We’ve got a special guest this week as Matt Chivers sits down with new PGA Tour sensation Harry Hall.

Harry won the ISCO Championship in July – just a few days before he became a dad – capping an incredible rise that now sees him ranked around the top 100 in the world.

It’s a remarkable story, from his home club West Cornwall changing their membership rules so he could join at just 6 (he was already that good!) to getting coaching from Butch Harmon and living in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

You’ll learn:

• Why he’d rather win the Masters than the Open
• How Harmon is taking him to the next level
• And you’ll hear some controversial views on the golf ball roll back

So sit back over the next half hour and check out what one of the game’s emerging stars has to say...

We asked and you delivered. In a departure from the usual podcast theme this week, Steve Carroll answers your Rules of Golf and World Handicap System queries.

• Does the clock stop if you have to halt a ball search to let a group through?
• Can you manufacture a drop so you’re able to place the ball?
• Will the course and playing handicaps ever be combined?

Steve will endeavour to tell you the answers, and a bit more!

We’re back. After a week to recharge and put our feet up, The NCG Golf Podcast returns for its third season. And what a start we’ve got for you.

The sun is finally shining, we’re thinking about getting on our summer golf trips, and we’re about to unveil our best golf courses in Wales list!

To set the scene for our new Top 40, which you can find at nationalclubgolfer.com/top100, NCG Top 100s chairman Dan Murphy joins Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll to talk about all things Welsh golf.

What is our best course? Which are must play? And where can you find the best value? We’ll reveal all.

Elsewhere, as we start our new series:

• How has the season started for our dynamic duo?
• Can we imagine a Tiger-less PGA Tour?
• Rules Corner: Can you be disqualified if you don’t enter your score on the club computer?

The Slam - a National Club Golfer podcast in association with Callaway Golf - is back for 2023! 

Alex Perry is joined by a brand new co-host, Matt Chivers, and the pair discuss Jon Rahm's remarkable form, Lydia Ko's return to the top, and have their say on that "prank" by Tiger Woods at the Genesis Invitational.

Elsewhere, LIV Golf is back and one of its stars is already thinking about coming back to the PGA Tour, while others are upset that their Ryder Cup dreams are being crushed.

Alex and Matt also give their thoughts on the Netflix documentary, Full Swing. 

There's a lot to get through, so let's get stuck in...

We're obsessed with pace of play. Find a corner of the clubhouse and someone will probably be unhappy about how long today's round has taken. Yes, the time it takes to play the game is often a fractious point of debate. But what can we do about it?

In this week's From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll talk about the various issues they encounter on the course and examine the R&A's Pace of Play Manual, which offers a whole host of recommendations to keep the game flowing.

Does Ready Golf actually work, should clubs get tough on those who tee off too early (it is against the Rules of Golf), and can tweaking course set up make a difference?

The pair are frank and honest with their views once again. You'll agree. You'll disagree. But you'll have to listen.

On this week’s All the Gear, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin, Jack Backhouse and Hannah Holden, delve into what it was like to visit and play TPC Sawgrass, how the course has changed and why it is such a good venue for The Players.

They also take a deep dive into their week at the PGA Show. Was demo day as good as it sounds, how did Kyle Berkshire help increase their club head speed and what was the latest and greatest new golf technology on display? 

Did you know if your ball lies on the green, and is no more than five feet from the hole, there is a Rule of Handicapping that allows you to pick it up and add a stroke to your score?

In this week's From the Clubhouse podcast, in association with TaylorMade Golf, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin delve deeper into the concept of 'most likely score', which can be used when a hole is started but a player does not hole out.

They consider how it's employed in match play and fourball formats, Tom talks about his experience of it dominating golf in the USA and the pair consider if we ever might see it come into force in the UK.

Elsewhere, the duo look back over events at St Andrews where a bit of paving close to the historic Swilcan Bridge sent social media into meltdown, and brought an ultra-quick about-turn, and Steve gets a dressing down from Tom for his post hole-in-one etiquette. Was he wrong to not get the drinks in when he had an ace?

It's bound to be controversial and, as always, we'd love to hear your views!

What is it about golf rules that get us so hot under the collar? Tree-gate, as it’s now being called, divided opinion among commentators and spectators as Patrick Reed’s every movement was analysed and criticised at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Steve Carroll, who has passed the R&A’s top rules exam, is joined by Tom Irwin and the pair break down events in the palm tree during the third round of the DP World Tour event.

