Cookie Jar Golf

‘’I don’t like the glamour, I just like the game’’, Ben Hogan

@Richard08156270 @RoyalStGeorges A social media manager has just lost his job Richard. Thanks for alerting us

@cookiejargolf @RoyalStGeorges Fab stuff but not sure St George’s Oxford is quite right. A Dark Blue writes…

When you think of great rotas in golf, The Open, US Open and Walker Cup naturally come to mind, but the Varsity Match has quietly built an impressive list of its own. Next weekend, Oxford and Cambridge meet for the 137th edition, with @RoyalStGeorges hosting this historic fixture that has been played across many of Britain’s finest courses over the years.

Our YouTube film, 'A Golf Journey Through East Anglia' is now live! It covers a short visit from earlier this month to see Sheringham, Great Yarmouth & Caister, and Flempton - three very different courses that all hark back to a Victorian age of design. It's an itinerary that can easily be repeated by anyone keen to explore the depth of English golf, and we hope the film whets the appetite. 🎬 bit.ly/4bgsbWk

A special guest joins the pod this week in 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch, who was kind enough to give us some time while enjoying a bit of well earned rest in New Zealand. Ian shares a refreshingly honest account of the highs and lows of his career, his 25 plus years behind the microphone, and his thoughts on the modern game. 🎧 - bit.ly/40w20ox

Happy St Patrick’s Day to all of our Irish friends and to the wonderful courses that ring the island. While we've highlighted four of the country’s biggest names here, your golfing landscape would not be the same without the lesser known but equally brilliant tracks like Strandhill and Dooks, or the wonderfully quirky gems such as Corballis and the Bann course at Castlerock. #StPatricksDay 🍀

We wouldn't usually cover US junior events, but our new Amateur Hour segment has been going down so well that we asked Hugo to take a look at the “Masters of Junior Golf” and the remarkable players it has crowned over the past decade. Once again, Hugo's penmanship is well worth 10 minutes of your time: bit.ly/4sQUhgU

Mother’s Day feels like the perfect moment to celebrate the only remaining ladies only golf club in England, and a place we absolutely adore - @FormbyLadiesGC Immaculate yet firm conditioning, strategy rewarded over strength, and the welcome absence of five hour rounds. Golf is richer because of places like this.

In what's becoming a bit of a tradition, Half Par joins Sam to recap the week at the Sunningdale Foursomes, plus touch on the incredible Gil Hanse restoration work to the New Course that has taken place this winter. 🎧 bit.ly/4cNDsP5

Congratulations to Jamie McGeoch and Ellie Lichtenhein on surviving seven rounds of match play to win the 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes. Ellie is the first Sunningdale member to win the event since 2009 - a fitting finish to one of the finest weeks in the British golfing calendar. Recap pod coming soon 🎧

Local amateurs Jamie McGeoch (The Berkshire) and Ellie Lichtenhein (Sunningdale) will face Jordan Loft (Prince's) and Jamie Dick (Forest Hills) in this afternoon’s final of the Sunningdale Foursomes. The professional pairing will have to overcome 5 shots and Ellie’s local knowledge in what promises to be an intriguing match on an otherwise windy, overcast afternoon. Balls in the air at 12:30pm, with hole by hole scoring available here: bit.ly/43LDSRm

Last week’s deep dive into the lives of Pete Dye and Alice Dye would not have been complete without the famous story of how the 17th at Sawgrass was the brainchild of Alice - who had a remarkable career in her own right, well beyond this hole. #PeteDye #TPCSawgrass #ThePlayers

Few deliveries improve the day quite like a new pair of FootJoys. Partly because another pair never goes amiss, but also because it gives us a reason to set up the lights and dust off the studio photography skills. It is no secret that we adore the Premiere series, and these new Packards are top drawer. Already looking forward to taking them out for a spin. Great work @FootJoyEurope 👏

Sawgrass returns to our screens tonight and last week’s deep dive into the life of Pete (and Alice) Dye reminded us just how much we love this place. TPC Sawgrass feels like the 1980s answer to St Andrews. It's Dye at his absolute best - oodles of strategy and intimidation, but ultimately a playable, exhilarating course. And unlike the cliché so often repeated, Sawgrass really does ask for every shot and every club in the bag. Excited to tune in tonight. #TPCSawgrass #ThePlayers

100 years apart - the 10th on Sunningdale New. Hopefully being restored to the original playing angle soon!

Our 4th hole tells a remarkable story. One controversial overnight change reshaped golf course design globally, ending penal architecture and ushering in the strategic design philosophy we still celebrate today.

Another excellent day lies ahead at the Sunningdale Foursomes as rounds two and three are completed. Unsurprisingly, plenty of big names remain in the draw, and there are several matches that might justify slipping away from work to watch in person. Of particular note: - Walker Cup hopeful Harley Smith and LET player Thalia Kirby take on defending champion Harry Crockett and his partner Palmer Hestley. - Another Walker Cup contender, Tomi Bowen, faces former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin and his son. - Meanwhile, the other half of last year’s winning pair, David Corben, and his partner meet former NCAA Champion Henry Shimp and President’s Putter winner Edward Greenhalgh. And elsewhere in the draw, rival podcaster Eddie Pepp is still going alongside Andy Murray. Also progressing are Charley Hull, Alex Fitzpatrick, Kris Kim and a host of other tour players, former Walker Cuppers and familiar names.

100 years apart - the 5th hole at Sunningdale New courtesy of Colt, Rountree and Hanse👊

With players out on both courses, the 92nd Sunningdale Foursomes is underway and the season has officially begun. 128 pairs - ranging from tour professionals and elite amateurs to everyday club golfers - are battling today to avoid the dreaded first round exit. For those not at Sunningdale, refreshing the results page is an excellent way to pass time at work. Keep up to date with the scores here: bit.ly/43LDSRm

Remarkable that some people are saying they prefer the before here. Beau Desert are doing a top job restoring their heathland and the result is one of the finest Herbert Fowler courses around. As @mikeclaytongolf says, “after is always better” 👏🏼

As always, the field at the Sunningdale Foursomes is full of familiar names and the occasional surprise entry, all hoping to navigate the unique handicap system and seven rounds of match play to join a remarkable list of past champions. David Corben and Harry Crockett managed exactly that last year, adding their names to a roll of honour that reads like a snapshot of golfing history. Among the most notable winners across the previous 91 editions are: - Joyce Wethered - Dai Rees - Max Faulkner - Peter Alliss - Sir Michael Bonallack - Peter Oosterhuis - Sam Torrance - Luke Donald - Ross Fisher - Marco Penge - Linn Grant - Maja Stark - Lottie Woad Not bad company to keep.