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Welcome back, episode 35 of the Full Programme Golf Podcast with me, Josh Conlon, and as ever, with Stevie Mack in the studio.
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It's been a beautiful bank holiday weekend here in England.
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And it got us thinking, where should we go as a good bank holiday break?
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So we're gonna get into that.
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Let's do it.
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Stevie, how are we doing?
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I'm very well, mate.
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And for the for the audio listeners, I just want to say to you and describe to them great polo.
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Yeah, you know, it's just it seemed like the obvious choice, didn't it?
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The sun is shining.
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The white needs to come out, but yeah, right back at you.
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Beautiful.
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Amen.
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There was never any doubt.
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Do you know what?
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Never any doubt.
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Of course, we were both going to be in the white today.
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Now tell me, it's still a very hot day.
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Are you melting in London or are you okay?
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It's it's hot.
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Like it is warm.
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Don't get me wrong.
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I like my hair is okay right now.
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It's probably on the edge of needing a cut.
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I'm going this afternoon for a little hope of a bit of AC in the barber shop, get it even shorter just to be able to live with the heat.
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Has that been driven by the heat?
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Maybe.
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Have I gone mad?
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Maybe.
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We're okay.
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We're okay.
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How about you out in the in the sticks?
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Yeah, out in the sticks is actually a bit cooler.
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Um and you know, in the countryside, so lots of windows open, a bit of breeze coming across the fields.
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We we are surviving.
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So no need to worry about me.
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Just want to touch on that trim.
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Um little Turkish number, or you or are you a bit more of an upmarket man when it comes to getting the barnet cropped?
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So I've got a couple of go-tos, got a couple of go-tos, a couple of um shout-outs actually that I'd like to do uh to the to the guys.
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I've got the chap's den, Clappen Junction, give them a shout-out for the boys, uh, great establishment.
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Go there whenever I need to, enjoy it.
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That's probably the go-to.
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But when we're moving out towards Richmond and we're out in playing golf, and you want to tie that in with a little haircut, we go to um the gens of Richmond, which is also um as seen in Ted Lasso.
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It's got all of its things in there, so kind of go there, good stuff.
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So I would say they're both Turkish barbers, but they're the upmarket side of the Turkish barber.
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So I've got a nice middle ground there, I think.
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Yeah, they've both kind of gone down the same Chat GBT name route, I feel like, there.
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Like the same search engine probably gave them, you know, they both fell into the 10 options that were provided.
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But love to see it.
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And do you know what?
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Ted Lasso.
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I'm currently watching it, and let me tell you, what an unbelievable programme that is.
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Series one and two have been slotted.
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Really enjoy both of them.
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Halfway through three at the moment, gets a bit weirder in three, but like I'm still enjoying it, I'm still along for the ride.
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But I don't know what took me so long.
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It's just easy, straightforward, predictable fan.
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It's a feel-good, it's a feel-good show, isn't it?
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I was gonna say feel good film, but it's not film, yeah.
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Feel-good show, really good.
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I think it does add to, you know, we spend a lot of time in Richmond, you see a lot of different places.
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I think that's with anything, you know, whether you're watching golf, whether you're watching a series, whatever it might be, if it's set somewhere you know, it just adds to it, doesn't it?
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And gives you that little extra little vibe that you're enjoying.
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But yeah, good show.
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I'm looking forward to season four.
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Um, watched it a good few years back, so yeah, it's gonna be fresher for you than it is for me.
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But uh yeah, it'll be good.
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We'll enjoy it.
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Yeah, no, the season four news dropped as we were halfway through season two, so like you can imagine.
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The we we are excited, very excited, and also I, you know, I'm a big US sports fan, and so like there.
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There's a couple of little nods and and notes in there which I pick up on when I you know I quite enjoy that.
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So talking about Richmond, I think you just spent the whole bank holiday in Richmond, didn't you?
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Um it must have been a hot one out there.
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Yeah, we had um two of our uh gents spring meetings this weekend at Royal Midsurri, Saturday and Sunday.
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Uh yeah, it was a hot one.
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I felt we were actually just saying on the on the pre-pod catch-up that we were having.
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If you were playing golf from 33 to 34, 35 degree heat in a Spain, Turkey, Portugal, wherever you might be, you'd be expecting buggies, you'd be expecting lots of drinks, huts, cold towels, ice all over the place.
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And and everyone's clamoring for like the half-seven tea time.
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But uh no, no, no, not here.
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I had hopefully a couple of 10 past ten tea times, which was okay.
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But yeah, when it when it hit the back nine, certainly the middle of the back nine, it really felt like the oven doors had just been been opened up right in your face.
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So uh it was a hot one.
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The golf was solid enough, wasn't great.
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We had a couple of good runners and riders from the boys, um, some good, good, um good performances.
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But yeah, just a great, great bank holiday fun on the patio.
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How about you?
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You've been nursing a bad back on.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So so I was in I was in Spain last week and we're we're parking the Spain chop-up because uh you're actually heading there uh in the not too distant future, and so we're gonna have a bit of a you know, you played here, I played there.
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We've got some overlap, we've got some that aren't.
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So that's gonna be a really good episode next up.
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But yeah, in Spain, and always had a bit of a back niggle for you know, back in my cricketing days, I remember 16, I think the first time I did it, and it was always just like a dull pain, and it was manageable and it was fine, and it was a bit crap in the morning, but like you know, we moved.
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Um, but I had like my first ever like full back spasm on the 14th hole at LaCala Golf Club uh last Sunday, and and had to stop playing, which was the first first for me.
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I've never walked off in anger and I've never walked off in injury uh until until then.
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So not ideal at 32, not really where you want to be.
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Um, but we are trying to look after it.
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Um but yeah, slightly concerning, but I cancelled all my plans over the bank holiday weekend because I was just like, no, it's gonna be too hot, my back hurts too much, I need to look after it, I'm gonna stay at home, I'm gonna do my stretches, you know, get back on track after what was quite a heavy week, to be fair in Spain.
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And then Monday came around, and I was just like, Do you know what?
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It's feeling alright.
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My mate goes to me, Do you fancy a game?
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And I was just like, Yeah, I I think I think I just have to play once.
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And even if I only play half the holes, like, you know, I'll go out with a trolley, it should be okay.
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And funnily enough, not to bore everyone to tears about back issues, it's sitting in carts, buggies that really, really mess it up.
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It's that, you know, quite violent movement sitting down, violent movement sitting down.
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That is what really makes it awful.
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And so actually, walking around with a trolley yesterday was absolutely fine.
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And I just wanted to ask you a question on conditioning, because I I I think you know, May in the UK certainly is like peak, peak course conditioning because you've kind of got the rains of April, then you start getting a bit of sun, everything's green, everything's lush, nothing's burnt out.
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How do you find conditions out there?
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Because I mean Stonemarket Golf Club, which is not necessarily a club to report home about, but it's just a local one to me at the moment, was just in great nick yesterday.
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Yeah, RMS was in in good nick.
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Greens were really true.
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Um I wouldn't say light and quick, but deceptive, you know, quite spongy and and receptive, but then were quick enough, running nicely.
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Um, I would say the course is in good nick.
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I think part of that is to do with this new greenkeeper that we've got in, um, who's about eight, nine months into the job, so he's not that new, but we keep saying new given the last one was there for 15, 20 years or whatever it was.
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Um, I would say it was in Good Nick, like happy with what was provided to us, what was um displayed to us.
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And I would say that if they kept it like that from April to September, October, we'd be a happy membership group.
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100%.
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And we had other people out kind of like Hankley Common and different places like that over the weekend and all of it just looking absolutely superb at the moment.
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Um, all right.
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Well, as I was away last week, we didn't get a chance to catch up, and obviously um that was post-PGA champ, second major of the year.
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So wanted to dive into that.
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I know we're a week late, but yeah, I just wanted to throw throw the bone to you to start with.
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What were your initial thoughts post uh PGA Championship?
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Aaron What Aaron Rye, if anyone's backed him, well done, good effort.
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That is uh a real left field one.
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You know, a couple of years ago, might even have been last year, it was a couple of people's we do the sweep state that we've spoken about before where you pick um player in worlds one to ten on data golf, 11 to 25.
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I think it's been amended to might be 11 to 20, 21 to 40, and then 41 plus.
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And uh Aaron Rye kept cropping up in a few people's um 41 plus category on data golf.
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I think he had a decent run at the players last year, if I'm right in thinking.
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He was there about sort of top 10, top 15.
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Um but he's had a really poor season.
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Um you know, he's not been anywhere really.
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I think he's missed quite a few cuts, or he's certainly not been finishing um and been shown on the screens.
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So for him to come through and actually the bottle that he's shown, I thought it was a solid bottle.
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You know, he just kept driving forwards.
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He hit that great bunker shot on the the 13th, I think it was that short path three, uh short path four, the bottle to go for it, had the bottle to to take that bunker shot on rather than leaving it 10, 12, 15 feet short and safe and having a bit more of a run, and ultimately ran out comfortably in the end to what would be a very surprising winner.
