We Played 5 Costa del Sol Golf Courses... Here's What We Thought | FPG Podcast #36

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Welcome back, episode 36 of the Full Programme Golf Podcast with me, Josh Conlon, and as ever, joined in the studio with Stevie McAvoy.
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Today we are going to be talking all things golf as we normally do, plenty to cover, but then we're going to get into the Costa del Sol.
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Really looking at the Mar Bayer Port of Benoit side of things rather than the sotograndi big hitters.
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Let's get right into it.
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Joshua, another fantastic polo choice, my boy.
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The stars are just aligning, aren't they?
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It's just, you know, there's a little bit of drizzle in the air.
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You've got to go a bit darker, but we're still in June.
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We don't need black.
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Just enjoy it.
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Don't need black.
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Do you know what?
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I haven't got much play out of the black FPG polo.
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It's kind of like it's one of those just layers that looms in the cupboard.
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And to be honest, whenever I wear it, it's normally under multiple layers.
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Good bit more of a winter piece.
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No, I understand.
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Um obviously we're in we're in different body shapes.
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Um, and so I actually find that when I've had a particularly uh grueling week on the uh on the food and the booze, the black's a nice complimenter.
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So uh I pop that black on, keeps it nice and lean and mean, um, and we go we go from there.
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But yeah, hear what you're saying.
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Love it, love it.
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Well, it's it's been a bit miserable out there the last couple of days.
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I know you had a bit of a bit of a slog over the weekend.
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It was our 36-hole club championship, which I decided not to play in because uh went to Polo in the park on Friday and I was like, do you know what?
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I could think of nothing worse than waking up to uh whatever tea time to play 36 holes if the weather forecast like that.
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So I chose to avoid it.
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And you know what?
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As I sat inside on Saturday, I thought, poor Josh.
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Yeah, the weather was not nice.
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Um I had a great grouping to have to uh you know, when Club Champs comes around and you're sort of grouped in your handicap order, you can get anyone.
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There were some stinking draws out there, we'll not name names.
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Um, but had a really good group, and I think that made the day because it's fair to say that it was a slog for all of us.
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And as we've all had days on the golf course that make you question whether you even want to play the game, I had one of those, and um, you know, happily off the course this weekend, and you know what?
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I came home and um said to my girlfriend Eve, I said um that's it, I'm done.
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I'm selling my clubs, I'm out, all I'm gonna do is talk golf now.
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I've got no more interest in the game, I'm done.
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Um, so I'm not dramatic.
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I wasn't being dramatic.
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We'll see how long that lasts.
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Do you know what?
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I've actually been in a kind of similar place.
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I've been putting a lot of effort into the golf game uh over the last couple of months in terms of having lessons, gone through a relatively big swing change and kind of visually for the better.
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Um, my coach coach Chris Kutch, who's done a wonderful job.
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And do you know what?
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He's a great cheerleader.
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I leave the hour session with him, and I feel like I'm gonna be a scratch golfer.
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He really, he really pours gasoline on the flames.
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And then when I head out and shoot in the in the in the high 80s, which I actually haven't done in quite a while, um, it it does it, it makes you question everything.
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It really does.
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Playing on a hangover, stinking hangover after a wedding, thought I was gonna enjoy it.
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Lovely day outside it was, it just was horrendous.
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Tempo was shocking, and yeah, club's been away since for for a for a week or so since.
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Um gonna gonna get back to it this weekend, try and, you know, maybe go down to the range, hit some balls.
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But it was bad.
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It was bad, and it and it's it's tough.
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There's no other way to put it, it's tough.
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Yeah, it it is, and you know, just to just to bring it to life a little bit for you for how I was playing 36 tolls.
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First T um was 10 past nine, second T was two o'clock.
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At 2.43, I sent a message to a dear friend of the pod, Sam Truman, my coach.
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Mind my language, but this this is word for word, verbatim, what I wrote.
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Can you please confirm lesson dates?
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I'm wank.
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They were the two messages back to back that were sent at 2.43 on Saturday.
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Mid round.
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Mid-round.
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Mid-round.
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I think that might have been just when I made six from the greenside bunker on the par four at where I was there for one.
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And I was pretty angry, and there were still no club tosses.
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I'd like the like the listeners to know that but there was um some choice language.
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So uh yeah.
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You clearly had your midseason review in mind.
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You're like, oh, I can't do it.
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I'm three weeks away from from June 1.
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I can't I can't be tossing any clubs about.
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Call that myself down again.
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No, well, yeah, I mean, I mean, to just to to further expand on where I got to, I said tempo was really bad on that last round.
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And so um, there's a video doing the rounds at the moment on social where Nellie Cord is talking about tempo, obviously, beautiful tempo, beautiful swing.
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And um the word is Coca-Cola, apparently.
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So when you you yeah, you're going Coca-Cola, and I'm just like, right, that's that's what's happening.
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Then another one I saw, as you know, it's it's been a really dark time.
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Wow, you've been in the mire, is um if you try and hum through the golf swing, right?
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If you're snatchy and kind of tense in the transition, your body naturally stops humming.
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And so if you continu if you're able to continue a hum through to the follow-through, then supposedly the tempo is bad.
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These are all these are all things that I'm hoping work, haven't put into practice yet, but just wanted to expand on on the on the rabbit hole, the dark, dark rabbit hole that I've been going down.
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That really is, and you know, next thing it'll be singing um angelic hymns on the back saying just to try and get get some grace on the way.
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He's got the whole wide world in his hands bash.
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Great june.
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Oh dear, yeah, absolute bagger.
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I mean, that you know, under the age of 10, that was potentially a top five song of all time.
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I always wanted to be bold, be strong.
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And as a as a young man, I always thought being bold was about hair.
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So we'd all sort of pat hands on the head, and if it wasn't, it was about being courageous, of course.
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Uh, anyway, we do digress.
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Talking about Nelly Carter, yes, has a nice golf swing, but that is that maybe the worst ever put to go in and win a major?
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Is it a major?
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Oh man.
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Uh it was it was a squeaky one, wasn't it?
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It was a stinker, it was a horror show.
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How that way how that made the bottom of the cup is she definitely has been singing hymns and going to her prayers and doing all her bits and pieces because that did not deserve to go in.
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Yeah, there's a couple of bits from the SOP.
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I mean, number one, uh great playing for Charlie Hull on the weekend has to be mentioned, would have loved to have seen her do it.
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I mean, she is obviously so due a major, and it would have been great if she'd have stormed through like that.
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Um, but yeah, Nellie, great win for her stinking putt on the last hole.
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Um, a lot of chat, apparently she changed her grip.
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I don't actually know what the change was, but I don't know if you saw anything on that where her sister basically made her change her grip, and she said she literally was just like, you know, when you change a grip, like it's it feels so awful.
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And apparently she's just battling it all weekend.
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Um, then I actually put a post out, LeBron James gave her a pair of these new night collab shoes, which I thought looked quite smart, and she took them off off five holes.
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So she would Nellie was obviously just battling demons, uh, but managed to get it done.
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So uh yeah, great win for her.
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Yeah, and and two two from two in the ladies' majors.
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So um, can she complete a quarter slam?
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Who knows?
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What do you do?
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Is she like on any from last year, or is she just on a straight two from two this year?
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I think she's on a straight.
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I think she's on a straight two, so she's got three to go.
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Yeah, um interesting to see.
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Yeah, um let's get into some men's golf.
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So Memorial obviously finished this week.
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Um, pretty meh leaderboard in the end, that's what I thought.
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There were some, you know, big names, but all kind of finished around kind of top 10 kind of level.
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Great test.
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I love seeing someone win at 12 under.
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I think 12 under is the perfect winning score for a men's competition.
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Like, I think that's challenging, but not a complete bloodbath.
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Um, throw it to you.
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What were your what were your thoughts from the weekend?
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Yeah, just gonna pick up on the minus 12.
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I think minus 12 is a good winning score.
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If I could choose, it'd be like plus four.
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I love watching them just I love the carnage.
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It's just I'm really I'm really hoping that Shinnicot brings that next week.
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I really, really hope for that because I think it always are great.
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Uh I think they make for great finishes.
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I think they may make for particularly great shots win it rather than just someone who's just got hot with the flat stick and gone to town.
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But yeah, 1200 is a good tournament, certainly better than your 2800 that we've been seeing um the last few weeks.
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Um yeah, I I think for such a great tournament and such a historical tournament, I agree.
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I thought that I mean it's not JT Poston's fault that he's gone and won, and and congratulations to him, that's a massive win, a great, a great um great victory.
