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Episode Notes
After a surprisingly controversial PGA Championship at Aronimink, Garrett brings on his Fried Egg Golf colleague PJ Clark to chat about championship golf course design and setup. First they discuss the factors that made Aronimink a polarizing venue: the lack of trees, the firm greens, the provocative pins, and the relatively low emphasis on driving accuracy. Then Garrett takes PJ through a brief history of the championship setup wars, starting with Robert Trent Jones’s “Open Doctor” shenanigans in the 1950s and 60s. Finally, Garrett and PJ both lay out what they’re looking for in a 21st-century major championship golf course.
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"Golf Architecture 101: The Championship Setup Wars" is an episode of Designing Golf. Runtime 1 hr 4 min. Published May 21, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
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Quick FAQ
- When was this episode published?
- May 21, 2026.
- How long is this episode?
- 1 hr 4 min.
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- Designing Golf. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
- What does this episode cover?
- Designing Golf covers golf. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.
