Episodes

  • Would you pay more for membership to guarantee a tee time?
    Nov 21 2024

    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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    46 mins
  • Is there any chance we could return to the old handicap system?
    Nov 14 2024

    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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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Desperate to get better over the winter? Our equipment guru reveals all!
    Oct 25 2024

    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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    44 mins
  • What are the best golf courses in GB&I?
    Oct 18 2024

    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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    45 mins
  • He's played every links course in Great Britain - and now you can read all about his adventures!
    Oct 11 2024

    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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    49 mins
  • It’s Your Course – so why not learn much more about it?
    Oct 4 2024

    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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    1 hr
  • You’ll never guess Coach Lockey's handicap!
    Sep 13 2024

    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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    48 mins
  • The remarkable rise of Harry Hall
    Aug 6 2024

    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 Open
    • How Harmon is taking him to the next level
    • And you’ll hear some controversial views on the golf ball roll back

    So 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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    25 mins