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I'm on the green committee of my local club, and we have a master plan that was created by Kevin Hargrave back around 2019 before I was involved. We used LaBar to execute part of the plan for the range, practice green, and part of the 1st hole.

We're now looking to execute some or all of the bunker renovations in the master plan, and collecting input/bids from builders. We don't necessarily need a big firm like LaBar to complete this project quickly, nor do we need strict adherence to the master plan.

I think we would do well to hire a shaper with good background to come in with a small-ish team that is knowledgeable enough to give their own recommendations on style (flash face vs grass face and flat bottom), placement, and how decisions will impact maintenance practices (we're in an area susceptible to wash outs). Whoever we hire will have some freedom of creative input, but more than anything we need them to function.

Any suggestions who I should be talking to are welcome.

Hello!

Kicking off this Tuesday with a big time polo deal. We're giving FEGC members exclusive access to a Polo Bundle Promo. When you buy three B. Draddy polos from our Bundle Collection, you'll get 35% off your purchase. That's a savings of over $100! Choose from a variety of B. Draddy's ultrasoft pima cotton polos to Draddy Sport's cool fabric performance polos.The promo only lasts through Friday, May 8th, so take advantage and stock up.

Here's how to shop:

1. Click here and enter the password: polo
2. Choose your polos and customize your selections with Fried Egg Golf, The Shotgun Start, and FEGC logos.
3. When three polos are added to your cart, your discount will automatically be applied. You'll get three polos for around $240!

Orders will begin shipping on May 20th. Don't miss out!

Questions? Let me know in the comments or email me at meg@thefriedegg.com.

Having looked over Garrett's Twitter feed as all this conflicting information about East Potomac flies about the past week or so, I just wanted to leave a note of appreciation for all the reporting he has done and the unbelievable levels of patience he has for setting the record straight with bad faith social media trolls. Keep up the fight, Garrett!

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/john.cusick/viz/PGA_Signature_Events/Summary

The fans in the 'ajor' market really turned out to watch the scrappy AON Swing 5'ers roll over the Sponsor Exemptions.

Based on FedEx Points, the Swing Five goes dormie while taking a 4-1 lead in 2026 with three events to play.

I am in Minneapolis for a few days for work.

looking to play 9 or 18 after work. Currently looking at a tee time at 16:30 on 5/4. 5/6 location tbd.

reach out if you would like to join and or have other recommendations for where to play in the area.

Please excuse the post 20-hour travel day grogginess, but before we get to our full written content coming out of our SW Ireland trip I wanted to do a bit of a rambling thoughts, emptying the notebook post here.

A group of 20 of us just got back from a whirlwind of a trip through SW Ireland. Across 8 days we had a total of two hours of rain and I legitimately returned with a tan. It was one of the more unexpected weather weeks I can remember from any golf trip and there are so many great memories to come out of it. Here are a few I hope will be relatable to those who have been to SW Ireland and notes that will hopefully inspire more of you to go in the future!

1. Dooks Golf Club absolutely knocked my socks off. It's not the most dramatic golf in the region but it is 100% a place I would want to play every day. It's a stunning property with gorgeous views and the golf course is incredibly fun.

2. I wouldn't recommend slamming pot roast and mashed potatoes 15 minutes before your tee time at Dooks, no matter how delicious it may be.

3. Killarney is a ton of fun and J.R. Reidy's might be the best bar in the world.

4. People should talk more about the front nine at Tralee. The back nine is all the internet seems to know about and yet there are a good chunk of strong holes on the opening nine.

5. Pro shop pricing in this region is staggering. Although money doesn't really matter on this kind of trip.

6. If you walk into a bar and someone has a mostly finished pint of Guinness and the head isn't stuck all along the sides of the glass, don't order the Guinness. It's a bad pour.

7. Waterville is a journey but the drive to get there might just be as enjoyable as the golf course itself.

8. It sounds stupid but the people really make a golf trip. We played top-notch courses throughout this trip but I really will mostly remember the people. Including our bus driver Paddy.

9. It's a serious financial commitment to do one of these trips and that's not something I take for granted. Golf in the UK and Ireland is special though and it's worth saving for and making a trip of it.

