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PODCAST

The NCG Golf Podcast

National Club Golfer

The NCG Golf Podcast, by National Club Golfer, brings stories from the world of golf to life. Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll chat about everything from the clubhouse game, to tour, equipment, and courses, and welcome special guests from the world of golf along the way. Available on your preferred podcast platform.

sports golf

All Episodes

54:26

Are golf’s record participation numbers all they seem?

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/06/19

Record rounds, record scores submitted – the picture for golf looks rosy. The post Covid boom seems alive and well.So why are some in the golf industry gloomy? Why are clubs closing and why, in particular, does it seem like there is a sustained assault on municipal golf? In this week’s pod, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll look behind the numbers to see what’s going on in our golf clubs. Elsewhere, Tom explains why he found the US Open at Oakmont a turn-off, and not just metaphorically, the pair try to

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48:06

Online bookings or a free-for-all: How should golf...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/06/05

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back in the saddle and they’re zoning in this week on tee times. Should it be a free-for-all when you want to play golf? Is it better for all tee times to be booked? Or is a mix of the two the best way?We’ve got some strong views on this tricky clubhouse debate. Elsewhere, Tom’s got a course you must visit if you’re ever in Fife – we can guarantee it won’t be the first that springs to mind, while Steve’s got a rules poser on halfway house etiquette and how to avoid

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43:46

A Life in Golf: David Scott, Honorary Professional of...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/05/23

In this episode, Tom Irwin chats to David Scott, who has just been appointed Honorary Professional of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.He is only the sixth person to be bestowed the accolade in nearly 120 years and it’s proving to be a very special year for David He is currently serving as Captain of The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, while stewarding Dumbarnie Links in his role as General Manager. A former Director of Golf at Kingsbarns and Director of Operations at the Old

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01:15:45

A Life in Golf: England Golf Performance Director...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/05/22

Steve Carroll sits down with the esteemed Walker Cup player and captain who has helped bring through some of England’s biggest golfing talents. Nigel Edwards has quite the CV. A former World No. 2 as an amateur, he played in four Walker Cups – holing the winning putt at Ganton in 2003 – and skippered three Great Britain & Ireland sides. Indeed, his victorious team at Lytham 10 years ago was the last time we lifted the trophy on this side of the pond. He has played with and against some of the

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51:39

Should general play scores be weighted to lessen...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/05/15

In this week’s episode, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss the drought that is putting greenkeepers in a bind across GB&I.It’s barely rained in weeks in many places and the skies look clear for a little while to come. What pressures are course teams under and do we need to rein in our expectations of what golf looks like in the face of climate extremes? Tom’s also been putting in a raft of general play scores on his travels across the country. We look at the impact on his handicap and consider

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01:12:45

A Life in Golf: Walker Cup hero Hugh Stuart

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/05/08

In a new series for The NCG Golf Podcast, Tom Irwin sits down with Walker Cup star Hugh Stuart to discuss his fascinating life in the sport.A Life in Golf will talk to figures steeped in the game and who have watched it change over the decades. There couldn’t be a better person to start with than Hugh, who played in three Walker Cups and an Open and is one of a tribe of legendary Scottish amateurs from the 1960s and 70s. Recorded in the incredible archive room at Nairn, Hugh reminisces over his

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57:28

You have your say on the World Handicap System!

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/05/01

After an extended Easter break, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are back in the saddle on The NCG Golf Podcast. They reflect on Rory McIlroy’s historic Masters victory and review their own first competitive golf of the year.But the focus, not for the first time, falls on the World Handicap System. After R&A executive director Grant Moir appeared on the podcast to discuss the governing body’s new awareness campaign and much more, you have been writing to us in your droves to express your views. We

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47:54

Is this the best job in the world? And how to plan...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/04/24

Tom Irwin is joined this week by James Wilson, of short side fame and clothing brand Manors Golf. If you’ve a penchant for looking at lovely pictures of golf courses on Instagram, you will know his work. And if you don’t you should rectify that quickly.The pair discuss James’ journey, the ethos of Manors Golf – looking at the game as one to be explored – and explore a whole other world away from scores, handicaps and

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45:42

What are players who manipulate WHS? The R&A say...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/04/17

What should we call those players who manipulate the World Handicap System – and what should clubs do about them? The R&A give us their answer.This week Steve Carroll is joined by Grant Moir, The R&A’s executive director of governance, to talk about a new awareness campaign reminding players of their responsibilities under the Rules of Handicapping and what’s expected of handicap committees. It’s a strong line from the governing body and, yes, the C-word is prominent. But we also discuss

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01:04:02

This is our ultimate Masters preview!

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/04/07

The best week of the golfing year? The Masters is here, the men’s majors are back, and this is our comprehensive look ahead to events at Augusta National.Podcast hosts Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin have both seen the golf course at close quarters. They run through their memories and reveal what makes the tournament so special. What would you shoot round Augusta off the Masters tees? Tom also takes you through his infamous ‘Masters spreadsheet’. He’s convinced the winner of this year’s Green Jacket

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50:57

Got some old clubs to sell? Here’s how you can cash in!

