The NCG Golf Podcast

As The Open returns to the magnificent Royal Birkdale, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll look ahead to the 154th edition of the game's oldest major. From the Last Chance Open Qualifer and the unique test that Birkdale presents to favourite memories from this iconic links venue, they break down everything you need to know before the first tee shot is struck. And, naturally, they make their picks for who...

Few golfers can match the amateur pedigree of Jill Thornhill. A former Women's Amateur Champion, leading amateur at the Women's British Open, Curtis Cup player and captain, and current president of Walton Heath Golf Club, she has spent decades at the heart of the game. In this special episode, Steve Carroll sits down with one of our most respected amateur golfers to relive her greatest memories, d...

If it’s not visitors holding up play by taking endless photos, it is golfer taking calls when they should be playing a shot. So should mobile phones be banned on the course? Is golf’s relationship with technology harming the game. In this episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll tackle one of the game’s most contentious debates. From ringing phones and social media distractions...

Players throwing clubs. Spectators turning on eventual US Open champion Wyndham Clark. Tempers boiling over on the biggest stage. For those who believe etiquette is golf’s foundation, recent events have raised an uncomfortable question: has the game lost its way? And is what we see on tour simply reflecting what’s happening every weekend at golf clubs across the country? In this week’s episode, To...

Another month, another record. England Golf's iGolf scheme added more than 6,100 subscribers in May alone, while recorded rounds topped 100,000 for the first time. Nearly 30,000 golfers have gone on to join clubs since the programme launched – but are clubs doing enough to welcome these players? Or are some turning away a valuable source of future members by restricting access to Open competitions...

It’s one of golf’s most hotly debated questions – and Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll aren’t holding back. Has the World Handicap System become too much of a free-for-all? Should competition golf be the only true measure of a player’s ability? The pair ask whether the system is baffling newcomers and juniors and get into par, strokes received, and what your handicap really represents. Whether you're a...

You've got £500, three days, and a set of clubs in the boot. Where are you heading? This week, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll plan the ultimate budget golf trip. Steve reveals an eye-opening adventure in Northumberland, complete with green fees that seem too good to be true, while Tom makes the case for his beloved Lincolnshire and its collection of top-class courses. If you're looking for maximum go...

This week Steve Carroll is joined by Sam Barker-Sabido, Rules of Golf manager at England Golf. Catching up ahead of the Brabazon Trophy last week, the pair discuss how the governing body’s referees approach a big championship. But they also discuss how you can get involved in refereeing and Sam lists some of the most common rules mistakes golfers make in their competitive outings. If you’ve ever w...

This week, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll react to Aaron Rai’s stunning PGA Championship win and relive their own chaotic debut as a pairing in the NCG Top 100s Summer Match Play. But it isn’t long before the conversation turns back to the World Handicap System. Why are handicap allowances still confusing golfers? Why do clubs stick to the same tees every week? And if your score can be adjusted anywa...

From the balls we hit, to the watches we wear on our wrists, technology has seeped into every part of golf. Now artificial intelligence threatens to change the game in ways we probably haven’t even imagined yet. But does it enhance the game or detract from it? This week Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss the increasing rise of tech and whether it’s chipping away at golf’s soul. Should the sport b...

This week, we’ve got a bonus episode for you as Steve Carroll caught up with Lee Westwood at Close House. As well as being one of Europe’s best golfers over the last three decades, he’s also the attached tour professional at the Newcastle venue, which is marking 15 years since it opened the Colt course. We got stuck into a bunch of club matters, considered if the upcoming golf ball roll back is ne...

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back discussing the latest moves in the World Handicap System. They talk about how Playing Handicaps are applied in competitions, with Golf Ireland now being joined by Wales Golf and Scottish Golf in giving clubs more flexibility. With England Golf the only country in the home nations not to follow suit, what does this mean for WHS? Is the aim of a unified handicap...