10. Lahinch is every bit as good as I thought it would be. Maybe better

11. My final night of the trip was spent sitting atop a dune between the 6th and 9th holes at Lahinch with the drone in the air during sunset. It was a magical experience that I cannot wait to write more about and share with you all.

12. Ballybunion is one of the better storytelling routings that I've played. it's not the original routing, but its current iteration is wonderful. I think the original may have been even better.

13. I'm filled with an immense sense of gratitude this morning. We started FE Events in 2019 with the aim of getting golf nuts together for golf trips and now we're sending dozens of people international on a yearly basis and having thousands more get together throughout the year in the states. It's been a hell of a journey and I cannot thank you all enough for your support of our team and our company. We truly believe in what we're building here and have big hopes for FEGC. The people that have joined in so far and the many more that are joining us this year are a testament to the eagerness to play with other golf nuts and travel the world together. I cannot wait for what the future holds.

Here's to many more years of FEGC

I was having a conversation with a buddy and he said the most important fitting is for your putter and I was convinced that he was rage baiting but he wasn’t. I know there is nuance as it might depend on handicap or what an individuals miss is, but for most people I am convinced that irons would be the most important. Thoughts?

Just wanted to highlight that in the most recent episode of Designing Golf (Spotify, YouTube, Apple), Bradley Klein was full of praise for the quality of the Donald Ross-themed questions asked by FEGC members. He was genuinely impressed! Thanks to all who participated.

Just got back from Ojai for the Soule Park event. Feeling inspired to meet some local Eggs and check out the most dangerous Design Disaster...

Fernbank Golf Course. 9 holes, 2,100 yards. Where the first fairway casually crosses five other holes!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIMKX7AMHhp/?igsh=ZnAwamZ2cXp3NG93

To ratchet up the madness, thinking we go around with one - three clubs but open to suggestions.

Let me know if there’s interest and we’ll nail down a date. Ideally a Sat/Sun in May.

Got a foursome tomorrow morning at East Potomac at 810am for the blue course and need one more. Anyone interested in playing? Toss me a text to reach me 540-454-1593

Let's see everyone's best PGA playing cards. One of my favorite parts of receiving a Fried Egg pro shop purchase is the anticipation of what playing card I will receive!

Apologies if this has been asked before, but my wife (whose interest in golf is steadily rising) and I were talking about FEGC recently. She asked me how good other people in the club are at golf, as she's trying to process how people can become sickos even if their handicap is well into the double digits. As I told her, of course, the bug can infect you quickly and it doesn't matter how skilled you are when you get passionate enough to intelligently speak about the game.

With that in mind, I must say I did not have a great guess for her as to what the average handicap of the FEGC membership would be. I speculated 5 with little confidence. I personally sit at a 3 and had it as low as +1 in 2018. I don't imagine I'll reach that level again, but I am content with breaking 80 consistently, and if I continue doing that I'll be happy. Where does everyone else stand?

I was lucky enough to get drawn for the old course reversed. Essentially less than a 1% chance to get drawn I believe. Played it a few days after the gang did but was in the town at the same time. Very excited for all content that is going to be coming out. Have a few days off to get back on schedule and thought I'd share a few thoughts and do an AMA.

The package (for us non influencers or Links Ticketholders) included 3 rounds, Castle, Reversed and Old. We added Eden and did a warm up round at Balgove one morning. I used hickories for the Eden, Balgove and Old Course regular. I agree with Andy from the Bacon pod, you should submit to the lottery every year and make it happen if drawn. What an experience. Hard to put into words but I'm going to try over the next week. It makes you appreciate TOC so much more and firmly ranks it as a top 3 course in the world for me. Playing hickories on the Old and a half set (odds) on the reverse was a true brainexploading.gif. We also brought our wives who enjoyed the town while we played. Let me know if you have any questions on anything.

I have seen some Mixed Bag related content show up on my social feeds this week, but the podcast feed is empty since early March. Is something going on with the feed? I can say I prefer for podcast related things to be in one place, and that one place not being YouTube, considering the amount of podcast listening I do while working or driving.

Hey FEGC — With the PGA at Aronimink approaching, I'm prepping an episode of Designing Golf all about Donald Ross. I'd like to devote a section of it to any questions you have about Ross's life, architectural philosophy/style, business, specific courses, or whatever else. Fire away!