The Firm & Fast Golf Podcast

James Henderson of Top100golfcourses.com joins us on this episode to discuss, rankings, ranking criteria, panel hierarchies and more.

Hendo won the golfing lottery when he was born into an East Lothian golfing family. As a result of this happy accident of birth he has been steeped in a culture of brisk two-ball play, slow lunches and matchplay.

He's a well travelled character, not without an opinion or two!

Many thanks to James for his time - we hope you enjoy our chat.

Roundbook

[Top100golfcourses.com](top100golfcourses.com)

Book Recommendations

The Golf Omnibus by P.G. Wodehouse

Early Golf by Neil S. Millar

Episode music - Nectar by Dye O

Supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Special Guest: James Henderson.

Gavin Bottrell joins me on this episode to reflect on a twenty year odyssey to perfect the lost craft of Feathery Ball making.

Gavin is an engineer by profession and became fascinated with how one might reverse engineer the process of developing a modern day feathery ball. Over the course of a 90 minute chat Gavin shares his learnings from the bottom of a very deep rabbit hole, from where he has perfected a skill that was lost to time and progress as the development of the gutta percha golf ball superceeded the feathery in the 1850's.

Gavin recently tested his mark 43 ball against a genuine 185 year old feathery ball and replicated its performance.... he swears that this is the end of his quest..somehow I get the feeling that a doubling down may be on the cards. I'm led to believe that a book is on the cards at some point in the future, which will lay out the techniques, methodology and processes that Gavin has employed in mastering this ancient craft.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Check out the following links that detail some of Gavin's fascinating research

How far did Feathery Balls Actually Go?

The Shape of Feathery Balls

How heavy were Feathery Balls

Why did Feathery Golf Balls come in different sizes?

The proportions of Feathery Balls

Some additional links that might be of interest

Hitting a genuine 185 year old Feathery Ball

Link to Feathery Golf Ball Website

Link to Time Warp Golf

Link to British Golf Collectors

Book Recommendations

Allan Robertson: King of Clubs by Roger McStravick & Bill Williams

The Oldest Clubs - 1650 - 1850 by Bob Gowland

Episode music - Nectar by Dye O

Supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Special Guest: Gavin Bottrell.

Bradley Klein joins us today to take a look at the life and times of one of Dornoch's favourite sons.... none other than Donald Ross.

Over the course of our conversation we explore young Donald's early days in the Scottish Highlands and in the East Neuk of Fife under the guidance of OTM. His appointment as keeper of the green and professional at Dornoch GC and the chance visit of a well connected Harvard Professor to Dornoch in late 1898 which led to life altering opportunities in Boston and later throughout the USA.

We take a look at some early projects, the Ross influence in North Carolina, a Colt collaboration at Old Elm, Seminole & the host of this years PGA Championship Aronimink in Philadelphia.

We assess the importance of key associates, explore his design tendancies and how the formation of the Donald Ross Society has facilitated and assisted with restoring many Ross courses to their former glories.

Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the chat!

Episode music - Nectar by Dye O

Supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Special Guest: Bradley Klein.

Ally McIntosh joins us for another adventure down the rabbit hole of golf course architecture.

Over the course of this past winter Ally and his design partner James Coughlan have been busy overseeing the implementation of their Strandhill masterplan. They also commenced phase one of significant improvements to Carne Golf Links.

Ally runs us through the specifics of the work at both sited and explains how they utilise specific site specific solutions to fit the needs of these cery different coastal sites.

We also pay tribute to Pat Ruddy, look at some new course developments in the southeast of Ireland, compare and contrast the Top100golfcourses and Irish Golfer Magazine rankings, try to disect Ally's suspicion of 'fun' golf and explore possible upcoming course works at Portmarnock Golf Club.

Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat.

Episode music - Nectar by Dye O

Supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Special Guest: Ally McIntosh.

Joe McDonnell from McDonnell Cooper joins us to discuss the recent improvements to the 7th hole at Formby Golf Club which has recently reopened for member play. Please click on the link for an instagram video where Joe & Sam give us a sneak peak of the fruits of their labour. You can also check out this link where they detail the issues that the club asked McDonnell & Cooper to address.

Joe also walks us through some of the holes that have been lost to coastal erosion, please click on this link to a video that has been lovingly created by our friends at the Cookie Jar with input from Sam & Joe.

Finally Joe takes us on a magical mystery tour of some of the bright lights of Englands Golf Coast which stretches from The Wirral in the South to the Fylde Coast.

It's always great to catch up with Joe, we hope you enjoy our chat.

Episode music - Nectar by Dye O

Supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Special Guest: Joe McDonnell.