Talk Birdie To Me

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 about it from fomer tour pro Scotty Laycock from Royal Hobart today after listening to Nick O'Hern's Top 5 Q School moments, he had a funny story to add 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.

A big pod this week, plenty going on as always, and we start with the news that Adam Scott will not return for the Australian Open, Nick and Mark discuss. And we get onto the date, and if moving it would make it easier for players to come home for the Open, and to get the big international names. Mark calls the Australian Open date 'poison' for the tournament and says it has to change.We chat about Tigers tournament, which Mark says is less about results, and more about Tiger.We chat about getting the legendary Ian Baker-Finch on the pod to outline his masterplan for Australian golf. How it will look over the next decade, how to get more Aussies on the DP World Tour, and Mark reckons IBF could pick up the phone and call Yasir at The PIF and get things done.Nick talks about the 23 page memo that the PAC have sent to members re: proposed 2026 changes, one proposed change Nick and Mark are blown away by, which has to do with pace of play. We discuss the proposal to move from 125 to 100 players, and Mark believes that we will lose some 'poster boys' if that change goes through.A great win by Phoenix Campbell over Jak Carter in Queensland at the weekend in a playoff, the tournament was a cracker and Nick and Mark saw it all as they were commenting on Kayo, and discuss the playoff and how it went. They raise a ruling about relief for Phoenix on the 9th hole which they believe the rules official got wrong, so we call our rules guy Stu McPhee to explain the rule. Stu hadn't seen the incident itself, so can't comment on that, but he does explain to us how the rule is applied.Last week Mark predicted 65, Nick 69, for themselves in the Box Hill ProAm. What went wrong? We discuss.And we have a chat to the Director of Golf at the Warragul Country Club, Heath Jones, about their fantastic junior program. It should be replicated, it's wonderful and getting results.A hilarious Top 5 from Nick today - the Top 5 moments from Q School. Some brilliant stories!Plenty of feedback this week, so much that we'll do a bonus feedback pod later in the week.Nick takes us around the world in the PING Global results, and Mark's masterclass is on playing in 'swirly' conditions, just as Nudgee was at the weekend.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!Flinders Golf Club, an historical treasure!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.

Cracking voicemail from Scott in Melbourne this week, who went to see the great man Matt Austin at PING for a fitting, and wanted to tell us how it went. If you haven't heard our bonus ep a while ago with Matt, just search 'Talk Birdie Matt Austin' wherever you listen to podcasts and you can hear that chat. 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 (and Scott from Melbourne!), PING will help you play your best. And 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.

This is a fascinating bonus pod, we're at Flinders Golf Club overlooking the water, the waves, and of course the stunning golf course. And today we're going to learn about the course, it's history, some of the quirks of the course.We start by chatting with Andrew Kirby, who talks us through why he loves Flinders and why the course is so special. He says the views are better than Pebble Beach. There are also deep links between Flinders and Royal Melbourne, which we hear all about.Nick likens the view to the Monterey Peninsula, saying you could almost be there. Nick asks Andrew about the legendary Peter Thomson's history with Flinders, and Andrew explains the origins of that.Mark then brings up the trees. Of course he does. The beautiful Cypress trees. They may be imported, but they're now part of the fabric and they serve a very practical purpose at Flinders, which we hear about.Nick says Flinders has a great collection of Par 3's, and that the 12th hole - called Aunt Sally - is a particularly tough one. The names of the holes are full of character, and Andrew tells us about a plan, years ago, to remove a couple of the holes and the protests that occurred at the time. One of the holes is called the 'Coffin Hole', and we find out how that name came about.After the turn we chat to club captain Phil Hurley about the course renovation and the thoughts behind that, and how important it is to retain the magic of the course. Phil says that it has proven to be extremely hard to break par at Flinders, and that few do. We then chat to Life Member Ray Smith, who appears to have forgiven Nick O'Hern for trying to steal his carpark, Ray has been a member since he was a little tacker and tells about why he loves the course so much.It's a fascinating pod, and a great history lesson of this fantastic course that, as Mark Allen says, helped him, and countless others, fall in love with golf.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!Flinders Golf Club, a historical treasure!Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.