WEBVTT
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.240
Welcome back, episode 32 of the full program golf podcast.
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:06.959
This week we're going to do a quick mailbag episode.
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.119
We've got a load of questions over the last couple of months.
00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:11.839
So I'm going to take the time and answer some of them.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.199
Let's get into it.
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:36.880
All right, so mailbag edition, as I said in the intro, we've kind of got questions over the last couple of months and weeks, and I thought I would pull a couple of these out and just run through them and give my take on each.
00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.280
Before I do, quick shout out to Matthew Fitzpatrick.
00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:45.840
Another win at Hilton Head, which I have to say, unbelievable looking course.
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:49.679
Haven't got out there myself and desperate to do so.
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:59.039
One there twice, which I think there was a comment that he made to his dad many years ago saying the course didn't suit him, whereas now I think he's uh quite the fan.
00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.119
I think he even said it was his favourite course.
00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.719
But um a birdie on the first extra hole against Sheffield.
00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:13.840
Sheffler, the season of second place is kind of what it's looking like at the moment, but I'm sure there are big things for him still this season.
00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:16.079
Uh, and we'll get onto that a little later.
00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:32.079
But you look at it now, Fitzpatrick, for a for a five foot ten buck 55 gentleman from Sheffield, he's building a decent little career, obviously, with the US Open as his kind of main win.
00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.359
But you look at the Ryder Cup performances have been very, very strong.
00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:38.159
And then two wins this season on the PJ Tour.
00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:41.359
You go a bit further back, he's a US AM champion as well.
00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:50.400
Um, yeah, he's he's slowly building one of the better, certainly English but European records of the last couple of decades.
00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.319
So shout out Fitzpatrick.
00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:58.400
It was also really good to see him come through against once again a very biased crowd.
00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:02.319
These USA chants are happening a bit too often for my liking.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:09.439
But um, obviously he fell short at the players against Cam Young, but he succeeded against Sheffield at Hilton Head.
00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.879
So very, very good win.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.120
Great to see him do well, as I said, with Josh's Sheffield ties.
00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:19.120
Uh, we are always a fan of Fitzpatrick doing well.
00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:23.599
So let's get into the mailbag.
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:38.000
So, question one if you could build the perfect four-day golf trip anywhere in the world for under£1,500 per person, what does the itinerary look like?
00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.120
And where do you refuse to compromise?
00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:50.080
I mean, I don't want to compromise anywhere, it's probably the starting point, and I don't think you necessarily have to for 1500 quid.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:56.479
So, first angle, I I think there's there's really three levels to trips.
00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:14.560
There is your bucket list, tick every box you need to, go and do it once, go and do it properly, kind of trip, which your budget is probably higher than 1500 for in most locations, and you're probably gonna dedicate a week to go and do it.
00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.319
So that's kind of tier one.
00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:28.319
I would then say a four-day 1500 pound trip is probably in tier two, like you can go and do a very solid golf trip for 1500 quid, as long as you're keeping it relatively close to home.
00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.240
And I think that's the point I want to make with that.
00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:36.080
If it's a four-day trip, travel has to be considered, and I think you need to keep it close to home.
00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:50.639
So I will answer that as if we're coming from the UK when we actually get to it, and then but just to kind of conclude the tiers, I think there's a third tier, which would be your long weekend, two, three days, and you're probably looking under a thousand pounds.
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:57.759
So, anyway, to answer the question, four day 1500 pounds, I think you're in that tier two, and as I said, I think it's really important to keep it close to home.
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:06.400
And so, if we're talking uh as I would from being based in the UK, I'm looking UK, Ireland, or Europe.
00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:12.400
For me, at that price, I'd probably go to East Lothian.
00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:17.759
Because the reality of it is, is you haven't got that long, you don't want to spend your time travelling all around.
00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:32.480
And so with East Lothian, you can get yourself into Edinburgh by train, super easy trains from London, you can fly in, even if you're coming across from the east coast of America, like you probably just about get away with a four-day trip, maybe five-day trip.
00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:39.519
Again, lots of direct flights into Edinburgh, and then everything you need is just out there and it's easy.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:44.720
And so, what I'd look to do, four days, you want to play four times.
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.519
I would pick your big boy course.
00:04:47.600 --> 00:05:16.399
Now, I think at 1500 quid you're probably gonna rule out going to Muirfield, but if you picked either North Berwick or Gullum One as your centrepiece to build the trip around, and then just to throw names out there, you you've got then Dunbar, you've got Archerfield, um you have got and then Kilspindy, the Glen, Craigelaw are probably your cheaper ones.
00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.279
So you you've almost got you can divide the courses up out there.
00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.920
I'm I'm sure I'm missing many off the top of my head right now.
00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:38.800
But you go one big boy course, Gullen or or North Berwick, then go for a second round, second or third round at your Dunbars, your Archerfields, and then I think just to pad it out, you go for your best value rounds, which you shouldn't turn your nose up at.
00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:42.079
They're really, really good, fun links tracks.
00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:46.959
But Kill Spindy and the Glen are both around£100-ish green fee.
00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.240
And so you can kind of slot that in there, and that will keep you on budget.
00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.399
For accommodation, the LED is super easy, um, decent pricing.
00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.759
Get yourself in some twin rooms, and I'm sure you'll be able to keep the budget there.
00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.720
I think the Archfield Lodge is also really, really good shout.
00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.800
They're not that much more expensive than the LED.
00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:11.839
And so, either of those, as long as you're happy to twin up and then four rounds of golf, it should keep you around the£1,500 mark.
00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.040
And I think if you're wanting something easy but very good quality, I don't think you can go wrong with that trip.
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:29.439
Question number two Which destination is overhyped right now in golf travel and which underrated spot should replace it?
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.639
What is overhyped right now?
00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:48.879
The only place that immediately springs to mind I wouldn't go as far as saying it's overhyped, but I would say it's overrated.
00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:53.199
And that is the stuff in Bulgaria.
00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:10.240
We went down and and played Thracian Cliffs, Black Sea Rama, Lighthouse, and Thracian Cliffs, you know, you look at the photos and and I can understand why you'd get excited about it, like it looks absolutely epic.
00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:25.839
But it it's not as good a golf course as it is view, and so yes, there are some iconic holes, but I think it's it's brutally difficult, brutally difficult.
00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:32.480
And we went out with a group of decent golfers, and it's just a case of like I could compare it to something like Pinnacle Point down in South Africa.
00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:42.240
Pinnacle Point down in South Africa is spectacular, and you've got a chance to get your ball round that golf course, like there is enough room to miss.
00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:57.839
Um, whereas with Thracian cliffs, it felt like fairway, a slither of painfully deep shrub or gorse or whatever it was, and then just like gone off a cliff.
00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:08.800
And so you just have to, and no wonder McDowell won when um the match play was there in 2013, I think it was, because he's short and he drives it straight, and and that is just what that course needed.
00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:11.279
So I'm glad I went and played it.
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.480
I'm glad I went and ticked it off.
00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:21.920
We actually played it twice on the trip, and I kind of didn't need the second time because I just knew what what we're in for, and it was just an absolute nightmare.
00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:39.120
So uh a couple of car crashes from virtually everyone around that golf course, and then the the reality is is Black Sea Rama and and Lighthouse are munis at best, like they're not they're nothing to report home about at all, unfortunately.
00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:55.360
And so I do think whilst it's not in the echelons of a Spain and a Portugal, like I do think there is a bit of chatter around Bulgaria, and I just don't think it's warranted, and then just to kind of conclude on that, I think the off course isn't there at all.
00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:03.519
And so if you're a younger group and you're looking for stuff to happen, you're out in these resorts in the middle of nowhere, and there's really not much going on at all.
00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:10.720
Thracian cliffs, whilst you can make an argument for the standard of its golf course, it's then got no clubhouse once you finish.
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:19.039
And so you have this experience and you want to sit down and have a drink and and talk it over, and you're you're not really given a facility to do that in.
00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:25.600
So, not the biggest fan of the Bulgaria setup, certainly not something I'm rushing back to do.
00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:32.639
Underrated spot, God, it's hard to give something that's comparable to that.
00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:35.919
Where would I say an underrated spot is?
00:09:36.080 --> 00:10:09.360
To be honest, I know this is not really like for like, but I think there are parts of England that are overlooked all of the time for golf getaways, and so I would suggest that going down to the southwest of England and playing either St Enadoc and the surrounding courses there or Saunton down in Devon, really, really, really good golf courses that you can actually play at a very reasonable rate, and I just think that's something that's not necessarily on a lot of people's radar, and uh is a really, really good trip.
00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:10.159
So there you go.
00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.159
All right, question three.
00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:19.440
You've got one round of golf at a course to impress a seriously good golfer.
00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.120
Are you picking a marquee name or a hidden gem?
00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.159
And why?
00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:31.360
So I think if you're looking to impress someone, you've obviously got to take them somewhere that you've never been before.
