The NCG Golf Podcast

Podcast co-host Steve Carroll shot one of the best rounds of his life but failed to get the big handicap cut he craved, because he fell agonisingly short of the threshold for an exceptional score in the World Handicap System.He gets into the subject with co-host Tom Irwin, with the pair asking what makes a round something completely out of the ordinary.Should there be a sliding scale for different handicaps? Is the bar set too high?Elsewhere, Tom thinks he’s just played in the best competition on the planet. You can be the judge.And can you mark a playing partner’s ball on the green? You’ve all done it, but are you at risk of picking up a penalty?

Cheating in golf is almost unspoken. Everyone knows it goes on. It whispers through the corridors of our clubs and explodes onto social media almost every time there’s a drop a few keyboard warriors don’t like. It can be a difficult topic to discuss and even harder to deal with. What do you do? If you’ve seen someone cheating, how would you handle it? Should club players be expected to police themselves in dealing with possible cheaters – even if it could lead to friction on the course?Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll get into the debate: asking if cheating is widespread, what counts as cheating, and whether we just love a bit of drama in our clubhouses and online. The duo also get into the latest on golf ball roll back. Just what is going on in the golf course distance debate? And Steve has an unappealing rules scenario for Tom to solve.

Does the Solheim Cup need to sound like a musical? Are some golfers taking the mickey when it comes to member guest rates? And are golf clubs becoming a more hostile place to be?Hosts Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll break down Europe’s magnificent triumph in the biennial battle with the USA but ask if the event needs a soundtrack.Getting to play a course as a guest with a member, at a much-reduced rate, is a huge privilege but is it one that is being abused?And as a golf legal advisory association reported that enquiries regarding member disciplinary cases at clubs in Great Britain are at an all-time high, we ask if misconduct is becoming a problem in our sport.

In his first interview since returning home from Lahinch, Walker Cup captain Dean Robertson joins the NCG Golf Podcast to take us inside one of the most dramatic weekends in the competition’s history.Dean reflects on that pulsating final day that saw GB&I recover from a Sunday morning foursomes whitewash to overturn a three-point deficit in the singles and bring the trophy home for the first time since 2015.What did he say to his players when the contest appeared to be slipping away? When did he begin to believe an extraordinary comeback was possible? And how did it feel to watch his team complete a victory that will live long in Walker Cup history?In a candid conversation, Dean also discusses the bonds formed at Lahinch, the players who rose to the occasion and the personal meaning of captaining a winning side.For all of us who were gripped to the action at Lahinch, you will not want to miss the inside story of an unforgettable Walker Cup, told by the man at the heart of it – in every sense.

Tom is back from endless travels and reveals 'The best course is he has played in Europe' *probably. More worryingly, he seems to have taken to stalking Patrick Bamford. Steve is sad because he is leaving the course we shall not name and Tom has been involved in a match play rules controversy that leaves Steve dumfounded. The Walker Cup was just the tonic they both needed and they reflect on the celebration of amateur and match play golf on the Irish Coast, why we all love it and what the game can learn. They look forward to the Solheim, and wonder where all the women are. They get stuck into the ticking time bomb of junior handicaps and wonder where it all ends for the endless manipulation of handicaps - both ways. Tom wins at Rules Corner.. again. 

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back with another NCG Golf Podcast, and Tom has plenty to catch up on after a golf-filled break.The pair kick things off by talking about the joys of brown golf courses, with Tom reflecting on some of the brilliant courses he's played recently and why firm, fast and natural conditions can make for such enjoyable golf. They also get into the latest debates around LIV Golf, the WHS data report and some of the more unusual Rules of Golf scenarios, alongside plenty of conversation about what makes great golf courses and why we love playing them. 

Steve Carroll steps in for Tom Irwin this week, joining Dan Murphy for a deep dive into the World Handicap System and the latest WHS Data Report.   With more than 150 million rounds from over 6.5 million golfers included in the report, the pair discuss what the numbers really tell us about handicaps, general play and competition rounds, the ongoing debate around the system, and participation in women's golf.   There's also plenty of golf chat, with Dan looking back on a recent trip to Ireland and Steve sharing his experience at Gilling Castle.   Is the WHS working as it should? And why does it continue to divide opinion among golfers? Steve and Dan get stuck into the numbers and the debate.

Tom Irwin is joined by St Enodoc Head Professional Nick Williams for a fascinating look back at almost 46 years in golf. Nick recalls joining St Enodoc in the 1980s, when the club was a very different place, and reflects on how it has grown from a relatively unknown Cornish gem into a thriving golf club. He also shares stories from his career, including the changing role of the club professional, repairing persimmon clubs, setting courses and handicaps, and the evolution of golf coaching. They also discuss how technology has transformed teaching, whether modern coaching has become too technical, and why Nick still believes getting the basics right is the key to playing better golf. A fascinating conversation about a lifetime spent behind the counter, on the course and in the coaching bay at one of Cornwall's most renowned golf clubs.