The Thing About Golf Podcast

If you’re prone to the occasional temper tantrum after a three-putt and you’re looking for some perspective about golf, this is the episode for you. Michele Watts is a surprise world champion in more ways than one. She never expected to lose most of her sight at the age of 56 and she certainly never expected to go on and win the International Blind Golf Association World Championship three years later. Add a couple of Australian Opens and several state titles and the achievement seems more remarkable, even to her. Michele’s story is equal parts harrowing and uplifting and while golf is central to it, it’s a story about much more than golf. It’s a compelling conversation and once again bears testimony to the belief that golf is the greatest game of them all. If you or someone you know is interested in blind golf, either as player or caddie, head to the Blind Golf Australia website (https://blindgolf.com.au/) for more information.

Some golf stories are just part of a much bigger and more important life story and on Episode 144, we meet just such a guest. Jennifer Lucas won the first Women’s British Open in 1976, but it is what happened later in life, when she discovered a twin sister she never knew she had at the age of 55, that has dominated the last 20 years. In this engrossing chat with John Huggan, Jenny talks not only about being a pioneer of the women’s game and the Ladies European Tour, but the impact such a major life discovery has when it comes so late in life.

Many in the public eye have taken to speaking without saying much in this modern media age, but not Billy Horschel. The 38-year-old Floridian has gathered some wisdom and perspective on both life and the game in his 16-year professional career and he’s not afraid to share what he’s learnt. Forthright and thoughtful, Horschel gives his take on everything from the LIV Golf/PGA Tour divide, to why he thinks young American golfers should consider starting their careers in Europe. It’s a compelling chat with John Huggan, which is as revealing as it is entertaining.

How much do those who chronicle golf influence broader thinking about the game? And who are the people who cover the game, anyway? On episode 142, we meet one of those people and he’s one of the best in the business. Bill Fields is a multi-award-winning golf writer and photographer who has been covering golf at every conceivable level for more than 40 years. He shares a wealth of knowledge - and wisdom - in this in depth and fascinating chat with host Rod Morri.

He’s familiar to many through his work as a commentator for Sky Sports, but Scotland's Andrew Coltart is much more than that. A two-time Australian PGA champion alongside two European Tour wins is testament to a well-rounded game and a mind sited to golf’s multitude challenges. Coltart reveals a keen intellect and a willingness to share his opinions in this engrossing chat with John Huggan.

Every major victory is historic in its own right, but for Sir Bob Charles his 1963 Open win was a first on multiple fronts. Charles was the first left-handed player to win one of golf’s big four, but was also the first player from New Zealand to do so and one of the last two players to take part in a 36-hole playoff for the title. Sir Bob sat down with Rod Morri to reminisce on a career in which he won more than 70 times as a professional, yet came about having only ever had two golf lessons in his entire life.

Few people in any industry can claim to have altered the direction of that industry, but David Leadbetter is one. When a playing career eluded him in the 1980s, he turned his mind and energies to coaching and from humble beginnings, has built one of the most recognisable golf instruction "brands" in the world. But along the way, Leadbetter’s profile - and that of his successful clients - helped reshape the way golfers think about taking lessons, a change remaining in effect to this day. John Huggan sits down with Leadbetter to talk everything from his transformation of Nick Faldo’s swing, to the one player he never got to work with but wanted to.

They're the voices that accompany our enduring memories of the game but TV commentators often have more to their story - and connections with the game - than we hear about. Such is the case for our guest on episode 138, Andrew Cotter. Cotter will be familiar to golfers and also viewers of rugby, tennis, athletics, the Olympics, boat racing and more. In this wide ranging chat with John Huggan Cotter talks about his start in broadcasting, his lifelong love of golf and gives a peek behind the broadcasting curtain and what it means to be a commentator.

One of the most underappreciated achievements in the professional game is longevity. Earning and keeping a PGA TOUR or DP World Tour card for years spanning into the double digits is rarer than we think and those who manage it -such as our guest on Episode 137, Soren Kjeldsen - have much to offer. In this wide ranging chat with John Huggan, Kjeldsen reveals not only a keen sense of humour, but a deep love, appreciation for and - perhaps most importantly for many - knowledge about how to play the game. A four-time European Tour winner (as well as a World Cup victory with Thorbjorn Olsen in our own backyard at Kingston Heath in 2016), Kjeldsen is thought-provoking and articulate and can now add "excellent podcast guest" to his Wikipedia.

Ask most recreational players their dream job and 'professional golfer’ will be pretty high on the list. But not all who have the opportunity to join the pay for play ranks take that path and on episode 136, we meet just such a golfer. Colin Dalgleish is not only a long-time friend of our correspondent John Huggan, but a decorated amateur who chose not to pursue a professional career, despite winning the 1981 Scottish amateur championship and representing GB&I in that same year’s Walker Cup. He later captained the team twice, in 2007 and 2009. Don’t miss John Huggan’s fascinating chat with one of golf’s “lifers” and greatest contributors to the game.