The NCG Golf Podcast

What has happened to the Ryder Cup? From a pre-event pay-for-play row to the appalling behaviour on show in the galleries at Bethpage Black, it felt like golf’s image has taken a beating.

Europe won the trophy but have we lost the spirit of what the near century old event is about? Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll break down the last three days in New York.

Why did they ruin a fantastic golf course? Why was anyone surprised some fans we...

Bethpage Black is almost upon us and we’ve got a bumper preview show ahead of a mouthwatering match up between the USA and Europe.

Tom Irwin sits down with Ryder Cup legend Justin Rose, who’s about to make his seventh appearance in European colours.

Tom and Justin talk about his commitment to the sport through the Rose Ladies Series, barriers to participation, as well as his longevity following another successful season.

But, of co...

We asked your thoughts about the World Handicap System and you responded in huge numbers – almost breaking Steve Carroll’s email. In today’s episode he joins co-host Tom Irwin to chat through some of what you said about WHS.

We discuss the results of Golf Ireland’s survey of its handicap allowances pilot – where many clubs surprisingly opted not to change anything.

We talk about what needs to happen with general play to make it mor...

It’s been a rite of passage in the Irwin household. Tom’s son has just received his first handicap and in this week’s episode we discuss that journey.

Is iGolf a way to get new players started without the pressure of a club environment? Should clubs and courses be set-up differently to encourage beginners and younger golfers to get into the game?

And a full-sized golf course is massive! Do we need to take more responsibility in pro...

In this episode of our special A Life in Golf podcasts, Tom Irwin chats to DP World Tour winner and podcast host Eddie Pepperell

Eddie and Tom got together at The Roxburghe, where he was playing on the Challenge Tour, to discuss his career, the pressures of playing at the very elite level, the state of the professional game, and his role as a podcast star on the hugely popular The Chipping Forecast.

They also get into the World Han...

We haven’t nattered about our favourite subject for a while, so Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll can’t resist another yarn about the World Handicap System.

Steve is finally starting to see his index fall but is surprised it’s not happening quicker, while Tom has played in some challenging conditions only to see the Playing Conditions Calculation remain stubbornly stable. The duo get into a debate about its merits.

Tom has been on an inc...

Tom Irwin has just returned from a week at Royal Portrush where he was both media and family man. Once he’d put away the laptop, he experienced The Open with his wife and two young children. Does the Championship do enough to engage families? Is it really doing its best to inspire the next generation?

He discusses this with co-host Steve Carroll and the pair also dive into Scottie Scheffler’s fourth major victory. Is he simply the ...

Day three of The Open is done, and it's the same story as most other golf tournaments: Scottie Scheffler is steaming ahead to victory.

Tom Irwin and Matt Chivers sit down to reflect on the third round at Royal Portrush, what they saw and experienced, what they make of Scheffler's dominance and more fun with following Rory McIlroy inside the ropes.

Tom isn't entirely happy with what there is to do for youngsters on-site at the Dunlu...

In our wrap of day two at The Open, Tom Irwin is rejoined by Tour Editor Matt Chivers, fresh and excited from following Rory McIlroy inside the ropes in the second round at Portrush.

The pair talk about the prospect of Rory contending on the weekend at a home major, the absolutely vast crowds that follow his every movement, how Bryson might have cracked the links code and what we can expect from the weekend, as the leaderboard is s...

Tom Irwin is at The Open, he is missing Steve but the excitement has got too much and he had to Pod. He has roped in Tour Editor Matt Chivers to join him for an eve of the Open bonus episode of the NCG Golf Podcast. They run through 6 things you will be sure to see this week:

• An Open ruined at the 1st
• A real challenge from the LIV players
• Hyperbolic Americans.
• Rory revelling in the attention
• Ludicrous Irish crowd...

It’s the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush and we’ve got an unmatched preview to get you into the spirit for the final men’s major of the year.

Tom Irwin recounts his memories of playing the Dunluce course that will host the championship this week, as well as giving us a behind the scenes tour of some of the town’s highlights.

Co-host Steve Carroll passionately argues for the removal of the internal out of bounds that did for Rory McIlr...

We’ve reached the halfway point of our run down of the best golf holes on The Open rota courses.

Now, Tom Irwin joins Steve Carroll once more to discuss the back 9 of his favourite holes from the 10 courses that have hosted the Claret Jug.

What will he pick? Be warned, there are some pretty famous holes that don’t make the cut. What do you think about his selections, and what would you choose?

Tom Irwin is getting in the Open spiri...

Tom Irwin is getting in the Open spirit. He’s somehow managed to blag his way round most of the courses on The Open rota over the last few months.

In honour of the journey, he runs down his favourite holes from the 10 courses that have regularly hosted the Claret Jug.

It’s an eclectic – so the 1st hole on Tom’s list must also be the 1st hole at one of the venues – and so on.

It’s a meaty task so this week, Tom and host Steve Carrol...

A new report says golf is a big turn off for plenty of kids – and huge numbers of parents don’t even try to get their children into the sport.

The findings, from American Golf, say the Covid boom hasn’t been reflected in interest from Under-18s and we risk “losing an entire generation” without action.

Is the future of our game in trouble? Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll, both parents of young children, ask if we need to do more to get ...

Podcast co-host Tom Irwin has had a through-the-bag fitting with TaylorMade at The Belfry. With clubs costing what they do, it's essential you buy something that suits.

Custom fitting can really help. So if you're in the market for a new set of sticks, Tom has got eight tips to make the experience worthwhile. 

Tom also reveals how he has fallen foul of England Golf's Championship Entry policy when trying to enter the English Amateu...

Steve and Tom have been playing golf. A lot of golf. Yes, we get a rundown of Captain’s Days and Team Championships but there is a deeper message too.

Steve reveals the curious WHS situation he encountered where he could play a competition round under his Course Handicap and see his Index still rise.

Is it just a quirk of averaging or – for those of us used to being cut for a good score – is it part of the reason WHS has been getti...

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...

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 St...