00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:40.480
Now, I think as long as you're going to somewhere they've never been before, you're gonna get that wow factor, regardless if it's a marquee name or a hidden gem.
00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:47.279
And so I think it's more impressive to take them to a marquee name, I think, to be really straightforward.
00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:55.759
So then they're marquee names for a reason, and that's normally because they're very good golf courses or good facilities or whatever it might be.
00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:05.440
So yeah, I get the question, but I think yeah, the pretty obvious answer is you just take them to the biggest marquee name that they've not been to, and that'll probably impress them the most.
00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.000
All right, question four.
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.159
What separates a good golf trip from an unforgettable one?
00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.320
And what's the biggest mistake people make when planning?
00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.879
So I think the mistake bit is easy.
00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:38.799
I think the biggest mistake people make when planning golf trips at the moment, and we see it all the time, is they just don't consider or can't fathom how far in advance you need to book things to get trips to play out exactly how you want them to.
00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:57.039
And so I bang this drum, and to our better customers that we're in conversation with a lot, if they've got an idea and they want to go tick off one of these top-tier bucketless golf trips, we need to be thinking about it at least 12 months in advance.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:02.720
Ideally, before that, and then we can be finger on the pulse of when um tea times are released and stuff like that.
00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.840
And so I'll give you an example.
00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:11.679
We've got guys that are going to do Scotland and they wanted to do Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullen, and Kings Barnes.
00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:21.200
Now, we we booked that on the day that the Muirfield Tea Times came out, which is best part of 14 months in advance.
00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.559
And if if you just want to do it right, that is what you've got to do.
00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:34.080
And the amount of people that will come to us in late December and go, Oh, I want to go to Scotland in the middle of the summer, what can you do?
00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:39.120
And you're like, uh, we can do it, but you're gonna miss this, or you're not gonna be able to quite work that.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.879
And then this tea time's gonna be at 2:30, and they're like, Oh, can I play at 11?
00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.080
It's just like no, like, unfortunately, not like that.
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:58.480
They are long gone at the mid-summer tea times up in Scotland and and over in Ireland and places like that, the mid-morning, mid-summer tea times are like gold dust.
00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:03.840
So I think that's that's the main thing I'd call out here is if you want to do something in particular.
00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.720
Look, if you're flexible, then that's fine.
00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.679
You can roll the dice and just see what comes out, and I'm sure you'll have a great time anyway.
00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:18.080
But if you very specifically want to do something, one year in advance is the way to go about it.
00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:21.200
What separates a good trip from an unforgettable one?
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:29.360
Um in my opinion, it'd be it'd be what what what's built in around it.
00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:40.399
So you've got you've got meat and potatoes of any trip, which is where are you playing, where are you staying, and I suppose how are you getting around.
00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:46.000
They're all important and they are they need to be they need to be covered off.
00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:52.720
But I think most people, if they know what they're doing, or if you go to tour op, like you're obviously going to cover those, no problem at all.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:09.039
I think the part that makes stuff unforgettable is when you book them that restaurant on the correct day in the evening, or you tell them play golf at this time, because then you'll be finished, because then you can go and have a late lunch here.
00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.799
Day off from golf, what's the best what's the best thing to go and do?
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:21.759
And and so I can think of various locations where you you build in and it becomes it becomes a holiday rather than just a golf trip.
00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.840
And you see the place, you get the culture, you you get the feel of the whole environment.
00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:34.320
But do you think sometimes, especially if it's a super, super heavy trip golf wise, you can be very much like hotel course, hotel course, hotel course?
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:43.039
Whereas I think there are multiple destinations out there that just have so much to do away from just like resort life or whatever it might be.
00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:59.200
And I think when you blend that all together and someone comes back from that country and they're like, I played golf, I've seen the best courses, but I've also seen the country, as I said, experienced the culture, met the people, and kind of got a feel for it that way.
00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:04.399
I think when you blend that all together, I think that comes, you come back and you're like, that's unforgettable.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.039
So yeah, I just think it's it's it's full package and and just packing it all in.
00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.480
All right.
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.679
Okay, this is kind of a follow-up on that.
00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.919
This is a good next question.
00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:26.000
If you had one, if you had to pick one country as the best overall golf destination right now, where is it and what gives it to the edge?
00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:32.000
So probably quite boring for people that have listened to a lot of our content.
00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:39.440
I am obviously the biggest fan of South Africa, and I think it is the ultimate golf destination.
00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:46.559
Much to the to what I just said on the question before, I think you can build an unforgettable experience.
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.639
It's not just a good golf trip.
00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.799
And why why do I think that?
00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.159
Multiple elements.
00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.960
So I'm I'm speaking as someone who's in the northern hemisphere.
00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:58.159
So you can be you can be US, you can be Europe, wherever.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:06.799
It is absolutely miserable from middle of December through till the end of February.
00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:16.720
Like those months are no fun whatsoever if you're in the UK, if you're in northeast states, where it just like no one no one's having a good time.
00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.679
And I feel like I'm preaching to the converted there.
00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:24.080
What is better than getting some proper winter sun?
00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:29.759
Now, you could go to Australia, but Australia is a real pigs here to get to.
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:39.600
South Africa, if you're in Europe, is an overnight flight, normally direct, depending on where you are, straight down to Cape Town, if not into Joburg, quick connector.
00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:50.720
And it's Africa, and it's the middle of their summer, and that heat just hits you, and it's not humid heat like you would get in Asia, it's just a nice, dry, crisp heat.
00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:53.279
So you get winter sun, number one.
00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.120
Number two, the currency is so weak.
00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.320
I've banged this drum fore and ever and ever.
00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.160
The South African Rand is weak as you like.
00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:12.079
And so as a result, if you are a euro earner, if you're a dollar earner, if you're a pound earner, you're gonna go down there.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:20.160
And my general rule to everyone is you've got to consider things to be about a third of the price if you want to gauge of like, is this a good deal or not?
00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:24.079
A beer in London is six pounds, a beer in South Africa is two pounds.
00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.799
That's that's just how it works.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:36.000
So, regard regardless of your spending power, you're gonna go down there with some or an elevated version of what you currently have.
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.880
The golf is very, very good.
00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:49.440
I wouldn't say it's on golf alone a top, top, top destination, but the golf is very good, and I think it is highly underrated.
00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:52.480
And I will say this again and again and again and again.
00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:58.000
Fancourt is one of the most underrated places for golf in the world.
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.799
It is such a good setup.
00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:07.119
They now have three and a half golf courses, so they have their LinkedIn, which is their private members' club.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.240
Unbelievable track, hosted the President's Cup in 2003.
00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.839
I think it should be in the world top 100.
00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.599
It's my favourite golf course in the world.
00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.839
So that's their marquee track.
00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:20.960
Then they've got Montague, Otoniqua, both brilliant golf courses.
00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:25.920
Montague is actually one of the best resort-style golf courses I've ever played.
00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.680
Like it is, it is a seriously good test.
00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:34.559
And then Otiniqua's really fun, and as the third 18, very, very, very respectable.
00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:45.680
And then they've just built another nine-hole, the Lynx Experience, which uh looks looks very good, and it would be the perfect arrival, nine holes in the afternoon kind of kind of place.
00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:50.720
Hotel was proper five-star, multiple restaurants on site.
00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:56.960
You build your trip around Fancourt, and like I can't, I can't begin to stress that enough.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:04.240
We've just we just had guys come back from there in April, uh, beginning of April, and they were just like, What even is this place?
00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.519
And I was like, I know.
00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:10.000
I've been trying to tell everyone, Fancourt is where it is at.
00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:20.799
So the golf's good, but then what you've got is you've just got so much good stuff to do off the golf course, and you can just blend it all together so seamlessly.
00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:42.480
They they do do hospitality really well there, they're very kind people, very engaging people, and so you go see the penguins down at Boulders Beach, you hire a Cobra and drive around Cape Point, you go quad biking up on Atlantis Dunes, you climb Table Mountain, you climb Lions Head, you go drinking um wine up in Stellenbosch and Franchett.
00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:46.319
You've got the wine tram in Franchit, which takes you around for a full day.
00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:53.519
Amazing boutique hotels if if you like that higher-end um accommodation vibe.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.359
Then shark duck cage diving if you want to go do it.
00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.279
Then the food is sensational.
00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:03.839
The food scene in South Africa is unbelievable.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.279
And as I said, the currency's weak.
00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.000
So you can go and eat at all these fantastic restaurants.
00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:23.119
It's the best steak restaurants I've ever been to in my life down in South Africa, and you can get whatever you want, and it's just never gonna be in the hundreds of pounds range which you would expect if you went to a posh steak joint in um in London.
00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:27.680
So all around, you you just you just get so much.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:41.440
There's beaches, there's mountains, there's great golf, there's great food, the value's good, off-course activities are all there, and so you can build yourself an unbelievable, I would say minimum seven-day, easily could be two-week trip.
