Golf Analytics - Arccos and Game Golf

I’ve always been interested in stats about my golf game.  How many fairways I’ve hit, putts I’ve taken, where the strengths and weaknesses of my game are statistically. Now, I am a very average 14 handicapper and you may well ask why such detail matters, and you may well be right, but I do get some enjoyment from knowing I can putt like a 5 handicapper and something strangely affirming to know I play like a 20 handicapper from the tee.  In recent years there have been innovations to help with this and I have eagerly jumped at the chance to learn more.

The idea that you can use GPS now to inform performance on the course is one that intrigued me from the off.  First out the blocks was Game Golf and then this was followed by Arccos.  There are others but I have tried both extensively so feel these are the ones I can comment on the best. This is not designed to be a definitive guide to the features, there are plenty of places on the web to get a blow by blow account of how to set them up.  Instead this is just a few thoughts about both and where I ended up.

Firstly, GameGolf.  The problem with this one is that you have to tag the end of the club against a GPS device you attach to your belt before every single shot.  After the round you hook the device up to your computer and download all the information, adding any shots you may have missed. They have tried to turn the nuisance of having to tag into a positive ‘tagging helps you get in the zone’ type stuff but in reality it doesn’t.  It just plays in the back of your mind ‘did I remember to tag’ and to be honest you feel a bit of an idiot sometimes when you’re beeping away before every shot on the course.  They have now launched a Game Golf live but tagging is still central to the experience.

I used GameGolf for about 30 rounds but frankly it was just too much of a pain to remember to tag every shot and then download all of the data and make the changes to the wrong tagging etc so I just gave up in the end.  Grrr.

That’s why when Arccos came along I was so excited.  You just screw the widgets into the end of the club and play away to your heart’s content, as long as your phone is in your pocket every shot would be stored.  Quite a lot of people have moaned about the phone being in your pocket think but it never really bothered me. This was going to be the answer.  The analytics engine was really great. 

There were so many great features – ranges and average distances by club, strengths of different parts of your game.  It’s also possible to overlay on a hole all the different rounds you have played and how you have scored from different places, fantastic stuff.  I could see which holes I played well on from different places and this was really going to help me shave some shots off my handicap.

I also loved on Arccos that I could go back and look shot-by-shot any round I had played in the past, great to relive the memories or plan the next round.

This was all too good to be true of course. What really bothered me was that the sensors kept packing up.  As a result I spent a really irritating amount of time on the golf course trying to reset the sensors, put in new batteries and generally swear and curse. 

The customer service was great and they sent me new ones but there always seemed to be one club which wasn't registering or playing up.  A friend of mine who also bought the system spent two hours staying up the night before we played The Old Course trying to get the things to work, replacing all his batteries just to give up in the early hours of the morning. 

The data you get from both systems is great.  As a fan of Mark Broadie and all the shots gained type data this was right up my street. The Game Golf interface was good, the Arccos one fantastic. 

But the on-course experience wasn’t enough to compensate for the hassle factor.  I know 4 people who have bought Arccos and 3 who bought Game Golf - none of them are using them any more.

Eventually, the straw that broke the camel’s back was when I went for a fitting for new clubs.  The pro doing the fitting took one look at my set and asked why I had come for a fitting if I was going to put these plugs on the end of every club.  He got them on the scales and said that the swingweight adjustment was significant enough to affect the fitting and I should think long and hard before using them.  Now, I am a 14 handicap hacker so would it really make a difference?  I doubt it.  However, the seed of doubt was planted in my mind.  Would the benefit I have from tracking my progress be offset with the pesky swingweight change?  I could find nothing on the web to validate either view apart from the official blurb from Arccos saying it would be fine.

So in the end I gave up.  It was too distracting on the course constantly wondering whether clubs had tagged correctly and then combined with my swingweight thought I just didn’t bother putting them on the clubs when the new ones arrived.

In a nutshell, the problem with both systems was that neither system was reliable enough and became more of a distraction on the golf course than a benefit

I'm sure the industry will continue to develop and one day it will be both reliable and not a distraction.  Arccos have some tie up with Callaway and Game Golf have worked with Golf Pride grips so hopefully that innovation will be with us before too long.  In the meantime, I will just play in blissful ignorance of the statistical minutiae of my game. And anyway,  it doesn’t take a genius to know I need to improve my driving!

East Lothian Golf in Style!