What is going on with the breakaway tour? Will PIF pull their funding? Is Bryson DeChambeau going to stay? Is it even going to be able to carry on? With speculation continuing, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll try and unpick what’s going on with LIV Golf and what could happen over the next few weeks and months... Website:  https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/ X:  https://x.com/NCG_com Facebook:  https:/...

In this special episode of the NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy look back on a captivating week at Augusta National, where Rory McIlroy cemented his place in golfing history with a second consecutive Masters victory.   Having captured his maiden Green Jacket in 2025, McIlroy returned in 2026 to prove it was no one-off, holding off a relentless chasing pack to become just the fourth playe...

In this Saturday edition of the NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy return to reassess the ever-shifting landscape of The Masters. After the optimism surrounding Rory McIlroy’s earlier performance, moving day told a very different story. McIlroy struggled to find his rhythm, leaving the door wide open for the chasing pack. Stepping into the spotlight was Cameron Young, who produced a sensat...

In this special Masters edition of the NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy dissect a truly memorable round from Rory McIlroy. The episode takes listeners shot-by-shot through McIlroy’s sensational performance at The Masters. The duo explore the key moments that defined the round, the strategic decisions that shaped his score, and how this display stacks up against some of Augusta National’s...

Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy break down all the action from an enthralling opening day at Augusta National. From standout performances and surprise contenders to the traditions and quirks that make The Masters truly unique, the duo explore the moments that only happen at Augusta. Expect sharp analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, and plenty of storytelling as the journey to the Green Jacket gets under...

Augusta National is one of the most famous venues in sport, but what is it really like beyond the perfectly manicured fairways and familiar TV shots? In this special episode of the NCG Golf Podcast, Dan Murphy and Tom Irwin take you inside the gates to share their first-hand experiences from the home of the Masters on the day before the action starts. From the subtleties of the course’s elevation...

This week, Tom Irwin sits down with six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo to talk about the remarkable impact of the Faldo Series – an initiative that has helped countless young players reach the top of the game. He also opens up about how equipment has evolved, how modern skill levels compare with his era, and what it takes to succeed today. And, of course, you’ll hear his memories from Augusta...

It’s the best episode of the year! It’s our Masters preview! It’s the ceremonial opening to the golf season and Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are very excited about this year’s hunt for the Green Jacket. What is the greatest Masters of all time? Why is it so hard to go back-to-back? And is the Champions Dinner actually at the very heart of everything about the tournament? We’ve got a how to guide to...

Tom Irwin has been signing up for every match play competition his club offers and, this week, he tells co-host Steve Carroll why the format is so special. But Steve’s not quite so convinced. Is arranging games just too much of a hassle? And what impact does the World Handicap System have on the formats? Does 100 per cent of Course Handicap in singles competitions give some players too much of an...

These are the rounds we would rather forget – the shots that went wrong, the blow ups on and off the course that left us wondering whether we should ever swing a club ever again. This week Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are in the Confessional, recounting the occasions they cringed and collapsed. From an embarrassing error at Open Regional Qualifying to a Captain’s Day disaster, these are the times w...

Podcast host Tom Irwin has been to the Sunningdale Foursomes – a traditional curtain-raiser to the golf season – and he absolutely loved it. But in club land foursomes can sometimes be a difficult sell, with golfers arguing over the format or reluctant to hit only half the shots in a normal round. This week, Tom and Steve review foursomes, why it can struggle to gain a fuller foothold in the club...

Women’s participation in golf is growing – but is it growing fast enough? Does the industry really understand the experience of women in golf? And is the biggest barrier access or culture? This week, we’re joined by Nicole Wheatley, founder of the Women in Golf Awards, to talk about participation, accountability, and whether golf is ready to honesty look at itself. The new Fairways Project, launch...

Are you one of those players determined to be the best they can be? Are you having regular lessons, staking out the range, and practising like there’s no tomorrow? Or are you just happy to play once a week, have a drink with your friends, and not worry about your handicap? This week, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll ask if club golfers are motivated to improve – and what’s getting in the way of those w...