The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast

This episode we reflect on GB&I’s Walker Cup win, their first in 11 years, and the scale of the comeback from a difficult morning session to a dramatic finish on the 18th green.

We talk through the setting at Lahinch, which we describe as an excellent venue for the event, with strong support from the club, the town and the crowds throughout the week. We also note the work of captain Dean Robertson and the wider team around the side.

We cover how the morning foursomes went badly for GB&I, with the Americans controlling play in the wind and taking a clear lead into lunch. We say the mood was flat at that point, but that the team room changed things and GB&I came out with much more energy in the afternoon singles.

A big part of the discussion is the series of key matches that turned the contest. We talk about Stuart Grehan’s comeback win over Preston Stout, Luke Poulter’s result against Ethan Fang, Jack Whaley’s dominant victory over William Jennings, and the pressure moments involving Tyler Weaver, Niall Shiels-Donegan, Elliot Baker, Conor Graham and Josh Hill.

We finish with the decisive final sequence, where Josh Hill held his nerve to win the hole that secured the Walker Cup. We describe the celebrations, the emotion around the green, and the sense that this was a remarkable team win built on resilience and momentum.
Send us a message if you liked the show
Support the show
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website

Day one of the Walker Cup at Lahinch in the bag, and we're recapping the action. 2 points from Niall Shiels Donegan no doubt the highlight, as well as a stellar comeback from Stuart Grehan against WAGR #1 Preston Stout. A betterball score of 60 from the pair, and carding a -7 round, yet never leading until the final putt was a sign of the standard of that match.
Match results from the day below, and roll on day 2!

Morning Foursomes (GB&I 2½ – 1½ USA)
1 | Stuart Grehan / Eliot Baker | Halved | Preston Stout / Ethan Fang
2 | Connor Graham / Tyler Weaver | 1 up | Kihei Akina / Jay Leng
3 | Sam Easterbrook / Luke Poulter | 1 up | Miles Russell / Tyler Watts
4 | Niall Shiels Donegan / Josh Hill | 4 & 3 | Ryder Cowan / Josiah Gilbert
Afternoon Singles (GB&I 4 – 4 USA)
1 | Stuart Grehan | 1 up | Preston Stout
2 | Jack Whaley | 1 up | Ethan Fang
3 | Connor Graham | 1 up | William Jennings
4 | Tyler Weaver | 2 & 1 | Jay Leng Jr.
5 | Ben Bolton | 2 & 1 | Stewart Hagestad
6 | Luke Poulter | 2 & 1 | Miles Russell
7 | Niall Shiels Donegan | 3 & 2 | Tyler Watts
8 | Eliot Baker | 3 & 2 | Josiah Gilbert
After Day 1: GB&I 6½ – 5½ USA)
Send us a message if you liked the show
Support the show
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website

With Walker Cup week upon us, we sit down with the Lord of Lag Putting himself, Dr Darragh Garrahy, to talk about one of his favourite subjects.
There’s a twist this time, though, as Darragh takes on the role of quizmaster, requiring very little effort to expose Sam & Tom’s rather thin understanding of the Walker Cup.
Along the way, he shares a tonne of brilliant titbits from the history of the match and this year’s host venue, Lahinch, with stories featuring some of the great characters to have graced the contest. From John Burke, Leonard Crawley, Bernard Darwin and JB Carr, to Frank Stranahan, Stiggy Hodgson and Don Cherry, plus plenty more besides.
A fun one, packed with stories, and a quiz you can play along with in the car!
Send us a message if you liked the show
Support the show
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website

This week's course diaries episode takes us back to East Lothian to visit the East Links at North berwick, otherwise known as The Glen. Widely believed to be the first course ever designed by 5-time Open Champion James Braid, whose work would see him revise, refine or design over 500 courses, as well as reputedly being the first ever Municipal Golf Course.

We cover the course’s history, as well as the dillema facing The Glen, with the reported buyout talks involving Ancient Links Golf Company, whose mission is to protect the ancient Scottish links for the future, and who have recently taken control of Scotscraig as well as Forfar Golf Club. 

Ownership strcuture aside, we also talk about the course. An exceptional site for golf, above the shore with views of Bass Rock, Tantalon Castle, and the coastline. We had an absolute blast here, and strongly encourage anyone travelling through to stop off and visit this historic part of the golfing landscape in East Lothian!
Send us a message if you liked the show
Support the show
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website

With Jack Whaley becoming on the third Englishman to win the coveted Havemeyer Trophy on Sunday evening at Merion (behind Matt Fitzpatrick & Harold Hilton), Sam, Tom & Peter wax lyrical about his performance, the venue, the event and what feels like an increased level of attention the golf world is paying to elite amateur golf. 
As well as his exemption into both the US Open, Open Championship, and an invitation to the Masters (provided he behaves himself between now and April), Jack Whaley also picks up a Walker Cup selection. The news comes with the announcement of the team that will head to Co. Clare in the first week of September where Dean Robertson's GB&I side are looking to prevent USA from their sixth consecutive title. The full team can be found below, and an article from the half par kid ca be found here profiling the two teams. 
• Eliot Baker, England, Tiverton, 23
• Ben Bolton, England, Enville, 19
• Sam Easterbrook, England, Olton, 21
• Connor Graham, Scotland, Blairgowrie, 19
• Stuart Grehan, Ireland, County Louth, 33
• Josh Hill, England, Fox Den, 22
• Luke Poulter, England, Woburn, 22
• Niall Sheils Donegan, Scotland, Meadow Club, 21
• Tyler Weaver, England, Bury St Edmunds, 21
• Jack Whaley, England, Rotherham, 22
Reserves:
1. Thomas Higgins, Ireland, Roscommon, 23
2. David Howard, Ireland, Fota Island, 27
Send us a message if you liked the show
Support the show
If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website