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It's just not who at the start of the week you go, God, I'm gonna tune in, I'm gonna watch them leading it out.
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I'm gonna see them winning, you know, Ryan Gerard, you know, all these guys, fantastic golfers, clearly great for them.
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We don't shoot him for that.
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It's it's awful to say, but we are you are looking for the big names, you are looking for for um people coming through.
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I think it's worth noting Wyndham Clark was absolutely nowhere before his win a couple of weeks ago, finishes third again, um really turned his season around and suddenly you're going US Open.
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Is he now one of the contenders?
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Who knows?
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Really interesting.
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Sam Burns, the perennial uh bridesmaid, I know he came fourth, but he just he wins match play events because he doesn't have to hold it together for four rounds, but he's another Shane Lowry for me.
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Too much talent to be winning how how often they do, which is not a lot at all.
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Um which is interesting, and you know, you you keep the Alex Fitzpatrick tracker on.
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Another week where he beats his brother.
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I think he's up to 20th in the FedEx Cup, cruising minus six, minus seven last day.
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Just thanks for cash and checks.
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Let's go.
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Yeah, I've got Fitz on my list.
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So so 65 on the final day, which um I mean JT Poston shot 65 in the second round, which really gave him that cushion that eventually he did manage to hold on to.
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Um, but a fantastic round for Alex, and I I'll tell you, I I think Fitzpatrick A has got something big in him.
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I I think that you know, to the wire, uh second, third, whatever he ended up when he just missed out um a couple of weeks after he won the Zurich.
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I think that's that's created calluses.
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I think the next time he's in position, he's gonna take take it deep.
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So uh really good to see uh him do that.
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I have to say, with about five holes left on Sunday, I there is no way I thought um Poston was winning.
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I thought he had thrown that away.
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And so credit to him for getting it done.
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Um, when Fleetwood made that eagle, I was like, here we go.
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You know, the cream is rising to the top.
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But uh yeah, Post and Gerard playoff.
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Not not who you necessarily would want to see, but I think it's a great test.
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It looks like a fantastic course, it looks like a bloody hard course, and as I said, I think it's 12.
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12's a good number uh without it being kind of you'd imagine if they're the US Open at Memorial and they grew the rough double the height, you would be looking more towards that level pass score.
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So uh I thought that was good.
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I also think, and I'm not sure we touched on this at the Masters.
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Jack Nicholas is looking old these days, isn't he?
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I um I remember watching the ceremonial tee shot of August this year, and he kind of struggled to make his way walking to the T.
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Um, yeah, age is catching up with him pretty fast.
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Yeah, and it's yeah, it's gonna be a sad day, in it.
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Um hopefully that's not for a little while, but yeah, he he's looking old and um I mean he's golfing royalty, isn't he?
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He really is.
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So uh great to see him there and and will forever be a massive part of the game, just as Arnold Palmer has continued to be since his his sad passing as well, good few years ago now.
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Um but yes, moving on to uh a couple of other events, we had Liv in in Valderama, great course, a course close to to our hearts.
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Thoughts on that?
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Did you catch much of it?
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I didn't, and to be honest, I I've kind of checked out from Liv.
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Like I I was a I was a pretty big Liv supporter.
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I was definitely more pro-Liv than your average punter.
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Like I remember tuning into the days when it was on YouTube and and giving it its chance and thinking I wanted to buy a range goat's hat and and all the rest of it, and I was just excited about you know if you know what the shift was what shift this was gonna cause in golf.
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And so I've been there, I've been pro-Live.
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And since the funding's been pulled, how can you get excited for it?
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How can you get excited for it?
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The players know what's gonna happen, I know what's gonna happen.
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These tournaments are even more meaningless than they were before, and I was always trying to put some kind of meaning on them, if that makes sense.
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But like now, it's just we're we're just marching towards the finish line.
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I know Scott O'Neill's on CNN trying to drum up a bit of positive momentum, saying that he's had various interests uh from investors and how they're gonna get a great return on their money and that Piff definitely are gonna be here to the end of the end of the year.
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But hey, look, it was what it was.
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Valderah's a great cause, Hatton obviously great to see an Englishman win.
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Rom continues to just be unbelievable uh in this small fish pond that he finds himself.
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Um, but yeah, just just I've kind of checked out from the Liv brand.
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No, I understand, and um you mentioned that Scott O'Neill interview.
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It was it was very telling, wasn't it?
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You know, for him to be um, you know, they said, Can you guarantee that the final four events of the season will go ahead?
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And he said, I can guarantee that there will that we are a good investment or something like that, and it wasn't a yes.
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Um, and he said, We've got to take the Saudi Pith at their word, which again is not that encouraging.
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And I thought it was, whilst he was trying to drum up positive uh positivity and momentum, I thought it was an interview completely lacking any answers to any of the questions that were asked.
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A real polic politician's interview.
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Yeah, sorry.
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If anything, makes you even more concerned that there is clearly trouble in the camp.
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Uh you know, he mentions they've got big names and next year they have star power in DeShambeau, Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Cam Smith.
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They were the four he mentioned.
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Well, we all know that Rahm has made an agreement with the DP World Tour that only lasts this year.
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They have to he has to, based on that agreement, go back to the DP World Tour next year.
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We there are rumblings that DeShambeau is now his camp are talking with the PJ Tour.
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Don't get me wrong, I think they'll keep DJ and Cam Smith for as long as they want because they've got their own teams and bought in a bit earlier.
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But you lose those two names, the biggest European star and and arguably the biggest US star at the moment, and it's a completely different uh uh product.
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So I agree, it's nice to see Hatton win, it's nice to catch a bit of Valdorama you know, heading down there um in about three weeks' time.
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So looking forward to seeing that.
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But I agree with you, it's lost its uh impetus and um standing in in golfing in the golfing world.
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Uh my hope, and I don't know if this will happen, is that unless they find significant investment, which I can't imagine they're going to, just knock it on the head.
00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:53.679
The last thing, the last thing we need is Liv's prize purses to be$700 for the winner instead of four million, and the tour to be made up of the bottom 20 plus whoever they can find to to come onto the you know what I mean?
00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:58.559
It'll be just like mini tour stuff, and it will just probably run one more year and then then die.
00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:08.240
I mean I'd almost just celebrate it, like well, you know, big disruptor, see you later, whatever the last event is, and just just knock the thing on the head.
00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:18.319
And I I fear there's gonna be too much money involved still, and so they will run it kind of right into the ground, but I think it's gonna be tough, tough to watch next year.
00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.480
Yeah, agreed.
00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.279
Right, let's let's look ahead a bit.
00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:30.960
Now we've obviously got Canadian Open uh this week, which was it last year that Bobby Mack won, or was that that further back in the L Story PGA?
00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.559
I mean, with his dad on the bag, which was a great moment to be fair.
00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:37.759
Um, but oh no, it might have been might have been two years ago.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.160
I think Ryan Fox won it last year.
00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.200
Yes, I think.
00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.200
Which again, great winner.
00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.319
Great winner.
00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:51.599
Um, so so we had some good stories from the Canadian Open, but um tough slot, stepping stone to the US Open.
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:54.559
Um not sure the field's um desperately strong.
00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:58.400
Any thoughts or or should we glaze to the main event next week?
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:02.559
I think one quick one quick thing to call out.
00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.960
You know, the Canadian Open has always been a pretty historic event, a big event.
00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:18.160
I think it's a shame where it's at, because we've had a few real non-events like the last few weeks prior to the memorial, that I actually think you could have switched the Canadian with these.
00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:25.200
I appreciate they do it in swings to limit travel, but I think it's in as you said, it's in the bogey slot, isn't it?
00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:33.359
It's the week before the US Open, everyone's grinding, nobody really necessarily wants to uh be practicing it a completely different style because it's going to be nails next week.
00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:47.200
But I think it's it's lost uh its uh shine as a result of this slot, and I also think that one of the big misses is you know, you've got the Valero Texas the week before the Masters, the winner gets a spot.
00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:50.799
I think that adds some interest to that event.
00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:56.799
I remember watching it and hoping that Matt Wallace would would get the job done, sadly he didn't, but that was a storyline.
00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:09.519
I'm I'm surprised that well, I can understand because it's an open event, you know, US Open, but I would have thought that winning the event, winning the Canadian Open would have been maybe the last spot in the field.
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:17.039
And I think that that's something that would have given another storyline to what is a pretty quiet week.
00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.400
Yeah, I agree.
00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.119
Do you know what?
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.200
It is a good event, you know.
00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:29.119
The Canadians love their sport, and obviously, if when when a Canadian is in contention, like it's a pretty wild atmosphere, but it's always had a bit of a rubbish slot.
