. Then they get to the 2023 Year in Review, Part 2, with some wildly entertaining nuggets from the dawn of the Designated events, the dawn of the 2023 LIV season in Mexico, and Tiger’s brief 2023 stay on Tour during Riviera.

Rahm LIV rumors and Year in Review, Part 2

The 2023 Year in Review, Part 1

Andy and Brendan are back for one their least favorite but also most enjoyable exercises of the year: it’s the SIXTH annual Year in Review! And they are maybe, kinda out ahead of it this time, although that could all change quickly if their pace of play slows to crawl. This first installment begins as always at the start of the year in Kapalua, where Collin consults with the Chip Monk and new armada of coaches. It runs from that first event through the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and features a handful of delights and amusements you may remember but likely forgot from the always eventful start of the year swing. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

The 2023 Year in Review, Part 1

Azinger ousted, Ludvig arrives, and Tour wants tourneys to pay up more

Brendan begins this Victory Monday with a declaration that the Browns are going to the playoffs while Andy considers a potential visit to the midwest for the Browns-Bears game in December. Then they get to the news from Sunday morning that Paul Azinger is not coming back to NBC and Golf Channel next year. They ponder some replacements, especially if the “has to have won a major” unwritten rule is still in effect. Then they get to the win of Ludvig Aberg and the continued youth movement, aided by PGA Tour U. A disconcerting article on the PGA Tour asking tournaments themselves to kick in more money, likely taking it out of charitable contributions, is also covered with a raised eybrow. Tiger’s return is noted, too, before a rambling finish on Brooksy, the TGL dome, and some other news items.

Azinger ousted, Ludvig arrives, and Tour wants tourneys to pay up more

Hit ‘Em Up Lanto, TGL Arena deflates, and Rory resigns from PGA Tour board

It’s Friday! Andy and Brendan are ready to get to the weekend and a short holiday week with plenty of Year in Review research awaiting. They begin with pictures of the TGL “arena” deflating due to a power loss. Are we officially at the “show, don’t tell” phase of this ambitious endeavor? Or are we way past it? Then they get to LANTO Griffin calling out names, from Rory being “bought” while on the policy board to quick drive-bys of Jay, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas. They also discuss Rory’s reason for resigning his spot on the board late on Tuesday night and the questioning of his motives. They also hit on new LPGA details from its commissioner, the new college golf rankings, and the LIV free agency period before closing with a quick Golf Advice segment.

Hit ‘Em Up Lanto, TGL Arena deflates, and Rory resigns from PGA Tour board

The Netflix Cup runneth over, A pro golf bubble of excess, Blockie makes an ace

It’s whiparound Wednesday, and Andy is confronting the possibility that he might have made a mistake adding a second dog to the house. Brendan begins with the Netflix Cup, an assault on the senses in a place that excels at that, Las Vegas. What was that? Who was it for? Was it good at all? They react as they watch and the Cup drags on. Then they bounce around on all manner of golf tidbits, from disputing a 100-hole “hike” at a par-3 course, the Tour’s absurd new pace of play policy which introduces a new acronym, Ale Tosti going to Japan, Atlanta Drive’s full roster, and Mike Block making another ace with the cameras rolling. There’s also ample time given to Frank Nobilo’s comments that “golf is in a weird space” right now with the amount of money given to a pro sport that is "outrated by volleyball." It is out of whack, but are we too far gone and will it course correct. They close with a schedule for the week and some deep thoughts about the mis-numbering of birthdays.

The Netflix Cup runneth over, A pro golf bubble of excess, Blockie makes an ace

Camilo’s win, Rory pops off on Cantlay-LaCava tussle, and Victory Monday!

It’s a jubilant Victory Monday at the Shotgun Start with a totally unexpected Browns win over the Ravens and Illinois perhaps finding its quarterback of the immediate future. It’s also a victory Monday for the PGA Tour, where Camilo Villegas won in Bermuda to back up the incredible story of Erik van Rooyen’s victory the week prior. They discuss this feat, Camilo’s perspective, and all the good the tour can offer even in these lesser events, just as long as they accept them for what they are. A wild rules situation at the Hong Kong Open is covered in detail, Lexi and Lydia missing the LPGA’s season finale, and Rory winning the Order of Merit on the Euro Tour make up the news section. Lastly, they close with some comments from McIlroy in an interview on his confrontation with Joe LaCava in which he calls Patrick Cantlay a “dick” and discusses their differences, which all comes ahead of PGA Tour board meetings.

Camilo’s win, Rory pops off on Cantlay-LaCava tussle, and Victory Monday!

Substantive TGL details splash in Wired article, #FBF on “South Africa’s major”, Golf Advice

It’s a stuffed November Friday episode for Brendan and Andy, who is dreading the Bears playing in national primetime yet again. They meander from that into the lengthy Wired article on the tech and plans for TGL, which provided some of the most substantive details to date about what this is and what it might look like. This leads to a few different rants on the current silly season splash of money and the amount of oxygen it’s currently taking up alongside the Tour’s looming decision to get in bed with Private Equity or the Saudis. Brendan then brings back Flashback Friday to talk a bit about the Nedbank Challenge, this week’s Euro Tour event, and Corey Pavin’s 1995 win there as it tried to emerge from a tainted origin story. They close with SGS Golf Advice on strollers on the golf course and turning in a cheating partner that you have a close relationship with outside of golf.