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Yeah, it was um the the leaderboard was obviously very bunched, and that was a discussion point two of the week.
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I think it had something like an 83% par make percentage on like the course as a as a whole, which was maybe 7%, I think it was higher than your tour average.
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And they're basically saying that these pins are tucked, the greens are really difficult, and so everyone was just playing to the middle, taking par, moving on.
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And so as a result, there just weren't these huge kind of scoring swings.
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And so we go into the final day with a huge bunch of people who were potentially uh gonna get the job done.
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And he just played unbelievable on that back nine, didn't he?
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And you know, 65 final round.
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He he looks like the kind of guy that if he is in contention, it doesn't look like it's gonna overly bother him.
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Like I actually this morning just went back and watched like his post-winning press conference that he did for 20 odd minutes or so, and he's he's very even keel.
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Like, as in I can't imagine, and it was actually a point I was gonna throw to you, like when talking about potential rider cup player.
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Like, how how do you feel about that kind of character potentially being in your squad?
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Is it is it a good thing at a home Ryder Cup to just have someone who is literally just like flat line when it comes to emotion?
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I think so.
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I think you have to have your emotional people.
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I think a lot of these guys raise their games because of the emotion, but some can't.
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You know, you look at both the Hoygaard brothers, they've they've been poor, it's fair to say, in the in the last round of cups, because they couldn't handle their emotions.
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But you look at like a JJ Spawn, who you'd argue is almost a similar type of profile in the US team, very good driver of the ball, good putter, pretty calm, albeit he showed a little bit more emotion than Aaron Rye did when he won his major last year.
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But he was an asset, he was great in the Forsums, he won his singles point because he's just gonna hang around.
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I think rather than emotion, it will depend on the course.
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I think Aaron Rye is showing that he's uh pretty solid on tough tracks, you know, he's gonna hit fair ways, he's gonna put the ball in play, he can hold some putts.
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I I again this is from a less than um expert opinion.
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I don't know what he would do if Adair Manor is set up to be a birdie fest.
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I don't know.
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Like I don't know if it's a it's gonna be a bomb and gouge.
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It'll be interesting to see what the rest of the team is as to whether Luke Donald decides, yeah, we want this to just be hit it, hit it as far as you can, go from there, or whether it's gonna be more of a let's make it tight, as as typically Europeans have done.
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Let's make it tight, let's make it hard, let's make it firm, we'll go from there.
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Because we we dominated Beth Page when it was just hit it anywhere and make it a putting contest.
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Be very interested to see who makes that team, and and I think that will be more impactful than how emotional everyone's getting.
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Yeah, 100%.
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And you would think that once Donald has an idea of how his team's shaping up, then he will make that final decision on core setup and and kind of tailor it.
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But yeah, it'll be interesting to see if he kicks on because uh this certainly at this moment in time I feel has the potential to be the who won the 2026 PGA Championship kind of vibe.
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Uh, and so it'll be interesting if if it you know pours in some confidence to the game and he kicks on with some more wins because obviously Ryder Cup is next year, September, so like there's a lot of time to go, and I don't think winning this tournament now solidifies his spot by any stretch of the imagination.
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Um, talking about crazy calls, when we put the prediction video out, um, a load of people waded in with their thoughts, and someone did comment with um Smalley, and I I literally was just like through to three days.
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I was like, that would be an all-time shout.
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It would be, it would have been sensational.
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Glad he didn't win.
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Nothing against Alex Smalley, but just not who I'm rooting for.
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Same with Schmidt.
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Like, cool, well done, great week for you.
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Don't want you to win.
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Just yeah, I mean, obviously, I wanted Rose to win.
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That's my guy.
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Had a great Saturday, but he I just never felt again, just he he wasn't quite there for two days.
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He got himself in, had a good Saturday.
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He's got a backdoor, what, top 20, I think it might be, something like that.
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Never felt like he was in it.
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I thought Rom was actually going to be the one who would just steamroll through, and I wouldn't have hated it.
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I know there'd be a lot of people who wouldn't have liked to have seen him win, but I like Rom and he certainly falls into the other category of very emotional.
00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.960
Yes, indeed.
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And you know, and I think you can connect with that, which is great.
00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:40.879
So uh two final questions on on PGA for me, uh, from me to you.
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Course thoughts generally when you strip it back, um, and then PGA championship and just general feelings.
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There's a lot of chat this week or last week about potential changes going forward.
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Just keen for your thoughts on on those.
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I thought it looked great, Eronoming.
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I really did.
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I um I know we're accustomed to the US Open being the tournament where they're all battling to break par and one under level par is a good score.
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I enjoy those tournaments because there aren't enough of them, in my opinion.
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So I thought they set the course up great.
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I think they listened to the players too moaning too much for Saturday, made it a lot easier.
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I'd have rather it had just been continue to beat everyone up.
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It was good a good watch, in my opinion.
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Um, I don't like just you turn the TV on and you just watch a field of people hitting putts, which essentially is what the majority of the PGA Tour events are are becoming nowadays.
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I like to actually see them in trouble, they're having to use their you know, I think about the 11th.
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The 11th hole, especially when the pin was at the back, you could use the backstop, spin it back, and you there was someone like Dan Brown, our boy, he's you know, he's he's made two there, I think, on the Thursday or the Friday.
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Um, but you get it wrong and you go long, and you look at K Chris Gotterup, who had a good week, DeChambeau had a stinker, they go long, you can't even hold the green.
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I love that.
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I want I want to see more of that.
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So I thought the course was excellent.
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Uh I can see why it's uh held big events in the past, will continue to hold big big events, and it sits in that uh Philadelphia just dream list of courses that are around there, like within however many miles it might be.
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.799
But when that graphic came on the screen, um so I really enjoyed that.
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I think the PGA Championship in and of itself is it doesn't have an identity at the moment, but I always felt like when it was sat in August and it was always coined as Glory's last shot, that it had an identity.
00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:45.279
It was the last time in the year for someone to nab themselves a major.
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:54.080
You could have storylines where we've not seen it, but our players going on for a grand slam, or they're going for the second, third majors of the year.
00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:57.440
That in itself would be a storyline that the PGA could run with.
00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.720
Glory's last shot for me is where it should be.
00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:09.519
Sitting in May as just another, almost feels like just another elevated event, doesn't quite give it the gravitas that I think it should have as a major.
00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.119
So I think it's a shame.
00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.599
Yeah, I completely agree with you.
00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:21.359
Um it it's kind of just lost, lost in the kind of blur of this very packed part of the season.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:34.240
And even you think of like Speith, who's going for the Grand Slam with the PGA, that just doesn't really seem to really hold any weight amongst the other stories that are going on each year, which I think is a shame.
00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:38.720
Like that basically that was the storyline at the Masters for a decade, wasn't it?
00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:41.119
Like that's just what we had to listen to at Sky Sports.
00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:45.359
Where I feel like it's just yeah, I agree with you.
00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.720
I think I think they've got to push it back.
00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.599
Any thought on the match play stuff that was being mentioned?
00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.839
I mean, I'd love it.
00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.680
I mean, originally it was, wasn't it?
00:17:53.759 --> 00:18:02.640
You know, I think I think I think there is a place on the golfing calendar for the match play, for the world match play tournament.
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.680
I loved that.
00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:09.440
I thought it was a fantastic viewing week, especially when it was at Austin Country Club.
00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.160
I thought it was great.
00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.160
When it was in Tucson as well, it was fantastic.
00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.599
You know, it was just a great event, and it had some great winners.
00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:21.519
Um, you know, I still remember Victor de Buis on making up and down out of the cactuses like back-to-back holes against Jason Day.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:28.000
I know he ended up losing, but you know, you remember all these moments, and I and I think I don't think it should be a major.
00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:40.160
I don't think that um I think firstly it needs to have an event on tour that is a match play before you can start thinking that the major's gonna be a match play as well, would be my personal opinion.
00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.160
But I can see the arguments for it.
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.000
I think we'd see a real difference in who becomes major champions.
00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:55.119
Suddenly your Sam Burns and uh your Polters back in the day might have been fancying themselves as a multiple major winner, um, and that would have been interesting to have seen.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:03.759
I I personally don't think that the PGA should be a match play yet, but I do think, as I said, we should have a match play tournament sometime in the calendar.
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:15.519
Yeah, I agree, and and I quite like the hybrid approach where you'd play, I don't know, two stroke play rounds, and then you take your top 16 or 32 or whatever, and then go into a match play.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:17.920
Like if that solves the problem, then that's fine by me.
00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.880
Like I agree with you.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.960
Some of the great memories are from the Dell match play stuff back in the day.
00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.200
Um, so yeah, it'll be interesting.
00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.559
But yeah, I think uh above everything, PJ needs to go back to August.
00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:35.359
It needs to be Glory's last chance because at the moment, it's lost, and and it is a shame because it is a major, arguably it's got the best trophy.
00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.920
Like, if if you know, no meaning attached to it.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:43.519
I mean, I would say that that might be right at the top of the one you'd want on your mantelpiece just from a visual standpoint.
