Golf

Christian Small is a 20 year PGA Pro who's been involved in golf at just about every level. He sees the game quite simply but understands how complicated it really is. Or is it? Are we overthinking, over-feeling, over-analysing and not really understanding how to get the ball where we want it to go? It's a fun chat, we cover a lot of ground. He's a big, deep thinker with some very good thoughts.

Hickory golf? Kooky? Of course. Fun? Most definitely! Good for your 'real' golf game? Obviously - though I'm not sure why, but it is.  Consider this an invitation to become a national champion!Phil Baird is mad for it, he plays the wooden shafts Friday afternoons at Manly Golf Club and he's really very good. Funnily enough, since playing a bit with him, my handicap's come in. Coincidence? Maybe... but maybe not.

Mike Clayton's got his name in the credits of a stack of great golf courses, not just in Australia but around the world. Barnbougle Dunes, Victoria, Kingston Heath, Metropolitan and now, the new darling of Australian golf, 7 Mile. He's refreshingly honest about anything to do with golf. Here, we go from his beginnings in golf to playing to Greg Norman and architecture and end up with LIV. What an hour.

Karen Lunn had a terrific life as a pro golfer, winning 16 times around the world in a career spanning over 30 years. Surprisingly, her legacy may not be her playing, but her role as a golfing administrator. She's at the forefront of bringing women's golf to the masses, and it's working. Beautifully. We caught up on ABC Radio.

Is it me? Is it the clubs? Is it my brain or my back or what? What is it that surprises us ever so rarely with sheer beauty in our golf game, only to depart? And how do we find it again? Change things, obviously. Paul's an amateur golfer and a great guy on the hunt. This may well be a podcast about most of us.

Rod Tucker is a beautiful golfer. Straight, precise, on target almost all of the time - probably a lot like his umpiring around the world in the great game of cricket. From Dennis Lillee to Daryl Steyn to Warnie and beyond, he's seen a lot and is generous enough to share some of it. A great chat.

Royal Canberra Golf Club - of the famous Royal Golf Clubs has had a bit of work done - the Championship Nine has had more of a resurfacing than a face lift from the team at OCM and as it emerges from winter into spring, it's not just looking the goods, it's playing beautifully. Russell Ingram is the kind of captain any club would love, deeply passionate about the club, the course and the members.

Sri Lanka's probably better known for surfing than golf - definitely sapphires - but maybe there's a new jewel in the crown. On the southwest coast you'll find Shangri-la Hambantota: A relatively new hotel with a championship golf course that'll test any holiday player. Through an old sapphire mine, a coconut plantation and along the ocean, it's got beauty and challenge in equal measure. Luke Sahabandu runs the golf and is a great ambassador for Sri Lanka.

Chunta Wu is a Freshman at Minnesota University - One of two Gophers to compete in all 11 tournaments and twice led the team during an event this season, he has the second best scoring average and he's pretty much self taught, with a lot of love and help from his dad Martin. He's a young man on the move, and after completing his Freshman year as one of the Gopher's best golfers, he's back home for the winter - and golfing every day.