State Of The Game

On Episode 107 we welcome author Daniel Wexler to discuss his latest book A Timeless Game but quickly run off topic into the future of golf in urban centres, equipment technology and the distance debate and there is some pontificating early on about Brandel Chamblee's personal attack on co-host Mike Clayton and those who agree with his views on the game. Find Daniel's book on Amazon here

It's the topic everyone is talking about but not everyone is Mike Clayton and Geoff Shackelford. Two of the most respected voices in the game weigh in on Bryson, Winged Foot and the future of golf.

Will Bryson DeChambeau change the game? What is the role of mentors in golf? How much time should a US Open champion spend on YouTube and Instagram looking at golf swings? All that and more on Episode 105 of State of the Game with Geoff Shackelford, Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton. Links menitoned on this episode: Sandy Jamieson's brilliant 1Club concept The TalkinGolf Network The Thing About Golf p...

With professional golf on hold for the foreseeable future only one thing is certain: the pay for play game will look very different on the other side of the Corona Virus pandemic. Can the European Tour survive the current crisis and if not will it be the PGA Tour or the Premier Golf League that becomes its saviour? Just one of the myriad questions pondered when Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and...

It's all anybody's talking about. Including us. The Corona Virus has touched every facet of life, golf included, and is going to do so for the foreseeable future. What does it mean for professional and recreational golf? Who knows? Certainly not Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri but we chat about it anyway.

Finally. That's been the predominant response to the Distance Insights Report released earlier this week, a document that may well change the shape of the game for decades to come. Among the most vocal agitators for action on this issue for the past two decades have been Mike Clayton and Geoff Shackelford and on Ep 102 they have their say on the report and what it means.

Not for the first time a World Golf Tour has been proposed with the noble intention of having 'the best play against the best more often'. Premier League Golf has been in the planning for several years and many of the world's top players have admitted to being interested. But can the PGA Tour put a stop to it and if not what would that mean for the Tour and the rest of world golf? Join Geoff Shack...

It was exactly eight years ago today we released Episode One of 'The golf podcast that talks about stuff that matters' and 100 shows later has anything really changed in the game? The answer - as always - is both yes and no. There are dozens more golf podcasts to choose from, 'fan media' is apparently a thing and both the European and PGA Tours have different leaders. But the ball still goes too f...

State of the Game co-host Mike Clayton has some very special news to share on episode 99 of the show. After almost 10 years alongside Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead in the OCCM design firm the former European Tour player has departed the company in search of new opportunities. First up is an announcement that he will be a collaborative partner with two of the world's best known and mos...

Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and host Rod Morri delve into recent happenings in the world of golf and analyse what it means for the bigger picture. From the distance debate (of course) and changes in the PGA Tour schedule to whether a $15 million payday is off putting and is the LPGA playing courses that are too easy? All that comes under the microscope as well as Brandel Chamblee's surprise sw...

The success of Royal Portrush, Xander Schauffele and the driver controversy, are the authorities planning to do something about the ball in the autumn and why you can't say anything bad about Memphis. All that and more in episode 97 of State of the Game. Links mentioend on this episode: Geoff's story on the Distance Report Mark Giannotto's passionate defence of the Memphis tournament Kyle Porter's...

There is much excitement among architecture types about next week's Irish Open at the famed Lahinch in County Clare. Tournament host Paul McGinley joins Episode 96 of the show to explain how he plans to take the event back to the future making the on-site experience one that far exceeds watching on TV. The 2014 Ryder Cup captain says tournament goers can expect a festival atmosphere in the tiny to...

As the Old Course is to Scotland so Pebble Beach is to America and a US Open on the Monterey Peninsula is something a bit special. Join Pebble beach devotee Geoff Shackelford alongside Mike Clayton and Rod Morri for a breakdown of what role the course might play at this week's 119th US Open as well as some discussion on the Hank Haney controversy from last week's US Women's Open and what the fallo...

It always promised to be an interesting experiment and it was. The inaugural State of the Game Golf Course Study Tour to Barnbougle Dunes earlier this month had a bit of everything but, as expected, the highlight was the chance to sit down with Mike Clayton for an 'unplugged' podcast/Q&A session. Clayton touches on everything from how the Barnbougle project got off the ground to stories from t...

With the PGA Championship set to return to the Bethpage Black course in New York next week there will be plenty of discussion about course design AW Tillinghast. While known mostly as a course architect, Tillinghast had many more strings to his bow including a well known - though little understood - tour of the US during the depression years to advise courses on more financially sustainable manage...

Denis Pugh is a 40 year overnight success story. In his early years as a coach his theories were often scorned but having worked with more than 200 touring professionals - including Colin Montgomerie, our own Mike Clayton and of course the reigning Open Champion Francesco Molinari - his thirst for knowledge and communication skills have been proven. Denis talks everything from what it takes to suc...

Tiger Woods winning his fifth green jacket was something special but The Masters is about so much more than just the 72 holes each year. Join Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri as they break down what the 2019 Masters means in the bigger picture, from changes to the course (in particular the fifth hole) to media, technology and the role of the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Oh, and t...

Is golf going into meltdown or are we just having a rough patch because of the new rules? Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri delve into the seemingly weekly rules snafus in the professional game while also touching on the 'enhanced' rough we can expect at the 2021 Open at St Andrews and what might happen if the pro game made its own rules. Links mentioned in this episode: John Huggan ta...

The storm over the European Tour's visit to Saudi Arabia is only intensifying but it's not the only controversy bubbling in golf. There is still lots of disquiet over the penalising of Hao Tong Li in Dubai as well as discussion about Lucas Herbert's explanation of his actions in removing loose impediments with his club in wasteland at the same event. It's not all bad news though, with Geoff Shacke...

Most were expecting a rules controversy early in 2019 but few could have predicted what has transpired with 16-year-old Lucy Li. The world's number nine ranked non-professional player looks all but certain to be stripped of her amateur status after appearing in an online video ad promoting the Apple watch in direct contravention of the rules. The USGA is yet to release a formal decision but SOG co...

Interested in golf course architecture and wondering the best social media platform to indulge your passion? Golf Channel regular, popular blogger and SOG co-host Geoff Shackelford says Instagram is the best and makes his case - with the help of Scottich Golf Podcast host and European Tour Social media team member Ru Macdonald - on episode 87 of SOG. There are a bunch of Instagram accounts meniton...

Golf on TV is big business and its in the midst of some dramatic change. Sports business writer and consultant Richard Gillis joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to explain the concept of 'Over the top TV' and why the game's two biggest Tours - and Tiger Woods - are rushing to be a part of it. Also, for the golf course architecture nuts, places are now open for our Golf Course Stud...

Golf's new rules come into effect in less than two months but how many people are really ready? USGA Manager of Rules Outreach & Programming Joe Foley joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss that plus lots more including backstopping and the potential for bifurcating the game's equipment rules. Also, we are excited to announce our inaugural Golf Course Architecture golf...

Should the European Tour be playing a tournament in Saudi Arabia? Simple question, complicated set of answers. Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri are joined by Middle East expert Arthur MacMillan to discuss the as yet unnamed Saudi event and what its future might be in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khassoggi. There's also some thoughts on Rory McIlroy's commments on the Eur...

Is the handicap system killing golf's adventurous spirit? Will we ever see George Thomas' 'course within a course' concept catch on? Does Jason Day have any credibility when he suggests architects are to blame in golf's distance debate? Is the Tiger/Phil match just the first in what could become a new golf franchise? All this plus some chat about the Ryder Cup course, Tiger Woods' unusual intervie...