00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:47.519
But a great win for Aaron Wright, very out of left field, an English winner.
00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:52.400
We've got to be got to be happy with that, and uh yeah, it'll be interesting to see how he kicks on.
00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:59.200
You mentioned that you like it set up hard and how so many weeks are just absolute scoring fests.
00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:04.880
This week just gone the CJ Cup was just a bloodbath of birdies, wasn't it?
00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:13.680
Am I right in thinking that this TPC Craig Ranch is where they're hosting the next to PGA championship as well?
00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.680
Uh I'm not sure.
00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.559
I'll do it.
00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:24.880
Yeah, have a little look whilst I'm having because if that is the case, it's going to go down as one of the worst tournaments moving forward.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.759
I think the golf course is is bang average.
00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.119
It's just a bang average resort course, really.
00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.839
PJ Frisco goes to next.
00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.319
Um so no, no, we're we're safe.
00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.440
And then it goes Olympic club, so uh 28 is gonna be a great one.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.160
Right, okay.
00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:53.279
Because I was worried, I was worried, I thought that I'd seen that uh it was moving moving moving to I knew it was going to Tesco uh Tesco, Texas, because uh Richard Pikman had said that he was gonna play in his home state next year.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:21:04.960
Um I I think it's poor, I think it's a I think it's a crap track for all of the great golf courses that the states have, every different state of the United States has good golf courses.
00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:09.359
To think that that is the one you choose, you know, I know it's a sponsors thing and what have you.
00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:21.359
But two guys shot 60, like it just loses its crack if it's that it's it's not easy to shoot 60, but if it's gonna be done that often, well it's not really a target, is it?
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:31.759
I mean, I cast my eye down the leaderboard, and you know, the vast majority of the people in the top 20 all shot in the 60s all four rounds.
00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:42.319
Like, yeah, like I said, these tournaments, these tournaments that go to TPC, whatever, like I'm not I'm not massively subscribed to them, to be honest.
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.319
No, it it's not a great watch.
00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:47.119
I think they were I think they got a good leaderboard, you know.
00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.039
I w I caught some of it yesterday.
00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.720
Um sorry, Sunday evening.
00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:55.440
It feels like it was yesterday, given we're we're here on a Tuesday, bank holiday.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:00.960
Um Wyndham Clark played great, really good for his season because he's he's Been struggling.
00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:08.640
I saw that he was 133rd strokes gained putting for the season, and that week, last week, he was first.
00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.799
Just shows that you put for Doe.
00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.440
Um, that old that age old saying.
00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.680
I thought he was a decent, decent leaderboard.
00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.640
You know, you got Shefflers up there, Sewood Kim was there or thereabouts.
00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:21.599
Kepka was leading at one point after the first day.
00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.240
But it was an it's it's a nothing tournament.
00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.119
I think it is pointless, whatever.
00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.400
Thanks for coming.
00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.000
Be interesting to see.
00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:33.599
Um, so Chris Kim, English lad, got got a sponsored invite.
00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.960
He's sponsored by CJ.
00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:42.640
Um, and he played, I want to say US Open when he was like 14, something like that.
00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.839
He's a surrey lad.
00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:48.000
Um, I think he's at Wellington College or was at Wellington College, not sure how old he is now.
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.480
Um looks like got a really good goal swing.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:55.680
He's probably our hottest up and comer um from the UK scene.
00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:59.200
So good to see him play, looked solid, didn't look out of place.
00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:05.839
So I thought that was a little wrinkle to keep an eye on, but um, yeah, like you said, a bit of a a bit of a nothing week, wasn't it?
00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.400
Yeah, it really was.
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.160
Anything else from the last two weeks?
00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:14.160
I know you like to take us sometimes around the DP World Tour and other other spots.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.079
I'm looking forward to this week's DP World Tour, I have to say.
00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.440
It's in Kitts Buell.
00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:23.759
Um, I only ever seen it with snow on the mountains, great skiing venue.
00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:26.720
Um, I remember Tristan Lawrence won last year.
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:37.440
He beat uh Matt Fitzpatrick, beat out Matt Fitzpatrick in the last group to I don't know, Francis, yeah, uh Francis Montana.
00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:50.960
Um but I love it when they go into the mountains and they play the sort of the mountain golf and some of those courses that are in incredible Nick, given that they are completely under snow for six, seven months of the year as well.
00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:55.839
So that's that's gonna be a um a good event to to keep your eye on.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:03.200
Also, I think one of the things we've got to call out that's just happened, Walton Heath, 36 hole US Open qualifying.
00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:05.920
Appreciate this US Open qualifying everywhere.
00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:18.319
Uh if I touched on some of the others, Graham McDowell back in the US Open, um, alongside Caleb Surratt in from the the Texas, I think it was the Dallas uh US Open qualifying.
00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:22.720
So a couple of a couple of live names there, and great I like McDowell, always like McDowell.
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.039
Um so good to see him back there.
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.440
But then if I yeah, touch on Walton Heath.
00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:37.200
You've got I went there last year, wasn't wasn't able to get down this year, but one of the groups was Tristan Lawrence, Thomas Dietree, and another.
00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.440
You've got like ten people walking with them.
00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:51.680
Like if you want to go and actually see these guys up close and personal, with without the the crowds and being able to really smell the fear, smell the birdies, get yourself down there next year.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.599
It's a phenomenal day.
00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:59.440
Um they play the old and the new, the new and the old, depends on where they are uh set up.
00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:04.960
And um great to see a friend of the pod who we've spoken with Truman before.
00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:07.440
He's uh coaching Nathan Kimsey.
00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.720
Huge shout out.
00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:19.119
Kimsey went and won the US Open qualifying, shooting four under on the old, and then just taking part the new with a 10 under to just cruise at home.
00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.079
14 under, he's going to the US Open.
00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.920
Bit of a shout out to Truman.
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:26.640
Last year he wasn't on the bag, they didn't get through.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.680
This year he's on the bag going to the US Open.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:33.440
Should he cash in the coaching gig and start being a caddy?
00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.160
Who knows?
00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.359
You know, who knows?
00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:42.799
But yeah, just wanted to wanted to give a little shout out there because I think that's a phenomenal performance and um well worth going to if you get a chance next year.
00:25:43.119 --> 00:26:02.880
Yeah, yeah, no, I I I think there are there's certain little days like that that if you actually just are wanting that really personal top-tier golfing experience, US qualifier, um, open qualifier stuff, I think is an amazing shout because they go to really, really great regional golf courses.
00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:08.079
And like you said, especially now with Live Golf, you you have some really quite significant names playing in them.
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:31.680
Another one as a little one for people to think about is um it's normally the Sunday before, maybe it's the Saturday before the open in the UK, and I assume it'd be similar for other tournaments, but certainly when it goes to St Andrews, which is obviously in the town, and you can access the course very easily, it might be slightly more difficult when I think about it at other places.
00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:44.079
But if you were in St Andrews the Saturday before the open starts on the Thursday, they have no ropes out, they have no stewards out, and so you literally can just walk the golf course with whoever's practicing.
00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.680
And because it's a major and it's St.
00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.599
Andrews, lots of people do get in early.
00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:57.519
And so many years ago, like literally walked up 18 just chatting to Tom Watson and his caddy, and just you know, the next day, stewards are all out, ropes are all up, like you can get anywhere near it.
00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:03.359
So there are just these days that um that yeah, if you really want to get close and personal, um, you can.
00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.519
Great win for Kimsey.
00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:23.119
I am gonna be at Shinnekok, so I'm actually really looking forward to uh yeah, giving giving Truman a giving Truman a shout and two two FPG boys, I suppose, will call us, um walking walking the fairways of Shinnekok Golf Club, which uh I'm really looking forward to to seeing.
00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.680
We're gonna swing back to Shinnakock in a minute, but mentioned live there.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:32.480
We haven't really got a chance to chop up what Earth's been going on.
00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:41.759
Obviously, Piff pulled their funding at the end of this year, which came pretty out of left field, is what I'm getting from all the players and everyone that kind of gives interviews on it.
00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:44.160
Like, certainly a surprise.
00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.119
The chat is is they're gonna go find more money.
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.440
I think they need 250 mil, something like that.
00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:53.920
I mean, if you you look at the numbers that have been published on the amount they've lost, etc.
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.559
etc.
00:27:55.279 --> 00:28:04.880
I can't imagine it's an overly appetising business to get involved with, but uh yeah, just keep your initial thoughts on the news.
00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:22.880
Yeah, the initial feeling is if they got 250 million, they might still be able to operate, but they're not gonna have the purses that the elite players who have gone to live for and taken the risk for will stay for.
00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:31.039
So whilst they may have a tour, it will not be anything like the tour they've got now with the names that they've got, because they're not gonna pay them enough.
00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:35.039
And we've we've seen that these guys are mercenaries who are on the live live tour.
00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:38.400
And fair enough, you've you've got to go, you've got to take the money.
00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.920
Absolutely you do.
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.720
But they're gonna stay if the money isn't there.
