Old Tom Morris | The Father of Golf Architecture | The Great Golf Architects Ep. 1

Established in 1887 by Dr William Laidlaw Purves along the rugged coastline of Sandwich, Royal St George’s Golf Club holds the distinction of being the first venue outside of Scotland to host The Open Championship . Designed with traditional Victorian architectural philosophies that originally emphasized punishing hazards and blind shots, the course has undergone careful modernization by notable d...

Jack Nicklaus will forever be remembered as one of the greatest champions in golf history. But his second career changed the places where millions of golfers play the game. In the conclusion of our three-part Jack Nicklaus story, we explore the evolution of the Golden Bear as an architect—from demanding championship strategy to a broader understanding of playability, recovery and the everyday golf...

Jack Nicklaus had proven he could design championship golf courses. Now his architectural ideas were about to travel around the world. In Part Two of our Jack Nicklaus story, we follow the Golden Bear from the early solo designs of Glen Abbey and Shoal Creek through the high desert of Las Campanas and the spectacular coastlines of Cabo del Sol and Punta Espada. Along the way, we explore the evolut...

Before Jack Nicklaus became one of the world's most prolific golf-course designers, he had to learn an entirely new side of the game. In Part One of our Jack Nicklaus story, we follow the Golden Bear from his architectural education beside Pete Dye at Harbour Town to the creation of Muirfield Village Golf Club near his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Discover how championship strategy, precision, spec...

In 1950, thirteen pioneering women established the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) , fundamentally transforming the landscape of women's sports. Operating without corporate backing or media coverage, these founders acted as entrepreneurs and marketers to build a professional tour from the ground up. Key figures like Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg, and Louise Suggs contributed essential star...

⛳ The Masterpieces of Coore & Crenshaw The provided audio profiles the distinguished partnership of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw , two visionaries who revolutionized modern golf course architecture through a minimalist philosophy . Rather than imposing a signature style, the duo focuses on authenticity , asking what the natural terrain requires to create a strategic and seamless experience. Th...

What happens when a design philosophy becomes a legacy? In the final chapter of our Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw story, we explore how two architects helped change the modern conversation about golf course design. From strategic width and firm playing conditions to walking golf, natural contours, restoration, and the courage to leave remarkable land alone, their influence reaches far beyond the c...

🏌️ Are you choosing clubs based on your longest-ever shot—or on a distance you can actually depend on? In this episode, we explain why golfers 55+ can benefit from recording reliable carry and total distances instead of chasing one perfect number. You’ll learn how comfortable setup, smoother rhythm, centered contact, weather, elevation, and course conditions can all affect club selection. We also...

This audio explores the transformative rivalry between golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus , illustrating how their clashing styles redefined the sport for a mainstream audience. While Palmer, known as "The King," captivated fans with his emotional, aggressive play and blue-collar appeal, Nicklaus, dubbed "The Kid," introduced a new era of clinical precision and strategic dominance. Their...

The provided audio explores the historical significance of Royal Birkdale as a premier venue for the Open Championship , specifically focusing on the pivotal years of 1961 and 1965. It highlights how Arnold Palmer’s charismatic performance and daring recovery shots in 1961 transformed the tournament into a global spectacle , attracting an American audience and elevating the event's prestige. In co...

In this episode, we visit the breathtaking Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff, Alberta—the final destination in our three-course Canadian golf journey. Designed by legendary golf architect Stanley Thompson, Banff Springs combines mountain scenery with strategic golf. We explore how Thompson used the Bow River Valley, dramatic elevation changes, deep bunkers, and carefully planned playing...

Travel to Playa Herradura on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast for a golf experience surrounded by rivers, rainforest and remarkable wildlife. Designed by Ted Robinson Sr., La Iguana Golf Course winds through tropical vegetation at Los Sueños Resort before emerging beside Herradura Bay and the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, we explore how Robinson used streams, changing elevation and narrow jung...

Travel to Guanacaste on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast for a round where championship golf meets tropical wilderness. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Reserva Conchal winds through rolling terrain, native forest, ravines, lakes and lagoons near the white sands of Playa Conchal. Howler monkeys call from the surrounding hills, parrots move through the trees, and the course’s environmental des...

