The NCG Golf Podcast

From the Clubhouse: We talk WHS with England Golf’s Head of Handicapping James Luke

We don't want you to think of us as one-trick-ponies but it's another podcast and another week talking about the World Handicap System.

That's because Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll took the From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, on the road and visited Woodhall Spa, the headquarters of England Golf, to speak to James Luke, the governing body's new Head of Handicapping and Course Rating.

We get stuck into course rating, PCC, interoperability, and much more besides - including if higher handicappers are actually dominating competitions, the vital role of the marker in protecting the integrity of the system, and what might be coming in the future. 

There are some funny stories along the way too so let's get stuck in...

The Slam: Are divisions starting to form between LIV Golf players?

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast in association with Callaway, Alex Perry and Matt Chivers discuss the ridiculous finish at the Valspar Championship, where Jordan Spieth was clearly just keeping his form for the upcoming Masters and Grand Slam pursuit at the PGA Championship, while golf's nicest man Tommy Fleetwood was also in the mix for a first win on the US circuit.

Not so nice, though, was Matt Wallace, who came under fire after being caught in a foul-mouthed rant at his caddie.

Elsewhere, another Alan Shipnuck expose has LIV Golf's PR teams scrambling. Are we starting to see divisions among the players? And might others be having regrets about joining the breakaway league? It certainly looks like it. 

Let's dive in... 

From the Clubhouse: Will the golf ball roll back be an issue for club golfers?

'Golf is doing well and we don't want to undermine this'. So said the R&A and USGA as they unveiled a proposal to unleash a new competition golf ball on elite events - but steered well clear of anything that could affect the recreational game.

Should club golfers feel left out as governing bodies seek comment on their plans to reduce hitting distances at the highest level?

On this week's From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll break down what they think of the Model Local Rule, the golf ball roll back in general, and ask whether it will have any impact on us at our clubs.

How far down the amateur ladder could the proposals reach, should we get the chance to try out a reduced-distance ball, and is it a fallacy to think we've ever played the same game as the world's best?

Tom's also surging with excitement for the start of the club match play season, and will Steve stump him again with this week's rules question? There's a lot to discuss, so let's get stuck in...

All the Gear: Golf ball roll back – what does it all mean?

The USGA and R&A are proposing a significant roll back in golf ball distance for elite competition.

This change would mean bifurcation in golf, with different rules for professionals compared to club golfers. 

Tom Irwin, Hannah Holden and Jack Backhouse discuss the proposed rule changes, why changes are being made and if the governing bodies are doing the right thing. 

The Slam: How does The Players compare to The Open?

In a special Players Championship edition of The Slam - a National Club Golfer podcast in association with Callaway - Alex Perry and Hannah Holden sit by the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass watching players take on the famous island green while discussing their week in Florida.

Then, later, usual co-host Matt Chivers joins to discuss Scottie Scheffler's incredible win, his Grand Slam hopes, the PGA Tour's newest star, and the player who blew almost $1,000,000 in an hour.

Enjoy!

From the Clubhouse: Are we too stuck in our ways to embrace different formats?

Medal, Stableford, fourball. It's a holy trinity for golfers and makes up the vast majority of what we play at our clubs.

But Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll like to spread their wings a bit wider and, in this episode of the From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, they get stuck into their favourite golf formats.

Tom expounds on his love of foursomes, while Steve asks if some golfers are too inflexible about what they'll play on a weekend.

He also tries to bamboozle Tom once again with a Rules of Golf question, while the two ponder whether the huge structural changes happening on the PGA Tour has any impact on what we think at grassroots level.

Go grab a cup of tea, something stronger, or settle in behind that wheel and prepare to be entertained...

The Slam: We’re at The Players Championship! (And there’s plenty of controversy...)

It's Players week and the NCG team are in place at TPC Sawgrass. But the biggest talking point ahead of the PGA Tour's flagship event? LIV Golf, of course. 

In this episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast in association with Callaway, Alex Perry and Matt Chivers break down the big debate about last year's champion Cameron Smith, and how Rory McIlroy is concerned about more than just Greg Norman's breakaway league. 

Don't worry, we'll talk about The Players too, and we've even picked out a few potential winners.

Enjoy.

From the Clubhouse: Are we seeing the death of roll ups?

Does club golf for you revolve around turning up and chucking balls in the air, or are we now hooked on the concept of booked tee times? 

Covid considerably changed the landscape of how some of us play our golf and in this week's From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll consider what's on offer at clubs and whether the humble roll up has passed its sell-by date.

Tom and Steve explain how mixing with lots of different players was pivotal in their early experiences of the game, but they also look at how important knowing exactly when you're going to play is for a modern time-poor generation.

The pair also look at whether a hybrid mix can suit everyone, while Steve has a World Handicap System plea for those who make roll-ups the majority of their time on the course.

England Golf's Awards, Tom's travails with tailoring, and an impromptu Rules quiz are also in the mix, so what are you waiting for? That play button won't click itself.

All the Gear: Are white golf balls a thing of the past?

50% of TaylorMade golf balls sold are no longer plain white, so is visual technology the biggest change in golf ball design in recent years? 

NCG's Hannah Holden, Tom Irwin and Jack Backhouse discuss the evolution of the golf ball and how TaylorMade are changing the game with their eye-catching golf ball designs. 

They also catch up with TaylorMade golf ball designer Mike Fox to take a deep dive into all things golf balls, including understanding compression, the role of dimples, and how golf ball alignment aids can help your putting. 

The Slam: Breaking down LIV Golf’s embarrassing week that proved it will never get the better of the PGA Tour

If you blinked, you missed it, but it's one down, 14 to go as LIV Golf's season opener in Mayakoba flashed by without incident.

In this episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast in association with Callaway Golf, Alex Perry and Matt Chivers discuss the reasons why LIV Golf - whether it lasts five years or 50, will never replace what we have with the existing PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA and LET. 

Speaking of which, there were some seriously good storylines to get stuck into this week, so let's do just that.

Back to LIV - because we can't get away from it - there was an interesting development on the Ryder Cup front. So where do we stand on that?

There's so much going on, just click play already!