Substantive TGL details splash in Wired article, #FBF on “South Africa’s major”, Golf Advice

Rory wants the PIF, In-Out-Alternate for Butterfield, and Ballfrogs visit Fenway

This Wednesday episode begins with one more travel tale for 2023 as Andy recalls a particularly egregious neighbor on his plane ride home on Tuesday. There’s also some cycling culture follow-ups from Brendan before they get to the actual golf for the week. They begin with another round of TGL news, from the big Ballfrog rollout at Fenway to the sixth and final team setting up shop in great American metropolis of Jupiter, Florida. They also discuss Rory McIlroy’s comments about a preference to have the PIF involved with the future sorting of the PGA Tour, and how there seems to be some conflict among factions as that league tries to sort out its financial future. The latter half of the episode gets into schedule for the week with another rousing edition of In? Out? or Alternate? for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Rory wants the PIF, In-Out-Alternate for Butterfield, and Ballfrogs visit Fenway

Travel tales, a great finish in Mexico, and unsubstantiated rumors

It’s a Monday in November, so this podcast rambles all over the place talking about some golf and non-golf topics. Andy and Brendan begin with some travel tales from the weekend, including a humorous hotel situation, miscalculated drive times, and questions about cyclists. Then they get to the WWT Championship in Mexico, where Erik van Rooyen capped off an incredible back nine with an even better post-win interview on the meaning of the week for him with a close friend near death. They discuss the purpose of these late fall events in light of that win, even if ratings and interest are minimal. There’s also some discussion of the Champions Tour and its purpose. There’s an unsubstantiated rumor about the next iteration of The Match. Andy claims Matteo Mannassero is Brendan’s muse for some reason. News hits on Framework Agreement details and PGA Tour players getting to play the LIV Q school event without punishment.

Travel tales, a great finish in Mexico, and unsubstantiated rumors

Rahm leaves TGL as league prepares for launch, and is Tiger’s course too wide for Tour?

This Friday episode begins with a round of apologies for the schedule issues this week. But there’s also some blame game going around before they transition to a hybrid whiparound Wednesday and Friday chat. The first half begins with the firehose of news on TGL, where the Ballfrogs have a roster, Collin Morikawa has the chills, and Jon Rahm is exiting the stage before play even starts. They discuss the motivations for Rahm’s departure and if it means anything at all on the LIV front. There’s also a mix of amusement, criticism, and anticipation for what exactly this thing will look like. The second half of the episode hits on the PGA Tour event at Tiger’s course in Mexico, where the width of the fairways are yielding some eye-opening stats. They close it out with SGS Golf Advice.

Rahm leaves TGL as league prepares for launch, and is Tiger’s course too wide for Tour?

Future of the Tour’s equity partners and 6th Annual Halloween Costumes ideas

Andy and Brendan are together in the Shed in Central California for this lively Monday episode. They begin with some thoughts on the weekend that was in golf, starting with the Asia Pacific Am at Royal Melbourne and the desire for more Sandbelt golf in our lives. News hits on the report that the PGA Tour rejected Endeavor’s bid to become an investment partner in their new for-profit entity, prompting questions about who’s in charge, what options are on the table, and what’s preferred as the Tour nears its year-end deadline to finalize the details of the Framework Agreement. Michael Block’s exemption to the Aussie Open is also discussed. The second half of the episode is the sixth edition of their annual golf-related Halloween costumes ideas segment, with some amusing and offbeat options given the year we’ve had in golf and on the Shotgun Start.

Future of the Tour’s equity partners and 6th Annual Halloween Costumes ideas

Blockie costume teaser, Augusta and The Open on LIV exemptions, and Golf Advice

It’s unclear what was really planned for this episode, or what it actually turned out to be about in the end. For some reason, there is a Michael Block tangent as Andy and Brendan discuss their imminent annual Halloween costumes episode. There’s also a discussion about listeners requesting fewer tangents and more golf talk. There is an apology, sort of, to the Texas Rangers and Diamondbacks fanbases. They discuss news from the Asia-Pacific Am that the heads of Augusta National and The Open are not currently discussing extra LIV specific exemptions for their majors, at least in a public way. The latter half of the episode hits SGS Golf Advice on fluffing lies, a friend who bought the F1 driver, and a mismarked golf ball.

