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Ep144: Mark Allen 'A Miracle if Royal Melbourne is Ready', Top 100 Investigation Update, and Why a Scratch Golfer has 'Zero Chance' of Beating a Womens Tour Pro
Season 3, Ep. 144
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Hold everything. We start today's pod with an update on Marks investigation into the debacle of the recent Top 100 Golf Course list. The person Mark suspected of being responsible, he has discovered was not, and he names the person who he says is responsible for it. Marks contact has gone to ground, and he is hitting a brick wall, particularly now he is enquiring about this named person.
Mark puts the invite to the Top 100 Course people, that we'd like them to come onto the podcast to discuss the list. Open invite. And to make it easy you can contact us here.
Mark also notes that he played Royal Melbourne this week and says 'It will be a miracle if Royal Melbourne is ready for the Australian Open'. Although the people there are confident it will be, Mark has his doubts having seen the condition of the course currently.
Nick and Mark discuss Aldrich Potgieter's driving, and how much power he has. We have a look at his swing sequence and break it down. Nick and Mark would love to see him play the Australian Open and run through the Royal Melbourne holes and look at the clubs he'd likely use for each hole given his power.
Tour Pro Jenny Shin tweeted this week about the amateur male golfers who think they can beat a women tour pro, could a scratch golfer beat a womens tour pro? Nick and Mark give their comments. Mark suggests that scratch markers could get a place in a tournament to 'embarrass them'.
Padraig Harrington had a moment to forget this week in Colorado in the US Senior Open, we listen to what happened and discuss.
Nick tells a story about being billeted in the US with his wife Alana when he was playing the Nike tour, and inadvertently wreaking havoc on their billets house. A dark side of Mr O'Hern that we've not seen previously is emerging.
We chat about the Irish Open, the Scottish Open, and the leadup to The (British) Open. And the BMW International Open in Munich this week, Nick shares memories of playing the tournament and of experiencing the Autobahn!
Top 5 from Nick today is on the Top 5 power swings in the mens game, and he plays a video of the most powerful hitter he ever saw - a golfer called Kyle Berkshire - who broke the golf channel hitting areas screen net once! Mark decides that we need to get Jordan Bovalina on the pod again to talk about power hitting.
Lots of feedback - heaps of wolfpackers raving about 7 Mile Beach Golf Links, question from Keith on caddies and majors, a suggestion from a wolfpacker about Marks doppelgänger, and a request for a score rating from Dazza.
PING globals from Nick are extensive as usual, lots of results to run through. And this weeks masterclass from Mark is on putting, and how to avoid topping your putts.
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- And Southern Golf Club.
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We Remember the Greatest Ever Golf Tournament - the 1986 Masters.....There's Life in the Old Bear Yet !!!!!
22:56||Season 4, Ep. 0It's Masters week and today Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen spend some time reminiscing and sharing their memories of what is, in many eyes, the greatest golf tournament ever played - the 1986 Masters, during this week, it's 40th anniversary.Nick and Mark focus on the Sunday, when Jack Nicklaus started the day with 7 (incredible) players ahead of him and through the course of the day chased them all down.We hope you enjoy this Talk Birdie To Me where we go down memory lane and enjoy the wonderful memories, and hear some of the amazing shots, from players like Jack, Seve, Kite, Shark.And happy Masters week!!!Mini: What Was Your First Ever Set of Clubs? Nick and Mark Run Through Your Messages
15:18||Season 4, Ep. 0A Talk Birdie Mini today where we read out a handful of the hundreds of messages we've received on what your first ever set of clubs were!It's fun to reminisce, and to simply hear some of the old brand names again...some flashbacks to an earlier time! And of course, your messages on clubs lend themselves to some interesting stories from Nick and Mark....including finding out that one of the two had 'cleaning golf club toilets' as their first ever job! Sheez.....Bonus: AFL Star Playing 52 of the World's Top 100 Courses in 52 Weeks !!! And Win a Trip to The Masters from GolfLoot !
15:25||Season 4, Ep. 0Today on the pod we have a special guest. Jayden Hunt is a former AFL footballer who played 172 games for Melbourne and the West Coast Eagles, you don't get to that number of games unless you're a gun! These days, his (sporting) life revolves around golf, and he has embarked on a challenge to play 52 of the Worlds Top golf courses in 52 weeks.....we wanted to find out why, how, the plan....so many questions!We start with Jayden telling Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen how he got into golf, where the bug came from....and he talks us through his handicap journey over the last few weeks, it is mind blowing...he tells us the amount of golf he is playing to achieve his current handicap. He went to Q School last week, he tells us how he went, and his plans to return.He's working his way through 52 of the Worlds best 52 courses at the moment, he heads off to the US on Monday - and whilst there will be attending The Masters. But of all the courses he is playing, which one is he most excited about? And, how on earth is he managing to get on these courses ?!?!?He explains the backstory of how he did it. Which is fascinating. Jayden also talks through his partnership with GolfLoot, a new Australian company where memberships provide the chance to win some quite extraordinary prizes, with a focus on 'bucket list golf trips', there are a number on offer - the big one right now is a chance to win a trip to the 2027 Masters for two people - flights, accom, tickets - amazing prize, the winner is drawn on Masters Sunday (12th April) so well worth entering now...you can find out more details here: https://www.golfloot.com.au/Jayden talks about his fascination with the mental aspect of golf, and Mark suggests that it would be great for him to play some tournaments over the next year or so.A great chat with Jayden Hunt , clearly a great footballer, and now an excellent golfer.....we'll keep in touch with him as he works his way around the world through these 52 courses!And have a look at GolfLoot, the monthly fee is very reasonable considering what you'll get - and the chance to win a trip to The Masters in 2027 is worth it just on its own!! https://www.golfloot.com.au/198. Ep198: Why Tiger can't be Ryder Cup Captain; 'Nothing Better than Carnage for Pros', and Gary Woodland's Win....so great!