00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:46.160
Um, so yes, they might raise 250 mil.
00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:51.359
I mean, it's a lot of money for a essentially a business that is losing so much money.
00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:56.319
You know, if that was any other business, you'd be looking at who's gonna buy that.
00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:58.799
It's just failing.
00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:01.279
Um so I think that's gonna be difficult.
00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:11.039
I think that they've had to make those noises of well, we're gonna raise money, we're gonna do that, because they still have these events, you know, careers starting in a couple of days and they're all out there.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:20.640
Um I I think if Liv is still around, it will be a very, very different tour to what we know Live as right now.
00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:27.200
Um you know, you look at John Rahm, one of its well, if anything, it's poster boy, certainly in Europe.
00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:30.960
I I appreciate some like say DeChambeau's the poster boy overall.
00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:33.920
Rahm's already made an agreement with DP World Tour.
00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:38.480
He's paying his fine, he's committed to five events, I think it is, for the Ranger of this year.
00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:43.599
They've only given him um dispensation to go and play live events for the rest of this year.
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:47.039
For me, that translates to you're coming back there for next year.
00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:49.200
He won't be on live next year.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.960
That's a massive loss.
00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:53.200
He's been their individual winner the last two years.
00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.960
He's leading it again this year.
00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:57.839
He is the biggest money earner on that tour.
00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.160
It's going to be really interesting.
00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:04.400
I think it will, as I said, I think it will hang around, but I don't think it'll be anything like.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:11.920
And I think any of the big main players who are self-respecting are going to be searching and looking to play other tours.
00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:18.400
I don't buy into the absolute crap of I don't want to play the PGA tour anyway, I'm going to do other things.
00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.839
Absolute bollocks.
00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.480
I'm sorry.
00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.960
You you've grown up as a professional golfer.
00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:29.279
You grow up as a golfer to become a professional golfer and compete against the best and uh be as successful as you can be.
00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:36.480
And ultimately, it's going to go back to that the PGA tour is going to be the biggest tour in the world, no matter what people say now.
00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:41.440
With the biggest prize films, with the biggest world ranking points, biggest fields, best players.
00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:49.440
So DeShambo to come out and say, I don't know if I'm just going to focus on my YouTube and social media and all that, is it's for me it's bollocks.
00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:55.759
It's it's it's someone who is trying to get the best deal they can by not presenting their hand.
00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:57.759
And I get that, you know.
00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.200
So you should do it.
00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:06.000
If he comes out and he says, I'm gasping to play PGA Tour, well, the PJ Tour are gonna give him the biggest fine and they're not gonna concede on anything.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.440
So I can understand that.
00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:21.039
Um but it's gonna be very interesting, and I I I feel more I don't feel for, but I'm interested more to see the guys who don't have status, maybe even the up-and-coming guys who have taken a risk on live.
00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:41.920
Um, you know, you look at the um Lasasso, who's just gone there, you look at Elvis Smiley, these guys who have Laurie Cantor, who's given up his PGA Tour status, and then you start looking at your Mark Leishman and a few of these other guys who are they a big enough pole for the PGA Tour to welcome them back?
00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.720
Who knows?
00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.440
Maybe not.
00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.720
Where will they play their golf?
00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.240
Will they be playing Asia Tour?
00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.680
Gonna be interesting.
00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.279
Yeah, super interesting.
00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:55.680
And and like you said, uh you kind of alluded to like almost different pockets of players, and they're all gonna have their own different story.
00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:59.039
And I think there are there are a lot of kind of sub-stories to it.
00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:09.519
You gotta think the Brooks Ketchers and the Patrick Reeds of the world are literally laughing somewhere, you know, deep into their belly about what's happening.
00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:16.640
Um, but you'd imagine the top tiers will find a pretty accelerated path back to the PGA tour.
00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:32.480
Um, I think the DP World Tour will get an enormous boost uh for the next 12 months at least, probably 24, when you just kind of spread it out like the the 10 promotion places, not this season but next season, I'd imagine will be like electric.
00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:37.599
Like those 10 players will be the probably the strongest crop that will ever be fed into the PJ tour.
00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.880
So that'll be good to see.
00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:54.640
But then you've got the likes of Poulter and Westwood, who are now in their 50s, and you know, the Champions Tour is just such an easy like program on the Thursday, couple of rounds, clip it round, earn decent money, and kind of keep it ticking over sort of situation.
00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:56.799
Have they jeopardised that completely now?
00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:59.759
Um, I don't know that much about the Europe.
00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:02.160
Uh the is it is it the senior DP World Tour?
00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:11.839
I don't even know what it's called, but like I you don't see as much from that, and so I can't imagine that's anywhere near as lucrative or as cushy as the as the champions tour over in America.
00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:24.319
So yeah, and then and then then the younger guys, like there's and obviously great talents, great potential, but how uh where you know, are they gonna go back to like third-tier US stuff and work up from there?
00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:43.920
Like, there's there are there are lots of really interesting things, and I think live is dead, like if it does continue, like you said, it'll continue in a aggressively watered down state and will ultimately fold because you know it won't be making any money, and I don't think it fits into the structure of the global tours.
00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:46.799
And so, like, how long will it take to shake out?
00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:57.519
Like, it'd be interesting if we're having a conversation in five years and we're like, okay, like let's review like how did that crop of however many players they've had they have 60 or whatever, and like what what happens to them all?
00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:08.559
Yeah, I and actually just whilst whilst you were speaking, the the guy who came to mind as to who's burnt the most bridges, so where will he end up is actually a guy who's not really playing golf this year.
00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:10.800
Don't know what's happening with Nicholson.
00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:18.960
Uh, you know, he he left with a lot to say, and some of it actually was was pretty valid.
00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:25.920
I think it's interesting to find the PJ Tor have managed to increase their purses, so he wasn't wholly wrong.
00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:34.719
Um hope everything's okay in the Mickelson household, though, as we do with with everyone who's competing out there, who's had to pull out of quite a few things.
00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:43.519
Um, it's it's always a little bit um cloak and dagger, quite under you know, there's not really been reasons provided, so we hope everything's okay.
00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:52.400
Um, but yeah, it's gonna be really interesting to see where he ends up because again, another guy who is post-50 could play Champions Tour.
00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.760
Will they welcome him back?
00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.639
Who knows?
00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:56.559
It's gonna be a really interesting one.
00:34:57.119 --> 00:35:11.920
Yeah, and you mentioned about I mean the reality of it is is for a player on the PGA tour, the live thing has actually had a very positive effect, and so the game is gonna be a bit in a better place as a result of all this um rubbish once it's once it's done.
00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:16.639
I can't imagine Mickelson's gonna go ply his trade 20 times a year on the DP World Tour.
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:21.119
So, yeah, that will be interesting to see um see where he ends up.
00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:25.280
Um, I'm gonna use Mickelson as a nice little segue into a question.
00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:28.719
So, you know, we've touched on the PGA championship, we've had two majors now.
00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:32.800
Next major up is the US Open, which comes pretty thick and fast in about three weeks' time.
00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:39.519
Mickelson obviously fell short in in a good number of US opens and never got that grand slam done.
00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:44.800
Um, but I was just looking through like the host venues that are coming up and obviously some very iconic golf courses.
00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:48.079
Um I don't believe you'd have played any of them.
00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:51.920
So you're coming at at this from a very like neutral position.
00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:57.599
But I wanted to play a little play three, cut five with you, if that's alright.
00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:03.760
So I'm gonna I'm gonna list you eight US open venues, either upcoming or recently pass.
00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:09.360
You don't know what order they're coming in, and you've got a play three, but you've got cut five.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:10.639
Okay.
00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.239
Yeah.
00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:17.039
So I'll start you off with this year's venue, Shinnicok Hills.
00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.239
I play.
00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:20.159
I'm coming straight out of the gate with a play.
00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:23.440
Hard to get on, well, almost impossible to get on.
00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.039
Looks mega.
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:26.800
Uh really excited for it.
00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:31.199
I'm gonna straight out the gate, no safe plays, that's in.
00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.079
One.
00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.039
Love it.
00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:37.599
Yeah, I'm I cannot wait to get on turf at Shinnakock, like I said.
00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:40.320
The chances of playing that golf course are very, very, very slim.
00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:45.119
And so just to be able to walk around it, I'm gonna absolutely detonate myself in the merch tent as well.
00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:50.559
I'm gonna be just tip to toe in US open gear, which I'm gonna really enjoy.
00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.920
Okay, second course.
00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:58.960
We are gonna go to a historic course, isn't on the current rotor going forward, but Tory Pines.
00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:02.800
Ooh.
00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:09.760
For the opposite reason of Shinikok, pretty playable.
00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.880
You can get on there.
00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:21.280
Um now I'm I'm expecting there to be a couple of other playable ones that maybe fall higher up in my want-to-play list than Torrey Pine, so I'm gonna give that a cut.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:24.000
Okay, yeah, I think I think that's a valid cut.
00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:26.639
We're gonna go straight to another public course.
00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:28.480
Pine nurse number two.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:31.280
It's right on the cust.