LIV sweeps the ‘World Golf Awards,’ Framework Agreement ideas, and a Schwab Cup sham

This Wednesday episode begins with some excitement for the return of basketball, just not the return of Bulls basketball. Then Andy and Brendan dig a little deeper in LIV touting its wins at the “World Golf Awards.” Who and what else won these awards? Were there other candidates? Is The Belfry the greatest golf complex ever created? Then they transition to a Rex Hoggard report from LIV Miami, where Bubba, CH3, and Kevin Na had some thoughts and BIG BRAIN ideas on how the framework agreement, which seems on its death bed, could potentially merge the two tours. Schedule for the week hands out the event of the week to a delightful Asia-Pacific Am watch from Royal Melbourne. News hits on the Schwab Cup postseason being a wrap before it even started and whether or not Steve Stricker should show up to any of the events.

LIV sweeps the ‘World Golf Awards,’ Framework Agreement ideas, and a Schwab Cup sham

Bryson’s Crushers Conquest, “splintered” USA Ryder Cup, and the LIV match format

It’s Victory Monday for Andy and Brendan, who begin with some enthusiastic chatter about Tyson Bagent, his father, and the Bears future. There’s also some pushback on the Browns getting lucky calls and a golf comp to the debate over the Tush Push. Then they get to the golf, beginning with the LIV Finale and Bryson’s DeChambeau’s team winning in Miami. There’s some praise for the format, which produces some compelling moments … that nobody seems to be watching in person or on TV. They express some happiness for Bryson, who has “friends by arrangement” with a team. There’s less joy for Paul Casey. On the PGA Tour, they discuss Collin Morikawa’s victory in Japan and the bewildering game of Beau Hossler. During recording, news breaks of the Euro Tour now offering exemptions to some PGA Tour detritus down the FEC standings. News hits on a radio interview with Lucas Glover, who spoke of the shame of a splintered USA Ryder Cup team that he’d heard about from friends “in the fight.”

Bryson’s Crushers Conquest, “splintered” USA Ryder Cup, and the LIV match format

Phil “knows” more LIV defections are coming and Golf Advice

Andy and Brendan are together in Pinehurst, where they’re worse for the wear after battling “tuffs” of grass that will surely keep Charley Hoffman away from next year’s U.S. Open. They discuss some of their day out at No. 2 before getting onto the matchups for the LIV team championship in Miami. Should we seriously analyze this? Is there further Cleeks disrespect? Then they address Phil Mickelson’s comments that he “knows” more people are coming to LIV and that everyone is taking lots of calls from players dying to get over there. The last half of the pod takes on some SGS Golf Advice questions about choosing a wedding over a member-guest and when you should or should not help a playing partner look for their golf ball.

Phil “knows” more LIV defections are coming and Golf Advice

The LIV Team finale, the “Netflix Cup,” and other hollering on Whiparound Weds

Andy and Brendan are a bit punchy in this late night recording before they both take on some travel early Wednesday. They begin with a bunch of random questions and a moment of silence for the Spikemark-gate drama that embroiled NCAA golf all fall. Then they turn to a sad note on the passing of Ivor Robson and what they remember about him. The “Netflix Cup” is discussed briefly, but quickly devolves in some incredulous yelling about the new Stealth collaboration with an F1 team sponsored by an energy drink and software. The schedule for the week discusses the Zozo and Champions Tour but then takes a longer look at the LIV Team Championship week in Miami. Is the format worthwhile or overly confusing? Would it be better if the league were not a joke? News hits TGL rounding out its roster with four more names, including Hatless Pat and Broomstick Lucas. Then they close it out with Buddy Ball coming to the Hero World Challenge and its loaded field.

The LIV Team finale, the “Netflix Cup,” and other hollering on Whiparound Weds

LIV season ends with a whimper, the Tom Kim conundrum, and Brooksy pops Wolffie again

It’s an unexpected and jubilant Victory Monday for Brendan, who is joined by legendary friend of the program Shane Bacon. The two wander around for a bit talking the Browns upset of the 49ers, a wildly unpredictable NFL, and thermostat negotiations as the season changes. Then they jump into the weekend that was in golf, beginning with the most recent finish out in Vegas. They ponder what to make of Tom Kim, winning at a great clip for such a young age but also feasting on some weaker events. How do we gauge young talents -- what metrics do we prioritize? Then they get to the LIV season finale, or part of it, which happened overnight and was exceedingly difficult to watch. They discuss the lack of juice with all things LIV, Talor Gooch’s incredibly successful and lucrative decision to join LIV, the confusing relegation zone, and what’s left on the Match Play front. There’s also scorn for the decrepit Majesticks franchise. The latter half of the episode covers Angel Yin’s first LPGA win, Lilia Vu needing more pub, Brooks Koepka yet again popping Matt Wolff, and Tiger’s ridiculous outfit playing golf last week.