Steve thinks he might have found something in how a ball is identified that can offer some further insight into how the decision was reached.

We chat generally about golf’s moral code and why we get so wound up when rulings come under the microscope, both in the pro game and at our own clubs.

After Steve set tongues wagging with his ‘solution’ to some of the World Handicap System’s perceived ills, he doubles down on his reasoning for making every score count, while Tom thinks some our WHS complaints are not going to be settled in the short term.

Tom describes it as an “insightful discussion”. But we’ll let you be the judge! Happy listening…

Don't we all love a good rankings list? Whether it's ticking off where we've been, where we want to go to, or just getting flustered about where our favourite course might be placed, course rankings start discussion.

NCG Top 100s considers itself the home of golf course rankings and the knowledgeable team of panellists have just completed their work on Scotland's Top 100.

In a special episode of the NCG Top 100s podcast, Steve Carroll is joined by panel chairman Dan Murphy to chat about the ins and outs of the list, how it was put together, and explain some of the risers and fallers in a ranking that has been five years in the making.

England Golf's new pilot Championship Entry policy, which could potentially deny access into some competitions for players with too many general play scores in their handicap records, has catapulted the controversial World Handicap System back into the headlines.

But has the governing body's actions, which are designed to ensure integrity and a high standard of entrants, exposed a deeper issue within WHS?

On this week's From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll look in detail at the new policy, discuss what it will mean for those golfers who could be affected, and whether it shows that WHS is flawed.

The duo look back at the old CONGU handicap ways - refusing to don the "rose-tinted spectacles" worn by some when reflecting - and consider the impact England Golf's pilot could have on our own competitions as clubs wage war in the fight against handicap manipulation.

Do club committees need to do more, or are they hiding behind a shield of the perceived ills of WHS?

WHS has been an emotive topic ever since its introduction in late 2020, and Steve and Tom don't hold back expressing some strident views. Where do you stand? It's certainly an interesting listen...

RELATED NOTE: You can download England Golf's Winter Checklist, which is discussed in the podcast, here.

What is happening with pricing at our best golf courses? Is a true bucket list experience increasingly becoming out of reach for the average club golfer?

As we peer ahead into 2023 and start looking at booking our summer trips, it’s clear that it’s becoming ever more expensive to tick off a layout that appears in the various Top 100 lists, such as NCG Top 100s.

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll delve into visitor green fee pricing at our most prestigious venues – considering the current set of increases, why courses are putting up their prices, and what it might mean for those of us who aspire to play them.

The duo also look at smart ways of keeping the costs down for those prepared to swerve a summer weekend tee time, and speculate on what might happen to UK golf in the future if prices continue to spiral.

We’re in for a lively hour of debate…

On this episode of All the Gear, a National Club Golfer podcast, Hannah Holden, Jack Backhouse and Tom Irwin discuss everything from the new technology in the Stealth 2 range, how they perform, and what is COR and Inverted Cone Technology.

Tomo Bystedt Senior Director of Product Creation at TaylorMade also joins the trio to chat about the changes they have made in the new drivers. 

We all love getting our hands on new golf clubs but what goes on behind the scenes to bring them to market?

Tom Irwin, Jack Backhouse and Hannah Holden speculate about how they would design a new driver. They also chat to Evan Gibbs, Director of R&D for Woods at Callaway to find out how they go about creating new golf clubs. 

Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll are joined by special guest Jeremy Tomlinson, England Golf's chief executive. We discuss in detail the governing body’s 'Respect in Golf' campaign – a movement which aims to promote greater understanding and embrace equality, diversity, and inclusion in the sport.

Jeremy also talks about the World Handicap System, membership numbers in the country, iGolf and iPlay, as well as what England Golf have got in store as their Centenary year really gets into gear.

We hope you enjoy the chat.

Elsewhere as we bring season 2 to a close:

• We’ve finally played some golf! Can we put this terrible winter behind us?
• Why are we so suspicious of data? We deep-dive into Shot Scope hitting distance numbers
• Steve tries to blind Tom with some tech trivia in Rules Corner

It’s January, which in our world means one thing and one thing only: new golf equipment.

This year it is Callaway making the plunge first, unveiling an expansive range of new products, all under the new Callaway Paradym family name.

On this episode of All the Gear, a National Club Golfer podcast, Hannah Holden, Jack Backhouse and Tom Irwin discuss everything from the new technology in the range, how they perform, and why they chose the name Paradym.