00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.039
It's now week before US Open.
00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.039
It used to be the week after the open.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.039
So, like it's the last two bits have been yeah, pretty shocking.
00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.920
But all right, let's let's move across to the main event.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.240
Now, US Open next week.
00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:46.240
Shinnekok is a hell of a is a hell of a host track.
00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:55.599
Um, I'm obviously going on the Friday, and this is the most exciting I've been through US Open in ever, probably for probably understandable reasons.
00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:58.720
But I'm kind of diving into to learning about Shinnekok.
00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.920
I've obviously never been before.
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.359
I can't wait to get on the grounds.
00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:06.799
It just looks like an absolute beauty top 10 golf course in the world.
00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.880
Um, I can't wait.
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:13.359
Yes, uh I'm very jealous of you going there.
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:26.720
And um for us in England, we've got a big five days, big World Cup opener on the Wednesday into then four days of um US Open action, which is gonna be very exciting.
00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.000
It's it's one of the great golf courses in the world, isn't it?
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:34.400
You know, I I love I love Pebble Beach.
00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:37.839
That's for me always gonna be the number one US Open track.
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:46.000
But when it goes to your Oakmonts, when it goes to your um your Shinnicox, there is still that massive excitement of seeing somewhere.
00:20:46.160 --> 00:21:04.160
You know, we've got a little bit of history there pretty recently in Kepka winning it, Fleetwood with the phenomenal final round to uh get all the way through to second, and I think that does add to it, having a bit of history there and being able to have some uh some runners and riders that you can pick out from the last time.
00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:11.920
Um you're gonna get boots on the ground, really excited to hear how that is um and the feeling from there.
00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:27.920
Um, obviously mentioned Truman earlier in the podcast, he's got um himself there with Nathan Kimsey, so we want to formally send our best to um Team Kimbo um and of course the Fitzpatricks as well with the Sheffield link that we've got.
00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:39.920
So really excited for it, ready for the next major, and um let's hope we've got a good leaderboard similar to what we had at the US PGA on Sunday afternoon.
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.519
Absolutely.
00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:56.640
So, as ever, we always like to kind of dive into some stats to try and pull out uh at least a list that can guide people towards who potentially is going to be in contention, who potentially is gonna be the winner of the upcoming major, which is obviously the US Open.
00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:58.480
So I found something online.
00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:01.119
Um Which quite like a bit different.
00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.480
So normally we're just talking about this it's normally strokes.
00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:07.440
Is it strokes gained uh in the two months building up?
00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.799
I feel like that's been the kind of the core of the last two.
00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:16.720
Um so I found I found a little a little article online.
00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:23.680
Um and and this might be the cheat code for picking the US Open winner.
00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:36.960
So I'm gonna I'm gonna try and quickly explain how it worked, and then I'm gonna get get the list that's spat out at the end, and then as normal, as I say the names, just give me a yes, no, a couple of thoughts, and if you think they've got any uh any chance next week.
00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.720
All right, yeah.
00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:47.759
So the way they've done it is they've broken it out into kind of seven or eight different categories, and then they've awarded points according if you come in a certain way.
00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.319
So hopefully it'll make more sense to that explain.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:58.079
So first category is ranking, ranked between one and twenty five in data golf equals ten points, outside zero points.
00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:03.519
Nationality, American, eight points, European two points, rest of the world, zero points.
00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:11.200
Age, between 26 and 31, eight points, between 32 and 35, 2 points, other ages, zero.
00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.359
US Open form, top 10 in a US Open, five points.
00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:21.279
Best US Open finish of between 11th and 25th, three points, no top 25, two points.
00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:40.960
US Open Experience, played five to nine of the previous US opens, seven points, played one of the previous four, three points, recent major form, top ten in one of the previous two majors, eight points, two points for not major winner, two points, not a major winner, eight points.
00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:55.759
Current form, top 12 in one of the two previous starts, eight points, no top 12, two points, course fit, top 16 strokes gains off the T in one of the last three starts, nine points.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:01.839
Freshness had at least a week off in one of the previous two weeks, three points.
00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.400
Now the scores are spat out.
00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.680
Did you follow that?
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:10.319
I have to say I switched off here and there, but I enjoyed some of it.
00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:17.759
The one that really stood out to me was the no major winner was worth six, was eight points compared to major winner being two.
00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:24.559
Yeah, so on that right on that point ranking system, here are the top ten names.
00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:28.160
Number one, Sam Burns.
00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.319
No, he's got no bottle.
00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.920
He'll be a top ten, but he's not gonna win it.
00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.960
Number two, Scotty Scheffler.
00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.799
Yeah, killer.
00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.000
Say every time.
00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.640
Number three, Cam Young.
00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.759
Yes, yeah.
00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:49.359
Just and he's from that sort of side, you know, he's East Coast, isn't he?
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.440
That neck of the woods, he loves it.
00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.160
Four, Xana Shoffler.
00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.039
I said no last time.
00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:00.079
I don't know why, he did well, I'm still saying no.
00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:07.200
Five, Chris Goddard up No He'll be there thereabouts, I can't see him winning it.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:10.720
Quite a big points drop off here to six, John Ron.
00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:20.160
No, I've been too live positive and they've let me down in our sweepstakes, so I'm now just going no.
00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.720
Uh Colin Morikawa?
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.079
No.
00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.880
Bryson DeChambeau?
00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.519
No, no, no chance.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.160
Russell Henley.
00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.279
No.
00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:42.000
Uh and then joint joint tenth is Si Wu Kim and Wyndham Clark.
00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.880
No, I think Wyndham Clark's got a chance again.
00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.640
I don't think Si Wu Kim does.
00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.880
You know, I kind of butchered that top 10.
00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.279
Basically said most of them don't have a chance.
00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.720
They wouldn't be my pick.
00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:58.240
You know, they would maybe maybe on reflection, Chris Gotterup, I might flip to a yes.
00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.200
But I'm pretty comfortable with the others.
00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:08.319
I think there's some big names, you know, Morikawa, Shoffley, who I just don't I just don't think they're playing well enough.
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.000
As simple as that.
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.200
It's interesting.
00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:18.240
Like I, you know, that that obviously had a huge amount more being poured into it than the the previous ones that we've covered.
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:22.880
Um, but it feels like the list of names is pretty much the same every time.
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:26.480
Um yeah, so it'll be interesting.
00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:33.359
Uh, but I I do think the the non-major winner stat there it is potentially an interesting one.
00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:40.960
And so yeah, you would be leading to a Cam Young, a Chris Gotter up, like these are the kind of names that the jump off there, and and I think they got a chance.
00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:43.359
I I just don't think Sam Burns is gonna do it.
00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:48.720
Like I I know he's been close in a couple, but yeah, he's always fallen away, hasn't he?
00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.759
Every time.
00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:54.559
You know, he had the US Open last year in his hands for me.
00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:58.000
JJ Spawn ended up taking it, you know, another killer.
00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:04.880
Um I just don't think he's a I just don't think he's got the bottle under that amount of pressure.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:07.839
Yeah, well, really looking forward to it.
00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:21.920
Um, and what I have been doing, outside of obviously trying to trying to look at stats to pick winners and whatnot, is I've been looking at the Fanatics US Open merch website, which just I just thought it might give me a little bit of insight to what I'll be walking into.
00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:24.400
I don't know how how busy it's gonna be.
00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:33.599
So I just wanted to have like some level of preparation before heading into that to that merch tank because it might be the only chance I ever get to buy some some gear with a Shinnicot logo on it.
00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:42.079
So I've got a little shopping list going, couple of hats, polo, quite like the hoodies, think the hoodies are clean.
00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:47.039
Um, I'm gonna get the poster to add to my Lee Wobransky collection.
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:50.880
And um and then I'm just gonna leave a little joker position.
00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.920
Like it could be anything.
00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.559
It could be a mug, it could be a tea towel, it could be I don't know.
00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:59.599
And I just wanted to leave it there, just be like, hey, just be open-minded, Steven.
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.880
No, I like that.
00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:08.640
I think you know, similar to the gnomes at the Masters, you've got to have a miscellaneous spot where you just see it and you go, that's a bit of me.
00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.960
I like it, I'm gonna have it.
00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:15.039
So I'm I'm excited to hear about the haul that you're gonna bring home.
00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.880
Yeah, no, I'm excited as well.
00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:23.920
Um, in other news, great to see a slightly more positive reaction to one of your ranking lists.
00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:27.519
Obviously, got absolutely buried by the Ban in Dunes Mafia.