LIV season ends with a whimper, the Tom Kim conundrum, and Brooksy pops Wolffie again

LIV’s relevance and the OWGR denial, Soft drug suspensions, and Golf Advice

Andy and Brendan are here to close out the week with some nostalgia -- about electronics, baseball stadium quirks, and the MLB playoffs needing a staggered start as it works through its Bill Haas era. Then they get to the big news of the week, the OWGR denying LIV’s application to receive certification and points. They discuss how both groups seem to be marginalized and in need of fixing, and why the decision has some merit and where it might be clearly susceptible to critique. They discuss Phil’s tweets on the matter, and if the players collective bargaining for more of the overall majors cut will play well when only a couple of the players and a couple of the events truly matter. The TGL additions, who are not Blockie, are also discussed. Ben An’s three-month suspension for violating the PGA Tour’s drug policy is also reviewed, as both overly harsh or overly soft. They close with Friday’s Golf Advice on another handicap issue for a buddies trip and calling out someone teeing up in front of the markers.

LIV’s relevance and the OWGR denial, Soft drug suspensions, and Golf Advice

A PGA Tour in messy fall flux, A Tosti Tale for all time, and Blockie>Swiftie

This Wednesday episode begins with an apology for the disasters of Monday, but also some tales from the road, including an angry and offended listener confronting Andy in real life on a certain take. Then Brendan relays an incredible Tosti Tale from this past week’s PGA Tour card award ceremony at the Korn Ferry Tour finals. This leads to a detour into whether or not Tosti is in the Shriners Field, which results in a discussion that is the mess of the PGA Tour fall right now. Status and field exemptions can be incongruous. Also, the “Framework Agreement” with the PIF may be dead and where does that leave things? The Hatgate controversy follow-up that got cut off from the end of Monday’s episode is also updated here with a few more thoughts that didn’t make it into that recording. Blockie’s continued tour, now with Tiger Woods, is also covered.

A PGA Tour in messy fall flux, A Tosti Tale for all time, and Blockie>Swiftie

More details on Ryder Cup Hatgate, KFT finals, and Worse for the Wear Monday

This Monday episode probably did not need to exist, but a worse-for-the-wear Brendan gets Andy on the horn for 30 minutes to review some of the weekend that was in golf. They begin, however, with an amusing unsubstantiated rumor about Viktor Hovland’s music listening. Then they get to some of their own tales from the road before flipping to the Chicken Championship and a wild Luke List victory in a five-man playoff. The KFT finals are given an accounting, with some sadness for the Gas Man missing out on a card for a silly rule. There’s also some more Tosti talk as well as some props for the Epson Tour card advancers, but not its executive tweeting angrily about the newsletter. Lastly, they close with a Michael Bamberger piece on Hatgate that sheds some light on some of the positions of Cantlay and how that story may have blown up into the runaway train it became in Rome.

More details on Ryder Cup Hatgate, KFT finals, and Worse for the Wear Monday

Freddie dishes on Rory vs. LaCava, LIV’s OWGR future, TGL moves, and Golf Advice

This Friday episode was recorded before the Bears-Commanders Thursday night game, but that doesn’t stop an opening rant of dejection from Andy about the present and future state of his team. Then they get into a whiparound Friday that begins with JT tweeting about media coverage and Brooksy’s apparent disapproval as well. Then they move to Freddie Couples spilling some tea on the specifics of what happened with the Rory McIlroy confrontation with Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup. LIV’s OWGR fate is also mentioned. Luke Donald getting a repeat captaincy is discussed. Lexi Thompson’s exemption to the Shriners is debated. And TGL signing a rights deal with ESPN as well as previewing its new arena is covered. They close with an SGS Golf Advice on violent bosses, handicap cartels, and buddies trip dynamics.

Freddie dishes on Rory vs. LaCava, LIV’s OWGR future, TGL moves, and Golf Advice

American dad wants Ryder Cup pay, “Andrew Waterman” plays the Dunhill, and KFT final

It’s a punchy Wednesday episode as Andy and Brendan are giddy about post-Ryder Cup developments. They begin with the addition of an “Andrew Waterman” to the Dunhill links at the real Old Course. They giggle about the need for a pseudonym in a real European Tour event, and the inclusion of five LIV players in one of its preeminent events. Then they turn their attention to Daddy Schauffele, the subject of several articles with comments focused on player compensation in the Ryder Cup. There are some amusing comps and several critiques of the comments, support for some of the notions put forth, and the menacing mention of “courts” having a potential say in the debate. There’s also some ire for Schauffele and Cantlay. Schedule for the week hits on the KFT finals and what exactly is at stake, including the potential for Ale Tosti to finish No. 1 overall in the points and have full status for next year. This leads to a couple more Tosti Tales. The beloved Sanderson, its field, and some favorite groups are given the final say in a rambling episode.

American dad wants Ryder Cup pay, “Andrew Waterman” plays the Dunhill, and KFT final

Sunday at the Ryder Cup: Europe beats back USA

Andy and Brendan are live from their B. Draddy Den after a weekend watching the Ryder Cup and bombing around the New York area. The USA made it interesting on Sunday, but in the end, it was a highly questionable concession by Rickie Fowler that put a European team that started the day with a big lead over the top to take back the cup. They dissect the full day of singles matches in the aftermath of the continued fallout with Rory McIlroy trying to storm the USA locker room to confront Joe LaCava. That ongoing drama, as well as Cantlay hat-gate, is discussed in addition to the actual golf in the form of some MVPs and LVPs for each side. They attempt an autopsy at what went wrong on the losing side, with several people and circumstances playing into the failure. They do the same for the winning side and praise the work of Luke Donald in contrast to Zach Johnson. Thanks to B. Draddy for their support all week and for you listening and letting SGS do this.

