NCG Top 100s Podcast

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy tackle a question every travelling golfer asks: where can you find the best value golf in Great Britain and Ireland?Using the NCG Top 100s GB&I Top 250 as their starting point, the pair reveal the courses that deliver the most for your money among the very best venues in the region. The list is built on extensive research into publicly available green fee prices, comparing what visitors actually pay to play these highly ranked courses. Importantly, the prices used do not include resident, member or local rates.The discussion uncovers a fascinating mix of venues - many of them characterful coastal courses with real golfing soul. From standout links such as Hunstanton, Trevose and Seacroft to distinctive inland layouts like Yelverton and Kington - Tom and Dan highlight the courses that combine elite quality with relatively accessible prices.They also explain why regions like East Anglia deserve far more attention when planning a golf trip, and why English and Welsh courses feature so strongly when value is the focus.Along the way, the pair explore how golfers can piece together the perfect golf trip on a budget - proving that some of the best experiences in the GB&I Top 250 don’t necessarily come with the highest green fees.

In this special edition of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, recorded on-site at Streamsong Resort, Tom Irwin is joined by acclaimed golf course architect David McLay-Kidd to discuss the vision behind the resort’s soon-to-open fifth course.Born and raised in Scotland, the son of a pioneering golf course superintendent, McLay-Kidd grew up immersed in the game — not just playing it, but understanding what makes great courses endure. From raking bunkers on his father Jimmy Kidd’s courses to listening in on debates between some of Scotland’s finest greenkeepers, his education in architecture began from the ground up.At Streamsong, those principles meet one of the most dramatic modern landscapes in golf. McLay-Kidd explains how the vast sandscapes and natural movement of the land have shaped his thinking for course number five, and what it means to add his name to a resort already defined by four standout courses crafted by some of the modern era’s most celebrated architects.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy dive into Florida’s golden age golf courses and the lasting influence of Donald Ross, exploring how his work compares to fellow greats like Tillinghast and MacKenzie - including the fascinating near-miss of Ross almost designing Augusta National.The pair discuss Ross’ standout Floridian designs, from Timuquana and Palma Ceia to the modern architectural hotspot of Streamsong, before turning their attention to Seminole – widely seen as the closest thing to a true links course in the United States. They unpack what makes it so special, from its wind-exposed strategy to the unique challenge of Bermuda grass.Finally, Tom and Dan tackle a hypothetical ranking debate: if Seminole were eligible for the GB&I Top 100s list, where would it sit? With comparisons to Muirfield and the bold suggestion that Tom would rather play Seminole than Sunningdale, they explore whether Seminole could realistically break into the Top 10 – or even the Top 5 – across the Atlantic.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy turn their attention to the very top of the Top 100s Scotland list, unpacking the stories, controversies, and strong opinions surrounding the top four courses in the Home of Golf.Dan makes the case for Muirfield as Scotland’s true number one, while Tom weighs up how tradition, consistency, and the overall golfing test influence the final rankings, while the pair also dig into why the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry stands at number two, examining the sheer number of ongoing changes at one golf's best venues. Elsewhere, Tom and Dan explore why there is so much ongoing discourse around North Berwick, and tackle the thorny question of why the Old Course at St Andrews perhaps shouldn’t be ranked in the same way as other courses at all. With strong views, thoughtful analysis, and plenty of context from the panel process, this episode lifts the lid on how Scotland’s very best courses are judged - and why the top of the list is never straightforward.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy break down positions 10 to five in the NCG Top 100s Scotland ranking. As the countdown intensifies, the pair dive into what separates Scotland’s very best courses from the rest, analysing design quality, conditioning, memorability and overall playing experience.Tom and Dan discuss the standout holes and defining characteristics of each course in this bracket, highlight any notable movers from previous rankings, including Trump International, and debate which venues were unlucky not to crack the top five. Along the way, they share personal experiences, insider insights from the Top 100s panel, and a few surprises that sparked strong opinions.With the top five now in sight, this episode sets the stage for the final reveal and offers golfers a deeper understanding of why these courses remain among the elite in Scottish golf.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, Tom Irwin and Dan Murphy continue their countdown of the new NCG Top 100s: Scotland list, focusing on the courses ranked from 100 to 11 — and the remarkable strength in depth that defines Scottish golf.They break down standout venues including Western Gailes, Leven Links, Ladybank, Gullane, Machrihanish and Dunbar, while also shining a light on the Kingdom of Fife and why it remains one of the richest golfing regions anywhere in the world.The discussion also tackles one of the list’s most intriguing inclusions: how a nine-hole course earned its place among Scotland’s best, and why it deserves far more respect than it often gets.Together, Tom and Dan make the case that Scotland’s golfing excellence extends well beyond its most famous top 10 names.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, host Tom Irwin is joined by NCG Top 100s Chairman Dan Murphy to delve into the latest Scotland rankings - with a spotlight firmly on the often-overlooked bottom half of the list. Together they explain why these courses deserve far more attention, from outstanding “second courses” at world-famous venues like Royal Dornoch, Royal Troon and Cruden Bay, to inland layouts that rival the best anywhere in Britain.  The discussion also highlights why Scotland continues to offer exceptional value for money at its top golfing hotspots, proving that quality and fun run far deeper than the headline names.

Can a course like Prince’s really host an Open? Is Kingsbarns still the benchmark for modern links? And do new courses arrive on ranking lists a little too high before time has done its work?On the latest NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin sits down with NCG Top 100s Chairman Dan Murphy to go inside the thinking behind the new Top 100s Scotland list. They talk Dornoch’s latest changes, the impact of new course design, and why great golf courses, like fine wine, only get better with age.Most importantly, Dan explains how the rankings are actually decided: the methodology, the criteria, and why the list is judged purely on the quality of the golf course itself, not valet parking, customer service, or clubhouse luxuries.

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin is joined by NCG Top 100s Chairman Dan Murphy to tackle a fundamental question facing modern golf clubs: what is the right length of golf course for the club golfer?The podcast opens with Dan's recent visit to Fulford to see the vast changes at the Yorkshire course and how he expects the changes to make a huge difference. It prompts Tom and Dan to briefly discuss the attitudes towards tree removal as part of course renovations and how golfer's appetites have changed when it comes to golf course rankings.Tom and Dan then tackle the discussion of golf course length and what is the advisory length for the average golfer to play, whether you get the full experience of a golf course when playing from forward tees, how tees change the feeling of whether a golf course is a good routing or not, and why our egos want us to go back and play a course at its full length.They explore how playing from appropriate tees can unlock more strategy, and encourage the use of a wider variety of clubs. The episode also addresses how excessive length impacts enjoyment, scoring, and most importantly pace of play, and why a rethink before you tee off could improve the experience for golfers of all standards.