Episodes
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We’ve reached the halfway point of our run down of the best golf holes on The Open rota courses.
Now, Tom Irwin joins Steve Carroll once more to discuss the back 9 of his favourite holes from the 10 courses that have hosted the Claret Jug.
What will he pick? Be warned, there are some pretty famous holes that don’t make the cut. What do you think about his selections, and what would you choose?
Get in touch with us on X.
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Tom Irwin’s been on a journey this year. He’s somehow managed to blag his way round most of the courses on The Open rota.
In honour of the journey, he runs down his favourite holes from the 10 courses that have regularly hosted the Claret Jug.
It’s an eclectic – so the 1st hole on Tom’s list must also be the 1st hole at one of the venues – and so on.
It’s a meaty task so this week, Tom and host Steve Carroll run through his front nine. We’ll tackle the homeward stretch next time.
What do you make of his selections? What mistakes has he made and what did he miss?
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Missing episodes?
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We’re not saying we’re in full on Christmas mode, but in this episode of The NCG Golf Podcast Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin reveal their must-read golf books.
The pair go through all their favourites – the best fiction, non-fiction, instruction, and travel books. What are their perfect choices? Tom and Steve believe they’ve got something for everyone.
So if you’re still looking for a great gift, or you just want to know what golf books need to be on your shelf, listen in and take notes!
Read our comprehensive list of the best golf books: https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/best-golf-deals/best-golf-books-list/
Buy one of our best golf books here!
The Golf Omnibus: https://geni.us/4oY5W
Nice Jumper: https://geni.us/I8w3ORs
Chasing The Legends: https://geni.us/JbTc
Phil: https://geni.us/QsaQ
A Good Walk Spoiled: https://geni.us/Bm4Z
The Greatest Game Ever Played: https://geni.us/TflSz0
A Season In Dornoch: https://geni.us/hp9Ua
Links From the Road: https://linksfromtheroad.com/products/volume-1
The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses: https://geni.us/qHzLCR
The Spirit of St Andrews: https://geni.us/EsRBdg
The Golf Courses of the British Isles: https://geni.us/3udja
Five Lessons: https://geni.us/qv9qDMB
Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect: https://geni.us/RraifBU
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Reports the American players will be paid to compete at Bethpage Black next year have caused quite a stir.
Is it beyond the pale, or is it a paradox that the people who the galleries flock to see don’t benefit financially from the massive biennial event?
Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin get stuck into the debate in this week’s episode and, as you’d expect, they’ve got some firm views on the subject.
Does it besmirch the competition, or is it only fair? See if you agree with Tom and Steve!
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Dynamic pricing has been in the news. Yes, we did pay over the odds for an Oasis ticket. But could it have its place in golf?
We all know the weekend tee times that are the most popular, so what if you could pay more to guarantee a spot? What if 7-day fees altered depending on the specific time you wanted to play?
In this week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin returns to join Steve Carroll and debate this lively issue.
We also talk about England Golf Jeremy Tomlinson’s appearance last week, and, yes, we still can’t get away from the World Handicap System. We ask whether you should have to submit every score for your handicap.
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We’re joined this week by England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson.
It’s a pretty action-packed episode as we discuss a host of club golf topics with the governing body’s chief executive.
He addresses the ongoing criticisms of WHS, considers how golf club membership is looking and whether the post Covid boom is now peaking.
We also look at whether traditional clubs are being more open to different formats of play and get into the latest on the Respect in Golf movement.
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The weather’s getting colder and the days are getting shorter.
But don’t put the clubs away as winter arrives. This is a perfect time to get a grip on our golf game sand make them better.
When it comes to using data to do that, we have never had it so good. And on these week’s episode, Steve Carroll is joined by NCG’s equipment expert Hannah Holden to show how you can use numbers to your advantage.
We’ve got some fabulous Shot Scope data that can get your golf into shape – without you necessarily having to spend hours on the range. So let’s get stuck in!
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Ranking golf courses is risky business. One person’s heaven is another’s hell. Yet we all love a good list, don’t we?
We’ve got another one for you at National Club Golfer and this week, Steve Carroll is joined by our Top 100s chairman Dan Murphy to talk about our review of the best courses in Great Britain & Ireland.
You will find courses in positions that make you happy and courses in positions that make you cross.
But join Steve and Dan as they discuss the countdown, pick out some of their favourites, and try to analyse the current trends in courses we all love to visit.
Check out the list in full at nationalclubgolfer.com/top100
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Steve Carroll is joined by Sam Cooper to talk about his new journal and website project – Links From the Road.
Sam went on a road trip we all wish we could take. With a set of clubs, his partner, their dogs, and a van, he toured 225 links courses around England, Scotland and Wales.
The journey changed his life. Now a well-known podcaster, and an associate golf course architect with Clayton, Devries and Pont, he has branched out into writing.
Talking with Steve about the first of a multi-volume set that retraces his steps and details the courses he played, it is quite the conversation.
If you love golf courses, you have to listen…
The first volume of Links from the Road is launched on October 16. You can pre-order it right now at linksfromtheroad.com
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This week, Steve Carroll is joined by Jim Croxton, chief executive of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, to talk about the governing body’s new issue of Your Course magazine.
Your Course aims to give golfers a deeper understanding of what preparing and maintaining a golf course really involves and is available right now in your clubhouse.
Focusing on how greenkeepers prepare a course for winter, while also looking at the challenges presented by climate change, Jim and Steve get into everything from winter mats to the future of bunkers.