It is perfectly possible to have a great golf trip to East Lothian at a reasonable price but if you really want to experience the ultimate tracks at the height of the season then it's going to cost you a little, no make that a lot, more. However, you are likely to come away with a great appreciation of some of the best links golf that the world has to offer.

For this trip I have selected a combination of the very best old, and very best new courses. The one thing you are guaranteed wherever you go is a warm welcome. Unlike in the US, it is possible to play pretty much all the top courses in the UK with a bit of planning. So here goes, the ultimate East Lothian golf trip.

Time of year to visit
It's really hard to recommend a particular time to visit but, if pushed, I would plump for June I think. The days are long and it is often drier than later in the summer. You will pay premium prices for the golf but the courses will be in truly tremendous condition. These are some of the best links greens in the world.

Day 1
Gullane 1 (click on name for full review).  It would be criminal not to play this course when you're in the area. Previously an 'unknown gem' to many, it has recently hosted the Scottish Open and has been a regional qualifier for The Open for years. The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking.

Stay overnight in five star the Renaissance Club and enjoy a dram looking over the challenge that faces you tomorrow.

Day 2
AM. The Renaissance Club.  This is one of the few really private courses in Scotland. However you can stay and play here as part of a 'one time experience'. It's not cheap, you'll be pushing £500 a head for the green fee and stay but this Tom Doak course has garnered a lot of praise. It is a tough track but worth playing, if just to see what Doak has done with his only Scottish course to date.

The Renaissance has some new spectacular holes on the coast

PM. Archerfield is just next door to the Renaissance and has recently hosted a European Tour event, the Scottish Seniors and Ladies Opens. It is a far more forgiving experience than its neighbour but great fun and the service is second to none. Again, not an easy tee time to get but you can sign up for a 'visitor's experience' for a price.

Stay overnight at Greywalls Hotel.  Greywalls is probably one of the most famous hotels in golf. While not affiliated with the club, the small hotel looks over the 10th tee at Muirfield. It's crammed full of photos and anecdotes from pros and celebrities who have stayed there over the years and the Gents toilet is not to be missed! You can dine in the fabulous Albert Roux restaurant and sample some of the finest fare Scottish golf has to offer.

The view over Muirfield from the restaurant at Greywalls

Day 3
Muirfield.  This is simply one of the best links golf courses in the world. Indeed, it comes out at no. 13 in my 'poll of polls' of the world rankings and is the 4th highest ranked links course in the world.  Much has been written about the unwelcoming nature of the club but I have to say I have never had anything but the warmest of welcomes and the staff there really seem to want you to make the most of of your stay.  All details are on the link above but, suffice to say, after a brilliant 18 holes, the lunch is awesome and you must stay to enjoy the afternoon foursomes, probably fuelled by Yorkshire puddings and red wine.

Stay overnight at Greywalls again. You may want to dine there or take the 10 minute ride to North Berwick to get a bit of a taster for what is to come.

North Berwick - simply spectacular!

Day 4
North Berwick.  I think this is the most fun links course anywhere in the world. OK, it's never going to host an Open as the pros would destroy it these days but I have purposely put this course in last. It beats Muirfield for enjoyment and is a fitting last round to what will be one of the best golf trips you could create anywhere in the world.

So there you have it.  A no-expense spared trip to one of the best areas for golf in the UK.  All in this will cost you the best part of £1,500 but you will be hard pushed to find a better set of golf courses so close together anywhere in the world.

MORE SCOTLAND GOLF COURSES HERE

How to discover East Lothian Golf without breaking the bank

The European Tour is back on British soil this week for the Paul Lawrie Matchplay at Archerfield Links.  Archerfield is a relatively new addition to the East Lothian Golf Coast and sits just between the venerable names of North Berwick and Gullane.  However it is far from a cheap tee time and you could play off the very best courses the country has to offer for pretty much the same price as a round there.

Later this week I'll be giving some tips on how to organise the ultimate trip to East Lothian, but today, here is how to do it for less than £300 including food, accommodation and watering.  It takes a little work but is well worth the effort!

Firstly, plan for a trip in the Spring.  These are all links courses and are in magnificent condition all year round.  If you visit after March 1st there is no danger of playing from mats and the greens will be running as pure as most would in the summer.  The great advantage of playing at this time of year is that access to courses can cost at least half what it does in the summer.  OK, there is a slight risk with the weather but March is actually the third driest month of the year in North Berwick (FACT!) and there are on average over 5 hours of sun a day. Just bring you thermal underwear and you'll be fine!