00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.400
It's one that I would like.
00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:35.360
I I would like needless to say, I'd like to play them all.
00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:37.440
Okay, let's just be really frank and honest.
00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:39.519
I am going to say cut.
00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:51.199
The reason I'm going to say cut is because I would like to play Pinehurst alongside then a bit of Harbour Town, a bit of Kiawh, and a bit of that sort of vibe and create a trip out of it with the boys than just Pinehurst.
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:52.639
So I'm gonna say cut.
00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.760
Okay, cool.
00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:55.360
I think I'm aligned thus far.
00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:57.760
So we're gonna go head back to private now.
00:37:58.079 --> 00:37:59.440
L A C C.
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:04.079
Ooh, you're teasing me now.
00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:04.880
Cut.
00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:06.800
Cut, not seen enough of it.
00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:08.400
Looks looks great.
00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:11.920
Uh people that have played it wouldn't even say it's the best in the area.
00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.800
You know, you've got your Rivieris, your Belairs, a couple of others.
00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:18.719
So I'm gonna I'm gonna go off other people's opinion, given I've not known enough.
00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.000
I'm gonna go cut.
00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:23.679
Okay, so still still two positions open.
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:27.679
Next we will go to the to the Wicker Baskets of Merion.
00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.360
It's just in Rose territory, isn't it?
00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.960
It's just in Rose Haven.
00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:36.639
I love the Wicker Basket.
00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:38.960
I really do love the Wicker Basket.
00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:42.320
It just doesn't shout to me.
00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:43.199
I'd love to play it.
00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:45.840
I think it'd be brilliant, but I'm gonna have to say cut.
00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:46.400
Okay.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:49.280
By the way, just before yeah, three more.
00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:53.519
There's there's one that I'm expecting that is definitely an in.
00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:57.599
I'm not gonna say which it is, but if you go up next, you might help me, but who know?
00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:07.440
Okay, three left, one cut, two plays to come, and we're gonna go back to the northeast.
00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:09.039
We're gonna go to Wingfoot.
00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:17.679
One of our good friends, Oscar, has played it.
00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.880
He raved about it.
00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.880
He loved what a logo.
00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.000
Meredith's also great.
00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:24.559
There's some unreal logos through these, to be fair.
00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:26.639
There are some great logos.
00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:33.840
I'm gonna say cut and I'm gonna sit and just take the last two, and we're just gonna show you.
00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:38.000
Alright, which order am I gonna give it to you?
00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.400
Okay.
00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.920
Give me the one I want.
00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:41.119
Give me the one I want.
00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:46.400
So Pebble Beach is uh Is that is that what you wanted?
00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.440
That's what I wanted.
00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:51.039
That's I know it's I know it's public, I know I could play it, but it just looks phenomenal.
00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.679
I want to play it.
00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.280
Don't know what this last one's gonna be.
00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:53.840
100%.
00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:54.800
It's it's the St.
00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:57.199
Andrews of the US Open rotor.
00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:01.119
Like, yeah, have you seen the new Cypress tree that they put in on 18, by the way?
00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:02.239
Yes, I have.
00:40:03.840 --> 00:40:05.119
Like, that's mega.
00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:06.480
Yeah, I like it.
00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:07.360
I really like it.
00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.639
Back to what it used to be.
00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:09.519
Great stuff.
00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:15.440
Yeah, it's it's right up there in probably top five courses I want to play, like gasping to get on.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:22.159
I know we can play it, and I appreciate that some people might shout at that, but yeah, if someone offered me that round, I'd be so excited, it'd be amazing.
00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:22.719
100%.
00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:24.480
Like it's got it's gotta be in the top three.
00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:26.719
It's it's number one as far as I'm concerned.
00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:27.039
Yeah.
00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:30.000
Uh, and then your final one, which any guesses?
00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:33.119
US Open Tracks.
00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:34.159
Yeah.
00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:35.519
Recent host.
00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:39.280
Uh recent host of the US Congressional.
00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.320
Is that Hell One?
00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:46.000
I thought about adding that into the list because I know we've had some chats about Congressional uh with someone we know.
00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:50.719
But uh no, so your your third play is Oakmont.
00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:52.719
Happy with that.
00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.840
Happy with that.
00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:59.039
You know, we've got some we've got some great we have some great chat about Oakmont in the uh with the boys.
00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:01.679
Uh another hard course to play.
00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:03.760
Um yeah, I'm happy with that.
00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:07.119
If it had come earlier, would it have been an automatic yes?
00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:07.840
Maybe not.
00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.480
I don't know.
00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:11.599
I feel like it's in a similar camp to a Winged Foot Amerion.
00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:15.920
I feel like they're all in that sort of same band, but would be very excited nevertheless.
00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:18.639
Okay, so so let's just let's just put this to bed.
00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:22.960
If if you had the full list in front of you, what would your three plays be?
00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:26.000
I feel like Shinnikok and Pebble are obvious and they'd go in there 100%.
00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:27.920
What would the third have been?
00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:30.960
I I think it would be Oakmont.
00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:32.000
I think it would be.
00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:35.199
Um so pretty happy with how that's shaken out.
00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:44.400
I just think it's closer to the grouping of the others that you know, as I mentioned, your your Merians and your uh winged foots.
00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:46.320
But no, I I would I'd go with Oakmont.
00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:49.039
I think it's it's got the iconic bunkers.
00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:50.960
I've seen a bit more of it in recent years.
00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:54.239
There's a bit more history that's happened there, even with DJ winning.
00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.679
So yeah, I'd go with that.
00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.480
Happy with that.
00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:56.960
Love it.
00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:58.159
Things all worked out perfectly.
00:41:58.239 --> 00:42:03.519
So now I'm gonna segue into another question because a lot of those golf courses are world top 100 courses.
00:42:03.679 --> 00:42:08.400
Um, a lot of them are private, you know, you'd be very lucky if you do get the chance to play them in your lifetime.
00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:10.639
So I saw Golf Digest put this question out.
00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:12.320
I thought it was a really good one.
00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:19.760
So you get to play all of the world top 100 golf courses once, but then never again.
00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:21.760
Would you take the deal?
00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:28.320
So you play all of the world's top 100 courses once, but but you can still play elsewhere, yeah?
00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:34.639
Play anywhere else as many times as you like, but you just get to play the top 100 once and it's done.
00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:36.960
Oh, I think that's a really easy answer of yes.
00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:43.679
I think there's not going to be many of us that are gonna play the world's top 100 more a course more than once.
00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:49.440
You know, there's not many of us that I'm certainly not a member of a course that is in the top 100, so it wouldn't impact my life from there.
00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:52.079
There's a lot of courses that I've played once.
00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:54.880
You know, the cost of golf is is going up.
00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:58.639
It's it's an expensive hobby, um, might not get back to.
00:42:58.800 --> 00:43:01.440
And there's a lot of courses in that top 100 you can't get to.
00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:04.800
So being able to just access those the once is it would be a real privilege.
00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:16.719
So, yes, easy, easy answer would 100% do that, and I'd go and play some golf in the millions of phenomenal golf courses that don't manage to get in that top 100.
00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:17.360
And you know what?
00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:24.079
I'd be keeping an eye on that ranking for one or two that just dropped out, just walked out of there and banged straight into there.
00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:28.000
Yeah, I I think it's a super easy yes.
00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:38.960
Like if you were a member of Sunningdale or somewhere like that, and it was going to significantly shift how you operate week to week, then yes, I I certainly would consider that.
00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:47.920
But like a hundred golf courses, let's just say you played three a year, like that stretches you out over a vast period of your life.
00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:58.000
And I think I put it on our story, and I was just like, Yeah, I'd played to 100, and then I'd just like die happy playing somewhere like Hillside a million times, which is a fantastic course just on just on the edge.
00:43:58.159 --> 00:43:59.760
So, yeah, I I agree.
00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:00.800
With that.
00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:03.760
And then I just wanted to conclude some ranking staff.
00:44:03.840 --> 00:44:11.840
So I was chatting to a friend who just played Queenwoods, and we've had various conversations with other people about the private golf clubs in the UK.
00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:17.280
So, you know, we've touched on the US Open venues, it's a much bigger thing in America, but in the UK, you really don't get that many.
00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:28.719
And I think the most prominent set, there are a couple extras on the edge, but the most prominent set are Queenwoods, Beaverbrook, Wesley, Wentworth.
00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:30.239
I'm going to actually throw in as well.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:32.880
Um, and then Loch Loman up in Scotland.
00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:34.960
So we've got five private clubs.
00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:37.360
Have you played the West at Wentworth?
00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:38.000
Yeah.
00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:39.199
Perfect.
00:44:39.360 --> 00:44:39.679
Okay.
00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:46.960
So my question to you is of the five private clubs in the UK, how do you rank them and why?
00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:49.119
It's a great question.
00:44:49.199 --> 00:44:51.920
Yeah, been very lucky to have played all five.
00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:57.440
Um I think it's quite an easy unfortunately it's quite an easy one in five.