00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.400
And I haven't even mentioned going doing safari and places like that.
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:56.480
And so I just I just think value for money, time of year, all the rest of it, best overall golf destination is South Africa, and I'm gonna take a lot of moving off that one.
00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:02.240
All right, question six Who are your picks for the remaining majors this year?
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.079
And is there a dark horse you'd actually put money behind?
00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.559
So, Rory's won the Masters.
00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:17.119
I don't necessarily have like a burning pick for the PGA.
00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:27.039
Someone who I think has been playing very well and is probably due to re-enter the major sphere again is Colin Murakawa.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.799
He's been playing some really good golf.
00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:36.000
Now I know he's had a bad back um and he was struggling to finish out of the masters, even though he did finish very well.
00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:42.799
If he can get healthy, I think the the PGA is the kind of thing that he would do well in.
00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.920
Then US Open Shinnekok.
00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.000
Excuse me.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:56.240
I US Open at Shinnnecock, I'm actually going on the Friday, which I cannot wait for.
00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.359
Like, am I ever gonna set foot on Shinnekok any other way?
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.839
I mean, I hope so, but potentially unlikely.
00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:07.359
So to actually be able to go there and and walk the ground.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.880
And do you know what?
00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.400
I'm going by myself.
00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.759
And I and I feel really comfortable admitting that to the listeners.
00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.440
And I cannot wait.
00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:23.039
I cannot wait to not have to worry about every time I've gone to the opens in the UK before, I've always gone with someone else.
00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:26.240
And I've always felt like I've had to like drag them around a little bit.
00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.440
Like I like to be on the move.
00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.480
I'm quite chaotic.
00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:31.519
I just see opportunities and I want to take a dive at them.
00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.359
And I've always been slightly conscious of the fact I'm dragging.
00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.799
Whereas US Open by myself, it's going to be my first day in America.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.799
So I'm going to be jet lagged as you like.
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:43.440
So I'm hoping I'm going to wake up at four in the morning.
00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.920
I'm going to be the first person in that park and ride.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.200
I'm going to be the first person through the rope.
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:55.920
I'm going to park myself on the first tea box and watch the first people on the Friday round tee off.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:04.160
And then I'm going to spend all day darting around a top five, I think top five golf course in the world.
00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.599
I'm going to go myself into the into the merch tent.
00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:18.319
And I really like what the US Open do because they they obviously incorporate the club logo into a US Open logo, which why the Open don't do that, I do not know.
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:23.119
Like I think it's genuinely one of the greatest misses in in merchandise history.
00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:27.039
So I'm going to I'm going to tuck into some US Open Shinnicot kit.
00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:34.799
And then those who watch the YouTube version of this will see I've got the posters and know I've got the posters behind me.
00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:38.960
These are all the official major posters done by Lee Wabransky.
00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:49.680
And I'm going to go track down Lee and I'm going to buy his Shinnicot poster, gonna have a chat with him, gonna get him to sign it, and then hopefully in a couple of months' time, it'll appear on the wall behind me.
00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.240
So so yeah, bit of a segue there.
00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:55.599
But really, really looking forward to going to Shinnicot, as you can hear.
00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.079
Who do I think is gonna win at Shinnicok?
00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:02.960
I think Scotty Sheffler's gonna win, and I think he's gonna do the Grand Slam.
00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.000
And if he doesn't, I do genuinely believe it's a matter of time before Scottie Scheffler wins the US Open.
00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:16.559
I think of all of the majors, I would suggest that that's the one I think he probably would have the best chance in if he'd never won anything.
00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:28.000
So I think he's gonna do it, which is conceptually quite interesting because McElroy had this 17-year wait or whatever it was, and it just built and built and built and built and built.
00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:40.079
And part of me is like it would be good if something similar built for Scotty and then he eventually did it because if he just does it, that's everyone's gonna be like, okay, yeah, right.
00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.240
You know, on to the next.
00:24:42.960 --> 00:25:03.599
But like if Scotty does it literally a year after McElroy and significantly quicker than McElroy, it might just dampen the the flames of the McElroy chat that we've just had to endure for the best part of 13 months now, which I know Josh will be delighted with.
00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:07.680
And so, do I want Scotty to win it at Shinnakock?
00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.039
I'm not 100% sure.
00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:12.240
Part of me, yes, because we just get over the McElroy chat then.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:28.559
Part of me, no, because it would be good for at least a little bit of suspense to build, but it ultimately I think he's just gonna do it at some point, and and I and I think Shinnekock would be a good one, and then the open at Burkdale.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.920
Everyone's been saying, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy.
00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:37.200
Obviously, it'd be unbelievable if Tommy Fleetwood won the open at Burkdale.
00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:46.720
However, I think the winner of the Open Championship in 2026 is gonna be Justin Rose.
00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:50.000
And I tell you why, and I tell you why it's a great story.
00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.680
Is he gonna become a masters champion?
00:25:53.920 --> 00:26:01.359
That's obviously the one everyone's hoping that he gets done, and you know, masters champion, US Open Champion, two-time major winner, all these close calls.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.160
I get it.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:12.559
But let us not forget what was the open championship for a teenage Justin Rose who finished fourth, I think it was.
00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.279
Where was that?
00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.599
That was at Royal Burkdale.
00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:30.240
Wouldn't it be a beautiful story if Justin Rose in the twilight of his career wins his second major wins his home major to become a two-time major champion?
00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:34.799
His game's there, and that's what I think is gonna happen.
00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:38.880
I think Tommy Fleetwood's gonna have just a bit too much going on that week.
00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:48.240
Obviously, it'd be a great story, but is Tommy Fleetwood's breakthrough really gonna be in Shane Lowry style at home open?
00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.200
I don't think so.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.599
All right, question eight.
00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:57.200
Which course would you add to the open rotor?
00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:05.839
And what no, sorry, which which course would you remove from the open rotor and what would you replace it with?
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:14.799
So the rotor question's always a bit bigger than just like, oh, what course is the worst, and what great course could you add?
00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:21.680
There's obviously a huge infrastructure question that surrounds these tournaments.
00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:29.920
And so, like, I don't know, Presswick couldn't host an open anymore, even though it's got the historic ties back to the first one ever.
00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:39.119
The obvious answer to me on at a surface level looking in would be Hoy Lake, get rid of it.
00:27:39.279 --> 00:28:24.160
I just don't think the course is really in the same conversation as a lot of the other open rotor courses, and then I would put Turnbury back on it because the Ailsa is without a doubt one of the most sensational golf courses in the world, and I played it in real feel minus three, raining sideways, just god-awful weather, and I still, through the letterbox between my snood and my woolly hat, managed to appreciate the fact that that may be the greatest set of 18 holes I've ever had the chance to try and maneuver a white ball around.
00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:37.200
The Tom Watson attempts to win in in 09, iconic, the duel in the sun, iconic, Stenson winning against Mickelson, iconic, like we we've got to get the open back to Turnbury.
00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:41.839
Um, this chat about going to Port Marnock and places like that, like what are we even talking about?
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:51.680
I suppose if if it wasn't to go to Turnbury, I I am very pro getting golf tournaments to the great golf courses of the world.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:29:01.359
Like no one needs to no one needs to see great tournaments, like I don't know, the PJ Championship goes to P T PC, who cares?
00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.839
Like, let's let's get in the world top 100.
00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:08.400
So I don't know if if Royal County Down could do a open.
00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:19.519
I know it has done DP World Tour events, so uh yeah, I think that would be very cool if if RCD had also hosted the open, much like Port Rush has done now a couple of times.
00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:23.200
Second part to that question.
00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:34.240
What what are the most iconic courses on the open and US open rotors outside of Pebble Beach and St Andrews?
00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:39.680
Yeah, so they're obviously the two standout.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.000
I think they're the ones that everyone wants to win.
00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:51.599
I think St Andrews probably is elevated slightly further ahead of the pack than um Pebble would be, I guess.
00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.920
I think St Andrews has the open every five years.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:57.200
I'm not sure if Pebble is on a rotation that quickly.
00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.960
I might be wrong though, not sure.
00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:02.799
What is what are the what are the next most iconic courses?
00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:13.680
It certainly would be Turnbury in my mind if it was if it was open road stuff, but uh god, don't know, really difficult.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.160
Really, really difficult.
00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.960
So what have you got?
00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:23.599
Muirfield, Muirfield St Andrews, Carnoostie, Turnbury's not on it, Royal St.
00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:30.079
George's I don't know.
00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:32.079
I'm gonna sit on the fence.
00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:37.440
I'm gonna say let's get Turnbury back on the rotor, and then that'll be the the second most iconic.
00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:42.000
Then next most iconic from Pebble.
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:54.960
Right, I'm gonna actually have to US Open Rotor Courses Future Sites.
00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.480
Let's have a look.
00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:06.160
Okay, so the next so the next load are Shinnecock, Pebble, Wingfoot, Pinehurst, Merion, Riviera.