North Berwick is a links classic

Secondly, rather than staying in a hotel, stay at one of the many Bed and Breakfasts in the area.  Not only will you get a warm welcome with lots of tips on how to get the most from the area but also a cooked breakfast thrown in!

Thirdly, if you choose the courses well, you can do 36 holes in a day even in March which helps both keep the costs down and means you can pack in 4 rounds over only three days. The only really compromise I have had to make on courses is that I have chosen between North Berwick and Muirfield for the 'premium' course.  For me to leave the area without playing at North Berwick would be criminal so it was a relatively easy choice!

So here it is, if you have any questions just leave a comment and I'll get back to you and look out for the ultimate East Lothian trip later in the week-

Day 1 -

Arrive and play at Dunbar Golf Club.  It is a classic links course which has hosted numerous prestigious events including qualifying for the Open. It clocks in at £50 a round

North Berwick is only 20 minutes from Dunbar and is a great place to base yourself.  There are many great restaurants in this wonderfully pretty harbour town.  You can check out recommendations and tips on the North Berwick review page.

You will be able to get a B&B in the centre of town for around £30 a person if you share a room.  Tripadvisor rarely lets you down and there are options popping up on Airbnb now too.

For dinner, a stroll into North Berwick and you should get a good meal with change from £20 in one of many places. The Grange is a particular favourite of mine. I sat on the table next to Rory McIlroy once - North Berwick's that kind of place.

Gullane 1 has some breathtaking views, and penal bunkers

Day 2

Gullane 3 and Gullane 1 (Click names for full reviews). In less than 10 minutes you can drive from North Berwick to Gullane, probably the most hardcore golfing village you will find anywhere in the world!  Gullane 3 is a short course you can get round in under 3 hours which will set you up for the test that is Gullane 1, where Rickie Fowler took the Scottish Open in 2015. 

The courses are always in magnificent condition and many say these are the best greens 'off-season' in the whole of Scotland.  For only £86 you will get to play both courses in March, an absolute steal.

It's light in the latter half of March until 7pm so there is no problem at all in getting in 36 in a day with plenty of time for lunch where I'd recommend you try out the Old Clubhouse or Golf Inn, both in the heart of this great village.

After you've enjoyed Gullane 1 it's back to your digs in North Berwick and out for a couple of drinks before turning in.

Day 3

North Berwick - For me this is the most fun course I have ever been to.  It is eminently playable but home to some great golfing architectural wonders.  You can see the sea from many holes and the beach comes into play on many occasions.  It's simply a wonderful experience. 

The club is incredibly welcoming to guests and frankly it is worth the trip just to play this course alone.  From March 1st there are no mats in play and the course is simply magnificent!  Oh yes, and at this time of year it's a mere £75 a round - bargain.

So there we have it.  3 days, 4 courses and an experience you will never forget.  The golf comes in at £211, you should get 2 nights accommodation for another £50 and if you eat carefully and don't have too many drinks, you can get it done for £300.  OK, given the temptations on display, call it £350........

MORE SCOTLAND COURSE REVIEWS HERE

10 Top Tips for Visiting the Open

It was 1986 when I first went to the Open. As a 12 year old boy there was little that could beat spending four days from dawn to dusk watching my heroes do battle over the Turnberry links. My Dad was working in the hospitality suites and he dropped me off every morning and picked me up every evening. OK, it rained solid, the wind blew hard and it was bloody freezing but I can still remember it vividly as a great few days.

I've been back to many Opens since, living just 400 yards from the first tee at Muirfield meant that the 2013 edition was a particular thrill. I have been lucky enough to go to the US Open, the Masters and Ryder Cups; they are each wonderful experiences too and they all have their own very distinctive feels, the scale of the Open is unlike any other.

Some say that the only place to watch a golf event is the television. While I can understand why some are of that view, with a little planning you can get a huge amount out of a trip to the Open and if you have never been I would urge you to give it a go. Here are some tips to help you have a really special day.

Do a little research

It doesn't have to be a lot but it's worth finding out a little bit about the course beforehand. Watch a video flyover, read a little history. Just a bit more context of the course and research on where the drama is likely to be will help you enjoy the day even more.

Get there early, or stay late

The Open is one of the very few events that has no two tee start, with one set of players going off in the morning and one in the afternoon. Instead everyone goes off the first tee and they start early and finish late.  

