The Yolk with Doak, our series with golf architect Tom Doak, returns with Andy visiting Tom in Traverse City, Michigan, and sitting down for a wide-ranging conversation. In this first installment, they field a variety of reader questions. Among other things, they talk about how Tom uses (or resists over-using) template concepts in his work, how his book project on routing has led him to reassess some of his past courses, whether we should look to state golf associations as potential champions of affordable and interesting courses, and how modern green speeds have changed the way we design greens and play the game.
During his long playing career, Brad Faxon won eight PGA Tour events, participated in two Ryder Cups, and became known as one of the best putters in golf history. Currently he serves as an analyst for Fox Sports’ USGA telecasts and a putting consultant to tour pros. Brad joined Andy at the PGA Show to discuss the art of the interview, the mental and emotional dimensions of golf, the importance of good architecture at tournament courses, and Brad’s memories of growing up in Rhode Island and learning about Golden Age design.
At the PGA Show, Andy sits down with Billy Draddy, the creative director at Summit Golf Brands and founder of B. Draddy. They chat about Billy’s youthful days as a caddie at Winged Foot and Brookline before getting into his background in the clothing business. They cover his failures and success, the links between garment and golf course design, the challenges of pushing an against-the-grain product, and the wonders of alpacas.
For the first time since May 2018, we welcome Bill Coore back to the podcast. Andy and Bill discuss the lack of sand bunkers and the tight, intricate routing at Sheep Ranch, Coore & Crenshaw's upcoming course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. In addition, they talk about the late Pete Dye, Bill's mentor, and Bill's own Dye-like willingness to hire associates who have little to no golf experience. Andy and Bill cover various other topics, including the recent removal of Trinity Forest, a Coore & Crenshaw design, from the PGA Tour rota; what Bill learned from watching the pros at his recently renovated Plantation Course at Kapalua; and his thoughts on some of golf's most under-appreciated holes.
In honor of the great golf architect Pete Dye, who passed away last week, Andy and Garrett play and discuss several clips from past podcast episodes in which the guests discussed their experiences with Dye. Anecdotes include how Dye’s work inspired Bill Coore to get into golf course design, how Tom Doak’s experience on Dye’s construction crew caused him to turn down an offer from Robert Trent Jones, and how an aerial photo of PGA West changed the direction of Brian Silva’s career. Also featured is a segment from a yet-to-be-released podcast with Kohler Co. (Blackwolf Run, Whistling Straits) Director of Grounds Mike Lee.
Mike Bolan—the owner of the Eagle Springs Golf Resort, the oldest golf course in Wisconsin—joins Andy on the podcast. Andy and Mike talk about the golf course and its history, and how Mike’s family has owned the course since 1893. Mike opens up about the difficulties of ownership in today’s golf landscape and details how he has kept Eagle Springs afloat over the years.
Geoff Ogilvy joins Andy to talk about his experience being an assistant captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup. The two discuss the tournament and the brilliance of Royal Melbourne. Geoff talks about why Royal Melbourne stood out from the typical tour stop and why it allowed the best players to elevate their games. He also tells the story of his recent walk-off hole-in-one at Goat Hill Park and makes some predictions about the next decade in golf.