Sunday at the Ryder Cup: Europe beats back USA

Saturday at the Ryder Cup: Heated Confrontations and Hatless Heroes

Andy and Brendan jump on the horn immediately following another full, dramatic, amusing day at the Ryder Cup in Rome. They’re fresh from watching Patrick Cantlay put together a dazzling finish to take the last point of the day, one which included a report that he had become the center of a divisive USA team room. Zach Johnson’s tactics are called into question again, especially his apparent intervention on a tee box with a buddy system duo of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas that’s scuffled through three of four sessions. There’s praise for USA MVP Max Homa, the lionhearted old head Justin Rose, and many others. There is not praise for Brooks Koepka, who was awful in an record-losing performance in the morning. They close with some thoughts on the possibility of a Sunday comeback and where the captains may look for hope, or signs of trouble.

Saturday at the Ryder Cup: Heated Confrontations and Hatless Heroes

Friday at the Ryder Cup: USA, Coverage Catastrophes

Andy and Brendan are live from their Draddy Den during an NYC deluge, and are full of energy ready to dissect the similar deluge of TV commercials and European haymakers on day 1 of the Ryder Cup. They begin with an improved afternoon session for the U.S., in terms of competitiveness, but one that still had the Euros extend their lead after a 4-0 clean sweep in the morning foursomes. They go through every main character from each side, the captain’s strategies, and offer praise and critique for one of the worst days ever for a USA Ryder Cup team. They close with a segment on the TV coverage that became the main character for at least the first four or five hours of the competition. This episode was also simulcast live on YouTube if you’d like to watch haphazard visual edition of the episode there.

Friday at the Ryder Cup: USA, Coverage Catastrophes

A Ryder Cup Preview Live from B. Draddy HQ

Andy and Brendan are in the Big Apple for Ryder Cup week, hanging with their friends from B.Draddy and playing some golf in the Met area. They begin one of the best weeks of the pro golf year with this preview episode in front of some friends at Draddy HQ in Manhattan. They discuss some of the players they’re most concerned about for each side in Rome, as well as some of the top points earners and concerning pairings. There’s plenty of hype for the Sepptic Tank, Brian Harman, and the (apparently?) big-mouthed Wyndham Clark. There is, of course, talk about JT and Rory too. The evolution of Brooks Koepka is covered in depth, as well as some needling of the Euro press. They close by discussing the underwhelming venue choice and make some final picks for how they think this will go over the next three days.

A Ryder Cup Preview Live from B. Draddy HQ

Clutch Ciganda, coverage woes, Ryder Cup predictions and Norman Xiong’s return

With Brendan partying with Bills Mafia, Joseph LaMagna joins Andy to talk about this week's golf. The two start by discussing the Solheim Cup and the good (the action on the course) and the bad (the coverage). The conversation then moves to rounding out the other results in golf including Norman Xiong's win on the Korn Ferry Tour and Bryson's triumph on LIV. The end of the episode centers on a quick discussion of the week ahead at the Ryder Cup in Rome.

Clutch Ciganda, coverage woes, Ryder Cup predictions and Norman Xiong’s return

Feisty Friday: Solheim Cup quibbles, Blockie persists, Golf Advice, and a Bears catastrophe

It’s Friday! Andy and Brendan are disgruntled and full of zip for this episode taking us into the weekend. They begin with some early reactions to the Solheim Cup, which started with the Europeans and some American second-guessing going up in flames. They delight in the disaster of a venue, some underwhelming early showings, one alt-shot duo going out in 45, and the Americans showing strength. News hits on the Ryder Cup press conference schedule apparently telegraphing the pairing plan for next week. Then they hit on Michael Block’s most recent win and the PGA Tour exemption it triggers for next year. Golf Advice hits on a lunatic scramble host chirping you, a player walking out of the woods to play in front of you, and how not to be an obnoxious fan rooting for the away team at the Ryder Cup. Lastly, Andy rants about a seemingly unprecedented Bears mess just two weeks into the season.

Feisty Friday: Solheim Cup quibbles, Blockie persists, Golf Advice, and a Bears catastrophe

Solheim Cup chippiness, a ‘train wreck’ venue, and Tiger’s new restaurant

It’s the first of two international match play weeks at the Shotgun Start, which will lead to some unorthodox record times. But first Andy and Brendan begin this Solheim Cup week with some cleanup over a disastrous Monday Night Football game for the Browns and Justin Fields outright questioning his coaching. Then they get to the Solheim Cup and USA Captain Stacy Lewis publicly expressing her disappointment over the lack of commitment to co-promote or capitalize on the Solheim and Ryder Cups in consecutive weeks in similar parts of the world. This leads to a lengthy discussion on whose duty it would be to do such a thing and also how rights deals are stripping the networks bare. Then there’s some amusing intel on the quirk and, um, underwhelming aspects of this random Spanish venue choice. It does not sound like it will be fun for fans to get around but there may be some interesting TV. Looking ahead to next week, we already have our first game within the game for the Ryder Cup, and it involves Jon Rahm. News touches on Tiger Woods’s new restaurant, what he likely calls his new partner Justin Timberlake, and whether Andy and Brendan should go to the establishment next week in New York.

