Shows
Golf Badgers062 - Royal Liverpool’s Robot Revolution with Craig Stoba (Husqvarna)Sam Cooper and James Bledge sit down with Husqvarna’s Craig Stoba to unpack how lightweight GPS-guided mowing robots are changing daily set-ups, from virtual boundaries and millimetre-precise heights to 24/7 schedules that improve turf health and free up greenkeeping time. We get into worm-cast wins, winter cutting on wet sites, and that headline week when fairways were cut autonomously at the Women’s Open. There are app alerts, “goblin goat” selfies, and a candid look at how architecture and maintenance choices evolve when robots take care of the grind.  Send us a message if you would like anything di...
2025-10-161h 14Golf Badgers056 - Lee Strutt - Sowing Seeds and Breaking GroundJames Bledge and Lee Strutt sit down on the banks of Loch Lomond to reflect on Struttie’s unique journey through golf course management—from grassroots beginnings to directing a world-class estate. They dig into leadership, trials, robots, and how to engineer not just a golf course, but a culture. Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.
2025-08-281h 11
The Firm & Fast Golf PodcastJames Bledge - Links Manager @ Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJames Bledge the Links Manager at Royal Liverpool joins us in this episode to talk about his love for links golf, vocational green keeping, RCP @ Deal, Hoylake, drainage & irrigation, technology, STEM and inspiring the next generation.
It was great to catch up with him again, we hope you enjoy the episode.
Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound
Shoreline Serenade - Dye O.1.1Special Guest: James Bledge.
2025-06-251h 21
The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast311 - Exciting Announcement: Golf BadgersSome exciting news from us this week as we extend our ‘stable’ of podcast from 1 to 2! We’re thrilled to be bringing the Golf Badgers podcast into Cookie Jar!For those that don’t know, Golf Badgers is a popular industry and greenkeeping podcast which has been going for over a year now. The show is hosted by James Bledge (Links Manager at Royal Liverpool) and Sam Cooper (Course Architect at McDonnell & Cooper) who bring an unrivalled passion for their industries on all matters around turf health, agronomy and how it allows the golf course architecture to really s...
2025-06-0347 min
The LowDownsBernhard Delegation - Part 1Top TakeawaysBeing selected for the Bernhard Delegation was a life-changing professional milestone — delegates spoke to the honor, the effort required to be chosen, and the deep meaning behind their selection.The delegation fostered a unique bond among participants — it felt like a family, and the relationships formed over the course of the week were authentic, lasting, and filled with mutual respect and camaraderie.BTME and the BIGGA show provided world-class education and inspiration — delegates gained new perspectives and strategies that elevated their understanding of turf management on a global scale.The site visits were unforgettable and deeply impact...
2025-03-271h 00
Turf TodaySummer RecapWe hope you enjoy a small collection of sound bites from some of the interviews this summer. Some of the guests include: Chad Mark, John Ballard, Darren Davis, Mike Rollins, Thomas Bastis, James Bledge and more. There are numerous topics discussed and some great advice given. Sit back and enjoy listening to people who love the industry as much as you. Please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review for us! We read all your messages and love to hear what you have to say. If you would like to connect with t...
2024-10-0841 min
Golf Badgers038 - North & back again (or maybe not) - Bledge and Sam discuss an ambitious trip to the Arctic Circle and whether Sam might now have to live in Sweden.I think most of you are aware that over the past 3 weeks I (Sam Cooper) have been on a trip in my campervan to the Arctic.You'll remember the previous episode with Jerry Mulvihill about Lofoten Links, but perhaps you've also seen the YouTube Vlog series that Bledge and I discuss in the pod.If not, you can find the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PKP4wyE1K8&list=PLm3MFP6NZX3DsZbWVhJE-WI1rZLv_ETL0In the pod, Bledge and I also discuss the...
2024-09-0453 min
Turf TodayJames BledgeJames Bledge, Links Manager at Royal Liverpool GC, host of the 151st Open Championship, joins the guys for a wonderful conversation everyone can enjoy. Feel like you're right there on the course as James brings to us, what it's like to work and live one such a remarkable property. The experience James has gained through the years has not only helped him acheive some goals in life, but will be passed down to many young greenkeepers and help the good nature of future golf courses. Thank you to everyone in our community that supports the show.
2024-08-061h 27
Golf Badgers027 - Andy Ewence - CM at Woking on (re)building the Buckinghamshire, persuading Japanese owners and restoring the heathland at Woking.Andy Ewance has had a fascinating career.Andy joins James Bledge and Sam Cooper to share anecdotes and insights from his previous role at the Buckinghamshire, including persuading the club's Japanese owners to invest in a significant overhaul.Now, Andy is at Woking - helping to enhance one of the most architecturally significant courses in England. From improving the agronomy of the site, managing the woodland and restoring the heathland, we hope you find this interview as interesting to listen to as we did...