The first group goes off around 6.30am and the last one at 4ish in three balls. I have been on the course when the first guys have teed off and left when the last ones have finished and they are often great times of the day. The crowds are thin, there is a real sense of camaraderie among those watching and access is no problem. Go along at 6.35am this Thursday morning and you will come across Mark o'Meara and Chris Wood teeing it up. That's not a bad start to the day.

Wear Golf Shoes

There is one school of thought that says you shouldn't go to watch a golf event like you're dressed to jump over the ropes and spring into action if called on. Some say you look a little, well, silly. I say ignore such people. I guarantee that you will see someone fall on their arse at some stage on your day at the Open and don't let that person be you. The long grass gets pressed down and takes on a glassy quality, you will find yourself scrambling up dunes to get a good view. Wear your golf shoes with pride!

Take a Radio

If there was one bit of advice I would give to anyone going to the Open I would say take a radio. There are two options for listening on course - good old BBC Radio 5 Live which will have several hours of coverage every day and the Open's own radio station with non-stop action.  

Listening as you go around means you will get an idea of who is making a charge, how the course is playing and adds flavour to your experience. It's also pretty cool to watch a player hitting a shot and listening to the commentary live at the same time.

If you're there on the Sunday afternoon it is critical to knowing which group is best to catch up with and even if you don't then see every single shot from the winner you'll really be on top of what is going on.  

I would also suggest you do take a radio rather than listen on your phone. The radio will soon kill the battery on your phone and the signal will go in and out so an old fashioned AM radio will do the trick perfectly. If you are under the age of 20 then look them up on ebay.

.......and bring a Powerpack

Even if you're not listening to the radio on your phone the odds are you will kill the battery during the course of a day. There is a really good Open App where you can track the players on the course and of course Twitter will be full of commentary. You can make calls away from the action and discreet photos from a distance won't get you kicked out (although for the love of God don't stand next to the players with your camera out filming away, it's really annoying for everyone apart from you!).

So, pack a powerpack like this one and you will be able to surf to your heart's content!

Consider a rucksack

Every year you will see hundreds of people trudging along in the wind and the rain carrying a plastic bag with goodies from the merchandise tent or carrying their radios, programmes, powerpacks and binoculars. Their hands will be shrivelled and and faces glum. Don't let that person be you - a rucksack is the cure to all your ills!

Get ahead if you're watching a group

Following a group around can be surprisingly easy to do with a little planning. There is a 'red route' from the 1st to the 18th which will allow you to wind your way around taking in the best vantage points and crossing the holes at the appropriate moment to place you for the next.  

The secret to following one group all the way around and see every shot is to get ahead. Rather than stand on the tee watching every shot go ahead to the landing zone, you'll be in front of most of the other fans and will get a good perspective to see the shots. If the players hit it on top of me then I sometimes stay there but otherwise go up to the green to watch their approach shots and putts before going down to the landing areas on the next hole.  

Now, of course it's nice to watch a few drives close up but you will get a much better view if you keep moving. To get the most out of that then listen in on the radio and.........

..........pack the binoculars

This might strike you as being a little hard core but a small pair of binoculars will help as well.  One of the most common things you will hear from your fellow spectators on the course is 'who hit that'. A pair of binoculars and copy of the draw sheet (where you will find out which caddy has which bib colour on) will allow you to be the man/woman with the answers.

Smell the Roses

Chasing around after a group all day has its attractions, especially when the competition is coming to a climax but actually there can be just as much fun in staying put in one place for a while. Firstly, do spend a bit of time at the practice range, bunkers or putting green. You'll be able to get really close to the players and see them going about their routines and tuning up in normally a fairly relaxed atmosphere. Just seeing the sheer effortless nature of their swings can be a real inspiration for your next outing!

Secondly, it's well worth staying in one place for a while.The Open has more seats on the course than any other golf event on the planet so take advantage of them. Watching a few groups go through one hole can be a great way to see how different players go about the same challenge. A short par 3 or reachable par 5 make for a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours and get some thrills on the way, especially if you see a few high numbers thrown in as well!

Spend Wisely

A day at the Open won't be the cheapest day you will ever spend. The cost of entrance is steep and refreshments are pricey.  Having said that, there is quite a good selection out there and enjoying a beer in front of the big screen with the huge hole-by-hole scoreboard changing next to you is a pleasant way to spend a while.