Evan Gibbs from the Callaway Research & Development team also joins the trio to chat about the changes they have made. 

It’s that time of year again when new product releases are coming left, right, and centre. While lots of golfers are excited about the possibility of new golf clubs, we increasingly see more and more complaints that technology can’t possibly be changing so quickly.

So can our clubs - in particular, drivers - actually keep getting better?

Hannah Holden, Jack Backhouse, and Tom Irwin discuss, and the All the Gear team are joined by Dave Neville, senior director of brand and product management at Callaway Golf, to find out what they are doing to keep improving their technology.

The NCG review team discuss the upcoming equipment launch season, their colossal attempt to test 80 new clubs in time for January and if brands should bring out new equipment every year. 

What is it about a golf club that draws us in? Is it the easy access to tee times, the shared sense of community, or the opportunity to get into competitive action?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin take a detailed look at why so many of us pay out considerable sums of money each year to be part of a club.

Steve, who has recently moved clubs, gets onto the couch and talks about some of the teething issues he has had settling into a new environment, while Tom examines whether clubs could do a better job of looking after members who might be wavering.

The pair also look at the best time clubs should have their renewals and consider what might change in the near future as a sport where participation has surged on the back of the Covid pandemic now faces up to a cost-of-living crisis.

Some of their conclusions might surprise you, so sit back and allow them to explain all…

Put a microphone in front of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and they are happy to talk. Both have conducted explosive interviews in the past few days and that's where Alex Perry and George Cooper start with this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast. Did McIlroy go too far with him comments? One of our co-hosts certainly thinks so.

Elsewhere, the pair argue over the players guaranteed to make the Ryder Cup and those on the fringes, while George picks his World Cup XI of golfers. (It makes more sense once you listen.)

But first, what's the worst golf-related Christmas present you've ever received? Let's get stuck in...

How many of our clubs would survive without them? The committee, board, and the various gatherings beneath them are the hubs of our clubs - largely staffed by volunteers who just want to give something back to the place they love the most.

But should so much responsibility be placed in the hands of so few? What happens to the club when decisions aren't being taken properly and what if they won't let the general manager do their job?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin, who've both seen their fair share of golf club committees down the years, dive into the topic with relish.

Tom relates his experiences in a marketing sub-committee, while Steve gives you the low down on how proprietary clubs do their business.

It's not doom and gloom by any means. The pair accentuate what makes committees great and Tom puts forward a five-point plan for the perfect golf club decision making body.

So if you've ever hailed or heckled your committee, have a listen and join the debate.

Yes, we know we said we were going on hiatus for a few weeks but there's just so much to talk about.

So in this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper run the rule over the remarkable tale of how Rory McIlroy almost changed the course of 150th Open forever, the latest Cam Smith-OWGR debacle, the Hero Cup teams, and the weekend's other big winners.  

Enjoy!

What does a good driving range experience look like? Do we need fancy technology and an on-demand bar, or will a quiet corner, a bucket of balls, and a nice patch of grass do the job just as well?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll dive into everything you may have ever considered about getting in a bit of practice.

Tom is in raptures about a recent driving range session with his kids, Steve bemoans the ‘indifferent’ quality of balls you can find at some facilities and the pair recount their best and worst moments.

They look at what makes a great driving range, whether club golf is lagging behind when it comes it providing the best experience for members and visitors, and Tom remembers the weird and wonderful characters who made his own time working at a driving range so memorable.

After mustering a passing score last week, Tom also has to find another level as Steve puts him through the R&A's intermediate Rules of Golf quiz. How will he get on this time?

In this week’s episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, there is plenty to discuss from an incredibly busy week that saw the end of the 2022 seasons for both the DP World and LPGA Tours.

When it comes to the former, something isn't quite right when it comes to how the Race to Dubai standings are calculated, and we think we've come up with the perfect plan to solve it. (Mr Pelley, if you're listening, slide into our DMs.)

As for the latter, it's been another wonderful season for women's golf which, we argue, has never been in better shape, and what Lydia Ko has to do to be in the conversation for GOAT status.

We also discuss the bug OWGR fallout - though we don't necessarily have a fix for this - as well as Cameron Smith and his rather controversial claims about why he moved to LIV, and that phone call with Rory McIlroy.

