The Firm & Fast Golf Podcast

Scotsman Iain Forrester has been a golf professional since 1983, moving to The Netherlands to become the Head Professional at Hoenshuis Golf & Country Club in Limburg. Iain believes that “……a PGA Professional needs to have a diverse skillset – a jack of all trades and a master of one or two. That’s what I’ve tried to do with my career, to be as flexible as possible, learn as many skills as possible and then have a niche that separates you from others.” Iain’s particular niche of choice focusses on maintaining and preserving the history of golf, in particular the way it was played in the past with wooden hickory clubs. Iain repairs and restores hickory equipment for fellow collectors while also suppling sets for hickory events throughout Europe. As if that’s not enough he has also written extensively about hickory golf and golf history in general. Safe to say he’s a great man to have on the pod to talk about on all things relating to hickory and Dutch golf. Iain's website can be found here [https://hickoryclubs.eu/] The Golfika article on the history of British Handicapping mentioned in the show can be found here [https://en.golfika.com/_files/ugd/72472f_cdab7f2449764a07881a5d9711ca6a67.pdf] - pages 6 - 11. Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy listening. Episode music supplied under license from Epedemic Sound Shoreline Serenade - Dye O.1.1

Iain Forrester is a Scottish Golf Professional who has been based in The Netherlands since 1988. He joined me recently for an extensive chat about Hickory Golf, Golf in the Netherlands and his life in golf. This is a story he forgot to tell us, thankfully I managed to press record again before we ended our time together. The preceding conversation was most enjoyable and will be released over the coming days... keep an eye out for it! If you're enoying the pod, I would be very grateful if you could submit a review on your podcast hosting platform of choice. It really would be appreciated. Trailer sound track supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound Earthbound (Instrumental) by Victor Lundberg Special Guest: Iain Forrester.

Aspiring honorary Irishman, Richard Pennell, joins us on this episode to reminisce about four golf trips he undertook to Ireland over the past 12 months. The North Coast & Donegal featured heavily and rightly so. The intrepid traveller also found time to schedule two whistle stop visits to County Mayo on the very Wild Atlantic Way, while also visiting a smattering of what the Dublin area has to offer from a golfing perspective. It amounted to a links overload which left Richard energised and plotting an imminent return. We hope the pod may give you some ideas as to where you might travel to in 2025, however, word of warning it might also make you a little envious that Richard passes these visits off as 'work'..... Either way, many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy our chat! One of the last few copies of Richard's first book Grass Routes can be purchased by following this link [https://pitchmarks.bigcartel.com/product/grass-routes-by-richard-pennell] The Links Diary [https://www.thelinksdiary.com/no-10] Richard has written some great pieces on his @pitchmarks substack account and elsewhere. Please find a few links below to musings on some of his travels around Ireland: County Louth - currently a blank piece of paper.... he has promised us one, just as soon as inspiration arrives Royal Dublin - a work in progress, early 2025 methinks #71 - Portmarnock [https://pitchmarks.substack.com/p/pitchmarks-71-3rd-november-2024-very] #50 - Ballyliffin [https://pitchmarks.substack.com/p/pitchmarks-50-16th-june-2024-the] The North Coast [https://golftoday.co.uk/on-the-causeway-coast/] - an Article that appeared in Golf Today Episode music used under license from Epidemic Sound Special Guest: Richard Pennell.

Mike Clayton joins me on this episode to provide us with an update on grow in at 7 Mile Beach, The Sandbelt Invitational, the Australian Summer of Golf and some local projects that Clayts, Harley Kruse and Lukas Michel have been working on recently. We also explore; the challenges that flatter sites present to the course designer, the relative under appreciation of English Golf, Tom Simpson, CDP in France, why routing and flow are important elements in course design and some bucket list design projects. Many thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show! Pic credits - CDP Golf & 7 Mile Beach Episode music used under license from Epidemic Sound Special Guest: Mike Clayton.

After a summer break filled with a research project (which is almost assuredly going to translate into an episode), F&F are back with a new episode recently recorded with Colin Byrne... Many listeners will recognize Colin's name as bag man supremo with more than 40 years logged thus far as a globe trotting golfing sherpa. He has caddied for many of the modern greats including Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Darren Clarke and Fred Couples. We take a trip down memory lane with Colin to explore writing, winning US Opens at Shinnecock Hills, bad bahaviour and Q school amongst other topics. We hope you enjoy the chat. As mentioned during the show, copies of Bagman 1 & 2 are available online via the links below (you can also access them through an Irish Times online subscription) https://www.amazon.com/Bagman-Inside-Exclusive-World-Professional/dp/0954865308/ref=sr_1_11?sr=8-11 [https://www.amazon.com/Bagman-Inside-Exclusive-World-Professional/dp/0954865308/ref=sr_1_11?sr=8-11] https://www.amazon.com/Bagman-Inside-Ropes-Leading-Looper/dp/0954865383/ref=sr_1_13?sr=8-13 [https://www.amazon.com/Bagman-Inside-Ropes-Leading-Looper/dp/0954865383/ref=sr_1_13?sr=8-13] Colin has also released another book, entitled The Little White Ball, which is full of practical advice on improving your game, link below https://www.amazon.com/Little-White-Ball-score-ability-ebook/dp/B01JBHUPSE [https://www.amazon.com/Little-White-Ball-score-ability-ebook/dp/B01JBHUPSE] Episode music used under license from Epidemic Sound Special Guest: Colin Byrne.