The NCG Golf Podcast

All The Gear: The Callaway Paradym range is here – what do you need to know?

It’s January, which in our world means one thing and one thing only: new golf equipment.

This year it is Callaway making the plunge first, unveiling an expansive range of new products, all under the new Callaway Paradym family name.

On this episode of All the Gear, a National Club Golfer podcast, Hannah Holden, Jack Backhouse and Tom Irwin discuss everything from the new technology in the range, how they perform, and why they chose the name Paradym.

Evan Gibbs from the Callaway Research & Development team also joins the trio to chat about the changes they have made. 

 

All The Gear: Can golf drivers actually keep getting better?

It’s that time of year again when new product releases are coming left, right, and centre. While lots of golfers are excited about the possibility of new golf clubs, we increasingly see more and more complaints that technology can’t possibly be changing so quickly.

So can our clubs - in particular, drivers - actually keep getting better?

Hannah Holden, Jack Backhouse, and Tom Irwin discuss, and the All the Gear team are joined by Dave Neville, senior director of brand and product management at Callaway Golf, to find out what they are doing to keep improving their technology.

All The Gear: How do we test golf equipment? Taking you behind the scenes

The NCG review team discuss the upcoming equipment launch season, their colossal attempt to test 80 new clubs in time for January and if brands should bring out new equipment every year. 

From the Clubhouse: What do you value about being a golf club member?

What is it about a golf club that draws us in? Is it the easy access to tee times, the shared sense of community, or the opportunity to get into competitive action?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin take a detailed look at why so many of us pay out considerable sums of money each year to be part of a club.

Steve, who has recently moved clubs, gets onto the couch and talks about some of the teething issues he has had settling into a new environment, while Tom examines whether clubs could do a better job of looking after members who might be wavering.

The pair also look at the best time clubs should have their renewals and consider what might change in the near future as a sport where participation has surged on the back of the Covid pandemic now faces up to a cost-of-living crisis.

Some of their conclusions might surprise you, so sit back and allow them to explain all…

The Slam: Tiger and Rory on the warpath! + Forget the World Cup - we’ve got Ryder Cup fever!

Put a microphone in front of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and they are happy to talk. Both have conducted explosive interviews in the past few days and that's where Alex Perry and George Cooper start with this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast. Did McIlroy go too far with him comments? One of our co-hosts certainly thinks so.

Elsewhere, the pair argue over the players guaranteed to make the Ryder Cup and those on the fringes, while George picks his World Cup XI of golfers. (It makes more sense once you listen.)

But first, what's the worst golf-related Christmas present you've ever received? Let's get stuck in...

From the Clubhouse: The good, the bad, and the ugly of golf club committees

How many of our clubs would survive without them? The committee, board, and the various gatherings beneath them are the hubs of our clubs - largely staffed by volunteers who just want to give something back to the place they love the most.

But should so much responsibility be placed in the hands of so few? What happens to the club when decisions aren't being taken properly and what if they won't let the general manager do their job?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin, who've both seen their fair share of golf club committees down the years, dive into the topic with relish.

Tom relates his experiences in a marketing sub-committee, while Steve gives you the low down on how proprietary clubs do their business.

It's not doom and gloom by any means. The pair accentuate what makes committees great and Tom puts forward a five-point plan for the perfect golf club decision making body.

So if you've ever hailed or heckled your committee, have a listen and join the debate.

 

The Slam: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and the Great Open Covid Scare

Yes, we know we said we were going on hiatus for a few weeks but there's just so much to talk about.

So in this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper run the rule over the remarkable tale of how Rory McIlroy almost changed the course of 150th Open forever, the latest Cam Smith-OWGR debacle, the Hero Cup teams, and the weekend's other big winners.  

Enjoy!

 

From the Clubhouse: Does the driving range experience stack up?

What does a good driving range experience look like? Do we need fancy technology and an on-demand bar, or will a quiet corner, a bucket of balls, and a nice patch of grass do the job just as well?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll dive into everything you may have ever considered about getting in a bit of practice.

Tom is in raptures about a recent driving range session with his kids, Steve bemoans the ‘indifferent’ quality of balls you can find at some facilities and the pair recount their best and worst moments.

They look at what makes a great driving range, whether club golf is lagging behind when it comes it providing the best experience for members and visitors, and Tom remembers the weird and wonderful characters who made his own time working at a driving range so memorable.

After mustering a passing score last week, Tom also has to find another level as Steve puts him through the R&A's intermediate Rules of Golf quiz. How will he get on this time?

 

The Slam: How to fix the controversial Race to Dubai standings + Why the OWGR debate is nonsense

In this week’s episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, there is plenty to discuss from an incredibly busy week that saw the end of the 2022 seasons for both the DP World and LPGA Tours.

When it comes to the former, something isn't quite right when it comes to how the Race to Dubai standings are calculated, and we think we've come up with the perfect plan to solve it. (Mr Pelley, if you're listening, slide into our DMs.)

As for the latter, it's been another wonderful season for women's golf which, we argue, has never been in better shape, and what Lydia Ko has to do to be in the conversation for GOAT status.

We also discuss the bug OWGR fallout - though we don't necessarily have a fix for this - as well as Cameron Smith and his rather controversial claims about why he moved to LIV, and that phone call with Rory McIlroy.

And we couldn't let Bryson DeChambeau off the hook - so our resident elite amateur athlete has his say on that matter.

There may also be some World Cup chat, so sorry in advance about that.

Enjoy!

From the Clubhouse: Drilling into the best winter formats – why trees are bad – and Tom takes a rules test!

What makes a good winter format? What will get you out of the warm confines of your house and onto the course?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin go on a voyage of discovery – discussing everything from greenkeeper’s revenge to winterwinds and one quite incredible competition that would need half an hour in the clubhouse – and probably several pints – to sort out!

Steve gets himself into a state over trees on courses and, if that wasn’t enough light entertainment for you all, he makes Tom do a Rules of Golf quiz.

How do you think he’ll get on? Get clicking and get listening…