The NCG Golf Podcast

Moaning about the PCC, the Hagen 54, and is there a penalty for picking up a lost club?

We haven’t nattered about our favourite subject for a while, so Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll can’t resist another yarn about the World Handicap System.

Steve is finally starting to see his index fall but is surprised it’s not happening quicker, while Tom has played in some challenging conditions only to see the Playing Conditions Calculation remain stubbornly stable. The duo get into a debate about its merits.

Tom has been on an incredible trip to Kent to play the Hagen 54, a one-day journey across Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s. We’ll let him reveal all.

And Steve has been asked whether finding a lost club on the course could bring a penalty if you’ve already got 14 in your bag. What’s the answer? Listen in to find out!

Don’t miss our new NCG Top 100s podcast: https://podfollow.com/1826546061

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Is the fan experience at The Open all that good?

Tom Irwin has just returned from a week at Royal Portrush where he was both media and family man. Once he’d put away the laptop, he experienced The Open with his wife and two young children. Does the Championship do enough to engage families? Is it really doing its best to inspire the next generation?

He discusses this with co-host Steve Carroll and the pair also dive into Scottie Scheffler’s fourth major victory. Is he simply the dominant force, or is there not a lot to challenge him?

And Tom asks Steve about the rules dramas with Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. Was the punishment too strong in Lowry’s case? It’s an interesting discussion on a situation most of us will have experienced at our clubs.

Don’t miss our new NCG Top 100s podcast: https://podfollow.com/1826546061

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Day Three Wrap of The Open

Day three of The Open is done, and it's the same story as most other golf tournaments: Scottie Scheffler is steaming ahead to victory.

Tom Irwin and Matt Chivers sit down to reflect on the third round at Royal Portrush, what they saw and experienced, what they make of Scheffler's dominance and more fun with following Rory McIlroy inside the ropes.

Tom isn't entirely happy with what there is to do for youngsters on-site at the Dunluce Links, while Matt has some digressions about some of the main protagonists on day three, such as Keegan Bradley and Lee Westwood.

When you listen, make sure to like, subscribe and comment on all of our podcasts, as we count down to the end of another Open and another men's major season.

Day Two Wrap from The Open

In our wrap of day two at The Open, Tom Irwin is rejoined by Tour Editor Matt Chivers, fresh and excited from following Rory McIlroy inside the ropes in the second round at Portrush.

The pair talk about the prospect of Rory contending on the weekend at a home major, the absolutely vast crowds that follow his every movement, how Bryson might have cracked the links code and what we can expect from the weekend, as the leaderboard is stacked with world-class quality

Day One Wrap from The Open

Tom Irwin is joined by Dan Murphy, veteran of 27 Open Championships, to reflect on a monumental day one of The Open.

They discuss how big is too big, a very ‘Rory’ Rory, how long is too long and the overarching sense of relief that The Open is delivering once again.

The eve of The Open

Tom Irwin is at The Open, he is missing Steve but the excitement has got too much and he had to Pod. He has roped in Tour Editor Matt Chivers to join him for an eve of the Open bonus episode of the NCG Golf Podcast. They run through 6 things you will be sure to see this week:

 

• An Open ruined at the 1^st
• A real challenge from the LIV players
• Hyperbolic Americans.
• Rory revelling in the attention
• Ludicrous Irish crowds cheering on the home favourites.
• The joyous cliché of Sky’s coverage.

 

Tune in, if only for the Alan Shipnuk /  Swilcan Bridge analogy.

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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