And we couldn't let Bryson DeChambeau off the hook - so our resident elite amateur athlete has his say on that matter.

There may also be some World Cup chat, so sorry in advance about that.

Enjoy!

What makes a good winter format? What will get you out of the warm confines of your house and onto the course?

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin go on a voyage of discovery – discussing everything from greenkeeper’s revenge to winterwinds and one quite incredible competition that would need half an hour in the clubhouse – and probably several pints – to sort out!

Steve gets himself into a state over trees on courses and, if that wasn’t enough light entertainment for you all, he makes Tom do a Rules of Golf quiz.

How do you think he’ll get on? Get clicking and get listening…

Live from Augusta Steve and Tom discuss Steve’s debut at Augusta. The boys cover a lot of ground and spend far too much time talking Gnomes. Find out about what it is like to be an Augusta first time, just how long that q is for merch, and yes of course how hilly it REALLY is. They also get stuck into the Scheffler era, the value of yet another Tiger comeback, poor old Rory and Jason Day’s clothes. They end by musing on what is next for the endless innovative Masters. It is a great listen from the heart of a fantastic tournament, if you are looking for Masters closure you have come to the right place.

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss how LIV Golf will affect the next few years of the Ryder Cup - and pick out there next five captains.

The DP World Tour's in-form player Ryan Fox also joins us to discuss everything from growing up in a ridiculously successful sporting family, his ridiculous season, looking ahead to his Masters debut, what it was like to have Steve Williams on the bag, and an absurd Tiger Woods story.

We don't want to spoil too much, so hit play and enjoy!

It has been a big week for club golf with the R&A and USGA announcing new revisions to the Rules of Golf, and which come into force on New Year’s Day.

So in this week’s episode of From the Clubhouse, a National Club Golf podcast, Steve Carroll, who has passed the R&A’s Level 3 Rules of Golf exam, and Tom Irwin go through some of the major changes and give their views on what we can expect when we get out for a round in 2023.

If you are confused by the new back-on-the-line relief rule, need a bit of guidance on putting your handicap on your scorecard, and require an explanation on the new penalties for Stableford – among many others – settle down as Tom and Steve dive right in.

This week on The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss the new DP World Tour schedule which has upset many British golf fans - as well as Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. Do you agree?   Elsewhere, George has an idea of who is next to cave in to the lure of Greg Norman's charm, and what would it take to make Alex a LIV Golf fan?

You'll have to hit play and listen in...

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin get stuck into winter golf.

Do we really enjoy it, what are the benefits of teeing it up when the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, and what is our ideal winter’s day out on the course?

Tom and Steve also dive into mats, temporary greens, and winter competitions before answering a winter rules question that might surprise most of you.

If you’ve ever considered braving the snow, ice, and cold weather on an ever-darkening winter’s afternoon, this episode should be right up your street.

Discussed in this week's episode: 

• Could your golf course close every winter? Why some clubs are considering it
• Do I have to mark my ball when taking preferred lies relief?
• Can I change my ball when taking relief under preferred lies?
• Can I replace a ball using my club?
• The 5 winter rules all golfers break

LIV Golf's first season is done and dusted, so, in this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss what they did right, what they did wrong, what they can do to improve ahead of next season, and the players rumoured to be on the verge of signing.

We also discuss the Ryder Cup, including Seamus Power's chances of making Luke Donald's team next year, and Alex makes a passionate plea to the developers planning to host the 2031 edition of golf's best tournament.

Let's get stuck in...

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin take a deep look at golf course etiquette.

What is good etiquette, what is and isn't acceptable on the golf course and should we draw up a list of hard and fast rules that every golfer should abide by - rather than just asking, and hoping, people do the right thing?

Tom and Steve set out their positions on care of the course, causing distractions, pace of play, looking your best, and when you should provide help to your playing partners, as they develop their NCG etiquette Code of Conduct.

How can you not give it a listen?

In this episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss Rory McIlroy's return to World No 1 thanks to his successful title defence at the CJ Cup. Is this the best version of Rory we've ever seen? And what did we make of those comments in reply to Phil Mickelson?

We also have the co-founder of the Clutch Pro Tour, Tom Hayward, on as a guest to talk about his tour's huge plans for 2023, and he explains why LIV Golf has actually been a good thing for mini tour players.

Enjoy.

On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin tackle the World Handicap System.