00:44:57.519 --> 00:44:58.480
It's Beaver Brook.
00:44:58.719 --> 00:45:04.239
Uh it's the newest, and you can see that in the in the golf course.
00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:09.280
You know, if it if they cut their rough down, it it feels a little bit like a field.
00:45:09.599 --> 00:45:14.079
It's and it's and it's lot it lost its um conditioning, didn't it, last year?
00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:15.280
And they've had to do a lot of work with that.
00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:18.960
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it looks fantastic now, and they've done a great work.
00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:21.760
The vibe's lovely, it's good spot.
00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:27.920
Just having you know, having played the others, I think that's the weakest golf course out of the uh the five we're talking to.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:31.599
So it's a pretty easy, pretty easy answer for me with that one.
00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:37.280
Um moving into number four, I'm gonna go the Whisley.
00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:38.960
Three nines.
00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:41.519
Great logo.
00:45:41.920 --> 00:45:44.480
Um Beaverbrook's got a good logo.
00:45:44.559 --> 00:45:51.280
It's funny that all of these really have have a good logo, you would you would say, which I think is is part and parcel of being a top private members club.
00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:52.639
You've got to have a good logo.
00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:56.400
Um solid, solid golf course.
00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:57.280
Really enjoy it.
00:45:57.440 --> 00:46:04.000
Like the practice facilities are phenomenal, as are Beaverbrooks, as are Wentworths, as our Lot Lomans, as our Queenwood.
00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:08.239
So like that's not a differentiator, it's just straight down on golf.
00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:13.199
Um Clubhouse is nice, the food is sensational actually in the Wisley Clubhouse.
00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:14.400
Three nines, which is good.
00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:16.480
I think it elevates it above Beaverbrook.
00:46:16.559 --> 00:46:26.400
And I actually think that even if it only had two of the nines, whichever one it was, they'd be ahead of Beaverbrook, but not quite the same level as the others on the list.
00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:30.480
And now this is where it gets a little bit tougher.
00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:35.360
I think these three are all magnificent uh properties.
00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:38.400
Um I'm gonna go in number three.
00:46:40.239 --> 00:46:41.679
I'm gonna go Wentworth.
00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:53.920
And the reason I'm doing that is it nearly moved up because it's got three courses, and I think that that is absolutely something you have to consider if you were looking at this being your club because you can have some nice variation.
00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:57.280
You know, the East Course and the Edinburgh courses are meant to be pretty solid.
00:46:57.360 --> 00:47:02.880
Having not played them, I I can't if I thought they were really good, maybe that would have pushed it a little bit higher.
00:47:03.119 --> 00:47:11.119
Um losing the course for probably two, three weeks a year when they're doing the BMW PGA would be a bit of a pain.
00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:13.440
Um, so probably actually brings it down a smidge.
00:47:13.519 --> 00:47:23.760
And if you were looking for a private member's course at a club where you could play where you want to be, I'm sure people flood in and say, No, we get access to all these other courses those weeks, so great, cool.
00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:42.639
Um but iconic clubhouse, I just think it misses the uh added uh level of uh prestige that the other two have, and just uh it feels different when you walk into Queenwood and Lot Loman than it does in Towentworth.
00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:44.000
So that's the reason I'm going for that.
00:47:44.719 --> 00:47:46.400
Number two, I'm going Queenwood.
00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:51.599
Uh was fantastic, loved it, thought it was brilliant.
00:47:51.920 --> 00:48:02.880
Um it had absolutely pissed it down a couple of days before, and so it it was it was still pristine Nick, but they'd had to drop sand all over everywhere, basically.
00:48:03.119 --> 00:48:10.800
So it wasn't like one of you, you know, as I'm sat here now looking outside at a 34-degree day's weather in May, it wasn't a day like that.
00:48:11.039 --> 00:48:21.280
Um very quiet, very uh, you know, felt like it was your own private club, which I know is exactly the vibe it's going for.
00:48:21.519 --> 00:48:25.360
So if you like that, you achieved that at Queenwood.
00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:29.199
Great locker room, great, great facilities all around.
00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:36.400
But what I think it missed was what Loch Loman has, which was the added bit of crack that comes with it feeling private.
00:48:36.719 --> 00:48:44.320
And I think Loch Lomond is one of those special places in golf that if you ever get a chance to go to, you have to take it.
00:48:44.480 --> 00:48:49.599
Um, we were lucky enough to be staying on site, so we stayed on the Loch Loman property.
00:48:49.679 --> 00:48:51.840
Again, I don't think Queen would have that facility.
00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:57.360
Uh I could be completely wrong, so again, don't bite my head off if it's suddenly that that's the case.
00:48:57.679 --> 00:49:03.360
Staying on property, you know, you get a tumbler of Loch Loman whiskey as part of your with you.
00:49:03.519 --> 00:49:07.039
Like when you stay, you arrive and you get a little nip of whiskey.
00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:15.119
Um, you know, you get sort of you ferry through Willie in the um in the locker room is just part of the furniture.
00:49:15.199 --> 00:49:18.000
He's a great bloke, he knows Loch Loman inside out.
00:49:18.159 --> 00:49:22.639
He remembers your drinks order two days later, even after he's seen multiple people.
00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:39.519
The locker room has this private like sophisticated feel, but also has then like Sky Sports is on and it's relaxed and it's sort of lay back and have some beers, have you know, enjoy your tenants in Scotland, aren't you?
00:49:39.679 --> 00:49:43.519
Enjoy whatever you're having, watch the football, just just relax.
00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:47.360
Great restaurant on site, uh and a golf course.
00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:56.320
Again, being able to compare it to Queenwood because no shock here, it had rained quite significantly the day before up in uh up in Scotland.
00:49:56.800 --> 00:50:00.159
Uh, and and it actually rained a little bit on and off the course.
00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:01.679
We were lucky enough to play it twice.
00:50:02.320 --> 00:50:04.880
It's just magic, it really is just magic.
00:50:05.039 --> 00:50:16.239
You've got you know, you've got the lock, obviously, hence what it's named from, but then you also you've got right in amongst the the pines, the trees are up there, it's a beautiful scenery.
00:50:16.480 --> 00:50:26.880
I think you're hard-pressed to find anywhere as as magical as that, and I don't think there is anywhere as magical as that on in the UK.
00:50:27.039 --> 00:50:37.920
I think you're gonna find a couple over in the States and in other areas, and you know, you've got your your Tara Eetis as well if you start going down to um to New Zealand, but yeah, I can't.
00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:42.800
I could I could continue to wax local about Loch Loman for a long, long time, and so it has to be number one.
00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:44.719
But I think it's a great question.
00:50:45.039 --> 00:50:45.760
Nice, yeah.
00:50:45.920 --> 00:50:47.280
No, that's very, very interesting.
00:50:47.519 --> 00:50:50.559
I I would have guessed Queenwood would come out on top.
00:50:50.719 --> 00:50:57.920
So uh so yeah, that I mean that really does speak, I think, to to Loch Lohman's facility and overall experience.
00:50:58.159 --> 00:51:00.480
Thought just an interesting fact for for those listening.
00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:10.320
So Beaverbrook doesn't have any professionals that practice out of there, um unlike Queenwood, where they have they have numerous and Wesley and and Wentworth for that matter.
00:51:10.480 --> 00:51:16.880
Um and the main reason apparently is the range is on quite a severe has quite a severe slope.
00:51:16.960 --> 00:51:20.639
And so the pros don't want to practice because it messes their track band data up.
00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:22.159
Wow.
00:51:22.480 --> 00:51:30.079
And the first goes down the is if you miss the first right, it's out of boundary on the ranges, and it's yeah, it all sort of squires around the bottom.
00:51:30.320 --> 00:51:32.400
So it makes sense, but interesting.
00:51:32.480 --> 00:51:34.719
They need to address that because I'm sure they want some pros.
00:51:35.199 --> 00:51:38.400
Yeah, yeah, they I I think they kind of sit on the fence a little bit.
00:51:38.480 --> 00:51:42.800
I mean, ultimately that range is not going to change, so I think that just might be might be the case.
00:51:42.960 --> 00:51:47.840
But um, and then as you mentioned, um unbelievable logos, and I just thought this would be funny to mention.
00:51:47.920 --> 00:51:56.000
So I had a meeting last week with uh Gulf Island, and I sat down with them and I went, look, hear me out, lads.
00:51:56.159 --> 00:52:01.360
Because they were like, we need to get people going to like not the massive courses in Ireland, like that's one of their goals.
00:52:01.440 --> 00:52:05.519
It's like there's more courses than just bally bunny in a hinge, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:52:05.679 --> 00:52:07.199
And so we're having a conversation about that.
00:52:07.280 --> 00:52:15.119
And I was just like, Well, a good starting point would be going to somewhere like Ennis Crone and going, your logo is rubbish, please change it.
00:52:15.679 --> 00:52:16.960
Yeah, facts.
00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:23.599
So you'll be happy to hear that message has been very forcefully passed on to uh to Gulf Island for you.
00:52:24.079 --> 00:52:25.119
Nice, good.
