Talk Birdie To Me

What a week, a wonderful Australian PGA, and it's Open week. We're live at Kingston Heath in the leadup to the Open. A slightly longer pod today given we're at Kingston Heath and there is so much to see and discuss, and we also got excited!Mark entered Monday Qualifying, and whilst he wasn't necessarily expecting to make it through he had a lot of fun and he talks us through the scores that the 4 Monday Qualifiers ended up shooting.We discuss Elvis Smylie's brilliant performance in Brisbane. Nick and Mark both loved his performance and loved him winning. We discuss the matching of player and caddy and how important it is. Mark confesses something about Elvis's length that he had under-estimated.Tour Pro Cassie Porter stops by with her caddy, former tour pro Dan Morrison, for a chat. Cassie tells us about getting her card for next year, and how it happened on the final putt, although she didn't realise at the time! She talks about the 'kick in the teeth' that spurred her on to the next level, and whether she will now move to the US or remain Australian based?Nick returns to Elvis and discusses the rules official giving him a bad time warning in Brisbane. Is the party hole in Brisbane in the right place? Nick and Mark discuss. Mark mentions Nelly Korda's comments this week on slow play, and Nick and Mark name 5 things that they would do, were they in charge, to address slow play. After the turn, we're about to do the Top 5 for Southern Golf Club, and Scottish tour pro Richie Ramsay, 4-time winner on the DP World Tour, walks up to say hi so we grab him for a chat. He tell us about his views of Kingston Heath, how he loves the 'element of risk' the course provides. Richie tells us, of his 4 wins, which was the most special and why.Mark heard Ian Baker-Finch on radio this week discussing the joint Male/Female Open approach, making some interesting comments. We play IBF's comments and discuss. Today's Top 5 is from Mark on the best sub-60 rounds in professional golf. And Nick gives us all the results in PING globals. Slightly shorter feedback this week as we've got a full show, but a couple of whacks to hear from the Wolfpack, and then Paul from Brisbane calls the hotline with a question on Tiger from last weeks show. Nicks Masterclass is on using a 3 wood around the green.And we wrap with Nick and Marks predictions for who will win the Open this weekend, men's and women's !PING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!Greyhound Racing Victoria, the Australian Open this Saturday night !Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

Talk Birdie to Me Wolfpack member Shaun McCorkell heard Nick and Mark discussing hitting the ball into nets to address changes or technique refinement with your swing, and he had a story about hitting into nets as a kid - where it went slightly pear-shaped.If you want to leave a voicemail - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, where you're from, where you play your golf, and leave your message. Couldn't be easier, you'll be done in 60-seconds.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here. And watchMynumbers, the powerful data-based golf app in the world - play smarter by using data. Download from the AppStore or GooglePlay.And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and you can see all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

Bonus Q&A pod today.We hear from Alex who heard Nick and Mark talking about Corey Lamb's nickname and wants to know what some other tour pro nicknames are (or were), very funny, including Markos story about Lumpy the Caddy - which he has told before but never gets old.Daniel has a question about 7 Mile Beach in Tassie and whether it is potentially Australia's Tara Iti, which we discuss.Hef has a question for Nick following last weeks masterclass, we give him a buzz to elaborate.And finally Daniel messages us from his tractor in the Yarra Valley asking why people like hard courses, or hard holes, when golf is in his view meant to be fun. We discuss and Nick and Mark talk about some of the holes they found the toughest in their pro career.And we wrap up with a few predictions for this weekends Australian PGA in Brisbane.If you want to leave a voicemail - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, where you're from, where you play your golf, and leave your message. Couldn't be easier, you'll be done in 60-seconds.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here. And watchMynumbers, the powerful data-based golf app in the world - play smarter by using data. Download from the AppStore or GooglePlay.And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and you can see all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

This week on Talk Birdie, Nick and Mark discuss Rory McIlroy locking himself away and hitting into a net to fix his swing. Both highly recommend this as a way to address any swing technique issues. And it has clearly worked given his performance at the weekend. Mark talks about Jonathan Yarwood's comments on Rory's swing, and talks through when Steve Bann was making changes to K.J. Choi's swing. Nick talks about playing with K.J Choi and what kind of bloke he was.We discuss yesterdays voicemail from former tour pro Scott Laycock which had Nick and Mark in stitches. Mark tells a story about watching Greg Norman when he was a kid hit a low riser, which Nick describes as the 'sexiest ball flight ever'.Nick is annoyed about the US team wanting money to play Ryder Cup. Mark tells a hilarious story about former tour pro Carlos Franco being 'dodgy'. We discuss the money generated by the Ryder Cup.Mark loves how not too long back, Bryson was extremely unliked, but has completely turned it around, he loves the hole in one challenge at Bryson's home.Yasir, Trump and Elon at the UFC together. What does that mean for golf and everyone getting back together?Nick and Mark discuss the Matt Wallace incident this week which they describe as disgraceful and shocking. Nick brings up Tyrell Hatton's behaviour this week which he also described as a disgrace. We discuss what the penalties should be, and agree they can't be financial. Nick and Mark share a couple of times when their playing partner was behaving badly.Mark has been banging on about how nobody will beat him in the 'nearest the pin' comp at the Sandown Greyhound Racing Melbourne Cup on Saturday November 30, so we call the Club Manager Adrian to get inside info on the prizing and how to smash Marko. Nick played Royal Melbourne this morning and gives an observation on the rakes, which leads to the most recent poll results on rakepod.Inspired by Rory's swing adjustments, Nicks Top 5 swing rebuilds this week is a ripper.As always plenty of feedback, including a question about Nick and Marks clubhead speed. Nick takes us through all the results from the last week in the PING global results, and Mark puts a call out for tour pro Alex Simpson to get in touch after a cracking NSW Open.This weeks masterclass from Marko is on tips to improve your chipping and pitching. PING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!Greyhound Racing Victoria, the Australian Open on at the end of November!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

