The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 details how he has kept Eagle Springs afloat over the years.

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Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to talk about his experience being an assistant captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup. The two discuss the tournament and 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. He also tells the story of his recent walk-off hole-in-one at Goat Hill Park and makes some predictions about the next decade in golf.

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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, Mike Cocking, Neil Crafter, and Sean Tully for contributing to this story. This episode features music from Kevin McLeod as well as Low Light and Borrtex.

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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.

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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.

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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 CC'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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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's articles on John Low in the journal Through the Green: Part 1 - Part 2

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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In the third installment of our recent recording session with Tom Doak, Andy and Tom dive into his work at Stonewall in Elverson, Pennsylvania. The conversation then turns to Tom's future in the business of consulting at golf courses and what interests he might pursue in the final stage of his design career. Tom and Andy also discuss the increasing distance gap between professional and amateur golfers, and Tom compares Ben Crenshaw's playing style to Brooks Koepka's.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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Tom Doak talks with Andy about what is more difficult: building a new course or renovating an existing one. Tom touches on his experience renovating the Gunnamatta Course at the National in Australia. Then he and Andy get to the big news: Tom has been hired to build a seaside links course in Ireland. They discuss his partnership with the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort and his plans for the new St. Patrick's Links.

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In the return of our interview series with golf architect Tom Doak, Tom talks with Andy about several of his past, present, and future projects. They discuss his planned public course at Tara Iti in New Zealand, his work at the Renaissance Club in Scotland, the progress of his renovation of Memorial Park in Houston, and the state of his collaboration with Brooks Koepka.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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The second half of Andy's latest conversation with Geoff Ogilvy centers 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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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