Golf Club Talk UK

Every golfer remembers the view — that one hole, that perfect light, that feeling you never forget. Leighton & Eddie catch up for a monthly review, and Eddie is then joined by Graeme Baxter who has turned Golf and Golfing memories into art for over 30 years. His oil paintings have captured the most iconic scenes in golf — from the Swilcan Bridge to many Ryder Cup venues — " it's golf culture on canvas." Awarded the British Empire Medal by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, World renowned Golf Artist Graeme Baxter BEM captures the beauty of golf landscapes in his Original Oil Paintings and low volume Giclee editions. Born in Scotland in1958 he discovered his love of drawing followed by his love of golf. His talents led to a long and successful career capturing and recording in his paintings, the design history of the most iconic Golf Courses around the World. His work is Internationally celebrated and displayed in the most prestigious Golf Clubs and at Touring events including The Ryder Cup, Open Championship, The Presidents Cup, PGA Tour, and European Tour. Each piece reflects his passion and history for the game adding worldwide investment value to his art.​​​​​​​ https://www.graemebaxter.com/ Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information https://eddiebullockgolf.com/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

In this episode, we're joined by Luigi Goria and Roberto Chiosa, the founders of Pin Vision — a golf technology company launched in 2022 that's changing the way golfers see the course. Pin Vision provides exact measurements to pins from anywhere using GPS technology, helping golfers make more informed decisions on every shot. Beyond that, the product also offers notifications to golfers, the ability to print pin sheets, and—coming soon—pace of play technology. We dive into Luigi and Roberto's journey from the initial idea to developing the technology and bringing it to market. With a strong presence in Italy and across Europe, Pin Vision is now expanding into the UK market. This conversation explores what it takes to start a business in golf tech, how innovation like this can enhance the golfer's experience, and how the team has grown their company from concept to reality. Entrepreneurship is often an under-discussed area of the golf industry, and it was great to chat with Luigi and Roberto about their experiences and insights. 👉 Find out more about Pin Vision here Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information https://eddiebullockgolf.com/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

Leighton is joined by Tom Brooke, Natalie McColl, Gareth Morgan, and Darren Wood for a final look ahead to the Golf Club Management Conference & Exhibition, taking place from 16th–18th November. With this year's theme — "Being Future Ready" — the panel explores what it means for golf clubs to stay adaptable and forward-thinking in an ever-changing industry. In this episode: Tom Brooke discusses the inspiration behind this year's theme and highlights the keynote speakers. Natalie McColl gives an insight into the social events and awards evening. Darren Wood talks about the exhibition and what attendees can expect. Gareth Morgan outlines the education programme and how it supports professional growth. Whether you're attending the conference or not, this episode is packed with valuable insights on how golf clubs can prepare for the future and embrace change with confidence. 👉 Find out more about the conference here Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

Leighton is once again joined by golf course architect Thad Layton of Thad Layton Design to explore a recent architectural study trip. Fresh off an incredible 20+ course tour of southern England and the Midlands, Thad shares the motivations behind the trip, how he organized it, and the design lessons he's bringing back to his own work. Many architects make this journey to the UK, but the focus here was on courses of southern England—some designed by the most notable names in golf architecture, and others by architects less well known but equally influential. The conversation also explores the huge variety of golf course styles he encountered along the way, from downland and links to the classic English heathland. We then walk through a good number of the courses Thad played including a few of his favourites (this was Thad's order but we work in reverse in the interview): Sunningdale, West Hill, Berkshire, Addington, Worplesdon, Woking, Swinley Forest, Liphook, St. George's Hill, Huntercombe, Walton Heath (Old), West Sussex, Rye, Cinque Ports, Royal St. George's, North Foreland, Royal Worlington & Newmarket, Brancaster, Woodhall Spa, Hollinwell, Little Aston, Pennard, Cleeve Hill, Minchinhampton, Painswick Here's Thad's original appearance on The Greenprint - episode 9. Check it out! https://thadlaytondesign.com/ A big thanks to our Show Partner - Toro Check them out here! https://www.golfclubtalk.uk/the-green-print/ https://www.instagram.com/thegreenprintgolf/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-greenprint-golf/?viewAsMember=true www.golfclubtalk.uk golfclubtalkuk@gmail.com Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Sign up to our Newsletter here

In this episode, Leighton is joined by England Golf regular Matt Draper, Laura Yapp (Junior Development Manager at England Golf), and Martin Crowder (Head of Development at The Golf Foundation) to explore the Junior Journey — a collaborative initiative between England Golf and The Golf Foundation. Together, they discuss how the partnership is creating opportunities to inspire children and young people to play golf, nurturing a lifelong love for the game. The conversation delves into how clubs can: • Support juniors to start — and stay — in golf • Build strong junior sections through workforce and volunteer development • Grow the game by encouraging more young people to take that first swing From first lessons to club membership, this episode shines a light on how a united approach can create sustainable junior golf pathways across the UK. It also includes a wider discussion on Junior Golf at venues across the country 🔗 Learn more: England Golf – Junior Journey Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