There is also quite a lot of 'free' entertainment  - for juniors there's normally some tuition and various challenges for all ages. If you are a Mastercard or HSBC customer there's access to a special hospitality area (handy if it's raining).

Back in the day the tented village was a wonder to behold. All of the manufacturers would have stands as well as the inventors of weird and wonderful gadgets, purveyors of historical books, artists and tour operators.  It was kind of like a golf bazaar. That has long gone now. The R&A have turned it into a high end clothing tent with everything branded to within an inch of its life. Where that works at Augusta, it's charmless and  corporate here. However, if you do really decide you have your heart set on buying some gear then you may want to consider just buying it on the Open site. You won't have to lug it around all day and if your size and colour isn't available on the course, the odds are it will be online.

And Finally.......

With a bit of planning you should have a great day at the Open. You will be able to get up close to some of the best players in the world and if you put a bit of planning into it will see a huge amount. It's quite likely that this will whet your appetite to play these great courses and that's one of the great things about British golf - you can do just that!

All of the courses on the rota are accessible with a little planning. Sure, they are expensive but if you are able to put away no more than five pounds a week you would have saved enough to get on any of the courses in a year's time.  

There are tips on this site for planning trips to all of the great courses. None of them would disappoint but if you have to choose then I would encourage you to have a look at my write-ups of St Andrews, Royal St Georges or Royal Birkdale which may just be the pick of the crop. Enjoy!

My MacKenzie Golf Bag

When it comes to golf equipment I am a bit of a sucker. There was the brush tee which guaranteed the perfect angle of flight with my drives, the Short Game Wizard which ensured I would turn into Seve around the greens and when it comes to golf bags I got through many over the years. Big ones, little ones, dark ones, light ones. You name it, I’d carried it.

But then I saw a tweet a few years ago with a picture of a carry bag, I’m pretty sure it belonged to Adam Scott. It was a MacKenzie Walker and I simply fell in love. It looked pure class – soft leather and an elegant design which is evocative of a bygone age where golf was so much simpler. I really, really wanted one..

The catch was the price. It would be the single most expensive piece of golf gear I own. As fortune had it I had my 40th birthday coming up and a bunch of very generous friends wondering what to get me. While the $1,000+ bill would be a stretch I kept inviting more people to my party until the price per head became acceptable! Game on.

The bags are all hand made in Oregon, and a lot of love and attention clearly goes into each one. There is a great Q&A from Golf Club Atlas here if you want to find out more, well worth reading.

I spent months lovingly looking at different images on the web and trying to get as much information as I could about the bag. When it arrived it was even better than I imagined it would be. Apart from my very closest family I think I can safely say that this bag is my favourite thing in the world! It is everything that I could have wanted and more.

It is a real headturner and never fails to get an admiring comment. I simply can’t imagine playing golf without it. Having spent a long time looking for as much information as I could get and seen some of the questions out there I thought I would do a little Q&A. If you have anything else you would like to know though please don’t hesitate to ask and I will do my best to answer!

How easy is the bag to carry?
The bag has a great balance to it. It is designed to be slung across the shoulders and there is a little tag at the bottom to put your thumb through which means that it just sits perfectly. So from an ease of carrying point of view it just kills it, as our American cousins may say.

How much does the bag weigh?
Clearly it depends how much stuff you put in it. The leather bag itself doesn’t feel like in any way heavier than a normal bag. It’s a very soft leather which jumps into your hand!

How many clubs fit in the bag?
You can fit 14 no problem and it’s still easy to get clubs in and out. I normally carry 12 without any concern at all.

What can you fit in the pockets?
There are 2 good sized pockets – one on the front and one on the back. They are both the same size. If necessary I can put in a waterproof top in one, trousers in the other and still have room for plenty of balls, a rangefinder etc. Normally I go without the waterproofs and there is tons of room there – I haven’t had to compromise once although it is a good time to rationalise some of the rubbish we carry around!

Plenty of room in the pockets!

What’s it like in the rain?
One of the key things to remember is that the bag will dry! For the first couple of rounds the leather strap did bleed a little but it wasn’t an issue. In a normal shower or drizzle there are no problems. I did once play 27 holes in torrential rain and the bag took on a lot of water, after the round I emptied it and stuffed it with newspaper and within 36 hours it was back to normal.

