In the Footsteps of Giants

Following on from the last scheduled WGC event, the Dell Matchplay, Martin, Des and young Mike reflect on the event and their feelings of loss as this tournament fades away. Some intriguing facts about Austin Country Club and it's longtime head professional, Harvey Penick. The boys also draw the next round of matches in their quest to identify the best player with only one major. Our usual ro...

Happy St Patricks day to all our listeners worldwide! As bifurcation again becomes a hot topic, Martin and Des chat about the issue and suggest a few more interesting options. Interact with the podcast via our Twitter portal @ITFOG_podcast

The Players Championship is in the rearview mirror leaving us with a multitude of talking points. Just how good is Scottie Scheffler? How did Tyrell Hatton turn $143k into $2.7m over nine holes? Did the event miss the defending champion? Is the 17th the most exciting/exacting hole on the PGA Tour? Which top five player flew home in coach after earning more than $1m at the tournament? Why does Aaro...

So many things to talk about on this week's episode and good to have young Mike back in the studio alongside Martin and Des. Some great golfing stories from the last couple of weeks plus a brief preview of one of our favourite tournaments of the year, the Players Championship @ TPC Sawgrass. Also we conclude our review of Full Swing and grade season one just as we hear that season two has bee...

After a stunning week for golf content Martin & Des go into the studio to analyse all that has occurred. Joining them is Martin's son Mark (a sports nut but only a casual golf fan) as a temporary replacement for young Mike and to ensure that the younger demographic is heard. Bernard Langer wins again, John Rahm wins again and Lydia Ko wins again proving the insane consistency that these t...

Lots happening in the world of golf but nothing more important than the news that Tiger is playing a tournament this coming weekend! However, plenty of other things to talk about before then including Scottie winning in Phoenix and getting back to world no1, the mad crowd at Scottsdale and the leaderboard for the first elevated event. Plus, we take our podcast kit out on location as we seek to fin...

Deserted by his usual co-hosts, Martin drafts in Pat and his son Paul to discuss the events in Dubai. Rory's resolve to win, Patrick's determination not to lose and stateside John Rahm's mini collapse. Paul brings us his top ten courses played and his top 5 bucket list options, always a good way to get golfers talking. A quick run around the twittersphere rounds out the episode with...

Martin and Des discuss the stellar start to the year by John Rahm, the outcome at Yas Links (a course the boys played in 2019) and some memories of their visit to the Emirates Club in 2008. Following Greg's announcement of the CW tv deal for LIV the boys talk about the likely impact/engagement of real golf fans and Martin makes a bold prediction about LIV's life cycle. Is the end already...

Martin and young Mike review the Sentry Tournament of Champions and preview 2023. As usual for a new year podcast we have a go at predicting who will win majors in 2023, both mens and ladies, and also how will the Ryder/Solheim Cups play out. Will LIV Golf stride forward or are we already seeing the cracks in their business strategy widening? Plenty to discuss as we look forward to a new golfing y...

For the last time in 2022 Martin, Des and young Mike hit the studio and try to distill, disseminate and discuss everything that has happened  in this most unusual of golfing years. Who were 2022's biggest winners and losers? As ever there are a range of varied opinions but unusually quite a lot of agreement.  With thanks to all our listeners for their loyalty throughout 2022 and we hope to ke...

As Christmas approaches Martin, Des and young Mike get together to discuss some of the off season events, the New York Times investigation into LIV finances and viability, plus our hopes (and fears) for gifts at Christmas. We wish all our listeners a very happy and peaceful Christmas with their families and friends.

Martin and young Mike welcome local amateur Mathew McClean into the studio to talk about his recent victory at Erin Hills in the US Mid Am championship. Mathew's win comes with opportunities galore in 2023 including invites to the US Amateur championship, the US Open and probably (whisper it quietly) the Masters at Augusta. Playing off a +6 handicap is something average golfers can not truly...