In this episode, Leighton kicks things off with some exciting announcements — including our upcoming Workshop in partnership with Club Benchmarking and a potential tour to the GMA/ASTMA Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Full details are available in the show notes below. Leighton and Eddie are then joined by James Brockington, General Manager of Henley Golf Club. James might be making more regular appearances on the show going forward — perhaps even stepping in as a co-host or host! We dive deep into what makes James tick — both as a person and as a GM. From earning his degree in the U.S. and spending time in the finance industry, to developing his leadership philosophy focused on team building and empowerment, James shares valuable insights into his professional journey and management approach. We also ask James what he would do differently if he could start again with his own club and what some of the challenges are for Golf Clubs currently. Henley Golf Club is currently undergoing course improvement works and considering a major clubhouse project, so there's plenty on James's plate — and plenty to discuss. Previous episode including James: https://traffic.libsyn.com/golfclubtalkuk/Episode_109_final.mp3 🔗 Links & Resources *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "3929dc62-6998-424f-aee7-e72cae21d408" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> GCTUK/Club Benchmarking Workshop – Details & Registration GMA/ASTMA Conference Tour – Melbourne – Learn More Henley Golf Club – Website Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information https://eddiebullockgolf.com/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

A shorter episode this week, but packed with exciting news and great conversation! We start with an announcement about our upcoming interactive workshop on "Effective Budgeting Using Data," hosted by Golf Club Talk UK in collaboration with Club Benchmarking EMEA. This hands-on session will use real club data (gathered from delegates ahead of time) to explore the financial health of clubs and how data can drive smarter budgeting decisions. Why not bring your Chairman or a Board member along! Workshop Details: 📅 Wednesday, 29th October 🕥 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM (includes lunch) 🎓 Presenters: James Burns, John McCormack & David Holmes 👉 Click here for more information and to book your place We're then joined by Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation. Leighton caught up with Doug at the Golf Business Expo at Whittlebury Hall, where they discussed the current state of the game, the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in golf, and several of the most topical issues being debated across the industry today. Doug leads a thriving members' association that provides information, education, and networking opportunities for its members—many of whom represent proprietary-owned golf venues and have a vested stake in seeing the industry and the game of Golf, prosper. https://www.ukgolffederation.com/ https://www.clubbenchmarking.eu/ Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information https://eddiebullockgolf.com/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!

In this episode, brought to you in partnership with Toro, we sit down with Andy Johnston — General Manager, Director of Agronomy, and Head of Design at Sentosa Golf Club. A hugely respected figure in the world of golf, Andy shares an inside look at Sentosa GC, discussing its unique agronomic and climatic challenges and how he has helped shape both the courses and the wider infrastructure to world-class standards. Drainage is a constant topic in course management — but at Sentosa, it's absolutely critical. Andy explains how the club tackles these issues and the innovative design approaches that keep the courses in peak condition year-round. We also dive into Sentosa's forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, from waste management and rainwater capture to the use of Toro's machinery and advanced irrigation systems — all designed to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of play. https://www.sentosagolf.com/ A big thanks to our Show Partner - Toro Check them out here! https://www.golfclubtalk.uk/the-green-print/ https://www.instagram.com/thegreenprintgolf/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-greenprint-golf/?viewAsMember=true www.golfclubtalk.uk golfclubtalkuk@gmail.com Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Sign up to our Newsletter here

On this episode of GCMA Insight on Golf Club Talk UK, we welcome Tom Brooke, CEO of GCMA, along with Dave Reeves and Matt Orwin of Promote People. The conversation focuses on one of the most important topics in the industry right now: people, recruitment, and the welfare of employees at golf clubs. This issue has come to the forefront recently, ranking highly in a Golf Club Talk UK poll on the most pressing challenges facing golf. Tom Brooke supports this with valuable insights from a recent survey carried out by Sporting Insights. We take a look at how employees and employers can make sure that "the right fit" is found for both parties. This can enhance the satisfaction, perfomance and tenure of employees while delivering great results for clubs. David and Matt share advice for employees on how to position themselves as the best possible candidates for employers, while also discussing effective recruitment strategies for golf clubs. The conversation also highlights the importance of employee well-being and self-care—an area that is becoming increasingly critical in the industry. Does "work-life balance" exist?? Lastly, Tom talks about the partnership with Promote People and the services being offered in conjunction with the GCMA for its members. This is a fascinating and timely discussion that offers practical takeaways for both employees and employers alike. https://promotepeople.co.uk/ https://www.gcma.org.uk/conference-2025/ Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

This episode takes us to The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa – the home of England Golf. Leighton is joined by Matt Draper, along with Peter Moore (Courses Director) and Lisa Brown (Operations Manager), to explore this world-class venue that remains highly accessible and relevant to golfers everywhere. With two outstanding courses – including the renowned Hotchkin, ranked 58th in the world – plus excellent practice facilities and a brand-new clubhouse on the horizon, Woodhall Spa is setting a great standard for the future of golf in England. Through its strong membership packages, coaching programs, and course initiatives, The National Golf Centre is not only raising the bar for its own members and visitors but also demonstrating to clubs across the country how to grow membership and elevate the overall customer experience. Come and check it out for yourself! https://www.woodhallspagolf.com/england_golf We're also joined by Nicole Wheatley to give us an update on the ever-growing Women in Golf Awards, but also to provide a reminder that nominations close on September 30th. England Golf is proud to sponsor one of the awards. https://womeningolfawards.co.uk Connect with Us: Instagram: @golfclubtalkuk Website: Golf Club Talk UK https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-walker-2708b627/ A big thanks to our partner - Toro Click here for more information Support us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk Rate & Review Please leave a 5-star review and share this episode with your golf circle!