How does the bag wear?
Beautifully. The leather becomes a lot softer over time and the colours evolve. After 2 years it looks like it’s a 20 year old bag – in a very good way. It develops even more character and more. MacKenzie say that if any repairs are required they will take care of them – it has a lifetime guarantee. I will be testing this at the end of this golf season as the rim has worn through a little and will report back on how they deal with it.

What was the ordering process like?
Choosing the bag is great fun. The site has many wonderful images to peruse and then you can customise to your heart’s content – although at a cost. Now, if there was one criticism I could level at MacKenzie it would be around the management of expectations around delivery of the bag. It took a little longer to get the bag than expected which was a bit frustrating at times. It’s addressed in the great interview with GCA here and sounds like they are sorting it. This is a thing of beauty which will last a lifetime and all good things come to those who wait I guess!

Any advice for transporting the bag
I'd never bothered before but since getting my Mackenzie I now always use a Stiff Arm protector which means the risk of a snapped driver is lessened. 

Is it worth the money?
Let’s be clear, this bag is expensive. And yet…… This is a bag for life; while I have the strength to carry a bag this will be the one. I just love it and feel so lucky to have one. If you get the chance, and if you’re the kind of person who likes walking with your clubs on your back and a spring in your step then I would encourage you to get one. You won’t regret it!

Pick of the Golf Podcasts

Gosh, do you remember 2015? These were simpler times in the world of golf podcasts.  2016 has seen an explosion in the number of broadcasts out there. But which are the 'must listen' ones and which will send you to sleep?  Read on....

Must listens

Shackhouse

This is one which has just appeared this year but has already made it right to the top of the tree. Geoff Shackleford is no stranger to the genre, having honed his craft in the excellent 'State of the Game'.  Shackleford is the doyen of the fantastic geoffshackleford.com and has teamed up here with an American chap called House (I don't really know anything more about him) who plays the 'superfan' to Shack's 'expert'.  They do occasionally stray into slightly forced jokey banter but I can excuse them for that given the quality of the show. 

The thing which is really nice about this podcast is they sound genuinely interested in what they are talking about and it isn't just 'who won last week and who's going to win next week'.  Golf architecture, real insider insight and a healthy dose of opinion all serve to make this a must listen. Shackleford can talk from a position of authority yet you never feel he is part of either the establishment or the slightly forced 'hey, golf should be crazy fun for everyone' gang.

He often mentions on Twitter that they have been contracted to a set number of broadcasts this year which is a bit of a shame as they aren't on every week but we have had 8 in 11 weeks so far which is pretty good.

This is very definitely a commercial enterprise though and the promotion of Callaway gear, razors and gentleman's lingerie is a bit of a pain but it is a price worth paying.  These guys are good.

Bythemin golf

When they started up in Summer 2014 the duo of Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan were pioneers - fearless and irreverent with a healthy dose of sardony.

Now, I have to confess to having a little bit of a man-crush on Donegan.  Years ago, when he was golf correspondent of the Guardian, he wrote one of the first blogs I ever read. What was great about that was that he actually interacted with his readers. This was in a pre-Twitter era where any response was unusual unless you put pen to paper and wrote to the editor of Golf Monthly in the hope of getting 6 Top Flite for Letter of the Month.

I was 'Gullaneman' in a comment I left on his blog back in 2009 which led him to write a post entitled 'Tiger and Phil. Where does the Guardian golf blog stand?'.  Gosh, he had read my comment and decided to write a whole article on the back of it.  This truly was democracy in action.

With Donegan you felt like you are getting a little inside track on the world of golf that you won't get from the puff pieces in magazines or the official version of the truth.  I also really loved both Four Iron in the Soul and California Dreaming - 2 books I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone thinking of becoming a caddie or used card salesman in California.  Oh, and did I mention he used to be a pop star.

As for Huggan, well previously I could take him or leave him to be honest.  He blocked me on Twitter for no reason and seemed a bit of a miserable old bastard, having said that I always enjoyed his articles, especially his column in the Scotland on Sunday. 

When the two joined forces for their podcast my hopes were high and they delivered.  They soon ditched the idea of having a ByTheMin Golf writer on the team and instead just went with the two of them hosting, with normally a top draw guest.  Fans of The Two Ronnies in the mid 1980s of a Sunday night will hopefully understand when I say that Scott Michaux is their Elaine Page.

