Under Par Over Time

When most people think of golf trophies, one image comes to mind: a silver jug held high above a champion's head as crowds cheer and history is made. But the Claret Jug almost didn't exist at all. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we're diving into the fascinating history of golf's most famous trophy, from the red leather Challenge Belt that came before it to the strange series of events tha...

Golf has four major championships, but only one existed before all the others. Before Augusta National. Before the U.S. Open. Before the PGA Championship. Before modern golf even looked the way it does today. In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into the history of The Open Championship, the oldest major championship in golf. Sources The R&A Prestwick Golf Club St Andrews Links...

The U.S. Open didn’t start as the massive championship we know today. In 1895, the tournament featured just 10 professionals, one amateur, and a total purse of only $335. Today, it stands as one of the four major championships in golf with millions in prize money, global television coverage, rotating championship venues, and some of the toughest course setups in professional golf. In this episode...

There are tough golf courses… And then there’s Oakmont. In this episode of Under Par Over Time , we’re diving into one of the most demanding and respected courses in the game, Oakmont Country Club. Built in 1903 with one goal in mind—to challenge the best players in the world, Oakmont has become synonymous with difficulty. From lightning-fast greens that can exceed 14 on the Stimpmeter to over 170...

There’s something about watching professional golf in person that completely changes how you see the game. In this episode of Under Par Over Time , Sammy Jo takes you inside the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, a course that challenges players in a very different way than most stops on the PGA Tour. From tight fairways and some of the smallest greens on tour to the iconic tartan jacket, th...

Professional golf didn’t always look like it does today. In fact, it almost didn’t exist at all. In this episode of Under Par Over Time , Sammy Jo explores the origins of professional golf and how the game transformed from loosely organized tournaments into the structured system we know today. Sources & Research PGA of America: historical archives and founding records PGA Tour: structure, play...

Before golf course architects designed bunkers as strategic hazards, they formed naturally across the windswept linksland of Scotland. In Episode 2 of Under Par Over Time , Sammy Jo explores the surprising origins of golf bunkers.....and how sheep, coastal winds, and centuries of erosion helped shape one of the most recognizable features in the game. You’ll learn: How Scotland’s linksland shaped t...

In 1931, during the Great Depression, Bobby Jones made a bold decision. He purchased a bankrupt plant nursery in Augusta, Georgia and set out to build something entirely new. That land would become Augusta National Golf Club , home of The Masters Tournament . In this premiere episode of Under Par Over Time , Sammy Jo explores the history of Augusta National, the vision behind its design, and how A...