Leighton recently sat down with renowned golf course architect Thad Layton at the stunning Walton Heath Golf Club to discuss Thad’s career journey, design philosophy, and his exciting transition into launching his own design firm.

The conversation then dove into one of the most important and evolving topics in modern golf architecture: the "design and build" method vs. the traditional "design and contractor" approach. With more courses opting for design and build, Thad shares valuable insights into why this method is gaining traction—particularly its ability to foster creativity, ensure design intent is preserved on-site, and deliver a more unified final product.

Thad also shared highlights from his current tour through the south of England, where he’s been playing many of the region’s iconic heathland and links courses. He reflects on what he's learned from these historic sites and how they continue to shape his perspective as a designer.

To cap things off, Leighton and Thad took to the course themselves to experience Walton Heath firsthand—one of the finest examples of heathland golf and a source of inspiration in its own right.

A big thanks to our Show Partner - Toro

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