Playing Privileges

GOLF.com

Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt are pulling back the curtain on the greatest private club experiences in golf. What's the locker room like, the food, the tee markers? Every little detail matters, and we'll break down all of it so you're prepared when you make your next visit.

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20 episodes
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Avg 50 min
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S1 · E20
Monday · 47 min
20: The Unwritten Rules of Golf
If you want to be a good guest at a prestigious club, courtesy is the name of the game. While each place might have their own sets of rules, being a great playing partner always matters most. In this episode of Playing Privileges, Simon Holt and Jake Stoutland debate the dos and don'ts of how to conduct yourself on the course and in the clubhouse.
S1 · E19
October 12 · 53 min
19: Golf's Best Halfway Houses
What makes one turn stand better than another? It's not just about the food and drink, although those are certainly important. A great golf course halfway house should have character and charm, representing the club it services in its own unique way. It might provide an experience unlike any other in golf, as long as you're willing to take a few extra moments to enjoy it. In this episode, Simon Holt and Jake Stoutland take us from Scotland, to China, to America, detailing their five favorite halfway house experiences.
S1 · E18
October 5 · 59 min
18: Building Our Perfect Golf Experience
What's your favorite arrival in golf? Locker room? Practice area? How about the food, drink, and an overnight stay? Imagine taking all those great experiences, and creating one perfect day of golf. Today, Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt make their picks for the best of the best in each of the small experiences that matter most to create one magical day.
S1 · E17
September 28 · 1 hr 4 min
17: A Genuine Golf Experience at Cabot Highlands
Up in the Scottish Highlands, Castle Stuart feels like it's been around for more than a hundred years. But shockingly, this quintessential links golf experience isn't even 20 years old yet, and they've just added even more world class golf and amenities. Old Petty is the newest course here, and it's already receiving critical acclaim. Together with Castle Stuart, Cabot Highlands is quickly becoming one of Scottish golf's most sought after destinations. Yet the feeling you get in the clubhouse is warm and welcoming, making it a truly enjoyable golf getaway. Simon Holt sits down with Jeremy Matte, the director of golf and operations at Cabot Highlands, and Mark Wright, who oversees hospitality at The Cabot Collection, to discuss what makes this such a special property.
September 21 · 45 min
16: The Course Gil Hanse Waited 20 Years to Build
Gil Hanse joins Simon Holt at CapRock Ranch, the Nebraska Sandhills course two decades in the making. He and Jim Wagner had years to work out how to use a site where the chop hills of the Sandhills run straight into the Snake River canyon, and the answer was to press greens right up against the bluffs, hang a set of par-3s over the drop, and then let the rest of the routing wander through the dunes with the ground game wide open.
September 14 · 49 min
15: Top 100 Resorts in the World
GOLF's Top 100 Resorts in the World list is out. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt explain how dramatically the global golf landscape is changing. For a world traveler or a bucket-list daydreamer, this episode is full of insider information. You might not play like a pro, but this episode will help you travel like a pro. If you're looking for trip inspiration, start here.
September 8 · 56 min
14: Inside Royal Dornoch with GM Neil Hampton
Simon Holt talks with Royal Dornoch General Manager Neil Hampton about how a remote Highland links in Donald Ross's hometown became one of golf's most coveted tee times — and what comes next: a new clubhouse, a King Collins Dormer master plan for a third course, and a 150th anniversary in 2027.
S1 · E13
August 31 · 40 min
13: The Experience at CapRock Ranch
This incredible Gil Hanse project in the Nebraska Sandhills is well on its way to becoming one of golf's most celebrated modern golf courses. It's already been featured in GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the U.S., even though it only opened in 2021. But the dramatic land and the beautiful golf course it sits on is only part of the story here. Simon Holt and Jake Stoutland tell you everything you need to know about a day at CapRock Ranch.
S1 · E12
August 24 · 44 min
12: The Experience at Baltimore Country Club
The Five Farms campus of Baltimore Country Club is one of the most beautiful experiences in golf. A full time horticulturist and dedicated maintenance team add a pop of color into every view. The Tillinghast gem is a star on this property, but it's a truly cohesive experience. From the boxed water on the course to the full culinary experience inside, every moment spent here is a winner. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt walk through a great day at Baltimore Country Club.
S1 · E11
August 17 · 47 min
11: The Full Story of Sebonack Golf Club
Some of the greatest land for golf in the world, along the cliffs of Long Island's Peconic Bay, was not too long ago owned by ... electrical workers? It's an unlikely story, but Sebonack isn't your everyday golf club. It's unmistakably Hamptons, and boasts back patio views you wouldn't believe. Surrounded by greats like Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links, and Southampton Golf Club, there's no reason to be sleeping on Sebonack. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt dive into the fascinating beginnings and unforgettable experience.
