The NCG Golf Podcast

It's our 2025 Open Championship preview show!

It’s the 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush and we’ve got an unmatched preview to get you into the spirit for the final men’s major of the year.

Tom Irwin recounts his memories of playing the Dunluce course that will host the championship this week, as well as giving us a behind the scenes tour of some of the town’s highlights.

Co-host Steve Carroll passionately argues for the removal of the internal out of bounds that did for Rory McIlroy’s chances in 2019 and tests Tom on his Open rules knowledge.

And, of course, we tell you who we think can lift the Claret Jug on Sunday night. Get your Open week off to the best possible start by giving it a listen!

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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?

Tom Irwin is getting in the Open spirit. He’s somehow managed to blag his way round most of the courses on The Open rota over the last few months.

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 in the next episode.

What do you make of his selections? What mistakes has he made and what did he miss?

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These are the best holes at The Open: Part 1

Tom Irwin is getting in the Open spirit. He’s somehow managed to blag his way round most of the courses on The Open rota over the last few months.

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 in the next episode.

What do you make of his selections? What mistakes has he made and what did he miss?

Website: https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/

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Is golf really in danger of ‘dying out’?

A new report says golf is a big turn off for plenty of kids – and huge numbers of parents don’t even try to get their children into the sport.

The findings, from American Golf, say the Covid boom hasn’t been reflected in interest from Under-18s and we risk “losing an entire generation” without action.

Is the future of our game in trouble? Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll, both parents of young children, ask if we need to do more to get our offspring away from YouTube and onto the course.

Elsewhere, Tom recounts his mammoth 108-hole marathon as he took part in The Big Golf Race to raise cash for Prostate Cancer, Steve laments a disappointing club championship and we ask whether Lottie Woad should have been given her prize money after the amateur sensationally won the Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour. Are the Rules of Amateur Status fit for purpose?

You can donate to NCG’s Big Golf Race here: https://biggolfrace.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/toms-big-golf-race395

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You MUST do these 8 things at your next custom fitting

Podcast co-host Tom Irwin has had a through-the-bag fitting with TaylorMade at The Belfry. With clubs costing what they do, it's essential you buy something that suits.

Custom fitting can really help. So if you're in the market for a new set of sticks, Tom has got eight tips to make the experience worthwhile. 

Tom also reveals how he has fallen foul of England Golf's Championship Entry policy when trying to enter the English Amateur Championship. But why? He reveals all. 

We discuss if the policy is working as it should, and we circle round to the thorny issue of whether a handicap system that’s designed for lots of scores is, in this case, having the opposite effect for players.

And rules corner is back!

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Competition and casual golf aren't the same – we need to understand that

Steve and Tom have been playing golf. A lot of golf. Yes, we get a rundown of Captain’s Days and Team Championships but there is a deeper message too.

Steve reveals the curious WHS situation he encountered where he could play a competition round under his Course Handicap and see his Index still rise.

Is it just a quirk of averaging or – for those of us used to being cut for a good score – is it part of the reason WHS has been getting such a hard time?

That leaves the duo to delve into general play vs competition scores, whether scores should be time limited, and whether education really is the answer to preventing manipulation of the system.

Check out these pieces referred to in the podcast:

https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/whs/whs-increase-after-good-round/

https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/rules/stroke-and-distance-rule-change/

https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/whs/could-weighting-general-play-scores-solve-manipulation/

Are golf’s record participation numbers all they seem?

Record rounds, record scores submitted – the picture for golf looks rosy. The post Covid boom seems alive and well.

So why are some in the golf industry gloomy? Why are clubs closing and why, in particular, does it seem like there is a sustained assault on municipal golf?

In this week’s pod, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll look behind the numbers to see what’s going on in our golf clubs.

Elsewhere, Tom explains why he found the US Open at Oakmont a turn-off, and not just metaphorically, the pair try to work out what’s up with Rory McIlroy, and Steve explains why he has been bitten with the golf bug once more.

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Online bookings or a free-for-all: How should golf clubs deal with tee times?

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back in the saddle and they’re zoning in this week on tee times. Should it be a free-for-all when you want to play golf? Is it better for all tee times to be booked? Or is a mix of the two the best way?

We’ve got some strong views on this tricky clubhouse debate.

Elsewhere, Tom’s got a course you must visit if you’re ever in Fife – we can guarantee it won’t be the first that springs to mind, while Steve’s got a rules poser on halfway house etiquette and how to avoid an unnecessary penalty.

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A Life in Golf: David Scott, Honorary Professional of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

In this episode, Tom Irwin chats to David Scott, who has just been appointed Honorary Professional of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

He is only the sixth person to be bestowed the accolade in nearly 120 years and it’s proving to be a very special year for David

He is currently serving as Captain of The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, while stewarding Dumbarnie Links in his role as General Manager.

A former Director of Golf at Kingsbarns and Director of Operations at the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, David’s life has been steeped in the game.

He’s got some great stories to tell so sit back and enjoy the listen…

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A Life in Golf: England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards

Steve Carroll sits down with the esteemed Walker Cup player and captain who has helped bring through some of England’s biggest golfing talents.

Nigel Edwards has quite the CV. A former World No. 2 as an amateur, he played in four Walker Cups – holing the winning putt at Ganton in 2003 – and skippered three Great Britain & Ireland sides. Indeed, his victorious team at Lytham 10 years ago was the last time we lifted the trophy on this side of the pond.

He has played with and against some of the best players in the game and, in his role at England Golf, has managed a team that has nurtured Georgia Hall, Bronte Law and Lottie Wood to name just three.

Nigel has some incredible stories to tell from relaying memories of stalwart Walker Cupper Peter McEvoy to how he almost missed one of the finest days in GB&I amateur history.

Enjoy the listen…

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