The Open Special: We answer your questions!

He has amassed a loyal and passionate band of followers with his focus on coaching, course vlogs, entertainment and fun. In this week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll caught up with Coach Lockey to find out all about being a content creator – it’s harder than you think! But he has also teamed up with England Golf on their iGolf scheme and has put together a series of videos on his YouTube channel where he gained a handicap. Aside from finding out what it was, Steve also asks whether it has fired up his competitive edge and looks at the benefits of giving non-club members an official World Handicap System index. Is iGolf about to go viral? Pop your headphones on and have a listen! Please Note: Please be aware that Coach Lockey's Handicap Index was only for demonstrative purposes as his rounds did not comply with the Rules of Handicapping and have since been removed from his record.

We’ve got a special guest this week as Matt Chivers sits down with new PGA Tour sensation Harry Hall. Harry won the ISCO Championship in July – just a few days before he became a dad – capping an incredible rise that now sees him ranked around the top 100 in the world. It’s a remarkable story, from his home club West Cornwall changing their membership rules so he could join at just 6 (he was already that good!) to getting coaching from Butch Harmon and living in the bright lights of Las Vegas. You’ll learn: Why he’d rather win the Masters than the Open How Harmon is taking him to the next level And you’ll hear some controversial views on the golf ball roll back So sit back over the next half hour and check out what one of the game’s emerging stars has to say...

We asked and you delivered. In a departure from the usual podcast theme this week, Steve Carroll answers your Rules of Golf and World Handicap System queries. Does the clock stop if you have to halt a ball search to let a group through? Can you manufacture a drop so you’re able to place the ball? Will the course and playing handicaps ever be combined? Steve will endeavour to tell you the answers, and a bit more!

Justin Rose came oh, so, close but it was Xander Schauffele who picked up the Claret Jug – extending the barren run of English winners at The Open to 32 years! In this week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll is joined by Dan Murphy to discuss that and the fallout from last week's Championship at Royal Troon. Dan reveals why the Ayrshire layout was the star of the show and we talk about our own favourite course from the rota. We ask if Rory McIlroy can ever conquer the wind, consider if Tiger Woods should be allowed to use a buggy, and grumble about how quickly the major season now comes to an end!  

It seems to have been the talk of Royal Troon this week – is it time for Tiger Woods to retire? The 15-time major champion delivered a six-sentence zinger after reports that Colin Montgomerie had questioned whether he could still win. Woods says his belief has never wavered and in this episode of The NCG Golf Podcast, Steve Carroll and Matt Coles debate whether this is fantasy or could still be a reality. The duo also get stuck into shopping, ask whether the Open Arms should be the ‘Up in Arms’ because of its drinks prices and Matt – who is on a glorious run of picking the winners of recent tournaments – tells you who is going to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday. NB: Please remember to gamble responsibly.

Where does Royal Troon rank in the Open rota? Which course should join the list? Should the playoff go to sudden death? We asked and you delivered your questions and so, as the best week in the golf calendar gets under way, Steve Carroll and Matt Chivers answer them all in a new episode of The NCG Golf Podcast. NB: This episode was recorded in The Open media centre and there is some background noise.

We wrap up a dramatic day at Open Final Qualifying – where Justin Rose rolled back the years, Matthew Southgate qualified YET again, and Sergio Garcia found himself centre of attention at West Lancs. The Spaniard loves The Open, but was all over the headlines after his group were given a warning for slow play.  Was it more petulance from the former Masters champion? Should we give him props for having a go at qualifying, and did his play justify a spot? Matt Chivers spent all day at the Lancashire venue and joins Steve Carroll to look back at one of golf’s most thrilling days.

James Luke, England Golf’s head of handicapping, is back to update us on how the big changes to the World Handicap System have been settling in. But he’s also got a couple of important messages to impart – around general play scores and a new policy that could open the way for more clubs to get tee sets rated. If you’ve got any interests in WHS, you have to listen to this episode…

We’ll bet this chat is going on right now somewhere in your clubhouse. How can you make golf as accessible as possible but feel confident you’re protecting the integrity of competitions? This is a question England Golf have grappled with, and we get stuck into it on this week’s episode of The NCG Podcast. Steve Carroll is joined by James Crampton, England Golf’s director of championships, and the pair talk about the governing body’s competition entry policy, which can deny entry to players where competition and general play scores don’t match up. We also get into their new pace of play policy, where checkpoints are now used to monitor round times. Could a similar system speed up the game at your club? And fresh off an eventful Brabazon Trophy, on and off the course, James gives us an insight into the work of his busy department. It’s a compelling listen with plenty of talking points!

What is it that sets the best club golfers apart? Why do they make fewer mistakes on the course? What are the habits that help them play consistent golf? This week’s episode of The NCG Golf Podcast reveals all. We’ve got the latest data from Shot Scope. Tom Irwin, who loves to remind us he is a scratch golfer, and Steve Carroll, who couldn’t get near scratch if he played for 100 years, are here to guide you through the findings. Do you know where you miss? Should you fire at pins? What clubs should you use around the greens? Tom will put you in the picture and Steve will probably disagree. Elsewhere on this week’s podcast... Should the PGA Championship have been postponed? How did Tom get on in a couple of crunch match play encounters? And… are you allowed to hole out after conceding a putt?