00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:14.880
Oh god, there's a lot of Oakmont, Oakland Hills, Limey.
00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.839
It's a good question.
00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.839
I don't because I don't because I don't think there's a particularly good answer.
00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:29.680
I would say after Pebble, to me, Pinehurst feels like the most iconic.
00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:34.240
But if someone came to me and was just like, I think Riv's had the PGA championship.
00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.720
I I don't like it when it's a PGA and US Open.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:39.599
I think they should be two separate lists, that's my opinion.
00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:43.680
Marion, very cool with the baskets, probably not the most iconic.
00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.440
Wingfoot, I do like Wingfoot.
00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.480
Shinnicok.
00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:53.279
Yeah, I do know what I'm just having a full, full fence sit with that one.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:57.279
I don't know, but there are lots of iconic courses, which is good, I suppose.
00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:00.640
And um, and I'm looking forward to going to Shinnicok this year.
00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:04.160
Maybe after that I'll be able to answer it because maybe I'll fall in love.
00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.680
Who knows?
00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:08.240
Alright, last couple of questions.
00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:17.599
Question nine What does the perfect lads golf trip look like when the off course is just as important as the golf?
00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.359
Okay.
00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:33.279
So I think it's important to stay to be near big cities or or certainly be coastal, have have a good time places.
00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:39.839
So three places immediately spring to mind Dublin.
00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:43.599
If you want a Lynx golf situation, we did it a couple of years ago.
00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:53.680
I think you know, East Lothian, you're outside Edinburgh, West Scotland stuff, you're you're nowhere near anything, West Island stuff, you're nowhere near anything.
00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:58.079
Surrey, London stuff, I feel like be expensive for lads' trips.
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.160
Go to Dublin, stay in Dublin.
00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:04.240
I think your golf options are plenty good enough, and you've got good variation.
00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:10.240
So obviously you've got Port Marnock, which is right up right up there in terms of price and standard.
00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:18.319
But the island, um Britas Bay, once it reopens, the old European club, really, really good golf course.
00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.279
I think Royal Dublin, fun track.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:23.759
You've got other other courses not knocking about in there.
00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.519
You could go out to K Club as well.
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.200
Look, there's there's lots of different options.
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:34.319
I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention a few uh right now, but they they're they're all dotted around the city of Dublin.
00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:37.599
And if you haven't been to Dublin before, Dublin is a great time.
00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:43.119
Like a really, really buzzy, vibing city, not huge.
00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:59.039
And so if you place yourself in the centre of Dublin in the right spot, you can get yourself lost in bars, restaurants, pubs, many pints of Guinness, like Dublin is a is a riot of a time um and and has a reputation, rightly so, as far as I'm concerned.
00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:07.839
And then, as I said, you've got golf courses to the south, to the west, to the to the north, and then down the actual east coast in in the city as well.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:16.960
So I think Dublin is is is the definitely the best lads lynx golf trip if you're wanting to get stuck in in the evening.
00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:34.800
Other than that, it would be the obvious go down to southern Spain, park yourself in Port of Banus, enjoy all the sights and sounds down there, and then the golf, plenty of, I mean, a plethora of golfing options down there.
00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:46.480
Everything from Valderama, which is top 100 and are going to cost you an arm and a leg, you might have to sell your kidney along the way, uh, Finca, but then just loads of mid-tier stuff as well.
00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:50.639
So you can really make that as expensive or as cheap as you want to.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:35:04.639
And then one location that I think's light may have dimmed over the last couple of years, with various people complaining about it getting quite very expensive, and the quality of the golf maybe not being as good as it used to be, and the rounds taking a very long time.
00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:21.360
But the Algarve still is a really, really straightforward, good fun golf trip where again, plenty of options, guaranteed sun, and then you go get stuck into Maria's BJs, wherever, and you'll have a great, great trip.
00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:25.360
So I think those three are the ones that immediately spring to mind.
00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.480
Uh just depends what you want.
00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:28.400
If it's Lynx Golf, go over to Dublin.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.960
If not, get yourself down to Portugal or Spain.
00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.559
Okay, question 10.
00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:38.960
If a client said, money no object, but I want something different, what's the most creative golf trip you'd design?
00:35:42.320 --> 00:36:04.880
So I think two pulls of thought, and there's one the one that I'm not that well versed on, but I know some groups that are money no object, and they went and played golf up in they have played golf in places like Iceland, where you can go and play golf in volcanoes and all this, that, and the other.
00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:16.159
I did hear feedback that maybe the golf wasn't quite on merit comparatively to other money no object places that you might go and play.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:23.039
But if you were looking for adventure, Loften links in Norway or going to Iceland, something like that, I just thought it would be quite good fun.
00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:30.000
But really, where my brain immediately goes when money's no object is I would go to Ireland and I would just do it properly.
00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:41.679
Now, the biggest problem with Ireland comparatively to Scotland is the courses are quite spread out, especially up the wild Atlantic way, um, then going up into Northern Ireland, I suppose.
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:46.480
Like you've got Port Rush and RCD just completely the other ends of the country.
00:36:46.800 --> 00:37:06.000
So if you went in there and money was no object, and you got yourself a helicopter for the week, and you are able to dart about between Royal County Down, Port Rush, Bally Bunyan, La Hinch, Old Head, et al.
00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:17.440
You know, add on whichever other ones take your fancy, then I I I can't that just must be unbelievable.
00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:28.800
Rolling out of, let's say, the the Trump Doombeg Hotel onto the helipad and just getting whizzed away to play elite level Lynx course X.
00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:44.000
Um, and so yeah, I think that would make it a bit of a different element, and that would be kind of just like all-time AAA bucket list whatever girl trip.
00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.880
So, yeah, I think I think that's what I'd do.
00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:48.639
All right, final one.
00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:52.719
What is currently top of your bucket list and why?
00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:59.840
So a place that has really crept up on me in the last year, I would say.
00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:08.480
Those those that know me, I'm I'm down, I'm down to South Africa every winter, and so that's my southern hemisphere play.
00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:11.599
And I've obviously harped on about how good I think that is.
00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:24.559
But as a result, I feel, especially from the UK, you find a lot of people either do go down to somewhere like South Africa or they go probably the more popular route, which is to Australia.
00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:30.480
I've never I just I just didn't have Australia that high on my to-do list.
00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:38.320
I was always like, there's just too many countries closer to me that I'd prefer to just tick off first because they're easier to get to.
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:51.280
However, as I've gone further and further down the rabbit hole, and I've had just a collection of really close friends go down there the last couple of years, I'm absolutely desperate to get out on that Melbourne sandbelt.
00:38:51.440 --> 00:39:04.480
I think I follow a guy called Gary Lisbon on socials, who's a photographer who's a member of Royal Melbourne, I believe, and has photographed all of the iconic courses down there.
00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:15.280
And if you're really into your golf travel and you fancy wasting an hour at work, go on his website and have a flick through the photos of the different golf courses down there.
00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:21.920
They just all look I I love that sand aesthetic type of golf course.
00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:31.280
And I think to name a few, Royal Melbourne, uh, both east and west, they obviously do the composite for their professional events.
00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:39.440
Kingston Heath, Metropolitan, Victoria, then New South Wales down the coast.
00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:47.920
They just look out of this world goods, and I've had multiple people tell me that that's exactly what they are.
00:39:48.239 --> 00:40:01.280
And then what's got me interested kind of beyond that is Sydney, I think, would be your your cool the better hangout city, from my understanding, and so you'd probably bolt going to Sydney on there as well.
00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:12.960
Now, Royal Sydney have spent a phenomenal amount of money on their golf course, and uh you know, to the point where at the moment members are only allowed to play once a week as they try and let it bed in and stuff like that.
00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:40.079
And so, whilst Melbourne has historically had all of the best golf, and Sydney has been dwarfed by it in a golfing sense, Gary Lisbon went and took some photos of Royal Sydney, and let me tell you, Royal Sydney looks like a pretty serious track now as well, and then to add on top of all of that, you've got some of the all-time golf logos across these clubs.
00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:45.840
Royal Melbourne, unbelievable, Kingston Heath, unbelievable, Royal Sydney, unbelievable.
00:40:46.159 --> 00:41:07.840
So I think top of my bucket list at the minute is is definitely going down to Australia, playing the big boys in the Melbourne sandbelt, getting across to Sydney and hanging out there and playing a little bit of golf there as well, and just leaving in my wake a sea of destruction in pro shops all across Australia.
00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:12.079
So um, yeah, getting myself excited talking about it.
00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:14.719
Alright, that's it.
00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:16.559
Mailbag done.
00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:18.000
Hope you've enjoyed it.
00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:22.400
If if any questions, if you're listening, got any questions, please do fire us into a DM.
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:28.480
We'll look to do this uh every so often, however, however long it takes to collect a decent batch of questions together.
00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:38.000
We are full program golf as ever on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and we will see you in the next one.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.240
Welcome back, episode 32 of the full program golf podcast.