The quality of discussion on the show is really high.  They are genuinely curious into what is going on in the golf world and bring on guests who can further that discussion.  CHubby Chandler's annual state of the nation is worth the subscription alone.

There was a certain incestual relationship in the early days of golf podcasts.  Mike Clayton and Geoff Ogilvy would flit around from pal to pal, Shackleford turned up on the Scottish Golf Podcast. Shackleford and Huggan's path hasn't crossed of late but a friend of mine once saw them blank each other in a North Berwick restaurant.  Now THAT'S the kind of gossip you're looking for I know! These were clever people talking about important things in golf and it made for great listening.

The only disappointing thing about this podcast is that it seems to have gone by the wayside this year.  It has only appeared 3 times in the last 3 months and that's a real shame.  I imagine they didn't make any money from it and they clearly have other things to do (they do seem to have been beset with more technical differences than seems fair) but that's our loss.  If I had a lot of money I would give it to them to do more than these.  Or buy a PXG driver.

STATE OF THE GAME

This is the Grandaddy of the lot.  First appearing in early 2012 this does what it says on the tin, serves to discuss the state of the game.  

It's been hosted for the last few years by the flirtatious Geoff Shackleford, ex European Tour stalwart Mike Clayton (here's his most famous moment in case you haven't seen it) and an Australian chap called Rod Morri who has a great voice and beguiling style. 

Occasionally they are at risk of sounding like grumpy old men but they normally have a point (the game is being ruined by the ball, the golf cart, the rangefinder, the driver, the set level plastic tee......).  I really like listening to what they have to say.  Clayton brings a real expertise to the party - an ex-player who now designs courses and has a philosophy for making the game both enjoyable and accessible but in no way dumbed down. They are smart people who have a view of the world outside the narrow confines of the PGA tour.

The show has a bit of an Australian bent but in a world dominated by the US tour that is in many ways refreshing and their guest lineup was great.  Joe Ogilvie in episode 45 was possibly the best interviewee ever.

And yet they appear to have gone the way of Donegan and Huggan. They now only make an occasional dalliance in the world of the pod which is a real shame.  They are always worth listening to and at least we now have Shackleford to listen to on a more regular basis, even if he does spend a little too much time talking about razors and boxer shorts.

I would say that those are the only 3 'must listens' which always make it to the top of my list when available. But there are some others worth listening to for sure -

the next best - i almost always listen

scottish golf podcast

This is a podcast dedicated to introducing golfers to the delights of Scottish golf.  Hosted by the Scot Ru McDonald, he brings a real passion to all things Scottish golf and is a great advocate of the game up here.  My only quibble with Ru would be that once you tune into it his loss of the letter 't' can be a little distracting but you can live with that.

He is often joined by the wonderfully named Graylyn Loomis who brings a touch of the Shackleford sage voice of reason to affairs (he is at least 24 I guess).  Here are 2 young guys spreading the gospel of Scottish golf.  Keeping it fresh with new insight and angles is tough but they more often than not succeed.

the 19th hole golf show

Ryan Ballangee is the host of the 19th Hole.  Again, what makes this one good is that he has a point of view and isn't scared to discuss significant topics.  He recently explained in quite some detail why Phil Mickelson avoided jail and how golf screwed up the Olympics - a refreshing voice.

The clubhouse with shane bacon

It's still early days for this pod but it has potential for sure.  Bacon is a golf journalist come Fox online presenter.  Fox Sports that is rather than News.  He has clearly been employed by them to attract the much wanted Millennials but there is something in it for us older people too. 

For the European audience it is a little US-centric at times (I don't care that much for how Joe Buck transitioned from NFL and MLB to golf commentary) but there have been some good guests too - Alan Shipnuck and Justin Thomas to name for example and Bacon brings a real energy to the show which it's hard not to enjoy.

no laying up

The chaps are Millennial seekers on heat.  They will think nothing of having a twenty minute segment on 'funny things I shouted behind the tee to get on the TV' and other hilarious segments but actually, once you get through that surface, there is good stuff in here for sure.