01:00:13||Season 4, Ep. 198Another massive pod today, we start with Mark reviewing Huntingdale, he played it at the weekend. Does it play as good as it looks? He tells us.And then. Gary Woodland. What a performance, what a story, and what emotion. A fantastic and very popular win in Texas, nobody deserved this more. Nick and Mark discuss his performance and how he has come to this point. We listen to/watch the winning putt, and hear some of the post win interview.Are challenging pin placements late in a round good or bad for golf? That might depend on whether you're playing or watching. Certainly Karl Vilips might have some strong views after he ping-ponged across the green at the weekend. Nick and Mark give us their thoughts.Tiger. We have to discuss Tiger. And we do. The BMW Touch of Class this week goes to Min Woo Lee after his extraordinary bunker shot at the weekend. And we award the Hostplus 'Thats a Plus' for golf to, who else, Gary Woodland. 7 Mile Beach. Nick and Mark have heard contrasting reviews - some love it, some feel it's very tough, maybe too tough. We discuss the reviews.After the turn, for Betr, Mark lists his Top 5 'gotcha holes', those holes that lull you into a false sense of security and you think you've got them, but then BAM they nail you.Nick takes us around the world in the PING Global Results.And in feedback for Southern Golf Club, plenty of whacks....some for one member of the team for something on last weeks pod, some for the entire team after something different on last weeks pod. And Mark reads out a text from a Tour Pro who listened to last weeks show where we discussed the Monday Q story on the player suspended for cheating, and makes some WILD accusations. We wrap the show with a masterclass from Nick - he calls this a 'combination masterclass', and it's a ripper.Nick Disgraces Himself (Twice!); Marks Been Temu Shopping, Plus Addressing Low Club Head Speed, Golf Farces, and Slow Play
19:30||Season 4, Ep. 0We must apologise for the start of today's pod. Mark and Dan were ready to go, Nick was extremely unprofessional and decided to send a text just as the show began, so there's a slight delay while Nick finishes his extremely important, far more important than Mark, Dan and the Wolfpackers, text message.But...once we get through this hiccup in the Talk Birdie Zen, we get on with the show! JH has a request for Nick and Mark which the boys don't mind....and this leads onto a chat about a very famous, and very funny, movie that Nick has (embarrassingly) never seen !?!?!?! He really is having a shocker today. Onto Andrew, who has a comment on 'golf farces'. Tony heard Mark talking about his desire to travel to Ireland, and has some course suggestions for him. Whilst in the UK, Craig played the London Club last week and gives a report on the conditions. Trevor has messaged us about slow play and aim point, and believes a particularly massive Tour Pro is guilty of the former - but is a protected species.Mark has been shopping on Temu again....sheez.Alex has a question. His club head speed isn't great and he has found a way around it that works for him, and is interested in Nick and Marks thoughts on it. Peter watched John Senden play a few months back in the Australian Open, with Parkinsons, Peter also plays with Parkinsons and has asked if we can get Sendo on the pod to chat about how he does it, some of the tools he uses. Mark tells a great story about playing with Sendo in New Zealand where a shot went extremely pear-shaped.And Chris from Toronto writes in to let us know he enjoys watching the pod on YouTube, and has a recommendation for another pod we should check out....we've not heard of it, but when we google it, it is massive!☎️ Voicemail: Peter from Commonwealth Golf Club. Is this a Record ??? Must be Very Close !!
00:34||Season 4, Ep. 0Peter from Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne left a brief voicemail on Sunday outlining something quite special that happened at Commonwealth at the weekend.....surely this is a record? Have a listen to Peter's voicemail and let us know if you have ever seen or heard anything like it previously.Guest: Mike Harwood - Playing With (and Beating) The Shark, Winning in Europe, and Why He Missed a Masters Invite !?!?!