00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:31.839
Uh, but you seem to be back with uh with your private club ranking.
00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.319
Uh Locke Loman seems to be the can can kind of consensuous number one.
00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:38.160
Um that has to feel good.
00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.559
Yeah, it's nice, you know.
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:51.359
I think um yeah, the Ban in Dunes Mafia, I think, missed the complete point of it because a lot of them, it was as if I'd murdered their whole family by just saying that old Mac was my favourite.
00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:54.559
Like, that's absolutely fine that you have other favourites.
00:28:54.720 --> 00:29:02.640
If it was such a stone wall, they would all have been exactly the same, but they also had variety and subjective elements to it.
00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:09.359
So, some of those people who really got personal and nasty, I'm just gonna say, get a life.
00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.519
Like, honestly, get a life.
00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:13.680
You're an absolute sad case.
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:22.079
Like, if you're that worked up about someone else's favourite courses when they've played it once, you're a pathetic imbecile.
00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:26.000
So, yeah, it was nice to see um another list go down a bit better.
00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:29.359
Again, if it hadn't completely get it, it's a subjective list.
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.799
Um, and that I think that's the the beauty of golf, isn't it?
00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:40.640
You know, everyone plays courses differently, everyone has preferences, and how you play, of course, impacts the golf course.
00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:43.440
And those that were saying, how can you rank a course based on that?
00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.880
I'm not an official ranker.
00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.839
I do what I like.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.640
Yes, it's your list.
00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:51.920
Yeah, create your own list, get your own podcast and create your own list.
00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:58.880
The the social media hate tribe is is uh is a group of people that I I can't understand.
00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:03.359
I don't think I've ever, especially when it's like a paragraph, it's just like you've actually sat there and thought about that.
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.160
Like, come on.
00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:09.519
Um one question I did want to pose to you uh in the aftermath of the private list.
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:12.480
Now, for people who listen to the podcast, they understand the context.
00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:19.920
I obviously clipped it in a way which made it suggest that potentially you literally just rank what you thought the top five out of the more than five that exist in the UK.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:23.920
Uh I believe the only one we didn't mention that you have played is Renaissance.
00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.240
Um Renaissance, I should say.
00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:29.759
Um where would that slot out of interest?
00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.240
That's a good question.
00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.119
Two, I think.
00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.839
Above quick.
00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.400
Really?
00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.039
Really?
00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:38.079
Yeah, damn.
00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:40.480
But again, but again, it depends on the day.
00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:52.240
We had you know, pure sun in Scotland in August, played it ri as good as I've got, stands were up, so you've got that added little bit of magic.
00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.079
I thought it was brilliant.
00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:56.160
I love stands up, yeah.
00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.720
Same.
00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:59.200
So and that and that that's why it will end up there.
00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:02.400
Yeah, I think if if it gun to my head, I'd say two.
00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:06.559
It could have slaughtered three with maybe a little bit more consideration, I'm not sure.
00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.440
Yeah, nice.
00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:18.079
And and the other ones kind of that were mentioned along the way JCB, Skibo, um Ardfin, which yeah, we've neither of us unfortunately have had the had the chance to get on to.
00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:24.400
Um, amongst those comments, uh, there was a bit of confusion about what actually qualified for the list.
00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:31.680
There was probably half a dozen people that suggested that Sunningdale Old should be top, which yeah, but like you could just go and play it.
00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:33.680
So it doesn't get on a private list.
00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:53.839
But what I thought I'd crescendo us into as a little bit of a follow-up number, is um because Josh and I are sad, um, I know exactly the top ten, his top ten favourite golf courses in London, we'll call it, because uh yeah, I need to add some parameters in a couple of those, most of those private clubs that we mentioned are in London.
00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:56.960
So what I thought we'd do is I've got your top ten.
00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:08.079
I'm gonna I'm gonna spit them out to you, and I'm just gonna get you to blind blind rank them um into position and and give us give us a little little notes on each of if that's alright.
00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.119
Yeah, of course.
00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:20.319
And it's it's a difficult list, it's an ever-changing list, and and it is quite difficult when you say, like, how do we hold the geography to London?
00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:25.440
Because there's a couple that for me fall just outside, you know, played West Sussex last week.
00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:33.759
For me, that's a little bit too far out, but then one might argue that a couple on the list are a similar distance to the centre of London, but that's that's how we've done.
00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:37.279
Don't big us over the head for it, it's just a bit of fun and enjoy it.
00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:42.799
Alright, so Josh Blind ranking Josh's top ten London golf courses.
00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:45.200
So, first up, you've got Berkshire Red.
00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.839
I like I like the Bark, I like the Berkshire as a whole.
00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:51.519
I really think they're both excellent.
00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:56.880
I think the Red, just for its 666 combo, it nudges out the blue for me.
00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.960
You know, I think that's a pretty solid start.
00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:02.640
I'm probably gonna go six, just like sort of middle of the road, really enjoy it.
00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.240
Great club.
00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.440
Alright, second course, Hankley Common.
00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:13.440
It's another one that for me is right in that that middle ground.
00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:21.920
I think it gets it's criminally underrated in the rankings, but pro but then gets a lot of love as a result of that.
00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:28.559
I day by day would still prefer to play Berkshire Red, so for me it can't go ahead of Hankley Comb.
00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:30.720
Hankley Comb can't go ahead of Berkshire Red, I should say.
00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.000
But I'm gonna pop it in seven.
00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:34.640
I think it's right in that same mixer, in that same bucket.
00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.559
Alright, into some private stuff now.
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.680
Wentworth West.
00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:44.559
I've got some things in my mind that are better in the London area.
00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:47.039
I think it is right up there.
00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:51.519
You know, I've been going to the BMW PGA championship for many years.
00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:56.720
Being able to have played that course after the design changes made it pretty special for me.
00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:01.440
Um, I'm I will pop that in the fifth spot though, because I do think there's better out there.
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.359
This might be better.
00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.799
St George's Hill.
00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.000
Yeah.
00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:12.400
St George's Hill for me is is right up there as one of one of the great tracks in and around London.
00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:16.159
Um again, I've got a couple of them on mine that I think are a little bit better.
00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:18.320
I think the clubhouse is absolutely sensational.
00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:23.440
I think of course it's sensational, but but one of the iconic clubhouses of uh world golf.
00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.960
I'm gonna go for three.
00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.320
Nice.
00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:29.519
Alright, a slightly smaller name now, Lip Hook.
00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:33.760
I had a great day at Lip Hook, played nicely.
00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:38.880
I think it's it's in and amongst a beautiful estate and has some fantastic holes.
00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:41.440
Um really enjoyed it.
00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:48.639
Uh I do, however, think it's towards the lower side of the ten that I've got, so I'm gonna I'm gonna pop it in the night spot.
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:51.920
Another big boy, Swinley Forest.
00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.400
Loved it.
00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.920
I think it's sensational.
00:34:56.079 --> 00:35:00.079
I think another, yeah, another one of the iconic clubhouses.
00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:04.320
Um doesn't have that much crack there, but that's almost part of its charm.
00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:09.519
It's pretty um quiet and millionaire's golf, it feels like.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:15.679
I I'm gonna put it in number two because for me there is there is an outlier that has been mentioned um previously on the pod.
00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:18.880
So I'd probably in the two spot, but a phenomenal golf course.
00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:21.280
Walton Heath, old.
00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.079
So what have I got left?
00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:31.280
I've got the top spots, and then I've had six five, six, seven, and down.
00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:35.039
I'm gonna get I think I've got five, six, seven that have already been used, nine's been used.
00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:40.400
I think it's in the lower half, which is why I'm sort of trying to work out where I'm at in that in that lower part.
00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:42.559
I think it's better than Lip Hook.
00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:46.239
Um, I think just from its prestige tournaments it's had.
00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:52.079
Played it a couple of times, so I've seen it in in varying weather, so I can give it a bit more of an honest ranking.
00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:53.679
I'll pop that in eighth.
00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:56.480
Back to private, Queenwood.
00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:06.719
If St George's Hill is it if Swinley's two, St George's Hill's three, and the rest of them are taken, it's not better than those courses.
00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:10.320
It's excellent, but it slots in the fourth spot.
00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:11.679
Nice.
00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:15.199
Okay, your one three W, West Hill.
00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:24.400
Oh, I think I've only got one and ten left, so uh that would really throw the listeners, I wouldn't, if I've spotted chucked it into the one spot.
00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:26.239
Uh I'm gonna put it in number ten again.
00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.000
Great course, really enjoyed it.