The No Laying Up site and Twitter feed is dedicated to those who embrace throwing everything they have into the game with gay abandon - think John Daly rather than Vijay Singh - and can be really funny.  The podcast takes that into the online world and more often than not makes for a pretty good listen. 

the golf show podcast from espn

This is another of those podcasts you just wish they would produce more often .  Michael Collins and Jason Sobel make really good hosts and they have an interesting take on the game.  The problem is they don't really do them very often and as a result  they fall into the 'good but could be great' category.  Averaging one podcast a month makes me think their heart isn't really in it

TAKE THEM OR LEAVE THEM DEpending on guests -

Golf Digest Podcast

This one has the advantage of good guests more often than not but the hosts could do with injecting a little more personality and opinion into the whole thing. It's what makes the Huggan's, Clayton, Shackelefords, Donegans etc so listenable.  These just sound a bit like they're asking questions at a press conference more often than not which is a shame.  If the guests are really good though they can make it worthwhile.

ON THE MARK

Mark Immelmann is the brother of South African Trevor Immelmann and is a well respected coach. He does have a rather soporific voice though and the subjects can often be rather dry - 'Dr Sherylie Calder from EyeGym.com discusses Visual Fitness is a good example - but occasionally is worth a listen.

golf.com podcast

Again, this can be a little dry and the advertising a pain but it is all in the guests.  There have been some good ones - Hank Haney and Lorne Rubenstein of late - but without them it can be dry and hard work to get through sometimes.

So there you are, I have the joy of an hour each way commute at the moment hence I am getting through the podcasts at a rate of knots.  I'll update if I discover any new gems in the months ahead!

The Match by Mark Frost - A 5* Read

I have far too many books about golf and many of them do nothing but collect dust before one day being sent to the great golf book place in the sky, or the charity shop.  Only a few are truly atrocious (whoever wrote Darren Clarke's autobiography needs to never pick up a pen again). There are a handful, however, which are worth keeping, re-reading, lending to friends and generally eulogising about and 'The Match' by Mark Frost is one of those.

Frost is a compelling writer.  'The Greatest Game Ever Played' is a mesmerising account of the birth of the game in the US. 'The Match' fast-forwards 40 years to early in 1956 and a match that took place in the famed Cypress Point between the two best professional golfers of their generation (Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson) and the two leading amateurs of the time (Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward).  The match takes place one morning, set up by two wealthy business who both have an appreciation and patronage for the game. Indeed, in a great subplot one of them (Eddie Lowery) was Francis Ouimet's in 'The Greatest Game'.

This book, though, is far more than just a description of a game of golf.  It was the insight into Cypress Point which initially attracted me to the book but soon that played second fiddle to the accounts of the lives of these men, from their beginnings through their golfing and to the end of their lives. 

To many casual golf fans the names of this era blend from one to another, the Joneses, Hogans, Nelsons, Hagens can all seem to mix into one but this book creates unforgettable images of the protagonists without ever taking you away from the action that January morning.

You are in no doubt when reading 'The Match' of the place in history that this event merited.  The game was at a crossroads from the days where the Amateur player was the more respected figure who led the more hallowed life to when the professional game held sway.  Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus both make fleeting appearances in the book but the golfing world they inhabited was a very different one from that recounted here.

As the match unfolds the fans flock from the nearby Crosby Clambake to witness the drama unfolding and you feel a genuine involvement with the players as the round reaches a climax.  The book then has an afterward and a postscript.  First we hear about what happened to the characters for the rest of their lives following the game.  Only Venturi was still alive when the book was written although he has now died.  

There is then a further postscript which recounts when the event was recreated in 2012 with Bubba Watson, Ricky Fowler, Davis Love III and Nick Watney playing the roles.  To be honest, I don't think that added a huge amount to the book - Alan Shipnucks' account of that day had already told the tale.

It doesn't detract from the book though which really is a great read.  It is a gripping page turner which may sound odd given it describes a friendly four-ball 60 years in the past.  But the images it creates and the stories told will live with you for a long time.

UKGolfGuy.com Beginnings!

Gullane no 1 - one of the great courses close to home

So, here we go!  For some time I've wanted to set a website with reviews of some of the courses I've played and some advice for planning trips to some of the great golf destinations I've been lucky enough to visit. This is the beginning of that and hopefully it will grow over the months and years ahead to a helpful store of information and some views of an average golfer.  You can read more about me and what this is all about here.  

As I say, this is just the beginning.  I have only uploaded reviews from England, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates at the moment - I have many others saved in drafts and awaiting a bit of attention to get them up but it will take a few weeks to before I am there I suspect.  Still to come are France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, USA, Barbados, South Africa and Morocco. It may take a while!

Thanks a lot for reading and please do let me know if you have any comments about the site or questions about any of the places I talk about.