26:25||Season 4, Ep. 0We love chatting with legends in golf, and today we have a cracker of a guest - Mike Harwood won 3 huge events in Europe, came second in The Open Championship, and has played with some of the biggest names in international golf. Today for Hostplus, we host Mike Harwood on the Talk Birdie To Me.We start with Mike telling Nick and Mark how he got into golf, how it all started and how he caught the bug. He tells us how old he was when he first shot under par. Get ready to be simultaneously impressed and envious.Mike talks about playing the Troppo tour in Queensland, his recollections about playing with the various characters who were on the tour at that time.Mark asks Mike about the time he took Greg Norman down at Castle Hill and what happened - Mike reveals something about that tournament that we've never heard and blows us away! He talks about the four big wins he had, and his performances in Europe. Mike discusses his 'attitude' when he played and why he always expected to get results.Mike is very tall, and Nick is curious about how this impacted his clubs in the bag, in answering Mike reveals what the worst thing he ever did for his golf swing was, and why he feels it hindered his career.Of course, we have to discuss The Masters. After finishing second to Ian Baker-Finch in The Open Championship, Mike was not offered an invite to The Masters. Nick and Mark want to know why not and how he felt about it. Mike answers both questions.Mark asks Mike about playing with Greg Norman at the World Series of Golf, and what happened when he was announced to the tee. Very funny.And we wrap asking Mike about what's next for him? He's helping out at Southern Golf Club, and explains how much he enjoys that, and there's plenty of family time.A great chat with a legend of Australian golf, fantastic to host Mike Harwood for Hostplus on Talk Birdie To Me !Shooting Lower than Your Age Stories. Is it Okay for Tour Pros not to Defend a Title? And is this the Yippiest of all Yips?
17:24||Season 4, Ep. 0Short feedback pod today. Lots of comments on our Bubba Watson mini - if you haven't watched or listened you can find it in the feed here - fair to say he is a polarising character! Tour Pro Paul Moloney enjoyed the recent reminiscing about Pantales Nightclub, where the Pros would hang out in the UK.We spoke last week about shooting under your age, and have a couple of messages to read out - have we found the record ? It may be, or may not be, but they are impressive either way. Leads to a chat about Nick and Mark playing Clearwater in Christchurch.A question about players not defending their titles, is there any excuses or is it poor form?And a wolfpacker has heard us talking about Switchstar, the charger that turns off after 8-hours of charging your buggy - thus protecting your house, or golf club - but he kept missing the name. It is Switchstar, and you can check it out here.Last week Nick was giving tips on playing in windy conditions, and we had two wolfpackers write in - one with some info that he heard Sir Nick Faldo give on windy conditions, and another with his own tip....which Mark rates.Did Mark's caddy who bet against him (many years ago without Marks knowledge) share the winnings? We find out.A while ago we listed some of the yippiest moments in golf.....but, according to one wolfpacker there was a massive one that we missed, in fact he feels it should be number one. We listen/watch.A comment on the NSW Golf Club from someone who has a view on whether it is worthy of an increase in ranking, or not.And we wrap with a final message from Craig on a fantastic 'shooting below your age' record, which may well be the record.197. Ep197: Matt Fitzpatrick Attacks Slow Play, Hannah Wins Again, and a Tour Pro Suspended for Cheating Plays a Tournament...what the?!?!?
58:33||Season 4, Ep. 197We start today's show as we did last week - by congratulating Hannah Green, 3 wins in a row and she appears well on track for a major in 2026. Nick and Mark discuss how she looks so comfortable and in control at the moment, Nick awards Hannah the Hostplus 'That's a Plus' for golf this week...hard to argue.Matt Fitzpatrick played beautifully at Valspar to win, he's in great form. However it wasn't all smooth sailing as he was frustrated by the slow play of his playing partner Adrien Dumont de Chassart who played with the speed of a slow moving turtle. Matt has spoken about this before, and he was clearly unhappy after the tournament - and rightly so. Nick and Mark discuss what the punishment should be, and why the powers that be seem to never do anything about it.An alarming story, that Nick and Mark were unaware of until they saw it on the Monday Q Twitter account about a young Tour Pro being banned for 6-months for cheating, however playing in a tournament in China at the weekend. We talk through the problems with this, and how the governing bodies could better approach it (rather than keeping it secret) to both act as a deterrent and a punishment, but also provide a path to redemption for one mistake.Jon Rahm's appeal has been dropped, what does it mean for the Ryder Cup?Rory McIlroy's menu for The Masters dinner is all over the internet, we discuss it - particularly the wine. Nick awards the BMW Touch of Class to the wine list. Leads to a chat about Nick and Mark playing at the weekend with Hostplus honcho's David and Mark at Victoria Golf Club, and particularly how it ended in the clubhouse!After the turn, Nick lists his Top 5 fast swings on the PGA Tour for Betr.Then into feedback for Southern Golf Club: feedback today on Tiger, Cheating from Tour Pros, clarity on our legal terminology that we mangled last week, Hawthorn's Mitch Lewis and his amazing round at PK North last week, and lots of comments on Radar - including some feedback from one particularly big name!Nick takes us around the world in the PING Global results, and Mark's masterclass for Sam and the team at the Golf Clearance Outlet is inspired by something Ludvig Åberg does in his pre-shot routine.