00:52:25.760 --> 00:52:27.280
Oh dear, very funny.
00:52:27.440 --> 00:52:28.159
Okay, cool.
00:52:28.320 --> 00:52:32.320
All right, let's um let's segue into some some destination stuff.
00:52:32.400 --> 00:52:40.239
So, as you said in the intro at the beginning of the pod, uh, we've just had an absolute all-time long bank holiday weekend here uh in the UK.
00:52:40.400 --> 00:52:46.559
So it got us thinking, what is a great three-day golf trip to do in the UK?
00:52:46.639 --> 00:52:53.760
And they're normally the ones where you go and tick off a couple of hidden gems and go somewhere maybe that you wouldn't necessarily first think of.
00:52:53.920 --> 00:53:00.159
And so we've agreed, Josh has got one, I've got one, uh, one that we've both done, but we've both experienced.
00:53:00.239 --> 00:53:05.760
And so we're just gonna we're just gonna lay them out and we're we're gonna bounce them off each other and and see what we come up with.
00:53:05.840 --> 00:53:06.800
So I'll throw it to you first.
00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:12.000
You've got you've got three days somewhere in the UK, long weekend, call it bank holiday or not.
00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:13.840
What's the plan?
00:53:15.119 --> 00:53:19.679
So I've actually I've treated this slightly differently.
00:53:19.840 --> 00:53:35.199
I know you said you're hidden gems and things like that, but I've gone for somewhere that bank holiday suggests you're in the summer, so you've got a chance at good weather, which means I'm going somewhere where if you get good weather, it's magical.
00:53:35.760 --> 00:53:42.000
So I'm gonna, and having recently been up there myself, uh I'm gonna fly up to Inverness.
00:53:42.960 --> 00:53:49.119
I'm gonna get myself to Inverness, you know, very reachable from many different areas in in the UK.
00:53:49.519 --> 00:54:01.760
Fly in there, and within 15 minutes, you have access to Nairn, you have access to uh Cabah Highlands, formerly known as Castle Stewart, and now you've got Old Petty as well, the third course there.
00:54:02.000 --> 00:54:11.519
So as as an ease of trip, 15 minutes, you're gonna keep yourself, stay yourself in Nairn if you want, nice and easy.
00:54:12.960 --> 00:54:17.440
Or get in a hop in the car, pop up an hour, go and play Royal Dornock.
00:54:18.960 --> 00:54:19.440
Easy.
00:54:19.920 --> 00:54:27.760
I would say a perfect weekend, and I'm squeezing, I'm squeezing it in, and I'm going sort of the high end of what you want to do on a bank holiday weekend.
00:54:27.920 --> 00:54:31.760
I appreciate it's not the cheapest of trips, but it's what I would like to do.
00:54:32.480 --> 00:54:41.760
I'm gonna land, I'm going to drive, I'm gonna go straight up to Royal Dornock, and I'm gonna have my day on the the championship course there.
00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:43.840
13th in the world, I believe it is.
00:54:44.079 --> 00:54:48.800
I played it mega, got a good October day, but would love to get a good bank holiday day.
00:54:49.440 --> 00:54:52.800
And come back down, nan, chill out, enjoy it.
00:54:53.440 --> 00:54:58.079
What I would then do on the Saturday, well, I guess you're going Saturday, Sunday, Monday, aren't you?
00:54:58.159 --> 00:54:59.199
So call that Saturday.
00:54:59.360 --> 00:55:02.800
Sunday, I'm gonna go to Cabah Highlands.
00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:04.639
I'm gonna do a 36 whole day.
00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:09.360
I'm gonna play Castle Stewart course and I'm gonna play the old Petty course.
00:55:09.599 --> 00:55:16.079
They are 10-15 minutes away from um from the Nairn town.
00:55:16.480 --> 00:55:17.519
Easy to get to.
00:55:17.920 --> 00:55:24.079
Long day on the course, but really easy to get home, back to your accommodation, have some food and enjoy that.
00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:27.119
And then on the last day, I'm gonna play Nairn.
00:55:28.079 --> 00:55:31.039
Having recently played it, I think it's like a mini North Berwick.
00:55:31.519 --> 00:55:32.480
It's sensational.
00:55:32.639 --> 00:55:35.840
We've got a great day's weather, absolutely magnificent.
00:55:36.079 --> 00:55:47.199
And again, you can get changed at Nairn, you can have a nice time, or and you could stay over again if you wanted to, or if you're then, as we said, bag holiday shooting off your 10-15 minute drive to the airport.
00:55:47.519 --> 00:55:50.079
All really convenient, all really easy.
00:55:50.239 --> 00:56:08.480
And equally, the ability to sub out any of those courses and play Golspie, Brawra, Granton on Spay, all these other courses that are genuine hidden gems that are fantastic, can bring the price point wherever you need it to be, and still keeps you within like a 30-40-minute drive.
00:56:08.559 --> 00:56:13.760
So that for me just feels like a really great, a great gem of a trip.
00:56:14.239 --> 00:56:14.800
Agreed.
00:56:14.880 --> 00:56:20.320
I I think you know Inverness is a much shorter season than even uh East Lothian or something like that.
00:56:20.480 --> 00:56:32.559
And so if you are in the weather window, especially if you're travelling from the UK, like there are lots of flights up to Inverness, and if you get it, you get those courses on a good day, I'd imagine they're absolutely magic.
00:56:32.719 --> 00:56:34.639
So you mentioned you were at Nen recently.
00:56:34.719 --> 00:56:37.280
We've spoken about it on the pod before great logo.
00:56:37.599 --> 00:56:40.559
What kind of what kind of ProShop damage were we talking about?
00:56:40.800 --> 00:56:42.639
Yeah, I was trying to be as good as I could.
00:56:42.800 --> 00:56:43.920
Uh I wasn't.
00:56:44.079 --> 00:56:46.719
Well, because I just try to be just trying to be good, but I wasn't good.
00:56:46.880 --> 00:56:47.840
I wasn't good.
00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:55.119
Um I feel like no one can have too many white caps with good logos on them.
00:56:55.440 --> 00:56:58.719
Still looking for um the best way to wash them.
00:56:58.880 --> 00:57:01.599
I don't know how how people go about it.
00:57:01.760 --> 00:57:04.000
I'd like to actually send that to the to the listeners.
00:57:04.159 --> 00:57:05.199
Please comment in.
00:57:05.360 --> 00:57:07.280
How do you wash your white caps?
00:57:07.519 --> 00:57:17.840
Because we've had um washing machine, we've had get in the bath with it, we've had hand wash them, there's there's there's just multiple, multiple different dishwasher.
00:57:18.320 --> 00:57:20.559
So would love to know the best way.
00:57:20.800 --> 00:57:23.440
As a result, my white caps don't last too long.
00:57:23.599 --> 00:57:28.400
So I got my nice new NAN white cap with a nice logo on it.
00:57:28.639 --> 00:57:32.000
And then I actually ended up going a little bit left field.
00:57:32.079 --> 00:57:41.760
I got a a brand that I've never heard of, like Turtleness or whatever it was, Turtles Turtleson, Turtleson, I think it was.
00:57:42.000 --> 00:58:01.519
Obviously, um we were making jokes about turtle heads poking out and all these different silly things that we had, um having had a couple of drinks, but Turtleson, and I got a nice hoodie that could be worn on course or off course with the Nairn logo, which is just one of the great logos.
00:58:01.679 --> 00:58:06.079
Reminds me very much of the Sheep Ranch logo, actually, at um at Bandon.
00:58:06.480 --> 00:58:16.400
It does indeed, and you know, I I just want to congratulate you for being such a big brave boy and going for a brand that we're not 100% sure where it's come from, what it is.
00:58:16.480 --> 00:58:18.559
Like, what what do people feel about this brand?
00:58:18.639 --> 00:58:22.719
You had no idea, and you still pulled the trigger, so so very well done to you.
00:58:23.280 --> 00:58:25.039
Thanks, appreciate it means a lot.
00:58:25.599 --> 00:58:38.639
So Inverness is a good one, and to be honest, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna struggle to beat that, but maybe a slightly more affordable and potentially one of the best value long weekends that you can do in the UK is one that we've also done together.
00:58:38.880 --> 00:58:44.159
Um and that's jumping in the car and heading down to the southwest.
00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:46.159
And I'm gonna do Devon.
00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:48.400
Now, you can obviously go further, and you've got St.
00:58:48.559 --> 00:58:52.559
Enadoc and and other really, really good golf courses further down into Cornwall.
00:58:52.639 --> 00:59:00.960
But a couple of years ago, we went down to Devon, and I think as a 36-hole setup, Saunton is criminally underrated.
00:59:01.039 --> 00:59:07.199
Like magic, you know, I think it's the East is supposed to be better than the West from a ranking perspective.
00:59:07.280 --> 00:59:29.440
Like it's it's a it's a definitely a level up, but certainly when you play both courses over two days, or maybe even do a you know a marathon 36 there, they just blur into what feels similar to like Berkshire Red and Blue, where it's just like who knows what course we're on at this point, but like I'm just really enjoying myself.
