The Goat Track

This week on The Goat Track, TBag is joined by fellow golf junkie and media maven Ben Karpinski for a wide-ranging chat that covers the beautiful madness of loving this game. From the thrill of being a true golf sicko to debates around the pro scene, it’s a proper dive into the good stuff. We shine a light on Casandra Alexander’s rise, try to unpack Tommy Fleetwood’s North American struggles, and...

This week on The Goat Track, we’re all in on the U.S. Open—and Oakmont is the perfect villain. We dig into the course’s storied, punishing history and take a fascinating detour into the origins of the stimpmeter (spoiler: it all started right here). We also revisit Ernie Els’ gritty 1994 win, touching on the drama that nearly derailed it. We get our picks locked in, a fresh update on the Major GOA...

On this week’s The Goat Track, we go coast to coast—from the Eastern Cape’s underrated gems to chaos on the global stage. We chat golf in the Eastern Cape, then pivot to Hoffs’ personal renaissance as he rekindles his love affair with the game. Is the PGA Championship really a major? We throw it in the ring. We also unpack Golfchamps disasters, dissect Rory’s form moving forward, and explore the c...

JDV, Hoff and T muse over some important topics - who is the current best Saffa golfer? Is Portugal a better golf destination than Scotland? Who makes a good outsider for a Golfchamps team this week?

They say Muirfield in Scotland is a lunch club with a world-class golf course attached—and we got a taste of that tradition right here in South Africa. T and JDV had the chance to experience the charm and ceremony of a typical Muirfield day by teeing it up in the bi-annual Muirfield Quaich, hosted at Gowrie Farm in the KZN Midlands. In this episode, they unpack the meaning behind the mysterious “q...

Tour Championship winner Michael Hollick joins The Goat Track for a wide-ranging chat on life inside—and outside—the ropes. After a strong start to his professional career, Michael faced a tough stretch mid-way through his journey. He opens up about how confronting the possibility of stepping away from the game brought him unexpected clarity and helped him rediscover his best form. We also dive in...

It finally happened—Rory McIlroy slips on the green jacket at Augusta, and we break down every twist in his rollercoaster final round. From clutch brilliance to nervy moments, it was vintage Rory drama. Justin Rose filled the Bryson-sized protagonist void with near-perfect golf, making Rory earn the career grand slam. We dive into the electric walk from the 18th green, why the Butler Cabin ceremon...

We speak to Steele Slater -  the founder of Slater Golf - a new premium golf brand homemade in South Africa. Steele talks us through the inspiration behind the brand and how fashion & golf have been mainstays in his life since he was a young kid.

In this episode, the lads catch up on their recent golf games before diving into the launch of Major Goat—their brand-new, season-long race across the four majors. The draft process brings drama, dodgy picks, and the chaos of the “Saffa Rule,” shaking up team strategies in unexpected ways. With the dreaded Losers Lemon on the line, every choice feels high-stakes. Tune in for laughs, banter, and a...

Part 2: Courses 10 - 1 Join TBag, JDV, Swan, and Ryan as they break down the recently published Top 40 list of 9-hole courses in South Africa. From the dramatic landscapes of the Drakensberg to the arid beauty of the Northern Cape, this list is a celebration of golf in the country's most unexpected and charming small-town settings. 9-hole courses often fly under the radar, but they are packed with...

Part 1: Courses 40 - 11 Join TBag, JDV, Swan, and Ryan as they break down the recently published Top 40 list of 9-hole courses in South Africa. From the dramatic landscapes of the Drakensberg to the arid beauty of the Northern Cape, this list is a celebration of golf in the country's most unexpected and charming small-town settings. 9-hole courses often fly under the radar, but they are packed wit...

The 2025 South African Open at Durban Country Club had it all—drama, resilience, and a worthy champion in Dylan Naidoo. We break down an unforgettable week, from the impact of the floods and how the course held up to the Stingers making their presence felt. Plus, we dive into the selection of fan golf attire seen out there, some infrastructure hot takes, and we even manage to squeeze out some golf...

Seasoned Sunshine Tour players Luke Jerling and Lyle Rowe give us their brief thoughts on the changes to Durban Country Club and how it will play for the SA Open.

The South African Open returns to Durban Country Club for the first time since 2010 and the course has undergone a massive renovation. JDV and T talk through the history of the course, the new burn and why this is still the most important golf course in South Africa.

New year, same hacks. TBag, Tucky, and JDV kick off 2025 with a bold (and possibly delusional) set of golf goals—because what’s January without a little blind optimism? Before diving into their fresh ambitions, they take a hard look at their 2024 goals… and, well, let’s just say there were some ‘creative interpretations’ of success. From lowering handicaps to chasing dream golf experiences, the bo...

This week on The GOAT Track, JDV and his brother SDV relive their recent win in the Cotswold Betterball Knockout tournament. They chat about what makes club comps like this so much fun (and frustrating), their journey to the finals, and the highs and lows along the way. From clutch shots to moments they’d rather forget, it’s a laid-back look at their experience on the course. Expect candid reflect...

In this episode of The Goat Track, the lads take a deep dive into the legendary Glendower Golf Club. Renowned for its rich history and championship pedigree, Glendower has hosted some of South Africa's most prestigious tournaments. From its origins in the 1930s to its stunning parkland layout, we uncover fascinating nuggets about the course's evolution, its iconic holes, and the challenges it pres...

JDv and TBag wrap up the year with a breakdown of their favorite 18-holes played  compilation of 2024. That is a wrap for 2024!

It’s a special milestone for The Goat Track—our 50th episode! To celebrate, we chat with Sarah from Travel Lifestyle Golf about their epic Africa 100 adventure, exploring 100 unique golf courses across Southern and Eastern Africa. From unforgettable moments on the greens to life on the road with Andi the Landy (their trusty Land Rover), Sarah shares it all. We also dive into some funny stories, li...

T, JDV and Fuad break down the final day at the NGC 2024 and talk about the top 10, the course, fan apparel and tournament experience. How will Aldrich do going forward and what are your options when attending this event? This and more as we wrap Nedbank for 2024.

Aldrich Potgieter makes a big move and leads the Nedbank by 3 shots. JDV, Fuad and TBag give their thoughts (live from the 18th fairway) of the Nedbank so far.

Tucky, JDV and Hoff gather their thoughts and make some predictions for the Nedbank 2024.

It's less than a week away so this week JDV and TBag chat about the history and possible future of the Nedbank Golf Challenge - aka the Million Dollar. Who were the early competitors, why Sun City and what will this event look like in 10 years?

Join us as we sit down with Sunshine Tour player Luca Filippi, who is currently on the road to recovery after a horrific injury. Luca shares his journey, the mental and physical challenges he’s faced, and how he’s staying sharp during this recovery phase. We also tap into Luca’s deep knowledge of the game as he offers valuable insights and strategic picks for this week’s Golfchamps at the unpredic...

It's been a full year since the Springboks World Cup triumph and Jerome joins us again for a catch-up on the rugga landscape. We cover the Bok's recent tests and the impact of the URC transition on the Bok's, the AB's and the Northern hemisphere teams. How will the Boks fair against England and Scotland (and Wales.......) after a long year? Why do we hate England so much? Are Ireland more likable...