Episode 98: The Springboks - What went wrong?

Imagine you can only play golf in four South African regions for the rest of your life. Every course counts, from the grand names to the humble nine-holers. JDV, Terrence and Swannie take turns drafting from 16 regions, weighing course quality, weather, club culture and who you’d enjoy a beer with afterwards. Boundaries are deliberately unconventional, so expect debate over where famous courses belong. Some regions will be snapped up early. Others will be left on the table. Who builds the most appealing golfing life? Who gets what? Press play, make your picks, then tell us who you think won.

The Icons Cup is coming to The Links at Fancourt in George from 11 to 13 December, and in this episode we preview the event and share four reasons why we're excited about it. We look at the venue and why The Links is such a strong stage for match play, the players (and their handicaps) lined up for Team South Africa, captained by Ernie Els, and Team World, captained by José María Olazábal, and how the three-day team format works.

In this episode, Terrence and JDV are back to cover everything from island golf adventures to the future of the game! JDV kicks things off with the wild story of his adventurous journey to Mauritius—and the chaos of the flight alone is worth the listen. Once he finally touched down, he teed it up at two brand-new courses on the island, and he gives us the full rundown, including why one of them has instantly shot up to the top of his personal rankings. Then, T takes the reins to recap the PGA Show. We dive into who made an appearance, the biggest talking points from the floor, and what the industry trends mean for the game next year. Finally, the guys break down the new GOAT App—the platform designed to let golfers log and rank all the courses they have played. They discuss how this app could be the ultimate answer to the ongoing golf rankings debacle in South Africa, as well as a fantastic tool for players looking to explore and book new courses.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Goat Track, where we delve into the intricacies of golf, particularly focusing on the recent handicap app saga in South Africa. In this episode, hosts Terrence and JDV unravel the complexities surrounding golf handicaps, aiming to clarify why it matters to every golfer. Terrence and JDV kick off the discussion by revisiting a viral moment from a past episode where they highlighted the chaos surrounding the launch of the new handicap app. The app's debut not only stirred controversy but also sparked widespread debate among golfers across the country. As Terrence puts it, "the launch of this app had been a complete disaster." To set the stage, Terrence poses a crucial question: why should the average golfer care about the intricacies of the handicap app? JDV elaborates on the importance of having an official handicap, emphasizing that it levels the playing field for golfers of all skill levels. JDV clarifies the distinction between official and unofficial handicaps. He reminisces about Terrence keeping a detailed spreadsheet of his rounds, claiming a handicap of 13.  The conversation shifts to the financial aspects of maintaining an official handicap. JDV mentions that golfers pay affiliation fees, a portion of which directly supports the handicap system. With approximately 145,000 registered golfers in South Africa, this amounts to a substantial yearly collection for maintaining the integrity of the system. The hosts then delve into the governance of handicaps in South Africa. JDV explains how the Royal and Ancient (RNA) and the USGA administer the global handicap network, licensing it to the South African Golf Association (SAGA). This complex structure ensures that the standardization of handicaps is maintained across the globe. Further clarifying the hierarchy, JDV describes Golf RSA as the operating arm responsible for implementing the handicap system. This body ensures that golf courses are properly rated and that all regulations are adhered to, thus safeguarding the integrity of the handicap system. As they continue to dissect the nuances of the handicap system, once you put all those pieces together, another question emerges. When does legitimate control of the handicap system become control of the commercial ecosystem built around it? And that is what we are going to look at in Part 2.

In this episode of The Goat Track, JDV and regular guest Ben head to KwaZulu-Natal to break down the winter setup at Cotswold Downs. The drier months completely change the strategy on this inland layout, as the dormant kikuyu fairways firm up and offer plenty of extra run off the tee. While the added distance is a lot of fun, it severely complicates the short game. The guys discuss the reality of playing into the course's tricky, raised greens, where the firmer conditions and severe slopes quickly expose a misjudged approach or chip. Beyond the scorecard and course management, they highlight the welcoming member culture, how to handle the continuous elevation changes, and deliver a definitive verdict on the club's mandatory halfway house curry sandwiches.

Tucky and Hoff get together to give their expert opinion on what went wrong for the Boks at Ellis Park and have a look ahead to what they need to do right at the Cape Town Stadium against the All Blacks this weekend

In this episode, we’re joined by South-African born caddie Dean Smith, who shares an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at his bond with Kiwi star Ryan Fox. Having caddied for him for over a decade, Dean opens up about the trust, the banters, and the unique Southern Hemisphere dynamic that makes their team tick on the world stage. Dean breaks down Foxys winning-mindset, what they spoke about on Saturday night, and the exact high-pressure moments down the stretch on Sunday—leading right up to that clutch 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to seal the Claret Jug. And of course, we couldn't let Deano leave without telling us what really went down during the legendary celebration night!

We’re stepping off the tee box and straight into test-match fever as the crew gears up for one of the most anticipated events in international sport: the return of full-blown All Blacks tours to South Africa. In this golf-adjacent episode, we put fairway talk on warm-up duty to tackle the sheer spectacle of the legendary Springboks vs. New Zealand rivalry hitting local shores. Tucky and Hoff break down what iconic experiences are still missing from their personal sporting pantheons, sharing their genuine hype for what promises to be an absolute blockbuster series. Plus, the lads debate the big question: could this old-school tour format become a permanent, once-every-four-years spectacle that rivals the British & Irish Lions or the World Cup itself?

Nothing tests the social waters of golf quite like hearing, "Mind if we join you?" In this episode, the boys dive headfirst into the unwritten rules, internal anxiety, and absolute lottery of being paired up with complete strangers on the first tee. We break down the initial 10-second assessment, discuss the unspoken golf etiquette of random groupings, and share some unforgettable stories straight from the fairway. T relays a genuinely fantastic experience where an unexpected pairing completely made the day, while JDV shares an absolutely hilarious story from a round with a random that left everyone asking "What just happened?" Whether you love making instant mates over 18 holes or secretly pray for an empty course, tune in as we cover the good, the awkward, and the downright bizarre side of playing with randoms.

The Claret Jug is on the line, and we are breaking down everything you need to know ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. In this episode, we dive into the venue's rich history and trace South Africa's deep connection to these famous links, from Bobby Locke's historic battles to Branden Grace's record-breaking round of 62 back in 2017. To get the real picture of how the course is actually playing, we check in with Mike Hollick live on the ground in Southport. Mike gives us the first-hand scoop on the current links conditions, how hard and fast is it? And the brutal holes that are set to torture the scorecard this week. Finally, we run through the South African contingent teeing it up and debate how they will fare against the elements. We wrap things up by lock in our Golfchamps teams, serving up our favorite value plays and a few bold, high-differential sleepers to help you climb to the top of your pools.