079 - Preparing Royal Birkdale for an Open with Sean McLean

Bledge sits down with Sean McLean to discuss the changes and preparations for Royal Birkdale for the upcoming Open in July.  Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Bledge and Dan sit down to explore the fascinating crossover between elite golf and top-level football, diving into the creation of the Blue Exchange and how it’s giving greenkeepers a rare behind-the-scenes look at life inside Manchester City. From matchday pressure to pitch perfection, this one’s all about learning from the very best. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Bledge and Sam sit down with Dan Davies of RNGC fame to discuss the sacred acre and Dan's journey through the golf journalism world. Dan is also a member of the cradle of English Golf, which is discussed towards the end of the podcast. A man who has spent 10 months of more building a golf course to host a special one day invitational event for his friends and loved ones. Despite being a mere 510 yards in total, this 9 hole course makes up for its lack of distance with terrifyingly difficult and intricate green complexes, and waist high ‘bund’ is only ever inches away. Sleeper style hazard placements on the 2nd hole an ode to Oakmont, and the 7th hole - ‘Bell’ is an inverse replica of the 12th hole at Augusta - RNGC is proof that golf doesn’t have to big or grand. Cookie Jar Golf made a superb Youtube Film on RNGC a couple of years ago - You can watch here - https://youtu.be/8q1kXRoLsgw Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Bledge and Willie sit down to talk all things Terralift, turf nutrition and the long-term art of building stronger, healthier golf surfaces. Willie shares his journey from greenkeeping in Ireland, Scotland and Germany to spending 20 years with Terralift, while explaining why organic-mineral fertilisers can support performance without driving excess growth. They get into soil structure, organic matter, leaner nitrogen inputs, new green construction, and why products like TX Humus, TX 10 and Roca Stem have become trusted tools for green keepers chasing firmer, more consistent greens. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Sam and Bledge sit down to relive the magic of Sunningdale, diving deep into a head-to-head match play battle between the Old and New courses. From iconic par 3s to strategic masterclasses, they break down every hole, debate design brilliance, and celebrate one of golf’s greatest 36-hole venues. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Friend of the pod Matt Plested returns to the mic as Sam and Bledge sit down to debrief the massive project unfolding at Stoneham. Sit back and enjoy. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

In this episode, Bledge takes center stage to tackle a massive range of questions submitted by our Instagram community.Bledge shares his wealth of experience on everything from the fine details of turf management and the realities of life on the course to career advice for the next generation of greenkeepers. This is a masterclass in the industry from a man who lives and breathes it. Whether you're in the industry or just love the behind-the-scenes of the game, this is a great listen. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Bledge, Ben Williams & John McLoughlin head over to Florida for the GCSAA and play two of the courses at Streamsong while doing it. this is their take on the whole adventure.  Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Sam and Bledge sit down to debrief Sam’s latest architectural project at Formby, where bold design meets old dunes. They unpack the seventh hole rebuild, discuss blind shots, CGI flyovers, and why change has to mean something. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.

Harrogate roundup with Gavin Speedie Technical Representative from Aitkens and Matt Plested, Course Manager from Stoneham talking about all things at BTME. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.