00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:34.880
Um, but just not what I'm waiting for, which I believe is there's one course that hasn't been mentioned that has to be there at the top.
00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:40.079
The three W hooligans would have been absolutely out for blood if we're still gone one.
00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:43.519
Alright, last one, Sunningdale World.
00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:53.840
Yeah, it's it's magic, it's number one, it's uh it's it's just one of those places you can't spend enough time at.
00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:59.199
And every time you set foot on property, it's just it just gets more and more special.
00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:04.480
You sit on the patio, you have the the Cajun chicken wrap, the fish finger, they're phenomenal.
00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:07.119
The coffee's great, the service is beautiful.
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:14.719
Get down to the range, you're building it up, and you just get out there, played it in the rain, played it in the sun, played it in the wind, and you just enjoy it.
00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:21.760
It's just one of those places, pure magic, loved it, and always sits in the number one spot for me.
00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.199
Love it.
00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:26.239
So uh now I've got two questions to pose to you.
00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:30.239
What were the runner and riders that didn't quite make the top ten?
00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:36.880
And what were the runner and riders that you think would have, but you haven't had a chance to play them yet?
00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:45.599
So I'll start on the those that I think well, there's one that I think would be in there that I haven't played, which is Sunnydale New.
00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:51.679
Just by the rankings and what everyone's saying, that um I'm sure that will be in there.
00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:55.599
I just, as I said, haven't haven't played that golf course, seen it many a time.
00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.519
Um, Jasper to get on there.
00:37:57.760 --> 00:38:09.280
The other one that is consistently decent ranked, again, I I don't think it would get in the top ten, but I think it's um it's a question that I'd like it's of course I'd like to play and tick off, is Walton Heath New.
00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:16.400
Um, as I say, I don't think it would fall in that top ten, but it's certainly in the ranking list is up in and amongst that grouping.
00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:22.559
I've been very lucky to have played a lot of that, that sort of top 2025 um in and around the London area.
00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:26.079
Um so I would say that probably the only only notable miss is Sunnydale New.
00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.239
One I'd like to play is Walton Heath New.
00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:36.000
And then if I come on to some of the contenders on another day that would get in, sort of going slightly different area, Woburn, Marques.
00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.840
I think that's a really good golf course.
00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:39.519
Thoroughly enjoyed that.
00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:46.079
I think Royal Wimbledon is excellent, and I think could could certainly have been in there on another day.
00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:50.480
Um, and I think it's right in the same mix as the Lip Hook West Hill, that sort of vibe.
00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:54.800
Um Woking, Walplesden, we've got the other two W's in there.
00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:58.239
I think they're both fantastic tracks, uh, as I mentioned previously.
00:38:58.400 --> 00:39:03.679
Um, but just on currently how I've played the others, I think that's a pretty good list.
00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:05.760
But they they'd probably be the others I call out.
00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:08.159
You know, a lot of people are talking about the Addington.
00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.119
I didn't enjoy it.
00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:14.079
I don't think it's I don't think it's ready to be as highly ranked as it is at the moment.
00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:18.159
I think there's a few Mickey mouse holes, and I think it needs to finalise its changes.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.480
Have you played it post-changes yet?
00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:24.559
It was it was post-changes, but they were still Bedding.
00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:28.320
There was still a lot of work being done, and I think there still is a lot of work being done.
00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:29.679
Nice.
00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:37.119
Yeah, it needs to be It'll be interesting what you think of the Walton Heath and new when you do get a chance to play it.
00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:48.320
Uh I have played it and I haven't played the old, and I kind of came away, it was a bit of a grisly day, but I kind of came away and I was a bit like meh, like there wasn't a huge amount of memorable on that golf course.
00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:50.239
But a very strong list.
00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:57.760
You have you've navigated your way well around the London area uh in in your short 30 30 odd years.
00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:00.239
Um right.
00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:04.079
Have I got anything else on my list before we get pucked into it?
00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:09.440
Well, one thing I'm just gonna just gonna throw out there, a bit of a tangent, but you know, got it on my list, haven't I?
00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:16.480
I went and tried on the trousers that Tommy Fleetwood wears in Lululemon about three weeks ago.
00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:21.039
And I can't begin to tell you how much of a tit I looked in them.
00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:22.800
I just wanted to throw that out to you.
00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:28.480
Well, yeah, I'm sure you did, because he looks like a tit in them, and anyone that wears them looks like a tit.
00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.920
So that doesn't shock me.
00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:34.639
That's not a dig at you personally, that is a dig at those trousers which are ridiculous.
00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:39.440
I I just had to look at myself and I was just I I pat myself on the back for being willing to try.
00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.519
That's how I had to frame it, you know?
00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:43.920
Yeah, yeah, it's a step ahead of me.
00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:47.599
All right, let's get into it.
00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.960
Destination time.
00:40:49.119 --> 00:41:07.760
We are going to the Costa del Sol today, and the reason we're going is because I was there two weeks ago, Josh was there one week ago, and somehow I have managed to navigate through 32 years of my life, and never have I flown down to Malaga and gone west through to the Costa del Sol.
00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:14.480
And I have come back, and the big question is what the hell took me so long?
00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:16.719
So we're gonna get into it.
00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:24.000
Um, Josh obviously has been many times and has lots of courses he potentially he could talk about.
00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:33.679
But what we're gonna do is um we both play one course the same over the last two weeks, and then we both played some courses different, and then we'll kind of expand from there.
00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:40.800
Any opening gambits on the Costa del Sol as our resident Costa del Sol expert?
00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:51.440
Uh yeah, my dad said some words to me many years ago that will always be top of mind.
00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:53.840
He says, Portugal's great.
00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:57.519
When you go to Portugal, when you go to the Algarve, you'll have a great time.
00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:01.360
You always just think not as good as Spain.
00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:06.239
And that is how I'm gonna set this up because I firmly believe that.
00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:33.679
Yeah, I I agree, and and I did a little video on socials where I was talking about first-time trips to Europe and like where you would go, and I kind of disregarded the Costello Sol just because I was like, look, if you've never been to Europe and you've got a big group and you just want something to be very straightforward, you're bringing in a lot of different options if you're going down to the Costello Sol, whereas I think the Algarve, you go just go quintilago or whatever, or go into Belic, and it's it's just like way more straightforward.
00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:38.960
But if you're actually doing a straight up ranking, for me has to be number one.
00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:41.519
So agree with uh Con and Senior there.
00:42:41.679 --> 00:42:45.920
Alright, so the golf course that we shared, I think we should start there.
00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:53.280
Los Naranos, which is is just north of Porto Banus, obviously one of the kind of hubs of the area.
00:42:53.519 --> 00:42:55.199
What were your thoughts on the course?
00:42:56.719 --> 00:43:26.000
So I'd played it about 15 years ago, just after the greens had been punched, and for the 06, 08, 08 Beijing Olympics, way back when we're talking a young, young JC, um we had a villa on there um and stayed for like quite a long time, and we stayed on what is the 15th hole, the par forward water, um the villas on the left there.
00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:30.400
So it was somewhere that I really wanted to get back to and get a feel for.
00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:48.400
I think we've got to cover off before we get to the course the clubhouse and the experience, because I do think that actually as soon as you come through the sort of the gate and you're from the car park, the whole setting is magnificent.
00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:50.719
I think the clubhouse is is is brilliant.
00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:58.320
They've got that fantastic ninth hole and halfway hut, I should say, overlooking the driver range that's not there anymore.
00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:01.119
It looks like it's probably gonna be um Villas.
00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:08.719
I think that I wonder if that's going to detract, given there's going to be no facility to warm up, which is just so I'll I'll jump in there.
00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:14.000
So uh I had a meeting with the guys when I was there, it's it's just being relayed, like it is still the driving reg.
00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:14.639
Yeah, yeah.
00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:21.360
So um that that practice facility, which was out of action for both of us, will be back in action and and and looking better than ever.
00:44:21.840 --> 00:44:24.559
That's great, because I I did think that that would be a miss.
00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:25.840
So that's that's really good.
00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:27.840
Great club clubhouse, great halfway hope.
00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:30.239
We managed to have some food afterwards, really, really good.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:36.400
And and what's always an interesting quirk is it's it's a massive Swedish community in Los Aircott.
00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:43.280
So um, you know, you've got your Swede Swedish corner and um all the the gravel acts and different bits and pieces that come with that.
00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:50.480
Um so I wanted to start by saying I was so impressed with the club, the actual you know, the the experience that that gave.
00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:55.760
I think it's a a bit of a tail of two nines for me with the the golf course.
00:44:55.920 --> 00:45:00.559
Um I think the front line is is excellent.