2024-02-231h 31
Golf Badgers022 - Season 2 - Badgers are back!Badgers - welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of the podcast. James Bledge (Links Manager, Royal Liverpool Golf Club) and Sam Cooper (Architect, Clayton, DeVries & Pont) are back home on the Wirral, hunkered down for the winter and ready to pod. This is the first half of a general catch-up. Talking about our respective 2023 autumns and what's been keeping us busy. The second half, where we'll also look to answer some of your questions, will follow soon - before getting into a new roster of guests over the coming months.
2023-12-111h 02
The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast190 - 151st Open from Hoylake - Course Manager James BledgeTom sits down with course manager James Bledge on the Tuesday of The Open to discuss how the course is shaping up and the fantastic work the greens team are doing. As you will hear, things haven't exactly gone to plan with the weather, but the team have worked incredibly hard to present the course in immaculate condition for the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Send us a message if you liked the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2023-07-1830 min
USGA Green Section PodcastJames Bledge, A Greenkeeper’s Journey to The Open Championship | Ep. 33In our latest episode, we cross the pond to chat with James Bledge, links manager at Royal Liverpool. He detailed the agronomics of links golf, prepping for a major and his experience on greenkeeping in the UK.
2023-07-1850 min
On the horizon with Glenn and HenryJuly 2023 (Open Championship Special)This month we are fortunate enough to have James Bledge the Links maanger at Royal Liverpool join us in the build up to the Open Championship to talk about his experiences whilst preparing for this years event.
If you just want to listen to James then scroll forward to 1 hour 10 to find him.
In the rest of the Podcast we discuss the new Acelperyn label with Sean Loakes the the UK syngenta technical manager and Glenn and Henry cover the key agronomic challenges in July.
2023-06-152h 10
The NCG Golf PodcastFrom the Clubhouse: Inside Royal Liverpool with Links Manager James BledgeWe're counting down the weeks to the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool and as the excitement builds for the From the Clubhouse team of Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll, they've bagged a special guest for this week's episode.
They're joined by Hoylake's Links Manager, James Bledge, to look ahead to the year's final major and talk about his stellar career in greenkeeping.
You will not want to miss the story of what happened on James' first day as a greenkeeper, and he's got plenty of anecdotes and stories from a life spent at some of g...
2023-06-021h 18The Cookie Jar Golf Podcast167 - Eclectic 18: James BledgeOn a blustery Monday in Liverpool, Tom traveled up to meet and record this podcast with Royal Liverpool links manager, James Bledge. James has had a fascinating journey in golf and the stories behind his choices are fantastic. Our Eclectic 18 podcast rules are simple, 18 holes, the hole numbers must correlate to the scorecard, and you can only pick one course once!1. Gullane #12. Royal Portrush3. Torey Pines North4. Royal St. George’s5. Princes6. Royal Cinque Ports7. Crans Sur Sierre 8. Royal West Norfolk9. Royal County Downhalfway-hut: Deal10. Royal Lyt...
2023-01-131h 09
Golf Badgers001 - Pilot - James BledgeGolf Badgers (ɡɒlf bæʤə) - noun: A group of golfers obsessed with the game.Episode 1 is a chat between the hosts. Sam Cooper is a golf architect with Clayton, DeVries & Pont whilst James Bledge is Links Manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake).With 9 months to go until the 151st Open Championship returns to Hoylake, Bledge tells us about his career to date and gives his feelings on how preparations are going.We hope you enjoy our ramblings! Send us a message if you would like anything discussed on the podcast.
2022-10-2438 min
The Talking GreenkeeperJames BledgeJames Bledge is the Course and Estates Manager at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, a true links course, located in the southeastern part of England. "Bledge" and I talk links, his tricky putting surfaces, the varying styles of golf between the USA and British Isles, music, along with other topics relating to the game we all adore.
2021-06-101h 59
MEGA InterviewsJames Bledge, Course Manager, Royal Cinque Ports, Kent, EnglandJames Bledge is the course manager at the world famous Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club and is a active part of mentorship amongst young aspiring golf course managers in the UK.
2020-05-2445 min
HATS OFF IN THE CLUBHOUSE#4 The Par 3 Third Featuring James BledgeWe've added a member to the group today with James Bledge joining us on the tee. James is the Course Superintendent at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in England. He's here to tell us about his life making one of the best courses in the world as good as it can be. We also touch on the great debate of carting, pushing/pulling or carrying and what golf brands are up and coming. Enjoy!
2020-03-071h 04