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:06.959
This week we're going to do a quick mailbag episode.
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.119
We've got a load of questions over the last couple of months.
00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:11.839
So I'm going to take the time and answer some of them.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.199
Let's get into it.
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:36.880
All right, so mailbag edition, as I said in the intro, we've kind of got questions over the last couple of months and weeks, and I thought I would pull a couple of these out and just run through them and give my take on each.
00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:41.280
Before I do, quick shout out to Matthew Fitzpatrick.
00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:45.840
Another win at Hilton Head, which I have to say, unbelievable looking course.
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:49.679
Haven't got out there myself and desperate to do so.
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:59.039
One there twice, which I think there was a comment that he made to his dad many years ago saying the course didn't suit him, whereas now I think he's uh quite the fan.
00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.119
I think he even said it was his favourite course.
00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.719
But um a birdie on the first extra hole against Sheffield.
00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:13.840
Sheffler, the season of second place is kind of what it's looking like at the moment, but I'm sure there are big things for him still this season.
00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:16.079
Uh, and we'll get onto that a little later.
00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:32.079
But you look at it now, Fitzpatrick, for a for a five foot ten buck 55 gentleman from Sheffield, he's building a decent little career, obviously, with the US Open as his kind of main win.
00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.359
But you look at the Ryder Cup performances have been very, very strong.
00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:38.159
And then two wins this season on the PJ Tour.
00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:41.359
You go a bit further back, he's a US AM champion as well.
00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:50.400
Um, yeah, he's he's slowly building one of the better, certainly English but European records of the last couple of decades.
00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.319
So shout out Fitzpatrick.
00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:58.400
It was also really good to see him come through against once again a very biased crowd.
00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:02.319
These USA chants are happening a bit too often for my liking.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:09.439
But um, obviously he fell short at the players against Cam Young, but he succeeded against Sheffield at Hilton Head.
00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.879
So very, very good win.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:15.120
Great to see him do well, as I said, with Josh's Sheffield ties.
00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:19.120
Uh, we are always a fan of Fitzpatrick doing well.
00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:23.599
So let's get into the mailbag.
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:38.000
So, question one if you could build the perfect four-day golf trip anywhere in the world for under£1,500 per person, what does the itinerary look like?
00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.120
And where do you refuse to compromise?
00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:50.080
I mean, I don't want to compromise anywhere, it's probably the starting point, and I don't think you necessarily have to for 1500 quid.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:56.479
So, first angle, I I think there's there's really three levels to trips.
00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:14.560
There is your bucket list, tick every box you need to, go and do it once, go and do it properly, kind of trip, which your budget is probably higher than 1500 for in most locations, and you're probably gonna dedicate a week to go and do it.
00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.319
So that's kind of tier one.
00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:28.319
I would then say a four-day 1500 pound trip is probably in tier two, like you can go and do a very solid golf trip for 1500 quid, as long as you're keeping it relatively close to home.
00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.240
And I think that's the point I want to make with that.
00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:36.080
If it's a four-day trip, travel has to be considered, and I think you need to keep it close to home.
00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:50.639
So I will answer that as if we're coming from the UK when we actually get to it, and then but just to kind of conclude the tiers, I think there's a third tier, which would be your long weekend, two, three days, and you're probably looking under a thousand pounds.
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:57.759
So, anyway, to answer the question, four day 1500 pounds, I think you're in that tier two, and as I said, I think it's really important to keep it close to home.
00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:06.400
And so, if we're talking uh as I would from being based in the UK, I'm looking UK, Ireland, or Europe.
00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:12.400
For me, at that price, I'd probably go to East Lothian.
00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:17.759
Because the reality of it is, is you haven't got that long, you don't want to spend your time travelling all around.
00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:32.480
And so with East Lothian, you can get yourself into Edinburgh by train, super easy trains from London, you can fly in, even if you're coming across from the east coast of America, like you probably just about get away with a four-day trip, maybe five-day trip.
00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:39.519
Again, lots of direct flights into Edinburgh, and then everything you need is just out there and it's easy.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:44.720
And so, what I'd look to do, four days, you want to play four times.
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.519
I would pick your big boy course.
00:04:47.600 --> 00:05:16.399
Now, I think at 1500 quid you're probably gonna rule out going to Muirfield, but if you picked either North Berwick or Gullum One as your centrepiece to build the trip around, and then just to throw names out there, you you've got then Dunbar, you've got Archerfield, um you have got and then Kilspindy, the Glen, Craigelaw are probably your cheaper ones.
00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.279
So you you've almost got you can divide the courses up out there.
00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.920
I'm I'm sure I'm missing many off the top of my head right now.
00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:38.800
But you go one big boy course, Gullen or or North Berwick, then go for a second round, second or third round at your Dunbars, your Archerfields, and then I think just to pad it out, you go for your best value rounds, which you shouldn't turn your nose up at.
00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:42.079
They're really, really good, fun links tracks.
00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:46.959
But Kill Spindy and the Glen are both around£100-ish green fee.
00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.240
And so you can kind of slot that in there, and that will keep you on budget.
00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.399
For accommodation, the LED is super easy, um, decent pricing.
00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.759
Get yourself in some twin rooms, and I'm sure you'll be able to keep the budget there.
00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.720
I think the Archfield Lodge is also really, really good shout.
00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.800
They're not that much more expensive than the LED.
00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:11.839
And so, either of those, as long as you're happy to twin up and then four rounds of golf, it should keep you around the£1,500 mark.
00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.040
And I think if you're wanting something easy but very good quality, I don't think you can go wrong with that trip.
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:29.439
Question number two Which destination is overhyped right now in golf travel and which underrated spot should replace it?
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.639
What is overhyped right now?
00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:48.879
The only place that immediately springs to mind I wouldn't go as far as saying it's overhyped, but I would say it's overrated.
00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:53.199
And that is the stuff in Bulgaria.
00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:10.240
We went down and and played Thracian Cliffs, Black Sea Rama, Lighthouse, and Thracian Cliffs, you know, you look at the photos and and I can understand why you'd get excited about it, like it looks absolutely epic.
00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:25.839
But it it's not as good a golf course as it is view, and so yes, there are some iconic holes, but I think it's it's brutally difficult, brutally difficult.
00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:32.480
And we went out with a group of decent golfers, and it's just a case of like I could compare it to something like Pinnacle Point down in South Africa.
00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:42.240
Pinnacle Point down in South Africa is spectacular, and you've got a chance to get your ball round that golf course, like there is enough room to miss.
00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:57.839
Um, whereas with Thracian cliffs, it felt like fairway, a slither of painfully deep shrub or gorse or whatever it was, and then just like gone off a cliff.
00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:08.800
And so you just have to, and no wonder McDowell won when um the match play was there in 2013, I think it was, because he's short and he drives it straight, and and that is just what that course needed.
00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:11.279
So I'm glad I went and played it.
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.480
I'm glad I went and ticked it off.
00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:21.920
We actually played it twice on the trip, and I kind of didn't need the second time because I just knew what what we're in for, and it was just an absolute nightmare.
00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:39.120
So uh a couple of car crashes from virtually everyone around that golf course, and then the the reality is is Black Sea Rama and and Lighthouse are munis at best, like they're not they're nothing to report home about at all, unfortunately.
00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:55.360
And so I do think whilst it's not in the echelons of a Spain and a Portugal, like I do think there is a bit of chatter around Bulgaria, and I just don't think it's warranted, and then just to kind of conclude on that, I think the off course isn't there at all.
00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:03.519
And so if you're a younger group and you're looking for stuff to happen, you're out in these resorts in the middle of nowhere, and there's really not much going on at all.
00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:10.720
Thracian cliffs, whilst you can make an argument for the standard of its golf course, it's then got no clubhouse once you finish.
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:19.039
And so you have this experience and you want to sit down and have a drink and and talk it over, and you're you're not really given a facility to do that in.
00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:25.600
So, not the biggest fan of the Bulgaria setup, certainly not something I'm rushing back to do.
00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:32.639
Underrated spot, God, it's hard to give something that's comparable to that.
00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:35.919
Where would I say an underrated spot is?
00:09:36.080 --> 00:10:09.360
To be honest, I know this is not really like for like, but I think there are parts of England that are overlooked all of the time for golf getaways, and so I would suggest that going down to the southwest of England and playing either St Enadoc and the surrounding courses there or Saunton down in Devon, really, really, really good golf courses that you can actually play at a very reasonable rate, and I just think that's something that's not necessarily on a lot of people's radar, and uh is a really, really good trip.
00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:10.159
So there you go.
00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.159
All right, question three.
00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:19.440
You've got one round of golf at a course to impress a seriously good golfer.
00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.120
Are you picking a marquee name or a hidden gem?
00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.159
And why?
00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:31.360
So I think if you're looking to impress someone, you've obviously got to take them somewhere that you've never been before.