00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:02.000
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:19.760
Um I think there's good variation on um some strong part threes, you've got a couple of shorter part fours, a couple of tough part fours, you know, pretty gettable part five, a couple of pretty gettable part fives, um, but still enough jeopardy when you're taking um the risk on.
00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:31.119
Whereas I felt like the back nine was a bit more of a field and just felt like some of the teak boxes you're in the middle of a big field, as I said.
00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:52.639
Um so I was slightly less impressed with the back nine than I was the front, but I think overall the course conditioning was decent, um, experience was was good, and I would certainly head back, and I can see why it has held uh you know ladies, ladies' European tour events and things like that um recently, because it's a good track.
00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:54.559
Yeah, I agree with that.
00:45:54.639 --> 00:46:01.360
It it's definitely a big enough track, a big enough facility that you can understand why uh a touring event has gone there.
00:46:01.519 --> 00:46:03.440
Um, yeah, echo your words.
00:46:03.599 --> 00:46:11.840
Beautiful, iconic clubhouse with that kind of terracotta style roof, which really kind of settles into the into the surroundings.
00:46:11.920 --> 00:46:21.039
It's in such a good location, like it is literally like 10-15 minutes up from Port of Banus, so it is yeah, like A on location.
00:46:21.360 --> 00:46:25.519
Um facilities fantastic, it's actually Swedish-owned, so that is why.
00:46:25.679 --> 00:46:34.400
Then, and they have they've got you go in the locker room and they've got little flags next to the member lockers, uh, and it's just covered in Nordic, Nordic flags, mainly Sweden.
00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:40.400
Um, I played the golf course, it it just been through maintenance, which they communicated very clearly.
00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:46.000
Um, and so hard to really give it its full grade.
00:46:46.239 --> 00:46:52.239
Um, but really nice day out, great setting, proper golf course off the backs.
00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:58.079
Um, and so yeah, just it was an all-round, very nice opening gambit.
00:46:58.320 --> 00:47:00.079
All right, let's get into some three piece stuff.
00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:01.760
Where's where does it sit for you?
00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:10.079
I think the the Pro Shop's good, albeit the logo's a little bit big and a bit square for me.
00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:13.440
Um so I'm gonna go Pro Shop, I'm gonna go four.
00:47:13.840 --> 00:47:16.159
I do think it had a lot of kit in there.
00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:20.239
Um well, I guess it's a it's a full three piece together, isn't it?
00:47:20.400 --> 00:47:20.960
So bear with me.
00:47:21.039 --> 00:47:22.880
I'm gonna go Pro Shop would be pretty strong.
00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:28.800
Practice facilities were non-existent, I appreciate their coming back, but I have to base it on on what I saw.
00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:30.480
And the patio is excellent.
00:47:30.960 --> 00:47:32.079
So I am gonna go with a four.
00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:33.599
I'm gonna go with a four with that.
00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:40.559
Um it's probably a 3.75, but we we deal in holes, well, 0.5s, and I'm gonna go for a four.
00:47:41.119 --> 00:47:42.480
Nice, and then the course?
00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:44.079
Four.
00:47:45.119 --> 00:47:48.239
I I think it's good, I think it's strong, but it didn't blow me away.
00:47:48.880 --> 00:47:50.880
Yeah, I think I echo all of that.
00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:57.599
Um, and I I think we'll get onto the the not blowing away um bit in a second.
00:47:57.760 --> 00:48:03.599
Like it's not you you get some kind of fiddly courses in the Costa Sol Sol, it's not fiddly, as I said.
00:48:03.679 --> 00:48:07.360
It's it's your ladies' European tour event, and you can kind of see why.
00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:11.199
I I think maybe it just lacks a bit of the dramatic.
00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:22.800
Um, and if the conditioning isn't absolutely superb, then I think you could maybe put it in like a little bit forgettable, would be what I would say.
00:48:22.880 --> 00:48:27.360
Um, but location's great, facilities great, great opening gambit.
00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:28.719
Alright, I'll throw it to you.
00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:31.599
Where did where else did you play um last week?
00:48:32.719 --> 00:48:39.440
So um we actually stayed in the Western La Quinta and played um played a round of golf there.
00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:46.000
Now La Kinter is 3-9 holes, so the A, B, and C, um, C being the newest, as you'd expect.
00:48:46.320 --> 00:48:49.199
And um at the time we we played A and B.
00:48:49.840 --> 00:49:08.639
Uh, I think again it's the conditioning of La Quinta was sensational, which having been there many a time, and actually the last time I played it last year, was was incredibly disappointed with the conditioning to the point where we weren't going to play it this year, but because we were on site and we're like, why not we'll go and have a knock?
00:49:08.960 --> 00:49:16.079
And I have to say the condition of it was better than Los Narancos, which was it was a real was a real surprise um to all of us.
00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:28.079
Um it certainly falls in the fiddly camp, it's cut in and amongst the rock and and the undulation that uh lends itself to that part of the world.
00:49:28.559 --> 00:49:39.280
Uh the A course has um some very gettable path fives, some short path fours, where I think even off the second, I think I hit A tine off the T and a wedge in.
00:49:39.360 --> 00:49:46.639
You know, like we're talking, it's really fiddly, there's some water, it's cut into the rock, and then the B course, you're probably not gonna pull driver unless you don't hit it very far.
00:49:46.719 --> 00:49:48.719
Um so my dad hit driver everywhere.
00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:54.800
Um but it's the B course is is an excellent track.
00:49:55.039 --> 00:50:03.280
I would say that us as a family, it has a place in our heart because we've been going back and we've played it for years and years and years.
00:50:03.440 --> 00:50:10.480
Um, and it was always nice to play with my dad and brother, my mum round um around Laush and Rancos, and then my dad and my brother around La Kinta.
00:50:10.639 --> 00:50:20.079
I think it's I think that's what golf, that's one of the beauties of golf, being able to have those really good competitive games with various people in your family off that using the handicap system.
00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:23.920
Um I think Los Nancos is a better golf course than La Kinta.
00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:26.880
Alright, far far off your rankings.
00:50:27.360 --> 00:50:30.079
So it's a three and a half golf course, in my opinion.
00:50:30.800 --> 00:50:36.480
And I think that the pro shops are pretty average, albeit quite big and quite a lot of merch.
00:50:36.559 --> 00:50:40.079
It's more like an American golf in that there's not really a logo on there.
00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:48.800
Um, the patio is sensational, and I will call out the club sandwich is super, one of the best in world golf.
00:50:49.199 --> 00:51:01.280
Um the practice facilities, there is a massive range up on the hill that actually you can see from Los and Rankos, but you can't hit anything more than probably a 180-yard shot because of the road at the bottom of that.
00:51:01.360 --> 00:51:07.039
So I'll probably say a three and a half, and three of that is on the patio.
00:51:08.320 --> 00:51:09.360
Very nice.
00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:16.400
All right, I'll reclaim the talking bean bag, and uh I'll I'll I'll take you off to what my second course was.
00:51:16.559 --> 00:51:23.679
I went up to uh Lakala, which is uh located uh near Mihas, so kind of more towards uh Malaga.
00:51:24.079 --> 00:51:28.320
Lakala's three courses, it's got Europe, America, and Asia.
00:51:28.559 --> 00:51:40.239
Um and a bit of a pig's ear to get to when you're we were saying Port of Benoit and uh you know had had a relatively healthy night um the night before.
00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:43.920
So the the winding roads up the mountains to Lakala.
00:51:44.159 --> 00:51:49.920
And I have to say, I I couldn't believe how just mountainous it all is, just kind of off the coast there.
00:51:50.079 --> 00:51:55.840
Not I was yeah, I just didn't that that was the thing that took me by surprise the most uh going there for the first time.
00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:09.199
So meandered our way up the mountains, and we played the Asia course, which I believe is is considered by the rankings to be the third of the three, but you kind of get up there and you you feel just away from it.
00:52:09.280 --> 00:52:15.360
You know, we've been in the hustle of bustle of port of bonus, and um Los Noranos very much feels like you're close to it.
00:52:15.440 --> 00:52:20.559
Um, whereas Lakala just feels like this different world up in the mountains.
00:52:21.039 --> 00:52:27.360
And the age of course probably is in the fiddly camp, but do you know what?
00:52:27.519 --> 00:52:29.199
I absolutely loved it.
00:52:29.360 --> 00:52:35.039
It was so dramatic, and you were kind of firing into these half pipes a lot of the time.
00:52:35.199 --> 00:52:43.599
Uh, and I played well, which it obviously helped to see the course in it in its proper design, but huge elevation changes, amazing views.