They also talk about BIGGA’s new First Green initiative, which goes into schools to tell youngsters about the joys of greenkeeping as a career and ask you to pose your questions for future editions of the magazine.
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He has amassed a loyal and passionate band of followers with his focus on coaching, course vlogs, entertainment and fun.
In this week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll caught up with Coach Lockey to find out all about being a content creator – it’s harder than you think!
But he has also teamed up with England Golf on their iGolf scheme and has put together a series of videos on his YouTube channel where he gained a handicap.
Aside from finding out what it was, Steve also asks whether it has fired up his competitive edge and looks at the benefits of giving non-club members an official World Handicap System index.
Is iGolf about to go viral? Pop your headphones on and have a listen!
Please Note: Please be aware that Coach Lockey's Handicap Index was only for demonstrative purposes as his rounds did not comply with the Rules of Handicapping and have since been removed from his record.
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We’ve got a special guest this week as Matt Chivers sits down with new PGA Tour sensation Harry Hall.
Harry won the ISCO Championship in July – just a few days before he became a dad – capping an incredible rise that now sees him ranked around the top 100 in the world.
It’s a remarkable story, from his home club West Cornwall changing their membership rules so he could join at just 6 (he was already that good!) to getting coaching from Butch Harmon and living in the bright lights of Las Vegas.
You’ll learn:
Why he’d rather win the Masters than the OpenHow Harmon is taking him to the next levelAnd you’ll hear some controversial views on the golf ball roll backSo sit back over the next half hour and check out what one of the game’s emerging stars has to say...
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We asked and you delivered. In a departure from the usual podcast theme this week, Steve Carroll answers your Rules of Golf and World Handicap System queries.
Does the clock stop if you have to halt a ball search to let a group through?Can you manufacture a drop so you’re able to place the ball?Will the course and playing handicaps ever be combined?Steve will endeavour to tell you the answers, and a bit more!
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Justin Rose came oh, so, close but it was Xander Schauffele who picked up the Claret Jug – extending the barren run of English winners at The Open to 32 years!
In this week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll is joined by Dan Murphy to discuss that and the fallout from last week's Championship at Royal Troon.
Dan reveals why the Ayrshire layout was the star of the show and we talk about our own favourite course from the rota.
We ask if Rory McIlroy can ever conquer the wind, consider if Tiger Woods should be allowed to use a buggy, and grumble about how quickly the major season now comes to an end!
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It seems to have been the talk of Royal Troon this week – is it time for Tiger Woods to retire?
The 15-time major champion delivered a six-sentence zinger after reports that Colin Montgomerie had questioned whether he could still win.
Woods says his belief has never wavered and in this episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll and Matt Coles debate whether this is fantasy or could still be a reality.
The duo also get stuck into shopping, ask whether the Open Arms should be the ‘Up in Arms’ because of its drinks prices and Matt – who is on a glorious run of picking the winners of recent tournaments – tells you who is going to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday.
NB: Please remember to gamble responsibly.
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Where does Royal Troon rank in the Open rota? Which course should join the list? Should the playoff go to sudden death?
We asked and you delivered your questions and so, as the best week in the golf calendar gets under way, Steve Carroll and Matt Chivers answer them all in a new episode of The NCG Golf Podcast.
NB: This episode was recorded in The Open media centre and there is some background noise.
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We wrap up a dramatic day at Open Final Qualifying – where Justin Rose rolled back the years, Matthew Southgate qualified YET again, and Sergio Garcia found himself centre of attention at West Lancs.
The Spaniard loves The Open, but was all over the headlines after his group were given a warning for slow play.
Was it more petulance from the former Masters champion? Should we give him props for having a go at qualifying, and did his play justify a spot?
Matt Chivers spent all day at the Lancashire venue and joins Steve Carroll to look back at one of golf’s most thrilling days.
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James Luke, England Golf’s head of handicapping, is back to update us on how the big changes to the World Handicap System have been settling in.
But he’s also got a couple of important messages to impart – around general play scores and a new policy that could open the way for more clubs to get tee sets rated.
If you’ve got any interests in WHS, you have to listen to this episode…
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We’ll bet this chat is going on right now somewhere in your clubhouse. How can you make golf as accessible as possible but feel confident you’re protecting the integrity of competitions?
This is a question England Golf have grappled with, and we get stuck into it on this week’s episode of The NCG Podcast.
Steve Carroll is joined by James Crampton, England Golf’s director of championships, and the pair talk about the governing body’s competition entry policy, which can deny entry to players where competition and general play scores don’t match up.
We also get into their new pace of play policy, where checkpoints are now used to monitor round times. Could a similar system speed up the game at your club?
And fresh off an eventful Brabazon Trophy, on and off the course, James gives us an insight into the work of his busy department.
It’s a compelling listen with plenty of talking points!
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What is it that sets the best club golfers apart?
Why do they make fewer mistakes on the course? What are the habits that help them play consistent golf? This week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast reveals all.
We’ve got the latest data from Shot Scope. Tom Irwin, who loves to remind us he is a scratch golfer, and Steve Carroll, who couldn’t get near scratch if he played for 100 years, are here to guide you through the findings.
Do you know where you miss? Should you fire at pins? What clubs should you use around the greens? Tom will put you in the picture and Steve will probably disagree.
Elsewhere on this week’s podcast...
Should the PGA Championship have been postponed?How did Tom get on in a couple of crunch match play encounters?And… are you allowed to hole out after conceding a putt? - Show more