00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:40.480
Now, I think as long as you're going to somewhere they've never been before, you're gonna get that wow factor, regardless if it's a marquee name or a hidden gem.
00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:47.279
And so I think it's more impressive to take them to a marquee name, I think, to be really straightforward.
00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:55.759
So then they're marquee names for a reason, and that's normally because they're very good golf courses or good facilities or whatever it might be.
00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:05.440
So yeah, I get the question, but I think yeah, the pretty obvious answer is you just take them to the biggest marquee name that they've not been to, and that'll probably impress them the most.
00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.000
All right, question four.
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.159
What separates a good golf trip from an unforgettable one?
00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.320
And what's the biggest mistake people make when planning?
00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.879
So I think the mistake bit is easy.
00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:38.799
I think the biggest mistake people make when planning golf trips at the moment, and we see it all the time, is they just don't consider or can't fathom how far in advance you need to book things to get trips to play out exactly how you want them to.
00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:57.039
And so I bang this drum, and to our better customers that we're in conversation with a lot, if they've got an idea and they want to go tick off one of these top-tier bucketless golf trips, we need to be thinking about it at least 12 months in advance.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:02.720
Ideally, before that, and then we can be finger on the pulse of when um tea times are released and stuff like that.
00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.840
And so I'll give you an example.
00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:11.679
We've got guys that are going to do Scotland and they wanted to do Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullen, and Kings Barnes.
00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:21.200
Now, we we booked that on the day that the Muirfield Tea Times came out, which is best part of 14 months in advance.
00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.559
And if if you just want to do it right, that is what you've got to do.
00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:34.080
And the amount of people that will come to us in late December and go, Oh, I want to go to Scotland in the middle of the summer, what can you do?
00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:39.120
And you're like, uh, we can do it, but you're gonna miss this, or you're not gonna be able to quite work that.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.879
And then this tea time's gonna be at 2:30, and they're like, Oh, can I play at 11?
00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:46.080
It's just like no, like, unfortunately, not like that.
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:58.480
They are long gone at the mid-summer tea times up in Scotland and and over in Ireland and places like that, the mid-morning, mid-summer tea times are like gold dust.
00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:03.840
So I think that's that's the main thing I'd call out here is if you want to do something in particular.
00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.720
Look, if you're flexible, then that's fine.
00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.679
You can roll the dice and just see what comes out, and I'm sure you'll have a great time anyway.
00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:18.080
But if you very specifically want to do something, one year in advance is the way to go about it.
00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:21.200
What separates a good trip from an unforgettable one?
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:29.360
Um in my opinion, it'd be it'd be what what what's built in around it.
00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:40.399
So you've got you've got meat and potatoes of any trip, which is where are you playing, where are you staying, and I suppose how are you getting around.
00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:46.000
They're all important and they are they need to be they need to be covered off.
00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:52.720
But I think most people, if they know what they're doing, or if you go to tour op, like you're obviously going to cover those, no problem at all.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:09.039
I think the part that makes stuff unforgettable is when you book them that restaurant on the correct day in the evening, or you tell them play golf at this time, because then you'll be finished, because then you can go and have a late lunch here.
00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.799
Day off from golf, what's the best what's the best thing to go and do?
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:21.759
And and so I can think of various locations where you you build in and it becomes it becomes a holiday rather than just a golf trip.
00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.840
And you see the place, you get the culture, you you get the feel of the whole environment.
00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:34.320
But do you think sometimes, especially if it's a super, super heavy trip golf wise, you can be very much like hotel course, hotel course, hotel course?
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:43.039
Whereas I think there are multiple destinations out there that just have so much to do away from just like resort life or whatever it might be.
00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:59.200
And I think when you blend that all together and someone comes back from that country and they're like, I played golf, I've seen the best courses, but I've also seen the country, as I said, experienced the culture, met the people, and kind of got a feel for it that way.
00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:04.399
I think when you blend that all together, I think that comes, you come back and you're like, that's unforgettable.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.039
So yeah, I just think it's it's it's full package and and just packing it all in.
00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.480
All right.
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.679
Okay, this is kind of a follow-up on that.
00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.919
This is a good next question.
00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:26.000
If you had one, if you had to pick one country as the best overall golf destination right now, where is it and what gives it to the edge?
00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:32.000
So probably quite boring for people that have listened to a lot of our content.
00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:39.440
I am obviously the biggest fan of South Africa, and I think it is the ultimate golf destination.
00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:46.559
Much to the to what I just said on the question before, I think you can build an unforgettable experience.
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.639
It's not just a good golf trip.
00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.799
And why why do I think that?
00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.159
Multiple elements.
00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.960
So I'm I'm speaking as someone who's in the northern hemisphere.
00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:58.159
So you can be you can be US, you can be Europe, wherever.
00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:06.799
It is absolutely miserable from middle of December through till the end of February.
00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:16.720
Like those months are no fun whatsoever if you're in the UK, if you're in northeast states, where it just like no one no one's having a good time.
00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.679
And I feel like I'm preaching to the converted there.
00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:24.080
What is better than getting some proper winter sun?
00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:29.759
Now, you could go to Australia, but Australia is a real pigs here to get to.
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:39.600
South Africa, if you're in Europe, is an overnight flight, normally direct, depending on where you are, straight down to Cape Town, if not into Joburg, quick connector.
00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:50.720
And it's Africa, and it's the middle of their summer, and that heat just hits you, and it's not humid heat like you would get in Asia, it's just a nice, dry, crisp heat.
00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:53.279
So you get winter sun, number one.
00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.120
Number two, the currency is so weak.
00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.320
I've banged this drum fore and ever and ever.
00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.160
The South African Rand is weak as you like.
00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:12.079
And so as a result, if you are a euro earner, if you're a dollar earner, if you're a pound earner, you're gonna go down there.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:20.160
And my general rule to everyone is you've got to consider things to be about a third of the price if you want to gauge of like, is this a good deal or not?
00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:24.079
A beer in London is six pounds, a beer in South Africa is two pounds.
00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.799
That's that's just how it works.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:36.000
So, regard regardless of your spending power, you're gonna go down there with some or an elevated version of what you currently have.
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.880
The golf is very, very good.
00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:49.440
I wouldn't say it's on golf alone a top, top, top destination, but the golf is very good, and I think it is highly underrated.
00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:52.480
And I will say this again and again and again and again.
00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:58.000
Fancourt is one of the most underrated places for golf in the world.
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.799
It is such a good setup.
00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:07.119
They now have three and a half golf courses, so they have their LinkedIn, which is their private members' club.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.240
Unbelievable track, hosted the President's Cup in 2003.
00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.839
I think it should be in the world top 100.
00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.599
It's my favourite golf course in the world.
00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.839
So that's their marquee track.
00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:20.960
Then they've got Montague, Otoniqua, both brilliant golf courses.
00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:25.920
Montague is actually one of the best resort-style golf courses I've ever played.
00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.680
Like it is, it is a seriously good test.
00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:34.559
And then Otiniqua's really fun, and as the third 18, very, very, very respectable.
00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:45.680
And then they've just built another nine-hole, the Lynx Experience, which uh looks looks very good, and it would be the perfect arrival, nine holes in the afternoon kind of kind of place.
00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:50.720
Hotel was proper five-star, multiple restaurants on site.
00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:56.960
You build your trip around Fancourt, and like I can't, I can't begin to stress that enough.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:04.240
We've just we just had guys come back from there in April, uh, beginning of April, and they were just like, What even is this place?
00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.519
And I was like, I know.
00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:10.000
I've been trying to tell everyone, Fancourt is where it is at.
00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:20.799
So the golf's good, but then what you've got is you've just got so much good stuff to do off the golf course, and you can just blend it all together so seamlessly.
00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:42.480
They they do do hospitality really well there, they're very kind people, very engaging people, and so you go see the penguins down at Boulders Beach, you hire a Cobra and drive around Cape Point, you go quad biking up on Atlantis Dunes, you climb Table Mountain, you climb Lions Head, you go drinking um wine up in Stellenbosch and Franchett.
00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:46.319
You've got the wine tram in Franchit, which takes you around for a full day.
00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:53.519
Amazing boutique hotels if if you like that higher-end um accommodation vibe.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.359
Then shark duck cage diving if you want to go do it.
00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.279
Then the food is sensational.
00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:03.839
The food scene in South Africa is unbelievable.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.279
And as I said, the currency's weak.
00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.000
So you can go and eat at all these fantastic restaurants.
00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:23.119
It's the best steak restaurants I've ever been to in my life down in South Africa, and you can get whatever you want, and it's just never gonna be in the hundreds of pounds range which you would expect if you went to a posh steak joint in um in London.
00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:27.680
So all around, you you just you just get so much.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:41.440
There's beaches, there's mountains, there's great golf, there's great food, the value's good, off-course activities are all there, and so you can build yourself an unbelievable, I would say minimum seven-day, easily could be two-week trip.
