Author: Sofia
Paul has been playing golf for around a fourth of a Century, whilst his time on this Earth is rapidly approaching half a Century! During that time his handicap, on average, has gone down around half a shot a year and is currently at 8. His general love of Sport included a time studying the Philosophy and Sociology of Sport. In 2013 he co-authored a book chapter ‘The good and bad of youth sport today’. His passion for youth sport is equally matched in his role heading up the Buyer’s Guides for National Club Golfer. He wants to inform golfers what gear is the best…
A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar. Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls. A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a…
We’ve all heard the claims. Another competition and another huge Stableford number takes home the bacon. But could data give us an idea of how widespread such scores are on our golf courses? We discussed the World Handicap System Data Report on The NCG Golf Podcast, looking at how many players were given Exceptional Score Reductions. That is triggered when a score differential is at least seven to 9.9 strokes better than the player’s WHS index when that round was played. When that’s the case, a one stroke reduction is applied to every one of the most 20 recent scores…
Introduction FitVille’s Primix V1 is a premium golf shoe, built on its reputation for ergonomic footwear designed for a range of foot conditions, from plantar fasciitis to arthritis. It pairs a water-resistant leather upper with a supportive arch insole and a nylon stability plate, while the FitVille Lab™ ComfortGrip 360 outsole delivers spikeless traction and torsion resistance for confident footing both on and off the course. The dual-density midsole adds a responsive, cushioned feel underfoot without sacrificing stability. It’s a shoe that puts genuine biomechanical support front and centre, rather than just style. All at a great price! FitVille box…
Well then. The last LIV Golf event of 2026 is complete. Now we are left to speculate on what might happen to the rebel league, which has rocked the game for the better part of five years. When it was confirmed in April that the Saudi Public Investment Fund would turn off the money tap at the end of this season, stories and rumours sprouted from every angle about the future of players, tournaments, and the league itself. But the PIF began cutting ties earlier than most of us thought. Two tournaments were cancelled, the prize money for individual players…
A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar. Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls. A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a…
Is it just about raking them or could golfers do more to help greenkeepers keep a course’s bunkers in the best possible shape? For Your Course, produced by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, we spoke to three course managers from across the UK to understand how they maintain, develop and pay for their bunkers. This week, we’re asking how their bunkers are put together and what golfers can do to make the job of maintaining these labour-intensive hazards a bit easier. Tackling those questions are Simon Bell-Tye, course manager at Skylark Country Club in Hampshire; Kerr Rowan, who…
For all the consideration golfers put into which putter model they have in the bag and the countless hours they spend working on their stroke mechanics, could a much simpler skill have a greater impact on their putting? Specialist putting coach Jamie Donaldson says speed control is the biggest difference between elite players and club golfers. The Woburn-based putting instructor has worked with some of the world’s best players, including Adam Scott, Lydia Ko, and Ian Poulter. Asked what separates the best putters from amateurs, he told the Your Golf Podcast: “I would say the first thing that is super…
A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar. Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls. A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a…
Golf is becoming pedestrian. Hanging around on tees, pacing about in the fairways, we once used to pride ourselves on breezing round the course. Anything more than four hours felt like an aberration – and someone was likely to mention it if it became more than just occasional. Now four and a half is more like standard. Team events, Texas Scrambles, and Pro-Ams? Well, you’re just adding on the minutes. Nothing ruins my round more than waiting on every hole to hit a shot. I find it impossible to get into a rhythm. And if we’re double parked on a…