00:59:29.599 --> 00:59:38.079
I've only ever played it in super fast, hot, baked-out conditions, and just just what a great little golf club.
00:59:38.159 --> 00:59:52.079
Like, we've got some friends that live down there who are members of Saunton, and yeah, great setup, great town, great British pubs, like it's got a real like UK holiday vibe to it.
00:59:52.159 --> 01:00:02.400
You know, people really enjoy living their life and surfing and golfing and being outdoors, and and you kind of really feel that people are really friendly, and so I think Saunton is a must.
01:00:02.480 --> 01:00:05.360
It's like I said, very reasonably priced as well.
01:00:05.440 --> 01:00:07.440
Um, and and so a great setup there.
01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:14.639
Then to then just cap off, so we we did that Friday, and then we did Saturday or Saturday, Sunday, whichever we don't do it if you're bank holidaying it.
01:00:14.800 --> 01:00:23.599
Um and then on the way out, we played Royal North Devon, which I feel like we're both gonna have something to say about.
01:00:23.760 --> 01:00:29.760
Royal North Devon is a very well-ranked golf course on virtually all the lists.
01:00:31.199 --> 01:00:36.800
It is it is seen as having a place in in the world of golf.
01:00:37.039 --> 01:00:41.760
And I'll be honest, I don't really understand why.
01:00:42.159 --> 01:00:56.400
It's fine, and you play it on the way out, and look, like I said, it's it's again very good value or or it's at a very good price, maybe I should I should put it that way, and it's a good one to just like play a third course on the way out back into wherever you're going.
01:00:57.119 --> 01:01:01.920
But like it's a bit of a field, isn't it?
01:01:03.760 --> 01:01:12.880
Uh I think bit of is an understatement, but it is just a field, it is it is actually a field, it has horses in it and cows in it and sheep in it.
01:01:13.840 --> 01:01:15.280
I just pulled it up while you're talking there.
01:01:15.440 --> 01:01:17.199
55th ranked course in England.
01:01:18.159 --> 01:01:26.639
Now if there are only 54 courses better than that in this country, we should give up.
01:01:27.199 --> 01:01:30.559
Like, you know what, golf just isn't gonna work in this country.
01:01:31.119 --> 01:01:37.360
To say that is the 55th best course in England is actually farcical.
01:01:37.679 --> 01:01:40.400
It's probably not the 55th best course in Devon.
01:01:40.719 --> 01:01:43.119
And I don't know how many courses there are in Devon.
01:01:43.280 --> 01:01:44.800
That's how I feel about that course.
01:01:44.880 --> 01:01:49.760
I think and the best holes are like the fourth and fifth down by the beach, and they're eroding away.
01:01:50.239 --> 01:01:52.320
But they are good holes, they're eroding away, yeah.
01:01:52.480 --> 01:01:55.519
They're eroding away, so they're not gonna be there again in five years.
01:01:56.079 --> 01:02:05.199
I think it's a good logo, a good logo of on the roll of Devon for sure, but as a golf course, I think it's appalling.
01:02:05.360 --> 01:02:06.559
And and you know what?
01:02:06.719 --> 01:02:11.280
I wouldn't think it was so appalling if it wasn't ranked as inappropriately as it is.
01:02:11.519 --> 01:02:17.039
If someone had just said this is an unranked course in Devon, come and play that.
01:02:17.119 --> 01:02:27.679
It's well worth playing alongside Saunton, your expectation levels are are reduced, and you go, Alright, cool, oh this is this is okay, you'd still not think it's brilliant, but you'd be like, okay, it's okay.
01:02:27.760 --> 01:02:34.159
But when someone says, Yeah, this is 55th best in England, you've got to go and play it to tick off your top hundred in England, whatever it might be.
01:02:34.400 --> 01:02:42.480
Your expectation levels, rightly so, increase, and you are significantly disappointed by that place.
01:02:42.639 --> 01:02:45.199
And I would say that don't play there.
01:02:45.440 --> 01:02:47.119
Go and play Burnham and Barrow.
01:02:47.280 --> 01:02:49.679
It's a bit further away, but it's still on the way back.
01:02:49.760 --> 01:02:58.239
If you're say you were driving back towards the bulk of the country, doesn't have to be London, but the bulk of the country, you're not going back towards Goldwall.
01:02:58.559 --> 01:02:59.920
Don't play Burnham and Barrow.
01:03:00.000 --> 01:03:03.039
It's about an hour and a half away, an hour and 45 minutes away.
01:03:03.280 --> 01:03:07.920
Breaks up some of that really long drive, and is the two courses there that are very good.
01:03:08.000 --> 01:03:11.920
But the main course, of course, if you're only playing one, is a sensational track.
01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:12.960
But it's not my pick.
01:03:13.039 --> 01:03:14.719
So I'm coming in and I'm coming over the top.
01:03:14.800 --> 01:03:18.000
But I hope you don't mind me just just offering a potential alternative.
01:03:18.320 --> 01:03:20.800
Yeah, no, I I was literally going to mention exactly that.
01:03:20.880 --> 01:03:27.199
And I yeah, if you're you're really looking to just play great golf, then a hundred percent there's there's different options.
01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:29.679
I think Ronald Devon logistically works.
01:03:29.760 --> 01:03:43.119
And I said if you're working to a to a budget and you're you know you're looking to do something cheap and cheerful by I'd say our golfing recommendation standards, if that makes sense, um, then then Rolano Devon, you can you can chuck in there.
01:03:43.199 --> 01:03:46.239
But yeah, I I think there are certainly better options out there.
01:03:46.559 --> 01:03:56.000
And I mean, yeah, we've actually never paid to play on Royal North Devon, so I can only imagine if we've actually been asked to part with our money as well.
01:03:56.159 --> 01:04:05.920
But uh yeah, a couple of good holes, and maybe if you are a list ticker, I'd get out there sooner rather than later because as Josh says, they are disappearing um at speed.
01:04:06.880 --> 01:04:18.639
But a beautiful part of the country, you know, weather tends to be tends to be good through the summer, and um yeah, it it kind of ticks the the bank holiday vibe box, if if you will.
01:04:18.960 --> 01:04:20.880
So um there you have it.
01:04:21.360 --> 01:04:21.920
Love it.
01:04:22.079 --> 01:04:22.719
And you know what?
01:04:22.880 --> 01:04:26.000
Sat here melting post bank holiday vibes.
01:04:26.239 --> 01:04:30.719
I think it's time to get to go and sit in my freezer and try and cool down.
01:04:30.960 --> 01:04:37.360
Yeah, Josh actually just got a chest freezer in his in his uh in his flat in London that he just parks himself in.
01:04:38.239 --> 01:04:40.079
Keep it clean, keep it open.
01:04:40.400 --> 01:04:40.800
Absolutely.
01:04:40.880 --> 01:04:42.639
How how's how's the burn from the weekend?
01:04:42.800 --> 01:04:44.559
Have you got nice tight skin today?
01:04:44.880 --> 01:04:46.320
No, feeling good to be fair.
01:04:46.480 --> 01:04:48.719
Um Sunday, Sunday felt the burn.
01:04:48.880 --> 01:04:52.559
Uh, you know, operational heather bag in full force, and I'm enjoying it.
01:04:52.719 --> 01:04:53.199
Really am.
01:04:53.360 --> 01:04:55.599
Uh no, today just feeling pretty good.
01:04:55.760 --> 01:04:57.760
You know, this the the light isn't helping me here.
01:04:57.840 --> 01:04:58.639
It makes me look red.
01:04:58.719 --> 01:05:02.079
And I think that every time I look back on any of the videos that get posted.
01:05:02.239 --> 01:05:06.800
Um, but no, I've I'm I'm gonna rich shade of mahogany, as we've heard in other in other areas of play.
01:05:07.039 --> 01:05:09.360
Um I think it was uh Ron Burgundy, wasn't it?
01:05:09.440 --> 01:05:09.920
No, come on.
01:05:10.159 --> 01:05:12.159
Uh feeling good, yeah, feeling feeling good.
01:05:12.320 --> 01:05:15.679
And we're gonna top that tan up, as you say, going to Spain in a couple of days.
01:05:15.920 --> 01:05:18.239
Yeah, which I'm sure is gonna be absolutely lovely.
01:05:18.320 --> 01:05:21.119
And I am very much looking forward to chopping that up next week.
01:05:21.280 --> 01:05:23.920
But um appreciate you stopping in, my man.
01:05:24.159 --> 01:05:24.880
Good chop up.
01:05:24.960 --> 01:05:29.920
And I said, have a great time in Spain, and um, yeah, I'll look forward to chatting to you next week.
01:05:30.320 --> 01:05:31.199
Sounds great.
01:05:31.360 --> 01:05:32.000
Catch you soon.
01:05:32.239 --> 01:05:33.280
All right, cheers, boy.
01:05:33.360 --> 01:05:36.159
Right, we are full program golf Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
01:05:36.239 --> 01:05:40.880
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