00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.400
And I haven't even mentioned going doing safari and places like that.
00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:56.480
And so I just I just think value for money, time of year, all the rest of it, best overall golf destination is South Africa, and I'm gonna take a lot of moving off that one.
00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:02.240
All right, question six Who are your picks for the remaining majors this year?
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.079
And is there a dark horse you'd actually put money behind?
00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.559
So, Rory's won the Masters.
00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:17.119
I don't necessarily have like a burning pick for the PGA.
00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:27.039
Someone who I think has been playing very well and is probably due to re-enter the major sphere again is Colin Murakawa.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.799
He's been playing some really good golf.
00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:36.000
Now I know he's had a bad back um and he was struggling to finish out of the masters, even though he did finish very well.
00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:42.799
If he can get healthy, I think the the PGA is the kind of thing that he would do well in.
00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.920
Then US Open Shinnekok.
00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.000
Excuse me.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:56.240
I US Open at Shinnnecock, I'm actually going on the Friday, which I cannot wait for.
00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.359
Like, am I ever gonna set foot on Shinnekok any other way?
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.839
I mean, I hope so, but potentially unlikely.
00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:07.359
So to actually be able to go there and and walk the ground.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.880
And do you know what?
00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.400
I'm going by myself.
00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.759
And I and I feel really comfortable admitting that to the listeners.
00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.440
And I cannot wait.
00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:23.039
I cannot wait to not have to worry about every time I've gone to the opens in the UK before, I've always gone with someone else.
00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:26.240
And I've always felt like I've had to like drag them around a little bit.
00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.440
Like I like to be on the move.
00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.480
I'm quite chaotic.
00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:31.519
I just see opportunities and I want to take a dive at them.
00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.359
And I've always been slightly conscious of the fact I'm dragging.
00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.799
Whereas US Open by myself, it's going to be my first day in America.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.799
So I'm going to be jet lagged as you like.
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:43.440
So I'm hoping I'm going to wake up at four in the morning.
00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.920
I'm going to be the first person in that park and ride.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.200
I'm going to be the first person through the rope.
00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:55.920
I'm going to park myself on the first tea box and watch the first people on the Friday round tee off.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:04.160
And then I'm going to spend all day darting around a top five, I think top five golf course in the world.
00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.599
I'm going to go myself into the into the merch tent.
00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:18.319
And I really like what the US Open do because they they obviously incorporate the club logo into a US Open logo, which why the Open don't do that, I do not know.
00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:23.119
Like I think it's genuinely one of the greatest misses in in merchandise history.
00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:27.039
So I'm going to I'm going to tuck into some US Open Shinnicot kit.
00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:34.799
And then those who watch the YouTube version of this will see I've got the posters and know I've got the posters behind me.
00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:38.960
These are all the official major posters done by Lee Wabransky.
00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:49.680
And I'm going to go track down Lee and I'm going to buy his Shinnicot poster, gonna have a chat with him, gonna get him to sign it, and then hopefully in a couple of months' time, it'll appear on the wall behind me.
00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.240
So so yeah, bit of a segue there.
00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:55.599
But really, really looking forward to going to Shinnicot, as you can hear.
00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.079
Who do I think is gonna win at Shinnicok?
00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:02.960
I think Scotty Sheffler's gonna win, and I think he's gonna do the Grand Slam.
00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.000
And if he doesn't, I do genuinely believe it's a matter of time before Scottie Scheffler wins the US Open.
00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:16.559
I think of all of the majors, I would suggest that that's the one I think he probably would have the best chance in if he'd never won anything.
00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:28.000
So I think he's gonna do it, which is conceptually quite interesting because McElroy had this 17-year wait or whatever it was, and it just built and built and built and built and built.
00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:40.079
And part of me is like it would be good if something similar built for Scotty and then he eventually did it because if he just does it, that's everyone's gonna be like, okay, yeah, right.
00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.240
You know, on to the next.
00:24:42.960 --> 00:25:03.599
But like if Scotty does it literally a year after McElroy and significantly quicker than McElroy, it might just dampen the the flames of the McElroy chat that we've just had to endure for the best part of 13 months now, which I know Josh will be delighted with.
00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:07.680
And so, do I want Scotty to win it at Shinnakock?
00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.039
I'm not 100% sure.
00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:12.240
Part of me, yes, because we just get over the McElroy chat then.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:28.559
Part of me, no, because it would be good for at least a little bit of suspense to build, but it ultimately I think he's just gonna do it at some point, and and I and I think Shinnekock would be a good one, and then the open at Burkdale.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.920
Everyone's been saying, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy.
00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:37.200
Obviously, it'd be unbelievable if Tommy Fleetwood won the open at Burkdale.
00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:46.720
However, I think the winner of the Open Championship in 2026 is gonna be Justin Rose.
00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:50.000
And I tell you why, and I tell you why it's a great story.
00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.680
Is he gonna become a masters champion?
00:25:53.920 --> 00:26:01.359
That's obviously the one everyone's hoping that he gets done, and you know, masters champion, US Open Champion, two-time major winner, all these close calls.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.160
I get it.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:12.559
But let us not forget what was the open championship for a teenage Justin Rose who finished fourth, I think it was.
00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.279
Where was that?
00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.599
That was at Royal Burkdale.
00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:30.240
Wouldn't it be a beautiful story if Justin Rose in the twilight of his career wins his second major wins his home major to become a two-time major champion?
00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:34.799
His game's there, and that's what I think is gonna happen.
00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:38.880
I think Tommy Fleetwood's gonna have just a bit too much going on that week.
00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:48.240
Obviously, it'd be a great story, but is Tommy Fleetwood's breakthrough really gonna be in Shane Lowry style at home open?
00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.200
I don't think so.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.599
All right, question eight.
00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:57.200
Which course would you add to the open rotor?
00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:05.839
And what no, sorry, which which course would you remove from the open rotor and what would you replace it with?
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:14.799
So the rotor question's always a bit bigger than just like, oh, what course is the worst, and what great course could you add?
00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:21.680
There's obviously a huge infrastructure question that surrounds these tournaments.
00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:29.920
And so, like, I don't know, Presswick couldn't host an open anymore, even though it's got the historic ties back to the first one ever.
00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:39.119
The obvious answer to me on at a surface level looking in would be Hoy Lake, get rid of it.
00:27:39.279 --> 00:28:24.160
I just don't think the course is really in the same conversation as a lot of the other open rotor courses, and then I would put Turnbury back on it because the Ailsa is without a doubt one of the most sensational golf courses in the world, and I played it in real feel minus three, raining sideways, just god-awful weather, and I still, through the letterbox between my snood and my woolly hat, managed to appreciate the fact that that may be the greatest set of 18 holes I've ever had the chance to try and maneuver a white ball around.
00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:37.200
The Tom Watson attempts to win in in 09, iconic, the duel in the sun, iconic, Stenson winning against Mickelson, iconic, like we we've got to get the open back to Turnbury.
00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:41.839
Um, this chat about going to Port Marnock and places like that, like what are we even talking about?
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:51.680
I suppose if if it wasn't to go to Turnbury, I I am very pro getting golf tournaments to the great golf courses of the world.
00:28:51.920 --> 00:29:01.359
Like no one needs to no one needs to see great tournaments, like I don't know, the PJ Championship goes to P T PC, who cares?
00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.839
Like, let's let's get in the world top 100.
00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:08.400
So I don't know if if Royal County Down could do a open.
00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:19.519
I know it has done DP World Tour events, so uh yeah, I think that would be very cool if if RCD had also hosted the open, much like Port Rush has done now a couple of times.
00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:23.200
Second part to that question.
00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:34.240
What what are the most iconic courses on the open and US open rotors outside of Pebble Beach and St Andrews?
00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:39.680
Yeah, so they're obviously the two standout.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.000
I think they're the ones that everyone wants to win.
00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:51.599
I think St Andrews probably is elevated slightly further ahead of the pack than um Pebble would be, I guess.
00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.920
I think St Andrews has the open every five years.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:57.200
I'm not sure if Pebble is on a rotation that quickly.
00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.960
I might be wrong though, not sure.
00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:02.799
What is what are the what are the next most iconic courses?
00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:13.680
It certainly would be Turnbury in my mind if it was if it was open road stuff, but uh god, don't know, really difficult.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.160
Really, really difficult.
00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.960
So what have you got?
00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:23.599
Muirfield, Muirfield St Andrews, Carnoostie, Turnbury's not on it, Royal St.
00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:30.079
George's I don't know.
00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:32.079
I'm gonna sit on the fence.
00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:37.440
I'm gonna say let's get Turnbury back on the rotor, and then that'll be the the second most iconic.
00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:42.000
Then next most iconic from Pebble.
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:54.960
Right, I'm gonna actually have to US Open Rotor Courses Future Sites.
00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.480
Let's have a look.
00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:06.160
Okay, so the next so the next load are Shinnecock, Pebble, Wingfoot, Pinehurst, Merion, Riviera.
