Andy Ewance has had a fascinating career. Andy joins James Bledge and Sam Cooper to share anecdotes and insights from his previous role at the Buckinghamshire, including persuading the club's Japanese owners to invest in a significant overhaul. Now, Andy is at Woking - helping to enhance one of the most architecturally significant courses in England. From improving the agronomy of the site, managing the woodland and restoring the heathland, we hope you find this interview as interesting to listen to as we did recording it ..read more

January is never a great month in Britain, even less so if you work on a golf course. Fortunately, it's the time of year for the big trade shows and conferences. Bledge and Sam give their thoughts and recollections of a packed BTME in Harrogate and GCSAA show in Phoenix, Arizona. The importance of attending, what they can both get out of it, technology and advancements worth keeping an eye on as well as what they were both up to in America. One of the things we discussed was the Husqvarna autonomous fairway mowers. Have a look at it in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ehYRXFaWc ..read more

There are few couples out there who have contributed more to the greenkeeping industry than Lee and Sami Strutt. Lee, a previous guest on this pod, is the Director of Agronomy at Cabot Cape Breton. Sami has spent over 30 years working for the greenkeeping association, BIGGA. She joined the association in 1993 as an admin assistant but is leaving it in 2024 as its' Chief Operating Officer for a new role as Education Director at the Bernhard Academy. Lee and Sami discuss not just their remarkable careers, but how they have been able to manage and work as a couple against such demanding and var ..read more

While Sam has been locked away in a dark room trying to finish Volume 2 of his upcoming book series, Bledge sat down with old friend Phil Helmn to discuss his enormous passion for managing teams in the greenkeeping world. Phil is a Master Greenkeeper and has managed a wide range of courses throughout his distinguished career. Now, he specialises in writing, speaking and educating on the intricacies of managing a greenkeeping team. Phil is the author of 'The Power of People', which can be ordered by clicking here. One of the few books Bledge has been able to read cover to cover. Those who ar ..read more

The second half of our Season 2 kick off. Bledge and Sam discuss the Bernhard Academy, upcoming trips to BTME in Harrogate and GCSAA in Phoenix as well as take a few questions sent in to the studio. Bledge also discusses an archaeological find he made on the course at Deal, and the video we discuss in the episode can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/g16XgGh44zU?si=peyisUMmNtZxEszq Information on the Bernhard Academy can be found here: https://bernhardacademy.co.uk/ Thanks all for listening and we wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year ..read more

Badgers - welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of the podcast. James Bledge (Links Manager, Royal Liverpool Golf Club) and Sam Cooper (Architect, Clayton, DeVries & Pont) are back home on the Wirral, hunkered down for the winter and ready to pod. This is the first half of a general catch-up. Talking about our respective 2023 autumns and what's been keeping us busy. The second half, where we'll also look to answer some of your questions, will follow soon - before getting into a new roster of guests over the coming months. We hope you enjoy, and please remember to share the podcast wit ..read more

Badgers - welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of the podcast. James Bledge (Links Manager, Royal Liverpool Golf Club) and Sam Cooper (Architect, Clayton, DeVries & Pont) are back home on the Wirral, hunkered down for the winter and ready to pod. This is the first half of a general catch-up. Talking about our respective 2023 autumns and what's been keeping us busy. The second half, where we'll also look to answer some of your questions, will follow soon - before getting into a new roster of guests over the coming months. We hope you enjoy, and please remember to share the podcast wit ..read more

Hello Badgers, Today is 'thank a greenkeeper day'. What better way to mark the occasion than to release our Open question special. A few weeks ago, Bledge and I asked for your questions on the championship - and here are the answers. We hope you enjoy the episode, and thanks to everyone who submitted a question. Don't forget to watch the excellent Cookie Jar film showcasing some of Bledge and the team's hard work during the week here: Preparing for an Open Championship ..read more

Welcome to this quick catch up episode, recorded on top of the tallest grandstand at Hoylake. The rain of Sunday has disappeared, replaced with a beautiful sunset. But there is a bit of wind in the background - we hope you don't mind. We will do a proper debrief in the fullness of time, but I wanted to check in with the main man in the meantime ..read more

The Open Championship is less than 2 weeks away now, and Bledge and Sam discuss what they've been up to and what preparations Bledge has been making. Hope you enjoy! And if you want to catch up on the Golf Badgers podcast back catalogue of episodes, you can do so here. Thanks! #snapthestimp Sam @links_from_the_road & @sd_cooper and Bledge @jamesbledge ..read more