Australian Golf Passport

Part two of what has become a three-part series commemorating perhaps the most important moment for the game of golf in Australia. This edition of the podcast is another focussed on the life and times of Dr Alister MacKenzie. We explore his 1926 voyage on the RMS Otranto from the UK to Australia, his communication with Australian golf clubs, and the nitty grity of his design work on our courses. Published on the morning of October 19 2026 – 100 years to the day since MacKenzie docked in Fremantle and set foot on Australia to commence this historic visit. We conclude the episode with a focus on his work at NSWGC, and his departure for New Zealand. Our final instalment in this trilogy will explore the final years of Alister’s life and work. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed the research & presentation. A huge thank you to all of those who assisted – our bibliography for this episode is long and illustrious. Full details of all the source materials are found on Instagram, along with all the images we discuss during the episode. We’ve also uploaded this episode to YouTube for those who want to look instead of just listen. Thanks also to our voice expert Alan! We think he’s reallybrought the words of the Good Doctor to life. Australian Golf Passport podcast is supported by:⁠⁠Currents Golf⁠⁠ golf booking software⁠⁠Angus and Grace Go Golfing⁠⁠ apparel⁠⁠Seed Golf⁠⁠ balls Images related to this episode can be found on our ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing WithMe-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com Additional music – Highland Hymn by Bonnie Grace / courtesyof www.epidemicsound.com

A special one for our AGP audience this time around. Commemorating perhaps the most important moment for the game of golf in Australia. This edition of the podcast is the first of three dedicated to the life and times of Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Published to coincide with the centenary of his Australian visit in the last months of 1926, we take a deep dive into Alister’s life – starting with schooling years, the Boer War, progressing to his work with camouflage during World War I, and his transition from medicine to golf. His marriage, work at Alwoodley, Moortown and elsewhere, association with Colt and his map of The Old Course – it is all covered. We conclude the episode with a look at Melbourne, Australia and the world in 1926, setting the stage for the time in which MacKenzie’s Australian voyage is confirmed. We explore a few rabbit holes and take the odd detour along the way for good measure. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed the research and presentation. A huge thank you to all of those who assisted – our bibliography for this episode is long and illustrious. Full details of all the source materials are found on Instagram, along with all the images we discuss during the episode. We’ve also uploaded this episode to YouTube for those who want to look instead of just listen. Australian Golf Passport podcast is supported by:⁠⁠Currents Golf⁠⁠ golf booking software⁠⁠Angus and Grace Go Golfing⁠⁠ apparel⁠⁠Seed Golf⁠⁠ balls Images related to this episode can be found on our ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing WithMe-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A few little snippets to discuss before we focus on the headline act for this episode. Scott and Matt discuss the imminent opening of some new holes at Newcastle Golf Club, with the work by Scott Champion and Bob Harrison looking really good.Lovedale Farm comes in for some discussion – specifically the ongoing issue of who is actually at the helm from a design perspective. Read the Planet Golf article addressing this. And most importantly – we discuss Barwon Heads, in all its old school glory. Situated in a gorgeous seaside village, the course is close to the beach and enjoys wonderful terrain. An enjoyable mix of short and long holes, the course is so reminiscent of so much high calibre UK golf. The closest thing to an East Coast English or Scottish links in the southern hemisphere.As promised in the episode – the link to enquire about stay and play packages in the glorious and recently refurbished Barwon Heads clubhouse.Australian Golf Passport is supported by:⁠Currents Golf⁠ golf booking software⁠Angus and Grace Go Golfing⁠ apparel⁠Seed Golf⁠ ballsImages related to this episode can be found on our ⁠Instagram⁠.Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com

This week's episode is a chat between Scott and our guest Mark Panopoulos. We cover his pursuit to play every golf course in Australia - inspired by an epiphany in Kakadu National Park, sand greens golf, his upbringing on the NSW South Coast and life as a professional golfer in Australia.Australian Golf Passport is supported by:Currents Golf golf booking softwareAngus and Grace Go Golfing apparelSeed Golf ballsImages related to this episode can be found on our Instagram.Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A few topics covered on this episode – ranging from Royal Park Golf Course, social media activity of golf clubs, and hickory golf. Firstly we touch on the community consultation process and impending change in the Royal Park precinct of Melbourne, which may have ramifications for the golf course. We touch on a couple of examples of social media activity from local golf clubs and discuss how badly it is so often done, and how social media activity by golf clubs could be done better. We round out the episode with a discussion of hickory golf. The clubs, the history, the makers, and the mode of play. Courses suited to hickory and more. This stems from Matt’s recent participation in the 2026 Victorian Hickory Shaft Championships, staged at Barwon Heads, and is the springboard into our next episode in which we focus exclusively on Barwon Heads Golf Club. As discussed in the episode –  The State Government & Melbourne City Council’s plans for the Royal Park precinct here - https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/royal-park-master-plan-review/project-overview Erik Anders Lang returns to Melbourne in October and will berevisiting Royal Park – the site of the first ever Random Golf Club event. For those interested in participating in the event scheduled for late October a link is here. https://randomgolfclub.com/en-au/products/royal-park-melbourne-mad-scramble?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web&fbclid=PAdGRleAUZUb5mdHNoBP4LvXBkb2YCZmRpZBZQ1TG-bcZtrWeM36ZSP_u5X3m38uV4ZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMTI0MDI0NTc0Mjg3NDE0AAGnU1zCrAG-aLuG9cn_k7H0ELfFmvDnQjS9_FJ8H00FHg0zCxMp0sPq6fG40tA_aem_OY-MjUM1IE6i6ms6c4JRIQ The link to follow for the 2027 Australian Hickory Shaft championships (including multi-day sandbelt play) is belowhttps://australianhickory.golfsocietyaust.comThe Australian Golf Heritage Society - http://www.australiangolfheritage.org.au/index.html Golf Society of Australia – https://golfsocietyaust.com/ You can follow GSA on Facebook too…Our Podcast is published with support from Angus And Grace Go Golfing. Check their insta page and website for some of the best golf apparel on the planet. It's shorts season already in Sydney - but still time for sweaters and trousers in Melbourne. Grab what you need and look stylish on the course. We thank Matt – our OG partner. Thanks to Dean and everyone at Seed Golf – they continue to provide 20% off for Australian Golf Passport listeners via the code AGP at checkout. Get your hands on some premium golf balls at a super low price. Once you’ve tried them you will be so thankful. And if you’re a dedicated Seed player – doyour wallet a favour and buy a box of loosies. It’s one of the best bargains in golf. Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagrampage (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter / X (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators when photos or video is not captured by Scott or Matt.Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop PlayingWith Me-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com