Travel to Costa Rica’s spectacular Guanacaste coastline for a round where Pacific views, dramatic elevation changes and wildlife become part of every decision. In this Everyday Golf Wins episode, we explore the Ocean Course at Peninsula Papagayo—a 6,788-yard, par-72 Arnold Palmer design carved through tropical dry forest, coastal ridgelines and terrain shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Panorami...

#ExpediaPartner At Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas, Jack Nicklaus created a golf course where golden desert dunes, deep arroyos and towering granite cliffs meet the Pacific Ocean. In this Everyday Golf Wins episode, we explore Quivira Golf Club—a 7,085-yard, par-72 adventure that climbs from sea level to positions more than 275 feet above the surf. We also examine three of its most unforgettable hole...

Travel to Mexico’s Riviera Maya for a journey through El Camaleón Golf Course at Mayakoba—a Greg Norman design that changes character as it moves through tropical jungle, mangroves, limestone canals and Caribbean coastline. Named after the chameleon, El Camaleón continually asks golfers to adapt. Sheltered tropical corridors give way to water, ancient limestone geology and exposed seaside wind. In...

Travel to Jamaica’s Caribbean coast for a journey through The Tryall Club, a historic golf destination where ocean winds, mountain terrain and a centuries-old waterwheel shape the experience. Originally designed by Ralph Plummer and later renovated by Andrew Green, Tryall moves from the Flint River and Caribbean shoreline into the hills above Sandy Bay. Along the way, golfers encounter historic aq...

🇯🇲 Cinnamon Hill: Golf, James Bond and Jamaican History Travel to Rose Hall near Montego Bay, Jamaica, for a journey through one of the Caribbean’s most fascinating golf courses. Cinnamon Hill begins beside the turquoise Caribbean Sea before climbing into the tropical hills of the historic Rose Hall Estate. Along the way, golfers encounter coastal wind, mountain elevation, centuries-old stonework,...

After Sand Hills changed modern golf architecture, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw faced an even greater challenge: proving their minimalist philosophy could succeed on completely different landscapes. In Part Two of their story, we travel from the forests and dunes of Bandon Trails to the contrasting terrain of Friar's Head and finally to the spectacular ocean cliffs of Cape Breton Island. Along the...

Discover how an unlikely partnership between landscape architect Bill Coore and Masters champion Ben Crenshaw transformed modern golf architecture. In this opening chapter, we follow their shared passion for minimalist design, the formation of their legendary partnership, and the creation of Sand Hills Golf Club—a course that forever changed the direction of golf course architecture.

In the concluding chapter of Gil Hanse's remarkable story, we explore the philosophy that has made him one of golf's most respected architects. From the bold creativity of Streamsong Black to the thoughtful restoration of Los Angeles Country Club, discover how Hanse has preserved the game's architectural heritage while creating new classics for future generations.

From the windswept shores of Scotland to the global spotlight of the Olympic Games, Gil Hanse demonstrated that great golf architecture combines strategic brilliance, natural beauty, and respect for history. In this episode, we explore Castle Stuart, the Olympic Golf Course in Rio, and the restoration philosophy that has made Hanse one of the world's most respected architects.

Before Gil Hanse became one of the world's most respected golf course architects, he was an avid student of golf's Golden Age. In this opening chapter, discover how his passion for classic architecture, thoughtful restoration, and respect for history shaped a career that would earn the trust of legendary clubs and lead to one of golf's greatest modern commissions—the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de...

Tom Doak's influence extends far beyond the remarkable golf courses that bear his name. In this concluding chapter, we explore the minimalist philosophy that reshaped modern golf architecture, the enduring work of Renaissance Golf Design, and the timeless tribute found at Old Macdonald. Discover why one architect's greatest contribution may have been reminding the golf world that the landscape its...

From the windswept dunes of Oregon to the towering sea cliffs of New Zealand, Tom Doak proved that great golf architecture isn't about imposing a style—it's about revealing the natural beauty already present in the land. Join us as we explore Pacific Dunes, Cape Kidnappers, Barnbougle Dunes, and Streamsong Blue, the courses that cemented Doak's reputation as one of the world's most influential mod...