Solheim Cup chippiness, a ‘train wreck’ venue, and Tiger’s new restaurant

Sergio’s ‘last-ditch’ attempt at Ryder Cup, Mad Jimmy Walker, and Sahith (+ JT?) ball in Napa

It’s a whiparound Monday episode that begins with Andy and Brendan discussing various tales and messages that came across their desk over the weekend. Andy predicts Blockie will never leave our lives. There’s also some light football discussion, including amusement at the Florida Gators recent Billy-Ho inspired prop. Then on the Fortinet, or Fortnite Championship, they praise Sahith and what he can represent, but caution about some of the insane expectations. They also discuss JT’s performance and what it means for Rome. Over on the Euro Tour, they cover a wide range of topics from an odd Wentworth, one that Rory called at one point a “shitshow.” They hit on Ryan Fox’s win, a drunk fan heckling Big Shot Bob over a wager, and Rahm hitting a persimmon. Is Tommy Fleetwood also the golf equivalent of Justin Herbert? News hits on a report of a Sergio Garcia last ditch attempt to make himself eligible for the Ryder Cup and some seriously deluded Jimmy Walker comments about the changes to PGA Tour status and all the hard labor he’s put in over the years only to have the rug pulled out from under him with these adjustments. Finally, they close with a chat on Stew Hagestad and his incredible run of amateur golf.

Sergio’s ‘last-ditch’ attempt at Ryder Cup, Mad Jimmy Walker, and Sahith (+ JT?) ball in Napa

The Ryder Cup ‘Petty Swing,’ ZJ wants Netflix out of team room, SGS Golf Advice

It’s Friday! And there is golf in many parts of the globe, but Joseph LaMagna begins by quizzing and confounding Brendan with the latest TikTok trend. That quickly transitions to a wandering chat on all things Rome, including Adrian Meronk’s play at Wentwoth and JT’s play in Napa. It’s what Joseph is calling the potential “Petty Swing.” Then they get to news that Team USA wants to preserve its “sacredness” and “sanctity” by not allowing the Netflix cameras into the team room in Rome. There’s also a discussion of DJ’s comments that he would be on the Ryder Cup team were he playing on the PGA Tour this year and not LIV. Then they get to a beefy Golf Advice section, replying to emails on a range of questions about gimme controversies, lunatics chucking clubs, not remembering names, and rain gear off the golf course.

The Ryder Cup ‘Petty Swing,’ ZJ wants Netflix out of team room, SGS Golf Advice

Tiger emerges, Burly Boy Euros scout Rome, and a Town Crier’s Wentworth love affair

This Wednesday episode begins with the somber news of an Aaron Rodgers injury and a hypothetical on 24-hours of disaster at MetLife stadium. Then Brendan and Andy move to three things from social media in the last couple days 1) Tiger out there on a range, swinging some clubs (lightly) in public, 2) the off-the-bus intimidating burliness of the team picture for Europe during its scouting day in Rome, and 3) the PGA Tour’s “tough spot” regarding even the acknowledgment of one of the country’s great tragedies. The schedule for the week is back, with some thoughts on the Fortinet field and ample discussion on the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, a place Billy Horschel said he’d prefer to play for “25” events a year. Billy had a lot to say, including pleas for more Americans to play it and also that the trees make it feel like there are even more fans watching. News hits on Gil Hanse renovating Spanish Bay, USGA championships coming to Prairie Dunes, and more.

Tiger emerges, Burly Boy Euros scout Rome, and a Town Crier’s Wentworth love affair

USA’s Ryder Cup scouting in Rome missing a few and Els technology takes

It’s Victory Monday! For Brendan, at least. Andy has fewer nice things to say about his football teams and is ready to maybe check out on the Bears season. Then they move to tennis, which had its great final completely overshadowed by the opening Sunday in the NFL and maybe should take a page out of the FedEx Cup. An ad read for a new sponsor leads to some Irish Open chatter on the weather, Rory’s four balls in the water, and the Candyman’s ascent. There’s a segment on the USA’s big scouting trip to Rome over the weekend, where 9 of the 12 team members made it. Does it matter much for the actual Cup? Are people going to overreact to the ones who did not make the trip? The LPGA event leads to a side chat on Lexi’s awful year and upcoming Solheim Cup. The Champions Tour chat is more of an occasion to react to some interesting Ernie Els comments on technology leading to swing speeds that are not sustainable if you want to stay healthy. They close with a random flashback to the 2000 NFL Draft.

