The NCG Golf Podcast

Dialled In: WGC-Workday Championship preview

Our latest PGA Tour and European Tour golf betting tips podcast focuses on the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession in Florida.

NCG's Steve Carroll and golf form expert Barry Plummer run the rule over the field and in particular there is one Englishman they fancy to finally get it done on US soil.

Head over to NationalClubGolfer.com for more and remember to gamble responsibly.

The Slam: European Tour caddie Steve Brotherhood on his career in golf

Steve Brotherhood has seen it all in 17 years as a European Tour caddie. He joins the NCG Podcast to discuss why rangefinders in professional golf are a "waste of time", gives a fascinating insight why Rory McIlroy chose a friend over a seasoned bagman, and his thoughts on that Matt Kuchar incident in Mexico.

And that's before we get to tales of eating curries with Hugh Grant...

Dialled In: Genesis Invitational preview

The PGA Tour stars move down the California coast for this week's Genesis Invitational. Tiger Woods will be there to host - though he won't be playing - and there is a cracking field in place at Riviera, including World No 1 Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.

NCG's Steve Carroll and golf form expert Barry Plummer discuss run the rule over the field and this week they have some in-form stars coming in at nice prices, as well as a much-fancied outsider.

Head over to NationalClubGolfer.com for more and remember to gamble responsibly.

All the Gear: Here's what you're doing wrong when it comes to choosing the right golf ball

How many times have you been in a club fitting and you're not quite getting the performance out of the golf ball that you'd like? Well, it's a very simple fix.

So for this episode of the All the Gear podcast, Hannah Holden spoke to Mike Fox, director of golf ball and accessories at TaylorMade, to learn about everything we're getting right - and wrong - when it comes to choosing which balls we use.

In the wide-ranging interview, Hannah and Mike also cover the new line-up, including Tommy Fleetwood's move to TaylorMade, why the change of Masters date was "really scary" for manufacturers, and how Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy proved to be a huge influence on which gear their fellow pros were using.

There's also an incredible story about the man who spends 10 grand a year on golf balls which needs to be heard to be believed.

Dialled In: Pebble Beach Pro-Am preview

The PGA Tour moves back to the Cali coast for the always popular Pebble Beach Pro-Am - or Pebble Beach No-Am as it will be known this year after the Tour decided that, due to the Covid pandemic, the celebrity competition won't be taking place.  

NCG's Steve Carroll and golf form expert Barry Plummer discuss run the rule over the field and this week they have a recent winner, a returning hero, and a couple of sneaky outsiders who have impressed this season.

Head over to NationalClubGolfer.com for more and remember to gamble responsibly.

From the Clubhouse: 10,000 visitors and £600,000 lost - how can clubs like Crail survive the pandemic?

Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest club in the world.

It plays host to thousands of visitors every year – enchanted by the stunning sea views on the Fife coast and a Balcomie layout designed by Old Tom Morris.

But while, domestically at least, the coronavirus pandemic has handed golf a most unlikely fillip, for those courses and businesses that rely on international tourism, the reality is somewhat different.

In a House of Commons debate, North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain outlined the bleak prospects that could await if tough international travel restrictions are still in place this summer.

She revealed that Crail Golfing Society lost £600,000 in visitor revenue last year, so Steve Carroll is joined on the NCG Podcast by the club’s manager, David Roy, to give a fascinating insight into how they are surviving the pandemic.

Dialled In: Saudi International and Waste Management Phoenix Open preview

Some of golf's biggest names, including its two most recent major champions in World No 1 Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, are joining their European Tour peers for the third Saudi International this week, while the PGA Tour event is a fans' favourite in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

So who are NCG's Steve Carroll and golf form expert Barry Plummer expecting to challenge at Royal Greens and TPC Scottsdale respectively? They reveal all in this week's Dialled In podcast.

You can find more tips from Steve and Barry on NationalClubGolfer.com. And remember, please gamble responsibly.

The Slam: Graeme McDowell discusses his rollercoaster career

A major champion, more than a dozen tour titles, and a three-time Ryder Cup winner - and those are just the highlights. To borrow the cliché, there isn’t much Graeme McDowell hasn’t done in golf.

Now 41, the popular Northern Irishman sat down with me for this episode of the Slam podcast from NCG to discuss growing up in the game, his college career, and why he chose a life in the US over home comforts.

And, of course, he gives us a fascinating insight into that US Open win at Pebble Beach as well as the rollercoaster ride that is his Ryder Cup career - from his rocky rookie year to his special bond with Victor Dubuisson.

A future Team Europe captain? Don’t bet against it. But there are other goals in his sights before that...  

Dialled In: Farmers Insurance Open and Dubai Desert Classic preview

In this week's Dialled In, Steve Carroll and golf form expert Barry Plummer lay out their best bets for the Dubai Desert Classic and Farmers' Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

 

Is course form all important in this latest stop on the Middle East swing and how much can we take from a pit-stop in California before the stars return for the US Open in June?

 

You can find more tips from Steve and Barry on NationalClubGolfer.com. And remember, please gamble responsibly.

From the Clubhouse: Sleepless nights and financial plights - managing a golf club in a Covid world

English clubs are again in the throes of a national lockdown and golf courses are closed. When will they open again? Who knows. And that uncertainty has once more left clubs grabbling with furloughs, finances, and fixtures.

How are they navigating this latest shutdown? What have they learned from the experiences of March and November and how do they plan for the coming year when restrictions are relaxed once again?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to bite, Steve Carroll is joined on the NCG Podcast by the directors of Skipton Golf Club, in Yorkshire, to discuss all this and more.