We're delighted to welcome the ever-thoughtful and well-travelled author and golfer Richard Pennell to the show.

Following his acclaimed debut Grass Routes, Richard has recently released his second book, Common Grounds, a fascinating exploration of lesser-known yet deeply compelling golf courses found on common land across the UK and Ireland. These courses often play a vital role in their local communities and occupy a unique place in the game, defined by quirky, characterful designs that consistently delight and surprise those who discover them. Many of them designed by names such as Colt, Simpson, Fowler, Braid, Abercrombie and J.H Taylor.

Richard has a rare gift for telling the stories of these places, articulating their history, culture, and charm with great skill and sensitivity. But it's not all romance and idiosyncrasy, as some of the architecture found on these courses has drawn the attention of architects from around the world, eager to study the ideas and inspiration that can inform their own design philosophies. (See, for example, Thad Layton's discussion of Minchinhampton Old, Painswick, and Cleeve Hill in Episode 16.) Click here to listen

The courses featured in Common Grounds span England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Some you'll recognize instantly; others you may struggle to pronounce, but all of them have stories worth hearing and form a great topic of architectural conversation.

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Glenelg Golf Club has been completely reshaped through a long, multi-year redevelopment that in 2021 brought architects, Neil Crafter and Ryan Van Der Veen together to modernize the course while protecting the character that makes it memorable. Neil Crafter started the process back in the late 1990's and more recently, with Ryan from 2021 to it's recent completion and opening. The guiding design philosophy and a big part of this story is to challenge golfers through strategy and interesting green complexes rather than sheer length, creating holes that reward smart decision-making. That approach also includes embracing "quirk" as an intentional design element—features that give the course personality and make individual holes stand out.

Sustainability sits at the center of the club's future direction. A major upgrade to the irrigation system has improved water efficiency and course conditioning, while a broader push to integrate natural landforms and native vegetation reinforces environmental responsibility. Reducing the number of bunkers has also been a strategic choice, aimed at improving playability without diluting the tactical challenge.

Throughout the process, Glenelg has relied heavily on member engagement, using feedback to refine decisions and maintain alignment with the club community. As a result, the course remains one of Australia's highest-regarded golfing experiences—challenging, enjoyable, and now better adapted for long-term environmental and design sustainability.

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We're really pleased to welcome Paul Jansen to The Greenprint. Paul has built an impressive career in the world of golf architecture, and we kick things off by exploring his early journey in the industry, including a formative stint with Faldo Design.

From there, we dive into two of his standout ventures: @himalayasgolf and @golfinsmallspaces, both developed in collaboration with Sir Nick Faldo. Paul shares insights into the growing demand for innovative short-game practice areas, short courses, and state-of-the-art putting greens. His designs focus on thoughtful detail and authentic playability, allowing golfers to train in conditions that closely mirror real-world scenarios.

We then shift to the spectacular Ponta do Pargo project in Madeira — a long-term passion for Paul. Leighton recently visited the site during the GCAE conference and had the privilege of touring the in-progress course alongside Paul and Sir Nick themselves. Paul explains the dramatic nature of the landscape, the design opportunities it offers, and the challenges the team has navigated along the way. Set to open in 2027, Ponta do Pargo is shaping up to be something truly special.

Learn more about Paul's work at Himalayas Golf: https://himalayasgolf.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

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https://buymeacoffee.com/gctuk

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