S1 · E10
August 10 · 41 min
10: Merion Archivist John Capers III
Hundreds of thousands of Merion Golf Club mementos have been cataloged through their archiving efforts. John Capers III, a lifetime member, has been a key figure in the Merion Archives for 50 years. He's seen it all, has incredible stories, and a deep knowledge for Golden Age golf, not just at Merion. Jake Stoutland comes to the Archives Room armed with questions about Hugh Wilson, William Flynn, and all the supposed history surrounding the old Merion Cricket Club. How much is true? Mr. Capers has those answers. The U.S. Amateur is back at the Merion East Course this week, ready to again host an incredible USGA championship.
S1 · E9
August 3 · 39 min
09: The Experience at Merion Golf Club
Merion's East Course has long been a top-15 staple of GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World, internationally recognized as one of the most fun layouts in the game. To spend a full day at Merion is incredibly special, from the wooden green locker room door to their brand new outdoor Wicker Bar. Ahead of the U.S. Amateur, Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt share their favorite Merion stories and hidden details you'll have to look out for if you're ever lucky enough to get an invite.
S1 · E8
July 27 · 55 min
08: Golf's Greatest Locker Rooms
Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt have traveled to the best private clubs in America. Here are their five favorite locker rooms in the U.S. What makes a locker room great? Showers, history, and "the hang" are all qualifying criteria, but the truth is that the best locker rooms in America all give their members and guests a special feeling that can't always be described.
S1 · E7
July 20 · 59 min
07: The Full Story of Saucon Valley
Longtime Bethlehem Steel president Eugene Grace built a club unlike many others. Every detail is executed to perfection, yet every moment you spend here feels like home. It's a massive golf facility, with elite courses that truly show off the hilly Pennsylvania terrain. Join Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt as they explore the story behind this incredible club.
S1 · E6
July 13 · 56 min
06: The Full Story of North Berwick
In 1611, the first recorded playing of golf happened on a piece of land that would become one of the most architecturally significant courses in the world. Home to arguably the most copied hole in the world, among a number of holes that would become the most studied in the game, leading to countless templates being influenced across the globe. Today, North Berwick West Links is home to three storied clubs. Simon Holt is a longtime member of the North Berwick Golf Club, and walks us through the proud history and detail that make this course so great.
S1 · E5
July 6 · 52 min
05: The Full Story of Hudson National
Two failed clubs before it and a difficult plot of land made Hudson National Golf Club a less than ideal site for a great modern club. But the visionaries behind its creation have delivered in every way. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt tell the story from the very beginning to now, highlighting a fantastic practice tee, Hudson River charm, a great Fazio course, and an elevated food and drink experience.
S1 · E4
June 29 · 50 min
04: The Experience at The Kittansett Club
Could this be the most beautiful course in Massachusetts? A truly fine William Flynn design along the beach, this Golden Age club exudes New England golf greatness. From the clean scallop shell logo to the island green along the beach, spending a day at Kittansett is truly special. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt dig in to all the details, then discuss the possibility of the PGA Tour playing at Pine Valley, Cypress Point, or Seminole. Maybe it's not as crazy as we once thought!
S1 · E3
June 22 · 44 min
03: The Experience at Atlantic Golf Club
Tucked away on the East End of Long Island, a day at Atlantic Golf Club is an unforgettable golf experience. It's an unmistakeable Hamptons scene from the moment you arrive, marked by a warm welcome from the staff and the clubhouse's navy and white awnings. Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt bring you all the details you need to know about the great course, locker room, and food before you make your first visit. Plus, we honor the men who made this club possible and established a true club legacy.
S1 · E2
June 15 · 45 min
02: Shinnecock Superintendent Jon Jennings
What's it like waking up every morning to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club? Jake Stoutland finds out in this special interview with the club superintendent, Jon Jennings, who's preparing for his second U.S. Open. What can we expect for playing conditions this year? How much preparation goes in with the USGA? What is he thinking when choosing pin placements? Every little detail matters. Enjoy this fun conversation with Jake and Jon!
S1 · E1
June 8 · 50 min
01: The Experience at Shinnecock Hills
What's it like to walk on the hallowed grounds of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club? Jake Stoutland and Simon Holt trade stories from inside the Stanford White clubhouse and out on the legendary William Flynn course in Southampton, New York. This episode is all about everything you won't see on TV at this month's U.S. Open. Welcome to Playing Privileges! Let us know what you want to hear from behind the scenes at the world's greatest golf clubs. We look forward to sharing this experiences with you!

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