Golf History

Episode 105: TGH 105: The Underrated John Ball, Jr.

With the Open Championship returning to Royal Liverpool, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to reshare the amazing history of John Ball, Junior. Ball was the first amateur in history to win a professional major and he was the most prolific winner of the Amateur Majors in golf history.

This is the story of Hoylake’s original hero – the man that helped bring the Open to Royal Liverpool – the golfer who became the first Englishman to win the Open.

The underrated, John Ball, Junior.

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Episode 104: TGH 104: The History of LACC

Episode #104 welcomes back the USGA, with USGA Golf Historian, Katie Boyce who joins the show to discuss the History of LACC, the history of golf in Los Angeles and the USGA in California.

We hope you enjoy this wonderful pre-US Open podcast!

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Episode 103: TGH 103: The Restoration of Oak Hill: The Back 9

In episode #103 we kickoff where we left off in episode #102 – we make the turn to discuss Andrew Green’s transformational restoration of Oak Hill’s back nine and mix in some history you might not get anywhere else.

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Episode 102: TGH 102: The Restoration of Oak Hill: The Front 9

We are joined by renowned golf course architect, Andrew Green to discuss the history and restoration of the Donald Ross classic, Oak Hill’s East Course which will be the host of the 2023 PGA Championship.

On this podcast we dive into the front nine – how they changed over the years, how Andrew and his team restored them and then we sprinkle in a little bit of history behind each golf hole for measure.

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Episode 101: TGH 101: Before Augusta National

TalkinGolf History Episode 101 dives into the rich history of the events that transpired before Bobby Jones purchased the land that Augusta National sits on today. We are joined by golf historian, Greg Lamb who shares the property’s unique history – from the Native Americans who lived on the land, to the land owners who tried to make a business out of it, to the public golf resort that nealry happened here, to a retired golfer looking to design his first golf course.

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Episode 100: TGH 100: The History & Restoration of Belleair CC

Its been 5 years in the making…our 100th Episode!

Today we dive into the History and Restoration of Belleair CC, which happens to be my home club. Belleair has not only a fascinating golf history, but has just been restored to one of the best Donald Ross’ courses in the United States.

Our panel for this show includes:
Myself, Connor T. Lewis, the Founder of the Society of Golf Historians

Vaughn Halyard, the MC for this show, my producer and Board Member of the Society of Golf Historians

Hal Bodley, former President of Belleair CC, Chairman of the Restoration Committee and the author of Belleair’s 125th Anniversary Book

Jason Straka of Fry-Straka Design, who was the masterful architect who helped reno-restore Belleair’s West Course in 2022.

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Episode 99: TGH 99: The Golf Course Architecture of Donald Ross

Only one episode from our 100th show! And #99 is a doozy! Vaughn Halyard and I welcome the President of the Donald Ross Society, Brad Becken to talk about his new book, “The Golf Course Architecture of Donald Ross” which is now available for purchase at www.ClassicsofGolf.com. I promise there is something for everyone on this show- I learned a lot and I hope you do too!

We filmed and recorded this show on location at Belleair Country Club.

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Episode 98: TGH 98: The Radioactive Golfer

In Episode 98, golf historian Dave Moore joins the show to share the tragic story of US Amateur Champion, Eben Beyer who conquered the game of golf but was struck down in his youth by radium poisoning. It goes down in golf history as one of golf’s saddest stories.

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Episode 97: TGH 97: Unfiltered History with VaughnCon

What better way to kick off season 5 of the TalkinGolf History Podcast than with an unplanned podcast with my dear friend Vaughn Halyard. We had just concluded our round on the newly restored Belleair CC and Vaughn wanted to to go public with his thoughts.

What follows is a funny podcast where Vaughn and I talk about Donald Ross’ Belleair CC, our travels across the country sharing golf history through storytelling and where this podcast should go in 2023.

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Episode 96: TGH 96: The History of AW Tillinghast Part 3

This episode concludes our three part series on the History of AW Tillinghast. We kick off Part 3 with golf historian, author and Tillinghast expert, Phil Young as we enter into the Great Depression, Tillinghast’s bankruptcy and his much maligned work with the PGA of America.

We end with a high note as I ask Phil: “What three courses would one have to play to best understand the genius of AW Tillinghast?” His answer may surprise you.

This is the last episode of Season 4 – thank you for listening!

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