00:52:43.760 --> 00:52:45.840
I thought the conditioning was very good.
00:52:46.320 --> 00:52:54.239
Um, and and so I kind of came away, and I was just like, I had a much better golfing experience than at Los Naraniels.
00:52:54.320 --> 00:52:55.280
So, like, let's put it that way.
00:52:55.360 --> 00:53:00.480
Like, I thought the course was a significantly more fun track, perfect holiday track, you know what I mean?
00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:05.360
Where you you just want to go and just have a laugh and things make you think, and and it and it really did that.
00:53:05.440 --> 00:53:11.920
And so I'd be really interested to see what the other two courses are like because if that's their third course, then I think that resort's got got great potential.
00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:17.840
And I said, I just don't, it's not by the rankings looked upon that favourably, but um had a really good time.
00:53:18.079 --> 00:53:19.280
Have you been up there?
00:53:19.760 --> 00:53:27.679
I haven't, I haven't actually, and it's meant to be a very nice hotel up there as well, so it is a a very good like weekend destination.
00:53:27.760 --> 00:53:32.719
You know, you've got your three courses, and I want to actually just have a nod to the names of those courses.
00:53:32.960 --> 00:53:38.239
For whatever reason, I really like Asia America Europe course.
00:53:38.320 --> 00:53:43.920
I don't know why, it's just different, it's not old and new or a red or blue or whatever it might be.
00:53:44.159 --> 00:53:49.679
I just like that they've they've just gone for something a bit different, and um that that that's tickling me.
00:53:49.760 --> 00:53:53.599
I'm I've got to say I'm enjoying that, but yeah, I think I've only heard good things.
00:53:53.679 --> 00:53:59.599
The hotel's meant to be great, and if you're saying that the third course is excellent, well, we've got to go and check it out.
00:53:59.920 --> 00:54:01.840
Yeah, yeah, no, I had a great time.
00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:04.239
I said it's just a bit further away from it, but this is the thing, you know.
00:54:04.320 --> 00:54:10.800
I I was chatting to a friend and I was like, Oh, I was in Port Bonus Mar Bay last week, a couple of weeks ago, Pangarvin, he was like, oh, not for me.
00:54:10.880 --> 00:54:23.760
And I think there's this whole stigma that like the whole area is like only wears Essex and flashy and showy and tacky and whatever else, but like LaCala couldn't be further removed from that, as far as I'm concerned.
00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:26.960
So it's a bit like anywhere, like you know, there's quite a side twice beta.
00:54:27.039 --> 00:54:31.679
Like, there's there's there's pockets for for every shape and sizes.
00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:37.840
Hit you with some quick rankings, didn't didn't really get super tucked into the clubhouse stuff, but it like looked like a brilliant facility.
00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:45.920
Full driving range, which they have a free shuttle that kind of takes you to and from, so it's not like perfect, but like yeah, pretty damn good.
00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:49.920
Uh being to have a full warm-up logo stuff.
00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:51.519
Uh, I you you you mentioned it.
00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:56.960
I think the pro shops out there, certainly the ones that I went to, it is a bit American golfy.
00:54:57.119 --> 00:55:01.039
Um, they've got some logoed stuff, but nothing is like excellent.
00:55:01.199 --> 00:55:04.320
Um, and so do you know what?
00:55:04.400 --> 00:55:06.800
I'm gonna hit I'm gonna hit LaCala with a 4-4.
00:55:07.039 --> 00:55:12.239
Now, the course I said is a bit Mickey Mouse fiddly in places, but I've just had a really good time.
00:55:12.320 --> 00:55:12.960
And do you know what?
00:55:13.039 --> 00:55:16.480
It's my ranking, and we've we've talked about that already.
00:55:17.119 --> 00:55:17.519
Cool.
00:55:17.599 --> 00:55:20.559
All right, now I know you only played two last week, but I know you've played a lot more.
00:55:20.639 --> 00:55:28.000
So what I'm gonna do is gonna pass the beanbag back to you and maybe just fill in a course that uh kind of is relevant to the others we're discussing.
00:55:28.400 --> 00:55:32.239
Yeah, so um I'd probably go to a Rio Real.
00:55:32.559 --> 00:55:50.079
I think that's um uh a good option to supplement that side of the the Marbella Porta Banuse as opposed to moving south and going down towards um maybe some of the more established names down towards Soter Grande and the Valderama region.
00:55:50.239 --> 00:56:00.400
So I'm gonna go for Rio Real, which has had a recently um improved hotel attached to it as well, which which is um quite interesting.
00:56:00.800 --> 00:56:20.880
Another really good golf course, uh it's it meanders under the road at one point, so you have like a couple of holes on the other side of the road, but I'd certainly stick it in the in the Los Narrancos camp as opposed to a La Quinta camp, in that it's a little bit bigger, there's more of a property as opposed to more fiddly.
00:56:21.280 --> 00:56:23.119
Um and I I thought it was excellent.
00:56:23.519 --> 00:56:30.079
I really genuinely I've played it a couple of times, um and I've I've been impressed with it, with it both times.
00:56:30.159 --> 00:56:36.960
It's great hospitality, the restaurant is lovely, um, and as a result, the the patio is very good, overlooking the 18th.
00:56:37.199 --> 00:56:41.199
So I would say that if we're looking at a ranking, I mean I mean keep it in the forecamp.
00:56:41.760 --> 00:56:48.719
I think it's it's right in that in that block as well, but I think it's a stronger four than a Los Narrancos, um, based off what I've seen.
00:56:49.679 --> 00:56:58.800
And I think that yeah, the pro shot again, the logo isn't fantastic, and it's it's just uh an American golf style pro shot.
00:56:59.039 --> 00:57:04.239
The patio does overlook the the 18th, as I've mentioned, practice facilities.
00:57:04.719 --> 00:57:05.679
Did I go to it?
00:57:05.760 --> 00:57:08.800
Is that my fault having had a few jars the night before when we played it?
00:57:08.960 --> 00:57:09.360
Yes.
00:57:09.519 --> 00:57:11.360
Can I remember it that well as a result?
00:57:11.519 --> 00:57:12.159
Not really.
00:57:12.320 --> 00:57:19.360
So I'm gonna give it I'm gonna give it a four as well because I think it should sit right in the same number as Lost Around Cos.
00:57:20.559 --> 00:57:23.599
And I think, you know, hopefully the listeners are kind of getting this.
00:57:23.760 --> 00:57:26.960
There is just lots of really like solid stuff out there.
00:57:27.280 --> 00:57:34.320
Um, you know, from the ones I've experienced, the ones you've you've it just everything is kind of like, yeah, pretty damn good.
00:57:34.400 --> 00:57:43.679
And now there is a camp of very good out there, great, you may say, um, which we're gonna tuck into on a different episode, but like the the sheer volume of option.
00:57:43.840 --> 00:57:46.000
I mean, I I I think I think I Googled it.
00:57:46.079 --> 00:57:50.719
I think it's something like 70 courses between Malago and and Soto Grande.
00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:55.519
Like it's it's a very, very healthy golfing region, let's just put it that way.
00:57:55.760 --> 00:57:57.119
Um, yeah, it really is.
00:57:57.199 --> 00:58:04.159
And and just to you know echo that, you know, we we've left off anything that's even vaguely outside of that region.
00:58:04.239 --> 00:58:11.840
You know, you've got the two Villa Padena courses, you go down to Finca, San Roque, two courses, Valderama, Real Sotogrande.
00:58:12.000 --> 00:58:25.760
Then even if you are staying in the area, you've got you know Guadalmina, which is a very good course, you've got two courses at Attalaya, you've got Marbella Club up in the hills, which is sensational, very nice track.
00:58:25.920 --> 00:58:32.719
You've you've not even talked about Reals Aguileta, which is uh you know, the old is a um private club, the new you can get on.
00:58:32.880 --> 00:58:45.760
Like we can just name courses, and actually on the drive from Malagar Airport to Port of the News, it is literally you're on the motor and you go, golf course, golf course, and I think you probably could do it probably 11 times.
00:58:45.920 --> 00:58:49.360
Like it really is that often that you go, oh, another course.
00:58:49.599 --> 00:58:50.880
It's it's a great golfing place.
00:58:51.280 --> 00:58:57.760
You can imagine, like, first time there, I'm I'm out looking out the window, and I literally, with my friend Al literally had that experience.
00:58:58.480 --> 00:59:00.880
And I'm on the maps, and I'm like, oh, that's da-da-da.
00:59:02.800 --> 00:59:05.599
Um, yeah, there is there's a lot of golf out there.