Tom joins us from Rome, where he is attending the International Golf Travel Market, and tells us a tall tale from an Italian golf course, before he and Steve dive deep into some of their particular bug bears with the new global order.

They discuss whether it’s really a world system, look at the Playing Conditions Calculation and Course Rating, and consider a missed opportunity for equality in golf before looking ahead to the future. Steve then delves into the Rule Book to answer a reader’s tricky situation with a bush in his weekly Rules of Golf corner.

After all that, how can you not give it a listen?

Another fun-filled week on The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, where Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss the much-maligned treatment of (former?) LIV golfer and Andalucia Masters champion Adrian Otaegui, Phil Mickelson's bizarre press conference, Ian Poulter's latest Twitter spat, and what Brooks Koepka's emotional victory meant in Jeddah. 

And, more importantly, how early is too early for hanging Halloween decorations?

Don't ever accuse us of not asking the big questions... 

On our revamped From the Clubhouse podcast, from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin will tackle the issues that are the talk of the clubhouse. This week, they give you the lowdown on JCB Golf and Country Club after they enjoyed an office away day at the Staffordshire tour venue.

They then turn their attentions to the medal vs Stableford golf debate – looking at its evolution at Wallasey Golf Club, why it's proving so popular against medal stroke play, and whether there should be modifications to the Stableford scoring system.

They even come to an unlikely agreement, before Steve takes some golf club committees to task following a reader’s scorecard question in a new weekly Rules of Golf corner.

There's plenty to go at there so let's crack straight on...

A major championship needs a major guest and we’ve got one for you as Ian Woosnam joins The NCG Golf Podcast ahead of The Masters.

Also previewing the Barbados Legends Championship at Apes Hill, which is kicking off the new Legends Tour season in May and is hosted by the 1991 Masters champ, podcast hosts Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll dig deep into next week's tournament with one of the game’s all-time greats.

We relive his green jacket victory, get some advice for those of you travelling to the tournament for the first time and, of course, ask him who’s going to win!

Elsewhere this week:

• Tom outlines his ‘foolproof’ Masters betting system. Please remember to gamble responsibly
• Are we really going to see Augusta Syndrome at your club this year?
• We’ve got a Masters special Rules corner for you to try and solve!

The NCG Golf Podcast is produced in association with the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer Podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper fall out about the great LIV Golf vs Official World Golf Ranking debate before reuniting in agreement over the breakaway tour's players' potential involvement in the Ryder Cup. 

Elsewhere, another English winner Stateside, and a remarkable story about Thomas Bjorn - the likes of which we've never heard.

It's all incredibly messy, so let's try and unpick it... 

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper discuss all the big questions from the week's tournaments, including where we would move the Dunhill, the surprise Ryder Cup outsider, and a pair of winners out for revenge.

Meanwhile, former LET star turned Sky Sports analyst Sophie Walker joins to discuss Charley Hull's fantastic victory on the LPGA Tour over the weekend.

Should you be able to play from whatever tee you wish in a competition? Does it really matter if events aren’t mixed?

What does the future look like for women’s membership? At Woolley Park, the club have an innovative approach to the game in most of their tournaments – play if you like, with whom you like, and from whichever tees you like.

In this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll is joined by NCG’s Hannah Holden and the family-run Yorkshire club’s Emily Rowbottom to discuss their mixed tee policy and the obstacles that still face women in golf.

On this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry and George Cooper are joined by Rules of Golf expert Steve Carroll to get his verdict on the remarkable events at the Open de France that saw Thomas Pieters allowed to retake a putt.

Golf Twitter sensation Sam Harrop also dials in to discuss his rise to social media stardom thanks to his hilarious parody songs, and how it led to him ending up at the Presidents Cup asking the players to sing for him.

Enjoy! 

In this week's episode of The Slam, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin, George Cooper and Hannah Holden reflect on another bonkers weekend of LIV Golf action before discussing who could make Luke Donald's Ryder Cup squad following a gripping Italian Open.

Elsewhere, the team compare their celebrity golf encounters while Hannah has a marvellous idea on how to save the Presidents Cup.

What’s the visitor experience like when you go to another club? Are the members welcoming, do the staff go out of their way to help, or do you get the distinct sense some would rather you weren’t there?

We were drawn to an archive letter in The Times, dating back a century, which chastised seaside clubs for the reception visitors were accorded and it got us thinking, how does that experience compare with now?