USA’s Ryder Cup scouting in Rome missing a few and Els technology takes

JT coach changes, Bombshell NCAA golf scandal, and Over-unders for pessimists

The SGS anniversary week rolls on with this beefier “Thursday-Friday” episode. Andy and Brendan begin with a quick schedule for the week review with some above-average golf taking place during NFL’s opening weekend. They discuss the Irish Open at the K Club, where the Prince of Ponte Vedra is playing with his Town Crier during a busy pre-Ryder Cup stretch that has some Euros raising eyebrows. Also pondered is how many people will watch the Champions Tour finish vs. the NFL late games on Sunday. News begins with an absolute bombshell of an NCAA golf scandal that might involve shady dealing and cyber espionage. It then moves to rumblings of Justin Thomas putting his coach, also his father, on the backburner, which his dad has already roundly denied as untrue. There’s also coverage of Adrian Meronk’s “anger” over his Ryder Cup snub and whether LD will need to steer clear of Warsaw. The episode concludes with two different segments: over-unders that weave between golf and the two hosts’ general pessimism about their NFL teams as they kick off the season, and then SGS golf advice on caddie tipping and a “gimme” controversy.

JT coach changes, Bombshell NCAA golf scandal, and Over-unders for pessimists

Ryder Cup rosters go final, Walker Cup exam at The Old, Anniversary hour

Andy and Brendan are back from the holiday weekend recording on the fifth anniversary of the start of this podcast, a misguided, silly, but often rewarding endeavor. They briefly discuss their weekends before a separate tennis chat on the U.S. Open in New York and what golf might learn, or not learn, from that. There’s also some brief amusement over Martin Kaymer’s dissatisfaction with the Cleeks. Then they get to the European Ryder Cup team rounding out with six picks from Luke Donald and what the Aberg selection says about the current state of golf. There’s also some review of the U.S. roster and where it might run into points of contention against some of the personalities on this now finished Euro side. That also leads to a separate side reminiscence on the internal disaster that was the 2018 U.S. team when this podcast started, and whether there’s the potential for that with this group. The Walker Cup at the Old Course is given a recap, with some thoughts on how to improve or tweak it going forward. News hits on the CJ Cup taking over the Byron Nelson.

Ryder Cup rosters go final, Walker Cup exam at The Old, Anniversary hour

Ryder Cup buddy system exposed, Walker Cup hat-gate, and Mafia-themed SGS Golf Advice

This Friday episode was recorded from the car that was the scene of the infamous Caves Valley audio disaster, and from a worse-for-the-wear return to the shed. But it’s a first of the month episode so Andy and Brendan are buoyant and excited for Labor Day, which is rated as a top holiday. Then they turn to some Ryder Cup clean up and the noteworthy quotes from Fred Couples that Keegan Bradley being older and not in tight with some of the younger guys on the team played a part in his not being selected. Any denial that friendships played a role in roster construction has zero worth or merit, even if that’s the proper construction process. They also discuss the Euro movements and the signs that Ludvig Aberg seems headed for a spot on Luke Donald’s team. They laugh at the Walker Cup hat uproar across the pond, but are eager to watch some great coffee golf from the Old Course. The week closes with SGS Golf Advice and an email on what to do when paired with two possibly made men who might be cheating their face off to win for your team in a charity scramble. Lastly, hit the Pro Shop for a Labor Day sale, using code LABORDAY15 for 15 percent off everything in the shop, including prints.

Ryder Cup buddy system exposed, Walker Cup hat-gate, and Mafia-themed SGS Golf Advice

Justin Thomas gets picked and Captain Zatch stumbles through Zoom

It’s a last-of-the-month recording for Andy and Brendan, who are working with spotty wifi after a day of travels from beautiful Northeast Ohio. They begin with some commentary on a recent Twitter poll on various Ohio cities, and the wonderful people we met at the event in Canton. Then they get to the news of the day: the USA Ryder Cup team rounding out its roster with six captain’s picks. They begin, and go and go and go, on the Zoom performance of Captain Zach Johnson, who really struggled answering questions and reading from a brutal set of prepared notes. They pick apart some of his justifications and stumbling and bumbling answers that give them pause about what could be coming in Rome. They also get to the picks, eventually, like Justin Thomas and Sam Burns getting in over Keegan Bradley, Cameron Young, and others. They discuss the big JT question and the notion that he’s the “heart and soul” of the team or the preposterous trend of the “American Ian Poulter.” There’s also a brief chat on some potential pairings to come.

Justin Thomas gets picked and Captain Zatch stumbles through Zoom

A Gross Scandal, Viktor’s ascent, and Ryder Cup picks come due

Andy and Brendan are together in Cleveland and took in an absolutely thrilling final round of the 2023 PGA Tour season, where Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele went 63 and 62 to get in the clubhouse tied at 19-under … for low gross. They discuss the relatively flatline weekend in Atlanta and whether it’s an indictment of the staggered start leaderboard or just a one-off clunker. Either way, CBS can’t be happy but does it matter if the sponsors are sated? They celebrate Viktor’s continued ascent, as well as Xander’s continued run at East Lake..and rumored disgruntlement with the entire shadow win arrangement that has jammed him multiple times. They also discuss Scottie Scheffler’s woeful putting yet again and whether he will need to be hid at the Ryder Cup, and who his six new teammates might be when ZJ announces them on Tuesday. They close with news of a Tosti Tales suspension from the KFT just weeks after a debrief on the myth and legend of the hothead.