00:59:05.760 --> 00:59:31.440
All right, so to finish it off on this little um little Costa Celso golf piece, um I played a course called Chaparral, which is kind of more towards Malaga, it's about half an hour west of um and I was I was there on a bit of a corporate corporate, big corporate do, industry corporate do, and so they got there, they knew this was this was like their advert to the world kind of day.
00:59:31.599 --> 00:59:38.400
And so let me tell you, the conditioning was unbelievable.
00:59:38.719 --> 00:59:45.119
Best greens by a country mile that we I played on um over the long weekend.
00:59:45.679 --> 00:59:49.199
Probably a bit of a mix of the two, it felt like, as a course.
00:59:49.360 --> 00:59:55.679
Um certainly had decent elevation change, uh, but not as dramatic as as Lakala.
00:59:56.159 --> 00:59:59.440
Um, but then you know, in places felt a bit bigger.
00:59:59.599 --> 01:00:05.039
So so yeah, very much a blend of Los Naranos and the Asia course at Locala.
01:00:05.280 --> 01:00:11.280
And as I said, the conditioning was probably as as good as yeah, I mean, it was as good as they can get it, I feel.
01:00:11.360 --> 01:00:14.800
And I I spoke to their um their kind of marketing director afterwards.
01:00:14.880 --> 01:00:18.480
I was like, was this like you know, the World Cup final for you?
01:00:18.559 --> 01:00:19.760
And they were like, Yeah, very much so.
01:00:19.920 --> 01:00:31.519
So um that so that was cool, had a beautiful, had a has a great terrace, um, sat out there, got served a beautiful three-course meal, kind of as part of the event, um, and had a really, really nice time.
01:00:32.159 --> 01:00:34.159
I'm gonna do exactly what we've done with all of them.
01:00:34.239 --> 01:00:38.960
It's a 4-4, it's it's just again another really good option.
01:00:39.039 --> 01:00:46.000
And and I use this word and I and I and I mean this in literally no derogatory way whatsoever.
01:00:46.239 --> 01:00:52.239
The courses we've mentioned for me all fit full into a camp that I would title filler.
01:00:52.480 --> 01:01:00.719
They are filler, they're not I'm not going home and being like, wow, this new course has got this course has gone into my top 10 I've ever played, or anything crazy like that.
01:01:00.880 --> 01:01:08.719
Like, they're not great golf courses, but there's just this mass of good, very good golf courses in the area.
01:01:08.880 --> 01:01:12.400
And I for one can't wait to get back out there and and and play some more.
01:01:12.719 --> 01:01:19.280
Yeah, and it's and it's that amount of courses that means you can tailor your trip to what you're looking for.
01:01:19.599 --> 01:01:23.119
You want the big courses, you can get it.
01:01:23.599 --> 01:01:28.320
You just have to travel a little bit further, or or base yourself in a slightly quieter area.
01:01:28.639 --> 01:01:34.239
If you just want consistently great golf, uh you can do all of those we've mentioned.
01:01:34.320 --> 01:01:37.199
If you want a mix of the two, it's half an hour.
01:01:37.440 --> 01:01:42.239
It's it it caters to every single type of trip that you're looking for.
01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:59.039
There are uh your your restaurants that have a little bit more of a vibe, you know, like your Lasalas, your breeds, and and some down in the Port of Benous region, or you could go a bit more authentic, go Los Abonicos, you could go to uh El Gaminal or in some of those different areas.
01:01:59.199 --> 01:02:21.840
So really you or even Cancha Dos, if we start talking about down into um the the steakhouse on the polo fields down towards Sutter Grande, you've got a little bit of of something for everyone, and I think that is the beauty of having the mass amount of courses and having the the nightlife to to boot, should you want that.
01:02:22.000 --> 01:02:24.320
There's just so much optionality, yeah.
01:02:24.400 --> 01:02:29.360
And I and I think um nightlife, you know, I'm still clinging on to my youth.
01:02:29.440 --> 01:02:33.760
Like, nightlife is still uh an appealing factor in in all of this.
01:02:34.000 --> 01:02:38.000
Um I'm not sure I'd run it quite how I ran it this time.
01:02:38.079 --> 01:02:44.320
Like I spent too much time down in the marina at Port Benous on you know the front row and the back row.
01:02:44.480 --> 01:02:46.800
People have gone, they understand what's in the back row.
01:02:46.960 --> 01:02:57.280
Um, and so I it wasn't until kind of late-ish on the Saturday where another friend of ours was out there and he was like, Oh, we've got a table at La Sala just finishing up dinner, why don't you come up there?
01:02:57.519 --> 01:03:00.559
Went up there and I was like, okay, this is this is definitely more the speed.
01:03:00.639 --> 01:03:08.079
So I I think I've got to do a bit of development work on my my kind of nightlife run, but it felt like it was there.
01:03:08.159 --> 01:03:09.920
And to be honest, I actually left a bit frustrated.
01:03:10.000 --> 01:03:14.079
I was just like, I feel like we've not not done what we should have done for the two nights we were there.
01:03:14.320 --> 01:03:19.519
Um, I didn't know, however, lots of people were like, oh, you know, Portman is so expensive, so expensive.
01:03:19.679 --> 01:03:23.599
I mean, yeah, like don't get me wrong, you can go and splash cash if you want to.
01:03:23.760 --> 01:03:37.519
But I actually felt like it was fine, like it didn't it didn't feel overly aggressive at all if you just picked your picked your spots right, like you know, went to a nice pizza place just up a bit from from the coast on the Friday, and then I can't remember what I did Saturday, but like you know what I mean.
01:03:37.599 --> 01:03:57.119
Like I really didn't feel like it was crazy, and then the green fees of these courses that in that filler um section are fine, like you know, just over 100, 150 euros, like I think that is very reasonable, and so I don't think people should turn their nose up at it as a oh, this is an expensive spot.
01:03:57.440 --> 01:04:03.519
No, I completely agree, and when you think about the courses, you know, really the the direct comparison is the Algarve.
01:04:03.920 --> 01:04:17.760
When you look at the courses that would fall into that filler part of there, um you're talking five, five and a half hour rounds, you're probably paying a little bit more than 150, but call it exactly the same one, 150 euros.
01:04:18.239 --> 01:04:22.239
But you you play these courses, there's a lot more availability.
01:04:22.400 --> 01:04:25.840
You're not going to be stuck behind a stagdo that's never played golf before.
01:04:25.920 --> 01:04:37.119
Now, there's always places for that, but when you're looking for golf, you want to just be able to get out and and play um a slightly quicker, and that's what that can bring as well.
01:04:37.440 --> 01:04:45.599
Yeah, I I tell you, I I did get the the the flight from South End Airport, which I think I was the only non-stag on the whole flight out there.
01:04:45.679 --> 01:04:47.760
But it was easy, it was cheap.
01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:49.840
Don't don't don't hate me for it.
01:04:49.920 --> 01:05:00.639
But uh yeah, uh yeah, I I think I think there's potential to find stag d's on courses, but I was lucky enough not to, and by the sounds of it, you have also been lucky enough not to.
01:05:00.800 --> 01:05:04.400
But um what a spot! Can't wait to go back.
01:05:04.960 --> 01:05:08.079
Absolutely, top, top spot for me.
01:05:08.400 --> 01:05:10.559
All right, um, nice, cool.
01:05:10.639 --> 01:05:14.079
All right, well, I said this is probably gonna be the last episode for US Open.
01:05:14.320 --> 01:05:21.920
Um big shout out to England, World Cup gets uh starts to kick off very shortly, first game tonight as we record this.
01:05:22.079 --> 01:05:27.760
Uh maybe just sign us off with your hopes and your and your dreams for for the summer uh over in America.
01:05:28.639 --> 01:05:33.760
Well, there's if we don't have a second star on the shirt, Tuchel's failed.
01:05:33.840 --> 01:05:37.519
That's what he was set out to do, and that's what we are going to do.
01:05:37.679 --> 01:05:40.719
Uh I believe in us, good performance last night.
01:05:41.039 --> 01:05:50.559
And I wouldn't be an England football fan if I wasn't completely delusional about our ability to win events, and I'm gonna stay in that delusional camp.
01:05:50.880 --> 01:05:53.360
And we'll sign off on that positivity.
01:05:53.519 --> 01:05:54.880
All right, Josh, thank you very much.
01:05:54.960 --> 01:05:56.480
Uh thank you very much, everyone listening.
01:05:56.559 --> 01:05:58.000
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01:05:58.079 --> 01:06:02.960
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