00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:14.880
Oh god, there's a lot of Oakmont, Oakland Hills, Limey.
00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.839
It's a good question.
00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.839
I don't because I don't because I don't think there's a particularly good answer.
00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:29.680
I would say after Pebble, to me, Pinehurst feels like the most iconic.
00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:34.240
But if someone came to me and was just like, I think Riv's had the PGA championship.
00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.720
I I don't like it when it's a PGA and US Open.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:39.599
I think they should be two separate lists, that's my opinion.
00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:43.680
Marion, very cool with the baskets, probably not the most iconic.
00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.440
Wingfoot, I do like Wingfoot.
00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.480
Shinnicok.
00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:53.279
Yeah, I do know what I'm just having a full, full fence sit with that one.
00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:57.279
I don't know, but there are lots of iconic courses, which is good, I suppose.
00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:00.640
And um, and I'm looking forward to going to Shinnicok this year.
00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:04.160
Maybe after that I'll be able to answer it because maybe I'll fall in love.
00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.680
Who knows?
00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:08.240
Alright, last couple of questions.
00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:17.599
Question nine What does the perfect lads golf trip look like when the off course is just as important as the golf?
00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.359
Okay.
00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:33.279
So I think it's important to stay to be near big cities or or certainly be coastal, have have a good time places.
00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:39.839
So three places immediately spring to mind Dublin.
00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:43.599
If you want a Lynx golf situation, we did it a couple of years ago.
00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:53.680
I think you know, East Lothian, you're outside Edinburgh, West Scotland stuff, you're you're nowhere near anything, West Island stuff, you're nowhere near anything.
00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:58.079
Surrey, London stuff, I feel like be expensive for lads' trips.
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.160
Go to Dublin, stay in Dublin.
00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:04.240
I think your golf options are plenty good enough, and you've got good variation.
00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:10.240
So obviously you've got Port Marnock, which is right up right up there in terms of price and standard.
00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:18.319
But the island, um Britas Bay, once it reopens, the old European club, really, really good golf course.
00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.279
I think Royal Dublin, fun track.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:23.759
You've got other other courses not knocking about in there.
00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.519
You could go out to K Club as well.
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.200
Look, there's there's lots of different options.
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:34.319
I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention a few uh right now, but they they're they're all dotted around the city of Dublin.
00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:37.599
And if you haven't been to Dublin before, Dublin is a great time.
00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:43.119
Like a really, really buzzy, vibing city, not huge.
00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:59.039
And so if you place yourself in the centre of Dublin in the right spot, you can get yourself lost in bars, restaurants, pubs, many pints of Guinness, like Dublin is a is a riot of a time um and and has a reputation, rightly so, as far as I'm concerned.
00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:07.839
And then, as I said, you've got golf courses to the south, to the west, to the to the north, and then down the actual east coast in in the city as well.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:16.960
So I think Dublin is is is the definitely the best lads lynx golf trip if you're wanting to get stuck in in the evening.
00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:34.800
Other than that, it would be the obvious go down to southern Spain, park yourself in Port of Banus, enjoy all the sights and sounds down there, and then the golf, plenty of, I mean, a plethora of golfing options down there.
00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:46.480
Everything from Valderama, which is top 100 and are going to cost you an arm and a leg, you might have to sell your kidney along the way, uh, Finca, but then just loads of mid-tier stuff as well.
00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:50.639
So you can really make that as expensive or as cheap as you want to.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:35:04.639
And then one location that I think's light may have dimmed over the last couple of years, with various people complaining about it getting quite very expensive, and the quality of the golf maybe not being as good as it used to be, and the rounds taking a very long time.
00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:21.360
But the Algarve still is a really, really straightforward, good fun golf trip where again, plenty of options, guaranteed sun, and then you go get stuck into Maria's BJs, wherever, and you'll have a great, great trip.
00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:25.360
So I think those three are the ones that immediately spring to mind.
00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.480
Uh just depends what you want.
00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:28.400
If it's Lynx Golf, go over to Dublin.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.960
If not, get yourself down to Portugal or Spain.
00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.559
Okay, question 10.
00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:38.960
If a client said, money no object, but I want something different, what's the most creative golf trip you'd design?
00:35:42.320 --> 00:36:04.880
So I think two pulls of thought, and there's one the one that I'm not that well versed on, but I know some groups that are money no object, and they went and played golf up in they have played golf in places like Iceland, where you can go and play golf in volcanoes and all this, that, and the other.
00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:16.159
I did hear feedback that maybe the golf wasn't quite on merit comparatively to other money no object places that you might go and play.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:23.039
But if you were looking for adventure, Loften links in Norway or going to Iceland, something like that, I just thought it would be quite good fun.
00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:30.000
But really, where my brain immediately goes when money's no object is I would go to Ireland and I would just do it properly.
00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:41.679
Now, the biggest problem with Ireland comparatively to Scotland is the courses are quite spread out, especially up the wild Atlantic way, um, then going up into Northern Ireland, I suppose.
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:46.480
Like you've got Port Rush and RCD just completely the other ends of the country.
00:36:46.800 --> 00:37:06.000
So if you went in there and money was no object, and you got yourself a helicopter for the week, and you are able to dart about between Royal County Down, Port Rush, Bally Bunyan, La Hinch, Old Head, et al.
00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:17.440
You know, add on whichever other ones take your fancy, then I I I can't that just must be unbelievable.
00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:28.800
Rolling out of, let's say, the the Trump Doombeg Hotel onto the helipad and just getting whizzed away to play elite level Lynx course X.
00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:44.000
Um, and so yeah, I think that would make it a bit of a different element, and that would be kind of just like all-time AAA bucket list whatever girl trip.
00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.880
So, yeah, I think I think that's what I'd do.
00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:48.639
All right, final one.
00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:52.719
What is currently top of your bucket list and why?
00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:59.840
So a place that has really crept up on me in the last year, I would say.
00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:08.480
Those those that know me, I'm I'm down, I'm down to South Africa every winter, and so that's my southern hemisphere play.
00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:11.599
And I've obviously harped on about how good I think that is.
00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:24.559
But as a result, I feel, especially from the UK, you find a lot of people either do go down to somewhere like South Africa or they go probably the more popular route, which is to Australia.
00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:30.480
I've never I just I just didn't have Australia that high on my to-do list.
00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:38.320
I was always like, there's just too many countries closer to me that I'd prefer to just tick off first because they're easier to get to.
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:51.280
However, as I've gone further and further down the rabbit hole, and I've had just a collection of really close friends go down there the last couple of years, I'm absolutely desperate to get out on that Melbourne sandbelt.
00:38:51.440 --> 00:39:04.480
I think I follow a guy called Gary Lisbon on socials, who's a photographer who's a member of Royal Melbourne, I believe, and has photographed all of the iconic courses down there.
00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:15.280
And if you're really into your golf travel and you fancy wasting an hour at work, go on his website and have a flick through the photos of the different golf courses down there.
00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:21.920
They just all look I I love that sand aesthetic type of golf course.
00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:31.280
And I think to name a few, Royal Melbourne, uh, both east and west, they obviously do the composite for their professional events.
00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:39.440
Kingston Heath, Metropolitan, Victoria, then New South Wales down the coast.
00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:47.920
They just look out of this world goods, and I've had multiple people tell me that that's exactly what they are.
00:39:48.239 --> 00:40:01.280
And then what's got me interested kind of beyond that is Sydney, I think, would be your your cool the better hangout city, from my understanding, and so you'd probably bolt going to Sydney on there as well.
00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:12.960
Now, Royal Sydney have spent a phenomenal amount of money on their golf course, and uh you know, to the point where at the moment members are only allowed to play once a week as they try and let it bed in and stuff like that.
00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:40.079
And so, whilst Melbourne has historically had all of the best golf, and Sydney has been dwarfed by it in a golfing sense, Gary Lisbon went and took some photos of Royal Sydney, and let me tell you, Royal Sydney looks like a pretty serious track now as well, and then to add on top of all of that, you've got some of the all-time golf logos across these clubs.
00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:45.840
Royal Melbourne, unbelievable, Kingston Heath, unbelievable, Royal Sydney, unbelievable.
00:40:46.159 --> 00:41:07.840
So I think top of my bucket list at the minute is is definitely going down to Australia, playing the big boys in the Melbourne sandbelt, getting across to Sydney and hanging out there and playing a little bit of golf there as well, and just leaving in my wake a sea of destruction in pro shops all across Australia.
00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:12.079
So um, yeah, getting myself excited talking about it.
00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:14.719
Alright, that's it.
00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:16.559
Mailbag done.
00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:18.000
Hope you've enjoyed it.
00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:22.400
If if any questions, if you're listening, got any questions, please do fire us into a DM.
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:28.480
We'll look to do this uh every so often, however, however long it takes to collect a decent batch of questions together.
00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:38.000
We are full program golf as ever on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and we will see you in the next one.