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/04/03

Who among us doesn’t have a load of old golf clubs piled up in their garage or in their loft?Have you thought about selling them but can’t be bothered with the hassle of internet auction sites? This week on The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll is joined by Murray Winton, co-founder of golfclubs4cash. Aside from sponsoring our episodes, he is also at the helm of one of the UK’s leading buyers and re-sellers of pre-owned golf equipment. So if you’ve ever wanted to off-load some old clubs but didn’t

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29:57

The Halfway House: Is a driver ever worth £500?

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/31

Golf equipment has got expensive, hasn’t it? It seems most drivers have crossed the £500 barrier and putters don’t seem too far behind.But is new equipment worth it? In this week’s Fairway or Foul debate Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll argue the case for golf club prices. Steve has almost been crushed under the weight of your rules questions – and he answers a trio of interesting queries – while, with the Masters tantalisingly on the horizon, he also tries to outfox Tom in this week’s

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44:44

How to get better at golf. Our scratch player reveals...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/27

Tom Irwin is very into his golf right now – and he’s had a revelation. He’s worked out the sport is much more rewarding if you put time into getting better at it.So in this week’s episode of The NCG Podcast, our resident scratch golfer outlines what you need to do to make your dreams of improving come true. You’ll be surprised how easy some of them are. Steve Carroll, meanwhile, has been on a trip to St Andrews, the Home of Golf. Which course did he say should have windmills on it, and which is one

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35:37

The Halfway House: Should the long putter be banished...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/25

A vital part of a player’s armoury, or just an excuse to get into a row about anchoring? Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin are back with their quizzes and questions edition.In this week’s Fairway or Foul debate, the pair dive into the long putter argument and debate whether it’s got any place in the game. Elsewhere, we talk about the World Handicap System (just for a change) – but this time Steve is quizzing Tom on his knowledge about the global order. We go through your questions, and there have been

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46:36

Should we get rid of handicaps?

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/20

They’re divisive. They cause loads of arguments. Are golf handicaps just more trouble than they are worth?In this week’s episode, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss whether the game would be better off if we weren’t so attached to a number. But how do you sort out players of different abilities and how do you run competitions – the lifeblood of a club season? Tom thinks he has got an ingenious solution that might answer some of these big questions, while Steve considers whether other sports have

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36:45

The Halfway House: Is golf becoming too easy?

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/17

Big handicaps, switching tees, a sport that is accessible to all – but is it making the game too easy? Or is there plenty still to test us in this most unfathomable of games?It’s the Fairway or Foul debate in this week’s episode of The Halfway House, our quizzes and questions episode. Can Tom Irwin win the day once again by asserting that golf is tough enough, or will Steve convince you it’s becoming ever easier to play? Steve’s also got a rules question that will surprise some of you, and -

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51:18

These World Handicap System changes are MASSIVE but...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/13

This week Steve and Tom get stuck into the new pilot in Ireland giving clubs the chance to alter the Playing Handicap allowance in competitions. It’s coming to the rest of GB&I in 2026. What difference will it make? Will it help low handicappers? Will it finally stop some of the complaints about the World Handicap System? What do you think? Also, spring is coming, and so are the first events of the 2025 club golf season. Whether it’s the Captain’s Drive-In, or the opening medal of the year,

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24:25

The Halfway House: Should members get a discount if...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/10

Welcome to the Halfway House – our new weekly quiz and questions pod. Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin try to outdo each other with a trio of posers, they answer your questions, and go head-to-head in a quickfire debate. Whether it’s Rules Corner, our new Fairway or Foul feature (which this week asks if clubs should hand money back to members whose courses have been shut for extended periods), or if you’ve just got something you want to get off your chest, your involvement in this new podcast is

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59:19

Are low handicappers being screwed by WHS? + Our...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/03/05

It’s a twin-pronged podcast this week. First Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin discuss the fascinating USGA statistics that reveal the probability of beating your handicap. What are the odds of shooting 40 points? We have the answers.And is The Players the moment when the golf season really gets under way? In the build up to the so-called 5th major at TPC Sawgrass, we get into the golf course, our experiences of playing it, and hear from a key member of the greenkeeping team. We also reveal who is going

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01:04:11

Are you a handicap cheat if you refuse to enter...

The NCG Golf Podcast ·

2025/02/26

World Handicap System guidance says regular informal events like roll ups and society scores should be classed as organised competitions and players have a responsibility to ensure they return their scores.But what if they don’t? With the principles surrounding social golf still cloudy five years into the new system, are we saying that those who refuse are breaking the laws of handicapping? Are they cheating? Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll examine what the guidance says and evaluate what it means for

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279 results

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