GolfLoopz is heading to The Open Championship!

In Episode 10, we look ahead to golf’s oldest major as it returns to Royal Birkdale. We explore the history of The Open, explain what makes links golf so different and take a closer look at Royal Birkdale’s dunes, deep bunkers and hard, burned-out fairways.

We also preview some of the leading contenders—including Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Southport’s own Tommy Fleetwood.

Most importantly, GolfLoopz will be at Royal Birkdale throughout the week, sharing the sights and sounds of The Open: the navy-blue grandstands, giant yellow scoreboards, flags cracking in the wind and the world’s best golfers trying to control the ball on a fast-running links course.

• The story of the first Open Championship in 1860
• Why links fairways can become hard, brown and incredibly fast
• About Royal Birkdale and previous winners
• Predictions and local favourite Tommy Fleetwood
• What GolfLoopz will be looking and listening for at Royal Birkdale

• Jordan Spieth wins The Open from the driving range – official R&A video

• Pádraig Harrington’s incredible 5-wood on the 17th – official R&A video
• Harrington explains the shot that helped him win

Carnoustie in 2018 is a brilliant example of a links course becoming dry, brown and extremely fast.

• The Open: what was needed to win at hard and fast Carnoustie
• Tiger Woods discusses firm and fast Carnoustie

• The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale – official championship page
• Royal Birkdale hole-by-hole course guide

• The story of the first Open Championship
• The history of the Claret Jug and Challenge Bel
• Explore the complete journey of The Open
• The Open’s official website

Welcome to Episode 9 of GolfLoopz — the golf podcast for kids.

This episode is a beginner-friendly guide to golf: where it came from, how it works, what pars and handicaps mean, and how kids can get started without joining a fancy golf club or buying 14 clubs on day one.

Key topics

Golf’s Scottish roots, linksland, “gowf”, and the famous 1457 Scottish ban

The basic aim of golf: get the ball from tee to hole in as few shots as possible

What a golf course looks like: tees, fairways, greens, rough, bunkers and penalty areas

Par, birdies, eagles, albatrosses, bogeys and double bogeys

Stroke play, match play, Stableford and handicaps

The basic spirit of the Rules of Golf: play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies

What equipment beginners actually need

Ways to try golf: driving ranges, short courses, pitch-and-putt, simulators, adventure golf and Toptracer Range

Why golf is strange, brilliant, frustrating — and maybe the greatest game of them all

Links

Get into Golf - England

https://getintogolf.co.uk/junior-golf/

Rocks and Rookies - England Golf

https://www.englandgolf.org/rocks-and-rookies

Scottish Golf - Get Started

https://www.scottishgolf.org/get-started

Golf Foundation (UK)

https://www.golf-foundation.org

First Tee (USA)
https://firsttee.org/programs/

US Kids Golf (Junior Clubs)

https://www.uskidsgolf.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorxv5Wb2MkEo6q9J3P07eqxR4t4ypbuz6u3ptJbl0_U8hC2cDbA

The R&A – Rules of Golf
https://www.randa.org/en/rog/the-rules-of-golf

Rules of Golf According to Dennis the Menace!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rules-Golf-According-Dennis-Menace/dp/0718138503

The R&A – Handicapping
https://www.randa.org/en/handicapping

St Andrews and the 18-hole round
https://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/origin-of-golf-terms/18-hole-round/

Toptracer Range
https://toptracer.com/range/

Alan Shepard’s golf shot on the Moon
https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/a14/a14.clsout3.html

The Open Championship
https://www.theopen.com/

Thanks for listening to GolfLoopz — the golf podcast for kids.

Next up: GolfLoopz is heading to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale — the oldest major in golf.

Welcome to Episode 8 of GolfLoopz – the Golf Podcast for Kids.

I

n this episode, we preview the 2026 U.S. Open at the historic and fearsome Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.

We look at what makes the U.S. Open different from every other golf tournament, explore the history and unusual name of Shinnecock Hills, and examine why its hard greens, coastal wind and sloping fairways create such a difficult challenge.

We also run through the leading contenders, including Scottie Scheffler’s attempt to complete the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele — plus GolfLoopz favourites Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Patrick Reed.

• The history of the U.S. Open and why it is genuinely an “Open”
• How players qualify through local and final qualifying
• Shinnecock Hills and the meaning behind its name
• Why Shinnecock is one of the toughest courses in championship golf
• Brooks Koepka’s victory at Shinnecock in 2018
• Scottie Scheffler’s bid to complete the career Grand Slam
• The chances of Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and the other favourites
• Wild-card picks Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed and Viktor Hovland

Official 2026 U.S. Open website:
https://www.usopen.com/

Shinnecock Hills course guide and history:
https://www.usopen.com/2026/about-shinnecock-hills-golf-club.html

Video flyovers of all 18 holes at Shinnecock Hills:
https://www.usopen.com/2026/videos/features/02/18/2026-u-s--open-course-tour--flyovers-of-every-hole-6389523936112.html

2026 U.S. Open tee times:
https://www.usopen.com/2026/tee-times.html

U.S. Open qualifying information and results:
https://www.usopen.com/2026/qualifying.html

Learn more about the Shinnecock Nation:
https://www.shinnecock-nsn.gov/

The story of Brooks Koepka’s 2018 U.S. Open victory at Shinnecock:
https://victory.usopen.com/watch/features/2021/05/17/champion-s-journey--brooks-koepka-2018-u-s--open-6254695108001.html
Phil Mickelson's meltdown on the greens in 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW084qWwhV4

Email:
jamie@sportsandlegal.com

Instagram:
@golfloopzpod