The NCG Golf Podcast

What does your golf bag say about you?

Trendy canvas bag or huge tour monstrosity? Are you a pencil lumper or someone who couldn’t get round the golf course without a trolley?

In this week’s episode Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll delve deep into golf bags and how they can reveal a lot about who we are as golfers.

Do you give yourself shoulder injury by bolting on  100 bag tags? Is a valuables pouch a must have accessory?

Do you get giddy about dividers? We’ll try not to make this a seedy 60 minutes but if you’ve ever found yourself staring covetously at a single or double strap in a golf shop then this podcast is for you…

 

Is there a ‘proper’ way to behave at the driving range?

Tom Irwin has been spending a lot of time at the range. Co-host Steve Carroll hasn’t hit a practice ball in about six months.

In this week’s podcast, though, the two come together to talk about the driving range experience. Is there an etiquette about turning up to improve our games? What should we wear? Should we block out the world with headphones or take in the whole community experience?

Tom’s also got some very funny stories about when he worked in a driving range as a younger golfer.

The duo don’t duck tour matters this week. With LIV Golf now guaranteed spots in the majors, the pair discuss whether the assimilation of the breakaway league into the tour biosphere is now complete. What next for the professional game?

Is it time to admit you like the World Handicap System?

What do you really think of the World Handicap System? Tell the truth, because we now know the answer.

We asked the question in our massive NCG Club Golf Survey, filled in my more than 3,000 of you, and what you told us was really surprising.

Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin get stuck into the results, and analyse what they mean, and we also discuss dress codes – after you told us emphatically what you thought about those too.

While these two topics may have been oft discussed, your insights shed new light on an always interesting debate – so get listening!

NB: There is some explicit language in this week's episode.

These are the best courses in England!

Planning a golf trip in England this year? Want to click off a trophy course, or just fancy a day out? Don’t do anything until you’ve looked through our new list of the Top 100 courses in England.

Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin are joined by NCG’s Top 100s chairman Dan Murphy to assess the risers, fallers, and obviously reveal what we think is the best layout in the country.

Who makes up our panel? How do we assess how one course is better than another? Dan and Tom also go through the top 10 in detail and assess what makes them so special.

Check out the list in full on our website at nationalclubgolfer.com

How many of you will leave your golf club this year?

Have you had your emails yet? Membership renewal time is almost here. You’re either already being asked for cash, or your about to get the news ahead of the new season in April.

But how many of you are planning to renew? How many of you think you’ll be quitting? Are your annual subscriptions going up? Do you think your golf club membership represents good value?

We know the answers. As part of a massive survey of club golfers, filled in by more than 3,000 of you, we asked you all sorts of questions about you, your game, and the way you play and think about some of the big questions.

In this episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin unpack what you had to say about membership and give their views on what your answers suggest.

It’s a must-listen for golfers who may not have made up their minds, and for anyone at clubs looking to get a handle on the wider membership picture in 2025…

 

Green fee prices are going up – AGAIN!

Have you thought about booking your summer golf trip? Are you keen to tick off a Top 100 course on your travels? Prepare to get your wallet out.

Steve Carroll has been looking at the peak summer green fee prices for all the layouts listed in NCG Top 100s Great Britain & Ireland list and it makes for sobering reading if money is an object.

So what does it cost? What is the most expensive course on the list? What’s the cheapest? Is the average golfer being priced out of a great experience, or do we just need to accept that good things cost money and that we can always choose whether or not to fork out?

Steve is joined by regular co-host Tom Irwin to go through the numbers. If you’re planning a golf holiday this year, you simply need to tune in.

Apologies for a little bit of background noise in the opening minutes of the podcast. Bear with us, it does get better!

 

Tougher than terrorists? SAS: Who Dares Wins’ Jason Fox on why golf might be his toughest challenge

Welcome back! For our first episode of 2025, we’re joined by special guest Jason Fox. You’ll know him from the popular TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins.

But the former Royal Marines Commando and Special Forces Soldier turned renowned author and media personality is also hugely keen on golf – having got into the sport after the Covid lockdowns.

After partnering recently with clothing company Stromberg, he joins our Matt Chivers to chat about the positive effects golf can have on mental health, what the sport means to him, and how tackling it might be one of the biggest challenges he has taken on…

Listeners should note that, at times, some explicit language is used. 

The best holes at The Open: Part 2

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.

These are the best holes at The Open: Part 1

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 1^st hole on Tom’s list must also be the 1^st 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?

These are the best golf books ever written!

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