A Gross Scandal, Viktor’s ascent, and Ryder Cup picks come due

We’ve got a race for Low Net!, Rory’s back injury, and Golf Advice

Andy and Brendan begin this Friday summer episode with a host of travel takes given recent airline trips -- from baggage claim to boarding to de-boarding. Then they get to the Net Tour Championship, where we have a ballgame despite the starting strokes! Andy and Brendan debate the contenders, with Andy digging in some more. They explore the Scottie regression, Collin’s big charge and what’s sustainable, and the peak chaos scenario we’re all rooting for: Adam Schenk. Also, would the ultimate blow to the FEC be its winner not making the Ryder Cup team, and would Keegan get a pick if he won it? There's also a lengthy discussion on Rory’s back injury, how it might have occurred, and whether the Tour keeping these things hush given the warm embrace and promotion of gambling is the future way to go. They close with SGS Golf Advice on a rumble on the course, asking your wife to un-book some golf, and law school degenerates revealing themselves in a round.

We’ve got a race for Low Net!, Rory’s back injury, and Golf Advice

Jay’s State of the Tour address, Contender/Pretender Leaderboards and Scandinavian diplomacy

This Wednesday episode begins with a commitment to be, like the PGA Tour, “laser-focused” on the Tour Championship. But Brendan and Andy are quickly derailed with several submissions on Scandinavian relations following the Sunday chat on Viktor Hovland exiting the Swedish Pancake Zone. Then they get to the matters at hand in Atlanta, from the challenge of overcoming a staggered start to the sweaty conditions. They make picks for the week, run through the schedule for the week, and announce the event of the week. Then there’s a lengthy review of Jay Monahan’s press conference, from his comments on Maui to the Framework Agreement and a “positive outcome” for the PGA Tour. Is the Saudi PIF included in this outcome? News hits on JT committing to play the Fortnite Championship and the No.1 fairway wood as reviewed by the unbiased My Golf Spy.

Jay’s State of the Tour address, Contender/Pretender Leaderboards and Scandinavian diplomacy

Hovland (+ others) bomb & carve Olympia Fields, Ryder Cup roster locks, and Blockie-gate

It’s a loaded Monday episode with the Playoffs in full effect, team match play rosters taking shape, and American cities to debate and pit against one another. Andy relays a tale from a boiling hot sweaty round in STL and Brendan discusses his travels from DEN. They begin with the incredible scores from another one of Chicago’s venerable championship tests and the heavy dose of wedges involved in them. There’s great praise for an outrageous Viktor Hovland closing nine, his “leap” year, and his amusing if unenthusiastic quote about the coming week in Atlanta. There’s a lengthy discussion on the Sepptic Tank, the group of superfans in t-shirts with that moniker, and his valiant fight to get into the Tour Championship and nearly knock out just a guy in the process. There’s also plenty more confusion over the FEC standings and the constant shuffling on the various cut lines. There’s a follow-up on Michael Block’s course record round at Valhalla, with some disturbing allegations and a spirited defense from sources inside the round, and from this podcast as well. The Ryder Cup auto-qualifiers are discussed, with Koepka getting bounced at the last second, and what it means for the captain’s picks. There is ample praise for Nick Dunlap’s U.S. Am win and a question about how soon he should turn pro. The KFT finals are also set up and debated, as well as Alexa Pano’s first win over in Europe. Finally, they close with Walker Cup and Solheim Cup roster news to follow-up on the earlier Ryder Cup debate -- a month of team match play draws nigh!

Hovland (+ others) bomb & carve Olympia Fields, Ryder Cup roster locks, and Blockie-gate

Notes from the ground at the BMW, Unsubstantiated rumors, and Golf Advice

With both Andy and Brendan on the road with substandard WiFi and equipment, this episode is a ramble between travel tales and some golf odds and ends to get us to the weekend. Andy has some scuttlebutt from Chicago and a few notes from his day walking around the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields. Then, a whiparound segment hits on the hideous Ryder Cup uniforms, Epson Tour product placement, TaylorMade’s absurd luxury resort, and Michael Block’s course-record setting round at Valhalla on a “scouting” trip some 10 months before the PGA. There’s also some discussion on LIV planning for a transfer and trade deadline for next season. They close it out with some SGS Golf Advice on a Chicago liquor, bringing your own cart, and a wedding conflict during a prestigious Mid-Am competition.

Notes from the ground at the BMW, Unsubstantiated rumors, and Golf Advice

With both Andy and Brendan on the road with substandard WiFi and equipment, this episode is a ramble between travel t