The NCG Golf Podcast

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 t...

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.

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 1st A real challenge from the LIV players Hyperbolic Americans. Rory revelling in the attention Lud...

It’s the 153rd 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 ou...

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...

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 1st hole on Tom’s list must also be the 1st hole at one of the venues – and so on. It’s a meaty task so t...

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...

Podcast co-host Tom Irwin has had a through-the-bag fitting with TaylorMade at The Belfry. With clubs costing what they do, it's essential you buy something that suits. Custom fitting can really help. So if you're in the market for a new set of sticks, Tom has got eight tips to make the experience worthwhile.  Tom also reveals how he has fallen foul of England Golf's Championship Entry policy when...

Steve and Tom have been playing golf. A lot of golf. Yes, we get a rundown of Captain’s Days and Team Championships but there is a deeper message too. Steve reveals the curious WHS situation he encountered where he could play a competition round under his Course Handicap and see his Index still rise. Is it just a quirk of averaging or – for those of us used to being cut for a good score – is it pa...

Record rounds, record scores submitted – the picture for golf looks rosy. The post Covid boom seems alive and well. So why are some in the golf industry gloomy? Why are clubs closing and why, in particular, does it seem like there is a sustained assault on municipal golf? In this week’s pod, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll look behind the numbers to see what’s going on in our golf clubs. Elsewhere, To...

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back in the saddle and they’re zoning in this week on tee times. Should it be a free-for-all when you want to play golf? Is it better for all tee times to be booked? Or is a mix of the two the best way? We’ve got some strong views on this tricky clubhouse debate. Elsewhere, Tom’s got a course you must visit if you’re ever in Fife – we can guarantee it won’t be the f...

In this episode, Tom Irwin chats to David Scott, who has just been appointed Honorary Professional of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. He is only the sixth person to be bestowed the accolade in nearly 120 years and it’s proving to be a very special year for David He is currently serving as Captain of The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, while stewarding Dumbarnie Links in his role...

Steve Carroll sits down with the esteemed Walker Cup player and captain who has helped bring through some of England’s biggest golfing talents. Nigel Edwards has quite the CV. A former World No. 2 as an amateur, he played in four Walker Cups – holing the winning putt at Ganton in 2003 – and skippered three Great Britain & Ireland sides. Indeed, his victorious team at Lytham 10 years ago was th...

In this week’s episode, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss the drought that is putting greenkeepers in a bind across GB&I. It’s barely rained in weeks in many places and the skies look clear for a little while to come. What pressures are course teams under and do we need to rein in our expectations of what golf looks like in the face of climate extremes? Tom’s also been putting in a raft of g...

In a new series for The NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin sits down with Walker Cup star Hugh Stuart to discuss his fascinating life in the sport. A Life in Golf will talk to figures steeped in the game and who have watched it change over the decades. There couldn’t be a better person to start with than Hugh, who played in three Walker Cups and an Open and is one of a tribe of legendary Scottish amateur...

After an extended Easter break, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back in the saddle on The NCG Golf Podcast. They reflect on Rory McIlroy’s historic Masters victory and review their own first competitive golf of the year. But the focus, not for the first time, falls on the World Handicap System. After R&A executive director Grant Moir appeared on the podcast to discuss the governing body’s new...

Tom Irwin is joined this week by James Wilson, of short side fame and clothing brand Manors Golf. If you’ve a penchant for looking at lovely pictures of golf courses on Instagram, you will know his work. And if you don’t you should rectify that quickly. The pair discuss James’ journey, the ethos of Manors Golf – looking at the game as one to be explored – and explore a whole other world away from...

What should we call those players who manipulate the World Handicap System – and what should clubs do about them? The R&A give us their answer. This week Steve Carroll is joined by Grant Moir, The R&A’s executive director of governance, to talk about a new awareness campaign reminding players of their responsibilities under the Rules of Handicapping and what’s expected of handicap committe...

The best week of the golfing year? The Masters is here, the men’s majors are back, and this is our comprehensive look ahead to events at Augusta National. Podcast hosts Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin have both seen the golf course at close quarters. They run through their memories and reveal what makes the tournament so special. What would you shoot round Augusta off the Masters tees? Tom also takes...

Who among us doesn’t have a load of old golf clubs piled up in their garage or in their loft? Have you thought about selling them but can’t be bothered with the hassle of internet auction sites? This week on The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll is joined by Murray Winton, co-founder of golfclubs4cash. Aside from sponsoring our episodes, he is also at the helm of one of the UK’s leading buyers and r...

Golf equipment has got expensive, hasn’t it? It seems most drivers have crossed the £500 barrier and putters don’t seem too far behind. But is new equipment worth it? In this week’s Fairway or Foul debate Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll argue the case for golf club prices. Steve has almost been crushed under the weight of your rules questions – and he answers a trio of interesting queries – while, wit...

Tom Irwin is very into his golf right now – and he’s had a revelation. He’s worked out the sport is much more rewarding if you put time into getting better at it. So in this week’s episode of The NCG Podcast, our resident scratch golfer outlines what you need to do to make your dreams of improving come true. You’ll be surprised how easy some of them are. Steve Carroll, meanwhile, has been on a tri...

A vital part of a player’s armoury, or just an excuse to get into a row about anchoring? Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin are back with their quizzes and questions edition. In this week’s Fairway or Foul debate, the pair dive into the long putter argument and debate whether it’s got any place in the game. Elsewhere, we talk about the World Handicap System (just for a change) – but this time Steve is qu...

They’re divisive. They cause loads of arguments. Are golf handicaps just more trouble than they are worth? In this week’s episode, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss whether the game would be better off if we weren’t so attached to a number. But how do you sort out players of different abilities and how do you run competitions – the lifeblood of a club season? Tom thinks he has got an ingenious s...

Big handicaps, switching tees, a sport that is accessible to all – but is it making the game too easy? Or is there plenty still to test us in this most unfathomable of games? It’s the Fairway or Foul debate in this week’s episode of The Halfway House, our quizzes and questions episode. Can Tom Irwin win the day once again by asserting that golf is tough enough, or will Steve convince you it’s beco...