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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Golf Historian, author and AW Tillinghast expert, Phil Young joins us on the show for Part 2 of the History of AW Tillinghast. In this episode we dive into some of Tilly’s most famous designs, as we ponder the question of Tilly’s genius and whether it was divine genius – ie… did he just inherently understand strategic golf design or did his architecture evolve?

Stick around for the end of the show where Phil riffs on 6 of Tilly’s great designs.

This is Part 1 of a series of podcasts dedicated to the History of AW Tillinghast. In our first installment we dive into Tilly’s early years, his golf career, we explore a theory that he might have been bi-polar and end this first show his break out golf design that helped catapult his career.

We are joined by Tillinghast historian and author, Phil Young.

In our second episode of “A Golf Historian’s Scavenger Hunt we explore the course that changed golf in America and the ruins of America’s Home of Golf, then we dive into the most famous golf match perhaps in golf history and then end with the location of a match that may have determined where golf was born!

A great show made even better by the music that matches the eras:
Story #1: Scott Joplin playing Pineapple Rag in 1908
Story #2: Theme song to the movie, Caddyshack, “I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins
Story #3: John Helmich Roman’s, “Drottingholmsmusiken” written in 1744

Ralph Guldahl for a period of 4 to 5 years was the greatest golfer on the planet – even outshining his more famous peers Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson. Today on the podcast, with an assist from Warren Rogan, host of Sports Forgotten Heroes and his guest, Dr Tony Parker we share the story of the forgotten great…Ralph Guldahl.

If you like this story and just love sports, Warren Rogan’s show, Sports Forgotten Heroes may be the show for you. Check it out and thank me later.