A voicemail from former tour pro Scott Laycock from Royal Hobart today after listening to Nick O'Hern's Top 5 Q School moments, he had a funny story to do with the one ball rule.If you want to leave a voicemail - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, where you're from, where you play your golf, and leave your message. Couldn't be easier, you'll be done in 60-seconds.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here. And watchMynumbers, the powerful data-based golf app in the world - play smarter by using data. Download from the AppStore or GooglePlay.And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and you can see all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

We're live at the Golf Clearance Outlet in Preston today, the latest store for them in their quest to take over the world, and it's a ripper. Nick is running late for the pod, he's been playing at Lonsdale Links in Victoria and has had a mad dash to get to the pod in time, thus his tardiness. Mark hasn't played Lonsdale Links, and given Nick was their all day as part of a left-handed day, he is the perfect person to give a snapshot of what he thought - and it's all positive. Except for one thing, which disappoints Mark. Nick loved the names of the holes, particularly the 5th.We discuss Bernhard Langer who is in a purple patch of form, and won at the weekend. We look at his driving distance , which is not at the level of some of the other guys, but he still finds a way to win. We run through some of his stats, which are extremely impressive. Mark tells a story about Langer coming out to Australia for the 1985 Masters.We chat about Jason Day's LIV comments this week. Is the public story correct or is there more to it? Next to us at the Golf Clearance Outlet, is a GC Quad, Mark is fascinated by them and what they do, he talks through what Xander has been doing with the GC Quad. Nick talks about his relationship with technology vs feel. Mark asks Nick about how accurate he was in analysing distance without tech.As we're about to go the turn Sam, who is the big cheese at the Golf Clearance Outlet, walks past so we grab him for a chat about the stores, how they're doing, and some of the specials on offer. We hear a great story about Tiger Woods, and Sam debuts a UFC themed golf product.A ripping Top 5 this week for our mates at Southern Golf Club, and a Top 5 suggested by Wolfpack member Chris Payne - the Top 5 Aussie players with underrated careers. One of the entries leads to a great story about Mark getting tanked in Scotland with a couple of very famous golfers. Third Man Dan reckons Mark, and Chris, have overlooked an obvious underrated golfer....although, ironically, he has overlooked the fact that his suggestion is not in fact Australian.Nick gives us the PING Global results and, as usual, PING players are killing it all over the world. Some good feedback this week, keep it coming, we love your comments and questions.Nick's masterclass today, inspired by Bernhard Langer, is on older players looking for more distance.PING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!Greyhound Racing Victoria, the Australian Open on at the end of November!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

As regular listeners know, at Talk Birdie to Me we have a wonderful relationship with PING, who Nick O'Hern has played with his entire career, and they're absolute guns. And as Nick always says, there's a heap of golf companies doing great things, and we love hearing their stories. Titleist are one of those, and their balls are used by something like 90% of pros around the world, and Mark has used Titleist gear for many years now.Today in a bonus pod we chat with Stephanie Lutrell, the Metalwood Development Director at Titleist in California. Stephanie tells us about her background and how she got into golf as a career following her playing career as a collegiate golfer. Mark asks about his experience with the new technology that Stephanie has been working with, and the design objectives. She explains to Nick and Mark how they test the clubs with players before they come to market. Nick asks about the GT name and what the GT stands for.Stephanie talks about the iteration process of developing clubs and how long it takes, and if the clubs that you can buy instore are the same as the ones the Titleist pros use. Stephanie talks about the importance of being fitted as regularly as you can to ensure your clubs are working for your game, irrespective of what brand you use this is great advice.A fascinating chat with Stephanie, and whether your preference is PING (like Nick!), or Titliest, Callaway, TaylorMade or another brand - there are tips to pick up from chats like these and things to learn. We know that ultimately the right brand is the one that works for the individual. Thanks to our great partnersPING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!Greyhound Racing Victoria - with the big Australian Open night on Saturday November 30!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

Peter has left a message with some suggestions for issues to cover on the upcoming potential podcast on rakes that Marko has been banging on about. Truth be told, we have a slight suspicion that Peter is ripping the piss, but hey who are we to judge.If you want to leave a voicemail - it's easy, head to our website here on your mobile or computer, hit the record button, tell us who you are, where you're from, where you play your golf, and leave your message. Couldn't be easier, takes 60-seconds.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. The Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, or online here. And watchMynumbers, the powerful data-based golf app in the world - play smarter by using your data. Download from the AppStore or GooglePlay.And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and you can see all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

We always love feedback and questions, and often we can't get to it all in the normal pod, otherwise it would go for far too long, so we occasionally do a bonus feedback pod - and here's another one!Today we hear from Cameron who is looking to get fitted in Melbourne and is after some advice, which Nick and Mark are all too happy to give.Stewy messaged us about local courses with difficult holes that are quite challenging, wanting some suggestions.Sam has just been to the US and Mexico and was blown away by the cost of playing golf over there, and wants to know why the fees are so expensive.And we have a voicemail from Clint on bunker play, he's had some challenges and outlines what happened and asks the boys for input.Keep the feedback and questions coming, we love it and it really adds to the pod.And as always thanks to our great partners!PING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.