In this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll is joined by Hannah Holden and Tom Irwin to look back at how things were for this particular golfer and discuss whether or not visitors are still getting such treatment when they go to play an unfamiliar course.

The team also dive into the whole array of membership options, including points and flexible golf membership categories.

In this week's episode of The Slam, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin, Hannah Holden and George Cooper recap a remarkable BMW PGA Championship where Shane Lowry claimed victory on an emotional weekend for all.

George then dives into the LIV Golf beef at Wentworth, sharing his experience from the tournament while revealing what happened during THAT Ian Poulter vs Billy Horschel video...

Elsewhere, the trio look ahead to the rest of the golfing year and discuss the evolution of Sergio Garcia!

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry, George Cooper and Hannah Holden are discussing – you guessed it! – the LIV Golf event in Boston. 

The trio look at the tournament from a purely entertainment perspective. What are LIV getting right? What are LIV getting wrong? What's next?

They also discuss the possibility of a women's LIV Golf League, and how that might affect the LPGA Tour, the Great Shorts Debate, and much, much more...

In this week's episode of The Slam, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin is joined by George Cooper and Hannah Holden to recap a tumultuous 2022 PGA Tour Season, discuss Rory's role as golf's leading man, and rank all of LIV's new acquisitions after its latest bombshell.

Elsewhere, the team debate whether clubs should use ability tees for competitions, while Tom opens up about his loss of sleep no thanks to Cameron Smith.

In this week's episode of The Slam, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Tom Irwin is joined by George Cooper and Hannah Holden to discuss what went down at Tiger Woods's PGA Tour meeting, whether we think the FedEx Cup is meaningless, and the possibility of LIV Golf launching a women's league!

Things then get divisive as we debate the 'strange' science behind leaving the flagstick in, while Ian Poulter enters the NCG firing line after some questionable social media posts.

Don’t misread the date. It’s not an April Fool. The big World Handicap System changes are here and, from April 1, the way you play your club golf WILL change.

If you’ve forgotten what’s coming, never fear. Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll have enlisted the help of David Kernohan, Scottish Golf’s Head of VMS and Handicapping, to go over the major headlines.

He’ll help you get to grips with Course Rating minus Par, fourball betterball scores, and all the big alterations.

We also discuss where the WHS successes have been and where the system could still be improved.

Elsewhere this week:

• Free relief from divots? After Jordan Smith’s horror lie, the age-old debate surfaces yet again
• What if someone finds your ball as time runs out? Can Steve stump Tom again in Rules Corner?
• More money!? Just what are those tour players up to?

The NCG Golf Podcast is produced in association with the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball

Tee sheets are still busy, membership remains buoyant and, as the success of England Golf’s independent golfer scheme shows, new players continue to be attracted to our wonderful game.

While the number of rounds played may not be hitting the heights of 2020 and 2021, they remain way above pre-Covid levels – and there has been no sign in this year’s club renewals of a halt in the sport’s popularity.

And yet there are gathering clouds on the horizon. The cost-of-living crisis, spearheaded by huge energy bills that seem certain to come our way later this year, represent a big threat to our disposable incomes and could dramatically change our leisure habits.

So how can golf prepare for this and how can the authorities help? And what about other issues around growing participation for women and girls, sustainability, and the World Handicap System?

To talk about the success of iGolf, and how England Golf are meeting the challenge in some of these areas, our guest on the From the Clubhouse podcast is the governing body’s chief operating officer Richard Flint…

In this week's episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry, George Cooper, Hannah Holden and Tom Irwin discuss Will Zalatoris finally getting over the line on the PGA Tour (despite his "dodgy" putting), Cameron Smith's controversial two-shot penalty (and why it isn't a level playing field, the wonderful ISPS Handa World Invitational (and our plans to get more people watching women's golf), and the Great Shorts Debate (with a completely unnecessary analogy).

There's plenty to go at here, so let's get stuck in.

Enjoy.

In this episode of The Slam, a National Club Golfer podcast, Alex Perry, Hannah Holden and George Cooper debrief a wonderful AIG Women's Open, including the much talked about playoff format and late finish at Muirfield, before champion Ashleigh Buhai's mental coach Duncan McCarthy joins for a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to golf and psychology.

Elsewhere, Hannah explains why the increased prize funds we've seen in the women's game this year - particularly at the majors - is not just about paying the LPGA stars what they're worth, but the trickle-down effect it will have on generations to come at grassroots level.

Enjoy.