Martin and Des tie up the loose ends from the 2022 DP World Tour with a recap on both the Nedbank (Africa's major) at Sun City and the DP World Tour Finals on the Earth Course in Dubai. The boys also discuss the validity of Greg Norman's claim that he hopes to sign 7 OWGR top 20 players to LIV ahead of the 2023 season.  Patrick Reed's lawsuit dismissal gets a touch before the boys c...

We recently organised a budget golf tour to Lisbon, Portugal and this episode discusses the pros and cons of a blitz tour. From budget airlines to overcrowded/average condition golf courses, excursions to do and ways to ensure you get good value for your hard earned euros. Martin & Des reminisce (well the bits Des can actually remember) whilst young Mike asks a few pertinent questions as he li...

Recorded the evening after local hero Rory McIlroy became world number 1 (for the ninth time) Martin, Des and young Mike discuss Rory's return to the top of the OWGR. However, the evenings main topics had not been rehearsed and were a reaction to an unfair comparison published by one of the mainstream media outlets that cover golf. Also took some time to follow the unfolding suggestion that i...

Martin, Des and young Mike find their way to the secret suite to discuss the tricky subject of cheating in golf, something we all believe is more rife than any of us hope. Why do people cheat? How do they cheat? What should you do when you realise they are cheating? This is a tricky subject with consequences that can be very awkward. As usual, if you would like to interact with us or send any ques...

Back in the studio after some travelling both Martin & Des enjoy a catchup of recent golf events, especially since Irish golf is having a great Fall season. First Rory wins the FedEx, then Shane wins the BMW PGA @ Wentworth, Mathew McLean wins the US Mid Am @ Erin Hills and Padraig Harrington is going great guns on the Champions Tour. Episode also features some chat around the Presidents Cup,...

Martin and young Mike sit down to discuss where they played in the summer of 2022 and how their golf games held up across the "domestic" season. Martin recounts his encounter with the honorary secretary of RCD who took issue with Martin's ranking of this world class venue. Young Mike recounts tales of his experience at Royal Troon and we cover a few more local options. An almost LIV...

Season 3's opening episode catches our listeners up on the tumultuous summer in the world of golf (we did cover a little of this in our bonus episode following the TRO decision) and how Tiger and Rory are leading the PGA fight back to LIV's attempt to hijack elite men's professional golf. The episode sets out our views on the current heroes and villains in world golf , although it i...

As we are still away from the studio we have chosen this travelogue episode as part of the summer repeat series. Rarely has a golf trip been more enjoyable than our adventures in Wisconsin which included Erin Hills, Whistling Straits and the town we can never forget, Sheboygan! One of our most downloaded episodes and one that makes us chuckle every time we think of it. Hope you enjoy a repeat list...

The ITFOG team are on our summer break tracking down some golfing challenges. This repeat episode explores some of the more unique golfing challenges that we have considered but not yet undertaken, including the risque' challenge that Des walked himself into contemplating! Hope you enjoy this episode that explores some of golf's more unique challenges.

Despite being on summer recess Martin decided to record an episode following the court hearing in San Francisco which refused a requested TRO to allow Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones to gain entry to the FedEx Cup playoffs. With both Des and young Mike being unavailable Martin reached out to local lawyer and golf enthusiast Pat to join him in breaking down what Judge Beth Freeman decid...

As the ITFOG team enjoy their summer break, and actually play some golf, we thought we would re-release some key episodes from our back catalogue. This week we re-release our episode with Alan Shipnuck as so much has happened since we talked with him ahead of the release of his book "Phil" which then raced to the top of the NYT bestseller list. Hoping to catch up with Alan in the autumn...

Our post Open review reflects our pain at Rory not getting the win we all wanted but certainly does not ignore Cam Smith's brilliance at getting his first major win. We also get a unique perspective from our "on course" reporter Howard whose colour analysis of the tournament is unlike those that you hear elsewhere.  Martin & young Mike then discuss how the tournament was won/los...

Martin and Des welcome back John Bamber who was the Championship Chairman for the Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 and is also an R&A member with a keen interest in all things pertaining to golf's greatest championship. We discuss how St Andrew's will cope with the modern player, where are the key opportunities and risks, who might win and who might miss the cut. Focusing heavily on th...